Vasse Poll: Jobs, law and order on hit list
Liberal candidate for the Vasse by-election, Libby Mettam, says she would prioritise jobs and economic drivers for the region's burgeoning population.
"Vasse is set to grow by almost 60 per cent up until 2026," she said.
"My priorities are the expansion of the airport for interstate and international tourists and also to provide trade opportunities into the future."
She said upgrades to the Busselton foreshore, including facilities for the youth precinct and junior lifesaving, needed to be completed.
"Communications are really important as well. We need to ensure (communications are improved) for our emergency services and also so our community can do business better.
"I also would like to see a decision made on the Vasse Wonnerup Waterways.
"It concerns me that a decision hasn’t been made on the report by Barry Hart into the area and that really does need to be addressed ahead of summer."
Ms Mettam said policing and law and order required support.
"It’s not in terms of infrastructure but in terms of personnel. This region is now big enough to warrant a 24-hour police station.
"School numbers at Dunsborough Primary are 750 at the moment so we do need to be looking to a new school there in the future."
Ms Mettam said West Busselton Primary School needed to be expanded or completely rebuilt, and Cape Naturaliste College and the TAFE facilities needed to be completed.
The 37-year-old former journalist and electorate officer to South West Liberal MLC Barry House sidestepped questions whether she had ambitions to be a minister.
"I came from a media background … but I found that I was always hopping from one issue to another without finding solutions to those issues," she said.
"I guess that’s what made me want to get involved in politics."
She moved to the region 12 years ago with her winemaker husband and two daughters, Bianca and Sophia.
"I have had good experience in high-pressure environments being a bureau producer for A Current Affair, working as the mornings producer for ABC radio and as a publicist for the CinefestOz film festival," Ms Mettam said.
"I’ve advocated for different things like a phone tower in Yallingup East and a cafe for the foreshore in Dunsborough.
"I see this as the next step."
