Radnedge enters mayoral race

Councillor Shaun ‘Zoro’ Radnedge is running for mayor in the Murweh Shire election, and outlined his bold ideas should he win the March 28 election.

COUNCILLOR Shaun 'Zoro' Radnedge has decided it is time to throw his hat in the ring for the Murweh Shire's top job.

After four years working as a councillor, he is stepping up to run for mayor in the local election on March 28.

Cr Radnedge told the Times his term as a councillor from 2016 to 2020 has inspired him to do more, and that this year, the timing has felt right.

"I have really enjoyed being on council, and feel as if we have achieved great things; I have really liked the process and thought that one day I would love to put my hand up to be a leader," he said.

"I enjoy what I do in the community, and it just so happens that things have fallen in to place both business-wise and family-wise.

"I feel as if I can contribute to it - I haven't done the job before, but I feel confident I can step up."

Should he be appointed as mayor, Cr Radnedge's top priorities are regional development - through both tourism and creating jobs in the Murweh Shire.

He said the projects already under way, like the Experience the Brisbane Line attraction, have been a credit to the council team he has worked with for the past four years, and continuing to bolster tourism and infrastructure would provide the biggest benefit to the area.

However he also acknowledged times are still tough for many, and the next council team will need to be proactive in their approach.

"We are in a changing landscape," Cr Radnedge said.

"There is an economic downturn in retail and there is no hiding that; it doesn't matter which business you are running, whether it is a household, a small business, or even a large business like council, everyone is watching their pennies.

"Economic development is on everyone's lips at the moment, and over the past weekend with the Adrian Vowles Cup we have proven that an event has grown in to something that generates economic development in our town."

Further to local development, Cr Radnedge is determined to advocate for government jobs to return to the region.

He said the turning point was six years ago, when agencies like the Department of Natural Resources, and the national parks service were pulled out of Charleville.

"I believe we need to be talking to the government as often as we can about reapplying those jobs which they took away back in 2014," he said.

"They took those jobs out and had put, if you believe the figures, they have put those people back on, but all in metropolitan areas.

"We need to encourage those departments to come back to regional areas because it brings people … I believe if we can improve our infrastructure, telecommunications, housing and those sort of things, we can encourage people to stay here because the lifestyle is far better."

Cr Radnedge is passionate about making thing better for his community, and his vision for the region draws parallels to fellow mayoral candidate Annie Liston.

Despite running against his friends and council colleague, who is also advocating for economic development through tourism and local jobs. Cr Radnedge confirmed there is no animosity between them.

"(To run against Annie) took a look of thinking, and it was a hard conversation for me to have to address," he said.

"All five of us as councillors have been a great team, but realistically, my lifestyle and work have fallen in to place so I can commit the time and put the effort in to being mayor.

"Unfortunately we are going to lose a good councillor out of this; Annie is a good friend, but in this environment one of us is going to lose … that is how it is."

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