Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson says he has no regrets for 2020 but needs to do more community consultation

"I don't have regrets; would we do things differently? Yes," he admits.

He pointed to "community consultation" as the one thing he could have done better.

"For us, it's continued consultation, continued letting people know what's happening, letting people what's going on, what we're doing. Community consultation, I believe is critical."

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In an interview with the Leader to mark the end of the year, the Cabinet Minister reflected on his ninth year in elected life.

He defended the government's record on water policy, claiming government had taken real action to prevent the 2019 water crisis from ever happening again.

Complexities around water planning policy had hidden real achievements, he said, and pointed to the $45 million Chaffey Dam pipeline and $480 million new Dungowan Dam projects.

But the eyes of the community would open as shovels hit dirt in "the first quarter of 2021" on the huge new dam project, he said.

"When you think about where Tamworth was and the dire straits that we were in with our water security. We pushed hard through the water minister to get a pipeline from Chaffey to Tamworth, and because of all the complexities around water, it's just not black and white," he said.

"All of that complexity takes away from the benefit of the project.

"For mine, it will be something that will be remembered for many, many, many, many years to come. Think back to the last time a dam was built, here we are building a $480m dam, which is incredible."

But he pointed to a much simpler achievement as his biggest for 2020.

At the height of the pandemic crisis, his electorate office spent weekends and evenings doing welfare checks, making calls to every local resident over the age of 80 on the electoral roll.

They were so grateful for the phone call some recipients have even sent Christmas cards thanking him and his staff for the gesture, he said.

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"You can build a skyscraper, you can build a dam but you have that personal touch, that people touch, that's so important," Mr Anderson said.

"I've got a saying: you look after the people and let the politics take care of itself.

"I think for us [2020] sharpened our focus on community, looking after people. I think that's what this office does well. That's what my focus is, that's what my team's focus is.

"My political adversaries will throw rubbish, and I don't bite. It's about people for me, it's about community.

"That was the mantra way back in 2007 when I first ran so I don't see any reason to change that now."

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