This will be the thrust of Team McDonald’s bid for MidCoast Council mayor in the next local government elections set for September 2020.

Team McDonald is over the disappointment of failing to nominate in time for the recent election.

“We have moved on,’’ Team McDonald’s campaign director (CD) explained.

“Now we’re 130 per cent focused on 2020,’’ CD added, showing maths isn’t a strong point with Team McDonald.

Team McDonald’s mayoral candidate (MC) has recently returned from an extensive tour of western NSW. This was specifically to garner ideas for the 2020 bid. It was a fact finding mission that covered nearly 3000kms.

“I’m a people person – while I was away I spoke to the locals,’’ the MC said, perhaps wisely omitting the fact that 90 per cent of the locals he spoke to were bar attendants.

“From what I was told, mining is the future,’’ he continued.

“There must be something in the Manning we can mine. Gold, coal, uranium, coal seam gas – anything. We have to attract mining companies and get them to start digging the place up.

“For a mined community is a wealthy community.’’ 

MC understands there will be staunch resistance to mining from some Mid Coast residents.

“As mayor, I will be representing the entire Mid Coast region and will listen to concerns,’’ he said.

“So I will be more than happy to meet with these whingers before totally ignoring them. That worked for John Howard.’’

So once the miners move in, MC will turn his attention to the Wingham Akoostik Festival (aka the Taree Akoostik Festival).

“The Akoostik Festival has grown significantly, or so I’ve been told,’’ MC noted, showing he has a grasp of all things MidCoast Council.

“So it really is wasted at Wingham. We have the opportunity to make it a major extravaganza to benefit Tare… the entire region.’’

Under the plan the Akoostik will be uprooted from Wingham and moved to Taree Recreation Centre.

“This is commonsense really as well as aesthetically pleasing,’’ MC said (he has no idea what aesthetically means).

“Think of all those hippies we can shove onto the rec centre to listen to Morris Russell sing. This could be bigger than Woodstock.’’

He said Wingham Showground – the soon to be former venue for Akoostik - will also be part of his vision for the area.

"We’ll probably mine it,’’ MC said, sounding very statesman-like.

Team McDonald will be releasing more policies in the days and months ahead for MC has his eyes firmly fixed on the big prize.

Be afraid Cr David West.

Be very afraid.