Three councillors have flagged their intention to stand as Cabonne’s mayor following the councillor result on Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Incumbents Anthony Durkin, Ian Davison and Greg Treavors said they would all consider facing their peers for the position, fellow incumbents Marlene Nash and Kevin Walker were also re-elected and former councillor Jenny Weaver was returned.
First-time councillors will include retired police detective Kevin Beatty, Molong Progress Association vice-president Peter Batten, former newspaper publisher Cheryl Newsom, Molong RSL president Jamie Jones, Molong Express writer Paul Mullins and Jayes Gallery director Libby Oldham.
Cr Durkin said he would put his name forward for mayor because he thought the time was right to spearhead some projects.
“Obviously one of the big ones is a walk-in, walk-out medical centre for Canowindra, getting a return on investment for the tourism board and focus on roads and rubbish,” he said.
Cr Davison said continuing with the council’s $20 million roads program and creating more jobs for young people would be his priority if he was elected.
Mr Beatty was the first candidate elected.
“I was confident of getting on but to finish first is very flattering,” he said.
With four women elected, compared with one expected on Orange City Council, fellow newcomer Ms Newsom said they would bring a different perspective.
“We just think differently and have a different thought process,” she said.
Ms Oldham said councillor demographics had shifted towards people in business rather than people on the land.
A member of Cabonne Council’s tourism committee for 18 years, she said upgrading infrastructure in the villages was a priority.
“We need to revamp the villages to encourage people to live there so the whole shire can grow,” she said.
Mr Batten was elected second and already looking forward to getting to work.
“The council previously approved two solar farms for Manildra and Molong and there’s an argument now for Eugowra,” he said.
Mr Mullins said he had watched the council workings from the outside and wanted to achieve inside, while Cr Nash had her eye on a storage shed for the Age of Fishers Museum, potable water to Yeoval and the Molong pre-school expansion.