Fifth-gen Goldfielder Tony Ball wants shot on Shire of Coolgardie council to help improve liveability

A fifth-generation Goldfielder believes he has the skills to help make a difference to the Shire of Coolgardie community if elected to council next month. Tony Ball hopes to secure one of four positions up for grabs on the local council and says he will advocate for better infrastructure, transparency, health care, youth and community programs, and fair mining regulations. He said improving the financial position of the shire was important but so was boosting the liveability of both Coolgardie and Kambalda. He said he was firmly against a proposed merger with the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and believed some of the service cuts to bring down the shire’s debt had gone too far. “I pay rates on two buildings now in Coolgardie, so I can understand when people go ‘our rates are going up and we’re getting less value for service’,” he said. “Our rubbish services have had reduced hours, the roads still aren’t being addressed properly, they’re just having band-aids put on them. “I can’t promise I know what the answer is, but I will work damn hard and I’ll try to keep the public abreast of what we’re doing, because I think that’s biggest thing — lack of communication. “Hopefully . . . the deal with the camp will get us a little bit out of debt, but I don’t think if we merge with Kalgoorlie that it’s going to help either Kalgoorlie or Coolgardie. “I want to see us both keep our separate identities, and I’m looking forward to being on council to have further conversations with people about what needs to be done for our future.” Having worked and volunteered in various positions focused on mental health and general wellbeing, Mr Ball said helping people had always been second nature for him. If elected, one of his main focuses would be establishing more community activities to help combat the feeling of isolation. Improving the community perception of the council and shire was also high on his to-do list. “The biggest thing I’ve heard in Coolgardie is there is no trust,” he said. “I want integrity back into the council and for us to be more open and transparent. “And above all else I want people to feel comfortable to come and have a chat, even if we have a difference of opinion. “If we don’t have that conversation, how can we improve our community?” He said he believed this year was the most important year for ratepayers to vote in the local government election, as higher participation would show the local government minister the community cared about its future and might help sway any decision about a potential merger.