Groote council candidates outline top concerns ahead of election

Five candidates are vying for three spots in the new Groote local council. Here are the big issues they’re promising to address on the remote island.

Groote Archipelago Regional Council Central Ward candidates: (L-R) Gordon Walsh, Leonard Amagula, Rosalie Lalara, Gregson Lalara and Fabian Lalara.

Five candidates vying for three remaining spots in the inaugural Groote local council have outlined the top issues they hope to help address – including getting young people to school, reducing drug use, and creating local jobs.

Elections for the Groote Archipelago Regional Council will take place on March 15, establishing a breakaway local government on the island independent from its current position under East Arnhem Regional Council’s large jurisdiction.

Three councillors for Central Ward will be decided from candidates Gordon Walsh, Leonard Amagula, Gregson Lalara, Rosalie Lalara, and Fabian Lalara.

Gordon Walsh.

Mr Walsh was chief executive of the Angurugu Community Government Council in 2008 before it was amalgamated into East Arnhem council, where he also served a period as councillor for the Anindilyakwa ward.

Mr Walsh said he hoped a return of local government to Groote would allow greater focus on local services, pointing to undelivered projects including toilet blocks at the airport, safer river crossings, footpaths and roads.

“There’s roads in Angurugu you virtually can’t drive down anymore,” he said.

“I didn’t think East Arnhem really did much for the Groote Archipelago region in the years they were in control. In fact, I think we were quite community-poor compared to what we were prior to the supershires.

“Our services have certainly dropped off, there are a lot of things that need improvement. I believe the new council has the ability to do it themselves and build it up again – it will take some time, but I believe it can happen.”

Leonard Amagula.

Mr Amagula said he wanted to see more done to protect local country and sacred sites.

“A lot of the mines, they are not caring for sacred sites,” he said.

“Culture needs to be made stronger, and to get the young people involved.

“They are not doing enough to care for the country.”

Gregson Lalara.

Gregson Lalara said he hoped the local council would help to restore power to locals on the island, and that he hoped to serve the community.

He called for increased justice programs on the island, to help people stay out of trouble and reintegrate into society.

“It’s good for the boys and the men to have the groups, we need to give people other things to do,” he said.

“They’ve got to stay on the island, not go away to the prisons.”

Mr Lalara was optimistic the new council would offer “fresh faces and ideas” to help improve community wellbeing.

Rosalie Lalara.

Ms Lalara said she wanted to help rebuild the local community, with a focus on better housing, hygiene, health and education.

“Our attendance at the moment for the local schools is very low, it’s not good,” she said.

“We need to educate more younger ones so they can run their own community when we’re gone, and encourage them to get a job. Education is the key to the world, so they have to benefit from that.”

Ms Lalara also said marijuana had become a “very bad” problem on the island.

“They sell it for $100 – that’s $100 that can go to a grocery, but instead $100 goes up in smoke in five minutes,” she said.

Fabian Lalara.

Fabian Lalara – also a former East Arnhem councillor – said his focus was to improve community safety, health and create more local jobs.

“I want to get more young men and women involved in the community, give them opportunity,” he said.

“We need to strengthen culture and to bring connection back, in particular to turn some young men’s lives around.”

Mr Lalara said he was concerned about the future of Groote beyond the forecast closure of its main industry – Gemco mine – and wanted to see more entry level jobs created for locals.

“Jobs like driving trucks, getting involved in projects where the money is. They (locals) can’t necessarily get involved in the higher (skill) level jobs, but we need more involvement.”

Originally published as Groote council candidates outline top concerns ahead of election