Whoever the individual winners are in Saturday’s election their most important first act has to be dedication to working together in the interests of the community.
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The campaigning will be over, the contest won.
Whatever the make-up of the council from members of teams, groups or independents they have to put Dubbo and Wellington and their residents first.
Politics has to be a thing of the past.
Fears have been expressed by community members that the strong presence of teams, groups or tickets could mean the first councillors elected to the merged Dubbo Regional Council could descend into factionalism and petty bickering.
That would be bad for the council, the staff, the voters and the region.
The old Dubbo City Council (DCC) went through a period of factionalism and it harmed the city and residents.
After some years, wiser heads managed to end the fighting and in the last term of the now defunct DCC, the councillors worked together to make it an organisation which would work sensibly with businesses, investors, ratepayers and other stakeholders to drive the economy and make the city a better place for all.
Sure, there were differences of opinion and even the odd argument. But, generally the council never lost sight of the end game … improving the area and living conditions for all.
The results were seen. Tourism and investment steadily increasing, significantly improved transport links, new business and industries setting up here, Dubbo enhancing its position as a regional “powerhouse” and much more.
Those results may not have been achieved if other stakeholders had to deal with a dysfunctional council.
The councillors who will take their seats on the DRC after the final results are declared (and that might not be until the middle of next week) face, perhaps, bigger challenges.
They now have to drive and service a much bigger area, population and economy. That will and should consume much of their energy and time.
Candidates will have seen what was achieved in the past with teamwork.
They need to put differences aside and duplicate that drive… only on a larger scale ... and make the DRC work for all.