Cobar Shire Council voters will not go to the polls for next month’s Local Government elections as our new council has already been elected.
With just 12 nominations for the 12 vacant positions, the NSW Electoral Commission declared the election to be uncontested and so the 12 candidates were automatically elected at Thursday’s official ballot draw.
They won’t however be officially sworn in and take up their roles until next month.
Cobar was one of 14 Local Government Areas across the state that received only the required number of candidates (or less) and therefore all were automatically elected.
Six of Cobar Shire’s existing nine members have been returned and include current Mayor Jarrod Marsden and deputy mayor Michael Prince.
Two of our longest serving councillors, Harley Toomey and Bob Sinclair, were also returned along with Kate Winders (who was elected to council via a by-election in 2018) and Lillian Simpson (who was voted onto council in December 2021).
They will be joined by six new councillors and include local businessman Chris Deighton, Senior Electoral Officer Miranda Fry, Instrument Technician and entertainer Peter Florance, mechanic Mick Haines and graziers Nigel Vagg and Wayne Phillips.
The Cobar Weekly put a few questions to the new councillors asking them what prompted them to stand, what skills and experience they can bring to the role and what do they see as Council’s priorities over the next four years.
Local business owner, Chris Deighton has lived in Cobar pretty much his whole life “with a bit of coming and going”.
“I live my life by saying yes and figuring it out on the way,” Mr Deighton said.
“The councillor position has been a running joking for quite a while and if you know my sense of humour then you would have known it was always serious.
“I keep hearing we need more young people in these roles so here I am,” he said.
Mr Deighton said while he believes he’ll have a lot to learn in his new role, he’s found that “if you dig in and surround yourself around people that want you to go forward, then it will happen”.
“Going forward into the next four years I can’t see much funding/grants coming in like we have in the last few so I am guessing it will be a tough four years managing the new infrastructure we have, and making sure future projects are fit for purpose and not destined to fail.”
He also said he feels the continued improvement of roads and local harvesting of water should be priorities for council.
Miranda Fry believes her background in small business management, and past employment with Cobar Shire Council and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana, along with her current employment with State Member for Barwon Roy Butler, has put her in a position to really understand local issues.
Ms Fry said she was prompted to run as she’s not one to sit back.
“I’d rather give it a go, and I think it’s really important that communities are represented by a range of councillors who can advocate on issues that affect them.
“Regional councils are diverse in the services that they provide us. I think a number one priority is funding – that’s a given always, but particularly at the moment as grant funding has previously been relied upon to help council to deliver our essential services and address liveability.
“Council will need to look at ways to sustain the services it currently provides.”
Ms Fry said working with local industry and businesses, housing, advocating for medical and education services and tourism should also be priorities for council.
Peter Florance has lived in Cobar for more than 20 years and said it’s one of the best places he’s ever lived.
“This is where I plan to stop,” he said.
“I can assure you it is with no pride I take a seat in an uncontested election.
“Still, I’ll do the job and hope I can make someone somewhere during my term feel connected with council,” Mr Florance said.
Having served on numerous committees including the Cobar Arts Council and as Cobar’s representative to Outback Arts, and having previously run the Cobar Cinema and Cobar Community Radio, Mr Florance said he “may not be overly prepared for council but I know committees and communities and will do my best”.
Mr Florance hopes to bring to council some of his own ideas and support others getting theirs to council.
Mick Haines is well known in the Cobar community having served as the president of the Cobar Dust Bowl Fuel Burners for the past 13 years.
“I am passionate about the local community and would like to see the town grow and prosper,” he said
Mr Haines believes his previous experience in management and training along with being a hard worker, someone who is compassionate and a good listener will help him in his role as a councillor.
“Priorities for council should be encouraging tourism, having a reliable water supply, encouraging people to live in Cobar and support the town that they work in, having affordable housing and making Cobar a place where people would like to live or spend a few days exploring on their holidays,” Mr Haines said.
Nigel Vagg grew up on the family property between Ivanhoe and Cobar and although his work sometimes takes him away, the property remains his permanent base.
Mr Vagg said a friend suggested a few years ago that he should run for council.
“Since then, I have increasingly thought it is important that the shire be represented by councillors from all parts of its geographical coverage; hence my decision to stand at this election. I believe that my years of living and working in the area have given me a broad understanding of local issues, particularly those of non-urban ratepayers and residents within the shire.
“I hope the incoming Council will continue the work of the previous administrations; that is, to strive to serve its constituents in all their needs, recognising that the exact nature of these may continue to evolve as technologies and funding models also change with the passage of time,” Mr Vagg said.
Wayne Phillips has been in Cobar for about eight years after purchasing a property between Cobar and Louth. He also owns a home in town and the old Masonic Hall where he conducts rock and roll dance classes.
“I have a bit of history of having been in Local Government previously [in Victoria] so I know how it works,” Mr Phillips said.
“I’d like to offer sort of a different point of view to what I’ve been seeing around the place. I enjoy working for the community, achieving things.
“I always think life is about common sense so, I certainly hope to bring common sense decision making for the majority of the people in Cobar. As far as experience—I’ve been a business man and I’ve worked for myself.
“I think I’m a good team player and I think I’ll make a fairly good contribution,” he said
