CREATING jobs and attracting more people to the region will be high on the agenda for Doug Hawkins if he's elected as Liverpool Plains mayor later this month.
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A former deputy mayor, councillor Hawkins has nominated to fill the role which will be left by current mayor Andrew Hope at the September 30 council meeting.
Councillors will vote on who will lead the shire until next year's council elections and will decide between Cr Hawkins and Cr Paul Moules, while Cr Ian Lobsey may also nominate for the role.
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"I feel like I have a lot to offer the community and I am very passionate about doing what ever I can to help the shire," Cr Hawkins told the Leader.
"There's a lot of things I want to try and achieve for the region and I believe we can progress a lot with light industry.
"Our region suffers from a lack of population, we need to increase our population more and in order to do that we need to create jobs.
"I think there is a lot of potential here to create jobs."
Helping launch the annual Quirindi Military Tattoo and the spearhead behind the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Cr Hawkins said he would continue to serve his community passionately if elected.
"I work quite closely with our sister city Blacktown and I think that relationship could hold the key to opening up more light industry in our shire," Cr Hawkins said.
"Blacktown is known for its light industry and if elected, I would do all I could to try and help bring some of that here.
"I know the mayor puts in a lot of effort and I am prepared to put in that hard work to get the results our shire deserves."
After serving as deputy mayor from 2016 to 2018, Cr Hawkins said he was now more interested in in serving the community as mayor.
Instead, so far Cr Virginia Black and Cr Moules have thrown their hat in the ring for the deputy mayor's role.
"The deputy mayor does do a lot of work, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you can feel a little bit caught in the middle," he said.
"From my point of view, I feel like I have a lot to offer as mayor, or just as a councillor.
"It really is up to my fellow councillors, if they feel I am the best person for the job then I will give it everything I've got."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
