This month Local Government Focus caught up with Liverpool Plains Shire Mayor, Councillor Doug Hawkins OAM.
LG: Thank you for chatting with us Mayor Hawkins, tell us about your council and your area, what makes your council special or different?
Mayor Hawkins: “The Liverpool Plains Shire is unique because of its abundance of artesian water and fertile soil. Our Shire has the ability to produce food for the state and the nation and that is what will take us into the future, if we can build a strong economy based on agriculture.”
LG: Do you have a favourite part / aspect / attraction in the council area?
Mayor Hawkins: “I enjoy all aspects of the council area including meeting people from across the shire and promoting their interests further afield.”
LG: How long have you been on Council and why did you become involved in Local Government?
Mayor Hawkins: “I’m approaching eight years on Council, two years as Deputy Mayor, two years as Councillor and four years as Mayor. I ran for council to give back to a community that has been extremely good to me and my family since moving here 27 years ago.”
LG: Do you have another job? Tell us about that and how it contributes to your role/views as a councillor?
Mayor Hawkins: “I am a full-time Mayor.”
LG: What activities do enjoy outside of work hours?
Mayor Hawkins: “Outside of my role as Mayor, when time permits, I enjoy cycling and kayaking on the great dams and rivers in our region.”
LG: What are they key challenges facing you and your Council?
Mayor Hawkins: “The key challenges for the Liverpool Plains Shire are many and varied. We have a small population of approximately 8,000 with a large area of five and half thousand square kilometres. Within that area are seven villages and two townships and a network of 1300 kilometres of roads to maintain.
“Infrastructure in each village has an enormous effect on a limited budget and we are barely able to keep ahead of inflation. Going forward, State and Federal Governments will need to look carefully at how local government is funded.”
LG: What innovative projects or policies is Council working on?
Mayor Hawkins: “We have several major projects that I will be happy to see completed or underway coming to the end of this term of local government: the completion of the Quipolly Dam water treatment plant, the construction of the new Quirindi Aquatic Centre, the installation of new bridges and road rehabilitation, construction of a new tennis club in Quirindi and boosts to economic development and agricultural production through the Werris Creek freight terminal.”
LG: Tell us about a specific success you have had in Local Government.
Mayor Hawkins: “I helped establish the Liverpool Plains Military Tattoo and am working on promoting trade between Suseong-gu Republic of Korea and the Liverpool Plains,
“I have always enjoyed promoting and strengthening our ties with our sister city Blacktown City Council and have established great working relationships with our local members both State and Federal.
“During my term in Local Government, we have successfully lobbied government for funds to complete several large-scale projects of benefit to residents in our region, including: the new water treatment plant, located at Quipolly Dam, which will enhance the capacity, quality and resilience of water supply for our region into the future. Construction of a brand new aquatic centre in Quirindi. Supporting economic development and agricultural production within the region through the Crawfords freight terminal at Werris Creek.”
LG: What is the best part about being a Councillor?
Mayor Hawkins: “Giving back to the community.”
LG : And the worst part?
Mayor Hawkins: “To do your best for the community as a whole. You do tend to lose friends through various decisions but I’m comfortable with the decisions I’ve made.”
LG: And finally what do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Mayor Hawkins: “I have a tremendous belief in the work we have done across two Council terms and I will take great pleasure in seeing all of that work paying off whether I’m on Council or retired.”
