19 Aug 2024

Kathy Tracey, Ryde Liberals – City of Ryde West Ward

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What is your name, political party and electorate?

Kathy Tracey – Ryde Liberals – City of Ryde Electorate – West Ward

 

Tell us about your background both personally and professionally

I am a married mother of 4 sons who has lived in Marsfield for over 45 years. Three of my sons are all of adult age, living their own lives and the youngest is starting high school at Epping Boys High School next year. I am currently working as the Senior Electorate Officer at Jordan Lane’s office our local member for Ryde. Previous to that I was working in the financial and accountancy area in various local companies for over 30years.  I have volunteered for most of my adult life. I joined my local football club Macquarie Dragons Football Club in Macquarie Park through my boys in 2000. In 2023 I stepped down as President & committee member of the club after serving for 24years. In this time, I was also a big part of North West Sydney Football Association as a member of the Disciplinary committee. I am also a proud life member of both my local club and association.  I have volunteered at my local primary school, Eastwood Heights PS for over 20years. I sat on the schools P&C, I ran the second hand school uniform store and ran the school banking for a number of years whilst my boys attended primary. I am still heavily involved with local community organisations including Ryde Sports Foundation, am a team manager and committee member of our local Gladesville Ryde Magic Football Club where my youngest son plays. I also sit on the City of Ryde Traffic Committee and Sports Advisory group.

Giving back to my local community is something which is close to my heart and extremely rewarding knowing that I am making a difference in people’s lives.

 

What are some things you love about your electorate?

I love living in Ryde. We are very fortunate to live in such a centrally located city within Sydney where all we need is at our fingertips. We have such a culturally diverse population which I am proud to be a part of. My family’s background is Macedonian and I consider myself lucky to have been born in our beautiful country and proud to call myself an Aussie.

Ryde is blessed with great schools although we need more of them for our ever-growing city. Ryde is a vibrant and inclusive community from our night markets, small family businesses, new playgrounds, dog friendly parks, precious bushland with walking tracks right in our own backyards, outdoor bbq areas to the vast array of international eateries. We are so lucky to live in a city where we can feel safe, a city which is inclusive, diverse and accepting of one another no matter your background.

 

What do you believe are the 3 main issues affecting your electorate and why?

  • Open space – We must preserve and protect all our open spaces in Ryde. Once it’s sold off to developers it’s gone forever. TG Millner is one of these precious open spaces. TG Milner is home to an abundance of trees, some of which are endangered natives. It’s essential that we protect them, not just for the birds and wildlife but also for the oxygen they provide.
  • Cost of living – We are all struggling with this issue in one way or another and it’s a significant problem as we see more and more families each day who simply cannot tighten their budgets any further. Saving a deposit for a first home is simply out of reach for most young people today. My three adult sons are also feeling the impact, from rising energy prices and grocery costs to the challenge of paying rent. Ryde Council cannot impose any additional costs on families. My team is committed to keeping rates low, as any added financial burden would be too much for many to bear.
  • Overdevelopment – This has led to a significant increase in traffic congestion, making daily commutes longer and more frustrating for Ryde residents. As new high-rise apartments continue to be built, our roads are becoming increasingly overwhelmed, unable to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.

What are the 3 key things you plan to achieve if elected?

  • Sportsgrounds are necessities in our community. As Australians, we all share a deep love for sport, no matter the type. The upkeep and maintenance of Ryde’s sportsgrounds are essential but have been severely neglected over the last few years seeing more cancelled sporting events than ever due to poor playing surfaces. These spaces are the heart of our community not just for living an active lifestyle but also for bringing people together. Ensuring they remain well-maintained and accessible is crucial for our health and wellbeing.
  • Domestic Violence is close to my heart. I would like to see a support facility to assist women, men and families who have fled domestic violence relationships in our area as we currently do not have a facility of this nature. More crucial work needs to be done in this space.
  • The council, regardless of party affiliation, must work proactively and collaboratively in a bipartisan manner to ensure all our goals are achieved. It’s essential to build a stronger connection between the council and the community by being more transparent. We must stop hiding behind issues and avoid passing the blame. Our community deserves a voice and needs to be heard. If elected, I will be that voice for you.

What about your long term vision for the area?

My long-term vision is one that Ryde is a forward-thinking city. By working together with our residents and our local businesses we will live a city that not only meets the needs of today but also paves the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

I would love to see Ryde continue to be a prosperous place to live, work and raise our children.

 

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