Thirty-nine years' service has not wearied Cr Margaret O'Neill's desire to serve on Goulburn Mulwaree Council.
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The Challenge Foundation CEO says she still has the time and energy to devote to the hours of reading, meetings and talks with people.
Cr O'Neill was elected to the former Goulburn City Council in 1983 and served until the 2004 amalgamations, including as mayor from 1993 to 1999. She was re-elected to Greater Argyle Council (soon to be re-named Goulburn Mulwaree) in 2004.
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In 2017 she was awarded an OAM for service to local government and to the community. The forthright councillor is also proud of her family's civic service. Her great-grandfather, William Gannon was Goulburn City mayor in 1856 and her great uncle, Tom Gannon mayor in 1872.
On the current election, Cr O'Neill has made her views well known about Wakefield Park raceway's future on what she hoped would be another term.
"I've been unhappy with the way we've dealt with several things over the past two to three years," she said.
"We can't afford to lose Wakefield Park (to Canberra) because it brings so much business and a lot of people to town," she said.
"We've already lost the Coles Distribution Centre. I always say you can't find business in Macquarie Street. You have to go out and get your hands dirty and bring it in. We have so many opportunities with our land and we need to build a future."
Cr O'Neill argued the council needed to work more with developers and business interests, "rather than putting roadblocks in their way." However she conceded that incentives had been extended to Tribe Brewery to lure it to Goulburn and for its ongoing operation.
The longtime councillor says she's also passionate about local sport and is eagerly anticipating the Goulburn Aquatic Centre's completion. Cr O'Neill has for many years been a member of the council's sports committee and Ray Harvey Foundation, distributing grants to young sporting talent. She would like to see the industry developed further.
Now standing for her final term, this time just two years, Cr O'Neill says it's critical that all community groups, including seniors, are united under one roof. The new council will next year discuss options for the former Bourke Street works depot, including construction of a new community centre.
"The seniors were thrown out of the McDermott Centre (for the Performing Arts Centre's construction) and they need a home. We have to provide services to them," she said.
Currently, these groups are accommodated in the Auburn Street community centre, a building for which the council is paying $140,000 annual rent.
Cr O'Neill also opposes the area's identification as a waste to energy precinct.
She said she had promised her family this would be her last term, if elected.
"Please God I am elected," she said.
"I still enjoy it and as long as I breathe, I'll fight for Goulburn."
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
