Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News
Nationally acclaimed organic farmer, Peter “Huck” Shepherd has confirmed he is standing to be part of the next Naracoorte Lucindale Council.
In a media statement, the Kybybolite farmer said he believed the council needed some critical thinkers “who can put some common sense back into the council”.
“We need a more visionary approach that will foster more investment into the town, and not waste unnecessary money on aesthetic projects that we cannot afford at the moment,” Mr Shepherd said. “We need more accountability.”
He said the council needed to be more engaged with the businesses in the town.
“It works both ways, what can the council do for you and what can you do for the council,” Mr Shepherd said.
He was also concerned about the safety of council employees who had to use harsh chemicals.
“Council staff should have to meet set Key Performance Indicators, from the CEO down,” Mr Shepherd said.
“Relationships with the media is at an all-time low. This needs addressing urgently.”
Mr Shepherd said Naracoorte was an agricultural town “and we must not forget that”.
“Tourism is great and should be encouraged, but it is not the backbone of this council, agriculture is.”
That was reflected in the amount of rate revenue – more than $6.4 million which the council derived from the rural sector for its $11.1 million budget.
That amount increased when the rates of agricultural-reliant businesses in the town were added to the $6.4 million. Mr Shepherd said he believed Naracoorte ought to be the hub of the SE.
“To do that we must improve housing availability and encourage more commercial development,” Mr Shepherd said.
“If we grow the town, existing small businesses will thrive and it might encourage some of the banks to come back properly, rather than just show token support for this town.
“We should be encouraging State Government departments to relocate here because we are in the central part of the SE.
“We had them, and we lost them.”
Mr Shepherd believed the council did not fight hard enough to keep them. He also believed there were some key projects that needed urgent council attention.
That included a bypass for trucks travelling east and west through the town. Mr Shepherd believed the Naracoorte Creek needed to be modified “to accommodate a decent flood”.
And Naracoorte could one day lead the State by utilising municipal waste to generate power.
“We need to create a circular economy where we use our rubbish to create power,” Mr Shepherd said.
“(We could) build a small bio-digester to create our own base power and in doing that we will be able to handle all our organic waste and secure our power supply into the future.
“To allow that to happen we need to educate the public, starting with the schools.”
Mr Shepherd believed agricultural teaching at our local schools could also encourage private development and include growing vegetables either in glasshouses or in season.
In addition to successfully operating his own farm without the use of chemicals, Mr Shepherd has also been involved with several other leading enterprises, including an Adelaide-based laboratory.
He currently owns a fertiliser blending agronomy service and another enterprise which deals with selling waste material in Victoria.
“Owning and running multiple companies, I understand good fiscal management,” Mr Shepherd said.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
