THE Nationals Swan Hills candidate Ben Giblett says he wants to address water issues for residents in less centralised suburbs, reassess public transport and challenge the status quo.

Mr Giblett started his professional life as a pipeline and irrigation installer, working across the state for a decade, providing water in various places including Caversham before working in mining.

Mr Giblett said his connection to the Swan Hills area came from moving to the Perth Hills, owning a property in Gidgegannup, and witnessing the impact of the bushfires in the area.

“The big connection I have with the Swan Hills is being a property owner in Gidgegannup and seeing the Wooroloo fire in 2021 passing my property and then in 2023 having a similar blaze pass to the south of it,” he said.

“Seeing the hardship the people affected had to go through in rebuilding their lives, it made me feel lucky but saddened that many weren’t so lucky.

“That’s why I have a strong passion to deliver good fire and emergency services and rebuilding support to the local communities.”

Mr Giblett said residents in suburbs like Forrestfield and High Wycombe, who paid their rates like all other suburbs, felt they didn’t see the same level of services and promises for their area in the election buildup.

“It’s all great that Ellenbrook is getting community centres and infrastructure all surrounding the hubs of transport and yet what do places like Gidgegannup, Brigadoon and Bullsbrook get out of it?” he said.

“As Metronet becomes more established, (residents) feel all the options are being diverted to metropolitan hubs and more localised routes to schools and community hubs are being reduced.”

Mr Giblett said another issue was the unaddressed resident water issues which were most apparent in places like Bullsbrook.

“There’s a lot of pressure from the state government to develop housing and infrastructure so big developers are going into Bullsbrook for work but the underlying services aren’t keeping up like the water infrastructure,” he said.

“A lot of residents aren’t even on scheme water and are being ignored, having to fend for themselves.

“Their concerns don’t get heard and they have to fight with the power balance between water carting contractors, which has been going on for a while.”

“Bottling facilities are getting what they want when they ask for it, and the developers and road constructions are getting whatever they want when it comes to water allocation and it’s hard for residents to stand up against that in an environment where ground water other water sources are coming under pressure.

As Mr Giblett prepares for the final campaign push, he said his party was organising many community forums to let more people know how the Nationals were evolving to represent metropolitan suburbs and issues.

“I would say I might not have a traditional career for political aspiration but I think a lot of people are finding that as an attractive quality as the status quo seems to be less and less interested in local representation and more and more people are being left behind,” he said.

“I want common sense solutions for everyday people no matter where they live.”