Councillor Harold Johnston said Dungog Council is “momentarily a ship at sea without a sail” since the no confidence vote in incumbent mayor Glenn Wall at last months meeting.
On July 20 six councillors voted in favour of a no confidence motion put forward by Cr Peter Ainsworth and requested the mayor step down immediately.
The motion requested council register its lack of confidence in Cr Wall’s ability to adequately, appropriately and effectively represent council resolutions in relation to Tillegra Dam in the media and in deputations to local members of parliament, government ministers and members of the Opposition.
The B-ward councillor, who has told the Chronicle he will throw his hat into the ring for the mayoral position at the September meeting, said there may also be another councillor who could also be interested in the top job.
“Yes I have the time and the inclination for the role,” he said.
“I spend an enormous amount of time as a councillor representing our community.”
When asked if he would be involved in as many committees (22) as Cr Wall, Cr Johnston said he didn’t know what they (committees) all were.
“There are only 24 hours in the day . . . and my priorities are a little bit different to Glenn’s.
“I know he is very involved with the Rural Fire Service and I see this as an important role and Glenn is deeply knowledgeable.
“But for the others I am not sure about.
“This council has an amazing collection of skills which I don’t think are being used as they might.
“We have an engineer, river scientist, architect, retired senior police officer and lawyer . . . and they all have lots of skills which can be used in lots of different areas.”
Cr Johnston said he is prepared to “push for the shire” to get the best out of the proposed Tillegra Dam decision.
“I was at a breakfast meeting with (federal candidate for the seat of Paterson) Jim Arneman a few weeks ago and told him that we need to have money spent on the roads.
“It doesn’t matter if the dam does or does not proceed, if no work is carried out on the main road into Dungog we will be using bullock and carts to get here.
“I want him to make a commitment that even if the dam doesn’t go ahead we will still get road funding.
“I am terrified if the dam is approved and we don’t get road money.”
Cr Johnston commented on the many letters to the editor published in last weeks Chronicle.
“If there is a silent majority out there, I don’t know about it,” he said.
“I wonder how many have followed the train of resolutions (regarding council’s stance against the dam) since 2008.
“How can councillors proceed if people don’t speak up?
“The people who are against the dam are largely informed people.
“I would love the silent majority to seek us out and talk to us.
“They don’t have to make a fan-fare about it, it doesn’t have to be a public statement, but just come and tell us.
“Over the last two years I have spoken to a lot of business people as most days of the week I would be in town.
“Up to now no one has ever spoken to me about the resolutions or what is happening in council.
“The last three weeks all the talk has been on Unwarrabin Bridge and when it would be open.
“There are heaps of stuff happening at every meeting and people need to take an interest in council.
“We as councillors make a decision to the best of our ability and we think it is the right decision, but it can be four or five years before the impact’s seen.
“I’d like to see the community become involved, not just things that affect them but things that affect the shire as a whole.
“Dungog has had more publicity in the past week than it’s had in the last four years.
“I don’t know any councillor who is here for their own benefit . . . and it’s certainly not for the money we get.”
Cr Johnston said he stood for council for two reasons - one being because there was no election in 2004 (only nine people nominated for the nine positions on council).
“Having only nine nominations was not healthy,” he said.
“At the last election there were 17 candidates and I hope there is 37 at the next one (in September 2012).
“And if I can stimulate more people to put their hands up then it will be an achievement.”
Cr Johnston will not be at the September meeting of council when the mayoral election will take place.
Cr Ian Lloyd will also be absent.
“I will nominate (for the position) prior to leaving on a planned holiday overseas on September 4,” he said.
“No, I can’t vote on the night and it will all be in the lap of the Gods until I return early in October.
“(Standing for mayor) is not by design but by circumstance. I am perfectly happy doing what I was doing.”
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