RHYS THOMAS
A VETERAN of the public health sector is hoping to hold onto his seat in the upcoming Cairns Local Government Election after he was voted in to fill a vacancy following the retirement of then Mayor Bob Manning.
Jeremy Neal, a former member of the Queensland Ambulance Service with over a decade of service, made his first step into the local government world after being appointed as the Division 4 councillor due to a vacancy following the retirement of Mayor Manning.
Since his appointment, Mr Neal has been diligently engaging with various stakeholders, tackling council business, and addressing residents’ concerns up until the council the entered caretaker period.
When questioned about his motivations for running, Mr Neal cited his firsthand experience witnessing the toll of high-stress situations on his colleagues in the ambulance service.
“Having been resilient to any personal issues to date, I have ample energy to dedicate to service and want to continue this through public life in local government,” he said.
“My move into the slower paced world of local government will give me the longevity to ensure my contribution to society lasts for decades to come.”
Running as part of the Cairns Unity Team, Mr Neal emphasised the importance of teamwork in achieving positive outcomes, drawing parallels with his experiences in emergency response.
Led by Mayor Terry James, the Unity Team includes individuals with diverse expertise ranging from health and civil construction to tourism and finance.
Mr Neal identified crime and the cost-of-living crisis as primary concerns for residents living within Division 4 and while he acknowledged that crime falls under state jurisdiction, he pledges to enhance local initiatives to address safety concerns which were recently announced by Unity.
“Cairns Regional Council has over 500 security cameras connected to the City Safe Network which is staffed 24/7 and able to provide early notification to the Queensland Police Service of any issues noted in the area,” he said.
“There are also Public Space Safety Officers who are able to assist with managing issues on council grounds.
“This isn’t just reactive but proactive by getting assistance to many of these at risk populations.
“Myself, along with the Cairns Unity Team, will roll out more cameras to the suburbs and increase the number of Public Space Safety Officers rostered on.”
As part of this policy, Unity Team also pledged to review street lighting and maintenance of park foliage to ensure proactive neighbourhood watch and policing is as effective as possible.
On the issue of the cost of living, Mr Neal proposes a dual strategy of keeping council rates affordable and promoting free and low-cost community events.
By creating efficient work environments and refraining from unnecessary expenditures, he aims to alleviate financial burdens on residents while maintaining essential services.
Are you running for a seat on Cairns Regional Council in the upcoming election and haven’t heard from us? Please get in touch by sending an email to editor@connectfnq.com.au.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: New play mixes Australian and Indian cultures and Containers for change hits milestone.
