Issues that matter to you
As an elected Dubbo Regional Councillor, my job will be about listening to and representing the community across the LGA. This means taking time to understand the options in front of us, and then making the best decision in the interests of all the residents and ratepayers across the region. Local Government also has to work within legislation and regulations, so sometimes the way forward won’t always be easy, regardless of what some may say or want.
Affordable housing
Housing is a massive concern for our entire region. Having a roof over your head is a basic right – but also, if we want to attract and retain new residents, we have to be able to ensure they can be housed. The affordable housing issue has been exacerbated by cost of living pressures, the scarcity of tradies, and rising material costs, but council can certainly play a role through zoning and planning incentives. However, very careful thought needs to go into planning our urban environments to take into account the next 20/30/40 years as the planet warms and the climate shifts around us.
Rate increases
Before taking any position on this, I need to understand exactly what the budgetary requirements are, and where savings can be sourced. No-one, me included, wants to pay any more in rates than we already do, but I think it’s ultimately like a household budget – you need to balance the needs with the wants. I do think we need to be very careful that we don’t lose sight of the sorts of things that might not generate tangible or significant income, but that enrich the overall liveability of our region and thereby contribute to our economic and social health in the long run.
Youth crime
Crime in general is an issue here, as it is across many regional local government areas. We need to do is acknowledge that, own it, and listen to the people down on the ground who are living it, suffering from it, and yes, dying from it. It’s not a new issue, but it pains me deeply that we’re still having the same conversation after decades of talking about it. I’m deeply disappointed by the dog-whistling of the law-and-order lobby that preys on community fears without actually doing anything tangible. Talk to the community, talk to the people in community who are working with these young people, who are working in the mental health space, to the police, to the education providers – to people like Frank Doolan, the people at LeaderLife and Clontarf, Youth Off The Streets, Craig Biles, Jeff Amatto. Start listening to community—really listening to understand the issues and come up with real solutions—and include judicial representatives. Support the drug court and push for the rehab centre to be built. Stop using victims of crime and marginalised kids as political footballs.
Swimming pool management
I know there has been a great deal of discussion and some significant concerns with the contracting out of the management of both our aquatic leisure centres here in Dubbo and in Wellington and Geurie, but I’m not sufficiently across the details at this stage. I have had several people raise with me the opening hours of the Geurie pool, and again, these are concerns that need to be genuinely heard and considered, and a solution sought with input from people impacted by them. I imagine that in the running of these facilities is very often a question of available resources and making sure the impost doesn’t just fall automatically onto ratepayers. Seeking external funding sources seems to be the wisest option for council to pursue, particularly with a community-driven campaign of support.
Council budget
The bulk of Council’s revenue comes from rates and other annual charges – some $54 million forecast for this current financial year, followed by user charges and fees of $26m.
I don’t have the benefit of having recently been on Council or an incumbent Councillor, but suffice to say, given ratepayers are the ones filling the coffers, making sure the residents and ratepayers get the best bang for their buck is paramount. Bear in mind that what one sees on the bottom line doesn’t always tell the full story either. I’m sure there are ways in which savings can be found. With cost of living pressures increasing, everyone is hurting and it will be incumbent on Councillors now, more than ever, to lead by example and to constantly remind the bureaucracy that decisions impact real people in real ways, so should always be made with the ratepayer in mind.
Roads and potholes
I’m no good with a shovel, but I’ll make sure that, if elected, and with the time to properly look into exactly where the greatest need lies in terms of improving roads and fixing potholes acros the LGA, I’ll do my best to ensure those that are a priority are treated as such. Often, it seems some of the more achievable works are the least prioritised, particularly in our villages and rural localities. This is where my idea of a “duty councillor” to be the voice for villages could certainly help.
Transparency and accountability
Residents and ratepayers should reasonably be able to expect full access to information about how their rates and government funding are being spent. This includes costs incurred and expended by councillors themselves. I have absolutely no problem with that expectation, and if I’m elected will have similarly no problem in opening my own council books for regular and full scrutiny. That said, we need to be very mindful of compliance costs. Accountability comes with being part of the community you serve. Being connected to your community helps keep you accountable.
Environmental protection
This is the kind of information and backgrounding that new councillors in particular will need to get their heads around once they’re elected to the new council, and I plan to do just that should I be among them. Suffice to say this is one of the most vital areas of council operations and while I don’t yet have a good enough grasp on the minutiae of initiatives…yet. I feel strongly that our region is part of a massive ecosystem – environmental, economic, social and cultural – and any planning and development needs to be considered in that context. Our planet is warming, our climate is changing and our urban and rural development must take into account the forecasts for 10, 20, 30, 40 years hence. We must plan for a future liveable region in every facet of the word.
Support for local business
My husband and I spent many years in the retail sector here in Dubbo and MANY years ago I was part of a diverse group of representatives of that sector that came together to form a peak body for local businesses so as to represent them to council, to government and to the public in general. I have also been self-employed for the past 20 years, and I have been a member of various business groups, bodies and also of the Chamber of Commerce. I know how tough it is to be in business and juggle family and community commitments and keep the doors open, particularly with growing compliance and regulatory interference. Anything council can do to alleviate that stress is welcome, particularly given that small business is a significant employer in our region and contributes to our overall economic health.
Partnering with industry groups and networks is important to promote opportunities in, to and for the region – groups like the Chamber of Commerce, RDA Orana, education providers like TAFE and CSU, government agencies, Women in Business groups… there are many. Regularly consulting with these groups to identify ways in which the local business community can be supported. Assisting businesses with securing grants and accessing other funding opportunities is also an important role that council can play.
Ensuring that local businesses and suppliers are supported in terms of procurement of goods and services for council use is absolutely vital. Local businesses should be at the top of council’s list every time and should be given every opportunity to be suppliers of choice, obviously taking costs into account, but allowing for that “local” margin.
There are many more issues I know are important to residents and ratepayers, some of which I’ve addressed in my Ideas list below, or are extensions of some of those issues I’ve outlined my position on above. If elected to Dubbo Regional Council, I pledge to work hard to listen, read, learn, question, and use my experience and skills to fully understand the issues that matter to our communities. I am your representatative.
Ideas for a Stronger Region
These are some of the ideas I’ve come into this election with, and some I’ve picked up as I’ve spent weeks talking to people across the Dubbo Region local government area. I’d love to hear your ideas for stronger communities and a stronger region.
- A Duty Councillor for Villages.
- A Tip Shop involving community not-for-profit organisations and clubs.
- Expansion of existing more leash-free areas for companion animals – and pushing for Council to support a subsidised companion animal de-sexing program.
- Greater support for programs based out of our libraries (Wellington and Dubbo) – as places where all sectors of the community can come together.
- Greater support for community groups to access Council facilities for affordable fees and charges.
- Support for innovative projects that enhance cultural and creative connectivity, using technology for self-guided walking tours and guided walking tours of Dubbo and Wellington, including our First Nations heritage, as well as places like Shoyoen, the Old Dubbo Gaol, Dundullimal, and the river in our towns and villages.
- Council to partner with CSU to support the application for the establishment of a Regional University Study Hub to help attract and retain young people. The fifth round of this funding program is open now and universities need to prove community need and support.
- Establish a genuine community-based consultative group of people with lived experience and from “on the ground” organisations to help address the issue of youth crime, disengagement of youth and homelessness.
- For hearing impaired: closed captions on presentations, for example, council meetings or providing recordings; a chat line for assistance on the council website; an Auslan interpreter to sign for major events.
- Ensuring that we have social and cultural infrastructure not just economic and business infrastructure – supporting and encouraging creative communities and groups as well as our sporting communities and groups. There’s no point attracting people here for work if there’s no lifestyle to go with it.
- Engaging with and encouraging emerging leaders is absolutely vital – in education, in the arts, in health, in business, in agriculture – embracing change and technology.
- Understanding the needs of our shifting demographics and how that shapes our social and cultural landscape.
- Supporting volunteer communities and endeavours wherever and in whatever way we can.
- Ensure social and physical/built infrastructure is adequately future-proofed to meet our needs as we grow, and to allow us to not just live but thrive, and be productive in a changing and warming climate.
- Our region is part of a big and complex ecosystem – environmental, economic, social and cultural, so any planning and development needs to be considered in that context
Jen COWLEY for Council 