Andrew Baker – Clarence Valley meet your candidates

By Tim Howard

The Clarence Valley Council has gone into caretaker mode ahead of the September 14 election.

It’s given 17 community members, including six current councillors to stand for election.

The Northern Rivers Times has given all 17 a chance to introduce themselves to the electorate.

Sixteen of them have grabbed the opportunity. Phillip Provest did not reply to the invitation.

Andrew Baker

After stepping away from Clarence Valley Council in 2021, Maclean’s Andrew Baker has thrown his hat in the ring again.

Maclean born, raised and educated. Apprenticeship at 15yo in Grafton.

Lifetime living and working Clarence Valley except 3.5 years Pilbara Western Australia iron ore mining.

Employed.

• Apprentice motor mechanic NRCC Grafton 1969-73
• Plant mechanic/operator CRCC flood mitigation South Grafton 1973-74
• Motor mechanic Maclean Motors 1974
• L/H heavy machinery fitter Goldsworthy Mining Ltd Shay Gap WA 1974-78
  • elected: Convener – Amalgamated Metal Workers Union Shay Gap 1975-78
  • elected: President Combined Unions Council Shay Gap 1976-78
• Cane harvester operator JVC & BA Spencer Harwood Island 1978-79
• Diesel mechanic Peters Ice Cream Grafton 1979-81
• Plant mechanic DMR South Grafton 1981-89

Business and Farming

• Andrew Baker Real Estate Maclean 1989-2003
• Cane farming Lawrence 1992-2002
  • elected: Director Brushgrove-Lawrence Cane Growers Co-operative 1993-1997
  • elected: Director NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative 1994-97
• Property development Maclean, Gulmarrad, Lawrence & Ashby 1985-2012
• Managed local earthmoving business 2014 – 2016
• Clarence Valley Councillor 9yrs. 2months
  • elected: 2012-2016 – 4-year term
  • re-elected: 2016-2021 – 4-year term (added 1yr 2mths State Government covid decision).
  • didn’t seek re-election 2021

Statement

1. I have a good working knowledge of legislative and governance requirements as apply to Council and councillors.
2. Experienced management and/or governance of local businesses and farming co-operatives. 20 years as employee then 20+ years local businesses ownership.
3. Strong experience in council decision-making, governance, report analysis and strategic planning.
4. Demonstrated enthusiasm for council rationalisation and downsizing to meet State Government ‘Fit For The Future’ requirements.
5. My strong preference is to focus on council fundamentals rather than spending on questionable-value showpieces and non-core projects.

Questions

Ahead of the September 14 local government election we have asked all 17 candidates a series of questions testing their response to some of the major concerns of the community. Rates and what the council does with the money is a perennial issue.
Rates:

1. Can you guarantee voters that you will not support a special rate variation (SRV) above the annual rate pegging limit in the next term of council?
2. If council can’t increase income via a rate rise, what can it do to balance its books?
3. How can councils help ratepayers with the cost of living issues facing communities?

Answer 1: No. Recent history says such a guarantee would be irresponsible.

I can undertake to oppose any excessive SRV.

Before the 2016 election I advertised I would oppose a 41% SRV.

After considering many possible cuts and hours of very robust debate it was clear that anything less than 26% SRV would not remedy the many financial deficiencies my first 2012 councillor term had inherited from the previous eight years of a council that simply spent more than its income.

Importantly, a No SRV guarantee would exclude me from any SRV consideration – I would have demonstrated ‘no open mind’ on the matter.

I simply don’t know what challenges council will face in the next four years.

Answer 2: Many options. Again, recent history says ‘everything should be considered’. Such as: liquidate unused or excess assets (there’s more yet), reduce non-core services, reduce non-core employment, keep out of social warrior ‘glory’ projects and cease new borrowings.

My first year on council saw me enthusiastically join in with enough other councillors to immediately cease all new borrowings.

That policy held good right through my nine-plus years to 2021. I’m more than happy to do it all again if necessary.

Answer 3: Firstly, ratepayers can and should help themselves by electing candidates that have demonstrated (at council or elsewhere) a willingness to strongly participate in financial governance opportunities available to a governing body.

Then, council can and should help ratepayers by making the necessary, even if unpopular to some, financial, structural and controlling decisions necessary to ‘keep it tight financially’.

All of this says my view is; the governing body and each councillor member of that governing body must be right before good financial conditions can follow.

If you’re dissatisfied, look to your governing body first.

Read about all the councillors in this weeks edition of The Northern Rivers Times. For more 2024 Local Elections News, click here.