Northern Midlands mayor David Downie will try to add to his 25-year stint as an elected official for the municipality.
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Councillor Downie said he was planning on running in October’s local government elections, with a view to extending his four-year mayoral incumbency.
He said there was more he wanted to achieve with the council.
“I want to make sure the ship remains stable,” he said.
“We have a big investment program into the near future, and there’s a particular focus on sporting grounds, and that will be a big challenge to see those through.”
The announcement comes on the heels of his recent award at the Local Government Association of Tasmania annual conference.
Cr Downie was recognised with the Life Members’ Award for Meritorious Service at the conference’s dinner last week.
Judges said he was awarded the prize for his 25 years of service on the Northern Midlands Council, including four years as mayor and seven years as deputy mayor, and for his role as TasWater’s chief owners representative since 2015.
A protracted state government bid to take over the council-owned body was abandoned in May, with Cr Downie vehemently opposing the move for more than a year.
I was part of a team and the TasWater issue was an achievement for the whole of local government.
- Northern Midlands mayor David Downie
The government instead agreed to purchase 10 per cent of TasWater for $200 million.
The man who was described by LGAT life member and judge Sue Smith as a “quiet achiever” said his work with TasWater was not an individual effort.
“I was part of a team and the TasWater issue was an achievement for the whole of local government,” he said.
“The local government sector has been able to hold its own in a fairly vigorous argument on an issue and ultimately it will lead to the sector being more sustainable.
“When the assets are fixed there will be some return of income stream to the local government sector [from TasWater], which is going to make it a lot more financially sustainable.”
Cr Downie said he was honoured and surprised by LGAT’s decision.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
