Whether it’s the state of the roads – either lack of roadworks, or too many roadworks in progress delaying traffic – lack of services to smaller towns, “nothing for the kids to do”, lack of support for the arts, inappropriate development, inadequate development,  failure of the council to respond to demands for facilities such as an off-road area where hoons can do “burnouts”,  roadside litter, or the level of rates, there is plenty of discussion of what council ought to be doing, what council should not be doing, and what would be done if the complainants had any say in it. 

Well, now is your chance to have a say. 

Nominations for the Mid-Western Regional Council elections on September 10 opened yesterday. 

Residents of the Mid-Western Regional Council have until noon on August 10 to nominate to contest the election. 

The only requirements are that candidates be enrolled for the council area in which they should standing.   Candidate must be nominated by at least two other people who are also correctly enrolled, or a registered political party.   The NSW Electoral Commission suggests that candidates are proposed by more than two nominators in case some are not correctly enrolled. 

The nine councillors elected on September 10 will collectively have the responsibility of representing the whole of the Mid-Western Regional Council for the next four years.   

Their decisions will determine how funding is allocated, the priorities for infrastructure and services, and council policies on issues such as business development, tourism, and strategies which will shape the development of the region well into the future.  Councillors will make decisions on a multi-million dollar budget ($58 million in 2016), as well as often complex planning matters, and be required to navigate often controversial issues.  

Ideally, the councillors who take their seats in the chamber will be representative of the whole of the region, not just geographically, but with a fair representation of female and younger councillors, drawn from a range of backgrounds. 

If you think you fit the bill, or if you have a vision for the future direction of the Mid-Western Regional Council, go to www.votensw.info to find out about the nomination process.