This month we feature two Councillors from New South Wales.
Councillor Ian Tiley, Clarence Valley Council, New South Wales
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I was the first mayor of the 2004 amalgamated Clarence Valley Council on the northern rivers of NSW and this continued a record as a Councillor with 48 years continuous Local Government experience.
I have been an elected representative since 1991, was Mayor of the former Maclean Shire Council from 1997 to 2000 and have been conferred the title of Emeritus Mayor for service to Local Government.
Q. How did you become involved in Local Government?
Becoming involved in Local Government was accidental when, as a 17 year old, my first successful job application was with an electricity supply county council at Taree in NSW.
Prior to 1991, I was for 24 years an employee in Local Government administrative and management positions, including 15 years as Shire Clerk in the Hunter Valley, NSW, and am a Retired Fellow of Local Government Managers Australia. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science 2001), Master of Arts (Public Policy 2003) and recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree on the topic of Australian Local Government amalgamations.
Q. Tell us about your thesis?
Using the case study of Clarence Valley Council, my doctoral thesis demonstrated that there were net economic benefits from the amalgamation of councils in the Clarence Valley. The ability to undertake ‘whole of valley’ strategic planning has led to attraction of a much higher level of grant funding from Commonwealth and NSW governments. While administration and governance costs have significantly increased since amalgamation, other factors have provided economies of scale and scope, greater financial capacity and stability and some efficiency gains and increased service provision capacity. The larger Council has enabled procurement of essential specialist professional expertise while savings were achieved, for example, in representation costs, improved purchasing power, and more efficient use of plant and equipment.
The thesis also examined the impacts for local democracy because of the reduction in numbers of elected councillors from 33 to nine. While a range of new and innovative communication measures have been implemented, such as regular councillor tours to the many towns, villages and localities in the council area and introduction of social media mechanisms, it was demonstrated that unless a council issue directly affected constituents, they seldom engaged with the council.
I was recently conferred the honorary title of Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of New England, Armidale. I am an Executive Committee member of the UNE Centre for Local Government and, since 2009, the Chairperson of Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers Board. I have had appointments to a former Area Consultative Committee and a Regional Development Board, a Water Management committee and a Catchment Management Board. I currently serve on the North Coast TAFE Advisory Council.
Q. Tell us about your Local Government area?
Clarence Valley Council is the result of a forced merger of six councils. Clarence Valley has a 70 kilometre coastline, 52,000 population and Grafton City and 42 other towns and villages.
Establishing the new Council with an appropriate organisational structure, a new corporate culture, a differential rating structure and whole of Local Government area strategic planning, presented many early challenges.
Offsetting the loss of elected representatives and impacts on local democracy also required considerable effort.
The Clarence Valley region is very much a sea change, retiree destination, given the sub tropical climate, year round pleasant temperatures, magnificent Clarence River, the largest in eastern Australia and the magnetism of our sun, sand and surf! Tourism is the largest economic sector while sugar cane, fishing and beef production are all contributing rural industries.
Q. What challenges does Clarence Valley face as a rural Local Government?
The key challenges facing Clarence Valley Council are accommodating the rapid population growth, effective management of assets and the issue of ensuring long term financial sustainability – all issues that would be shared by many other Local Governments.
Councillor Dilip Chopra, Hornsby Shire Council, New South Wales
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I got elected in 2008 and have always had good support within the Shire. I have always loved my community and the people around me were my strength.
From my university days, I had a liking for Local Government. To my mind, out of the three levels of government: Federal, State and Local Government, I feel the most important one is Local Government. The issues that are raised here impact on State and federal levels.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
Being a community man, I am involved 24/7 with my patch. I am there for the community be it for personal, business or social reasons.
I am an advocate for my constituents when they want me to go to the State Government and the Federal level too.
The concept of Roads, Rates and Rubbish is important to me as I am there to give the constituents the care they deserve.
Q. Tell us about your Local Government area?
My Shire is special. It has beautiful vast bushland, seas and excellent sports grounds. It is a mecca for outdoor buffs, particularly for mountain biking which is a popular sport here. We are blessed with pure air to breathe. Hornsby is between central coast and Sydney. It is enroute to Queensland and very rich in seafood. People come to enjoy the pure air and relax in the lovely farm houses. This used to be a large fruit growing area before commercial growth.
Q. What is your favourite part of the council area?
I am a full time Councillor and to me my time is meant for my Shire. I am especially committed to a multicultural Shire. Times have changed, particularly with the immigration of a high amount of skilled migrants who are highly educated, and qualified.
They want to have meeting places, social halls and cultural centres. Being a Councillor, I respond to these needs and have the Mayor and other Councillors consider these issues.
Q. What challenges does Hornsby face as a rural Local government?
Hornsby is a Shire that has grown commercially. Being a transport hub between Central Coast, Sydney and Queensland, people use Hornsby as a commuting stop as they go to work. This has given an impetus to the commercial growth here. I see a big future for my Shire. I see myself involved with all this in the future and would like to be come back in 2012 to serve.
