Tasmanian Local Government elections: Meet the four people vying to be mayor of Kingborough

FOUR candidates are vying to be mayor of the Kingborough Council in this month’s election.

The Kingborough Council Chambers at Kingston.

LOWERING rates, the future of Kingston Park and attracting more jobs to the region will be at the heart of issues facing Kingborough voters.

Four sitting councillors will go head-to-head to win the Kingborough mayoral seat with 18 candidates overall competing for the 10 seats around the table.

Incumbent Kingborough Mayor Steve Wass is looking to hold onto the mantle while councillors Richard Atkinson, Flora Fox and Dean Winter are jockeying to replace him.

Cr Wass is campaigning on the Kingston Park development as the most critical single project for the economic future of Kingborough and working with small businesses to create opportunities.

“With 60 per cent of our workforce travelling out of our municipality daily for work, I advocate working closely with small business operators to develop opportunities that will deliver jobs and economic development that will not compromise our natural beauty or environment,” he said.

Cr Winter’s pitch to voters is to try secure a major corporate employer to the Kingston CBD to make up for the loss of Vodafone a few years ago, fight to retain the Antarctic Division and a refocus on delivering the basics.

“Council has been underfunding the replacement of its roads and footpaths for over a decade, rates have gone up by 50 per cent in a decade and at various times during the past year, kerbside rubbish collection has failed,” he said

Cr Atkinson will be advocating for a council that is open, empowered and positive.

“As mayor, I will make it easy for you to find out what’s happening in Kingborough, know who to talk to, understand how things work and feel like you’re welcome to be involved,” he said.

Cr Fox said she would fight for good governance and efficient services.

“Let’s have efficient services and infrastructure to give you value for your rates,” she said.

HERE are the four candidates in alphabetical order with short statements from each on why you should elect them.

Richard Atkinson.

RICHARD ATKINSON

Openness: As Mayor I will make it easy for you to find out what’s happening in Kingborough, know who to talk to, understand how things work and feel like you’re welcome to be involved. Whether it’s land-use planning, cycle lanes or waste management, you can be part of it.

Empowerment: We have a remarkable number of creative and resourceful people living in Kingborough. Council plays a role in enabling and encouraging these people to work and play in our municipality. Let’s talk about the arts, sport, business ideas or whatever else gets you going — we can make great things happen.

Positivity: I’ll bring my good cheer, engineer’s problem-solving ability and my “how can we...” attitude to council. I want to lead a modern council that works as a cohesive team to make considered and professional decisions.

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Flora Fox. Picture: SUPPLIED

FLORA FOX

1. Let’s work together to keep Kingborough incredible. I believe leading starts with listening to the detailed concerns of local people and then turning local concerns into real results. I bring 30 years as an Independent Councillor with experience in governance, business, environment and community services.

2. Let’s have good governance. I will listen to residents and work with Councillors, staff and Government to provide the best infrastructure and services that we can afford.

3. Let’s have efficient services and infrastructure to give you value for your rates. Council’s long term financial plan expects next year’s rates to match CPI. Let’s provide safe roads and paths; responsible waste management; clean beaches & toilets; parks, and community services to meet our present and future needs.

Steve Wass. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

STEVE WASS

Kingston Park development is the most critical single project for our economic future, providing 640 jobs upon completion, providing a new emphasis and reinvigorating Kingston’s CBD. Providing a “heart and soul” where residents can gather for events, to meet with family and friends, or for a coffee whilst letting their young children to run free in the large expanse of green space including playground facilities. Business and housing will compliment this site and provide economic stimulus to the region.

Small business is a major employer in Kingborough. With 60 per cent of our workforce travelling out of our municipality daily for work, I advocate working closely with small business operators to develop opportunities that will deliver jobs and economic development that will not compromise our natural beauty or environment. Kingborough has a stable work force looking for local opportunities and every job relocated south of Hobart will add economically to our region.

Small business and local workers need to travel into Hobart and beyond on a regular basis. We must continue to work with both State and Federal governments to overcome the present traffic congestion that we experience mornings and evenings, and keep the focus on solutions to the issue and best options top fix this problem once and for all.

Dean Winter.

DEAN WINTER

Major employer in Kingston: Under my leadership, our Council would be working to attract a major corporate employer to the Kingston CBD. This would boost direct employment but also support our retailers and potentially reduce congestion. The loss of 700 jobs from Vodafone at Huntingfield really hurt and now is the time to try and replace that lost economic activity.

Focus on the basics: Council has under delivered the basics. It has been underfunding the replacement of its roads and footpaths for over a decade, rates have gone up by 50% in a decade and at various times during the past year kerbside rubbish collection has failed. We need to refocus our council back to what matters.

Stronger Leadership and advocacy: We need stronger leadership and advocacy. Under this leadership, Council has been silent on the prospect of losing the Antarctic Division and 300 highly skilled jobs. We need a leader who will fight for our area and argue for the federal and state investment that a growing area like ours needs.