Balranald’s Mayor Louie Zaffina advocates for the bush amid local progress

Balranald Shire Mayor Louie Zaffina is actively balancing regional advocacy with local infrastructure progress.

The Mayor recently toured the regional meeting circuit to tackle challenging policy issues while simultaneously overseeing significant developments across the Shire.

Advocacy: Water Policy and Regional Challenges

Mayor Zaffina used recent high-level meetings, including one with Minister Tara Moriarty (Western Division and Agriculture portfolio) in Cobar and the Murray Darling Association conference in Griffith, to raise concerns critical to the Far West.

The Mayor was forceful in challenging the narrative around water scarcity, arguing that separating water from land was the actual source of the problem, not climate change alone.

Drawing on his experience as former Chairman of the Euston Co-op, he stated: “It’s no good trying to solve an issue if you can’t admit what caused it.”

“They can blame climate change, it’s a pretty broad word to use, and it is not as though climate change is not a relevant and important issue, but they throw that word around a little bit too much, as a broad umbrella term to blame a lot of things on.”

“Water belonged to that parcel of land and then they separated it and created this. That policy created this, not climate. They too easily point the finger at something else when we all know what actually caused it.”

Mayor Zaffina expressed concern that water buybacks primarily benefit large corporations, raising fundamental questions about the future of farming families:

“What opportunity is there for a young person or a young couple to start farming? How are they going to buy water or land if big companies and corporations are gobbling everything up?”

He also questioned the environmental allocation’s management, suggesting that frequent, deliberate flooding of floodplains—which he notes are "not swamps"—may be causing long-term damage to gum and box trees by depriving them of oxygen.

Local Infrastructure and Community Focus

Back in the Shire, progress is accelerating on several key projects:

New Leadership: The Council has appointed Terry Dodds as the new Chief Executive Officer (a retitled position from General Manager) on a five-year contract, commencing October 27.

Euston Oval: Rehabilitation is nearly complete, and the ground is already being used by the local school and Tongan community playing rugby.

The oval's return will allow football netball games to resume after a three-year suspension, which the Mayor notes “creates a bit of traffic around Euston”.

Balranald Land Use: Council is exploring the rezoning of land to create smaller, five- or six-acre blocks for domestic use—not irrigation—to allow residents to live on small acreages.

Aged Care: The Bidgee Haven Retirement Hostel received a new wheelchair-enabled van, which the Mayor enjoyed. The hostel's extension project is soon going out to tender.

Lake Benanee: $70,000 has been secured to upgrade free camping facilities, including toilets and benches, at the popular spot.

Upcoming Community Events

The Mayor is keen to connect residents with services and stakeholders through two key events:

Civic Dinner: A dinner will be hosted on October 22 at Balranald Services Club, with invitations extended to neighbouring councils and Federal and State Members.

Health and Wellbeing Support Services Expo: This expo will be held the following day, October 23, at the Theatre Royal from 11 am to 3 pm. The goal is to connect residents with services and discuss shared regional challenges.

The Mayor expects the challenges discussed to be common across the region: “I’m sure it’s the same challenges in every other regional shire.”

The Mayor remains committed to a direct approach, stating that whether discussing local projects or challenging government policy, his aim is consistent: “tell it as it is and advocate strongly for the future of rural Australia."

The views and opinions shared by Mayor Zaffina in this article are entirely his own, and has no bearing on Balranald Shire Council.