Keeping up with urban areas
I was first elected as a Councillor in November 1996 and then as Deputy Mayor in the elections held in March 1999. I became Mayor in 2001. I was born and raised in the Huon Valley and owned and operated a take-away food store and cafe in the township of Cygnet for almost 14 years.
One of the key aspects about being a councillor, especially in a rural area, is to be able to listen and to be accessible to community members. The community’s expectation is for infrastructure comparable to those of urban areas, and our Council is able to achieve this, and also provide services not generally attributable to local government, for example medical centres and children’s services. Offering quality services, while keeping rates to a minimum and ensuring financial sustainability, is a priority for Council.
The most satisfying part of being a councillor is seeing the result of the Council’s hard work to achieve positive outcomes for the community. The Council is responsive to community need and is able to offer a range of services including child care, aged care and health care. When the Council was faced with the long serving Geeveston GP’s retirement, there was no option but for Council to step in and provide the continuation of medical services in the town. It is the proactive and ‘can do’ attitude of the Council staff that enables such flexibility and diversity of services.
Council staff are committed to improving work processes – within the Infrastructure Services department, officers are developing a fully automated asset inspection program. For example if a footpath poses a trip hazard, field officers will be able to inspect it, send a photograph and map location from the inspection site to the central database using a handheld electronic device. Works are then programmed instantly.
A growing council
The Huon Valley Council covers 5,497 square kilometres and is the southern most local government area in Australia.
The population of the Huon Valley is continuing to grow. Approximately 15,841 people are spread across the five main townships of Huonville, Franklin, Cygnet, Geeveston and Dover, with Huonville only a 40 minute drive to Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart.
The Huon Valley has beautiful and diverse natural features – high mountains, deep forested valleys and winding clean rivers. It has a large World Heritage area which draws visitors each year and tourism plays a major role in the Valley’s economy.
The Valley is home to major aquaculture and agriculture industries and is becoming known for its high quality food and wine. Local producers are enjoying success on the international stage. A local aquaculture company is partnering with celebrated chef Jamie Oliver, and one of our fruit producers was recently named Australian Farmer of the Year.
I’m proud to be the Mayor of a council which listens to its community, is proactive and is able to offer a diverse range of services while remaining financially sustainable.
