MidCoast Council needs elected, not selected representatives, and now that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has sealed the deal on the amalgamation we know we will vote to elect councillors on September 9.

Today and in coming weeks and months, MidCoast Council will deal with hundreds of issues and many will be more than the usual local government charter of managing roads, rates and rubbish. We now know members of the LRC may be asked by Mr Turner to provide advice and the committee has no power. LRC members Jan McWilliams, Kathryn Bell, James Henderson, Frank Hooke, Karen Hutchinson, Trent Jennison, Carol McCaskie, Len Roberts, Katheryn Smith, Leigh Vaughan and David West are not councillors-in-waiting. Their work on the committee and importantly, opinions on matters put to the committee for consideration, are not able to be made known to our community as the LRC terms of reference states they “shall not discuss with the media issues related to the business of the LRC, activities of the members and representation on external committees nor the business of council with specific authorisation from the Administrator.”

Most people in the MidCoast Council area could not name or identify an LRC member in a line-up after six months of service and this presents an opportunity for our community and people who have not served in local government. LRC members have little advantage.

It is expected many LRC members will stand for election but it is time for us to encourage other people to stand for election. Look to the people in your life with fresh eyes, search for the men and women who give of their time to build community, who give voice to the potential of the region, find the leaders who drive change and lead others by doing, and importantly, who will seek to serve the community and not themselves in a position of public office. We have an opportunity to nurture the need for community service in the minds of good people and to contribute to the growth of MidCoast Council from its infancy.