Back to basics: Police Officer and Army Reservist in bid for Division 10

Peter Walsh says council needs to get back to basics on community safety, infrastructure, waste management and maintenance.

by Janine Hill

A Police Officer and Army Reserve Major driven to improve life in the hinterland has raised his hand for council. 

Peter Walsh, who has worked as a First Response Officer at Nambour Police Station for more than 17 years, will contest Division 10 at the local government elections in March.

He will take on sitting councillor David Law and another contender, Camillo Primavera, for the right to represent what is the region’s biggest division, and includes Nambour, Yandina, Mapleton, Eumundi and Kenilworth.

Mr Walsh, who has lived on the cusp of Nambour and Woombye for 24 years, said he wants to work together with the whole community for better outcomes for all residents.

 “I’ve seen that there are needs in our towns, particularly at the basic level, that are not being adequately covered.  I feel that we in the hinterland, not just in Division 10, need a voice that’s prepared to represent the people,” he said.

With a back to basics focus, he wants to see improvements to community safety, infrastructure, waste management and maintenance.

“There’s times when I’ve seen mothers with a couple of kids pushing a pram on the road because there was no footpath or the grass was knee-high. That’s not how we should be in the modern era. Safety is the first priority” he said.

Mr Walsh suggested a restructure of funding to reflect the area and distances that dollars had to stretch in the hinterland, compared to the more heavily populated coastline.

“Division 10 has many key areas that need addressing such as; sealing of high impact dirt roads, completing missing links, improving footpaths, and reducing illegal dumping. 

“These issues, together with other key community priorities, indicate that the funding model must meet the real needs of the hinterland.”

He believes that the role of the council is to get back to the basic needs of the community, in areas such as community safety, infrastructure, waste management and maintenance.

“When there’s limited funding, we should review the imperative needs, consult with the community and work together to determine areas of high priority,” he said.

Engaged and active in community

A member of the Woombye Lighthorse, the Rural Fire Service and Nambour RSL, as well as a volunteer relationships coach and life skills mentor, Mr Walsh believes that it is vital to be engaged and active within ones community. 

He advocates the essential role that community services, church and sporting groups have towards building a resilient and safer society.

“When we have a better quality of life, we have better communities,” he said.

Mr Walsh did not want to promise specific projects for different areas, rather making it clear that solutions come from collaboratively working together with all stakeholders to ensure that Division 10 can thrive now and in the future.