Name: Ken Johnston
Council:Ballina Shire Council A Ward
Town/city: Ballina
Number of years in shire/LGA:10 years in West Ballina
Current councillor? No
Clubs/sports/interests: Local sports and RSL clubs
Are you a member of a political party or an organised ‘ticket’? No
Brief description: I am retired. Married in Lismore 40 years ago. Lived in Sydney, raised a family. Worked for a large Aust manufacturing and engineering company, mainly in accounting and information technology.
2 What has motivated you to stand?
I am standing because I am not happy with the current lot of councillors. They are too close to the council management and are not properly representing the best interests of the majority of the ratepayers.
3 What is your vision for the shire/LGA?
My vision is that the council should return to the basic functions and responsibilities that the shire requires, spending more on infrastructure, preserving our natural assets, our beaches, river, parks, reserves. The leader should be a major promoter of our town.
4 In your opinion, how can council best balance the need for further residential development with the need to preserve the local environment?
It is very important to preserve the local environment at the same time as progressing with development. There is a major problem with council planning, local environment planning, planning panels, rezoning, land and environment courts, supreme courts, appeals courts etc and developments such as CSG mining. We have been placed in a very difficult position.
5 What particular issues do you feel strongly about?
I think the council should concentrate more on its basic tasks and less on projects like its commercial property investments. I think the councillors should always act in the best interests of whom they have been elected to represent.