I belong to Wodonga as a place and community.

It is my home. Wodonga has given me life values and framed who I am.

Wodonga gave me the start in life that enabled a very good education.

Wodonga provided an opportunity for me to raise my family and to use my education and experience to provide something in return. It's all about the broader community culture and values.

(Answer 2) Stimulate the economy by building needed infrastructure and creating jobs.

The novice response from council would be a recurrent business and community organisation welfare program.

That is not a solution and is not a council role.

Welfare is the role of state and Commonwealth governments.

Council should invest in infrastructure that creates jobs in the short-term, that grows the economy over the long-term and encourages businesses to Wodonga and encourages private sector investment.

More people in sustainable long-term employment means more money in the local economy and more business and community organisation benefits.

Council should undertake these spending programs without significant borrowings and should achieve it by budgetary priority refocussing.

(Answer 3) As its initial concept Two Cities, One Community has considerable merit.

The local economy doesn't recognise the state border or indeed the municipal boundaries of Albury-Wodonga.

The Border creates complexities and confusions not least of which is with regulatory differences and government systems.

The benefits of genuine common strategic planning and pursuit of regional infrastructure that cannot justifiably be duplicated for each council are clear opportunities supporting the Two Cities, One Community concept.

However, politics and bureaucracy dilute and deflect from the principles of the initial concept.

This is compounded when the focus becomes the pursuit of grant money, making projects to match the grant rather than grants to match the strategically justified project.

(Answer 4) The reason why we have had strong divergent community opinion regarding strategic planning for Wodonga's hills is because we have focussed too much attention upon too few aspects of the hills.

Mountain biking is one activity amongst many sometimes competing activities and issues that need to be genuinely considered.

There is a rightful place for environmental conservation and landscape protection as well as mountain bike tracks, walking tracks, horse tracks and public amenities.

What is very clear from our community is that urban development should not happen above the 230 contour.

(Answer 5) Funding should not be the driver for the Regional Deal.

Funding should be the outcome of strategic planning and very comprehensive and genuine community consultation.

Council often falls into the trap of picking winners then trying to develop strategic justification for the chosen project.

This opportunity is too important to ruin by not doing genuine and open consultation.

The Regional Deal requires serious strategic planning with a truly long-term outlook to be successful and beneficial.

We cannot afford to base this once in a lifetime community opportunity upon current fashionable issues.

(Answer 1) What I love most about Wodonga/Albury is our green space.

Our parks, hills, waterways as well as sports facilities.

There is lots to do and plenty of room to do it.

And the fact that we care about our space, respect it, and in general look after it.

(Answer 2) JOBS, JOBS, JOBS ...... we must help get our businesses back up and running and people back to work.

Council needs to work with business groups, including Business Wodonga, to create a program of events to get people back in the businesses who have struggled.

Council must also support our community groups, sports and service clubs to get back up and running so that our families can get back to normal as soon as possible.

Finally, Wodonga (with Albury) must be at the head of the queue for federal and state recovery funding to get our fair share, and every dollar we deserve.

(Answer 3) The achievements we have seen to date have been a very good start to what will be a long process.

Getting recognition at federal and state levels that the combined size of our cities, and surrounding areas, makes us a significant player at a national level is critical to ensuring we get their support for the physical and social infrastructure we need and deserve.

Working together in a united front is going to hold a lot more sway that two cities competing for the same resources.

(Answer 4) We need to recognise that cycling in all its forms is a fast growing sport and recreational pastime and mountain biking is a large part of that.

Along with the privilege of building and use of any bike track comes the responsibility to look after it and all of its surrounds.

After our people, our hills are one of our greatest assets.

We need to work out how to use them best for the benefit of all.

We need to find the right balance between protection and access.

There are many examples of how this balance has been achieved.

Recreational use (including bike trails) must be managed, and done in a proper manner which includes environmentally responsibly as well as safely.

It must also be supported by an ongoing maintenance program.

If it can't be maintained then it shouldn't be built.

I believe that any creation of recreational access must be offset by work to "improve" the environment.

For example, every hour spent building a "path" should be offset by an hour improving other aspects of the area or for every plant/tree knocked over, 20 must be planted, and more importantly cared for.

(Answer 5) I'll be guided by groups with more expertise than me on this one, and the process is currently underway.

More importantly, we need to make sure that the Regional Deal doesn't become a long winded talkfest with lots of promises and little delivery.

In the short term, my personal physical wish list would include:

a) development of Gateway Lakes area to realise its full tourism potential

b) ongoing development of Baranduda Fields precinct

c) a new indoor aquatic centre.

Plus on the services side, we must get the health services we need and deserve, both physical and more importantly mental health.

(Answer 1) I love our green spaces, being able to walk down the street and see friendly faces, our community groups, schools, sporting clubs and workplaces punch above their weight and make me very proud to live here.

(Answer 2) Ensuring that community and business have a clear and easy process to deal with council in relation to fees, charges, licences and permits.

When it's safe to do, running events and encouraging community events. Activation in our central business district.

Deliver a budget that supports our industry, organisations and community that have been hit the hardest by COVID - within the rate cap.

Rate relief/deferral for impacted businesses and residents.

(Answer 3) This plan has helped Wodonga Council secure the Regional Deal (the first cross border deal of its kind in Australia), and the funding that goes along with it.

The border closure has made it so clear how vital it is both councils work together, and this initiative helps achieve that.

(Answer 4) Wodonga is a community that prides its self on having so many sporting options.

Mountain biking is growing rapidly locally, and we've already seen locals compete overseas in mountain biking competitions, as well, it's a great tourism opportunity.

Over the past five years there has been a very thorough process to develop the Wodonga hills strategy.

As long as the correct processes are followed to preserve our environment, I am in support of creating more mountain bike tracks.

(Answer 5) There are a number of expert reference groups currently prioritising project options.

I would want to see their lists and then consider them along with council priorities.

I'd be looking for projects and initiatives that would have long term intergenerational outcomes for Albury, Wodonga and our surrounding shires.

(Answer 1) We live in the most beautiful part of the world and going for family walks along the Kiewa River is the best time of each day.

But even above all that is our community.

I'll never forget the response we had at Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare during the bushfires.

Cars lined up out on the street as people from every part of the community came to donate food and water.

We also had the battlers who came to us and apologised for not being able to afford more food to donate.

That's when you know you live somewhere special.

(Answer 2) Our next council will be judged on job creation and how it looks after local businesses.

As well as crisis support for small business, we should be looking at beneficial strategic investments.

For example, we have great opportunities around renewable energy to stimulate jobs and provide cheap, clean power that will attract manufacturing and other industries back to Wodonga.

Let's make things in Wodonga again.

Then we have to ensure that we have housing options for working families so they can afford stay here and help get our community and local economy kicking along.

(Answer 3) Two Cities, One Community brings a commendable vision and seems to have played a role in helping us secure a Regional Deal.

To that end, it has probably justified itself.

My concern is not the initiative itself but the lack of commitment by Wodonga councillors around economic development.

The Regional Economic Development Strategy paints a bold vision for Albury.

The vision for Wodonga is timid by comparison.

Of the 36 actions in the strategy, only three are just for Wodonga.

We really need to be seen as an equal partner in our regional economy and no more the poorer cousin.

(Answer 4) I have to admit, before the kids came along, racing road bikes used to be my passion.

I've seen how great cycling infrastructure and events can really boost tourism and the local economy.

Just head over to Bright in the warmer months to see what cycling can do for a town.

I think we can really make the Hunchback Hill mountain bike facilities first class - attracting people from around the country and being integrated with the environment and ecology (you can do both).

That's where I'd put our investment at this point, rather than spreading it across more locations.

(Answer 5) Health. The Regional Deal promises to deliver so much, but economic investment and other community building projects won't mean much in the long-run if we don't have a great local health system.

People might come for jobs, but they'll only stay if their health is looked after here as well as it is in the city.

We need to provide the best facilities to attract the best practitioners, and keep them here on the border.

Making care available locally is essential.

(Answer 1) There are so many favourite things, however the first that came to my mind was 'opportunity'.

For our kids, our families, business, industry and anyone that has the drive and passion to achieve great things, it's all here.

(Answer 2) We need to focus on getting businesses back as close to 'normal' as soon as possible.

We need to invest in and support attracting the events and tourism back to the region and where possible, spending as many dollars in our own economy as possible.

(Answer 3) I believe it has been very positive to date and the future with this initiative looks very bright.

I believe there is so much more work to do in this space and we need to be ready to work together, as much as we can to secure funding and influence of state and federal investment in the border region.

(Answer 4) My initial reaction is yes.

Having spoken with some in the industry, it is thriving and has the potential to be very attractive for our area on many fronts.

This does need to be measured with appropriate transparency, research, planning and consultation.

(Answer 5) Again this is a difficult question to pick just one of the top six priorities as they are priorities for a reason.

Having said this however, the recent events have highlighted that addressing the cross border issues is paramount.

We are two cities, one economy and this has been devastatingly obvious lately.

(Answer 1) The people - Relay for Life is the best example of a community punching well above its weight and how our community rallies together when needed.

The fires and our reaction earlier this year are another great example of how our community ALWAYS are there to help.

Waterskiing, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, running, our gorgeous parks our places to eat, our gyms have communities within communities all with a love of life.

(Answer 2) The council needs to be strategic in its investments to help our city recover from the downturn.

We have been lucky there has been some industry sectors locally that have performed well during COVID but there are others that really need our support so we need to make every dollar count.

We need to identify the sectors that have really struggled and direct the dollars we have available directly into these sectors to have a bigger and quicker impact.

Our eateries, moteliers, retailers should be a high priority.

One of the ways we can help them recover is through tourism and event attraction.

(Answer 3) Two Cities, One Community has been a game changer for our community on both sides of the border.

The way it has been embraced from all levels of industry sectors and our community alike is an indicator it was well overdue.

We have been able to save money for ratepayers on both sides of the border by identifying and sharing resources, such as staffing or procurement power to achieve efficiencies for our ratepayers and non ratepayers alike.

The biggest coup was the lobbying and securing the signatures and commitment of the two states and the federal government to work together for a first of its kind regional deal which was also matched with $3.5 million funding to identify priority projects which will have benefit to our community for generations to come

(Answer 4) Yes, with good strategic planning, identifying the topography of the hills that would suit different types of tracks for different types of riders and their abilities.

Our playground strategy has been planned so that you move from one playground to the other with no duplication of identical equipment layout.

Effectively being rolled out for kids of different ages and different motor skill ability.

Our bike tracks should be built in a similar manner while respecting the natural environment.

Recreation and conservation can co-exist.

(Answer 5) Economic development, harmonisation, infrastructure and connectivity, a liveable community, quality regional education and health and supporting the Indigenous community are priorities of the regional deal .

As you read this answer there are six reference groups finalising their recommendations after consulting with business and community stakeholders.

I would be weighing heavily to more long-term beneficial projects, something that will provide jobs or education pathways, with tourism a priority sector.

This is part two in a three-leg series involving Wodonga election candidates responding to The Border Mail's questions. Click on this to access the first compilation of responses.