Councillor Peter Shelley

The biggest challenge while being on Council is to fight for commonsense and fairness. This might seem easy but when you have Councillors who continuously vote with the Councillor's who will support them in what they see as prestigious positions on Council and disregard what is best for the community, it can get very frustrating.

Thankfully the majority of decisions are consistent with the community needs and as such I have been able to work for the community by instigating and putting forth motions, policies and initiatives that are in keeping with what I want to do on council, some of these have been;

Establish the first Mid-Western Regional Youth Council,

Establish the first Rylstone/Kandos Sports Committee

Prioritise funding for the sealing of Bylong Valley way and the Hill end road.

Gain funding for the Development of the old T.A.F.E. site.

Abolish fees associated with the Learn to Swim Program and School Carnivals, both of which were  passed onto families.

Gain funding and inclusion to upgrade the Carwell Bridge west of Kandos into the 09-10 Management Plan.

Upgrade to Byron place car park

New disabled rest rooms in Rylstone and Bylong

New car park for Rylstone Hospital

Upgrade to Main Street in Kandos

Support much needed infrastructure improvements through out the entire Region

and many more.......................with plenty more to do

I live in Rylstone, NSW with my wife Doreen and our two children Katreena and Brock. We own and operate the Rylstone News agency and Post Office, Doreen also works as the senior Hairdresser at  Yours & Mine Hairdressing in Kandos.

I became involved in local politics when Rylstone shire amalgamated with Mudgee Shire and became Mid-Western Regional Council. After a period of administration, elections were called and finally held on the 26th March 2006.

I ran for one of the nine positions on Council and was successful. I was elected as Deputy Mayor that same year.

I have staunchly stood on issues such as renaming Council to Cudgegong Regional Council, which was successful ,but the then Minister for Local Government refused Councils decision based on successful lobbing from Industry within Mudgee. Unfortunately the Minister could not look beyond Mudgee industry concerns and agree with a inclusive name for the people of a forced amalgamation.

Other issues include my position on the Stocklands development for which I am against because of the size of the development. Nose in parking for Mudgee, to bring a commonsense approach to an acute parking and traffic flow problem within the CBD. Unfortunately emotions won the day as a majority of councillors were swayed by emotive arguments against the change. Demolish the old T.A.F.E. site and construct a Cultural Centre, incorporating a Library, Art gallery and meeting rooms for organizations within the shire. Establish a Youth Council, which I can proudly say is completed, abolish School fees for the Learn to Swim Program and School carnivals.

I constantly put my points of view across and fight for commonsense. I promote one Shire and do not consider one town to be the centre of the universe. All towns and Villages within the Mid-Western Regional Council boundaries are as important as the others.

I believe the whole region is now better off with a elected council as there is now representation from all areas.