Candidate Profile Chris Cummins
My History
Experience. I was first elected to Caloundra City Council in 1997, representing residents of Warana, Bokarina and parts of Wurtulla. I was re-elected in March 2000 to represent the residents of Warana, Bokarina and Wurtulla. While on Caloundra Council I served as;
• Deputy Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Economic Development Board
• Director of Tourism Sunshine Coast (the Regional Tourism Organisation)
• Director of the Caloundra/Maroochy Water Board (the Sunshine Coast Regional Water Supply Authority, (now Aquagen)
• Chairman of the Sunshine Coast Regional Mosquito and Midge committee
• Director of Sunshine Sports Pty Ltd
• Chairman of the Sunshine Coast 2000 Olympic Torch Relay Committee.
I also served on Caloundra’s Waste Minimisation Committee which successfully introduced for the first time to Caloundra Council recycling bins. During the time I served on Caloundra City Council I was involved in overseeing projects including:
• introduction of a new Waste Services management contract, which included for the first time the introduction of Recycling for glass, aluminium, paper etc and separate recycling of green waste,
• new contractual arrangements for land disposal, (Caloundra City Council)
• Hydro-Electric power generation, (Aquagen, Caloundra-Maroochy Water Board)
• New Library-Community Centres and Indoor Sports facilities
• new Water and Sewage treatment facilities, (Calaqua.)
In 2001 I was elected to State Parliament to represent Kawana. I served on the Caucus advisory committees to the Treasurer and Minister for Sport, the Minister for State Development and the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading.
In 2004 I was re-elected to State Parliament and was promoted to Queensland Cabinet as the Minister for Emergency Services. As a Queensland Government Cabinet Minister, I worked closely in overseeing funding allocation, prioritising of significant local and state-wide, multimillion dollar projects.
I have demonstrated an ability to effectively manage staff, resources and finances through a consultative approach, based on strongly developed interpersonal relationships and a preparedness to appropriately delegate authority.
My Objectives
One of the most important decisions the new council will have to make is how to fairly set council rates across the Sunshine Coast. For far too long council has taken the easy option and raised rates without exhausting every avenue of cost reduction to keep rates low. Most ratepayers I have spoken with are sick of seeing the money they pay being spent unnecessarily.
If elected I plan to keep your rates low by:
• Greater accountability - ensuring scrutiny is applied to all spending by councillors
• Tighter budgetary control - eliminating waste of ratepayers money on unnecessary overseas and domestic travel
• Reducing duplication - there are currently numerous services that can be streamlined and made more efficient, thereby reducing costs to ratepayers.
The new council will administer a budget in excess of $700 million and it will need experienced people to oversee it. As the state Minister for Emergency Services I managed a budget of a similar size.
I have the experience and the determination to make sure we get the services we deserve while keeping rates low.
My Contact Details
Phone: 0422 424 441
Email: cummins4kawana @ hotmail.com
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