Well-known Corowa identity Kaz Hughes plans to use her extensive business background to support the Group E ticket headed by Aaron Nicholls in the Federation Council election.
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Ms Hughes moved to Corowa in 2014 with her partner Allen Bartlett to be closer to her mother. The pair opened the successful Crackerjack Real Estate in 2017.
“We dramatically improved the way real estate was conducted in the immediate area, introducing quality property marketing and record results for our vendors,” Ms Hughes said.
“While I was still operating Crackerjack, Aaron Nicholls of Regional Design Service approached me to alert me to the fact that a development application had been published by Federation Council inviting residents and ratepayers to comment and submit objections (Redlands Road).
“Even though it was clear that as a real estate agent I might have stood to benefit financially from the real estate activity that would no doubt be generated, I could not in all conscience stand by and allow the development proceed.
“Naturally, I would love for all the towns within the Federation Council area to be developed sustainably, and in tune with the aspirations of most residents, but the Redlands Road development was severely flawed.
“To coordinate our efforts, Corowa Community Action Group was formed initially with myself, Peter Wright OAM, Aaron Nicholls, Phillip Nielsen, and Rob Pearce. With the community’s help and much discussion, many meetings, social media attention, and written submissions, we won the battle.”
Ms Hughes said it was this experience that led her to accept Aaron Nicholl’s invite to run on a group ticket for Federation Council, and ultimately closing her business earlier this year.
“The difficulties that we had encountered convinced me that there were major improvements to be made in communications and the quality and transparency of processes,” Ms Hughes said.
“The very fact that such a severely flawed development as Redlands Road could even get to the submissions stage is worrying to me. I now want to work hard to ensure that there is much greater diligence in consideration of future developments and infrastructure.”
While sales and marketing has been Ms Hughes key area of expertise, she also has experience in administrative and managing/ownership roles including banking and insurance. She has also served on a number of committees.
“I have served as President of Southern Business Network Inc, in South Gippsland. Bringing together aspiring and professional women, we created monthly events and a major marketing seminar raising funds and attracting sponsorship and keynote speakers,” she said.
“I was a founding member of a Steering Committee to bring a community branch of Bendigo Bank to our town (Meeniyan), and my real estate business owned and operated a Bendigo Bank agency from our office.
“I have also been a member of Rotary, school councils and childcare boards, a bowling club board member, and owned and operated three successful small businesses.
:Now, I am about to embark on a Cert IV in Weight Management, with a view to delivering the service to Type II Diabetic sufferers, having been recently diagnosed and embarked on that journey myself. I have a strong interest in nutrition, natural medicine, and diet as a major component of wellness.”
One of Ms Hughes’ biggest areas of interests is good development.
“I feel very strongly about two areas in particular. Having been an active real estate agent, I know what people are after. It is predominantly family-sized and lifestyle blocks, and quality retirement living,” she said.
“There is a substantial amount of farm-zoned land (RU1) very close to our townships that are not and will not be farmed for a variety of reasons. This land should be considered for rezoning urgently to R5 (Large lot residential) and allowed to be subdivided into minimum 2.5 hectare lots and sold. The minimum size would ensure that these blocks are required to install self-contained septic systems avoiding any extra strain on our maxed-out sewerage treatment system.
“Cashed-up buyers will then be able to build beautiful homes and develop the plots in a very similar fashion to the admirable Golf Links Estate at Howlong.
“Such a concept was not even included in the LEP for Federation Council in 2021 despite questions raised by the then consultant. “
“My second development-related target is to create or attract an Over-55’s, independent-living-based development. This is severely lacking in Corowa but should also be mooted for our more regional townships including Howlong and Urana. Our aging population suggests that the need is there and we could be attracting well-off retirees from out of the area too.”
Ms Hughes would also like to see the local retail image lifted.
“The variety and quality of retail particularly in Sanger Street, along with the neglected heritage standards of appearance that would seem have been dropped without agreement by the residents of Corowa, over the years,” she said.
“Let’s introduce a better set of minimum standards and ensure that our retail streets are attractive to residents, to new retailers, and to tourists who presently can be seen strolling up Sanger St eagerly searching for good quality retail and buildings…and finding little.”
Other areas of focus for Ms Hughes include transport funding for older residents, waste facility opening hours, plans for completion of curb and channelling and footpaths in the townships, proper traffic and speed management, and finding and implementing a solution to the Ball Park Caravan Park.“I am a dogged, principled operator. The breadth of my experience will enable me to assess issues and make logical, progressive good decisions,” Ms Hughes said.
“I will present a professional attitude to those who offer much-valued business, or funding, to our council region. I look forward to working alongside like-minded people. Serving Federation Shire will be an honour, and a rewarding challenge.