I was elected to the Broome Shire Council in 2003 and became Shire President in May 2005. I chose to enter local government because the town of Broome had been good to me in many ways and I felt that I would like to give something back.
I’m involved in three businesses in town, and have been heavily involved in the tourism industry for more than 20 years. Tourism is one of the main economic drivers within the Shire, and so my involvement in the industry gives me a good insight into the community.
About the Shire of Broome
Our local government area covers some 56,000sqkm – an area only just smaller than Tasmania. It includes some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and remarkable natural attractions that draw visitors from around Australia and the world. But the things I like most about the Shire of Broome are the people, the culture, the history and the heritage, all of which have a richness that needs to be experienced to be believed.
Two significant challenges we face are the major mining and Liquefied Natural Gas developments that have been proposed for the Shire, and the delivery to and interface with more than 70 Indigenous communities that are the homes to just over 1000 people.
The Shire of Broome population has shown consistent growth of more than three percent a year for the past 20 years and forward projections indicate this will continue. The lag time in the provision of services and infrastructure comparative to the resources available puts real strain on the operations of the Shire.
Strengths & issues
The Shire of Broome is considered to be one of the leading exponents of asset management, risk assessment and business case scenarios in Western Australia. Currently we are undertaking business case scenarios for innovative land and housing developments in a joint partnership with the State Government – this will in all likelihood be a model rolled out across the State.
One of the major issues facing the town is how social and infrastructure issues can be dealt with as the major projects, including the mining and LNG development, around the area go forward. This will require strong mitigation management and enhancement to ensure the amenity of the town isn’t compromised.
Broome has had an exciting historical and cultural background and it’s imperative that this is not destroyed as change inevitably occurs. The key to this is all about management.
Plans, projects & achievements
Shire of Broome Council is about to advertise our 30–year vision and strategic direction plans. Within the next six months there will be a new local planning scheme and local planning strategy in place for the whole of the Shire.
Furthermore, we’re working very hard in a partnership with the Yawuru people who are the traditional owners of the town of Broome, and whose native title settlement is one of the largest ever settled in Australia. The ramifications of this for the Shire and for the Yawuru mean it is very important that this partnership succeeds.
Perhaps what I consider to be the biggest success so far during my time in local government was in the development of a major land supply for the town. It was achieved in record time with the cooperation of the State Government, the traditional owners and ourselves.
This project took a greenfields site, with Native Title and heritage issues, to being on the market in less than two years. Opening up this land has increased affordability and liveability, and is capable of allowing the population of the town of Broome to double in the next 10 years.
I see my role as President as being a leader in the community. I hope that I’m able to mediate and keep the community together as much as possible, given the enormous pressures that are being put upon various groups in light of the proposed changes to and growth of the town. As such, I’d like to be remembered as a fair minded, logical person who listened and made the right decisions for the Shire of Broome.
