Mayoral candidates – Torres Shire Council elections – Saturday, April 28, 2012
Napau Pedro Stephen AFTER witnessing many changes in local government since holding the Office of the Mayor for Torres Shire from 1994, I again offer firm, established leadership for the next quadrennial term. I will continue to lead and bring stability with the ever-changing challenges faced by our community and constituents. I have personally demonstrated strong leadership traits through my involvement in various public, private and community organisations. During the last four years, the shire and our region endured an enormous review process which changed the face of local governance. New legislations and standards, such as the new Local Government Act 2009 and the Local Government (Finance, Plans and Reporting) Regulation 2010, were
introduced to support these changes. It is important to continue to showcase the Torres Shire Council as a sound model of good corporate governance. This enables other local government authorities to navigate and measure their compliance standards and systems in a transparent and accountable manner, which bears both community and government scrutiny. Subsequent to the recent state election, it is essential that our shire clearly advocates its strategic vision to ensure that local priorities are not compromised. The greatest challenge for our shire is to maintain a dual role of sustaining our core business with delivering essential services and serving as a lead agency in social and economic development. When planning for change and development it is equally important
to have a balance to sustain new initiatives and programs which guarantee quality services and lifestyle. Council needs to continue to engage community dialogue through various forums and ensure that council’s policies are aligned with the voice of its constituents. Creating an open, transparent dialogue assists council to lead and guide political, social and economic development within the shire. Wh ils t lead in g a strong team I am committed to: * Firm partnerships with Regional Councils, Native Title Owners, government and non-government stakeholders. These partnerships will facilitate the completion of major capital works programs such as the upgrade of Ngurupai (Horn Island) International Airport Development (security
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systems), Horn Island Affordable Housing Development and safe access to water transport for Muralag (Prince of Wales Island). * Industry development for small business and tourism * Secure land tenure (freehold) for home ownership and small business * Promote our shire’s strategic location as a service hub (Education/Training/ Health/ Transport/Goods and Services/ Construction)
not only within our exciting boundary but to explore options for extending our services to our international neighbours (such as friend-city relationship with Kushimoto) * Constitutional recognition of Local Government and regional aspiration for Self-Government. I offer strong experienced leadership to guide continued changes and challenges during the next four year term as Mayor of Torres Shire.
Which way forward for the Torres Strait? Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.�
By JASON BRIGGS Which way forward? It’s a simple and common question that contains both hope and concern.
The question itself implies that at that particular moment, you don’t know where you’re going and you don’t have a plan to get there.
However, you have a desire to go somewhere and be anywhere other than where you currently are. This question is a good start in getting to a
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better place. The local government elections have been set down for April 28 and this new council of men and women are going to
help shape the region’s future. They will have to work with the new state government to achieve their aims. Continued Page 6 >>
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Torres News
18 - 24 April 2012 Page 5