Why are you putting your hand up for the Kyogle Council?
I have served three terms on Kyogle Council. We need a group of Councillors who can work together collaboratively. Diverse opinions around the table are a good thing – it means we are representing a broader cross section of the community. We need to be a cohesive team, that can debate the issues civilly, be equally heard and equally treated. Teamwork delivers the best outcomes to the community. The trust between the elected body, staff and the communities we serve needs to be repaired so all people feel heard and valued.
What relevant skills or experience do you bring to the position?
I have served three terms on Council and before that, had a career in the Queensland state government for many years. I have also served a term on the LGNSW board and was President of NOROC before becoming the Chair of the NRJO until 2022. I am currently on the North Coast LLS board.
My policy and community engagement skills are of a professional standard and I use those skills in my decision making, determining what communities want or need, and progressing those issues through robust policy and advocating for funding. Community engagement is a fundamental pillar of a Councillor’s role – I go to events, festivals, shows, ceremonial days like Australia Day and ANZAC Day, Progress Association and Hall Committee meetings, and issue specific meetings. We are grass roots government and in a rural Council like Kyogle, we have a much more personal relationship with our residents so I see us as their voice – that’s a big responsibility and a privilege.
What do you see as Kyogle’s role in the regional housing crisis?
We already have in place the development contributions and charges discounting policy which waives fees related to certain developments. I also believe it would be useful to amend our policies to include a percentage of large developments be sold as affordable housing. I don’t think we can rely on the state government to deliver large blocks of housing – as a region, we are already below the state average for social housing. More needs to be done and the Councils in the Northern Rivers footprint have a bigger voice collectively than we do individually. This is something we can work on together.
Do you think there is a role for local councillors beyond roads, rates and rubbish? If so, what is it?
If we want it done, do it ourselves. We have been involved in lobbying around issues which are outside the ‘roads, rates and rubbish’ model of Councils because this is how Councils operate today. If Council is having issues around any state or federal portfolio, we need to be taking those issues to the decision making party and put our case to them. Our communities get the best results when Council works in partnership with the state and federal governments = greater investment and better outcomes.
The cost shifting by the state government doesn’t help our bottom line and we are seeing this escalate with each passing year. We need to be using our voices to say ‘No more’.
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. 
