The Winds of Change are rippling through Armidale Dumaresq Shire with a ground swell of like-minded business people claiming ‘enough is enough’ putting their cards on the table and stepping up as candidates for the Armidale Dumaresq Council elections on September 8.
Although not as many candidates as the previous elections in 2008, 31 is still a strong number contesting for 10 seats with independents representing 15 of the 31 candidates.
Independent candidates Laurie Bishop, Steve Griffith (Group B), Jenny Bailey and Rick Molesworth (Group E) and Andrew Murat (ungrouped) are five of the new breed of candidates looking for change and a prosperous future for Armidale Dumaresq.
“We are part of a movement of like-minded individuals who feel that there are huge opportunities which are being missed,” said Laurie Bishop.
“With the right people and the right skills we can make change happen.”
These like-minded candidates had never met before and struck a common bond through nominating for council and reading each other’s profiles, realising that they were each on the same page.
“We felt we had some common interest,” said Rick Molesworth.
“But we believe that because we are from the outside business community and not academics we have got something to offer from our experiences. With fresh input this can only improve council.”
There are a number of major issues facing Armidale Dumaresq however they are all of the belief that Council’s financial position must be stabilised before the council can move forward.
“Everyone knows that council is in a poor financial position which is going to be one of the most significant challenges to grow the rate base and that comes from vision, not punitive measures like pay for parking that will turn people away from the CBD,” said Steve Griffiths.
“We need to be revitalising and get a sound financial base to grow the community and that doesn’t have to come from negative increases in rates it comes from good economic management and leadership that what this team is about.”
Australian Bureau of Statistic (ABS) figures released recently have shown that Armidale Dumaresq is growing at a snail’s pace of 0.9 percent.
“These ABS figures showed that every other community in this area including Walcha, Guyra, Uralla and Inverell are all growing and what are we; 0.9 percent, it’s just not good enough,” said Jenny Bailey.
The candidates are also looking to address confidence for investment and attract new business as well as supporting existing businesses that are bound down by red tape and bureaucracy.
“Cooperation between council and the business sector and bringing all these groups in to discuss how we move forward instead of being such separate entities can only be positive,” said Jenny Bailey.
