While 14 September 2024 seems a long way into the future, we need to start thinking now about the desirable attributes of candidates to represent South West Rocks and the rest of the shire.
While the changes we made as a community in the Kempsey Shire at the the last 2 elections were positive, we need to maintain the change and strengthen the commitment to pave a transparent and communicative collaboration with Council.
We need Councillors who understand what it will take to maintain South West Rocks as a sustainable and prosperous community :
- those who understand the difference between sustainable development and jobs rather than those who see development at all costs producing temporary jobs
- those who understand that our environment and economy are intertwined and if the environment is damaged irreparably so too will be the economy
- those who understand that growth plans need to be made based on our land carrying capacity not how many people want to live here.
At the moment it appears that only a slim majority of Councillors get it, so we can't be sure that the gains we have made will not be reversed.
So let's not be apathetic and be part of the process to keep, and preferably increase, the right people in office. There is no time like the present to identify these people and urge and support them to enrol as a candidate for the September 2024 election.
