AS Local Government Elections approach, News Of The Area is introducing you to the candidates for the election.

Len Roberts will be running again this election, with a group consisting of Janelle Matthews (Tea Gardens), Arthur Baker (Bulahdelah), Cliff Hoare (Harrington), Mel Rosamond (Old Bar) and Mike Parsons (Taree).

Len is running again as he understands the vitality of having a local representative in the Council.

“Unless everybody in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest votes local, it’s almost impossible to get a representative from this area.

“We need it, we cannot lose your voice and that’s something I’ve always feared,” Len said.

Throughout his time on Council in the past, Len established the Southern Area Reference Group that provided locals with a conduit to Council, ensuring that locals can have a say and maintain on Council’s radar.

Mike Parsons is number two on Len’s ticket, a Taree local who is heavily involved in the community.

Mike used to own MidCoast Ford and is President of Mid North Coast Football, which reaches as far as Port Macquarie.

“He knows that it’s important that we have representation from this end and that’s why I’ve gotten him involved,” Len said.

Len is passionate about ensuring representation for the underrepresented communities in the MidCoast.

Another member of his group is Mel Rosamond from Old Bar, a place that hasn’t had representation in Council for many years.

“They have the exact same problems that we have down here.

“They have a problem with erosion in the Old Bar like we have at Jimmys Beach and they have a problem with the river needing to be dredged,” Len said.

Len has been serving on the Estuary River Catchment Committee as co-chair and believes that another term on Council can ensure that action is taken to get the Manning River cleaned up.

He has worked for many years on the policy of ‘Clean Water, Good Water’ and wants to continue this work if re-elected.

“Whether it be the Myall, the Karuah, the Manning or just the Lakes, water is important to the land and to liveability and that’s where my focus has been,” Len said.

Bulahdelah local Arthur Baker (OAM) is also running on Len’s ticket.

“He’s just so community minded, it’s unquestionable.

“Arthur realised that Bulahdelah missed out on a voice as Great Lakes has grown and wanted to make sure that they didn’t miss out this election,” Len said.

Janelle Matthews is another Tea Gardens local who is passionate about local and community organisations including Masters Swimming.

She volunteers with the group at nursing homes, singing and playing music for community members.

“She’s got a heart for recreation in this town, not just for young or old people – she sees the need for connectivity,” Len said.

Recently, Len has worked to support upgrades to the Tea Gardens Pool whilst ensuring that costs stay low for the community, pushed for upgrades to the Community Centre, koala protection and work on the Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan amongst others.

“These are the things that are important to a community.

“We would be neglected if we didn’t have a voice,” Len said.

“We need Shire-wide representation and that’s why I’m urging locals to vote 1 for the Len Roberts Group, 2 for Karen Hutchinson (Stroud) and 3 for Katheryn Smith (Gloucester),” Len concluded.

 

By Tara CAMPBELL