1 Candidate details
Name: Clive Bateman
Council: Lismore
Town/city: Nimbin
Number of years in shire/LGA: 8 years
Current councillor? No
Clubs/sports/interests: Northern Rivers Food, Australian Food and Grocery Council, boating, farming, blue economy. Lismore Ratepayers Association, Coo-eeEE Property Rights.
Are you a member of a political party or an organised ‘ticket’? Yes.
If yes, which party or who else is on your ticket?: Group I with Greg Bennett.
Brief description: I have 34 years’ experience at senior management level, with large leading multinational corporations. I operate a business helping food manufactures run efficient operations while focusing on strategic global business plans, and run a cattle property at Nimbin.
2 What has motivated you to stand?
Frustration with council services and the lack of council accountability to ratepayers. Council’s growing debt, now over 60 million dollars and still under state government review; the next step is administrators, so in effect our community will have no control over the council.
3 What is your vision for the shire/LGA?
Lismore has stagnated with growth at 0.03 per cent. Council has hindered development and the opportunities business creates for employment. You can have all the plans for affordable housing etc but it all requires investment. I will work with business to create investment in our community.
4 In your opinion, how can council best balance the need for further residential development with the need to preserve the local environment?
Council and some council staff have run hidden agendas with the LEP. If council want to preserve private land they must fully compensate landowners. Coal-seam gas would not be going ahead if landowners had the right to say NO TO GAS. I will continue to lobby state government for property rights and support property rights and the rights of our community.
5 What particular issues do you feel strongly about?
I will work to apply sound business principles to council so ratepayers get an improved return on their rates. I will support recycling provided there is a positive impact for the community; for example Lismore council should have federal funding for bio-generators. I will ensure council and staff treat the community with respect and honesty.
