FORMER mine manager John Green is the third person to declare intentions of campaigning to be Cloncurry mayor.
Mr Green said his experience in agricultural, pastoral management, engineering, logistics and mining makes him qualified for the role.
He currently runs an engineering and logistics consultancy and until last year was the logistics manager at mining company CuDECO.
“I’ve successfully completed many projects with budgets up to and exceeding $10 million while in turn making a profit and, most importantly, keeping all employees and contractors safe,” Mr Green said.
“I have worked myself from the ground up: as a labourer, a tradesman, a manager, a small business owner, so I can appreciate and have never forgotten how hard life is at the grassroots level, how hard it is to get ahead and look after your family.”
He believed that mining companies “need to be brought to further account” to provide further opportunities for locals.
“I want more jobs for locals, more relocation to Cloncurry, all Cloncurry businesses must come first...not second,” Mr Green said.
“We must recognise and understand that Fly In, Fly Out has a role but not a total role in how mines and contractors do business in Cloncurry.”
But the same applied to Government departments that serviced the community through FIFO policies, he said.
Mr Green said he had been behind the Cloncurry dam strategy to increase pastoral activities, and he believed another large dam requiring less money was needed to be built.
He said the solution was upstream to Cave Hill, a site called Painted Rock.
Also, he wanted a Burdekin type land development scheme to supply water from the dam.
On top of this Mr Green proposed a 10 Megawatts hydro scheme to reduce the town’s power bills.
“Cloncurry ratepayers will own the project and reaps its rewards,” Mr Green said.
Other known mayoral candidates are Jane McMillan, and Greg Campbell.