Residents will vote for new councillors and a mayor to represent them at the Bega Valley Shire election on 14 September. Photo: BVSC.
The countdown is on before a new cohort of fresh faces – or returning ones – begin their work as councillors for the Bega Valley Shire.
The local government elections will be held on Saturday 14 September and the residents of the Bega Valley will be asked to vote for nine councillors as well as the mayor for the next four years.
Region understands one of the major problems the shire’s incoming councillors will have to grapple with over the next term is budgeting, as local government is underfunded in general.
The Bega Valley has a relatively low population of ratepayers for its large amount of infrastructure and number of facilities, as well as its massive road network.
“Managing the budget is going to be a huge task for all of them,” the shire’s outgoing deputy mayor, who is not standing for re-election, Cathy Griff of The Greens said of the new councillors.
She said to her, the other two key issues councillors would need to tackle were climate change and housing affordability.
“While we have strategies that do address these, possibly not radically enough, what is needed are councillors united to progress the various goals within the strategies that provide answers to the twin crises we are facing,” Ms Griff said.
The Bega Labor 2024 candidates are (from left) Helen O’Neil, Simon Daly, David Neyle and Nicola Collins. Photo: Supplied.
Labor and the Greens are running candidates this election, as are a new group called Independents for Change, while the remainder of candidates are independents.
And while five of the last group of councillors are standing for reelection, four are not running again. Those sitting it out this time are Cathy Griff, Joy Robin, Liz Seckold and Karen Wright.
For the first time, the shire will have a popularly elected mayor, which means the mayor is voted in by all electors for the four-year term to 2028.
Previously, mayors were elected by other councillors for two years.
The 2024 Bega Valley Greens candidates are (from left) Vivian Harris, Jamie Shaw, Peter Haggar, Liane Munro and Emma Goward. Photo: Supplied.
In a popularly elected mayoral election, a person can run as a candidate for mayor and councillor, but can only be elected to one role. The mayoral election will be counted and declared first.
The six candidates for mayor are (in ballot order) Mitchell Nadin, Peter Haggar, David Porter, Helen O’Neil, Tony Allen and Russell Fitzpatrick.
Then there are the candidates for councillors: Labor is running Helen O’Neil, Simon Daly, David Neyle and Nicola Collins; The Greens have Peter Haggar, Liane Munro, Emma Goward, Vivian Harris and Jamie Shaw; while The Independents for Change are Mitchell Nadin, David Porter, Peggy Noble, Jason Hetherington and Morgan Eneberg.
The independent candidates running for councillor positions are Clair Mudaliar, Tony Allen, Russell Fitzpatrick and Phillip Dummett.
The 2024 Independents for Change are (from left) Morgan Eneberg, Mitchell Nadin, Jason Hetherington, Peggy Noble and David Porter. Photo: Supplied.
For more information on the candidates, check out their details on the NSW Electoral Commission’s website by clicking here.
Pre-polling runs from 7-13 September in Bega, Bermagui, Eden and Merimbula. For details on where you can pre-poll, click here.
On election day, these locations will be polling venues: Eden Marine High School; Bega Valley, Merimbula, Pambula, Tathra, Towamba and Wyndham public schools; Bemboka, Brogo, Candelo, Eden CWA, Tanja, Twyford and Wolumla halls; as well as the Quaama and Cobargo School of Arts. You can also go to the Bermagui Indoor Sports Stadium and the Tura Marrang Library and Community Centre.
Loading ...
