Upper Hunter Council mayoral, councillor candidates for local government election
There are 12 candidates running for election. We look at who they are and what they stand for.
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Upper Hunter Shire will be one of 124 councils holding elections on Saturday, December 4, for the election of councillors.
There are 12 candidates vying for nine positions on council. The council is undivided and there are no wards. The mayor and deputy mayor are voted for by the elected councillors.
Here are this year’s candidates.
Note: All candidates were contacted for comment but not all responded.
Allison McPhee
Allison McPhee believes the Upper Hunter is a diverse region with a need for diverse opinions on council.
She is the fourth generation to work on the family property near Gundy and teaches at the local high school.
Ms McPhee grew up in Scone, has two masters degrees – in linguistics and business administration – and worked overseas and in Melbourne before moving back to Scone in 2019.
“Since returning to the area, I have become an active member of the CWA, RFS Gundy Brigade and Scone Triathlon Club,’’ she said.
“The Upper Hunter Shire is such a diverse area and needs to be represented by someone who recognises this.
“I am committed to this region and want to see it thrive through local initiatives which are enabled through a goal oriented and strategic thinking council.
“[My priorities are] projects which promote local business and enhance our region for the Upper Hunter Shire residents.
“Sport facilities, events for local businesses and roads are my top agenda items.”
Belinda McKenzie
Belinda McKenzie has lived in the Upper Hunter for 40 years, raising two children with her now-retired husband and enjoying watching her two grandchildren grow.
A former tourism officer and manager of tourism for the Upper Hunter Shire for nearly 18 years, Ms McKenzie was also a project officer for mens health in the UHS, and could often be seen at the Singleton visitor information centre promoting tourism.
She is currently the personal assistant to the CEO of the Australian Stock Horse Society in Scone, works part-time as a TAFE teacher and is an authorised celebrant.
“I feel that it is time to give back and contribute to my shire and it‘s communities by assisting council to recognise and implement strategies that strengthen economic development and tourism, support the health and wellbeing of residents, recognise the individual attributes of the towns and villages and allow them to flourish and strengthen their uniqueness and not forget the importance of a safe and well maintained road network,’’ Ms McKenzie said.
She added: “Our shire tourism operators have suffered from Covid and in some cases the bypass. We need to promote our attributes and encourage overnight stays or package visitation opportunities also supported by new events.
“Ensuring health and wellbeing is available and accessible to every resident of the shire.
“I believe each town and village are unique and should be marketed as such. I don‘t believe it’s a one size fits all approach, we have a rich tapestry of attributes which is very valuable to the shire as a whole and we can’t live without safe roads and bridges.
Tayah Clout
A fifth generation wool grower from Kars Springs, Tayah Clout is passionate about the environment and agriculture.
“I would like to bring a younger voice to local government in this shire, as well as greater transparency and accountability on projects undertaken by council,’’ Ms Clout said.
“A priority for me is more frequent maintenance of rural roads, and maintaining Wi-Fi, computer and printer access at local libraries.’’
Lee Watts
Lee Watts moved to Scone more than 50 years ago. For more than 25 years, she has managed the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre and is passionate about “the many grassroots activities that help create our communities’’.
She has been a councillor for 17 years.
“I have worked for and with the community advocating for disadvantaged families to ensure they are heard and treated fairly,’’ Ms Watts said.
“Every day I get a phone call or someone call in to discuss an issue. If people from our communities can take the time to come to me then I can certainly give the time to listen to them and follow through on their concerns.
“The Upper Hunter Shire is very important to me. I live here just like you do and I want to see improvements that will benefit each and every one of us. I want our children and grandchildren to love and be proud of this area.
“This Upper Hunter Shire is over 8,000sq km and it is diverse, there are different needs and hopes for each community.
“As a Councillor for 17 years I have demonstrated that everyone needs to be looked after, no one area should achieve more than another.
“There are no promises for big ticket items but what I will promise is that I will listen and get the best possible outcome for whatever the issue is.
“My priorities for council will be what the community set for us and they are telling me they want more transparency, more accountability and for us to get back to basics and that is where my focus will be.’’
Elizabeth Flaherty
Journalist Elizabeth Flaherty says it is time to clean up the council.
“I’m proud to say my daughters are seventh generation and I am loyal to the Upper Hunter, but I am fed-up with the way people are treated by council.
“During the past five years reporting on the shire, I’ve watched our towns and villages run into the ground, while council has focused on vanity projects like the Scone airport and purchasing a $15,000 blue string horse.
“After the disaster of the Merriwa Willow Tree Road, I hoped for an administrator, but it didn’t happen, so it’s time to clean up council ourselves.’’
Ron Campbell
Councillor Ron Campbell is seeking a further term on the council.
He has lived and worked on his mixed farming and grazing farm Woodlands for 59 years.
“Over the past four years we have successfully negotiated the prolonged drought, then bushfires in our shire and continue to deal with the Covid-19 restrictions,’’ Mr Campbell said.
“The protection of our rich farming and grazing land especially in the Merriwa/Cassilis plateau from the proposed invasive industries that reduce the earning capacity of production, in fact this protection is needed across the entire shire.
“Our regional road network of approximately 1200 kilometres cannot be maintained to a proper standard without extra funds being made available to council by the state and federal government.
“These rural roads are vital to the agricultural industry to carry out their normal business activities of moving their livestock and produce to markets.
“New recycling of our waste products need to be installed with new facilities established.
“The Cassilis sewerage project needs to be funded to ensure the health safety of the residents.
“For new industries and growth of population in our shire, planned development needs to be encouraged
Other candidates include
Susan Abbott
Adam Williamson
Patricia Taylor
Christopher North
Maurice Collison
James Burns
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