Candidate: Wayne Bedggood

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.

My wife Michelle and I have, for the last fifteen years, lived at Parkville on Cressfield horse stud, where I am the General Manager. We have two grown children we have raised in the Upper Hunter who also live locally. I have spent all of my life in managerial roles, managing large numbers of people and multi-million dollar budgets. I voluntarily sit on several local committees and boards, some of which I Chair. My entire life has been spent in the country and my heart is aligned with the land on which I have grown up, leading to a strong environmental conscience. I am opinionated and highly motivated, so council seems a good fit for me to apply my skills to ensure we are all better off, now and into the future.

 2: Why are you running for Council?

I care about the well-being of those around me, now and into the future. The best way to ensure that we all have what we need is to be in a position of power that allows you to action response in the right direction. It is my belief that I have a sound understanding of what the community wants and needs, and that I have the skills to cater to these on their behalf. I also have a vision of how our future should look and I want to be in a position to be able to instigate this.

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

I have done one term of council with the Upper Hunter Shire from 2012 -2016. I was councillor, then Deputy Mayor for 18 months and finally, Mayor for the last 18 months.

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

Community Engagement – communication between council and community needs to improve. To ensure adequate interaction, transparency and confidence we must have effective lines of dialogue in whatever medium best reaches our community.

Land Use Resolution – to ensure future economic diversity, it is essential that we identify and define land uses to create certainty of investment for all. This will include strategic planning and land release that supports a sustainable and diverse future economy. Inadequate planning generates uncertainty!

Advocacy – little happens without money and planning. We need strong lobbying to secure funds and change policy to our advantage.

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

Councillors could spend more time thinking about a diverse, sustainable and robust economic future which includes less reliance on fossil fuels, a transitioning workforce, a healthier natural environment and a burgeoning aged population.

Much more time is spent on re-acting to the issues of the moment and not enough on pro-actively future-proofing our region.

Personally, I feel I need to have more interaction with the community as a whole at a grass roots level to gain insight into the details of general wants and needs. This would incorporate portraying a more approachable persona.

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

Wayne Bedggood, Maurice Collison, Lee Watts, Josh Brown, Kiwa Fisher, Ron Campbell

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

No. There are sound arguments for and against “Popularly Elected” Mayors but the reasons that lead me to a NO vote are –

• The councillors are far more likely to know who is most capable of leading them and representing them, and therefore the community.
• Without the councillors support, the Mayor becomes a figurehead with little power to accomplish anything.
• Should the Mayor die, become critically ill or resign, then a bi-election will be triggered at a large cost to the community
• If the Mayor is incompetent, the community has them for four years, regardless.

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

No, never.

9: Do you stand by your decision to sell the library building without community consultation, putting it on the public record, out to public tender or ?

I support the sale of the Old Administration Building which currently houses the Library and the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre – we did not sell our Library.

I regret immensely the process by which this sale proceeded and have helped implement provisions to ensure this process is never repeated. Community consent will be sought before a process such as this is activated in the future.

Council did all that it had to do to comply with regulations, not all that it could do, this was remiss of us!

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 I do, hence changes made to the policy around the sale of assets.

11: Do you think it was acceptable that septic services were closed without your knowledge and without it being placed on public record?

No.

• a: Wayne Bedggood: As Mayor why weren’t you informed of the closure and what have you done to ensure Council staff properly inform Councillors of key developments and ensure they do not make political decisions?

There is no reasonable response as to why I and other Councillors were not informed of the closure of the Scone Sewage Treatment Plant to transport carriers of effluent. The matter has been discussed with Council’s General Manager (GM) and responsible officers to ensure that ANY and ALL issues that have an impact on the community and local business such as this are brought to our attention, which includes reporting to the appropriate committee.

12: As an existing Councillor do you think you have been able to ensure Council has been transparent and proactive with the community? Why / why not?

Generally, I would say yes but there have been inadequacies, and some of those have been highlighted in this questionnaire. I have highlighted a need for better communication to alleviate these instances, as well as policies that support Council’s desire for better transparency and public confidence in them.

Council needs to remember that it is not insular and must always be aware that the public are watching with interest.

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

Yes, BUT only if this is a feasible service, given the budgetary constraints, which will include external levies, infrastructure and labour costs. Council is currently addressing this issue and working on a regional solution that is affordable. It is a community need and serves for a friendlier environment, so there is a very strong argument for it to happen.

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?

Council’s current, average, response time to urgent complaints is within one hour. The 24 hour reference is to the report that states, “97.08% of customer complaints/enquiries for Animal Control are responded to within 24 hours”. This does not mean it takes 24 hrs to respond to a complaint, it is a badly worded report.

I am concerned that people are afraid to walk outdoors because of poorly maintained pets. Council needs to re-assess its budget in this area to accommodate more services to be provided if this is held to be an issue. Owners also need education and regulation if they are unable to control their companion animals.

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

The Murrurundi Water Pipeline Project is only marginally behind where it should be and is indeed progressing well. It is more complex than other water supply pipelines, such as the one in the Liverpool Plains, and Council has done everything it can to expedite this process.

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

I would support all recreational facility improvements and developments, it is the funding that is an issue and I have already discussed that.

Our children want heated pools, more water sport facilities at existing pools, skateboard parks, bicycle tracks and “cultural hubs”. I know this from reading hundreds of submissions from children writing to the “Mayor for a Day” competition. Adults too wish for libraries, halls and parks and where council can, it improves or builds them. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to oblige them but budgets prevent it.

This is where advocacy comes to the fore re grants.

17: Where can people find more information about you?

I am starting a facebook page, for better or worse but at present, people can call me on the phone or pull me up in the street. There is information about Cressfield on our website.

Related Story:

• Meet the 2016 Candidates.