Accessible HTML format. Statements are also available in PDF format with candidate photos and web links.
Voting is now compulsory
Your vote must be received by 2pm on Tuesday 25 October 2022
Don’t delay – late votes won’t be counted!
There are 3 elections being held for Northern Midlands Council:
As well as this booklet, your postal ballot pack contains:
The ballot paper envelope has been specially designed to ensure the secrecy of your vote.
All returned envelopes are kept unopened under tight security until they are checked for validity.
After a sealed envelope has been verified, the flap showing the elector’s personal details and signature is removed under instruction of the returning officer, in the presence of witnesses, and securely stored until the close of the poll.
After the close of the poll and in the presence of witnesses, the now anonymous envelopes are opened in large random batches before the unidentified ballots are removed for examination and counting.
Successful candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor must also be elected as councillors to be able to accept these offices.
The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillors you elect will serve until October 2026.
Questions? Call 1800 801 701
Postal services take a number of days, so it is important to complete and return your vote now.
Your vote must be received by 2pm on Tuesday 25 October 2022
Follow these five easy steps:
Candidates were invited to provide a statement and photo for your consideration*.
Statements appear in alphabetical order but the names on the ballot papers are rotated.
The online version of this booklet contains web links where provided by candidates.
Number the boxes on each ballot paper from 1 onwards in the order of your choice.
For the election of 9 councillors, number the boxes from 1 to 22 in order of your choice, Number at least 5 boxes to make your vote count.
For the election of Mayor, number the boxes from 1 to 3 in order of your choice. Number at least one box to make your vote count.
For the election of Deputy Mayor, number the boxes from 1 to 6 in the order of your choice. Number at least one box to make your vote count.
Put your completed ballot papers in the ballot paper envelope, which is the smaller envelope with the wider flap, and seal it securely.
Sign your ballot paper envelope in the box on the flap to declare that you are the voter named on this envelope and you have voted on the ballot papers in this envelope. You must sign the envelope and leave the flap attached — or your vote won’t be counted. The returning officer will remove the flap with your details on it before opening the envelope.
Then put your ballot paper envelope in the reply-paid envelope — the larger envelope — and seal it.
Post your reply paid envelope straight away (no stamp needed), or take your vote to the Northern Midlands Council office.
*Statements are reproduced substantially as supplied by candidates.
I have spent most of my life representing people one way or another and through three levels of government; it has been the most rewarding thing I could have ever done.
Once again, I would like to renew my contract with the Northern Midlands. In this time of climate change, local government is facing huge challenges more than ever and we need to face them, in planning, in social cohesion as well as economic direction. I am listening and I want to make your views part of the structure of Northern Midlands. This might mean change in Council, which I would welcome.
Candidate statement not supplied
Our family lives on a farm at Longford and I have been involved with both the farming and tourism aspects of our business for 40 years. My community experience has been extensive serving on many local organisations. I am committed to the sustainability of our towns, industries, farms and environment.
There is a need for Council to be proactive in long term planning and managing the economic and social issues facing residents and businesses. I want a consultative Council, good communication with residents and a strong business model bringing benefits for us all. Vote 1 for a new direction.
I am standing for election as councillor for Northern Midlands Council because I care about our community and the people that choose to live and love being in the Northern Midlands. I have always been a part of this community and I would like the opportunity to help shape it for our future generations. To be a voice that will listen to all points of views and never put my self interest before that of the community.
I want to see better transparency between Council and the community. So that I can make a positive difference for our community please vote one Adam Barnett.
I live in Ross where I have campaigned for heritage listing and flood protection for the Ross Bridge. I oppose the sale of community assets and fought to keep the Campbell Town Hall in public hands. I support genuine community consultation on Council projects from the earliest planning stages to ensure the outcome matches community expectations. I seek to protect our unique heritage and natural environment for future generations. If elected I would seek to represent the whole community across all the towns and farms throughout the municipality and be a voice for the country within the Council.
Please re-elect me to continue to serve the entire municipality, with 13 years of local gov experience and with a working knowledge of legislation and policies. An active councillor determined and passionate to continue to grow the Northern Midlands, and pride myself on great customer service and personal and professional service to continue to be accountable and listen to all stakeholders of the Northern Midlands when deciding any issue that arises. Representing your views and aspirations I'm always available 24/7 and 7 days a week with no exceptions, and a proven hard worker that does listen.
I am thankful, humble and proud to raise my hand for this upcoming Council election. A current local business owner for 25 years, volunteered in many local organisations/committees. I am dedicated to see our town's strong community values grow into the future. I believe in a common sense approach towards fairness and equality for all. Everyone can be heard, let me be your voice. Together we can create an active transparent communication within our local councils. Working together we can help our towns remain true to their heritage whilst still promoting fair and reasonable development.
I am standing for re-election as a councillor on Northern Midlands. I want to see a Council that is innovative in how it identifies and solves problems, and I want to see the practices of accountability and transparency firmly cemented in all aspects of Council's operations.
A strong voice for small businesses with a first-hand understanding of the needs of small business operators in this region. Jess is a lifetime northern Tasmanian resident and solution-focused director of real estate company Harcourts Northern Midlands.
In a rapidly expanding municipality, she knows community needs and concerns must be heard by Council and will strive to give those views strength and volume. Thanks to her professional involvement in the industry, she is acutely aware of the need for careful provision of roads, paths, green spaces and more in any new housing expansion.
With substantial experience in business management, Simon holds four degrees, including an MBA and company directors qualification. Head of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (SE) in Tasmania for over a decade, he is also non-executive director of the National Automobile Museum Board and Harcourts Northern Midlands.
Having held various board positions, including Lifeline and the RSPCA (chair), he is qualified and experienced to ensure the Council operates to the highest business standards and competency. Simon's business training and personal values will ensure the Council is accountable.
Raised at Evandale and now living at Perth, I want to ensure that future generations can continue to thrive in our patch. As someone in their mid-30s, I am passionate to hear as many voices as possible throughout Council's consultation processes so that the best decisions are made for our region. With more than a decade working in media, I know what has come before so that when making decisions, we can ensure the unique heritage of our towns is retained. Working together, we can create a visionary plan for the municipality - that is my commitment to you and I have the drive to make it happen.
I have been a councillor since 1998 and am meticulous when it comes to keep rates at a minimum. I've lobbied heavily for a dual lane highway to Launceston Airport and master plan for Longford Racecourse, and in the future lobby all councils to take climate change in top consideration for future planning particularly flooding.
I own numerous successful businesses and continue to sit on several boards & organisations, including Longford Motorama, Verandah Music Festival, Rob Fairs Foundation, Northern Midlands Recycling and the Business Association. For full details go to www.iangoninon.com.au.
Leisa Gordon has experience as a Northern Midlands councillor and is committed to achieving goals for our municipality by working as "part of a team." She aims to share the responsibilities between Council and community. Leisa lives in Conara Village and has a deep understanding of local issues, taking all opportunities to support and promote our municipality. She will listen to your concerns and ensure a balanced and realistic approach to solving problems to the benefit of all.
"It's about being creative, adaptable and responsive, opening up new possibilities for our community!"
Current deputy mayor 8 years, councillor 15 years, Council executive 11 years and held the position of acting mayor. If elected I will canvas for the development of: Translink Intermodal Facility - road/rail/air hub at airport, Longford to Perth and Evandale to airport bicycle and walking lanes, Evandale Morven Park irrigation and drainage, Longford oval drainage and second training oval, Ross pool and village green, Cressy pool and recreation ground stage 3. I will continue to promote businesses, community assets and the people who support our community. I am a teacher and I live at Longford.
I have lived all my life in Cressy, where my broader family have long contributed to Cressy's development. I will bring to Northern Midlands Council an appreciation of the senior residents and their needs, and work towards the positive involvement of Council in their care and welfare. Qualified in aged care catering, I also have a special understanding of those affected by dementia and mental health. Currently employed in Longford aged care catering. My priority in Council will be to ensure it listens to and acts on resident's needs, and to be accountable to ratepayers.
Elected in 2009 and mayor in 2018, have a common-sense approach to using rates wisely, encourage progressive development supporting farmers, industry, small business, tourism, youth, with infrastructure to keep our towns vibrant and viable. Living 34 years self-sufficiently off-the-grid has given me unique insights into our natural environment and climate change mitigation. Awarded an OAM in 2018, the IWD 'Inspiring Leader in Local Government' award in 2021, I am the ambassador for the 'Hearing Lived Experience' family violence campaign and represent 29 Councils on the FV Consultative Group.
I am passionate about maintaining the unique country lifestyle we enjoy. Volunteering, supporting local events and businesses, involved in district, bicycle and homelessness committees, always listening and acting on community concerns. Advocating for minimum rate rises, improved infrastructure, footpaths, roads, parks & bikeways, ensuring each community receives its fair share. Lobbied to review Longford Main Street plan, initiated education bursaries, supporting recycling initiatives & revitalization of our towns. There is always more to be done, I respectfully ask for your number 1 vote.
Having been born & bred in the Northern Midlands, I have been saddened & shocked to see the poor level of management & governance existing today. Ratepayers deserve better. Change is needed, fresh faces required & a new culture needs evolving. Time for change. With your help & vote this can happen. My brief CV is "the person that started Pringles chips in Australia", & until recently, a member of Longford's last premiership team.
My message is simple: "If you want a decent Council elect decent people". My commitment to NMC ratepayers is unwavering. Your vote would be my privilege!
With climate change days are hotter and fires fiercer. Preparing for a dangerous future must happen in local councils. I have long called for cycle ways and footpaths between towns. To save rates I call for an end to the undemocratic district committee system. There is public land around the Ross Bridge that should be developed into a heritage park, long overdue. Should the Campbell Town Hall be part of a civic and cultural centre, and be revived as a cinema? If elected, I will look to proper planning, not having consultants telling us what we get, and then the Council ignoring what we say.
I am proud to be part of a team that has worked responsibly to progress the municipality over the last 4 years. The Auditor General in April 2022 said our Council had a bigger surplus and level of net assets than any of the other 18 rural councils. We have been very successful in gaining federal and state grant monies. We must always aim to be economically and socially sustainable.
With my many years in public office, I have the experience to be your strong voice at the Council table. Please help me work with you to make our communities great places to live, work and play.
Candidate statement not supplied
Experienced as a local government inspector, councillor, advisor and farmer. Qualified with a degree in business. I have spent my career improving council finances and services. I will advocate for better community consultation, listening to you and your family. I will advocate to cut red tape, improve long-term planning and work to keep our rates down.
I am committed to delivering sound economic investment, responsible development and improved infrastructure that will contribute to our area's growth whilst protecting our environment and unique heritage. I will be your watchdog on Council.