Future District

Lindsay is far from a 'passive observer' in everyday life, which is why he decided to stand for council in the first place - he really wants to do something for our community. Truth is, it takes time. And Mount Barker has to be very careful with how it spends its very limited financial resources.

Mount Barker is not a big council but we have some big council issues to deal with given where the State Government has now set us up to go over the next 20-30 years. We all fought hard to try and control the scope of that plan, but as we now know 'there's no going back'. While many of us believed it unjust and unethical - it turned out to be 'lawful'. So now, as Lindsay says. "we refocus and get on with it".

Lindsay believes that in politics 'promises' are simply a quick road to dispair. So in trying to find some sense of constant direction we can keep adding to, He developed six 'aspirations' which guide him along the path of building a better district for all of our citizens.

Lindsay's vision is to work to achieve the best outcomes possible for:

Maintaining the rural character and protecting the natural beauty and environment of our District

Building better transport links and community services to service our growing population

Developing a stronger sense of community so that as we grow in numbers we also grow in our sense of belonging to our special place

Sensibly widening our economic base to both create local employment opportunities and to diversify our rate base to ease the constant upward pressure on our residential rate base

Engaging with our young people to encourge them to bring new ideas forward to create new and vibrant ways to commit to their community in a meaningful way

Ensuring we keep an on-going focus on the health and well-being requirements of our ageing population - and also ensure that they never feel alienated in the community they all helped to create!

This set of aspirations provides Lindsay with a set of constant and living goals. Lindsay says "the first question I keep asking myself when I am making decisions on behalf of the people who elected me is "how does this - or that - contribute to my aspirations for our District?"

He goes on to say "the one thing I have found is that to some greater or lesser degree there is always some effect on my aspirations list - the thing I the have to do then is weigh up the risk or benefit to the community - and that poses the final question - 'is it worth it?' - it is in this context I then try and make the best decision for the greater, long-term good of the District, that is, our environment and our citizens".