IN 2021, Kerry Cassells missed a seat in the local government elections by the skin of her teeth.

A second term as a Moree Plains Shire councillor was not to be, but Cassells got across the line this time around and has locked in a spot at the table for the next four years.

“I’m back,” she smiled.

“Now the fun and hard work begins, but I’m looking forward to the challenges over the next four years – and there are many.”

Cassells served as a Moree councillor for more than five years, and will be armed with that experience when the new nine are formally sworn in on October 15.

She says there are too many unfinished projects as well as projects well past their expected completion date.

“Our focus should be getting all the unfinished projects back on track,” Cassells said.

“We need good governance, development application weekly reports, rural and urban road accessibility during harvest and for rural school children to get to school.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us and will need to have full faith in the general manager and council staff for that to happen effectively,” she said.

Kerry Cassells is back. “Now the fun and hard work begins.”

Cassels doesn’t want shire residents burdened with rate rises, and says retail enterprises, as well as doctors, nurses and ancillary staff should be incentivised to come to Moree to work and live.

She wants to re-instate former advisory groups, especially for the  pool and memorial hall, and have a registry of all local contractors that know and understand Moree’s black soil and its intricacies.

“Council needs to encourage work experience at all levels so we have a high consistency of incoming employees as well as advancing employees,” she said

The last three years has been a long time in local government wilderness, but Cassells is back, ready for work and ready to make a difference, she says.

“Thank-you everyone who voted for me, and for my family members and loved ones who helped during pre-polling and on election day,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the councillors I’ll be working with over the next four years, and together we can build harmonious relationships, regardless of race, colour or creed.”