Emily McInerney, A Home in the Outback

Broken Hill City Council Mayor Tom Kennedy has been voted in for his second term, with a staggering 70 per cent vote.

Mayor Kennedy said he was proud of the response he received from the community at the September local government elections. Of the 13,000 registered voters, Mayor Kennedy received 7,419 votes.

“I was hoping to get an increased vote-because what an increased vote does is allows me to understand the direction council are taking, and the direction that I am helping move them in, is the right direction for the community,” Mayor Kennedy said.

“It also makes it more positive when dealing with state and federal politicians that tends to signal to them is that you have the broader support of the community.”

“For mayor, on a two-party preferred, I got just over 70 per cent of the vote,” he said.

Mayor Kennedy’s group – Group C received 64.27 per cent of the votes which will see the first six of his ticket get elected.

“The order of the ticket, we’ve received around 5,500 above the lines votes which will see them just move down the ticket, electing each as they come.”

The remaining three councillor positions were filled by Labor’s Darriea Turley and newcomer Ashley Byrnes and Independent Dave Gallagher. 

Unfortunately this means that Mayor Kennedy’s son Thomas and number nine on the ticket James Elston will not make it into council.

“It is not a great disappointment to him, he would have liked to have gotten elected as he got more into it,” Mayor Kennedy said.

“He did enjoy it. So did James. They liked doing their bit, it is good to have young people who are interested.

“They do realise there is a lot you can do, if you do get involved as a councillor.”

Mayor Kennedy will be sticking to his campaign points by working to increase the population and develop infrastructure.

“People want to make sure the city is progressing; the community are interested in having initiatives that will grow the city’s population.

“Growth gives people confidence that their houses are always going to be worth money.

“As well as being able to get a job here, if they do live here – they want to know that it’s not going to be a city going backward.

“That it’s a city that’s improving infrastructure. That means there is opportunity for their children.

“We want affordable living; but we want a city that’s going to be here for a long time.

“The actions you take have to be in line with that. So, building a bigger airport, means people can come here and work.

“But also people are able to travel out of Broken Hill and have access to other centres at affordable prices.”

Sporting and accessible facilities were also high on Mayor Kennedy’s list.

“Also, sporting facilities and developing infrastructure so families have the same access to sporting facilities as family in other areas.

“It’s important that council continues to grow its own work force to maintain footpaths and keep them clear of weeds.”

Councillors will meet for the first time next week before resuming the normal monthly meetings.

“We will be having an extraordinary meeting (in the second week of October) to swear all councillors in. Either by oath or affirmation.

“Then our first council meeting will be the last Wednesday in October.

“It just goes back to normal operations. There will be reports put to council, financial reports, project reports a few development applications that will be coming up at that meeting.

“But we will also be looking at progressing the airport infrastructure project – which is $10 million on taxiways, aprons, the car park.

“The library project is well on the way. By that meeting the O’Neil netball complex will have been well along. People will start to see the footings being laid on the courts.”

Mayor Kennedy is working towards a very hands-on approach for this council.

“We will also ensure that council’s standing committees align with the management structure of council, so councillors can be more involved in making sure that the projects in the city go ahead and that they are informed.

“That way they can keep community members informed.

“A lot of things that include bus stops, curbing and guttering and other areas where issues that are brought to the council are often lost.

“This will be a much more hands-on council.”

This article appeared on A Home in the Outback on 1 October 2024.
Related story: 2024 Broken Hill City Council election preview: meet the candidates