Stanthorpe’s Cherry Lane Nursery owner Morwenna Harslett running as candidate for council, as a ‘wise and full of energy’ pick

A former Stanthorpe business owner wants to bring ‘professionalism and integrity’ back to council if she is elected as a representative for the region in March. Here’s what you need to know.

Morwenna Harslett has announced she is running for council

A former Stanthorpe business owner has said the council needs to bring “professionalism and integrity” back to the job in order to serve the community as she launches her bid for a council seat.

Stanthorpe’s Morwenna Harslett, former owner of popular Granite Belt nursery Cherry Lane, has announced her candidacy for the Southern Downs Regional Council with colourful placards which show her vibrant personality.

Ms Harslett said the biggest issue facing the region was “cohesion and co-operation” within council.

Without it, she said that not much can else can be done to serve the community.

“I think this is the biggest issue rather than a specific issue like housing or water security, is because I don’t think we can tackle these issues in a meaningful way until we can sit in a room and get along properly,” Ms Harslett said.

“It might sound simplistic and a bit naive but until that culture is fixed I don’t think we can actually make good changes.”

Ms Harslett said being a councillor was a job that required a standard of “professionalism and integrity”.

Morwenna Harslett previously owned Cherry Lane Nursery for over a decade before closing in 2023. (Photo: File)

Ms Harslett said a major concern for voters was infighting and dysfunction between councillors wasting people’s time.

“The community feels like they’re not being listened to and all the drama is taking up too much time, half of the council meetings aren’t addressing real issues in the region and that’s a waste of everyone’s time,” she said.

“All the nastiness that’s gone on in the past term needs to be sorted out – people are angry. I think that’s something I could bring to the room.”

The green thumb thinks her experience at the nursery would help her keep a level head at the position, because she’s become good at “swallowing the anger and emotion when necessary and keeping a calm presence and a smiling face”.

As voters around the Downs prepare for the big day on March 16, Ms Harslett said she was keen to tour the region and meet people and hear what voters were thinking.

“I feel like people want me to have more opinions on things but I actually don’t want to, because I want to hear what other people think first,” she said.

For everything you need to know about upcoming elections in the Southern Downs, click here.