WHIPPER FOR PEOPLE POWER

“Clr Larry Whipper believes that his People Power Team are the best hope for the people of the Southern Highlands at the council elections this September. The team is diverse and representative of the aspirations of this unique community”. Larry said

“After 9 years, Community Action is still my motivation, and I will continue to advocate for all interest groups to be heard, without fear or favour! I am uncomfortable with the move away from the traditional role of local government, which has been thrust upon the community by certain interest groups on the current Council. I am worried that the demise of numerous Council Committees has also alienated the community view and feel this needs to be corrected”. From my experience at many levels of advocacy in the private and public sectors, I am convinced that People Power is the only way to make change or protect values. This belief is reflected now in our team name”

“I am concerned about the land sales debacle, the apparent deafness to the voice of the community and Councils journey into the Entrepreneurial world, of high risk.

I believe we should get back to basics and that after all we are public servants, not Commodities Brokers or Real estate Agents!

I have gained a lot of experience since serving in the role of Councillor since 1999and have continued to remain true to the basic philosophy of listening to and acting for the Community, Clr Whipper said.

I unashamedly believe in Community involvement in the local government process. I believe in People, I believe in the Environmnet, Social Justice, Small Business, Responsible Fiscal Management, Youth, Community Services and Culture and these things will continue to be a part of my local agenda for People Power!

Among my most satisfying achievements have been the protection and enhancement of the local environment. As one of the instigators of the Environment Levy, and Chair of the Environment Committee since 2000, I have seen the generosity and concern of residents of the Wingecarribee Shire invest about 5 million Dollars into our local environment. This has included 135 rehabilitation projects, 52 incentive projects on Private land (which equates to around 273 hectares of privately owned endangered ecological community), the removal of around 2.4 million weeds. The levy has attracted over 1 million dollars in grant funding and local volunteers have contributed an estimated 5350 hours to the community as well.

Other significant achievements have been establishing the Companion Animals Committee and the Aboriginal Advisory Committee. I am proud to continue to advocate for these often-neglected responsibilities of Council and to see the Aboriginal Flag proudly flying along side the Australian flag at Council.

Let's rethink development assault.

Clr Larry Whipper again reinforced resident concerns about the saturation of SEPP5 and Senior Living Developments in the area. “It getting to the point” as Crosby Stills Nash and Young sang, “ I can’t take any more, I must cry out loud”! Clr Whipper said.

“This is not about good planning, this is not about strengthening community. This is about some developers taking advantage of State Legislation to get maximum bang from their investment buck”! Since I came to Council in 1999, I have continually raised concerns about this exploited legislation:

At almost every occasion when these came in, I asked, what about the infrastructure strain. How can our Hospitals and Medical Services cope”? The answer was, there is nothing we can do about it! “ I believe there is, I believe we can refuse the development approvals. In the last Council, there are even now Councillors who are reluctant to go to Court on these matters, saying it is a waste of money. Ironically, some of these same Councilors don’t seem to have a problem wasting money in other areas of Council finances”? Clr Whipper said.

I believe that there are currently around 600 SEPP5 and Seniors Living units, which have been approved in the Shire. This is without OLSH and Neerim. It is getting to out of hand. The reality is that these new units are largely catering for new people coming into the shire. This unfortunately continues to bring medical and other forms of local infrastructure to breaking point”!

Occasionally we get promises that these development will provide medical care for residents, but we never see these eventuate and residents are forced to increase the strain on the existing services which we know are also inadequate.
As an example Council recently received an application for Neerim for subdivision to allow I House per I acre on the site, after taking the application in good faith, we now have an application for a Seniors Living Development for 62 units.

This is all the more disappointing knowing that the Wollongong Diocese of the Catholic Church reneged on their undertaking to build a High Scholl on the OLSH site in return for a rezoning!

People have accused me of being anti development in the past. Wrong, I am opposed to inappropriate developments, which continue to stain the beauty of this shire, put our environment at risk and tears our infrastructure apart.

If we are going to have development, it is our responsibility to ensure that we get it right. That we can cope with it and that we as a community do not pick up the Social infrastructure costs for the developer.

Enough is enough! Lets rethink the way we are developing this shire. Lets try to start focus on families and young peoples needs. Lets seek at least a moratorium on Seniors Living Developments.

Council to consider Transition Town.

Clr Larry Whipper put his support behind the Transition Town Concept today.
“ This is another great local initiative by CANWin. They are definitely setting the benchmark and I will be putting my full support behind them in the endevours to bring a sustainability focus into the shire”. In fact I was one of the first to sign up!

“I agree with Peter Lachnewinsky and others completely”, Larry Said. I have been on both the Local Agenda 21 Committee and more recently the Sustainability Committee of Council. We (Council) have made some gains, but real change as we know, always starts within the community. An in touch Council and/or government should respond accordingly!

“Sadly our Council has gone backwards in some respects. Rather than involving the community it has dismantled a number of community committees, thus preventing true representation and and input from local people. Of course I opposed such a move, and will continue to fight hard to reinstate these committees and include the people of the Shire in local government”.

"One of my commitments is to push to reinstate the Sustainability Committee and resolve to form a local partnership with CANWin. This way those with the passion, enthusiasm and expertise can continue to present community initiatives to Council, who would ideally support these with monetary assistance and advocacy”.

"In this age of diminishing natural resources, global over population and warming, I believe in the concept of local garden, food co-ops and a more realistic and community based approach to find and implement local solutions to lessen our impact upon our planet and to reduce our insensitive destruction and consumption of our children’s future"!

"It seems that CANWin believe the same. Lets get on with it. The Transition Town idea will be one of the first things that I will take to the New Council. Lets hope that they will be enlightened enough to see the benefits of such a concept. I will be moving a motion at the Council meeting on the 23rd of July. Hopefully this motion will be supported by Councillors and we will meet with CANWin soon to discuss ways that Council can assist with the process of Transition Town", Larry said

Community Action Name Change and People Power Launch.

Larry Whipper announced his new team at the Briars on Saturday, 12th of July 2008 at an official launch which was hosted by Actor Michael Caton.

The team is now known as LARRY WHIPPER'S TEAM for PEOPLE POWER and they are determined to put local government back into the hands of the people and take it away from those who have puhed their own pet agenda's and self interests!


The Larry Whipper’s team for People Power kicked off their campaign at the Briars on Saturday night, the 12th of July 2008. “ The night was an outstanding success,” Larry said. Actor Michael Caton who hosted the evening spoke about the important role that Local government play. “Unlike other levels of government, it is in direct contact with the people” he said. Michael also spoke about how people are becoming more and more disillusioned by the major political parties and the turmoil, which they create.

"True independents are the only way to get the message and concerns of the community to the table. Larry Whipper’s team, for people Power, has shown that they are a group of independents that are more than capable of delivering the good’s. You all live in such a special place People Power is from my experience, the only way to protect the things you value”! Michael said

Peter Smyth, spoke about the need to look after the communities money and transparency. Lyndall highlighted the need for a focus on sustainability and sound environmental management. Alex McCaffrey highlighted the need to look after our open spaces and the quality of life for young families and children. Jan Hainke, a tireless volunteer for the community and the environment, spoke about the value of volunteering and of her respect for Larry Whipper’s values. “ I would not even consider throwing my hat in the ring with any one else” Jan said!

Larry reiterated the need to return local government to the people. “ The policies of the Larry Whipper’s team for people Power are first and foremost to involve residents, young and old in the process of local government. It should be inclusive and not exclusive “ Larry said.

We will give an undertaking to be socially just, we will look after ratepayers money, we will be accountable and we will be eco-friendly” Larry said. "As a team of individuals, the thread that joins us is our sincere need to protect the specialness of the Southern Highlands, nothing more and nothing less!” This message was reiterated by all the People Power Team members.

The entertainment on the evening was provided by Louise Bell, Phito, Shayna Stewart, Bob McGuiness, Gary Hastie, Dave Debs, PJ, Karen Ashworth and Shacapella and provided a very ambient and energetic backdrop for the evenings celebrations, symbolizing the union of people and power, which was a fitting environment for Larry Whipper’s Team for people Power to be introduced.

Jan Hainke completes the line up.

Clr Larry Whipper proudly announced Jan Hainke as the 5th and final member of the newly launched People Power Team today. “Jan brings an enormous amount of community mindedness to the team” Larry said.” I have known and respected Jan for many years. Her volunteering efforts are almost legendary. She has contributed countless hours of service to Environmental and Social issues in the Wingecarribee Shire”.

Jan, who is a retired Occupational Therapist and Riding instructor, has been a full time resident of the Shire for 15 years and a ratepayer for 25 years.
Her son was educated at Chevalier College. She lives with her husband Len on a small rural property at Sutton Forest and has two adult children, both currently residing in London. “Jan has worked professionally with the aged and holds a TAFE certificate in Conservation and Land Management.
Jan continues to live her principles and is active in conserving and rehabilitating native vegetation on her property and is also does voluntary work in Bushcare and Landcare.”

“Jan’s dedication and Community involvement through HedgeWise, Wingecarribee Reconciliation Group, National Parks Association, REPS, CANWin, the Exeter Fayre Committee, co-ordinator Exeter Centenary of Federation Trees, Moss Vale Community Garden, WSC Community Nursery and Permaculture are an indication of the importance that Jan attaches to Community Action. Her networks bring her into touch with many grass roots issues in the Shire and her expertise and ongoing role as a Council observer have given her good insight into the process of Council”. She has more than served her apprentiship”, Larry said.

Jan’s philosophy of trying to Involving the general community in local issues and activities and her desire to see Council becoming more sustainable by using, and maintaining natural resources more wisely, is a common theme among team members.

Jan also believes that careful development does not mean no development, but rather wise development, knowing that all levels of society need to find a point of balance. She recognises that the “Englishness” of the Southern Highlands is a great attraction for tourists and many residents, but that we live in Australia and many people love the Australian qualities, which we are losing. This affects our wildlife and biodiversity, which are under great threat even at our local level. The challenge for us all is to maintain both and not to become a suburb of Sydney!
Jan is a welcome addition to the team. I believe she shares our vision for the Shire and supports issues such as considering the zoning of prime agricultural land in perpetuity, local saleyards, lobbying for more affordable housing opportunities, and looking at opportunities for local sustainable farming, an expansion of bike tracks and lobbying for improved public transport. It is clear that the Larry Whipper’s people Power Team have a wealth of Social, Financial, Cultural, Environmental and Local Government experience, which I know will continue to represent the community’s needs and maintain the quality of life for residents of our Shire". Larry said.

Alex McCaffrey joins the team.

Clr Larry Whipper today announced Alex McCaffrey as the 4th member of his Community Action Team. “At 34 years of age, Alex brings energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the already impressive mix of talents on the team.”

Alex has lived in the Southern Highlands for many years and is a resident of the family orientated area of East Bowral. She is the proud mother of 3 young children aged, 6, 8 and 10 years. Her eldest son attends Tudor House, and Alex’s two younger children attend Bowral Public.

Alex graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Legal Studies. She has also worked in the areas of social justice and community rehabilitation assisting people to reintegrate back into the community. Alex is now employed in the welfare sector and is currently employed at Community Links Wollondilly as a Brighter Futures Caseworker – working with families who have children aged 0 – 8. Alex also works at the Southern Highlands Youth Accommodation Service in Bowral, as a Youth Worker.

“I am impressed by Alex’s’ political insights and community sincerity”, Larry said “Her involvement within the Wingecarribee shire, including membership of the Bowral Public Parents and Citizens Committee, the Parents and Friends Committee at Tudor House and her connection with the Mittagong Soccer Club and the Southern Highland Hawks AFL give an indication of the community insights and understanding that she can bring to the table at Council”.

“Alex’s’ passion for the Southern Highlands, particularly her desire to maintain a social, psychological and healthy lifestyle for families and to protect open spaces and provide a safe environment for children to live and play, fits the Community Action ethos perfectly. Her strong desire to advocate for the needs of women and for providing opportunities to youth, also reinforces the core values of of our policies and what I believe to be the will of the people of the Shire as well”! Larry said.

Community Action Launch

Friends,

On the 12th of July, the Community Action team will be holding our launch at the Briars. This will be an opportunity to meet the team and to have a good time as well. A limited number of seats have now become available. This event is also Community Action's major fundraiser. As we are a group of individuals with no political party affiliations, we do not have the party machine behind us. Nor do we have any major benefactors to fund our campaign.

We believe in grassroots representation which "represents" without fear or favour and does not owe anything to self interest groups or individuals for survival. We believe in Local Government that represent on conscience not on "obligastion". Because of this there is a need to organise a fundraiser to meet campaign expenses.

A big thank you to all of you who have already purchased tickets.

I have included the program for the evening. Actor Michael Caton, will be the MC for the evening. If you are interested or know anybody who would like to join us for this evening of good food, good entertainment, good company and good politics, please contact me to secure a place.
laza53@aapt.net.au
Regards,
Larry

COMMUNITY ACTION LAUNCH

Date : Saturday July 12th
Time 7pm
Place,: Briars Function Centre , Moss Vale RD.
Cost; $100 per person.
What's on : ( or the bang for your buck)
MC. For the evening, Actor Michael Caton
Musical contributions by:
Shacapella choir
Louise Bell : Harp, vocals
Helen Archer : vocals
Shayna Stewart : Guitar & vocals
Bob Mclnnes : fiddle
Gary Hastie : Percussion& vocals
Dave Debs : Guitar & vocals
PJ. Drum & vocals
Champagne & beer on arrival
Two white wines, two red wines Per table
Choice of two Main courses
Choice of two desserts
Tea & coffee
There will be a bar open for any purchases you wish above &
Beyond beverages supplied as above.
* There will also be an auction offering treasures from the rare to the
Ridiculous.