Professional experience

• Builder for more than 40 years
• Self-employed for 40 years
• Owned and run Evans Head Newsagency 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

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

Personal interests

• Played competitive football into 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 club house and facilities

Council aspirations

• Complete projects that were started during the last term of council
• Support small business initiatives across the area
• Support the ‘existing’ as well as the introduction of ‘more’ tourism and events across the local government area.
• Promote economic development initiatives for lower river villages with view to the upcoming Pacific Highway bypass and promote Woodburn as the main point of entry from the Pacific Highway into the Richmond Valley, directing travellers to Casino, Coraki, Evans Head and Broadwater
• 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 to commence and implement essential planning and pre-development studies for local employment lands and identify suitable areas for future housing throughout the Richmond Valley as a regional jobs precinct
• Since the successful funding and re-development of the NRLX and the successful re- negotiation of more sustainable user fees and lease arrangements at this complex; be vigilant by continuously asking council to review its business plan on a regular basis, making sure it runs as a business into the future at no cost to rate payers.

Portfolio

• Internal Audit Committee
• Councils JRPP Rep for 10 years
• Evans Head & District Workspace Committee for 9 years
• Local traffic committee from 2022

Contact information