The federal election is drawing near with voters to head to the polls on May 18.
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The people of the Wingecarribee Shire will be divided into two electorates when it comes to having their say on who they want as their federal representative for the next four years.
There is the Hume electorate which incorporates Bundanoon, Exeter, Canyonleigh and Wingello before cutting behind the western side of the shire to take in Colo Vale, Hill Top, and Yerrinbool. This has been represented by Liberal MP Angus Taylor since 2013.
The Whitlam electorate (formerly Throsby) takes in Berrima, Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, Robertson and Sutton Forest and has been represented by Labor MP Stephen Jones since 2010.
There are several other candidates vying for the top job in each electorate in the upcoming election. They stand up to be counted on various platforms - renewable energy, decentralisation to bring business back to the area, anti-coal mining and more attention to drought-affected farmers are all touted on the campaign trail by one candidate or another.
However, the big question for many would be how well have they been served by those who are already in power?
Both Jones and Taylor have had a significant time in the top seat - and no doubt delivering attention and windfalls equally to all parts of their respective electorates could prove challenging.
With this in mind are Wingecarribee voters getting a good cut of the political pie?
Have the MPs, already in a position of power, given the area represented by Wingecarribee voters, enough attention?
We have pulled together a list of benefits to the shire over the past 12 months so voters can get a better picture of how they have been served by their current sitting members.
Some of Taylor's career highlights over the past 12 months for the Wingecarribee portion of his electorate include:
- More than 1000 new businesses have started up across Hume in just 12 months, 26 new businesses in Bundanoon, Hill Top and Colo Vale.
- $36 million in recurrent road funding for Wingecarribee (through to 2023).
- Infrastructure investment under the Coalition Govt has topped $115 million in Wingecarribee, such as safety measures along Highlands Way between Barbers Creek Road to Bumballa Rd, at Tallong at a cost of $695,000 and road widening of Bundanoon Road at Exeter at the intersection with Ringwood Rd $486,200.
- NBN towers switched on at Bundanoon North, Wingello, Exeter, Balmoral West, Hill Top South and at Marulan.
- $13,000 for sportsfield lighting at Boronia Park at Hill Top, funding for equipment for Bundanoon Cricket Club and Men's Shed funding for Hill Top and Colo Vale.
Highlights for Jones' section of the Wingecarribee Shire in the last 12 months include:
- Several stronger community grants to a variety of organisations totaling to $52,492
- $125,000 to Bradman Oval
- $55,455 for Bowral Rugby Club,
- $27,270 for Highlands District Cricket
- More than $4 million dollars towards education.
- Making himself available to constituents.
