Picture: J.L. “FRED” SMITH
THE proposal to spend $3.5m on new council offices in Millicent is among the issues which has prompted local business identity Nicole Looby-McRostie to state she is ready to run again for Wattle Range Council when an expected supplementary election is held to replace retiring councillor Glenn Brown.
“Spending $3.5m on the new council offices is a waste of money and the community cannot afford it,” Ms Looby-McRostie said.
If elected, Ms Looby-McRostie will oppose such a large expenditure on offices but support the retention of the Millicent Saleyards as well as advocate for a longer season for the Millicent Swimming Lake.
Cr Brown last week verbally advised council staff and his 11 fellow elected members of his decision to resign as he is moving from Millicent to Mount Gambier.
The official paperwork from Cr Brown has yet to be lodged and so no date for a postal ballot for his Corcoran ward position has yet been set.
However, there is no doubting Ms Looby-McRostie’s desire to secure a seat on council given her strong performance at the November poll and passion for community matters.
She finished fourth in terms of primary votes with 211 and this was 84 more than fellow newcomer Graham Slarks and 10 ahead of second-time candidate Moira Neagle.
However, after the preferences were distributed, Mr Slarks and Ms Neagle moved ahead of Ms Looby-McRostie and were duly elected.
Ms Looby-McRostie closed the Junction Deli in George Street, Millicent almost 12 months ago and ended five and a half years of running the daily mixed business.
She said she was ready for a break after manning a shop for more than 80 hours per week in Millicent’s main thoroughfare.
Her close connection with the community resumed in December when she began working part-time at the Millicent Lakeside Deli.
Although the councillor position attracts an annual allowance of $13,900, Ms Looby-McRostie said she is not motivated to join council for such financial gain.
“People who say they voted for me last time want me to run next time,” she said.
“I stood last time because I voice what the community want,
“I am in the community and Wattle Range Council should be doing more for the community.
“If you do not change the membership of council then you will not get change.”
She said she was strongly opposed to such expenditure as the $3.5m on new council offices as she fears this will lead to a rise in rates.
“If the rates go up, then rents will go up,” Ms Looby-McRostie said.
“When I made deliveries to people’s homes, I would see them rugged up with blankets as they could not afford the electricity for heaters.
“You only need to go to the council offices to pay your dog rego and rates and they do not need to be flash.
“It would be different if Millicent was vibrant, but it is not a vibrant town.
“Council should be keeping the saleyards open and doing more for the youth.
“It should be staying out of the Community Club [sale] for the moment.”
Through her current employment, Ms Looby-McRostie said she had heard many complaints during the recent warm weather from locals and tourists about the closure of the Millicent Swimming Lake.
“They should leave it open until the end of April,” she said.
“It may cost the council $30,000 but the lake brings in money to the town.”
