Moree mayor Katrina Humphries will have some competition at Moree Plains Shire Council’s upcoming mayoral election in September, with the announcement that councillor George Chiu plans to stand for the role.
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Cr Chiu this week announced his intentions to run for mayor during the internal election, scheduled for September 27.
Acknowledging the significant contribution Cr Humphries has made to the shire in her 10 years as mayor, Cr Chiu said he believes it’s time for Moree to move forward.
“The mayor has done almost 10 years in September; she’s doing a really good job but I do believe it’s time for change,” he said.
“I’m ready for a challenge.
“I believe everyone knows I can deliver on what I say. I am the person to deliver.”
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Cr Chiu has been living in Moree for 33 years, after first moving to town to do the catering at Moree Golf Club before opening the Dragon and Phoenix Resort and Restaurant in 1988.
The businessman, who is close to two years into his first term as a councillor, is passionate about tourism and overseas investment and has plans to establish a special economic zone – similar to those in China – to enable immigrants to invest in Moree.
He believes a special zone will contribute to population growth, creating more jobs for Moree, while also boosting tourism to the region.
Cr Chiu also recognises how important water is to the shire, and wants to look into ways of sourcing it, without “waiting for it to rain”.
“I love this town,” he said.
“I want to return my business and community sense for the community.”
Meanwhile, Cr Humphries has confirmed she will again stand for the role she has held since becoming a councillor in 2008.
“Absolutely, I have full intentions of running again,” she said.
“There are projects I want to see finished.
“I want to make sure Moree Plains and the North West get the best possible deal out of the Inland Rail; I want to make sure our Country University gets off to a very good start – it’ll be a great asset to our community; lots of roads still need to be sealed – our road network is an ongoing battle.”
Cr Humphries said she is “immensely proud” of a number of projects she has seen come to fruition in her 10 years in local government, including the gateway project, intermodal developments, improving the shire’s water system, working with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and more.
“The first thing that was thrown on my desk as mayor and a new councillor was the global financial crisis,” she said.
All councils in NSW, including Moree Plains, that were not amalgamated and do not have a popular-elected mayor, will conduct internal mayoral elections in September to determine a mayor and deputy for the next two years.
Any councillor can nominate for the role of mayor and deputy mayor, to be voted on by councillors.
Cr Humphries said she is happy to let democracy play its part in determining the roles.
“Democracy is a very important part of the Australian fabric,” she said.
“I respect our democracy.”
The Moree Champion has attempted to contact all other councillors to find out if anyone else plans to run for the role of mayor or deputy mayor, but at the time of going to publication had not heard from anyone else planning to stand.
