NEALE Royal is relatively new to Glen Innes but as soon as he got to town he got involved in the community, he wants to carry that further by being elected to serve locals as a councillor after the September 10 election.
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Royal has lived in Glen Innes for two years, is a part-time bus driver and is Secretary of the Glen Innes Show Society, he also serves on the Australian Celtic Festival committee.
Royal and his wife Sandra live by the creed that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem and he believes he has solutions for the town’s issues.
“The three areas of local government that genuinely concern me are roads and infrastructure, economic growth and progression, and fiscal responsibility,” he said.
“As a Local Government Area (LGA) we find ourselves in uncharted waters being in a very positive, but precarious, position with a budget surplus and being deemed “fit for the future” by the NSW government, thus not having to suffer through another amalgamation process.
“We, as a community, need to be very careful about how we manage this situation.”
Mr Royal wants to ensure that the community have a voice in the future of our town.
“I want to see ratepayers get value for the rates and charges imposed on them by the council, I want open, honest and, most of all, robust discussions on the big decisions that affect all of us,” he said.
“I want to see an end to the “rubber-stamp – tick and flick” approach to resolutions passed in Council chambers that impact on our daily lives.
“Local government should be about seven councillors being elected that can work cohesively for the betterment of their community, and are not afraid to say no when issues that are raised don’t meet the community ‘sniff’ test.
Mr Royal said often if something looks shonky, smells wrong or doesn’t sound right, it usually is.
“I believe elected members of Council should stop and think – and engage in more discussion to identify if a decision is really in the public’s best interest,” he said.
“Should I be successful in becoming a Councillor, I will make myself available for open and frank discussions pertaining to all issues involving ratepayers and Council, and I want to engage in regular community consultation meetings.
“I am not a developer nor am I related to, or friends with, any developers and I have no personal agenda for wanting to be elected, other than to see Glen Innes back on track to become the prosperous, thriving centerpiece of the New England Tablelands it once was.”
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
