Big Rob's Blog

 

The Move to Vlogs

16 July 2022

One From The Heart

There has been a very long gap between blogs lately. Most times I think I have found the time to write one, I also find myself being quickly distracted by other things. Before I know it, time has passed and the content is quite old news and I don't see the relevance of writing it anymore. 

In the hope of addressing this issue, I am going to try moving to vlogs for a while. This should hopefully result in short video clips talking about current issues at the time they are recorded. If I have any photos to share, I will just provide a link. 

I have not done many video clips recently because my phone was faulty. They told me it was an issue with stabilisers, which I managed to deal with for a very long time. The issue has now been rectified following an upgrade. I finally decided to buy a new phone. More frequent content should be the result.

For those wondering about the image of a motorcycle covered in flood mud, this was my motorcycle which went under in the 28 February Lismore flood. I have finally found the time to access my property and start digging through the mess. This motorcycle was one of three vehicles I lost. For those who remember, I also lost 'The Beast', a white short wheel base Holden Jackaroo, and 'Ranga', my red long wheel base Holden Jackaroo. I have so much more digging to do, which also leaves less time to update this website. I will definitely try to find the time though.

 

From Flood to Free Concert

6 May 2022

One From The Heart

It has been a while since I have shared a blog, and for very good reason. Things have been pretty wild and many of us have been extraordinarily busy.

As February was drawing to an end, Lismore City Council's General Manager John Walker, Mayor Steve Krieg, Councillor Electra Jensen, and myself, were all booked to travel to Sydney to attend the Local Government NSW Special Conference. We were scheduled to fly out of Ballina on Sunday, 27 February 2022. We had already seen a moderate flood event a few days earlier, and we were closely monitoring reports of what was being forecast. We were all ready to cancel our travel plans so we could be in Lismore to help in any way.

All of us decided to cancel our plans and stay in Lismore once we realised Lismore was about to experience a major flood event which would overtop the Lismore CBD levee. We all had our own preparations to make but, like almost everyone else, we did not expect to see such flood peaks as we ultimately saw on Monday, 28 February 2022. Lismore was destroyed by the biggest flood in recorded history, officially reaching 14.39 metres at Lismore's rowing club river gauge.

Search and rescue efforts were extraordinary, with so many members of our community risking their own lives in tinnies and on jetskis to save possibly thousands of people trapped by rapidly rising flood waters. Evacuation centres opened and volunteers and support came from everywhere to help, while most were still processing what was happening. Recovery centres also started setting up as the days passed. It quickly became clear that the new council had a very different task ahead of us. Instead of trying to better manage a struggling council, we now had the massive task of rebuilding a city.

I was quite unlucky to test positive for COVID shortly after the catastrophic flood. I had been spending anywhere from 19 to 22 hours each day helping at the GSAC evacuation centre. Hundreds of people were coming through with barely a mask to be seen. Before COVID put me in isolation, I was able to use my online resources to promptly secure items requested by those running the evacuation centre. Food items, clothing, bedding, toiletries, and so much more were in great demand. The essentials were promptly provided by many very generous donors in the area. A friend and I focused on keeping the kitchen open 24 hours so those coming in could always access a hot meal. Many volunteers flooded the evacuation centre to help with anything and everything. It was truly amazing to watch.

By Friday I started to feel quite weak. I thought I was just getting old and lacking sleep. By Saturday I could not make it in as I felt too unwell. On Sunday, since a few positive COVID cases came up at the evacuation centre, I was called in to get tested. I tested positive and had to isolate for the next week. Some amazing people looked after me while I struggled to recover. I actually lost 12.5 kilograms in that week, but I have very unfortunately since put 10 kilograms back on. Two weeks had passed since the massive flood by the time I was out of isolation. However, I was still very sick and felt so weak during the weeks which followed.

While stuck at home I completed a very interesting hydrology course and spent quite a bit of time learning more about hydrology, meteorology and flood mitigation. I started seeing and understanding things much better than I ever did. I also spent a lot of time trolling through council and other documents relating to floodplain risk management, flood mitigation, disaster management, and recovery following natural disasters. I became like a sponge trying to soak up every bit of information which might help reduce peak flood heights and reduce the impact on our community.

On 30 March 2022, we were hit with another major CBD levee overtopping flood event. I had still not even looked at my own damage because I was too busy at the evacuation centre after the first major flood, and then I was way too sick in the weeks which followed. I had already lost my shop in the 2017 flood, and I lost almost everything else in the February flood, as well as more than half my non-council income. I did not even want to look at my own damage yet.

Council started meeting again soon after and we were trying to work out how we would manage the recovery. I have spoken to so many people, listened to so many personal experiences, and read so much about options and solutions which may assist with recovery, but there is still so much more to come.

One From The Heart

I think the announcement of the One From The Heat free concert for the people of the Lismore region was a big morale boost. It seemed to have given so many something to be excited about and to look forward to when they had so little to make them smile in recent times. It will be very interesting to see how the concert goes next Sunday.

It is important to remember that so much of what Councillors do is done behind the scenes or not made public because it would probably bore everyone to death. I am planning to start sharing more of what that is over the coming months.

As a glimpse, I have a business paper and attachments to read through and get my head around by Tuesday night's Lismore City Council meeting. Those documents include 181 pages in the business paper, 265 pages in the attachments, and another 6 confidential pages not available to the public. Before that meeting, I have to attend a Flood Roadshow in Kyogle on Monday afternoon because the Lismore Roadshow is scheduled at the same time as the Lismore City Council Meeting.

On Wednesday it is all about Rous County Council. An extraordinary council meeting is scheduled in the afternoon, which comes with a 260 page business paper to read and understand. Before the council meeting is a two hour training session which will certainly involve a lot of reading. After the meeting is the General Manager's annual performance review, which includes a 53 page guide at this stage, but will almost certainly see a lot more information provided prior to the meeting. Thursday is back to Lismore City Council business with the Floodplain Management Committee meeting scheduled. That business paper is only 34 pages long, but we have a lot to discuss. 

Each item in a business paper can trigger a lot more reading and research, as we try to understand what is before us so we can make informed decisions on behalf of our community. Preparing motions and other items for inclusion in business papers also involves substantial work behind the scenes. Councillors need to know what they are putting forward, and must be able to speak to it. 

The most interesting part of being a Councillor is the regular contact and approaches by members of the community. Many seem reluctant to approach and share their concerns, but when they do and they see that Councillors are very approachable, what they have to say is usually the most important content to help most Councillors make the right decisions. 

Keep an eye out for more riveting behind the scenes commentary. 

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A very busy couple of weeks

18 February 2022

Heading into the February Lismore City Council meeting saw a lot of activity in the mainstream media and on social media surrounding my North Lismore Plateau motion. It became very clear that the vocal minority had little understanding of the intention behind it, seemingly because they were being advised by current and former Councillors defending their wishy washy 2021 position, and by those with vested interests.

Big Rob at anti Lismore City Council North Lismore Plateau motion protest

The Council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, 8 February 2022 from 6pm. However, quite late during the previous week saw the announcement of an Extraordinary Council meeting scheduled for Monday, 7 February 2022 at 6pm. Nothing was listed on the agenda except for a confidential Mayoral Minute.

A Mayoral Minute is a tool available only to the Mayor to bring a matter before Council for a decision without needing to meet the usual notice requirements. A lot of speculation followed on social media and in mainstream media after someone leaked the news about the scheduled Extraordinary Council meeting.

I didn't end up making it to the Extraordinary Council meeting, where the General Manager's contract was terminated and an interim General Manager was appointed. This was a pretty big move by the new Council so early on in the new Council term. However, there was more controversy to follow. Returning Councillors chose to submit a rescission motion following the resolution even though it was carried 6/4 in my absence. What would usually be held over until the next Council meeting a month later was brought back to the Council meeting scheduled for the next day through another Mayoral Minute. The rescission motion ultimately failed when it was lost 7/4.

After an informal catch up with the new Rous County Councillors earlier in the day, it was the big night at Lismore City Council. I had submitted ten Notice of Motions and three Questions With Notice. Other Councillors had only submitted three Notice of Motions between them. The big one on this night was by far the North Lismore Plateau motion.

Lismore City Council - 8 February 2022

There were quite a number of speakers opposing my North Lismore Plateau motion before we got into it. Things were quite heated in the Gallery during debate. Councillors were clearly feeling the pressure from a packed Gallery hurling abuse, insults, and otherwise disrupting proceedings. I was very surprised to see a former Councillor being one of the most disruptive individuals that night. I can only describe her behaviour as shameful and hypocritical. A number of Councillors decided they wanted more information prior to making a decision, so we chose to take the North Lismore Plateau matter to a workshop. The item will reappear in a Business Paper at a later time. 

Big Rob at the Lismore City Council meeting on 8 February 2022

Not much else besides the rescission motion was dealt with on 8 February 2022. The meeting was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, 16 February 2022, where it was completed in just over two more hours.

The morning after the meeting on 8 February 2022, which went well into the night, saw me on my way to attend the Local Government NSW Water Management Conference in my role as a Rous County Councillor. I was picked up in Lismore shortly before 9am to start the drive to Narrabri. At 9am I participated in an online Webinar for Councillors session using my iPad and headphones. Fortunately reception only cut out right at the end when the session was wrapping up. We stopped about half way for lunch where I had to do an interview with NBN News via Zoom relating to the North Lismore Plateau decision.

The Local Government NSW Water Management Conference was an invaluable experience. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend, meet and speak with various industry professionals and politicians. A lot of possible solutions to various matters facing both Rous County and Lismore City Councils were considered and some very interesting discussions were had. 

Big Rob at the Local Government NSW Water Management Conference in Narrabri

I attended various forums and listened to many speakers on a wide range of water management matters. We also attended a water storage treatment site. Completed in 2021, the Narrabri Water Augmentation Project was a $14.18 million project which centralised storage, enabling more efficient processing, distribution and introduced water treatment. It became abundantly clear to me at the Conference that no single solution can address water security. An integrated approach incorporating various options is required. 

Narrabri Water Augmentation Project

The next few days saw a lot of reading and considerable preparations for the forthcoming Rous County Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 16 February 2022 at 10am, with part two of the Lismore City Council February meeting later the same day at 6pm. I also participated in an interview over the phone with a national media organisation, who is sending a photographer to take a photo of my interesting head some time today (Friday, 18 February 2022). I won't name them in case they don't run a story, or they do a really bad one. ;)  

I attended a feedback session with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, on Tuesday afternoon. It was a very important discussion which saw many flood-related issues raised and possible solutions presented. There were a number of local community members represented at this session. Not long after this session I attended a Lismore City Council infrastructure services briefing which went for a few hours. Council staff presented a lot of invaluable information. The information presented, and responses to questions asked, caused me to reconsider a couple of the Notice of Motions I had to still deal with during part two of the Lismore City Council meeting the next day. 

My first Rous County Council meeting saw an interesting welcome from a crowd gathering out the front of the Rous offices. The vocal minority, joined by a returning Lismore City Councillor, were once again trying to stop any progress. A few protesters spoke to Councillors before the Dunoon dam option was debated. The two Byron Shire Council representatives spoke and voted against the motion, but all other Councillors supported it. The Dunoon dam was put back on the table so that it could be investigated more thoroughly as a possible solution to address water security in our region. It seemed most Councillors thought this was the most sensible thing to do so that an informed decision can ultimately be made. I was also elected to Rous County Council's Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee, and as the Alternate Chair to the Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Group.

No Dunoon Dam protesters at Rous County Council 20220216

Part two of the Lismore City Council meeting followed that evening and went off without a hitch. I ultimately decided to withdraw four Notice of Motions and all three Questions With Notice. The three Questions With Notice were withdrawn because they were directed at the previous General Manager. It is expected the questions will be answered by the new General Manager in the near future.

The Lismore Lake Precinct Notice of Motion was withdrawn so that discussions could be had with the new General Manager. It was always meant to be a simple license agreement between Lismore City Council and Lismore Lake Incorporated Landcare Group, so that a bush regeneration plan could be put into motion. Volunteers require insurance to undertake work, and insurance cannot be secured without permission to work on the land owned by Lismore City Council. After over a decade of fighting, it is expected that we will see bush regeneration work commence at the Lismore Lake Precinct in the very near future. If an agreement cannot be reached, this Notice of Motion will be brought back to Council at some point. 

The Waste Vouchers Notice of Motion was withdrawn because staff advised us during the infrastructure services briefing of a forthcoming workshop in March, where various issues relating to waste management would be considered. I decided a decision could wait until after a more detailed review of the possible impacts any change to the number of vouchers distributed may have on the Budget. This Notice of Motion will also be brought back to Council at a later stage if required. 

Although the Business Activation Working Group Notice of Motion was resolved, the Additional Committee Delegates Notice of Motion was withdrawn because Council staff could not confirm whether changes to the Terms of Reference could be made, and some Councillors wanted clarification. I will be bringing this Notice of Motion back to the March Council meeting in the hope of seeing greater representation of Councillors on the various Groups and Committees of Council.    

The Asset, Infrastructure & Finance Committee was withdrawn to allow the new General Manager to address my concerns through the Integrated Planning & Reporting framework. I am hoping to see Council shift their focus to maintaining and improving existing assets and infrastructure, as opposed to building new things and having to pay for them forever going forward. This will either become evident during the forthcoming Budget process, and it will also dictate whether such a Committee will be required going forward. 

Although I understand the reasoning, I was not happy to see the Councillor Fee Reduction Notice of Motion withdrawn by the Mayor. I am considering submitting a similar motion myself to the March Council meeting just to see how Councillors would have voted on it if they were given the chance. I have no issue with seeing any of the returning Councillors' fees reduced due to the performance of Council over the last few years. I believe we should first earn the maximum pay increase by making decisions which see us grow as a community. We have had no growth for over a decade, and this trend is expected to continue for the next two decades. We need to prove the forecasters wrong.

Lismore Floodplain Risk Management Plan

The Floodplain Management Committee also met for the first time during this new Council term. A bit of lobbying was done earlier in the week, which resulted in some changes to the Terms of Reference of this very important Committee. The key change relates to how the Chairperson is determined. The Mayor, or nominee, is now automatically the Chair, meaning a vote is no longer required. With the many experts sitting on this Committee, it was not appropriate to bother them with such things. Mayor Krieg has since appointed Councillor Electra Jensen as Chair, who did a great job running the first meeting. A motion was put to review the Terms of Reference, to seek out new community members, and to discontinue the Floodplain Management Community Reference Group. This motion will now be sent up to Council seeking a resolution.

Floodplain Management Committee Resolution 20220217

This was a long-winded blog since I had not done one for a while. It attempts to clarify how a lot of things happened or how they work. So much reading, research and lobbying occurs behind the scenes. I am not sure how hard other Councillors work, but as you can see from my last few weeks, I certainly work pretty hard doing various things and trying to do the right thing by the community. 

There really is so much work to do going forward, particularly if looking to undo the damage caused by previous decisions.

 

Supporting Local Businesses & Jobs in Lismore

2 February 2022

Big Rob Supporting Local Businesses & Jobs in Lismore

Boyish good looks and charm by Big Rob. ☺

Photo by Lismore City Councillor Jeri Hall. 

 

What to expect in February

30 January 2022

With many Lismore City Council commentators still misinterpreting what transpired at the January council meeting, a heads up relating to what is to come in February seemed appropriate.

Local Government elections are normally held every four years in September. Due to COVID, the 2020 September election was delayed by one year, and then delayed again by a further three months. This saw the most recent election held on 4 December 2021, shortening the current term of Council from four years to just 2 years and 9 months. The one year delay was not so bad, due to most of the regulatory stuff being done annually. It is the additional three months delay which has caused some problems. 

After every election, Council must review a lot of documents to meet Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) requirements. There is a ten year Community Strategic Plan, a four year Delivery Program, a one year Operational Plan, a Community Engagement Strategy, a Resourcing Strategy, which includes the Long-Term Financial Strategy, Workforce Management Planning, and Asset Management Planning, there are Annual Reports, and there are various other IP&R plans and strategies to consider. There are also considerable ongoing monitoring and review requirements. It is very clear that Council is extremely heavy on compliance.

Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) Model

Since Council would normally start on this stuff following a September election, as opposed to a December election, we are already three months behind. Factor in all the holiday time over December and January, and we are really four months behind before we get into the really administrative stuff. The workload and the learning curve over the next few months is expected to be very high as a result.

I understand it looks like I am rushing to do things quickly to many commentators, possibly because I am.  So why am I rushing? 

Council's financial position needs to improve very quickly. We cannot afford to continue as we have in the past. I believe this process requires both better decision making going forward, and reversing costly decisions made in the past wherever possible. The way the IP&R works is that whatever is included in the plans can be spent on and whatever is not included cannot be spent on, unless included later following such things as a natural disaster or a Quarterly Budget Review Statement (QBRS) process, which could in itself be a disaster if we make bad decisions.

The Operational Plan, or Budget, must be adopted no later than 30 June each year for commencement on 1 July, so we don't have much time to sort many things out before we are required to adopt a Budget for the next financial year. Major expenditure items need to be included in or removed from the IP&R process in time so they can be progressed or so ratepayer money can be saved.

I have heard that I may have broken a record relating to the most number of Business Paper submissions from a single Councillor to a single Council meeting. This is yet to be confirmed, but the February Business Paper should be publicly available in a few days so everyone will get to see what I have actually submitted. 

Next Ordinary Meeting of Lismore City Council - 8 February 2022

Without giving too much detail away just yet, you may see submissions relating to various administrative matters, millions of dollars worth of council land, waste issues, sewage costs, and even rates, as I work towards keeping things as simple as possible, open and transparent, systematic and sensible, and sustainable. I am not sure what other Councillors have submitted, but I am quite hopeful there may even be some very good news in relation to the Lismore Lake Precinct following the February meeting.

My campaign policy statement has been listed on this website since before the election. It has not changed much since the previous election. I plan to follow my policy throughout this council term, updating it from time to time to address emerging or changing needs of our community. 

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First Lismore City Council meeting

12 January 2022

I couldn't wait for the date of the first Lismore City Council meeting to arrive. I felt like a kid in a candy shop waiting to be let loose. The first meeting was scheduled for 11 January 2022 and it was to be an administrative meeting. This meant that no Notice of Motions could be submitted by Councillors for consideration. We would have to hold these back until the February meeting. 

Numerous discussions relating to procedural and access matters occurred behind the scenes in the lead up to this meeting. These discussions resulted in me submitting two urgency motions to the first council meeting. Urgency motions relate to matters of great urgency, as provided for in clause 9.3 of the Lismore City Council Code of Meeting Practice. 

The first order of business was confirming the 9 November 2021 Minutes from the last meeting of the previous Council. I then moved the first of two urgency motions. The first urgency motion related to Councillors being provided with access to Lismore City Council's IT Network, applications and information using their own devices. The Mayor ruled that this matter was urgent and debate followed. The motion was resolved 7/4.

Lismore City Council - 11 January 2022 3/22

I then moved a motion to discontinue the Planning Review Committee, and to increase the number of Councillors required to request that an application is to be submitted to a Council meeting for consideration and determination be increased from two (2) to three (3) councillors. The reasoning for this motion was to better streamline the development application process, to reduce delays faced by those waiting for development consents, and to make it a little more difficult for Councillors to call matters up to Council for consideration and determination in the hope of taking more of the politics out of the decision making process. This was a controversial item but it was ultimately resolved 6/5.

I seconded a motion relating to the election of Deputy Mayor. That matter was resolved unanimously. The election process followed, with Councillor Peter Colby being elected Deputy Mayor until September 2022.

Councillor Peter Colby - Deputy Mayor

Councillor Peter Colby - Deputy Mayor

A motion relating to delegations of authority to the General Manager was next. I moved this motion, which included a restriction on the General Manager determining tenders exceeding $250,000 in value, and that the Mayor consult with Councillors before seeking legal advice relating to the performance of the General Manager. The motion was resolved unanimously. 

A motion was moved by Councillor Bird to fill casual vacancies occurring in the office of Councillor within the first 18 months of Council by countback. The motion was defeated 4/7. This meant that casual vacancies within the first 18 months would be filled following a by-election if the need ever arose. I supported the more expensive by-election option because I genuinely believe that a price cannot be put on democracy. Allowing such decisions to be made by those who do the best preference deals does not sit well with me, and it certainly would not reflect what the voters wanted. 

I then moved a detailed motion relating to Lismore City Council's Ordinary Meeting schedule, Briefings and Workshops, and the order of business. An amendment was put dealing only with keeping Ordinary Meetings of Council at 6:00pm from 8 February 2022 to 13 August 2024, excluding the month of January in each year. The amendment was put and carried unanimously. It became the motion and was resolved unanimously. The other matters will be dealt with Council at a later meeting.

Committee delegates were next to be considered. I foreshadowed a motion but the motion put by Councillor Bird was resolved 8/3. This motion saw the Rainforest Botanic Gardens Management Committee, Public Arts Reference Group & Major Events Group discontinued. It also saw a decision on the discontinuation of the Social Justice and Crime Prevention Committee deferred to the February meeting to allow a more detailed report to be prepared for consideration. The following delegates were appointed as a result of this resolution.

Lismore City Council Committee Delegates

This was when I put my second urgency motion, which related to the election of representatives to represent Lismore City Council on Rous County Council. I believed the matter to be urgent as a result was needed prior to 4 February 2022. With the February meeting already scheduled on 8 February 2022, this meant a costly Extraordinary Council meeting would be required to ensure compliance. The Mayor ruled that this matter was urgent and the motion was resolved unanimously. Councillor Andrew Gordon and myself were elected following an election by secret ballot.

Lismore City Council's Rous County Council Representatives

Councillor Ekins then moved a motion relating to the 2022 Local Government NSW Special Conference, to select three voting delegates, and to determine Lismore City Council's motions to be submitted. The delegates selected included Mayor Steve Krieg, Councillor Electra Jensen and myself. The motions to be submitted include items relating to 'Energy roadmap', 'Red fleet', and 'Code of Conduct investigator reports be reviewed by independent panel'. The motion was resolved 9/2. I actually voted against this motion even though I am a delegate on the basis that I do not support the motions to be submitted to the Special Conference. 

As outlined above, this Ordinary Council meeting was administrative in nature. The fun stuff should kick off on 8 February 2022 when we can submit Notice of Motions and Questions With Notice. I plan to submit more than a few. ☺

 

Pathway to election as a Lismore City Councillor

23 December 2021

It was a great honour and very humbling to be elected as a Councillor at Lismore City Council following declaration of the results on 23 December 2021. This was my second attempt following a previously unsuccessful campaign in 2016. Since I really don't know how to give up, I decided to have another go. 

My plans did change considerably as the election approached, making this recent attempt a very unusual one. I initially planned to run alone in the right column below the line. This is where candidates are listed on ballot papers if they do not form a Group. My initial decision was heavily influenced by my heavy study schedule at the time, my efforts to become a lawyer, and my subsequent plans to get through the first two years of working as a lawyer following admission, before then running again in a Group above the line at the 2024 election. This plan was still in place in February 2020. 

In March 2020, a lot happened involving myself and Lismore City Council. This triggered my decision to change my plans and run a Group above the line. The election was still to be held in September 2020 at that time, but we later saw two subsequent COVID-related delays which saw the election pushed back to December 2021. 

City of Lismore Council Election 2021

Plans then changed again so many times between March 2020 and December 2021, mostly due to changing candidates, COVID delays, and compliance matters. I ultimately decided not to accept any donations from anyone towards my 2021 campaign, and not to spend any money on it. I decided I would only utilise what I had at my disposal, both online and laying around my home and office. I did not spend anything on advertising, I did not order any campaign posters, how-to-vote material or other marketing items, and I did not seek out support at the booths. I wanted to see if I could succeed focusing mainly on using social media.

I was also humbled prior to the election, when people who wanted to see me get on council started to offer support. There was a lot of frustration regarding my decision not to accept any donations or spend any money on a campaign, both from those within my Group and those otherwise supporting me. Some did whatever they thought would help, such as print off a few flyers and hand deliver them to letter boxes, or spent hours at polling booths speaking with people on my behalf. I also received some amazing support from a third party campaign group who supported both Mayor Krieg's and my Groups.

Pre-polling for two weeks was quite tough. I very much enjoyed the time and discussions with other candidates though. There were some amazing people, many of who I would never have otherwise had a chance to speak with. Speaking to so many voters was also very interesting. It really did clarify a lot of things for me.

Big Rob & Col Baker at Lismore City Council pre-polling 2021
Big Rob, candidates & supporters at Lismore City Council pre-polling 2021
Sue Higginson at Lismore City Council pre-polling 2021
Big Rob & Labor Party candidate Joy Knight-Smith at pre-polling 2021

I became unwell a few days out from election day, being Saturday, 4 December 2021. I took a couple of days off during the week while awaiting a COVID test, but was not firing on all cylinders when I returned after a negative result. After spending most of the two weeks of pre-polling at the Woodlark Street polling booth, I chose to spend election day at the Goonellabah Community Centre polling booth. Overall it was a good day meeting lots of good people.

Everyone scattered pretty quickly after the polls closed on Saturday. Most of the candidates went to after parties. I decided to relax with a few friends before later heading to bed to start recovering after what was a very tiring campaign.

The Mayoral result was known very quickly. I was very happy to see that Mayor Steve Krieg won by what was a very convincing margin, attaining absolute majority in the first round of counting. This means Mayor Krieg secured over fifty percent of primary votes, so preferences became irrelevant. The voting is done quite differently for Councillors though. They use what is called a proportional voting system, which requires candidates to achieve a quote to be elected, or to then have the highest number of votes after all preferences are considered

Councillor Steve Krieg - Mayor

Councillor Steve Krieg - Mayor

Eight of the ten Councillor positions were known quite quickly, as they achieved quota. The next two in line were myself and The Greens candidate, returning Councillor Adam Guise. I was in position nine and Councillor Guise was in position ten. I was quite safe on the numbers filtering through as counting continued due to a growing gap to position eleven. Councillor Guise also looked safe due to this growing margin. There did not appear to be enough preferences to close that gap when they finish counting primary votes. 

The only real issue left to determine was whether Councillor Guise would end up elected in position nine instead of ten, with me securing the other position. The button was pressed on 22 December 2021 and the positions did not change. We were all formally declared elected by the NSW Electoral Commission on 23 December 2021. 

Lismore City Council - Your Councillors

Lismore City Council
2021 - 2024

Back Row (L to R)
Cr Peter Colby, Cr Big Rob, Cr Andrew Bing, Cr Vanessa Ekins, Cr Andrew Gordon & Cr Adam Guise

Front Row (L to R)
Cr Elly Bird, Cr Jeri Hall, Mayor Steve Krieg, Cr Electra Jensen & Cr Darlene Cook

© 2016 Big Rob