Access to education, funding for roadworks and the Griffith CBD strategy are also priorities, Councillor Dal Broi said. 

“We are quietly determined to make it forcibly known that we require water to grow this region, water is our lifeblood and it is also our economic driver because it is so important to us that the irrigation industry is not only maintained, but that it grows,” Cr Dal Broi said.

“Sussan Ley in her electorate at the moment has what I consider to be the most viable irrigation scheme in Australia. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan has caused a lot of grief to irrigation farmers and irrigation communities – it’s time to halt the removal of water from these communities and look closely at the triple bottom line; social, environmental and economic because the three go hand in hand.

“I think Sussan Ley and other candidates do get this and we will be looking for strong commitments from all the candidates in this election to make sure all irrigation areas go forward, we can’t afford to go backwards.”

Cr Dal Broi also said he felt quietly confident and hopeful of an upgrade to GBH.

“We have also petitioned our current member for a new base hospital, yes, we have had a facelift to the emergency and maternity wards but because we service such a big area we really need an overall upgrade,” he said.

Cr Dal Broi said council has shown Ms Ley plans for what they considered to be stage one of a health centre for the Riverina. “We’ve got St Vincent’s, but to really make Griffith a centre for healthcare we need Griffith Base Hospital to be upgraded. Sussan Ley was very supportive of our plans, as was the Deputy Premier Troy Grant, who has committed to making the hospital a priority and we will keep reminding both state and federal governments – irrespective of who wins the election – of the need going forward. I think Griffith deserves it and I think the community is asking for it.”