Resilient wine country
The Cessnock local government area is one of the most popular and oldest wine regions in Australia. It is special because of the tourism component and the great opportunities for employment in the hospitality industry. Our local government area is home to 54,000 people covering approximately 1950 square kilometres.
Predominantly a mining town until recent years, the City of Cessnock is a thriving City with many attractions highlighting our culture, history and our way of life. Not to mention showcasing our outstanding and award-winning restaurants, wineries, entertainment venues, boutique and resort-style accommodation and golf courses.
The Council itself is special because it is so resilient. This was evident when we were threatened with amalgamations three years ago and are now at a point where we are ‘Fit for the Future’.
Business smarts
I have been on Council since 1999. I decided to enter local government because I wanted to get more involved in the community. Previously, I was a long time teacher in the area and now I have business interests in beef cattle production. The business experience certainly assists in the management of the Council. It also allows great contact with the business community, local Chambers of Commerce and the community in general.
Outside of Council responsibilities, I enjoy working on my cattle business, tinkering on the farm and spending time with my family.
A memorable highlight for me during my time in local government was having the pleasure of hosting the Japan National Football Team for their pre-competition camp prior to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. This visit alone is estimated to have injected a whopping $3 million into our local economy, but the benefits have been seen long after. With Cessnock being mentioned in headlines across Asia, the time and effort spent showing the Japanese Team our world-class hospitality will pay off with positive exposure to the Asian tourist market.
Facing challenges and setting goals
The key challenge for our Council is the changing environment and position of local government across the state. This highlights the importance of maintaining financial sustainability over the long term.
A project we are committed to is doubling tourism visitation in our area by 2020. We are always reinventing the tourism industry in new and innovative ways, adding to the many attractions of our area.
Whether it be festivals, such as our newly-established Stomp Festival, Spring Awakening, Postie Bike Grand Prix or Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival.
Another key focus of ours is having employment opportunities to match the expected boom in residential, so that our residents can enjoy working as closely as possible to where they live.
Into the future, I hope my presence in local government provides stability in Cessnock City Council and helps to deliver high-quality services to suit our community’s needs. I aim to gain respect for Council and the work we do within the community.
