Sixteen candidates confirmed their intentions for the 2012 Local Government election in September yesterday with Councillor Anne Jones drawing the one marble on the ballot paper. New candidates say they are entering the race to give Wellington a new outlook and sense the community feeling for an overwhelming change.
“This town has gone backwards recently and is not progressing. Our infrastructure is not in good shape and we have to be proactive with development,’’ former councillor Roger Everett, who is seeking election after a 15 year hiatus, said.
Mr Everett has been joined in a chorus of support for improving Wellington’s image by Lindsay Hough, a farmer like Mr Everett and also a fire brigade and rifle club chief.
“We need industry here for the employment of our youth and also our roads are atrocious. I believe there has been slowing down of Wellington and district’s progress and we have to brighten it up,” Mr Hough said.
“It’s about time the residents and rate payers had their say. Our image, our town streets, roads have been neglected not maintained,” Terry Dray who has lived in town all of his life.
“I am self-retired now and can focus on improving Wellington and I do have knowledge about how council works from the coal face.”
Wellington needs a new leadership Roger Everett opines ‘’ We need visible councilors not just the mayor. We have lost contact with the community’’ his comment endorsed by Both Mr Hough and Dray.
‘’Our businesses are putting in by themselves and we need to work together for our town’’ Mr Dray said.
‘’There is a great question about the productivity of the council and within the budget most of us agree things can be done’’ Mr Everett said.
He also agreed with the comments of other candidates who believe a catchment of community support wants a clean sweep of the council to give it a fresh outlook and have similar opinions in line with other candidates who believe the council ‘’needs to be more pro active’’.
‘’We need to grow no or we’ll die’’ Mr Hough said.
‘’We have fallen behind and need to deliver instead of just turning up’’ Mr Everett said.
‘’Our image from tourism to development to our roads needs to be fixed to give our town a better image’’ Mr Dray said.
New candidate Michael Butler who is the youngest candidate in the field believes its time for a change.
''There’s a mood for change, and we need a Council which is ready to grab the bull by the horns and take Wellington forwards into a new era. Whether that is performed by the sitting Councillors who are contesting their own spots, or by an entirely new team, is up to you and I would like to be involved'' The university student points out.
