1 Candidate Details
Name:Tony Hart
Council: Byron
Town/City: Bangalow
Number of years in Shire: Six years
Current Councillor: No
Ticket: Yes
Group: Our Sustainable Future – Basil Cameron, Paul Arrowsmith, Mandy Hallinan
Brief Description: Retired senior public servant and private-sector manager; active in Bangalow community since 2007, especially on highway upgrade, planning, development and local amenity issues. President, Bangalow Progress Association.
- Motivation: Firstly I feel Bangalow is neglected by Council and is only as nice as it is through the efforts of the local community. It is time Bangalow had a stronger voice on Council, but that voice should be a councillor who believes in sustainable growth that ensures the town can embrace growth without loss of amenity. This philosophy, which coincides with that of Our Sustainable Future, is one I will work to implement throughout our shire. Secondly, I am standing to assist Basil Cameron in his campaign to become mayor because I think he represents our best hope of returning some credibility to the governance and management of the shire.
- Vision for the shire: Get council and officers alike out from behind their desks to communicate with and listen to the community to achieve a shire governance and management that is attuned to the views and experiences of constituents, and will keep citizens truly informed so that local knowledge, understanding and appreciation flow both ways (as well as filling the pot-holes within an agreed time scale after each rain event). Council must work hard to restore Byron Shire’s image and holiday experience to re-attract longer-stay family-based visitors who will contribute again to a more balanced local tourist economy.
- Residential development v preserving local environment: sustainability is exactly what OSF stands for. Firstly, council needs to establish a clear set of sustainability parameters it aims to achieve for the shire and within which residential development can be assessed; these parameters might include phased growth targets (so plans can be put in place to prepare existing infrastructure to cope), alternative residential constructs, public transport objectives, etc.
- Issues I am concerned about – retaining Bangalow’s form, amenity and attractiveness to visitors and residents alike; ensuring the shire retains and strengthens its ‘difference’ to attract visitors drawn by its specialness, rather than focusing only on backpackers here just to party; minimising the scenic impact of the upgraded Pacific Highway; getting rid of the tailbacks on Ewingsdale Road and resulting rat-running on poorly designed rural roads; how the sports complex is going to be financially viable into the future rather than a drain on shire finances.
