Councillor Candidate Interview on Valley FM 95.9

Check out my community radio Councillor Candidate interview conducted by Reg at 95.9 on Monday afternoon.

There are four separate recordings below that cover the interview process.
(click play button to start audio)

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

The Role of a Mayor and a Councillor and YOU

I have been approached by some residents unsure about the role and responsibilities of a Mayor and a Councillor. I also would like to discuss the power of You during the election process. You, as the elector have a very important role to play on Saturday 19^th March. You have the opportunity to vote for a total of seven candidates that You believe will carry out the office of Mayor or Councillor in a way that represents You, and how You wish the Somerset region to develop over the next four years, and in to the future. I gladly offer the following information:

In the elected role of Mayor or Councillor, the opportunity is available to build a better future for our community. This can be achieved by:-

• Providing strategic direction for one of the biggest businesses in our community
• Advocating the community’s aspirations and needs to other levels of Government
• Delivering major infrastructure for the benefit of our community
• Working to promote the safety and wellbeing of our community
• Providing efficient and effective local services and facilities.

These opportunities will be achieved by the Mayor and Councillors by:-

• Taking part in Council Meetings to make decisions for ‘the common good’, now and for the future, for the whole Council area
• Providing leadership to the Council and our community
• Shaping the future of our community by adopting and implementing the planning scheme which sets out how land in the Council area can be used and the standards the Council will require developers to comply with
• Being responsible to our community for the performance of the Council.

The Mayor has the added responsibilities of:

• Leading and managing Council Meetings
• Representing the Council and our community at ceremonial functions
• Preparing and presenting the Council’s annual budget
• Leading and managing the Chief Executive Officer to ensure Council decisions are carried out.

And You as the elector should expect the following principles from the Mayor and Councillors:-

• Transparent and effective processes and decision making in the public interest
• Sustainable development and management of assets and infrastructure and delivery of services
• Democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement
• Good governance of, and by, the Council
• Ethical and legal behaviours of the Mayor, Councillors and Council employees.

In a little over three week’s time, You will need to have given consideration to the information contained above. I encourage you to consider attending one of the Meet the Candidates Nights that the two regional Chambers have organised. Questions will be taken from the floor, so give some thought to likely questions you may wish to ask before the event. The region’s major towns, Lowood, Fernvale, Esk, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy will be holding these informative “meet and greet” nights early March. Please refer to advertisements regarding the town, venue and time of each event.

I look forward to meeting you and discussing your particular issues, comments, or just to say hello, at the Meet the Candidates Nights, or at one of the region’s markets on the following dates:

Understanding Local Government – some very relevant information

After working in Local Government for over thirty years, I would like to share a few facts with you as residents of our region to assist your understanding of our Council.

Somerset Regional Council covers an area of 5,379 sq kilometers and includes main townships of Esk, Fernvale, Kilcoy, Lowood and Toogoolawah. The region has a population of some 22,500 people with a projected annual growth rate of 3.2% and is part of Australia’s fastest growing region. It has the largest land area of all south east Queensland Councils and currently has the smallest rate base. There are 12,000 rateable properties and has the lowest residential rates in Queensland. So given these facts, our Council is performing extremely well to be debt free.

Large corporations and businesses, and in this case Local Government share a goal or a vision and our Council’s Mission Statement is:

We, in partnership with the community, will realise our vision by:

• Focusing on our customer’s needs
• Planning for the future
• Utilising resources efficiently and effectively
• Using sound business practices
• Utilising the practice of continuous improvement

The above mission statement has been developed to assist Somerset Regional Council to service its community in a responsive, innovative and efficient manner – exercising leadership and builds community strength. Through a variety of council services, Council feels it can deliver on these promises.

So now you are aware of the very basics about Somerset Regional Council, there are so many more layers to the day to day operation of councils. Twenty odd years ago councils were most concerned with operational items such as “Roads, Rates & Rubbish”. Today councils are also concerned with business development, community engagement, compliance, infrastructure planning, governance, economic development, project management, risk management, enterprise bargaining, asset management, energy audits and the big one of late – disaster management. Long gone are the simple days of just roads, rates and rubbish, these items are still very important and essential, but priorities have grown immensely.

Councillors today must have a clear understanding of strategic planning, infrastructure prioritisation and fiscal sustainability. They must also understand their local communities and be the collaborative influence. I look forward to achieving this and so more as your Councillor.

Cheryl’s stronger Kilcoy Vision Is Infectious

Article from the Gatton newspaper

CHERYL Gaedtke has been involved in community groups in the Somerset for well over 20 years and on Monday was recognised as the regions Citizen of the Year.

Since 1987, the fourth generation Kilcoy resident has been involved in various community groups including the Mt Kilcoy P&C Association, Kilcoy- Woodford Junior Rugby League Club, Kilcoy
Hammers Softball Club, Kilcoy Police Liaison Committee, Kilcoy Chamber of Commerce and Community, Kilcoy Toastmasters, Somerset Community Support Association and the Kilcoy and Community Bank.

Her length of involvement in each group has varied from 12 months to six years except for her involvement as a member of the Endurance Riders Association which has spanned a decade. Mrs Gaedtke said the award was a great honour and one she did not expect to receive.

“It is hard work, but is worth it through the people you meet and this award is the pinnacle,” she said. She added that volunteering also had its own awards.

Mrs Gaedtke was nominated for her “significant contribution and passion for the Kilcoy and surrounding communities”.

Her nominee said her vision for a stronger Kilcoy is infectious. Somerset Regional Council Mayor Graeme Lehmann congratulated Mrs Gaedtke on being awarded Citizen of the Year.

Festivies at the Somerset Civic Centre on Monday also included the induction of 15 new Australian citizens.
They joined the Somerset community from New Zealand, Philippines, India, South Africa, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. 200 residents attended the
free buffet breakfast followed by the combined Australia Day Awards presentation and citizenship ceremony.

2015 Citizen of the Year – Cheryl Gaedtke

Cheryl’s hard work and dedication to the region was recognised at the 2015 Australia Day Awards ceremony where she was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award!

Cheryl’s significant contribution  and passion for the Kilcoy and surrounding communities are very evident in her commitment and support of a wide range of activities.  One recent example of this was the successful running of the Kilcoy Christmas Carnival.  As President of the Kilcoy Chamber of Commerce and this Sub-Committee, her strong leadership, encouraging and empowering approach she engaged both committee members and businesses in the area to achieve this wonderful Community activity which bought together wide variety of residents including hundreds of children.  Also, Cheryl’s active involvement on the Kilcoy & Community Bank committee has seen interest and commitment by local people and business grow considerably. Cheryl is an avid promoter of Kilcoy and the wider Somerset Region.

Click to view Cheryl’s Citizen of the Year Nomination Form Details.

Click to view a history of Cheryl’s volunteer work.