Recent News > Candidates Questioned in Scone

Candidates Questioned in Scone

Filed in Recent News by Elizabeth Flaherty September 1, 2016

There were more than 50 people who attended the Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry ‘Meet the Candidates’ session last night in St Luke’s hall, Scone.

Each candidate was given the opportunity to explain their background and reasons for running for Council and then responded to a series of questions from the Chamber.

Sale of Library Building:

Kiwa Fisher said he stands by his decision to sell the library building.

“I say it appreciating the angst is caused and we have another idea for a new home for the library and we are making progress towards that,” said Kiwa Fisher.

Other Councillors said they stood by their decision including Maurice Collison, Ron Campbell, Lorna Driscoll and Dierdre Peebles.

Dierdre Peebles said, “the decision was correct like it or not and I stand by the decision that was made.”

However, Wayne Bedggood said he thought the process was regretable.

“We did everything legally, but we should have consulted with the community,” said Mr Bedggood.

“Policy has been changed because of it, but do I think it should have been sold, yes,” he said.

Lee Watts explained she was not allowed to participate in the discussions about the sale because she is manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Centre, which is a tenant in the building, but said she would not have supported the sale without proper consultation and was actively involved in the policy to ensure consultation would take place for any future sales.

New candidates James Burns, Arthur Wright and Debra Haydon said they were glad there was a policy on place so that it couldn’t happen again and Sue Abbott said she was “disappointed we found out after it was sold.”

Overpass:

All candidates agreed they wanted to see heavy vehicles removed from the centre of Scone, but differed in how that may be achieved.

Kiwa Fisher said he was glad there was a growing point of view to move the overpass to the saleyards.

“I concur that the overpass should be at the sale yards to divert heavy vehicles and I am glad emergency services are coming on board with the idea,” said Mr Fisher.

Lee Watts said they had not spent years lobbying for an overpass for cattle trucks to get the saleyards once a week, it was for the residents of Scone who are stopped at the crossings every day.

“The overpass needs to be in the centre of town, the RMS are coming back with new designs and the residents need to decide where it should be; I think the town can have both an in town rail overpass and the trucks can have a crossing near the saleyards, I don’t think it is an either or situation, we can have both,” Lee Watts said.

New candidates Debra Haydon and Sue Abbott agreed they would like more information before forming a position.

“I don’t really know where we are at the moment, I’d like to see the options modeled so that I can visualise the options,” said Sue Abbott.

Mining:

Mining was a key issue and Sue Abbott got the ball rolling during her introduction speech.

After making the point that bike helmets was not one of her campaign platforms, despite national media coverage on her recent court case, she said was passionate about the environment including her blanket opposition to the Dartbrook mine operation.

“That man (Nathan Tinkler) could not be in charge of a chook raffle and the fact that man and his family could move here and run that mine gives me the horrors,” said Ms Abbott.

“I think we need to move away from Coal because coal mines are moving away from us,” she said.

James Burns, who works in the mining industry said he supported Dartbrook but was opposed to new mines in the area.

“I’m not against a coal mine which is already there, but I am against new mines in the Shire and I think the mining industry could to better with their environment procedure,” said James Burns.

“I would support it but with two caveats that 75 percent of workers come from the Upper Hunter Shire Council, not Muswellbrook and the other that it must remain underground,” he said.

Lorna Driscoll said she is a water diviner and the Dartbrook operation could not continue to long wall because there was an underground river she had identified at the mine.

Lee Watts said the current underground operation was an existing mine, but that she would not support the mine becoming an open cut operation.

Candidates who said they opposed the Dartbrook mine continuing operation included Maurice Collison, Ron Campbell, Kiwa Fisher, Wayne Bedggood and Dierdre Peebles.

Directly Elected Mayor:

Wayne Bedggood said that he would not support a popularly elected Mayor model because, “if there was a hostile Council nothing will get done.”

Kiwa Fisher, Sue Abbott, Dierdre Peebles, Ron Campbell, Maurice Collison and Lorna Driscoll also said they would not support a popularly elected Mayor.

Lee Watts drew applause from the audience when she said, “I think it is a community decision, we’ve had petitions from the community and we need to listen to them and let the people decide.”

James Burns agreed, “I’m for it because people should choose and if the Mayor can’t wrangle their Council then they should step aside.”

Arthur Wright said he supported voters making the choice of who they wanted as Mayor.

Climate Change:

All candidates agreed the impacts off climate change were of concern and they would take steps to ensure the Council was more environmentally responsible.

Existing Councillors outlined a range of initiatives the Council had undertaken such as plans to install solar panels on Council buildings and a new sustainability action plan.

Scone Airport:

Ben Wyndham, president of the Chamber asked a question about the state of the Scone airport and if the recent master plan would result in any action.

Wayne Bedggood took exception to his question and pointed out the money rate payers currently contribute to the airport.

“The airport currently runs at a loss and to keep the airport open it costs $275,000 a year of rate payers money and I don’t think many of them would take it well that the users of the airport don’t want to pay to use the airport,” said Mr Bedggood.

“We do want to see it upgraded, but we need to secure the funds and the master plan is the first step in that process,” he said.

Audience Feedback

“It was very interesting to watch the body language, it was definitely worth coming,” said Hilary Nicol.

“It gives you a good idea of how people would act on your behalf and their decision making process,” said Pieternella Jarvie.

“It is a good think for the community to hear them and what they are standing for, but it was a shame they weren’t all here,” said Kara Mitchell-Watson.

Ben Wyndham, president of the Scone and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry said they considered the night a success.

“Everybody seemed fairly positive and overall it was a worthwhile exercise that we will definitely do again,” said Mr Wyndham.

“We live streamed a video of it on Facebook, which went quite well and there were 30 or 40 viewers on line at one point and we’ll continue to keep bringing these thins to the community,” Ben Wyndham said.

Liam Garment was unwell and unable to attend, but sent answers to the Chambers questions.

Joshua Brown was inter state, but sent a video to address the audience and provide information on who he is and explain his position on key issues in the Shire.

Related Stories: