Name: Brooke Sauer.

Age: 45.

Status: Married to Josh. We have two children, Augustus and Penelope.

Current or past employment, retired or otherwise:

I work in our vibrant agriculture sector, currently employed and head of research and development at PURE Grain, where I am in charge of our 435ha trial farm, investigating sustainable farming practices to meet our sustainability and net-zero production targets.

I was most recently the director of IntellectAg, a bespoke agtech consulting company working with researchers and farmers to use technology to gain productivity efficiencies.

What part of the shire do you live?

We live in the Moree township.

How long have you sat as a councillor on MPSC?

Just a single term, elected in December, 2021.

What are the main reasons you are standing for re-election?

Very simply, I am seeking re-election to oversee our new executive management and ensure delivery of our Community Strategic Plan. I want to see a desirable and cohesive community, with a vibrant regional economy, and an environmentally stable shire with transformational leadership.

I moved to Moree about 20 years ago to start my career in Agriculture. I fell in love, married Josh and we chose to raise our children in Moree. As a previous serving councillor I have celebrated the wins – $20m for Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, the recommitment of $225m for our Special Activation Precinct, and millions of grant funding for roads, sporting facilities and cultural activities.

However, there is more to be done and this next Council needs to continue to deliver projects to a high standard for our future, reduce debt and prioritise the completion of existing sporting and infrastructure projects.

I intend to focus my efforts on core infrastructure, including making significant progress on rebuilding our road network, improving our planning and building turnaround time to encourage economic growth.

I will also focus on the Reconciliation Action Plan, the new pool, and the re-opening of the renovated and fit-for-purpose Memorial Hall.

Change takes time and I welcome the chance to see more results for our community.

Are you standing alone or with a running mate(s)?

Yes, with my fellow Councillor and deputy mayor, Susannah Pearse

What do you love most about Moree Plains Shire?

I started my career here in the agricultural sector in 2005 and I love the vibrancy, progressiveness and innovation.

I regularly meet farmers from across Australia and proudly call Moree, home, a district famous for our productive black soil plains.

We are big enough to be progressive, but small enough to always bump into someone you know. During my first flood, I was moved by how the town came together, where everyone was willing to roll up their sleeves and get dirty with each other.

I love the social scene and sporting options. I came out of a 20-year retirement to make Saturday hockey my thing again. After a seventh knee operation, I’ll be back in 2025.

What do you think the main issues are in Moree at the moment that need addressing?

Crime is a major concern. What are you views on this?

Crime is a major concern for every local, in most regional towns. We are fortunate to have the $13.4m commitment from the State government to target crime and youth support. MPSC is finalising a service mapping project that is being leveraged by the government to co-ordinate services for a cohesive and strategic approach to managing crime at the core of the issue.

This is a long-term priority that will span multiple local and state government terms.

It is important that we persevere and be tenacious in lobbying and collaborating with State government members, employees and appropriate ministers to tackle this challenge.

The population in Moree is declining and we are at a tipping point that requires action to foster growth.

The Special Activation Precinct, while managed by the State Government, requires greater involvement from Council to attract appropriate tenants that complement our local industries and new industries that will drive economic prosperity.

Delivery of projects is a real concern for me.

I believe we now have the right foundation to start delivering on the many projects and promises made to the community. This includes better roads, key community assets including the pool, town hall and recreation and sporting precincts.

Do you think the current council is aiming in the right direction on various projects and/or issues?

I believe our greatest challenge as a new council was a lack of strong leadership in the organisation. With the general manager and a new executive management team, we are starting to see improvements in the culture of the organisation, delivery of core services and a framework for meeting community expectations.

There is progress still to be made, but I believe we now have the right foundations for continual improvement.

How can the current council improve on what it is doing at the moment? Is money being spent on the right projects and in the right areas?

I believe we have had reasonable success on delivering a balanced budget that delivers on a wide variety of priorities.

The initiation of development for the new pool has been a focus for all previous Councillors.

With limited funds and capacity to deliver on projects, there will always be priorities that take longer to deliver than some people may want.

Council do need to prioritise communicating with the public and significantly improve the way that they engage with the public and seek input.

Councillors focus their efforts into setting the strategic plan and overseeing the delivery of the operational plan.

During our term, we recognised we needed to do better in delivering on promises and projects that the community have lobbied for. We set a precedent for improvement, particularly on meeting community expectations of delivering adequate progress on long-standing projects.

How do you think MPSC performed in the last term? What projects have been delivered and is it meeting targets?

I don’t believe we are currently hitting all of our targets.

I am proud that we have been able to progress with the pool, prioritising all available grants to get this started. However, there is always a compromise.

We are not delivering on roads. Whilst the past council did increase the allocation of funds for the 2024-25 budget to be spent on road maintenance and repairs, the fact is, this is a perpetual challenge that requires a new approach for which I will be lobbying hard.

What do you think have been MPSC’s biggest achievements in recent years?

Delivery of Phase 1 of the Inland Rail, securing $225m investment for the Special Activation Precinct, $20m in grant funding for the redevelopment of the MAAC. Securing some grant funding that has delivered a complete rebuild of a few arterial roads in the shire.

Has there been any disappointments?

The time it has taken to secure enough grant funding and the right contractors to initiate the MAAC redevelopment; the poor delivery rate of long-term legacy projects; inadequate improvement in communication and transparency by Council, the length of time to finalise a road hierarchy strategy; and only moderate improvement to the allocation of funds dedicated to the road network.

What will be you main goals and targets with council if re-elected?

Completion of the MAAC to a high standard; finalisation of the road network prioritisation plan and advocating for funding and prioritising budget allocations to restore our road network; reviewing our planning process to attract investment and foster economic growth; strong governance and financial responsibility for our budget; prioritisation of completion of the significant number of unfinished projects; lobbying for the completion of the 22km missing link in the Inland Rail; and a completed Reconciliation Action Plan with ambitious targets for a cohesive community.

What local organisations are you involved with at the moment?

None this year. I was previously on the Moree on a Plate committee for several years and the Moree Race Club. Unfortunately, due to the nature of my job over the last few years, I realised I was an unreliable committee member which is never fair on anyone.

What are you pastimes, hobbies or passions?

I am passionate about agriculture and spend much of my spare time understanding what is the next innovation that will keep Australian agriculture moving to the next level.

When I am not reading, I love working with timber and used to build or restore furniture. Nowadays, my creative side is focused on building fences and chook runs, gardening and renovating our old house.

I am also looking forward to starting hockey again, taking more camping trips with the kids and maybe even reignite my love of water skiing.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have a strong background in project management and have used this to effectively critique and seek improvement in the way council deliver both grant and operationally funded projects.

I am proud of the improvements we have made, but recognise now is the time for action.

I believe I have demonstrated that I have the skills and leadership to lead the council to strive for improvement and to deliver results for the community.

Footnote: Questions to candidates differ slightly, given the mix is made up of current councillors seeking re-election, past councillors seeking re-election and first-timers seeking election.

More on this candidate here: https://moreeonlinenews.com.au/2024/08/23/brooke-sauer-mpsc-candidate