Susanna Freymark
The second Meet the Candidates forum for the Kyogle Council Election was held at Bonalbo with a focus on Ward C (see the map of wards at the end of this story).
Last night, Thursday, August 29, 13 candidates (seven from Ward C), spoke to an audience of about 70 people at the Bonalbo Bowling Club.
Resident John Tart was the moderator. Candidates were given a two-minute time limit to introduce themselves and then all candidates answered questions from the audience.
That’s where these forums get interesting – when residents have the chance to ask what they want.
One local commented after the forum, that things got “a bit peppery “and another said of the councillors, “they should all learn to get along.”
Present at the forum were: Ward C candidates Simon Dejoux, James Murray, Robin Harley, Earle Grundy, Danielle Mulholland, Tom Cooper and Ian Murrell; Ward A candidates Naomi Worrall, Brett McNamara, Janet Wilson and Doug Layton; Ward B candidates Olivia Taylor and John Burley.
There was an audience focus on Ms Mulholland and Mr Dejoux living together and both running for councillor positions.
A woman stood and asked if it was okay for members of the same family to run for the council.
“It’s a bit on the nose,” she said.
Ms Mulholland said there had been four married couples on Kyogle Council before.
Mr Dejoux said the Electoral Commission had no problem with it.
“We checked, we’re not breaking any new ground,” he said.
Another woman said she wanted to know Ms Mulholland’s preferences.
“Simon is second, third is Earle Grundy and fourth is Robin Harley,” she said.
“Simon has worked for 40 years in government, he knows how to get money and he works hard.”
A woman from Old Bonalbo asked candidates about the section of Clarence Way between Woodenbong and Urbenville.
“It’s known locally as Bumpy Street,” she said.
Mr Murray said there was a similar issue on Clarence Way between Sandilands to Baryulgil.
“I saw the rubbish they were putting on the road,” Mr Murray said.
He said when he mentioned it to council “they fobbed me off.”
“In February, something changed, things have changed with a better team now and an interim (Assets & Infrastructure) manager.”
(IndyNR.com believes Mr Murray is referring to the sacking of former general manager Graham Kennett in December last year).
A young man asked about dual consent for private native forestry and specifically wanted to know what Ms Mulholland and Mr Dejoux thought about this.
“We passed a resolution that council would not have a role to play (on consent) and we’d leave it to Local Land Services,” she said.
Ms Mulholland has been elected to the board of LLS North Coast.
“I support council stepping back.”
Mr Dejoux said there was no reason for dual consent.
“LLS needs to be tweaked so it can take cognisance of some of the DA details,” he said.
“This is so there is an enhanced level of protection without the extra cost.”
An audience member then asked,” Why would someone who lives in Queensland seek to become a councillor in NSW?
This was a question aimed at Mr Grundy who was a councillor in 2016 – 2021 and now lives in Queensland.
“Marilyn (Mr Grundy’s wife) was looking after her brother who had liver cancer. He died six weeks ago,” he said.
“It means I could come back. I worked very hard for the council when I was on council.
“I have leased a home in Bonalbo, and if I get elected I’ll live there.
“My reason for coming back is because I’m passionate about the area.
“There is so much more to be done and I’d like to be part of it.”
The candidates were then asked about their personal vote on the referendum.
The referendum question is:
Do you favour the election of the Mayor by electors for a four-year term with the number of wards reduced from three to two, each ward comprising of four councillors, plus a popularly elected Mayor?
No one said yes, mostly because it would see the end of Ward C as Kyogle LGA would be divided into two wards, cutting through the middle of Kyogle.
Mr Murray said you had to have an odd number of councillors otherwise you get hung votes.
“I’ve been appalled by the behaviour I’ve seen in council chambers,” Mr Murray said.
Later Ms Mulholland went back to that comment.
“James has referred to behaviour on council,” she said.
She stood up.
“No one’s hands are clean. It is such a toxic work environment,” she said.
“Be careful who you vote for. They have to be able to work together cooperatively and collaboratively and be on the same page.”
And with that, the meeting finished.
The next Meet the Candidates forum is on September 5 at 6pm at the Kyogle Bowling Club (note the change of venue from the golf club to the bowlo).
The final forum is on September 6 at Woodenbong Sports Club at 6pm.
These forums are hosted by Kyogle & District Chamber of Commerce.
Read about the first forum here.
All Kyogle Council Election stories are in one place here.
IndyNR.com is putting together a story about the pros and cons of voting yes or no in the referendum.
and then