Opinion by Adam Marshall
Robert B Johnson once famously and succinctly described what most of us observe in our personal and professional lives – that people tend to fall into two distinct groups: those who are disengaged from the world around them and those who are active participants, trying to shape the future.
This led him to pen those immortal words, which have become bywords for modern political and community engagement: “The world is run by those who show up.”
Later this month, the voters of the Moree Plains Shire will go to the polls to elect nine Councillors to lead them for the next four-year term.
While I believe that every election is important, this one, given Moree’s position in the region and place in time, will be a seminal moment for what sort of future the Moree Plains Shire experiences.
It is important that every resident and ratepayer takes a keen interest in the 15 candidates who have ‘shown up’ for this election and understand what they stand for, what they wish to achieve, to make an informed choice come polling day.
The need right now for a strong, independent, strategically-thinking and progressive council that provides genuine leadership for the community is critical.
A good council requires balanced representation that can listen and respond to the community’s needs and make decisions for the present, but always with an eye to the future.
It also requires a group of people who can work together as a united board, the governing body, directing the affairs of a corporation with annual expenditure of almost $80 million, employing 283 full-time staff, delivering critical services and infrastructure to its residents 365 days a year.
The Moree district is experiencing a period of growth and burgeoning prosperity and optimism, fuelled by good seasonal conditions, extensive capital upgrades to public infrastructure and the upcoming construction of the Special Activation Precinct.
This growth, development and expansion brings huge economic and social benefits to the community but also its own sets of challenges, which council must navigate its way through to ensure everyone enjoys the flow-on benefits of new, wide-ranging development.
This will require Councillors to put aside personal prejudices and do what’s required to get the best outcome possible for the whole community – rural, urban, business, young and old.
There is no place in a positive, future-focused and cohesive council for single-issue councillors or those who wish to push their own personal barrow, nor single issue one-trick ponies.
This is an exciting time for Moree and there is a lot of positive momentum.
The community needs nine Councillors who will capitalise on this and work together to take the region forward, not backwards.
The 15 candidates who have placed themselves before the community deserve to be commended for being prepared to make this four-year commitment to lead.
As voters, please make sure you ‘show up’, take your civic duty seriously, think carefully and make your vote count.
The future direction of the region depends on it.
Adam Marshall is the former Member for Northern Tablelands in the NSW Parliament and a former Mayor of Gunnedah Shire.
