MANILLA is on the cusp of having its first representative on the Tamworth Regional Council in over a decade.
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Manilla’s Jim Maxwell is staring down a berth on TRC following a strong first-preference vote in the recent election.
Tamworth Regional Council was formed in 2004 following the amalgamation with Manilla, Nundle, Barraba, Parry and Tamworth city councils.
“It’s a big ask for someone from Manilla to get in,” he told The Leader.
“I’m quietly confident, but the wheels could fall off.”
Mr Maxwell pulled 2150 first-preference votes in the election and will still need a decent flow of preferences to get across the line, as the the progressive quota is sitting at 3396.
“First and last are good places to be,” Mr Maxwell said.
“I said to Charles Impey, don’t worry about it, I’ve done a bit of scrutineering and I’ve noticed first and last usually poll well.”
Mr Maxwell’s main campaign platform was giving a voice to the smaller communities of the regional council, but he said he wouldn’t be an advocate for the introduction of wards.
“I think wards are dead,” Mr Maxwell said.
The former-Manilla mayor said implementing a system where one or two councillors become the contact for delegated areas in the region, would be something he’d get behind.
At the opposite end of the ballot paper, Charles Impey has put himself into contention, currently with the ninth most first preference voyes.
“I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and quite humbled,” Mr Impey said.
“You put your name out there for the community to consider you for a position. It’s a bit of a risk and a bit of a gamble, you don’t know how its going to go.”
Mr Impey had an auspicious run up to this point, being the last person to nominate, drawing the final spot on the ballot paper and he may well pick up the final spot on TRC.
“I’m a trend-setter,” he said, laughing.
Mr Impey said he offered “a bit of youth” and a background in community service.
“I want to get greater participation from the region’s younger people, because they’re the future,” he said.
“If you forget them, I don’t think the future is so bright.”
He hasn’t crossed the finish line just yet but the potential councillor already has some big ideas for the region.
“I’m keen to see a full-time university in Tamworth,” he said.
“We’re the only large regional centre in NSW without a university.”
Mr Impey said he was “quietly confident” of picking up a councillor role, but said he would be ready to “try again next time” if he misses out.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
