A regular feature, this month profiling two Councillors from South Australia.
Mayor Bill Cooksley, Adelaide Hills Council
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I was elected to the District Council of East Torrens in 1982 and served to 1992. I returned to Council in 1994 and have been an elected member since. In July 1997, Adelaide Hills Council was formed in a four way amalgamation. I was elected Mayor in May 2000 and re-elected in 2003. In South Australia, the Mayor is elected directly by the community.
Q. Tell us about yourself and your community.
I am a South Australian by choice. I was born and raised around Sydney, then went to ANU in Canberra and to Melbourne University. I have worked in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and country Victoria. I have been in South Australia since 1973 and in the Adelaide Hills since 1974. My wife Rosemary and I made a conscious decision that we would live in the Hills. After a couple of weekends here as visitors, we fell in love with the place. I became interested in Local Government at the time the Planning Act was being introduced. I saw a display at the local show that proposed a large subdivision not far from where I live. I was determined to fight and this has grown to a long term opposition to inappropriate development. Despite the fact that we abut the metropolitan area, development is tightly managed. Much of the district is either watershed or the Hills backdrop to Adelaide, so there is an additional layer of State controls that augment Council’s regulations. The majority of the community supports this restricted approach.
Q. Describe the population of Adelaide Hills Council. Are the demographics changing?
Council has a population approaching 40,000, spread among 57 towns and settlements and on farms. We include some of the foothills suburbs of Adelaide, but most of the population is in the higher altitude parts of the Council. Apart from the ageing population that is generally occurring, our demographics are fairly static. Little population growth is envisaged, but the rise in property values may impact on the composition of the community as farming gives way to rural living. Our closeness to Adelaide and the good road connections make commuting easy. About 20 per cent of the population are pensioners or self-funded retirees. The farms, orchards and vineyards of the district produce world class cherries, apples and pears, cool climate wine, vegetables and stud animals.
Q. What are the most important issues in your Local Government area?
The potential for the usual peri-urban issues to cause controversy is well managed and, as a result, things are fairly settled. Concerns about fire safety, weed infestation and conservation are always topical.
Q. Does your Council actively promote tourism?
The picturesque nature of most of the district makes it attractive to tourists, and visitors are very welcome. Council outsources its major activity in this area to two regional bodies that are specialists in the field. We have representation on these boards and are able to maintain a constant input. Council encourages tourism because we can see the economic and social benefits that flow from it. We are currently upgrading our tourist signs.
Q. What are the key aspects to being a good Mayor?
A good Mayor needs to be patient and thick skinned. He or she often has to tread a middle path and lead the Council through controversy to consensus. Good listening skills are a help.
Q. How do you see the future of Local Government in South Australia?
We have a difficult task in that we are not getting anywhere near our fair share of Federal grant allocation and no matter how compelling our argument for fiscal justice, it falls on deaf ears. Federal members say supportive things but they seem unable to put their money where their mouths are. Recent amalgamations have strained the relationship between the community and Local Government. Bigger entities have distanced Councils from the ratepayers. The challenge is to restore the community’s faith in their very own Council. From my perspective, any further attempt at amalgamations is to be resisted vigorously.
Councillor Meredith Sutton, Flinders Ranges Council
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I became a Councillor at the last Local Government elections in May 2003.
Q. Tell us about yourself and your community.
I am married and have two young children, six and four. My son is just about to complete his first year at Quorn Area School and my daughter attends the Quorn Kindergarten. My Husband is the Community Development Officer with the Outback Areas Community Development Trust – a State Government Statutory Authority responsible for limited Local Government administration in the unincorporated areas of the State. His job is based in Port Augusta and I am a part time school teacher and the proprietor of a country clothing shop.
Our community is nestled in the Northern Flinders Ranges, adjacent to the magnificent South Australian outback. It is a small, tight knit community that takes pride in its strong family values and high work ethic. Crop farmers, graziers and supporting agencies make up the bulk of the population. The Council area also includes the townships of Hawker and the small hamlet of Craddock. The area is steeped in history – the old Ghan railway meanders through the district, old pubs dot the main street and remnants of our rich pastoral heritage can be found throughout the region.
Q. Describe the population of Flinders Ranges Council. Are the demographics changing?
The population is about 2,000 – predominantly people associated with primary production. More people are realising the area’s tourism potential and are finding economic sustainability through diversification and the direct development of tourism products. The population demographic is becoming increasingly older. There are no aged care facilities in the unincorporated areas and limited access to acute and palliative care. Many older citizens are moving to Quorn to maintain some affinity with the Outback and remain within a reasonable distance of family and friends.
Housing prices have sky rocketed in Port Augusta, which is 40 kilometres away, and people are seeking a more affordable and quieter lifestyle in Quorn.
Q. What are the most important issues in your Local Government area?
Ageing infrastructure, an ageing population and associated access to services, and general economic sustainability. The demands of insurance, maintenance, new facilities and infrastructure are placing unrealistic pressures on ever decreasing Council revenue. State Government rationalisation of Council districts has marginalised communities and created ‘haves and have nots’ depending on the town where a Council sits. Flinders Ranges Council suffers economic dilemmas in providing equitable services to all of its towns. Other issues include the retention and employment of youth. This is a major issue facing rural and regional Australia and considerable resources are needed to address this increasing problem.
Q. Does your Council actively promote tourism?
Council is committed to tourism development and marketing existing tourism products. Council jointly funds a Tourism Product Development Officer with neighbouring Orroroo/Carrieton and Peterborough Councils, the Northern Regional Development Board, Tourism SA and the Outback Areas Community Development Trust. We also jointly fund a marketing officer for the Pichi Richi historic railway society with Tourism SA. We are currently developing a business plan for Warren Gorge, where the Sounds under the Southern Cross was held during the Year of the Outback. Walking trails are being developed around the towns, and we have recently produced a brochure promoting the Council district.
Q. What are the key aspects to being a good Councillor?
To be receptive to community wants and aspirations, sympathetic to their needs and robust in standing up for their rights. A Councillor needs to listen and be heard. Being an effective communicator and a strong character is important. A good Councillor has significant input into the policy direction of their Council.
Q. How do you see the future of Local Government in South Australia?
I see it as being tenuous at best. The State and Federal Governments need to resource Local Governments more. They need to understand the financial pressures Councils face, work harder at resolving insurance issues, and be more supportive of regional initiatives. Unless these issues are addressed, small Local Government entities will fail to be economically sustainable, will lose community support and ultimately cease to exist.
