Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know that the council election race is well and
truly underway. As I said, we're not going to get
the chance to speak to every candidate running for mayor
in each municipality, but we're going to try and give
you a good taste of who's running and what they
stand for. And this morning we're taking a look at
the Litchfield municipality. Now we know there are six people running,
and we're going to catch up with three of the
(00:21):
candidates today. They're each going to have six minutes to
answer a number of questions. And first up this morning
is the current mayor, Doug Barten. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
You, Doug, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Now, Doug, six minutes. I've got a number of questions
to get through. We've had a couple of listener questions
as well. Are you ready to get started?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yep, I'm ready to go.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
All right, let's do it. Doug. Now tell me why
have you put your hand up to be the mayor.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I've been a counselor for six years and a mayor
for four years, which is nearly ten years. I have
plenty of experience. I've I've got a lot achieved over
the last the last ten years being mostly roads, and
we've got Mirror Square up. We've I've delivered on all
(01:18):
my promises that I promised in twenty twenty one, allowing
allowing question time to be be asked council meetings. We've
put a policy in at the last meeting renewing the
question time policy, so they're open and transparent. Yet. So
(01:41):
we've got this. We've got the Southport Roads, up guys
Creek Road, up Mead Road, We've got Kelliston Road coming
and Bee's Creek Road coming hopefully this year, if not
by by next year. Tender's a route for Tellison Road.
All our reserve We've increased our reserves by sixty or
(02:03):
more in funding. I was able to get the ten
million dollars pledge agreed to and that has now started
at Fred's Pass. The list goes on. So I just
want to keep on doing what I've done and make
(02:24):
Lichfield a better place. I also made sure that Holtz
stayed within Litchfield Council, which was a hard work. And
we've got the aged care coming up. I've talked to
all the federal ministers and some of the territory ministers
in reference to making sure that they spend the money
(02:48):
that they have promised. We won't we won't be putting
any money. Well, I don't. We won't be putting any money.
And that's an advocacy project and.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Dug in terms of and we're asking all the candidates this,
what qualifications or work experience do you have which you
think makes you best place for the position. Obviously you've
said there you've been on council for the last ten years.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Before I joined council, I was an earth moving contractor
working in the gold mines at Pine Creek, Hays Creek
out on the Victoria Highway out towards the border between
Borolulu and the Queensland border. I built. I built the
(03:35):
caravan park at the very Springs called the Lakes Resort
now aka Lakes Resort. Running a caravan, our caravan park
at times is bigger, is larger than some small councils are.
And you don't only just have to be a manager.
You have to be a social worker. You have to
(04:00):
make sure your pride, the rules, you have to use
a lot of common sense. You have to be the security,
you have to be.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
All right, now, Doug, what are your top three commitments
to voters at this election.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
The top three commitments keeping rates down to to fair
and reasonable in the last In the last four years,
we've kept it down below the CPI. Unlike what was
(04:37):
being promised four years ago, where the rates are going
to go up by ten, we kept them down. We
kept our our staffing costs down. We inherited a staffing
staffing of sixty six and I think it's presently at
fifty four, but we are allowing our se to to
(05:02):
to go up to fifty eight and obviously more more
for recreation reserves and obviously more for roads. I'm very
passionate about roads in Litchfield. I I I've lived on
dirt roads for most of the time, and I believe
(05:22):
that roads would be like a telephone. A sealed roads
would be like a telephone. And those that are on
gravel roads complain about everybody getting their roads resealed when
they when when they get to two grades a year,
and unfortunately that they're paying for their subsidizing people that
(05:46):
are getting their reseals for free. I'm a great believer
in the road levy, which which needs to be fair
as well. Certainly you've only.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Got about a minute left, But I've got a couple
of quick questions. Are you a member of a political
party or have you ever been? We're asking all the
candidates at.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yes, I have been a member of the CLP, and
I believe the other two candidates to interview and have
been members of the c LP in the past as well.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I'll ask them that too. Hey, tell me a couple
of quick listener questions. Does the council have plans to
completely take over the operation of Fred's Past Reserve?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Not to not to my knowledge, No, that's not correct. Ye,
there is a paper out there that could that could,
that could. But I'm a great believer in community effort
is essential. Without our committees, it's going to cost counsel
a lot more. I'm a great believer in all our
(06:49):
in all our committees. That is.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
That is our six minutes. But I'm just going to
give you a quick thirty seconds because we have got
another listener questions. So I'm just going to quickly start
this up and I'll do the others for the same
the same. Where do you see the future of Fred's
pass as it is relocating to Livingstone Reserve? But not
sure if that's sort of been made public knowledge. Yet
(07:16):
he's one of the questions coming back.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I am aware of that night Predspass show does want
to move to Livingston Reserve. I think it would be
a great move. I have talked to Surly about Sorry,
Surly has talked to me about it, and we might
miss out on Darwin people, but I think it's going
to be great because the Adelaide River Adlaide River Bachelor
(07:42):
of People will Doug, that.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Is all we got time for. That's all we got
time for this morning. Doug Barden, current mayor and also
obviously candidate for the local government election for the mayor
of Lichfield. Really good to talk to you this morning.
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thank you, and I keep my promises.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Katie, thank you, Thanks do. I appreciate it.
We know that the council election race is well and
truly underway. As I said, we're not going to get
the chance to speak to every candidate running for mayor
in each municipality, but we're going to try and give
you a good taste of who's running and what they
stand for. And this morning we're taking a look at
the Litchfield municipality. Now we know there are six people running,
and we're going to catch up with three of the
(00:21):
candidates today. They're each going to have six minutes to
answer a number of questions. And first up this morning
is the current mayor, Doug Barten. Good morning to.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
You, Doug, Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Now, Doug, six minutes. I've got a number of questions
to get through. We've had a couple of listener questions
as well. Are you ready to get started?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yep, I'm ready to go.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
All right, let's do it. Doug. Now tell me why
have you put your hand up to be the mayor.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I've been a counselor for six years and a mayor
for four years, which is nearly ten years. I have
plenty of experience. I've I've got a lot achieved over
the last the last ten years being mostly roads, and
we've got Mirror Square up. We've I've delivered on all
(01:18):
my promises that I promised in twenty twenty one, allowing
allowing question time to be be asked council meetings. We've
put a policy in at the last meeting renewing the
question time policy, so they're open and transparent. Yet. So
(01:41):
we've got this. We've got the Southport Roads, up guys
Creek Road, up Mead Road, We've got Kelliston Road coming
and Bee's Creek Road coming hopefully this year, if not
by by next year. Tender's a route for Tellison Road.
All our reserve We've increased our reserves by sixty or
(02:03):
more in funding. I was able to get the ten
million dollars pledge agreed to and that has now started
at Fred's Pass. The list goes on. So I just
want to keep on doing what I've done and make
(02:24):
Lichfield a better place. I also made sure that Holtz
stayed within Litchfield Council, which was a hard work. And
we've got the aged care coming up. I've talked to
all the federal ministers and some of the territory ministers
in reference to making sure that they spend the money
(02:48):
that they have promised. We won't we won't be putting
any money. Well, I don't. We won't be putting any money.
And that's an advocacy project and.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Dug in terms of and we're asking all the candidates this,
what qualifications or work experience do you have which you
think makes you best place for the position. Obviously you've
said there you've been on council for the last ten years.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Before I joined council, I was an earth moving contractor
working in the gold mines at Pine Creek, Hays Creek
out on the Victoria Highway out towards the border between
Borolulu and the Queensland border. I built. I built the
(03:35):
caravan park at the very Springs called the Lakes Resort
now aka Lakes Resort. Running a caravan, our caravan park
at times is bigger, is larger than some small councils are.
And you don't only just have to be a manager.
You have to be a social worker. You have to
(04:00):
make sure your pride, the rules, you have to use
a lot of common sense. You have to be the security,
you have to be.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
All right, now, Doug, what are your top three commitments
to voters at this election.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
The top three commitments keeping rates down to to fair
and reasonable in the last In the last four years,
we've kept it down below the CPI. Unlike what was
(04:37):
being promised four years ago, where the rates are going
to go up by ten, we kept them down. We
kept our our staffing costs down. We inherited a staffing
staffing of sixty six and I think it's presently at
fifty four, but we are allowing our se to to
(05:02):
to go up to fifty eight and obviously more more
for recreation reserves and obviously more for roads. I'm very
passionate about roads in Litchfield. I I I've lived on
dirt roads for most of the time, and I believe
(05:22):
that roads would be like a telephone. A sealed roads
would be like a telephone. And those that are on
gravel roads complain about everybody getting their roads resealed when
they when when they get to two grades a year,
and unfortunately that they're paying for their subsidizing people that
(05:46):
are getting their reseals for free. I'm a great believer
in the road levy, which which needs to be fair
as well. Certainly you've only.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Got about a minute left, But I've got a couple
of quick questions. Are you a member of a political
party or have you ever been? We're asking all the
candidates at.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yes, I have been a member of the CLP, and
I believe the other two candidates to interview and have
been members of the c LP in the past as well.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I'll ask them that too. Hey, tell me a couple
of quick listener questions. Does the council have plans to
completely take over the operation of Fred's Past Reserve?
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Not to not to my knowledge, No, that's not correct. Ye,
there is a paper out there that could that could,
that could. But I'm a great believer in community effort
is essential. Without our committees, it's going to cost counsel
a lot more. I'm a great believer in all our
(06:49):
in all our committees. That is.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
That is our six minutes. But I'm just going to
give you a quick thirty seconds because we have got
another listener questions. So I'm just going to quickly start
this up and I'll do the others for the same
the same. Where do you see the future of Fred's
pass as it is relocating to Livingstone Reserve? But not
sure if that's sort of been made public knowledge. Yet
(07:16):
he's one of the questions coming back.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
I am aware of that night Predspass show does want
to move to Livingston Reserve. I think it would be
a great move. I have talked to Surly about Sorry,
Surly has talked to me about it, and we might
miss out on Darwin people, but I think it's going
to be great because the Adelaide River Adlaide River Bachelor
(07:42):
of People will Doug, that.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Is all we got time for. That's all we got
time for this morning. Doug Barden, current mayor and also
obviously candidate for the local government election for the mayor
of Lichfield. Really good to talk to you this morning.
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thank you, and I keep my promises.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Katie, thank you, Thanks do. I appreciate it.
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