Professional experience

• Local Councillor for 12 years
• RVC resident for the last 33 years
• Builder for more than 40 years
• Self-employed for 40 years
• Owned and run Evans Head News agency for three years
• Obtained formal qualifications from TAFE in teaching, building surveying, building certifying, and many other associated courses over the last 30 years
• Qualified building consultant and draftsman who is well respected by local builders.

Community origins

• Grew up and attended school to Year 11 at Kyogle
• Started building career at 17 years old
• Lived and worked in Moree from 1981 – 1986
• Returned to live and bring up three children in Evans Head since 1991
• I reside at Airforce Beach in Evans Head

Personal interests

• Played competitive football into my mid-forties in rugby league, rugby union and touch football until I turned 55
• A member of Evans Head Touch Football Association since its inception
• Was a founding member of the Evans Head Killer Whales Rugby Club and was President for four years
• President of the Stan Payne Oval Committee for four years
• Community Builder who was instrumental in the improvements to the Stan Payne Oval clubhouse and facilities
• I enjoy the company of a wonderful extended family in partnership with Tanya; we have a family of five children, their partners and seven children (our grandchildren) who all live locally.

Council aspirations

• Complete projects that were started during the last term of Council
• Support small business initiatives across the area
• Support the ‘existing’ and introduce ‘more’ tourism and events across the local government area.
• Promote economic development and flood recovery initiatives for lower river villages after the 2022 floods.
• Advocate for the quick release of appropriately zoned land in the lower river areas for future housing (inclusive of low-cost housing) and growth.
• Further support Casino as the transport hub of the Northern Rivers by road, rail and air and promote all industry
• Support the RVC in continuing with and implementing further planning and upgrades to essential infrastructure to allow for population growth.
• Since the successful funding, redevelopment, and restructuring to a permanent leasing arrangement at the NRLX, by continuously asking the council to review its business plan regularly, ensuring it runs as a business into the future at no cost to ratepayers.
• Commence the redevelopment of the main shopping area of Evans Head, including upgraded parking and beautification work.
• Since the recent approval of the controversial Iron Gates Development, I will endeavour to make sure Council works with all stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for the community in accordance with the development consent and make sure that all ongoing costs related to the establishment of this subdivision are bore by the developer and future residents of the development.

Portfolio

• Internal Audit Committee
• Councils JRPP Rep for 12 years and again for this term
• Evans Head & District Workspace Committee for nine years
• Local traffic committee from 2022 and again for this term

Contact information