1 Candidate details
Name: Graham Meineke
Council: Lismore
Town/city:
Number of years in shire/LGA: 21
Current councillor? Yes
If yes, how many years: 8
Clubs/sports/interests: President of Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise. I love the Beautiful Game (soccer).
Are you a member of a political party or an organised ‘ticket’? No political party membership but I am heading up the Team Meineke ticket
Brief description: I am married to Anne and have two adult children. I am a self-employed town planning consultant and am currently the president of the Rotary Club of Summerland Sunrise.
2 What has motivated you to stand?
Two major reasons.
1. All councils are in a competitive market for development so Council must give people who want to develop (big or small developments) a far more welcoming reception and give them a feeling of ‘we are ready to do business with you’. What about a slogan ‘you’re ready, we’re ready’?
2. The impost being placed on our farmers by regulations. The genuine farmer knows what is best for his/her land and how best to farm it. We don’t need to burden them with local controls that merely replicate the state controls, eg riparian zones in the LEP and the Koala Plan of Management.
3 What is your vision for the shire/LGA?
Lismore is currently the capital of the northern rivers. To maintain that title Lismore must grow and prosper. To be ‘self sustaining’ growthwise we should have a population of about 65,000 people. Currently we are working towards that with the imminent rezoning of the North Lismore Plateau and other residential areas.
We must become financially accountable. We have tried to cut costs and expenses but we haven’t really focused on increasing Council’s income. To do this we must have more rateable properties and growing to 65,000 people will give us that income.
4 In your opinion, how can council best balance the need for further residential development with the need to preserve the local environment?
A good strategic plan sets the framework for development. Within the framework we need to attract sensible development. Sensible development works within statutory limitations, assesses/investigates environmental issues and works around them and/or with them to integrate them as an essential component of the development.
5 What particular issues do you feel strongly about?
Good service by Council in all spheres of Council’s business whether it be road construction/maintenance, attitude to the community, approach to development, fiscal responsibility and/or good communication.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
