Policy

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Big Rob

I became a Councillor at Lismore City Council following the local government election which was held in December 2021. I was also elected as a Councillor at Rous County Council in January 2022.

 A number of my policy positions are presented below. I very much look forward to discussing and addressing the various issues facing the people living, working, studying and visiting in our area as I strongly represent us on Lismore City Council and Rous County Council. 

With the next local government elections to be held on 14 September 2024, I am seeking re-election and hope to be able to continue representing the people of Lismore for another four years.

Key Policies

  • Keep things as simple as possible so more people can understand and participate in what is going on in our community. 

  • Engage the community wherever possible through open and transparent decision making processes, focusing on the wants and needs of the silent majority.

  • Systematic and sensible decision making in consultation with the community, while considering short and long term financial impacts as well as social benefits, to prevent any future financial burden or loss of core services.

  • Identify sustainable solutions which present an acceptable balance between protecting the environment and moving forward with growth and development.

  • Remain Independent and endeavour to work with all Parties, Party affiliated representatives and other Independents for the single goal to achieve positive outcomes for our community.

  • Oppose any policies which reduce rights, freedoms and privacy.

  • Strongly advocate against prejudice, discrimination and racism.

  • Facilitate social inclusion for all members of our community.
The Arty Ark

Current Issues

  • Flood Mitigation
  • Following the catastrophic 2022 flood, flood mitigation has become a very high priority. All options must be on the table and it is essential mitigation strategies are implemented sooner rather than later. This will require all of the community's determination to ensure the State government provides adequate protection and enables Lismore to become insurable. They do not have a good track record to date and need an advocate who will keep them honest.
  • Water Security & Dunoon Dam
  • Continue to support the proper investigation and consideration of all options, including the Dunoon Dam as a viable primary solution to address long term water security for the region. This important process will reach a conclusion in the next term of local government and requires an experienced advocate who has a proven track record of standing up for what is deemed the better outcome in the moment of hard decision making. Our Community deserves the best solutions, not necessarily the easiest ones. 
  • Economic Development
  • Lismore businesses took a massive hit as a result of the catastrophic 2022 flood and many did not return. Business confidence is also yet to return. Without a serious project to identify Lismore's future private sector opportunities, our future remains uncertain. All viable growth initiatives must be supported by Lismore City Council and the next term will prove crucial in our long term recovery. This has not been the case over the last 15 years, which led to our poor economic situation prior to the floods.
  • Housing
  • Many homes were lost in the catastrophic 2022 flood. Although building houses remains the role of the private sector, it is important to continue lobbying decision makers to streamline the bureaucratic processes so that families and workers can move in sooner and help re-establish Lismore. Supporting the improvement of planning efficiency, the simplification of planning controls, reducing planning costs, and providing incentives to build will help see more homes built sooner.
  • Lismore Lake

    Support the re-establishment of the Lismore Lake Precinct, by preparing a plan to facilitate the process, including a solution to fill and top up Lismore Lake, and seeking funding support through Federal and State Government grant applications, as well as community support in the hope of maintaining the area as a community passive recreation area.
  • Following the issuing of a license to Lismore Lake Incorporated in 2023, Landcare work has recently commenced at the Lismore Lake Precinct.
  • Lismore Lake Pool

    Support the re-establishment of the Lismore Lake pool as a freely accessible community asset, by preparing a plan to facilitate the process and seeking funding support through Federal and State Government grant applications, as well as community support.
  • The toilet block, shed and water tank alongside the Lismore Lake pool were recently removed following significant damage during the catastrophic 2022 flood. Toilet facilities will be reinstated at the Lismore Lake Precinct. The pool itself and some other essential infrastructure have been left in place to facilitate the re-establishment of the Lismore Lake pool if funding support can be identified.
  • North Lismore Plateau 

    Continue to play an important role in supporting the North Lismore Plateau development in consultation with key stakeholders to adequately address any ongoing environmental and cultural concerns and reach a timely outcome. This will enable both the flood impacted and the open market to have an additional viable option to consider to build their new lives in our community. 
Lismore Lake

Lismore Lake

Residents & Households

  • People

    Respect and represent all members of our diverse community.

    Encourage and welcome visitors to enjoy what our area has to offer.

    Support programs and activities for young people, support planning options catering for the needs of our growing seniors population, support access and safety options designed to assist people with a disability, and support services and programs helping lower socio-economic groups and the homeless.
  • Anti-Social Behaviour & Crime

    Work with key stakeholders to formulate and implement programs designed to help deter and reduce the incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime.

    Increase the scope of crime prevention through environmental design to address such things as poorly lit areas or CCTV camera blind spots particularly in high risk areas.

    Support high visibility policing strategies especially in high traffic areas & during events.
  • Rates, Fees & Charges

    Review core services methodically eliminating identified management and process defects to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs.

    Review excessive fees & charges to determine a more realistic, fair and affordable pricing structure.

    Reduce the burden on ratepayers by opposing special rates, opposing maximum annual rate increases and opposing excessive spending on non-core items.

    Stimulate growth and development to increase the rate base by simplifying and streamlining the development application process wherever possible, and providing financial incentives while ensuring a sustainable balance between growth and development and the environment.
  • Water, Wastewater & Stormwater

    Ensure our water supply and waterways are well managed and protected.

    Promote efficient water use by all members of our community.

    Support the increasing use of water tanks and on-site grey-water storage tanks in all households.

    Provide efficient and affordable wastewater solutions.

    Support stormwater infrastructure management plans which look to clean, better manage and prolong the life of assets.
  • Waste & Recycling

    Provide efficient and affordable waste solutions.

    Support programs which encourage reductions in the amount of waste generated, the reuse of waste such as packaging, the recycling of material when disposing of it and reclaiming any waste to give it new life where possible.
  • Animals & Pets

    Assist farmers to ensure their stock is kept safely within their property boundaries.

    Ensure pets are micro-chipped as required and contact details are kept up to date to ensure animals can be returned safely to their homes.

    Find homes for all stray animals ending up in the pound and oppose termination of life for any of those animals proving difficult to house.

Business & Industry

  • Reduce the burden on business ratepayers by opposing special rates and opposing maximum annual rate increases.
  • Work with key stakeholders to formulate and implement programs designed to ensure Lismore will continue to remain and grow as a regional business centre, to promote our villages as alternative shopping areas and to develop industrial zones.
  • Strongly support sustainable farming operations, to protect significant farm land and water resources and to look at better practice options for implementation by farmers choosing to do so.
  • Stimulate business growth and development which will result in improving employment opportunities and spending in our area.
  • Facilitate the development of residential space within the central business district.
  • Support events and activity designed to improve traffic visiting local businesses around the central business district, villages and industrial areas.
  • Strongly support shop local campaigns to support our small businesses.
  • Review management of the central business district to focus on security, beautification, cleanliness and improving efficiency.
  • Provide well maintained footpaths within the central business district and villages.
  • Provide additional parking options with increasing development to include covered car parking options and a multi level car park within the central business district.
  • Support the promotion of Lismore as a strong sporting region looking to attract various sizeable sporting events.
  • Work with Southern Cross University and key stakeholders to develop programs designed to bring more students back to the area, to live locally and to study on campus.

Planning & Development

  • Roads

    Identify and implement strategies which will see improving road conditions throughout the local government area.

    Direct additional funds from non essential services to roads, which will see asset life extended and the roads backlog reduced significantly.

    Lobby the Federal and State governments for additional, regular and ongoing roads funding to help reduce the roads backlog and maintain the roads network.
  • Development

    Support sustainable property development to allow for additional housing options throughout the local government area.

    Actively seek out affordable low cost housing developments throughout the local government area, particularly in the areas within and around Lismore's Central Business District, Goonellabah and Nimbin areas.

    Protect the rights of farmers regarding how they continue to use their land.

    Provide more adequate public transport options throughout the local government area.

    Develop general aviation options to increase activity at Lismore Airport.
  • Controls 

    Simplify planning controls and the development application process.

    Decrease waiting times and costs involved when seeking development consents.

Recreation & Community

  • Villages & Rural Areas

    Consult with local communities prior to making decisions of any significance.

    Increase resource allocations to ensure more equitable service levels compared to urban areas, particularly with regards to roads and sustainable transport options.

    Protect structures of historical significance such as the many small local halls.

    Support community programs and local events in villages and rural areas 
  • Sport & Recreation

    Maintain and improve sporting fields, recreation parks and facilities.

    Improve efficiency, increase services and increase use of Oakes Oval and the Memorial Baths.

    Support significant sporting events such as the Masters Games, baseball competitions, football competitions and many more.
  • Arts & Culture

    Improve efficiency, increase services and increase use of the Lismore Regional Art Gallery and Quadrangle.

    Support significant community and cultural events such as Eat The Street, Mardi Grass and many more.

    Support established compliant markets.

Environment & Sustainability

  • Review and support the Wilsons River Redevelopment Project.
  • Protect our rivers, lakes and other waterways from contamination, significant trees from damage or removal, and wildlife from unnecessary threats while also supporting organisations assisting them.
  • Support the rehabilitation and protection of river banks, lakes and other degraded land.
  • Protect culturally significant or sacred sites and matters of environmental significance through suitable consultation during the decision making process.
  • Ensure a sustainable balance between environment and development.
  • Support and implement efficient energy consumption and waste output reduction, and increase the use of sustainable energy options.
  • Oppose all mining activity within the local government area.
  • Consult key stakeholders throughout the process relating to significant development proposals seeking consent.

Council & Engagement

  • Support open and transparent decision making processes, including the recording and live streaming of all Council meetings, Council briefings and workshops, committee, panel and group meetings, and making the material available to anyone who would like to access it.
  • Implement simple, quick, inexpensive and plain language methods to consult with the community, particularly with regards to any matter of considerable interest.
  • Regularly review the expenditure of public monies through third parties, to ensure ratepayers receive value for money, and that funding decisions are made fairly and equitably. 

 

© 2016 Big Rob