Mayoral Candidate - Bill Shannon

I present myself for election as the inaugural Mayor of Cassowary Coast Regional Council. My principal reason for standing is the need to ensure that the newly merged council gets the foundations right. It is crucial that proper attention is paid to establishing the fundamentals of planning, infrastructure, governance, accountability, financial management, conservation, sustainable growth and community services in the new region, and that this is done in consultation with the electorate.

I am being encouraged by people who believe it is important for voters to have the choice of a fresh candidate who is experienced in financial management, aware of local needs and issues, part of the rural community and who recognises the special conservation values of our beautiful region.

My background in business and financial management and my residency in far north Queensland since 1994 give me a balance of both relevant experience and local knowledge. Some of you will know me as industry director, and on occasion acting chairman, of FNQ NRM Ltd, trading as Terrain Natural Resource Management, or as the company secretary of Tully Sugar Limited, until retiring in July 2006. I am the chairman of the Industry Advisory Group to Terrain, chairman of the Cassowary Coast Local Marine Advisory Committee to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, chairman of the Tully Floodplain Steering Committee and the Cardwell Shire Catchment Management Association Inc.

I am also a vice president of the Mission Beach Community Association and was its inaugural president and previously the president of the South Mission and Wongaling Beaches Community Association. Other current or recent roles include membership of Cardwell Shire Traffic Advisory Committee, the Community Reference Group for the Cardwell Shire Inundation Study, the Rural Water Use Efficiency Committee and the Cyclone Larry Grant Committee for environmental rehabilitation.

My last employment before coming to far north Queensland from Sydney was company secretary of Wormald International Limited, a top 20 company in Australia at the time, measured by market capitalisation. I am a cattle and cane farmer in Bilyana, supplying cane to South Johnstone mill. I have also been recently elected as a director of the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society Limited and chairman of its Far North Zone.

My academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Sydney. I am a Chartered Secretary and a Chartered Accountant.

I am aged 59 years, married to Sue, we have four adult children and live at Mission Beach and Bilyana.