AT the start of a new council term, Councillor Gordon Markwart has a fresh outlook.
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The Greens candidate, who stood for and was elected to council in September’s local government election, said his first priority is the people of the shire.
“My first concern is the community, as per local government legislation,” he said. “Especially those parts of the community not in an advantageous situation, those without a voice.”
Councillor Markwart said he strongly believed in the principles of The Greens, and would bring those values to council with environmental sensitivity.
“My goals for this council term, as I said in the lead up to the election, are to help bring stability to council and focus on the issue and not the person,” he said.
“I’ll be putting my view forward rather than representing political motivations.”
Cr Markwart said he had already been contacted by ratepayers about environmental degradation and would be progressing relevant issues through council.
He said he would have a fair and logical approach to all council business.
“I like to look at and investigate scenarios for a firsthand experience and then make informed decisions.”
“I try to walk my talk – I believe if we can make each day the best day we can and then join all of those together, hopefully you end up with a good year and eventually, a good decade,” he said.
Cr Markwart hit the ground running at the first business meeting of council on October 12 with a motion that called for answers about Bowral Hospital.
He put forward a request that called for a meeting between council, the minister for health, Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell and Goulburn MP Pru Goward.
He said the parties would discuss the proposed public/private partnership of Bowral Hospital and seek answers for the staff and wider community.
The motion required council to seek assurances that the public would not suffer, and that staff numbers at the hospital would not be reduced. At this stage, a date for the meeting has not yet been set.
This article is part of an ongoing Southern Highland News project to introduce all of the councillors elected for the 2016-2020 term, and their goals for the next four years.