THREE years out of the council chamber after 41 straight years serving Wentworth Shire has not quelled Bill Wheeldon’s interest in local politics.
Instead, he’s seeking a comeback, as one of 12 nominees in this month’s local government election.
Now in his mid 80s, Mr Wheeldon still works seven days a week at his hardware and second hand goods store on Darling Street at Wentworth, and said customers talk to him about council – a lot.
“People still come to me with their gripes, especially the people of Dareton,” he said.
“I’ve got plenty of energy left to do anything I need to do, especially when the council meetings are at night.”
Regularly picking up litter on the roadsides of Wentworth’s five entrances, Mr Wheeldon remains passionate about civic pride.
Two years ago he toyed with the idea of not standing for council, but as the election drew closer he put together a list of six issues he said required Wentworth Shire attention.
One major gripe he cited was planning regulation, which he said had prevented some Curlwaa residents from subdividing their leasehold properties to build additional housing.
“It’s not big enough for them to earn a living growing grapes or anything else, it’s just useless land that they can’t use,” Mr Wheeldon said.
“It’s fully serviced by bus, school bus, electricity, mail, it’s got everything, but they can’t use it because of stupid rules.
“Somebody that hasn’t got a lot to gain one way or the other has got to go in to bat for them.”
He also wants a flood protection plan for the Wentworth Aerodrome, the road from the Silver City Highway to Pomona to be raised, and water pressure improvements along Darling Street North and Cadell Street West at Wentworth.
He also was displeased by the taste and smell of filtered water in the shire.
“You just don’t drink it,” he said.
“People buy bottled water, but why should they?
“The council rate for filtered water isn’t rate pegged, they can put them up whenever they like, it has gone up twice.
“It’s one of the things I would like to see improved.”
Not mincing words, he labelled current councillors as “pretty ordinary” and “out of touch”, arguing that they needed to say thank you to hardworking volunteers around the Shire more consistently.
“Every year we have Australia Day awards, there is not one councillor in the past four years that’s nominated any of our volunteers for an Australia Day Award, to me that’s pathetic,” he said.
“Either they don’t care or they don’t know enough about the workings of the town and the area.”
