Ballina Shire meet your candidates

qualifcations include a Bachelor of Applied Science, Masters in Environmental Management (UNSW) and a Certifcate IV in Frontline Management.

I am active in the Ballina community holding several positions on voluntary committees.

I am a member of the A Ward Council Committee and have proactively campaigned for better infrastructure.

I am also secretary of the Ballina Bridge Club, member of the Ballina Hospital Auxiliary and foundational member of the Cumbalum wetlands sub-committee.

Mark Paterson —with one ’t’— was born, raised and educated in Adelaide. It was there he met and married, Michelle, in 1985.

Shortly after they moved to Brisbane where for 32+ years, along with his three business partners, he owned and ran a very successful software and services company focussing mainly on the credit union and mutual banking side of the fnance sector.

He is well known in the Northern Rivers as “The Computer Guru” and is also a volunteer “on air” presenter at Ballina’s community radio station, 101.9 Paradise FM.

Mark’s campaign theme is “People frst; always” and he is an independent candidate for Ward A.

He believes that party politics has no place in local government as local government is about locals and local issues.

His focus is on solutions to address the current housing shortage; ways to deal with the upsurge in crime, particularly youth crime and on addressing the signifcant delays with the processing of development applications.

Mark seeks to help build a resilient, engaged and healthy community so that there is work and opportunity here in the Northern Rivers — for all people who choose to live here.

Erin Karsten

for council to be the change I want to see.

I come from a family with a strong sense of civic duty and after the foods in 2022.

I certainly wanted to see something proactively done to address the fooding and local environmental issues of which I’m passionate – personally and professionally.

I decided to join The Greens as I’ve felt they are the only party taking climate impacts seriously.

In running for council, I hope to leverage my 25-year professional and corporate career in sustainable building, design and construction to help Ballina plan for affordable and sustainable housing and infrastructure now and into the future.

In doing so, I hope we can fnd ways to attract and retain small businesses to help our vibrant community fourish.

I want to help support Ballina to ensure it is a safe, affordable, connected, and walkable community.

I’m keen to return to an ideal that councillors are elected to actually represent the community and their needs.

I commit to regular in person Listening Posts each month at the Ballina Markets to make myself available to hear those community voices face to face.

These are all things core to my personal values and why I’m proud to run with the Greens.

I’d be proud to represent you on the Ballina Council, if you’ll have me, and leverage my passion and experience to fearlessly represent our community.

Phil Meehan

I am a true ‘Independent’ and not a member of any political party or election group. I have been on Ballina Shire Council for the past eight years.

My main priority as a councillor is always to ‘put the people frst’.

It is your interests, fnances, services, and environment that I always place frst in council policy and decision-making.

After all, it is your money that is being spent and your lives that are being affected.

Two recent initiatives I have successfully led at council are; the privatisation of our waste collection, which will save council more than $1 million in this term.

Secondly, the rezoning of land at Burns Point Ferry Road to ‘Conservation’ that will protect the wetland environment and ease food threats in West Ballina by avoiding large scale flling.

Advocating with council for residents is a role I take seriously.

I recognise that not always do council processes and schedules suit every situation.

At times fexibility, empathy and common sense need to be applied in achieving what is best for the individual and community.

During the next term of council, I will continue to look for savings in council operations.

Ballina’s rates must be kept reasonable and affordable.

I will support initiatives to promote local business activity, services, health provision, our airport operations and tourism, as they provide benefts to the whole community through employment, income, and diversity.

I stand on my record and reputation. Vote for experience, integrity and a truly independent voice in council.

Damian Loone

This September I am seeking your support for election for the upcoming council elections for the Ballina Shire A Ward.

Community safety is a priority for me. I spent 35 years as a senior police detective and just because I have retired does not mean that I have retired from caring about the wonderful community I live in.

I will push for funding for installation of CCTV in the River Street CBD area and other prominent locations within the Shire and consult with local police as to ‘black spots’ where crime is active and where locations that CCTV can best be productive.

I have worked with CCTV over many years and it is successful, not only for our community, but also to alleviate fears for our older generation.

CCTV deters crime and is a tool for our police to gather evidence and prosecute those responsible offending against our good people.

I support the council in the feasibility of the Dunoon Dam project to provide safe drinking water to our residents beyond 2060 and to ensure an adequate water supply beyond that.

Finally, to be a conduit not only to my ward, but the whole of the Ballina Shire.

I take elected councillors service to the community seriously and more importantly to listen and hear your concerns.

Council needs good governance and smart decision making and I’m ready to start working for you.

Stephen McCarthy

I would like to fulfl some ambitions I had coming in.

I have learnt a lot in my time on council. I love the life-long learning and the challenges.

I formulated my debates around achieving “The common good plus allowing for human dignity”.

I also love listening to the public opinions, comments that give me knowledge towards better choices going forward.

I would like to see a cleaner river, fair rates and charges, water security, problem solve for additional housing, maintain transparency in leadership, a better balances between the built and natural environments, progress Cumbalum south bound exit ramp, western arterial road and North Creek bridge. I have been fortunate enough to have served two terms and have enjoyed the experience. Sporting infrastructure has been my nemesis. I would also like to focus on the challenges with growing pains of our communities sporting clubs. Mostly, my mission statement is to give you my best.

Marie Marshall

My names is Maria Marshall. I’m a candidate for A Ward, running as an ALP candidate.

I’ve lived in Ballina for continued page 26