Nine new candidates are preparing for the upcoming Narrandera Shire Council election in a bid for a fresh start for the shire.
Fifteen residents have been confirmed as candidates and the NSW Electoral Commission shows the top three ballot spots are occupied by female candidates.
New candidate Rachelle Cregan and sitting councillors Jenny Clarke and Narelle Payne will headline the ballot paper.
Mayor Neville Kschenka takes the tenth spot while new candidates Peter Dawson and Stuart Davies come in at numbers four and five respectively.
Narrandera Youth Council leader Braden Lyons will come in at number 13.
Deputy Mayor David Fahey OAM has decided not to run for Narrandera Shire and will instead run for Federation Council leaving the door open for a new leadership representative on the nine-person council.
Current councillors Tracey Lewis, Kevin Morris and Barbara Bryon are all seeking re-election and Steve Rolfe was a late withdrawal as a candidate.
After the election the council will elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Elections will be held on December 4. Residents are urged to register to vote online at elections.nsw.gov.au
OFFICIAL BALLOT ORDER
1. Rachelle Cregan
2. Jenny Clarke
3. Narelle Payne
4. Peter Dawson
5. Stuart Davies
6. Tracey Lewis
7. Sue Ruffles
8. Bob Manning
9. Shannon Rivero
10. Neville Kschenka
11. Cameron Lander
12. Leigh Mathieson
13. Braden Lyons
14. Kevin Morris
15. Barbara Bryon
MEET THE NEW CANDIDATES
Candidate’s emphasis on revitalisation and transparency
Economic revitalisation and transparency is high on the agenda of Narrandera Shire Council candidate Shannon Rivero.
The 38-year old has resided in Narrandera for almost 20 years and currently runs an information technology business Riverina Technology, a company he started over ten years ago.
He has also worked at JBS (formerly Rockdale Beef) and maintained roles in Narrandera Community Radio and the Rural Fire Service.
Mr Rivero’s top priority on council would be to reverse the decline of Narrandera’s population growth and stop the slow decline of Narrandera’s prosperity and opportunity.
“I want to see Narrandera grow and to see population growth,” Mr Rivero told the Argus.
“I want to see the funds that Narrandera shire receive to have some economic value which will help build Narrandera.
“I’ve been watching politics for a while where you hear the same story like “the town isn’t big enough for these services” and you see different services disappear over the years due to population.
“I want to see that council are doing everything they can to move forward into the future with economic diversity, population as well as still maintain the community.”
Mr Rivero says that a viable economic base will allow the shire to shape and maintain its community and independence, retain its colourful village feel and improve the services and amenities required for its residents and visitors.
He also believes transparency at council level needs to be addressed and will endeavour to improve the credibility of council decisions.
“I find another big thing is the transparency,” he said.
“You hear things happening that could prosper Narrandera and all of a sudden the projects disappear and you try to find out why and there is just nothing there.
“I find we keep just running around in the same circle, we get an idea but its put in the too hard basket or it just gets forgotten about.
“We had multiple companies over the years that wanted to utilise our airport that would have promoted jobs, like Wagner’s or Mitsubish,i and getting produce out of the country directly from the source rather than carting it to one of our ports.
“Council could have fought a bit harder.”
He has never shied away from throwing his hat into community events.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of volunteer work whether it be scouting and helping form the Narrandera radio station as well as maintain the equipment to keep it on air and in line with AMCA,” he said.
“I’ve helped out rotary in many things like the ‘Rockin on East’ Festival.
“(There aren’t) many community events I don’t throw my hat in to help out, most people in Narrandera will see me at any number of events whether I’m helping out on gates at the footy, race club or driving the Lions train if they need another driver.
“They know I’m always available if they need an extra hand.”
Diversity and business health high on agenda
Cameron Lander wants to bolster opportunities at Narrandera TAFE and improve the diversity and health of businesses if he is elected to Narrandera Shire Council. In the forthcoming local government election.
Mr Lander is born and raised in Narrandera and worked a trade before spending almost 30 years in in various public sector roles in the Commonwealth government.
In his time in government he has had experience at the Australian Border Force, Department of Social Services and a role on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses To Child Sexual Abuse.
He has held local roles in the community including as secretary of Narrandera Community and Friends and is an honorary manager of Narrandera Bowling Club.
Now retired, Mr Lander wants to use his experience in government to improve the way council makes decisions and introduce measures to offer more vibrancy to business in the Shire.
“To me there is plenty of opportunities to create and build things and Narrandera has definitely declined,” said Mr Lander.
“We used to have maternity services and much better police services, doctors, dentists and we had a lot more services, people and licensed establishments.
“My interest is bringing businesses down here, there are plenty of opportunities to do it.”
Mr Lander says there has been many chances to pounce on projects that would drive investment and interest in the town but they haven’t been taken.
He cites the Inland Rail project and the Wagner’s proposal for the airport as missed opportunities.
“We say we are open for business but we’re not,” he said.
“We need to go out and get businesses, where we are positioned we are a day from two thirds of the population of Australia.
“I’ve worked long enough in government to know that population drives services.
“If you don’t grow your population, the only way to do that is with viable long term businesses and services, you otherwise are in a circle of beg beg beg.”
Recently the NSW Government were revealed to have plans to sell-off parts of TAFE campuses across the state with the Narrandera campus rumoured to be on the list.
Mr Lander does not support the NSW Government selling parts of the campus but admits if it doesn’t have attention and investment as a public institution it will get taken away.
“I would be hopeful that they would keep their hands off the campus,” he said.
“I’m with the (Narrandera Bowling) club and we are looking for staff.
“I spoke to a teacher and course co-ordinator at TAFE and said if you want a practical component go work at the Bowling Club, the TAFE (teaches) technical, we do practical.
“It maybe needs to be pressed a bit more to be more relevant to this area and this region, expanding it with online courses, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be in the process of setting it up this way.
“Builders go to Wagga or Griffith to do their trades, they’ve got to go out of town and it concerns me as to its relevance to the community.
“The only way you can make certain it won’t happen to is to make sure you are relevant and viable. You can’t hope, you’ve got to get in there and make yourself viable”.
Local emphasis with focus on change
Rachele Cregan will ensure Narrandera is a town for locals by locals with a focus on using council to drive change should she be elected in December.
Mrs Cregan has grown tired of inaction over what she says is a lack of strategy for the future of Narrandera and has drawn the number one spot on the ballot paper for Narrandera Shire Council.
A medical herbalist by trade, she doesn’t hide her love for the town and wants to see it grow in the interest of its residents.
“Honest politics, transparency and a town driven by locals is what I’m interested in,” Mrs Cregan told the Argus.
“I love this town and (want) to make a difference and make sure this town survives into the future. I want locals to direct that more than State members dictating how that happens.
“I want to create the town that locals want, I don’t want to focus on tourism, I think tourists will come anyway, we are throwing a lot of money at tourism but we aren’t a destination - we are a pit stop.
“There are a few problems that have been around for 20 years that really frustrates me and 20 years is too long to wait on a solution on things like drinking water and footpaths.
“It is little infrastructure as well and building the town that’s going to survive the future rather than being swallowed by larger towns.”
Mrs Cregan taps into a sore point that many new candidates for Council have identified is a major issue.
Narrandera’s population is declining and with it investment and services.
Mrs Cregan believes the council should play a bigger role in driving forward the direction of the town with innovative ideas to fix problems like job casualisation, health services, business and education.
She has suggested investing in mobile services similar to other councils to bring things like an ‘Optometry Bus’ to the town.
“Jobs for young people are not high level, if you want a high level job you have to move,” she said.
“There are not a lot of permanent roles available for young people.
“Support locals means supporting locals, what about a university hub that is secure that people can access internet and do online university that gives young people an opportunity to stay in the town and earn qualifications without leaving?
“What about a business hub to get talented people into businesses?
“We don’t have a plan, we buy all these bits and pieces but we don’t seem to be working towards a plan.
“We can’t actually see policy or where we are actually funding, we are driving without navigation.
“If we build the right town for the locals, more people will want to be locals. Organically, tourism will happen without throwing money at it.”
Employment and youth on candidate’s agenda
Narrandera Shire Council new candidate Peter Dawson wants to provide more employment opportunities, develop the local economy, and create opportunities for young people.
Originally from Morundah Peter has lived in Narrandera for over 20 years with his wife Minnie and children Jonathon, Olivia and Patrick.
Having successfully run his own business for over 30 years, Peter now enjoys retirement with the aim of giving back to his community.
Peter has travelled through the Shire with his insurance business and has identified a need for more business and employment opportunities for the youth of the area.
“I see a lot of potential within the Shire. Not just Narrandera but all the towns in the Shire including, Barellan, Sandigo, Kamarah, and Grong Grong” Peter told the Argus.
“I’d like to see bigger businesses come to our smaller communities and create more incentives for our younger people to remain in the Shire”.
“It flows on from business, more businesses (means) more employment and more growth. It gives more people more reason to come to the town”.
“I think there is opportunity here it’s just getting people to see these opportunities, to attract new investors to understand that there is more to Narrandera and other towns in the Shire that really meets the eye.
“I’ve got a good knowledge of the area because I’ve travelled extensively throughout the Shire for the last 30 years, I know most of the area.
“I will strive to improve the Shire in every aspect including tourism, which bring business to smaller communities, mainly to improve and further develop our Shire.”
Peter has earmarked Narrandera Sportsground as a potential site for bigger sporting events such as cricket or an AFL game.
“We’ve got a magnificent sportsground in Narrandera especially with the new club rooms,” he said.
“I’d like to see more sporting events coming to Narrandera be it cricket or AFL for the Shire.
“We’ve had AFL matches here and other professional sporting events. We could even (try to get) a game of day-night cricket. I would also like to promote women’s sporting events as well.”
Peter believes in communication and transparency are the foundations of good government leadership.
Advocating for sustainable and positive change
Narrandera Shire Council new candidate Leigh Mathieson chose to write his own piece for the Narrandera Argus.
By way of introduction, I am the production manager at Grunt Pork, a paddock-to- plate family-run piggery at Grong Grong.
I was born, raised and educated in Narrandera and have spent my adult life working in cities and regional centres throughout Victoria in the pig industry, hospitality and medical research.
I am running for Narrandera Shire Council (NSC) to advocate for sustainable and positive change in the Shire, focussing on the community, health services, industry/farming and the environment.
The needs of the smaller communities, Barellan, Grong Grong and Binya are different to those of the bigger Narrandera community.
I believe more attention should be given to their progress. I would try to ensure all the Shire’s communities have equal representation irrespective of their size.
If elected I would work with fellow councillors to attract sustainable industry to Narrandera to drive up employment and bring new people to the shire.
- would advocate for better access to health services and better resourcing to attract more practitioners to the area and help grow the community.
Narrandera’s farming and industrial diversity presents us with many opportunities on our doorstep. Value-adding to successful agricultural and horticultural farm businesses is one.
We are in the middle of the region’s food bowl. We should jump at the chance to make the most of our location and our farmers’ expertise to lead the way, using cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas to boost the shire’s economy.
I believe we must ‘look outside the square’.
Narrandera is blessed with outstanding and diverse natural resources from nature reserves, river red gum woodlands and magnificent wetlands alive with hundreds of endemic and migratory birds to the Murrumbidgee National Park, the Murrumbidgee River and the free-ranging koala colony.
We should capitalise on the eco-tourism opportunities on our doorstep which could provide employment for young Aboriginal citizens through .the establishment of a Narrandera Indigenous Stewardship Program which I believe would get the thumbs-up from the elders .
This would involve training and employing indigenous rangers to look after the national park and nature reserves in Narrandera. Similar programs run elsewhere in Australia, some of which incorporate guided tours provided by the indigenous custodians of the land.
I am passionate about the environment and would like to work with the community to regenerate bushland .and increase biodiversity.
I am a member of NSC domestic violence committee and would be happy to serve on other council and community committees.
What I would like to achieve is diversity and equality, equal representation for all, and to advance cultural and art programs.
I support the Narrandera Koala Research Station proposed by Cr David Fahey and endorsed by the council, to safeguard the iconic animals and their disease-free status into the future.
I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. I am trying to replace the tyres that blew out over the years and get the bus running again.
