BUSSELTON born and bred Paul Carter is hoping to make an impact on the council at the elections in October.
From a farming family Mr Carter spent much of his professional life working for the Dairy Industry of WA and WA Farmers Federation in policy and business management.
He also worked on the restructure of the Australia Wheat Board and now sits on the Busselton Water Board since returning to the area several years ago.
“I used to go across to Canberra for senate inquiries,” he said.
“The portfolios I did when I was there were farm business management, taxation, education and training it was a broad exposure to a lot of different things.”
Since returning to Busselton Mr Carter has started an irrigation contracting and a landscape supply business.
He is passionate about seeing improvements made to the waterways which extend from Dunsborough to Capel.
“The biggest issue is coordination of management there is a lot of work going on in the background to look at improving them,” he said.
“Being on council and the Water Board I can have an impact on making sure that happens.”
Mr Carter sees the expansion of the airport as an opportunity for Busselton to keep trade in the area.
“There are great opportunities around the airport and not just in tourism and fly in fly out workers,” he said.
“We could have international people fly directly to us.
“Once you have that lead you could have a freight terminal there and provide niche farming opportunities to market directly to China and keep export in Busselton rather than Perth.”
An issue for Mr Carter which needs addressing is road congestion on the way into town.
He said from access to his business was a real issue with traffic congestion at certain times of the year.
Mr Carter said he had even considered closing his business during events such as Southbound because customers were unable to access his store.
“That’s a personal issue but there are definitely congestion issues,” he said.
“I know the Ford Road wetlands are an issue, but from the study tours I have done main roads have been built next to wetlands in Victoria so it’s not an exclusion.”
