Mathew Salter: Litchfield councillor nominates as independent candidate for Goyder

A long-serving Litchfield councillor has nominated for the seat of Goyder as an independent and will campaign to reverse densification plans for Humpty Doo if elected.

Litchfield councillor Mathew Salter. Picture: Litchfield Council

A long-serving Litchfield councillor who describes himself as the love child of famed independents Gerry Wood and Kezia Purick has nominated for the seat of Goyder and will campaign to reverse densification plans for Humpty Doo if elected.

Howard Springs man Mathew Salter, a former Kormilda College teacher who was elected to the council in 2012, is campaigning ahead of the August general election as the ‘True Independent for Goyder’.

He seeks to succeed Ms Purick herself, who is not recontesting Goyder after being a feature of the Legislative Assembly since her election in 2008, originally as a CLP member.

“I pretend that I am the love child of Gerry Wood and Kezia Purick,” Mr Salter said.

“Both these long-serving politicians have had a big influence on me, and both are independents.

Long-serving Litchfield councillor Mathew Salter is standing for the seat of Goyder at the upcoming Territory general election as an independent. Picture: Facebook

“For more than 15 years I have asked for advice and discussed local politics with them, from Noonamah Ridge [the scotched $2bn development of a large tract of rural land] and sealing local roads.”

Mr Salter said that, if elected, he would pressure the NT government to rethink its Humpty Doo Area Plan, which could see hundreds of new residences built on plots as small as one acre (0.4ha).

“When we decide to live rural, we buy a lifestyle: room to move, dogs, horses, quads, fruit trees and peace and quiet,” he said.

“After 20 or 30 years, we do not expect the government to undercut our lifestyle by allowing five acres to be changed to five by one acres.”

Mr Salter said he would also campaign to relocate the dated library at Taminmin College, which is also used by the community, to Coolalinga.

He suggested that the NT government “should pay the rent” for the new facility, but said it was hard to imagine the cash-strapped government acceding to such a request, unless there was a balance of power result that forced the pork to flow in a bid to secure crucial independent votes.

Candidates who have nominated for Goyder thus far include Andrew Mackay (CLP), another serving Litchfield councillor; Sandy Griffin (Labor), an environmental scientist; and Belinda Kolstad (independent), a small businesswoman who has been endorsed by Ms Purick.