Urana’s Patrick Bourke is standing again with hopes to continue the great work achieved by council over the last four years and further create positive change for all towns within the shire.
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Mr Bourke will head the Group A ticket of five candidates from across the council region including David Fahey, John Doyle, Craig Spencer and Mareeta Corcoran.
First elected to Federation Council in 2017, and mayor since that time, Mr Bourke said he is proud of what the current council has achieved over the last four years and wants to continue to be a part of a council that has the best interests of their communities at heart.
Before being elected to Federation Council in 2017, Mr Bourke was Urana Shire Mayor for four years after being deputy mayor during his eight year term on Urana Shire Council.
The 57 year old is a business owner of Billabong Agriculture in Urana and Oaklands, and lives in Urana with his wife Natascha, and their family of six all live and work in the local region.
Mr Bourke described his appointment of being the first Federation Council Mayor as a great honour.
“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved over the last four years, and I know from the many conversations that I have with our residents that they are too,” he said.
“The last four years have pushed us as councillors to be innovative and agile, and we have rallied to support our communities whether that be through drought or through Covid like never before. “Throughout this time to support the community the way we have and still deliver an unprecedented amount of infrastructure projects throughout the towns and villages is an amazing achievement and a credit to all involved.”
Mr Bourke said one of his proudest achievements during his current term in council was his role in the establishment of advisory groups for council projects to ensure that residents were well represented by not only councillors, but through their own representation so their voices were heard and actioned upon at the decision-making table.
“I look back and think of my early days at a public meeting I attended at the Corowa RSL Club about the previous Corowa pool and all night, residents spoke to council about their desire for the creation of a facility that would grow with the community, and that they were willing to pay for it.
“We had residents at the time who felt like they didn’t have a voice, and I was proud to be a part of establishing a forum not only with the pool project but other council projects where our resident’s voices were heard and respected.”
Mr Bourke said throughout the course of his Local Government career he valued the close relationships he had developed with local residents, other local government councillors and mayors, state ministers, premiers and other state and federal officials for the benefit of Federation Council communities.
“I also value my representation on the NSW Australian Local Government Association, Riverina and Murray Joint Organisations, Murray Darling Association and various community organisations.
“Networking and relationships are so critical in local government. If elected I will continue to advocate for our communities to ensure it is well supported in state and federal decision making processes, grant funding and other opportunities to benefit our area moving forward.
Whilst Mr Bourke said he has been doing quite a bit of reflecting on his current term, he is already looking forward with excitement and optimism and a renewed energy and commitment to ensure the positive momentum continues.
“Federation Council continues to develop greatly under strong leadership and fair representation from across the Council area,” he said.
“I’d like to see this continue and that is why I am so proud of the great community members I have on my ticket, with some also having extensive experience in local government and strong connections to our communities.
“I know they will do well to serve the Federation Council communities if elected and support me in being a strong advocate for the future of Federation Council.
“I have always said that local government is the most important level of government because we are the closest to our communities, we are their voice, their local leaders, and their biggest advocates.
“I thank the residents for the opportunity to serve them over the last four years, and I look forward with hope that I will have the chance to represent them once again in the next term of Federation Council. “Vote 1 - Group A this election – a vote for your voice, your local leaders and your biggest advocates.”
