FAQs
Why are you running on a group ticket?
All the candidates I am running with are independents committed to a growth agenda for our region - there are no surprises or single issues we are pursuing. In putting the group together I wanted the community to know which candidates I considered would provide the best outcomes for our region.
Does the group speak as one?
No. Other than a commitment to grow the region, each of us comes to the election with different expectations, experiences and skills. We also represent different parts of our community.
Should I vote ‘Above the Line’ or ‘Below the Line’?
Totally up to you. Voting above the line will ensure your vote stays within the group and will flow down to boost the election prospects of all candidates in the group. By voting below the line (you will need to vote for a minimum of 5 people) you can direct your preferences as you see fit.
What are the big issues facing our region?
The macro issues are everything required to grow our population by an additional 10,000 people. This means ensuring we have water security in place along with sufficient housing supply and meaningful jobs.
At the same time we need to brace ourselves for the impact of the Renewable Energy Zone which is likely to involve 2,000+ workers across a 10-year construction period.
We also need a focus on livability and amenity - what is needed to make people want to live here. This is where partnering with the NSW government is essential for the things they provide such as health care, education and transport.
In terms of amenities (such as the recently completed Dumaresq Dam precinct), Armidale Regional Council will need to take the lead and make the investment.
Why doesn’t the Council just get a grant for the things we want or need?
Having been the Mayor in the previous team of Council it is has become apparent that government grants are becoming rarer and in the future any meaningful grant is going to require at least a 50% co-contribution from the Council. The reason is that the State Government wants to pick winners and the easiest way to spot a winning council is if they are in a financial position to make a co-contribution. Councils that rely on 100% grant funding are going to struggle.
Why do we need to grow?
Most of the problems we identify with our region are just symptoms of a low and stagnating population. A larger population will:
drive the revitalisation of the commercial and cultural hearts of our townships;
create a ‘gravitational pull’ for more business investment, more government services and the infrastructure to support us until we become a self-sustaining region impervious to the fortunes of one or two industries; and
enable sharing of the burden of many of the fixed costs that keep our region ticking along - rural roads, water infrastructure and the like.
Are you related to Bob Katter?
Yes, he is my father-in-law.
