AUSTRALIA First Party\u2019s Susan Jakobi is a South Ward candidate in this month\u2019s City of Ballarat Council elections.<\/p>\n
Settling here five years ago, she said she has always been in awe of Ballarat, its architecture, its history and its \u201cfriendly, healthy, helpful\u201d people. But in that time, Ms Jakobi said she\u2019s seen change.<\/p>\n
Concerned that Ballarat is \u201cearmarked for population growth,\u201d she doesn\u2019t want it to become a satellite city of Melbourne, or to lose its heritage vibe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen there\u2019s mass population movement into the area, Ballarat will be bursting at the seams. Will it be able to cope? Why does it want to cope with such a thing?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat is a beautiful and welcoming place that should be promoting tourism and the heritage of the city… not mass population growth, housing estates…<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the council plan, it speaks about the employment zone for people yet to come. I\u2019m concerned the actual people of Ballarat are going to be forgotten as it explodes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Jakobi said the \u201cbeautiful feel of Ballarat is being lost,\u201d with new shopping centres established and traders moving away from the CBD.<\/p>\n
She said there is nothing vibrant and thriving about \u201cempty shops, unemployment, crime, and drug issues,\u201d or residents paying \u201castronomical rates\u201d for more than basic services.<\/p>\n
An \u201cAustralian nationalist,\u201d she said she looks at \u201cpolitics on a big picture,\u201d and promotes what is best for Australians so their needs come first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city is basically going to turn into an ethnic ghetto like Melbourne has. Ballarat people deserve better.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish to put my hat in the ring to be a voice for the people as these horrible changes come about to Ballarat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
For Ms Jakobi, residents are currently voiceless, and the CEO has \u201ctoo much power.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. The power should be back to the people with councillors representing them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Along with her plan to \u201cabolish\u201d the role of CEO within the City of Ballarat, on the Australia First Party website Ms Jakobi outlines other municipal policies she supports.<\/p>\n
They including defunding LGBTI events and multicultural programs, promoting \u201cfirearm safety\u201d, and \u201crefusing to work in partnership\u201d with organisations that \u201ccompromise our prosperity, heritage and cultural identity\u201d such as overseas student programs.<\/p>\n
Before moving to Ballarat, Ms Jakobi lived in Robinvale as a farm labourer for 22 years, seven days a week, she also has three sons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AUSTRALIA First Party\u2019s Susan Jakobi is a South Ward candidate in this month\u2019s City of Ballarat Council elections. Settling here five years ago, she said she has always been in awe of Ballarat, its architecture, its history and its \u201cfriendly, healthy, helpful\u201d people. But in that time, Ms Jakobi said she\u2019s seen change. Concerned that […]<\/p>\n