We asked challengers Mark Rodda, Stephen Mears and Jeff Bacon, and sitting MP Kevin Anderson, what they see as their – and their constituents’ – priorities.

While we’re guaranteed to hear much more from each of them in the next several weeks, as they react to local events and issues and continue to push their barrows, we thought we’d check what they’re coming to the table with first up.

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For Mr Mears, it’s formulating a better plan for, and response to, drought; increasing police numbers and giving them suitable facilities; upgrading Banksia; and boosting TAFE.

Mr Rodda wants to see less financial waste in the cities and more essential services in the bush, including a new hospital for Gunnedah; a new Banksia for Tamworth; and a New England Highway upgrade; plus Shenhua licence buybacks.

Mr Bacon’s big plan is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in the electorate; plus an upgrade to Werris Creek Road; a new Walcha water supply; and at least 25 new police officers in the electorate.

And Mr Anderson’s top goals are a new fire station, ambulance station and upgraded police station for Tamworth; more doctors and specialists across the electorate, and a better Banksia.

Some of the four’s priorities overlap, and there will no doubt be a little political one-upmanship as candidates strive to set themselves apart from the others.

It would be great to see every one of these electorate needs come to fruition.

Behind the scenes here at the Leader, we’ve been calling this article series the “wishlists”, just an easy, shorthand term.

But of course it’s a misnomer: merely wishing or listing ain’t gonna make any of this happen and we doubt getting many off the ground will be easy or short.

What we’re looking for is realistic commitments, fleshed out with specifics, backed by hard work.

Let’s watch this space for more details and evidence of effort.