NEW South Wales voters will head to the polls on Saturday, September 14, to elect local councillors.
In the Murray River Council area, voters will elect nine candidates across three wards – three each in Moama Ward, Greater Wakool Ward and Greater Murray Ward.
The Greater Wakool Ward is uncontested as the number of candidates is equal to the number to be elected.
They include returning councillors Neil Gorey and Dennis Gleeson, alongside new councillor Gary Pappin from Mellool.
Long-time councillor Ann Crowe decided not to re-stand.
The Greater Wakool Ward represents the main localities of Barham, Moulamein, Tooleybuc and Murray Downs.
There are six candidates in the Greater Murray Ward and seven in Moama Ward.
We meet your local representatives in a Q&A.
NEIL GOREY
1. Can you tell residents a little about yourself?
I have been on council since 2009, at which time I was elected onto the former Wakool Shire Council.
I served on that council for seven years, including three as the mayor.
Upon the merger with Murray Shire Council, I was elected to Murray River Council in 2017.
I live in Swan Hill with my wife, Helma, and work as an enrolled nurse with Swan Hill District Health.
2. Why did you decide to re-stand for council?
I take pride in representing the Greater Wakool Ward and feel that with my experience and knowledge of the area, I can give effective representation.
On a more sobering note, it has been difficult in recent years to attract new candidates to this ward due to both its size and demographics.
3. What issues are you taking to the next term of council that need to be addressed?
One major issue is the Local Environmental Plan which limits dwellings on rural lands to holdings of no less than 500 hectares.
Maintenance of our rural roads is an ongoing issue and ensuring funding to our towns, villages and rural roads is maintained, given the increasing urbanisation of our council around Moama and the need to balance priorities the between the two.
4. What challenges do you see for council in the next four years?
The first challenge is always to be able to maintain a cohesive council which is able to work together and deliver benefits to the wider community.
Although the replacement of the Swan Hill bridge is now in the planning stages, as a council we need to advocate for and keep the pressure on both Federal and State governments to ensure that the construction stage is fully funded and commenced within a reasonable timeframe.
5. What excites you about being on the council?
More than anything it is about being able to make a positive difference for our community.
Projects such as the Moulamein Pre-school, Mensforth Park in Tooleybuc, the Barham Recreation Reserve and now the progress of the Murray Downs boat ramp are some of the projects I have seen come to fruition during my time on this council.
The opening of the Barham micro abattoir in coming weeks, which was funded by grants auspice through MRC, will deliver many benefits for our rural producers.
6. Anything else you’d like to say?
With the boundary realignment of the ward areas, the Greater Wakool Ward now includes the villages of Bunnaloo and Womboota and extends to within 7km from Moama.
This is due to the need for the three wards – Greater Wakool, Greater Murray and Moama – to be no lesser or greater than each other in terms of electors.
Moama is currently experiencing a rapid population increase and in the future there will be potentially further changes to ward size.
