Mayor Graham Bury, Kingborough Council, Tasmania
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I was elected to Council eight years ago. Mayors in Tasmania are elected by popular vote for two years and I am in the middle of my second term as Mayor.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
I had often become involved in issues in the past, either near home or consequent to my work as a paediatrician, and I had also done a good deal of voluntary work. When I decided to retire from my work at the hospital, contributing to the local community on Council seemed the logical way to continue these interests, and I guess, battles.
Q. What makes your Council area special or different?
I suppose everyone claims to have a ‘special’ municipal area or shire. But Kingborough truly is special!
We have a mix of urban and rural environments and a wonderful lifestyle with many kilometres of beaches and coastal areas. The D’Entrecasteaux Channel, an iconic waterway and world renowned mecca for sailors, passes through our municipality between Bruny Island and mainland Tasmania.
Q. What are the key challenges facing your Council?
Kingborough is one of the most rapidly growing areas in Tasmania. One of the fundamental challenges that constantly faces Council is balancing this growth with the need to care for our magnificent natural environment, which is not only a feature of the municipality, but one of the main reasons many people seek to live here.
As with all councils, we are always looking for adequate funds to maintain and enhance our infrastructure assets.
Q. What innovative projects or policies is your Council working on?
A new State high school is currently being built. This will lead to the vacation of what is now a substantial area in the centre of our business district, and will provide the once in a generation opportunity to develop a subregional centre with mixed use, of which our population can be proud.
We are working closely with our community and the State Government, who own the site, to ensure that our long term vision for the area can be accomplished.
Q. Tell us about a memorable moment on Council.
Surviving my first full Council meeting as Mayor!
On the positive side, hosting a delegation from our sister city in The Netherlands, who visited as part of our centenary celebrations earlier this year. We have a substantial Dutch community, and our sister city, Grootegast, is the birthplace of Abel Tasman.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Continuing engagement with our innovative and self reliant community as we develop facilities for our growing population.
We intend to be recognised and acknowledged as a Council that has planned strategically for a long term future, both for our residents and the natural environment.
Mayor Adriana Taylor, Glenorchy City Council, Tasmania
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I have been on Council since 1999, first elected as Mayor in 2005 and re-elected for a second two year term in 2007.
Q. What interests you about Local Government?
Local Government is an essential level of government for communities. We are responsible for the provision of many services that affect people’s daily lives, such as local roads, water and wastewater, and town planning.
But councils also do so much more, much of it intangible. We strengthen communities through safety, youth development, recreational and community health, and education programs to name but a few. All of this is really important for community life, health and wellbeing. That makes being on Council both challenging and rewarding.
I became involved after many years of local volunteer work because I could see the enormous potential for good when the community and Local Government work together.
Q. What makes your Council area special or different?
Glenorchy is beautifully situated between river and mountain, has a strong agricultural and industrial heritage and has always been a place where people have been able to work, live and play locally. While being careful to retain those values, we are moving towards being a place for visitors as well, with our current, serious development of cultural precincts and promotion of our City as a venue for family friendly entertainment.
Q. Why do you think females are still under represented in leadership positions and mayoral roles?
I look forward to the day when there will be equal representation of women in all levels of leadership. Women need to be encouraged to recognise the contribution they can make to public life. We have traditionally been reluctant to stand for election and certainly have not been keen to promote ourselves. We are still under represented, partly because we don’t stand.
Each person’s journey is unique, but I am very fortunate in being gifted with wonderfully supportive family, friends and mentors. Women bring different skills and personalities to this role, but being Mayor is challenging for each of us, male and female. Those who elect us are looking for qualities such as leadership, strength, honesty and intelligence. None of those is exclusive to one gender.
Q. What issues are important to you?
Growing community capacity is important – all
sectors working together to grow a community where people care about and for one another. To achieve that, it is also important to encourage education and sustainable economic growth. Seeing our place in the wider community and developing regional partnerships is also important.
Q. What has been your greatest achievement on Council?
It’s not just my achievement and it’s still a work in progress. Cooperative and responsible decision making by a fully committed, proactive and enthusiastic group of elected members, and working closely with staff.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
The best community focused council, where staff love their jobs, residents share both in planning and the carrying out of our goals, and where great quality candidates line up to stand for election as Councillors and Mayor.
Q. What do you like most about being Mayor?
The enormous privilege of meeting and working with hundreds of amazing people.
I also enjoy having a hand in decision making for our community and the opportunity to learn from that.
