With the local government elections coming up in December, the Lithgow Mercury has reached out to Lithgow Councillors to see whether they have decided to throw their hats in the ring once again.
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All councillors have been contacted and each will get their chance to speak on why they believe they should be voted back in to represent the community.
Next up is Cr Steve Ring and this is what he had to say:
"Change. Innovate. Grow - Lithgow 2021
The past five years have been extremely challenging for our community due to drought, bushfires, floods and Covid, but as a community we have risen to all the challenges. I am proud to have served our community during this period and will be leading a ticket into the upcoming Council elections.
During the past five years, I believe that I have contributed significantly to improving the administration and financial management of Lithgow Council. These are two areas that are critical to ensuring that we have the capacity to meet the needs and desires of our community moving forward.
Previously:
At the November 2016 meeting, I raised approximately 20 questions in relation to the quarterly report concerning the transfer of over $2 million between projects. This occurred because budgets were prepared by adding a percentage increase to the previous year's budget - a practice which I am glad to say has ceased.
As a member of Council's Finance, Economic Development, Audit Risk and Improvement, and Operations Committees, I have worked with the administration to bring in a raft of changes. Most significantly, the practice of zero budgeting - where all department had to detail proposed expenditure and justify it with business cases.
I have also supported and worked with the Administration to enhancing Council's Asset Management, through the acquisition of appropriate computer programs and additional staff. The changes have led to the improved allocation of resources to assets such as roads. This means that decisions are made on an understanding of the assets, how they are used and any risk associated with their use rather than just reacting to who has complained - this ensures that decisions are made objectively, fairly and transparently.
I am proud of my achievements as Deputy Mayor during the Black Summer bushfires and my significant input into how Council responded after the fires. Specifically, I ensured that Council met residents in all remote locations that were impacted by the fires.
I also promoted the assessment of slope stability surrounding both Lithgow City and the road to the Wolgan Valley. Previous fires around the Lithgow, followed by heavy rains resulted in significant damage to houses from mudslides. The slope assessment program has resulted in a number of potential risks being identified which Council is working towards managing and on improved stabilisation of Wolgan Valley Road.
In standing for Council, I intend to continue working with the Administration and community, and to always vote on what I believe to be in the best interest of the whole community.
The team that I will be leading into the election has developed the following key polices.:
- Sustainable economic growth - working with the administration to develop a road map for diversifying our economy. Ensuring that growth is tied to long term management of our resources, such as: drinking water, treatment of sewerage and grey water, recreation and open spaces and ensuring that sufficient land for residential housing. Endorsing growth that provides future opportunities to all residents of the Lithgow local government area.
- Asset Management - Council is responsible for a large asset base inclusive of roads, water and sewer lines, buildings and parks. We will work to ensure Council has the necessary resources to undertake accountable and transparent asset management at a professional level.
- Environment - We will work ensure that Lithgow City Council is an effective manager of both its built and natural environments. We will review any development within the local government area to promote the highest standard, affirm regulatory compliance and ensure minimal adverse impact on the broader environment.
- Administration - We will work closely with the General Manager to develop a future driven and dynamic council, capable of adapting to our volatile times. This will be achieved through developing a customer centric culture, improving how we support small businesses, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring that Council's decisions are communicated clearly and effectively through a range of media.
For more information on my teams' vision and policies for our community please visit https://www.facebook.com/Change.Innovate.Grow and http://www.independentlithgow.org/lithgow/."
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