We want action

He said people in Deniliquin and district are so disillusioned with all sides of government and the consistency with which local knowledge is ignored when it comes to policy decisions.

Despite recent polling by The Nationals which suggests incumbent Member for Murray Austin Evans will be re-elected with ease, Cr Brennan said the seat cannot be taken for granted because of the sentiment coming from this region.

‘‘The Nationals are on the nose around the state, and certainly here in the Edward River region,’’ Cr Brennan said.

‘‘People are fed up with the Coalition, but they are also fed up with Labor.

‘‘Once more people start putting their hand up (to stand for Murray) we might see some sort of shift.’’

In the weeks remaining until the election, Cr Brennan said Edward River Council will be pushing its Advocacy Strategy and other key areas which need attention to any potential candidate.

The strategy specifically calls for investment in Deniliquin Hospital, Deniliquin High School, the Deniliquin Airport expansion and freight hub proposal and in the establishment of a dedicated truck stop with facilities.

It also calls for more effective action and leadership on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and water policy in general and fixing mobile blackspots.

Cr Brennan said in addition the council and community will ‘‘keep barking on’’ about the need for sustainable timber harvesting to be returned to the Murray Valley National Park to revive and support a once vibrant timber industry.

The Pastoral Times will lead a campaign on the priority areas on behalf of the community over the coming weeks, detailing each of the priority areas and what action we have seen from relevant government departments and authorities to date.

We’ll also be seeking support and commitment on a range of other matters which have been on the Deniliquin district’s wish list for several years — Hallmark status for the Deniliquin Ute Muster which will provide state-paid policing, a review of long-range population predictions which incorrectly predict the community is in severe decline and is being used to justify planning decisions, and the unfair withdrawal of government services from this district community with the downgrading of Deniliquin Police Station as the command headquarters.

‘‘We want some commitments, and out of that we want action,’’ Cr Brennan said.

‘‘Even if you only get some of the priority areas committed, it is something.

‘‘On the water situation in particular, we’ve had reports like the Madigan Senate Report, the Productivity Commission, the Sefton report on socio-economic neutrality and more which all say there is a lack of transparency and a lack of communication in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

‘‘The relevant authorities are still in denial and refuse to take accountability.

‘‘Someone needs to stand up and have the gumption to do something.’’

Mr Evans said the only way he can achieve ‘positive action’ is to ‘‘put the head down, and the bum up and produce results’’.

He said while he has ‘‘kicked a lot of goals’’ since being elected, he’s also fully aware there is much more to do.

He said he takes no real stock in the pre-election polling by his party, saying ‘‘the only real poll you can trust is on election day’’.

‘‘There are less of the ‘rusted on’ Coalition supporters as there used to be, so there are votes up for grabs right up until election day is done.

‘‘I would hope I have done a good enough job, and worked hard enough, to be seen as positive and worth giving the job to again.’’

Mr Evans said water reform, particularly regarding the water sharing rules which have resulted in the NSW Murray Valley being on zero allocations all this season so far, is one of his top priorities heading into the election.

His other priorities for Deniliquin and district are to continue to fight for the red gum forests to be opened to logging, and development projects put forward by Edward River Council which includes the air freight hub.

So far, Mr Evans has only one official challenger for the seat of Murray — Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Helen Dalton.

Murray River Council Councillor Tom Weyrich is still awaiting advice on a pre-selection application made to One Nation.