Darlene Cook: Restoring accountability, encouraging business and supporting the community.

I have been privileged to represent my community on council for the past 5 years. With my background in farming, I am a voice for our villages and farmers on issues affecting them. I bring my twenty years of experience in financial management to overseeing the large budget and many business units that comprise council operations, and I seek to improve the performance and financial sustainability of the council into the future.

I love the rich diversity of people who call Lismore home: our city and village dwellers, our farmers and our rural land sharing communities: all bring a shared vision of the future we want to live in. A world with healthy, active lifestyles, environmentally sustainable use of our natural resources, support for business and industries generating jobs that enable our young people to stay in the region, and high-quality transport links to our villages.

I am running for Mayor because I believe I have the drive to see that vision come to fruition.

The upcoming Lismore City Council election is a critical one for our region. We’ve had floods, fires and a pandemic severely impact our business sector. We are experiencing a critical shortage in housing, and our ageing infrastructure has come under enormous pressure.

That’s why it is now time for a reset, and time for Lismore Council to go back to basics, with a more business-focused agenda and a commitment to working together in the interests of the whole community.

Why did you decide to stand for Mayor or Councilor for the Lismore LGA?

I have spent five years on council learning the ropes – seeing what works and what doesn’t work with our council. It is clear that we need a change of a direction and more positive, consensus-driven, business-oriented approach to council. I want to lead that change.

What is the biggest challenge facing the new Council?

There are many challenges facing our region – including environmental, economic, and social challenges – but putting the council on a sustainable financial footing must be a priority for the new councillors. To do that, we also need to change the culture of council so that it is less adversarial and more accountable, with a greater focus on building consensus and working with the community.

What are the biggest opportunities for Lismore City Council?

The COVID-19 pandemic is already accelerating the movement of people out of the cities and into the regions. This is Lismore’s time to shine – but we need to be prepared, and we need to have places for these people to live. That means taking a more constructive and imaginative approach to residential development, and providing a greater mix of housing options – including affordable housing, shop-top apartments and medium density.

What top three (3) priorities would you like to achieve if elected as Mayor or Councilor?

I will focus on four key priorities for the next term of Lismore Council:

·     Restoring accountability and transparency in council processes;

·     Promoting business and grow investment and jobs;

·     Supporting local communities by addressing housing shortages, mitigating against floods and investing in facilities; and

·     Fixing the roads!

How can Lismore & surrounds return to prosperity during the next council period?

To build a more prosperous future, we first have to get the basics right. That’s why the council needs to focus on the ABCs: Accountability, Business and Community.

As Mayor, I will lead a council that delivers the infrastructure we need and supports our businesses to grow, while living within our means.