The NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, September 14. Ahead of the Murray River Council elections, The Riv has spoken to all candidates so that voters can make informed decisions when they take to the polls.
Beginning with Moama ward, we are sharing candidate profiles in alphabetical order, according to surname, in each edition during the election lead-up.
Graeme Blow is running for council in the Moama ward. He is a Moama resident and has lived in the region for seven years.
He is motivated by his involvement in the ‘Save Our Parks’ campaign earlier in the year, where he advocated with other members of the community to urge Murray River Council not to reclassify parks and open spaces.
“Our campaign woke me up to the positive difference that can be made with community engagement,” he said.
Mr Blow believes the next step for him is to run for election so that he can continue to consult the community to inform council decisions.
He would prioritise protecting parks and open spaces, looking to avoid attempts by council to reclassify the land, as he feels it must be preserved for the health and wellbeing of residents, especially families.
Rates, charges and council expenditure would also be topics on his agenda, pushing for clear communication from council to ratepayer.
Mr Blow would look to engage with the community before speaking with consultants, review council meeting times and be available to discuss concerns.
“By engaging the ward and council community, discussing what is important for them on key issues, then advocating accordingly. This approach will assist with better decisions,” he said.
He is confident that his skills in listening and working with large groups of people to reach common goals will equip him for the role if elected.
Mr Blow values the natural environment around the Murray River Council area, including the many parks and walking trails.
He also enjoys the lifestyle the area offers, along with the friendliness of the residents and the ability of the community to come together.
“The friendliness of the community make it great for family life,” he said.