Local government elections: Shire of Carnarvon candidates make their pitch for a position on council

Carnarvon residents are running out of time to decide who they will vote for in the local government election next weekend.

The terms of councillors Kane Simpson, Julee Nelson, Kristan Pinner and Luke Skender end this year, with only the latter to run in the October 16 election.

A business owner and grower, Mr Skender said he would dedicate his “time and energy” to serving the community if elected to the Town Ward. “With exciting projects in the Gascoyne along with increasing tourism, I firmly believe our community is on the cusp of economic prosperity and opportunity for residents, business owners and future generations,” he said.

Mr Skender is up against mother-of-three Darlene Robinson, fellow local and former shire president Dudley Maslen and Province Resources chief operating officer Thomas Langley.

With a background in education and community services, Ms Robinson said she was passionate about giving all residents a voice and preserving Carnarvon’s culture and history. “The way forward for Carnarvon would be to implement both traditional and modern operations to create best practice across all sectors to strengthen our community,” she said.

Mr Maslen said his decades of experience working in local government made him well-placed to support the future development of Carnarvon. “There are unlimited opportunities to develop our town, including in the tourism, horticulture and mining sectors,” he said.

Mr Langley said he was interested in exploring long-term infrastructure planning and clean energy solutions if elected. “The Gascoyne region can play a pivotal role in the transition to clean energy as governments around the world are committing to zero emissions by 2050,” he said.

Carnarvon Growers Association operations manager Nic Cuthbert has nominated for the Plantation Ward, saying he would offer a “new approach” to representing residents’ interests. “Per capita, growers are the most significant contributor to the social and economic fabric of our community,” he said.

He will run against CGA committee member Marco Ferreirinha, who promised to be an “advocate” for the local horticultural industry. “My pledge to you from ‘grower to grower’ is to work towards completing flood mitigation … sourcing workers needed to help growers, and growing the industry to $100 million-plus over the next five years,” he said.

Emergency services volunteer Adam Cottrell is the sole nominee for the Coral Bay Ward, saying he would represent the community on issues such as worker accommodation and foreshore erosion.

Voting is open on October 16 from 7am to 6pm at the Shire Council Chambers on Stuart Street.