The Urana local has decided to stand again as an independent candidate for the upcoming council elections.
“The past few years has been difficult for families and businesses and it’s time we started thinking about how we can move forward,” he said.
“Federation Council has achieved a lot in a short while, but we need to ensure we are prepared for the future,” he said.
“I’m concerned now that the amalgamation money is spent, we could be in for hard times. State and Federal grants could be hard to get in the future. We will need a responsible and efficient council to improve our shire.”
Mr Robson first visited Urana whilst working on track replacement of the Narrandera Tocumwal railway line in the early 1980’s.
“The decision to move to Urana with my young family was made after seeing the great improvements at Urana Dam. I thought this place is going ahead. More than 20 years later I’m still here,” he said.
“For the last few years, my partner Theresea and I have lived between Urana and Corowa. I’m self-employed sole trader at Urana whilst Theresea works as a teacher at Oaklands Central School. All three of my children completed year 12 at Urana Central School, this school has now been downgraded to primary only due to low numbers.
“This highlights the need to retain our children in our community. We need to foster employment opportunities or they move away seeking opportunities and never to return.”
Having worked across many parts of the country, Mr Robson believes he can offer the new council a broader understanding of how different communities thrive.
“Unlike most of the other candidates I have lived and worked around the country in different NSW Council areas and interstate in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and even overseas in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“This gives an insight into different ways of doing things, some better, some worse.
“I’ve worked at various mine sites, large manufacturing businesses’ and at one stage was field maintenance superintendent of a large mine in Central Queensland.
“This involved managing an annual budget of $30 million to maintain and improve a large fleet of Draglines shovels and drills increasing productivity and reliability.
“I’ve also done quite a few years of Station Hand and fencing work.
“This experience of managing large budgets and maintaining assets combined with farm work gives me a broad experience I would like to bring to council.”
Mr Robson is critical of the group ticketing system and encouraged voters to carefully consider how they vote.
“This election will be hard for me particularly with the group voting above the line. This would seem to be more suited to big city elections where Liberal, National, Labor, Greens run tickets,” he said.
“It could also be seen as a cynical vote harvesting for the number one candidate.
“In the 2017 Federation Council elections we even have one ticket running 10 candidates for 9 positions. At least this time they limited it to five candidates.
“Yes, it is easier to just put a 1 at the top and walk out but are you voting for genuine candidates who will do their best for our community.”
Mr Robson is asking for the support of residents to be part of a proactive council that will further promote all towns withing Federation as a great place to live, work and visit.
“The need to have a shire-wide outlook is important if the community is to grow and prosper,” he said.
“All ratepayers wherever they live need representation on council, and I believe I’m the best one to do this.”
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