Susanna Freymark
The cut off for candidate registrations for the NSW Council Elections is at noon tomorrow, Wednesday, August 14.
Many potential candidates in Richmond Valley and Kyogle councils have not yet registered – they are holding their cards close to their chests. Until noon.
IndyNR.com will give you a rundown of candidates once the registrations deadline closes.
At Monday’s Kyogle Council meeting on August 12, several candidates declared that they wouldn’t stand in the September 14 elections and said goodbye to councillors and staff.
Councillor Maggie May who has served two terms (eight years) said she wouldn’t be running again.
“This is my last meeting,” Ms May said.
She mentioned the “amazing work” done by the council including the halls and water treatment plant.
“I acknowledge how hard the staff work. It’s impressive throughout major crises in the region – fire, flood, drought, fire, covid, major flood.
“Throughout all that the work has continued. I commend the staff.”
Below is a video of Ms May entering council chambers on April 26, 2022, where more than 100 people protested about a meeting designed to sack then general manager Graham Kennett.
Councillor Hayden Doolan declared his intentions at the meeting.
“I will be walking away,” Mr Doolan said.
He acknowledged the hard work of the staff too.
When Mr Doolan became a councillor in 2016, he was the youngest ever councillor on Kyogle Council at 22 years of age.
IndyNR.com asked him about his highs and lows on council.
The run to drought impacted Narrabri was a highlight. Three councils – Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Lismore – joined forces to take water, hay and letters from the community to the devasted people of Narrabri.
Mr Doolan met Margaret, a farmer who had only few days of feed left before the council trucks arrived brimming with hay bales.
“We were able to help families suffering,” he said.
He was pleased with his part in getting the construction of Dwyer Bridge on Back Creek Road done.
“It was shut for about two years,” Mr Doolan said.
Being so young, Mr Doolan had a lot to learn about governance.
The biggest low during his time in council was the departure of former general manager Graham Kennett who was sacked without notice.
“He personally helped me through understanding policy,” he said.
Mr Doolan wants to take some time to “live a bit of life” but he hasn’t ruled making a comeback in the future.
He urges young people to stand up and get involved in council.
“It’s our future, “he said.
Mr Doolan still had his name badge on – as if he was reluctant to let it go. He remains a councillor until the day of the election.
Then he is Mr Doolan the bus driver and SES chief Inspector for the Richmond Valley cluster.
“Thank you to the people who voted for me and entrusted me in the last eight years.”
At the end of the Monday council meeting, mayor Kylie Webster also thanked the staff.
“My sincere thanks to my colleagues for a wonderful term as your mayor,” Ms Webster said.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed it and (learning) the skills to navigate anything.
She specifically thanked staff Chris White and Marcus Schintler.
“You’ve had my back,” she said, her voice choking with emotion as she spoke.
She lifted her head and said – “Onto the pub”
The council goes into caretaker mode this Friday, August 16, and council staff will keep things chugging along until a new council – featuring possibly old and new faces – emerges in September.
Meeting summary to come as well as an opinion piece on what it has been like to cover Kyogle Council meetings in the past two years.
Follow indynr.com for local news on the council elections.
