Lismore City Council: The contenders

YOUR guide to the Lismore City Council election: The candidates, where to vote.

Lismore on the move

IN the last four years Lismore City Council achieved 29 awards of local, regional, state and national significance.

These awards were for a wide range of achievements from information about road conditions, to waste management, Buy Local programs and two Green Globe awards for environmental sustainability.

According to outgoing councillor Simon Clough, who has endorsed Elly Bird, "Lismore's progressive Council worked directly or in combination with other organisations to encourage the following developments:

$11.5 million Masters Home Improvement Store - complete

$38 million redevelopment of Southern Cross University library - complete

$9.27 million Lismore Base Hospital multi-storey carpark - complete

$260 million Stage 3A redevelopment of Lismore Base Hospital - under construction

$10 million Bennett's office development - under construction

$1.87 million upgrade of Lismore Regional Airport and general aviation facilities - underway

$5.8 million art gallery upgrade and Lismore Quadrangle project - tenders called

$15 million Lismore Home & Leisure Centre superstore - DA to be lodged by December 2016

Mayoral candidates

Isaac Smith

The Isaac Smith Team is standing for the Lismore City Council elections on September 10 and their promise is to "Keep Lismore Moving".

Isaac has lived and worked in town longer than any other mayoral candidate and his team is highlighting the achievements and experience gained with Jenny Dowell's leadership over the past 8 years. "In my eight years on council I have seen everything improve. We've been able to balance a $10 million dollar increase in road funding with the provision of services to our local residents, farmers and businesses are asking for" said Isaac.

"Lismore and it's villages, with a pristine environment and regional Centre status, is the perfect choice to raise a family and we intend to continue that positive outlook through sustainable development and better services".

Whist Lismore continues to be the regional centre for health, education and cultural facilities, the Country Labor team is promoting the need to provide a wide range of recreational options. One of these is the little known development of Lismore Regional Park. Comprising a water play park, café, naturalised creek, amphitheatre, recreational pathways and a tree lined boulevard, it was unanimously voted as one of Lismore Council's priorities for Federal funding. "It makes so much sense to develop the area between the CBD and Lismore Square so that everyone can access great recreational spaces and bring visitors to our heart.", Isaac said.

"With the building of the new Art Gallery commencing and the Quest apartments moving ahead in Magellan Street, we need to improve the link between the CBD and the Square. With people coming to the heart of Lismore, we will all benefit."

Gianpiero Battista

Candidate Gianpiero Battista says he is running for Mayor because of his love of the city and passion for building the LGA for future generations to continue to enjoy.

"Since my election to council in 2008, I have proudly worked with the community on many projects, some of which included saving the Goonellabah Library from closure, securing a long- awaited lift for the Lismore Regional Museum, successfully introducing a 20% local content quota for all council tenders, and re-prioritising unused council funding to purchase a Liberty Swing at Lismore's Nesbitt Park.

This election my team and I are running with the objectives of keeping rates affordable, providing secure, affordable parking for Lismore Base Hospital, reopening the Lismore Lake Precinct and creating a free entertainment area for all ages. We believe that we can grow Lismore by championing our local businesses and attracting new opportunities.

"If elected Mayor I am committed to listening to the community and working on fair outcomes."

Neil Marks

Neil Marks has been a Lismore City Councillor for 8 years fighting for positive change aimed at improving how Council deals with community issues. He has a proven track record of inspiring teams to work together with great results, and is grounded and realistic to recognise that together we achieve results. He pushes for sustainable growth and practical outcomes on community issues.

Some of the numerous committee's in has been involved on to facilitate change are, Sports and Recreation, Aboriginal Advisory Group, Business Unit Advisory Unit, Cultural Alliance Advisory Group, Health Precinct Advisory Group, Sister City Committee, City Hall and the Art Gallery Advisory Panel.

His pledge as Mayor is to continue to grow Lismore and its villages in a sustainable way, ensure financial responsibility, keep listening to the community and foster a confident environment for businesses and agricultural industries for future job creation.

Vanessa Grindon-Ekins, The Greens

Mayoral Candidate for Lismore City Council elections Vanessa Ekins.

Over the last 12 years, Vanessa has been a strong voice in Council for sustainable and economically progressive policies. Now she wants to continue her good work by running for mayor. She has been a Councillor since 2004 and was voted deputy mayor in 2008. This long-term engagement with local infrastructures and development has given her the ability to maintain the continuity needed for a stable and consistent Council.

At present, Vanessa is a delegate on Rous Water and chair of Council's Environment Committee. She is a qualified science teacher and land-carer, and wants to see habitat corridors throughout rural and urban Lismore. Thanks to Vanessa, council's road focus has expanded to include funding for footpaths and cycleways. With an educational background in science and the environment, Vanessa is amply qualified to oversee the creation of wildlife and habitat corridors throughout rural and urban Lismore, and ensure that development in the shire is sustainable, and reflecting the global call for renewable energy. Vanessa has demonstrated her leadership skills by initiating council's successful biodiversity strategy and lobbying the state government for Lismore's Pacific highway signage.

Greg Bennett

Mayoral Candidate Greg Bennett. Picture: Tony Betts

Lismore City Council is the biggest business in town; we need a business minded person with business skills to run it. I have over 20 years experience running successful small businesses in the Lismore LGA and I am the only existing Councillor or Mayoral Candidate with financial and accounting qualifications.

During my first term on Council I fought hard for the rights of our residents and ratepayers, and with the help of strong community support I stopped the expansion of paid parking in our CBD, saved the Lions Fountain, saved the Lismore Lake Pool. I also opposed the unfair Hospital Paid Park Plan from the start, challenged every budget and the accounts, opposed the E Zoning of our farmers land, moved that Council become small business friendly, and I was the sole councillor who opposed the 10 year NORPA contract and the sell-off of our parks and open space.

Big Rob

Mayoral Candidate for Lismore City Council elections, Big Rob. Picture: Sophie Moeller

"Better Roads, Lower Rates" is Mr Rob's advertised party platform.

Mr Rob chose not to submit a statement to The Northern Star because he does not like the publication.

Elly Bird, Our Sustainable Future, Group A

Elly

Elly Bird has been heavily engaged in protecting the Nothern Rivers region from industrial gasfields as regional coordinator for Gasfield Free Northern Rivers. She says she is committed to providing leadership in progressing Lismore's clean, green image into the future.

"For the last five years I have worked tirelessly on the campaign to make the Northern Rivers gasfield free, organising two of the biggest rallies the region has ever seen," she said.

"I also work as the National Administration and Events Coordinator for the Lock the Gate campaign.

"My focus on clear communication and building strong relationships has seen me consistently taking on leadership roles throughout both my personal and professional life."

Elly says she is also heavily involved in various community groups and has well developed networks across the shire.

She is says she is proud of her contribution the the city.

Mathew Scheibel, Our Future Leaders

Mathew Scheibel Councillor

Mathew Scheibel, is a 5th generation Goolmangar resident who grew up on the farm and his young family are growing up there too.

Business is the one of the keys to providing a future for our children in creating jobs and an environment for opportunity for the next generation. Mathew Scheibel and The New Generation Leaders team know this better than most. Mathew, and indeed the rest of the team, are involved in running small business and understand the day to day pressures and knows all to well how that pressure can build without a business supportive council creating an environment for jobs and growth. He stands for a "can do" council and guiding the council to make the positive changes needed as only a business owner can.

The retail sector has been hard hit in recent times and needs the support of council to regain its footing and grow. Talking to business owners around the towns and villages in the LGA it is clear that many think that business growth has stalled and the area needs a renewal of leadership to take it into the future and grow.

Mathew grew up and is still living on the farm understands the importance of the agricultural sector to this area. The New Generation Leaders will fight hard for the rural community to ensure that the regions strong farming heritage remains and continues to build into a legacy for farming families.

All the candidates

Housing

Group A

Our Sustainable Future

Guy STEWART

Simon CLOUGH

Louise SOMERVILLE

Annie KIA

Robyn KELLY

Group B

Neil MARKS

Bill MOORHOUSE

Ellen KRONEN

Darren BUTCHER

Felicity HYDE

Bill GRAHAM

Group C

Greg BENNETT

Nancy ZAMBELLI-CASSON

Ron PIRLO

Rob GIBSON

Heather SIDNEY

Angela ALBERTINI:

John BARNES

Alex CORONAKES

Kel GRAHAM

Group D

Big ROB

Matthew RAWSON

Paul DEEGAN

Micheal LYNCH

Steve TAMVAKELLIS

Group E - The Greens

Vanessa GRINDON-EKINS

Adam GUISE

Desley BANKS

Heather RYAN-DUNN

Shae SALMON

Trevor ACFIELD

Group F - Our Future Leaders

Mathew SCHEIBEL

Adrian BORDIN

Caitlin HELLYAR

Rachael JENKINS

Ben SLOANE

Group G

Gianpiero BATTISTA

Danielle STILES

Luke HOOLIHAN

Rebekka BATTISTA

Neville KING

Brendan PEARCE

Group H - Country Labor

Isaac SMITH Isaac

Darlene COOK

Edwina LLOYD

Maura CHAMBERS

Kevin BELL

Mardi RAMSAY

Ungrouped

Will GOODE: Independent

Polling booths are open today from 8am to 6pm

Where to vote

• Bentley Public Hall
• Caniaba Public School
• Bexhill Public School
• Clunes Public School
• Dunoon Public School
• Eltham Public School
• Goolmangar Hall
• Goonellabah Public School
• Goonellabah Community Centre
• Jiggi Public School
• Lismore St Paul's Memorial Hall
• Lismore Trinity Catholic College
• Lismore Heights Public School
• Lismore Base Hospital
• North Lismore Richmond River High School
• South Lismore Public School
• McLeans Ridges Hall
• Modanville Public School
• Nimbin Central School
• Rosebank Public School
• The Channon Hall
• Tregeagle Public School
• Wyrallah Public School