Peter Hunter

Mayor 

Renmark Paringa Council

2022

I have been active in supporting ratepayer needs with a considerable number of reports to council staff for action, all of which have been enacted. I have always sought to be well prepared and have both high attendance rates and high involvement in those committees, where I have been nominated.

Across my involvement, I have actively represented ratepayers on many committees ((Audit, Policy, Lease, Strategic Development, Community Grants, Renmark Wetlands, Riverland Local Government Forum, Murraylands & Riverland Local Government Association) and have actively chaired Region 5 of the Murray Darling Association.  

I have been actively involved as a Councillor / Deputy Mayor / Mayor, challenging reports / motions & project briefs to ensure they are the best options for our district. In all of these I have sought to be well prepared and involved, challenging others to seek the impact in the short as well as the longer term for all sections of our community.

In all of my endeavors, I have always worked to provide a positive, balanced point of view, open to new ideas but also aware of the successes which have been built historically - not simply assume that new ideas are always better, until we balance the very best of what has preceded us with what is possible into the future.

I look forward, with your support, to continuing to serve the community through a role as Mayor for the Renmark Paringa Council. 

As Mayor, I believe I will be able to influence decisions & actions of our Council in a very different way. I propose to actively challenge & initiate a greater focus on review - to ensure our elected members are aware & involved in what is happening - in a very different way to how processes have worked under the current leadership.

Our focus as Elected members need to be on improving - through the following key areas:

·    Back to Basics – Priority focus on roads, footpaths, stormwater, community waste water, laneways & catching up on projects - ensure that all residents have appropriate services & facilities

·    Consultation – Much stronger focus on asking ratepayers & listening more – then sharing the summary views. Let's maximise the opportunities for input to decisions.

·    Environment – Plan for climate extremes (esp. Floods), build resilience from within, encourage circular economy. Ensuring a greener environment, cooler in Summer & encouraging for visitors

·    Financially Responsible – Be a low rating council while we strive for greater service standards & efficiencies. Making sure that we provide value for money, benchmarked to other councils

·    Economic Development – Incentivise developments, strongly supporting Jane Eliza & Township Developments. We need to encourage & provide the mechanisms which make development easier.

·    Communication – Expand beyond ‘information’ available & build understanding re the rationale for decisions. Building on the current email information to tell the stories about what we are achieving.

·    Community – Develop avenues to support volunteers, encourage youth to participate & be socially involved. Build ways for volunteers to be supported, making volunteering easier

·    Resources – Be a strong advocate for water quality & security, valuing irrigators & the environment in balance. Supporting use & reuse of materials & align with other councils to ensure the best 'value'

·    Leadership – Encourage elected members to set the direction of council, leading ‘from & with’ the community. Speaking with community about how council can assist & how council can listen.

·    Compliance – Greater action on ensuring compliance – to ensure broad sense of fairness & safety for all. Let us make sure that it is not only the honest who follow the rules & comply.

I bring a great deal of experience, knowledge & skills to the role both as an elected member, from within government (and we need to understand government & build from what government offers) as well as being closely & actively involved as a volunteer in the community for over 50 years.

Within our community, I currently chair the Renmark Paringa & Independent Living Group, am a member of the RIT Wetlands Committee, Lead the Paringa Paddocks Friends of Parks Group & strongly support 7 Community & Council committees.

I look forward to sharing more of what I believe can be achieved within the Renmark Paringa District.

I have created a regular listening post to ensure ratepayers can raise issues with me & encourage residents & friends to contact council for a booking - Monday afternoons on a regular basis or at another agreed time. 

Thank you to everyone who showed their faith in me by voting in the 2022 elections.

Peter Hunter

Mayor, Renmark Paringa Council.