Indigo Shire Council election candidates

Indigo Shire Council needs to concentrate on providing basic services and maintaining and improving infrastructure. Local government does not need to involve itself in activities that are best left to the citizens of a democracy to decide for themselves. Indigo Shire has a priceless and irreplaceable history. Our heritage is something to be proud of, celebrated, protected and preserved for future generations. It should have equal weight with cycling, food, art, nature, and all the other attractions for visitors. There needs to be greater scrutiny of the Shire’s finances to ensure ratepayers are getting value for money, rates are brought under control, and the use of expensive consultants carefully monitored. Democratic values must be protected and promoted along with more community involvement. Citizens should not be wary of criticizing the Shire’s activities. Indigo Shire is all the citizens of the Shire not just the domain of a few. Our Shire has a bright future. The Council needs to provide the basics. The community is capable of doing the rest. Please give me your first preference if you agree and remember to number all the squares.

One of Councils most important tasks is to advocate to State and Federal Governments on behalf of our communities. We are called local government for a reason. We need to concentrate on local issues such as ambulance response times across the Shire, improving and increasing our aged care facilities for an ageing community, ensuring there are adequate and improved facilities for the development and enjoyment of our young people to keep our communities connected. Our infrastructure must be maintained and improved in our urban and rural areas. Retail, agriculture, heritage and culture must be supported and embraced to maintain who we are. Financial and environmental sustainability are priorities, I have been a member of the audit and risk committee for the past 4 years. I am a member of the Victoria police local safety committee. We need to have low debt and not apply for an increase above the rate cap. I listen and I act and advocate on your behalf. I live in Wooragee and run a few sheep. Indigo Shire is a very special place and that’s why we live here. I represent the entire Shire. I have maintained my energy, enthusiasm and drive to represent you.

Indigo Shire villages are vibrant, diverse and immersed in natural landscape and a rich history. Our residents are exceptionally resourceful, talented and creative people. Our communities have a proud ‘can-do’ ethos. The Indigo lifestyle involves voluntarily doing many little things in pursuit of bigger things each day. As Councillor, I will bring an in-depth understanding of our communities via my proven track record of working with community to build capacity. This includes 14 years employment in local government in both Victoria and NSW in community development and transport planning roles. I have been an Indigo Shire resident and very active community member, since 2005, having lived in Chiltern, Rutherglen and Wahgunyah. Council is most effective by ensuring our infrastructure, facilities and services are well planned and maintained; our village lifestyle is preserved while considering developments that fit our character; and that we advocate actively to State and Federal governments to ensure that we continue to be a highly desirable location to live, work and visit. Let's trust and listen to our communities when creating and updating our strategic and master plans, to ensure these plans have true community ownership, where community can contribute as the key stakeholders that they are.

As an experienced Councillor, I’ve already shown you my strong track record of community service and engagement. Having enough food, a roof over our heads, social bonds and personal safety form the basis of our wellbeing. These issues are close to my heart and part of my pledge to you. While we’re keen to share our natural beauty, produce and heritage with visitors, welcoming their economic input, we must still meet the needs of those who live here when all the visitors have gone home. I will continue to challenge the status quo, if necessary, supporting our rights to speak up, be listened to and understand the where, why and how as I believe that is how authentic decisions are made. My not negotiables are to act with integrity, compassion, respect, and fairness. My vision is to help the voices of our growing families, business operators and people on the land be heard. Then together, we can strive for a cost-effective Council that balances economic growth with social harmony, making Indigo an even more vibrant place to live, work and grow.

Advocacy. Governance. Progress. These are the goals of my Vision For Indigo. Advocacy means I’ll speak up for our community’s aspirations and needs and make sure your voice is heard. I’ll work hard to make sure your rate money is used wisely on things that matter most. As a newcomer to the council, I’ll engage with our communities’ diverse groups to hear and understand your concerns. Governance is about how we make decisions and manage our community’s needs, ensuring that maintaining and delivering council services is done effectively. With over 30 years in Business and Financial Management, I’ll help the council spend wisely. I’m dedicated to recommending the best ways to set a clear direction for the future. If elected, I’ll make sure decisions are fair and beneficial for you and our community. Progress in our shire means better services, support for Local Businesses to thrive and expand, creating jobs, and protecting our environment to give us a sustainable future. To make our community better, we need to make sure everyone has access to quality services, safe roads, improved parks, gardens, and sporting facilities. Progress is essential for a thriving community. If we don’t grow, we risk falling behind.

Barnawartha has been home since relocating from Tangambalanga in 2006. I am a Childcare Educator and small business owner operating throughout the Indigo shire. I understand the issues faced by small businesses, primary producers, our families and the need to support steady, careful growth. I enjoy working closely with the community to find opportunities for fair decisions. I am an active volunteer and have served on many committees such as Ambulance Victoria, Indigo Landcare, Barnawartha Recreation Reserve, Black Dog Creek Fishing Club, Barnawartha Golf Club and Indigo Adult Riding Club. I have enjoyed making a difference. I believe we need to increase support within our communities for tourism, emergency services, home care providers and sporting organisations. I have experienced firsthand the diversity of problems across our communities. Supporting mental and physical health, small business growth, protecting agriculture and heritage will be of the upmost importance to me. As a councillor, I will focus on our community inclusion. Decisions should be dealt with in a timely, transparent and cost-effective manner in close consultation with the community, so that business and individuals can invest in the shire with confidence. I will be your voice to ensure that you are heard and protected.

I am a second term councillor, former secondary teacher, Indigo Valley farmer, mother, grandmother and member of a large extended family. Since marrying a local and moving here 43 years ago, I have been involved and invested in community driven decision making and projects. During my eight years on council, I have been a member of many advisory groups, reference groups and steering committees. These include: the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance, North East Waste Forum, Murray Arts, Creative Indigo, Indigrow and the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. I am passionate about supporting and encouraging community driven initiatives and backing innovative ideas. I believe transparent decision making and clear process build trust and accountability and I work to uphold these values on behalf of our community. I hope to be re-elected to continue to drive outcomes that improve our liveability and create a sustainable future for us all. dianeforindigo@gmail.com

My aim is to help to build a thriving harmonious community that unites the towns and villages in the shire and preserves the way of life that we have come to love. I hope to continue the excellent initiatives started, supported and maintained by previous councils and members of our community. These include initiatives such as the “Totally Renewable” towns and the encouragement of urban trees across the shire. Our biggest challenge is the changing climate, and to address this I would encourage and support community action to advance climate ready responses such as the phasing out of fossil fuels, best practice energy use across the shire, and the highest standards of building design and construction.Tourism contributes a lot to our economy, and I aim to unite the energies of heritage and cycle tourism while conscious of the risk of too much tourism. I’m also a strong supporter of the younger members of our community and the libraries, playgrounds and other infrastructure that supports them. I was active in trying to stop the extraction of precious groundwater from Stanley and can appreciate the power that a few well organised and motivated people can have. Vote 1 Graham Parton.

Since moving to Yackandandah with a young family in 2014, I’ve immersed myself in volunteering to both learn from and contribute to our community. My dedication is evident through my roles as President Yackandandah Chamber of Commerce, Yackandandah Sports Park Committee of Management, and former President of Yackandandah Primary School Council. In my professional life, I’ve held global strategic roles in the mining industry and have spent the last six years in senior project leadership positions at AlburyCity. This experience has given me a deep understanding of Local Government operations, how to influence outcomes, and the skills needed to work effectively as a Councillor. I recognise the importance of strategic and master planning, but I’m increasingly frustrated with local governance as both a resident and a small business owner. I’m running for Council to advocate for greater accountability and ensure that plans are not only carefully considered but also effectively implemented. I’m committed to scrutinising reports and budgets to guarantee funds are used in the most efficient and impactful way. My goal is to represent the diverse interests of all communities within Indigo, and I look forward to engaging with residents to understand and prioritise our collective needs.

Hi, I'm Lisa Turner and I'm deeply invested in the future of Indigo Shire. With nearly two decades of residency, I possess a comprehensive understanding of our community's unique needs and aspirations. My extensive experience in community engagement, coupled with my proven leadership in tourism, agriculture, viticulture and government projects equips me with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively address the challenges and opportunities facing our Shire. I am committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where every voice is heard and valued. My approach to decision-making is rooted in transparency, accountability and a deep respect for diverse perspectives. I believe in championing sustainable practices that protect our natural beauty while fostering responsible economic growth, ensuring a vibrant and prosperous future for generations to come. If elected to the Indigo Shire Council, I will bring a fresh perspective, tireless dedication and an unwavering commitment to serving all residents. I will actively seek out community input, ensuring that your concerns are addressed and your aspirations are reflected in our collective vision for the Shire. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant and more sustainable Indigo Shire.

5 generations of my family call Indigo Shire home, and I've spent the majority of my life living in Chiltern, Rutherglen and now Barnawartha where I am raising my two children. It has been an honour and a joy to represent the communities that I love as an Indigo Shire Councillor for the last 8 years, with the last 2 years as your Mayor. Good decision making at Council should be alongside the community, bringing them along with every process, building confidence in the decisions that we make, so that they can see where they had input and feel ownership over the direction of Council. This is what I try to achieve as one of your local representatives. This will be increasingly important over the next four years as we balance the needs of our communities with good financial management, and continue to make representations to our Federal and State members on issues that matter most to our residents. If we continue working to get all of this right, we will be building communities that are well planned, with the appropriate services in mind for people to live and do business here. Towns that we are proud to live in.