Feedback
Why in Hervey Bay can people get away with a campaign that looks like
it was thought out by the local pre-school, when other town running for
similar positions do it so well.True Hervey Bay Style.
I do see however, Mr Gary Jensen spending money on a website. Wow -
there is a thought. Spend money and make yourself look more
professional. He's the only candidate I would vote for judging on a
professional image.Sue Brooks Website:
"I have created this web site using a simple MS Word wizard. It is very
simple with no bells and whistles but it means I can update it myself
and is pretty cheap to display via Bigpond."If you're trying to get a high paying job as one of the councilors, then
shouldn't you want to spend the extra money to look slightly more
professional than the heard?My 2c.
Youve hit the nail on the head Mr Jensen, electing the same councilors will only give us the same head in the sand result we have become accoustomed to, with nothing happening apart from the feathering of their own nests and those they favour. This new council needs strong leadership with business experience and someone prepared to make the hard decisions and not just another politician at the helm, after all, those elected will be getting paid more than peanuts, so we deserve better than the monkeys we have become accustomed to. Maybe you should think about nominating for the position of mayor, lord knows the competition isn’t that great.
Presswatch
Hi Gary,
good to see you on the forums - it's positive to see, as mentioned before, you actually have a website and more to the point, a professionally designed one. More power to you
Ben May
Evening Gary
Thank you for the response. Best of luck with the election and from your responses I believe that so far you are certainly what the Fraser Coast needs. It sounds like you have done your homework in relation to roles and responsibilities of the various parts of the Council.
Inside Out
Hello Gary
I know of more than 300 HB people who would like some dramatic improvement in the performance and open communication levels of our Mayor, councillors and senior beaurocrats. There are the usual issues of poorly designed/maintained roads, lack of traffic planning and long delays for DA approvals and much needed tourism infrastructure.
Of major concern is the untidy, wild state of most HB foreshores due to the failure of current councillors to set policies & giudelines and more strongly direct staff to acknowledge and act on sensible community requests for reasonable changes in their foreshore planning and maintenance activities. Last year, over 330 people in our area again voiced our request (this time by a formal petition) for the foreshores in our neighbourhood to be kept more open with less dense weeds/undergrowth and improved water views.
Again, we have been totally ignored by all at HBCC, especially now that the amalgamation is to occur. Will you commit to making th! is foreshore improvement issue one of your primary objectives? If so, I will let as many others as possible know via email and you will be one of our chosen 10 nomatter where your reside or what else we know of your political preferences.
I can assure you that this issue is of major concern to all of those who signed the original petition some 12 months(+) ago. Also, we look forward to some new, movers and shakers in our new council.
Wayne Webster
Hi Gary
As you would be aware I am extremely interested in the upcoming elections and have commenced a very public debate with Mr Horrex on Strewth. having been employed for some time in local government I am also very aware of the issues that impact on the way in which services are provided and the efficiencies that can be gained throught the local government reform process. I have noted with interest the issues raised regarding the local transition committee and would welcome your views on the process.
I also think that perhaps you should have a look at the wording that you are using, or at least clarify it for me. When you talk administration are you referring to staff or the elected Council?
You appear to be reasonably well qualified, however as a ratepayer of the new regional Council, can you assure me that if elected you will focus on the implementation of the reform process rather than working on pet projects. The region needs some stabilty and if the focus is not correct then the possible benefits of the reform process will be lost.
On specific matters, where do you stand on the following:
- Council's support for economic development initiatives such as subsidising commercial air services
- Professional development of elected Councillors
- Attendance at conferences by Councillors which are relevant to local government and in particular the Fraser Coast region
- The Traveston Dam
Best wishes
Inside Out
Gary Jensen replies.....
Reply to Insider Out 12 February 2008
Thanks for taking the time to look at my website and to ask me some questions. I hope that more electors take the time to do so and that more candidates make themselves available to answer those questions.
I think with the reform process we need to hasten slowly. It will be a difficult job to bring the 4 administrations together and have them working harmoniously from 17 March 2008. It will take time before the real advantages of amalgamation will be realised. Some should be able to be realised almost immediately. The increased buying power being one of those. The transition phase could quite easily last the first 4 year term of the Council. The process will need to be closely managed by the CEO and his senior staff. In each of Council administrations there are many good people working very hard and doing some great work. The challenge will be to change the focus to that of a regional one not just a local one. I feel for staff because they will be feeling a great sense of loss, status and power in some instances. I experienced this when the Department of Social Security changed into Centrelink. It is not the job of a Councillor to interfere as the staffing issues are resolved. Common sense dictates that there will possibly be some staff who will not cope very well at all with the changes. I am sure that a lot of moles and white ants will appear very soon. That is not necessarily such a bad thing either.
My reference to administration is fairly broad at this stage. Firstly Council needs to act ethically and have sound transparent decision making processes in place. This to me is sound administration. Administration with reference to staff means that there will be no interference from elected councillors in the business that staff undertakes on a daily basis. As a councillor my role will be to provide policy guidelines and to clearly state what the desired outcomes are. Staff then should implement those decisions of council according to the guidelines. Councillors have a duty of care to ensure that council decisions are implemented. This will be done through the appropriate channel i.e. the CEO.
- I believe it is the business of council to provide support for economic initiatives. These need to be evaluated based on the strengths and weaknesses of the business case presented to Council.
In the specific case you mention, subsidising commercial air services, there is a great public good to be gained by the provision of these services. The question is what will be the Council’s return on investment or conversely the cost to the community if it doesn’t invest in these services. Social considerations are just as important as economic ones.
- A tough question rather like a loaded gun Hahaha. There is always scope to improve one’s self. The trick will be knowing who needs what developed. Some will need more than others. Of course those who need the most development are always the last to recognise it. One of the greatest challenges for the existing Councillors if they are elected will be to change to a regional focus. The new regional Council doesn’t want to live in the past and that is the greatest danger for councillors from past administrations. Back to professional development, a need assessment would need to be conducted. The benefits need to be well and truly evaluated before spending money on individual councillor. Any professional development would need to result in a benefit to the region rather than the individual.
- Once again the relevance to our region is the key to this question. Conferences are a great way to get fresh ideas and to liaise with others who may have developed answers to problems that we are encountering. Often one’s enthusiasm can be regenerated by attending conferences. An open mind is required to get the most benefit out of these. Some times attendance can give you the assurance that you are on the right track. Hopefully I will be asked to speak at various conferences because we have implemented the best practice here in the Fraser Coast.
- I signed the petition and the protest letter sent to Peter Garrett against the building of the Traveston Dam. I am part of a family who has lived on the same property since the late 1800’s. This means that I have great empathy for those who have lost their properties. I am also an irrigator on the Lower Mary Scheme. I have a vested interest in keeping the Mary flowing. Both of our properties are on the bank of the Mary. Having said that, good governance is not about being popular or making decisions that are popular.
As a public servant many times I had to make choices between two evils. What is a given is that a way to provide water for future growth of SE Qld must be found. The State Govt i.e. the politicians would have been given background briefings, reports, etc researched and prepared by departmental staff. They would have had alternatives presented to them from which they made their choice. I am sure that during my time on council I will have many decisions that will make me unpopular.
I am standing for election because I believe that I make good decisions. My decision making process is:- what are the facts, what evidence is there to support these facts, i.e. no evidence – no fact, what is the legislative framework that I am bound to follow, then make a decision based on the facts, evidence and law. I am also a great believer in the “reasonable man” test. Back to the Traveston Dam, my concern is was it the best alternative presented to Government.
I know that the Fraser Coast Regional Council will need to consider what our future water needs will be given the population growth we will experience soon. We need to be looking towards 2050 and beyond if we are doing the job that you and others have elected us to do.
Gary Jensen