Candidate: Debra Haydon

scone.com.au asked each candidate in the upcoming Upper Hunter Shire Council elections a series of questions to allow readers to compare and contrast responses, based on questions sent by our readers and stories which generated the most interest in the community:

1: An overview of your background.

I grew up in a small town in central New South Wales before moving to Bathurst, Sydney, then various cities and towns along the east coast working for the public service including court officer, department of fair trading, centrelink and the attorney general’s department.

I moved to the Hunter region 15 years ago, initially to a property between Merriwa and Willow Tree and then to Scone. During that time I have worked in agriculture and in the public service and now work as the officer manager at Sledmere Stud.

My most important role is as a single mum to my 11 year old son James.

2: Why are you running?

All organisations benefit from change and the invigoration of ideas that often accompanies change. Councillors represent communities made up of people with different needs and interests and from a diverse range of backgrounds. It is important that councils reflect this mix so the views of a broad cross section of society are represented.

3: Have you been on Council before? How many years? In what roles?

No, although I was an interested and vocal participant in council meetings while living on the NSW far north coast.

4: What are the three main issues you would like to address as a Councillor if you are elected?

Services for specific community groups such as young people. Infrastructure, such as waste facilities and improved recreational facilities. Planning and development for a sustainable future for the Upper Hunter Shire.

5: What do you think Councillors could be doing better?

Improving community consultation, engagement and involvement in Council’s decision making process as much as possible, which would lead to a more transparent political process.

6: Who have you listed on your “How to Vote” (in order):

1: Debra Haydon; 2: Liam Garment; 3: Lee Watts; 4: James Burns; 5: Arthur Wright.

7: In the referendum will you be voting for a directly elected Mayor? (yes / no).

Yes.

8: Are you currently or have you ever been a member of a political party or campaigned for a political party?

No.

9: Would you have supported the sale of the library building without community consultation, putting it on the public record or out to public tender?

No. I believe that as elected representatives of the community, it is important that issues like the sale of the building housing the library and Neighbourhood Resource Centre should not have been sold without some level of community involvement. The Scone community felt strongly about the way the sale was handled and community consultation could have mitigated the negative backlash towards counci.

10: While not legally required, do you feel it is ethically required for Council to place on the public record the sale of any Council owned land and buildings?

Yes. People have more trust in a transparent process.

11: Do you think it was acceptable that septic services were closed without community consultation or it being placed on the public record?

No. It was not at all acceptable that a decision that had such impact on so many people was made without the knowledge of all the Councillors including the Mayor and that it was not placed on the public record.

12: Do you feel the current Councillors have been able to ensure Council has been transparent and proactive with the community? Why/Why Not?

It is impossible to give a definitive answer without being involved in the discussions and process around the decisions, but from a layperson’s point of view of issues such as the sale of the library building and the circumstances around the closure of the sepctic services it appears not.

13: Will you support free green waste drop off or green waste bins?

Yes, absolutely. All forms of waste reduction and recycling should be encouraged.

14: Many residents report feeling unsafe going for a walk due to the number of stray dogs. Do you think Council’s current response time of 24 hours for a ranger to attend to a call for a stray dog is acceptable? What would you propose?

I don’t think the current response time of 24 hours is satisfactory, but without knowing the budgetary constraints of having a Ranger or trained volunteers on call 24/7 it is difficult to know what other solutions are practical.

15: Do you feel the water pipeline to Murrurundi is progressing well or could Council be doing more to expediate this infrastructure?

Construction is not scheduled to start until 2017, although from the reading of the report of the June 2016 Council meeting no firm dates have as yet been set for the staged development of the pipeline. As we are entering the final quarter of 2016 it would seem timely that Council should commit to deadlines for the developmen

16: What improved recreational facilities would you support across the Shire?

The Scone swimming pool is in desperate need of a upgrade. The facilities at the skate park need improving and a town know as the ‘Horse Capital’ would benefit from a place dedicated to recreational horse riding. The extension of the cycle ways across the Shire would not only encourage more cycling, but would make it safer, particularly for children riding to school.

Related Story:

• Meet the 2016 Candidates.