“The town and its kids needs these facilities to keep fit and healthy,” said Ms Wilton, who owned her own personal training business.

The ticket said after visits to communities such as Tilba, it was struck by the slow winter season with business closing and feeling the pain.

The shared pathway from Dalmeny to Narooma was a priority and the Narooma ticket would ensure council, State and Federal funds would continue to flow to the project.

Another campaign platform was keeping the hospital in Moruya and not moving it to Broulee as mooted by the previous council, which would be too far north and out of the way for southern shire residents.

The ticket members also praised the Narooma Chamber of Commerce with Jock Munro pointing to the success of the Oyster Festival.

“They are a group of young professionals doing a damn fine job,” she said.

Mr Brown said it was important that someone with business experience was elected as the council was essentially a large corporation, with a turnover of $120million and assets of $600million.

And he said he had business experience running the squash courts and working for other corporations.

“I am concerned that this electionis about a nice bloke getting elected when it should be someone with budgeting and financial experience,” he said.

Candidates answer how they will serve their district

The Narooma News asked the other candidates living in the southern end of Eurobodalla Shire how they were focussed on Narooma and surrounding districts.

Here are their answers in their own words:

Rob Pollock

I have been focussed on the southern part of the shire for the past 21 years and will continue to do so through a range of actions.

I want to see completed the $2million street-scaping and road works associated with the Narooma Flat including the roundabout and street scaping at the intersection of McMillan, Bluewater Drive and the highway.

I will work with the volunteers to complete the Dalmeny-Kianga-Narooma pathway.

I will work to boost patronage and activities at the Narooma pool and sports and leisure centre.

I want to progress the urban road improvement program, which is happening already.

I have led the tourism industry for the whole shire for over 20 years being chairman of South Coast Regional Tourism and was chairman of Eurobodalla Tourism for 10 years.

Chris Kowal

We are very keen and committed to acknowledging the diversity of the shire. The southern end of the shore has a unique character and is a very special part of the shire.

The uniqueness is in its landscape and community, as there is a strong sense of community we support that sense.

What has been lacking is respect for community in the council chamber and we want to bring back respect for the community and openness back into the council.

We support local groups and local business in the southern part of the shire. There is opportunity for local business and agriculture. We want to link it in with strong eco-tourism and there are opportunities for a whole set of value adding like a food trail.

We want to see enhanced cycling opportunities and more shared pathways. The local community when needing to get around and distances are short should be able to cycle.

All the villages should have better cycle ways and pathways, not only Dalmeny and Kianga. Bodalla really needs safer pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.

Bodalla also has a lot of potential for niche agriculture, which would be good to increase the number of jobs.

We would also work to bring a public bus service to the southern part of the shire.

The Batemans Marine Park is a great asset for Narooma and local fishers are seeing the benefit and we see more benefits for tourism operators.

We are for protecting the environment – if you don’t have the natural environment you don’t have the foundation for a clean, healthy lifestyle.

One great asset the southern end of the shire has are its forests, which we need protected. There needs to be an end of wood chipping because the forests have the potential to earn the state much more when it comes to carbon storage as studies have shown that forest left alone can six times the carbon.

We also support a local based health service for the southern end of the shire. The distance to the north is too far and the road is not great, so we support health services in Narooma.

Fergus Thomson

Over the past four and half years I have represented many of the residents of Narooma, Dalmeny thru to Tilba with issues of concern to them.

I was the councillor that fought so hard for a better outcome for the swimming pools across the shire and the Narooma pool was certainly one of those.

There is still much to be resolved in addressing all of the ongoing issues.

I have already indicated in council that I want to see a full discussion on the pool issues early in the term of next council.

Having Tilba placed on the state heritage register is an area that I have been involved in and hopefully that can be progressed really quickly from here.

Following the hand back of Gulaga mountain to the aboriginal people I was appointed to represent the shire on that board.

Gulaga is so important for its cultural heritage and its importance and dominance to this shire is immeasurable.

Being a part of the management team is a great privilege.

The agricultural futures forum that I convened whilst Mayor and which was held in Narooma continues to be used in decision making.

The importance of the farming use of land along our coastline is vital.

The rural environment is as important to tourism as are our beautiful beaches.

Could anyone imagine the wonderful landscape views of Tilba and Mystery Bay looking like Shell harbour.

I am dedicated to finding ways of preserving that usage and vista.

I have represented the southern areas of our shire for the past four and half years and am committed to continuing to do so.

Andrew McPhail

The reason for me running for council is that there needs to be issues addressed and problems solved in an area that often feels forgotten and abandoned.

As a local real estate agent, I hear of difficulties clients have with Eurobodalla Shire Council on a daily basis. Some of these issues are enormous, some appear trivial. Nevertheless, any issue, be it large or small, requires equal attention and attempts at resolution.

My primary aim in getting elected to Eurobodalla Shire Council is to provide transparency, fairness and accountability in local government. My secondary aim is to get the job done well.

We need to increase tourism and commerce to the Narooma area. The current visitor centres provide an excellent service, but they are local. A decision needs to be made regarding marketing the area to the rest of Australia and indeed the world. This will cost a significant amount, but that pales into insignificance when compared to the cost of not acting.

Businesses are feeling the tough economic climate. Rather than walk away, a mechanism needs to be put in place that will facilitate confidence and provide services that are really required to the area, both in holiday periods and off peak season.

Our environment is our greatest asset. We need to protect it as well as enjoy it in a sustainable manner. To do this, a focus on protection and ecotourism is required.

Near enough is not good enough. We need action now. A vote for action is required now. We can no longer be complacent, narrow minded or cynical. This election is your opportunity to regain a voice of reason and entitlement. The Experience and Commonsense team is that mechanism to get your voice back!

I am proud to represent the southern end of the shire, what needs to be done must be done. I would be proud to do it on your behalf.

Nick Summers

Unlike many Council candidates I have NO vested business interests in this Shire. This ensures my independence and fairness when it comes to decision making.

I am a Tuross resident and will work to treat each issue and community concern on its own merits, I will not be biased toward one, or other end, of the Shire.

Whilst I will not do deals for favours, I am aware of the need to share resources fairly throughout the shire and, in my opinion, Batemans Bay uses up more than their fair share of Council resources.

My skills as a professional mediator are sorely needed in Council, to help resolve disputes and to establish a higher standard of behaviour.

A very important issue for the readers of the Narooma News is the ongoing industrial logging and woodchipping of our native forests for woodchips and other low value products. We rely on our local forests for the clean water that attracts the tourists that bring the bulk of income to this Shire, as well as for our diminishing household water supplies.

It is a scientific fact that the best protection for a water supply is to leave catchment forests unlogged. You can be sure that I will remain a strong opponent of these kinds of industrial logging practices and will work towards further protection of our local native forests.

Access to health services is also important for Narooma residents and if there is to be a major base hospital to be built in this shire, I would favour Moruya, not the Bay, as the preferred, more central, location.

We need improved public transport for our small communities like Dalmeny, Tilba and others.

Council needs to develop planning that has creative options, to suit the whole community, not just flog off land to the highest bidder. I do not favour the sell-off of public land or DA variations just to come up with some quick cash to prop up short-term fiscal problems.

I will not be voting for unfair handouts like the $100,000 plus supernumerary bonus to the ex General Manager.

Finally, I would urge southern voters to be very careful for whom they preference. It would not be the first time that Narooma has inadvertantly voted in an ineffectual Batemans Bay hack, by not understanding the preference flow.

Do not vote for groups. Vote below the line, and number at least 4 boxes, to make your vote valid.

Vote for someone you can trust to be fair and reliable, and, who has a track record in working for the community.