Roger Callen, The Greens Candidate for Caloundra

Roger Callen age 66 married with five adult children living elsewhere.

I live with Rosy in the Glass House Mountains. We are busy 'retirees'.

Interests - Rainforest volunteer at Mary Cairncross Rainforest Reserve, hiking, gardening, birdwatching, writing (published poet), Fauna Watch member, social justice issues.

Worked as a Geologist and Heritage Consultant, qualifications in Earth Sciences and Social Anthropology. My work included climate change history and uranium exploration.

Stood for Glass House in the last state election and have worked on SCRC MCSR management committee.

#I am standing because I believe Caloundra electorate needs an alternative to the policies of the two major parties and because climate change won't wait for us to have a financial crisis. Its a difficult ask, but we've got address both now and Greens have the will and the best answers.

Policies and goals.

#In Caloundra electorate I will address the needs of the homeles (building shelter and providing low-cost housing) and disabled and will work for proportionally greater subsidies and concessions to help pensioners convert to green energy and insulate homes.

#I will also address the needs and aspirations of indigenous Australians in the electorate. Greens have the best social justice goals and commitments of any of the parties.

#Greens will encourage the growth of new and existing local industries by such means as installing domestic water - saving devices and solar energy, insulating homes and supporting new power industries in solar, wind and geothermal.

#Job loss in the construction industry will be reduced by fastracking existing government and council projects such as the Kawana hospital, upgrading emergency facilities at Caloundra hospital, facilitating the Beerburrum-Landsborough Rail connection, approving the Caloundra/Maroochy rail connection (whilst allowing for minimal environmental impact) and through the conversion of houses to energy efficiency.

# Transport: Rail with feeder mini-bus sytems to stations is an important part of reducing greenhouse gases as well as providing a better transport service for the community.

#In the farming sector we will facilitate energy and water reducing practices in our local industries such as macadamias,avocados, mangoes and encourage sugar cane growth for biofuels and other innovative farming practices such as bamboo for fuel, organic foods.

# Water. I am opposed to the Traveston Dam and want to see proper regulation and sustained use of underground waters and the proper management of their recharge areas to prevent mixing and pollution - currently little or no control exists. Subsidies for water tanks will be re-introduced.

# Population. Currently uncontrolled housing development is taking place in the Caloundra electorate as a result of Labour's policies - I will assist Sunshine Coast Council in managing this and preserving the wonderful environment that brought us here. The huge population increase on the coast is straining our infrastructure resources and development is extending into acid sulphate soil areas.

# Uncontrolled 4WD and trailbike operation is destroying the amenity of our environment, firetracks and vegetation. I will introduce measures to ensure recreational vehicles take their reponsibilities seriously.