Councillor Joanne Cook

01/10/2024

A huge congratulations to Graeme Shephard from our team Community First for being elected in the September council elections.
Unfortunately we did not quite get enough votes to get both of us over the line.
I would like to thank the community for your support of me over the term I have served and wish Graeme all the best.
Hopefully I can still be of some help with mentoring if he needs or wants it. He better keep up my fight on w**ds!
I'm planning on keeping a position on the Dorrigo Saleyard Commitee if they will have me!
I will sorely miss my fellow councillors,who have become lifelong friends 🧡 Mayor Steve Allan Councillor Ellie Tree Councillor Jo Brotherton and Councillor Stephen Glyde.
I will also miss the wonderful support I have had from the GM, and 2 Dept GM's at Bellingen Shire Council, and also all the other wonderful staff ❤️

13/09/2024

Here's what your councillors are fighting for! Putting your community first!

🚧🚦WORKS BEGIN AT THORA IN OCT 🚧🚦

I’m very happy to announce that on Tuesday I received written advice from Transport for NSW and the ministers office that the roadworks at Thora will begin in October (towards the end of the month).

Mayor Steve Allan and Councillor Joanne Cook have both been in my ear on multiple occasions over the last 12 months to ensure I have this issue at the top of my list. It culminated in 3 meetings with the minister, many phone calls with her staff and even a presentation by the mayor and GM to the minister herself.

I’ll be travelling on it next week and can see firsthand the frustration of frequent users. Be patient during the works and I can’t wait to see the fully finished product easing the lives of people who use this area daily 👍

11/09/2024

Pre Polling is available all week at Bellingen Shire Council Chambers....
Make your vote count.... Vote 1 and 2 ABOVE the line
It's quick simple and easy and will ensure your vote is valid .

10/09/2024

At the Memorial Hall tonight

Just a reminder that the final Meet the Candidate event is being held this evening in Bellingen.

Bellingen Community Hall
6.00 PM

06/09/2024

Independent Representation

Party Politics in Local Government

🟢 my firm belief is that party politics have no place in local government
🟢 my commitment to you is that I will always advocate for my Shire with any party who is in power, state or federal.
🟢 who I personally vote for does not influence my role or decisions as a councillor.
🟢 this also means that who YOU vote for doesn't make a difference to me either.
🟢 as an independent, I can represent the community without having to toe the party line..... this means that my goal to represent you for the betterment of the wider community holistically can be achieved.

04/09/2024

04/09/2024

Election day for Mayor and Councillors for the Bellingen Shire is close...

THIS IS HOW YOU VOTE TO MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT...

03/09/2024

One of the things I wanted to achieve when I was elected was an easier path to building in our shire.

🏠 In the last term of council the time for a DA to be processed reduced by 260% ✔️

🏠 The website was improved to make the process much easier by guiding you through the steps required by State Govt planning.

I'm proud to have been part of the process... and we can keep on improving and achieving better and better results so building in the shire is not such a headache 🤯

Vote 1 above the line for Community First in Group B on Election Day.

02/09/2024

Less than two weeks to go to election day...

Vote 1 - Group B - ABOVE THE LINE (put nothing below the line) to make your vote count for:

Good representation for you;

A balanced response to every issue,

Integrity,

Expertise, two existing Councillors on our team.

02/09/2024

Roadside Weeds are a pet hate of mine. 😡
Councils w**d budget has largely been devoted to w**ds of significance as dictated by State Govt. 🌿
We need to get back to basics and devote a portion of that budget to protecting our environment and food security as well as our roads.
I've started the job with amendments to the budget for this year.
Vote 1 for Community First to see the job continued.

25/08/2024

Well I'm definately no actor.... but I thought I'd have a go at video.

24/08/2024

Today our Community First team got together to talk policy and all things council.
Get in touch if you've got anything you'd like to discuss.