The 2021 NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, 04 December, 2021. Candidates have until noon on Wednesday, November 3 to register with the NSW Electoral Commission.
The Echo invited all of the Lismore mayoral candidates to a photoshoot and to answer the same 20 questions.
Patrick Healey is running for Mayor and will lead the Independent Lismore team at the Lismore City Council elections.
1. What are your intentions and hopes for the December election and beyond?
My main intention is to win. After that, I’d look at ways to Grow Lismore by changing the culture of Council from “No” to “Yes”, so that we can approve more residential developments to address our lack of housing and assist the business sector to grow and employ more people.
2. What do you see as the biggest challenges for the Lismore LGA going forward?
Our population decline is one of the toughest, especially as every council area around us is growing. As we start to turn this around, everything else will fall into place – like increased housing stock, improved business conditions, and a wider rate base allowing us to invest more in maintaining our roads and other assets.
3. What do you personally see as the most popular decision of this council?
Probably the decision to release land and allow some housing development.
4. What do you personally see as the most unpopular decision of this council?
Not releasing enough land for housing and the slow pace of Development Applications approved by Council.
5. What’s been frustrating, and why?
We believe our strength is being Independent but the cost is we don’t have the organisational and financial support offered by the Nationals, ALP and Greens. This makes it particularly tough to get our message out to the community.
6. What could Council do better?
A very broad question, but mostly speed up the slow Development Application processes, approve more residential developments to address our housing crises, improve governance by introducing and enforcing KPI’s and regularly public reports on service quality and timelines like most council’s in NSW.
7. Are you interested in representing Lismore on Rous CC?
Our community’s water security will only become more important in the light of climate change. That is why I am very interest in representing Lismore City Council on Rous, among other Council Committees such as the Aboriginal Advisory Group.
8. What is your view on the Dunoon/Channon dam
I support it. The dam isn’t just for Lismore, it covers the whole region, and we have basically three options 1. The dam, 2. Environmentally dangerous water mining, and 3. A desalination plant off the coast. Given our problems with climate change, and a growing population (everywhere except Lismore), and Rouse County Council reports that water security will be a risk beyond 2024, I see the dam as the preferred option.
9. How do you see Council’s relationship with the business community?
It is very strained. This has been caused by the lack of a vision for Lismore, slow decision making and often decisions that are counter to growing businesses in Lismore E.g. the vote to not even allow a community consultation on the expansion of the Lismore Square.
That is why I, and the Independent Lismore team, believe Council needs a logical, practical and non-political approach to decision making.
10. What do feel is the best way to deal with the issue of flooding?
Council recently announced they’d plant trees. In itself, this is not a bad idea, but it is not a solution that can stand alone. We need to investigate more modern engineering solutions and align this with the State Government’s vision for 2036 and the grants that are offed to achieve this. I’ll support getting that done and factored into our planning.
11. Why did you originally decide to get involved with local government?
My disappointment in Council began when I worked at NORPA. Getting Development Applications for the new electronic sign and renegotiating our contract every year was confusing and unnecessarily slow. Then as co-chair of the Lismore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I really became aware of how badly Council was operating especially in relation to other businesses – yet two more examples of Council’s culture of “No”.
12. How do you feel about that decision now?
Sometimes nervous and wondering what I’ve done, but mostly eager to get myself and my team elected so that we can start to Grow Lismore.
13. Do you have any political ambitions beyond local government?
No, I’d be very happy to be the Mayor of Lismore. My only desire is to see Lismore Grow!
14. How do you feel the Lismore LGA is coping with COVID?
I think our community has done very well and deserved to be congratulated for that. Everyone has followed health guidelines and advice and that has paid off.
15. Do you feel Council is doing enough to support Indigenous residents?
No. We need a Bundjalung Centre that provides lessons on our living language and culture for kids. This will be a place for local Indigenous people to sell art and tell their stories.
Also, non-Indigenous people are increasingly keen to learn and experience more Indigenous culture and art in the form of experiential tourism. We can build on this through to generate revenue for all our local businesses – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.
16. What is your favourite pizza topping?
Pepperoni
17. What do you see as the highlights of Council since the last election?
The employment of the current general manager and its new focus on financial reporting
18. What do you see as the low point of Council since the last election?
Where do I start? The personal squabbling between Councillors and the continued rejection of new housing developments. Also, the needless and harmful friction between the Council and our local businesses.
19. In one sentence, why should people vote for you/ what do you bring to the table that the others don’t?
I bring a lot of accounting, management and governance experience, independent of party politics and ideologies, so that if my team and I are elected we can turn Lismore into a vibrant, prosperous and dynamic city.
20. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, Vote 1 Independent Lismore and Let’s Grow Lismore!
Recent stories, information and updates regarding the Lismore Elections
Parklands, community hubs and environmental projects are some of the new options allowed for floodplains left vacant after the removal of ‘buyback’ houses on the Northern Rivers. In the latest version of the classic Tennessee Williams play, audiences are invited to step back in time to 1937 St Louis. Improved stormwater flow in rural areas has been a key focus for Lismore City Council over the past 12 months, as part of its commitment to building a stronger, more connected region following the 2022 natural disasters. A 29-year-old man is to face Lismore Local Court next month accused with stealing petrol. Organised by Aunty Rhoda herself, this was an extraordinary funeral, attended by a who's who of Indigenous Australia, and including the artistic and cultural voices of her diverse collaborators across a long and distinguished career. With rain threatening from the east, skies stayed clear for Jenny Dowell's ceremony at the Quad, between three institutions she loved, the Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore Conservatorium and the Lismore Library. The grassy area was full of mourners, with many more watching via the livestream. The NSW Labor government says it has reached a major milestone in rebuilding education infrastructure damaged more than four years ago, with work underway in Lismore South Public School and Ngulliboo Jarjums Preschool Police have thanked the public and media for help finding a teenage girl reported missing last week. Predictions for the Tweed Rail Trail of 25,000 users a year have been blown out of the water with the last two years seeing over 90,000 users a year Pat Grier, President of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters told The Echo.
I first met Jenny Dowell OAM when she was the mayor of Lismore, and I was sent by The Echo to take photos, of course.
Jenny seemed to do more in her public life for various groups and charities after...
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Thank you Jenny Dowell – you’re a bloody legend!
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