A FORMER Mount Isa Water Board project manager has announced he will campaign for mayor.
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Chris Boshoff, 53, is the first in Mount Isa to openly declare his hand to The North West Star regarding mayoral ambition in the local government election due in March 2016.
Mr Boshoff said one of six of his objectives as mayor would be to try to have the council control the water board.
The Mount Isa Water Board are trustees of the Lake Moondarra R48 reserve.
“This would enable the city to benefit from the proceeds of the water sales as well as enable the R48 reserve to be developed for recreational purposes,” he said.
He also wanted to see camping permitted on the reserve in areas that would not impact water quality.
Mr Boshoff, a former provincial high-jumping champion in South Africa, also wanted to develop further local sporting infrastructure and would lobby the federal and state governments for it.
Better sporting facilities combined with more discussion with community groups could discourage bored youth from criminal activities, he said.
“It would give them responsibility and identity and a purpose rather than nothing,” he said.
He also wanted to see Mount Isa become a city of opportunity and a hub for construction training, and strengthen aspects of the city not directly impacted by mining.
My vision for Mount Isa is to see our city become a destination and not a stop-over."
- Chris Boshoff
“Mount Isa industry is like a rollercoaster ride driven by commodity prices,” Mr Boshoff said.
“I will concentrate on aspects of the city not affected by commodity prices … the things about Mount Isa that make it a great place.
“I would like to see this city grow and grow and I would like to see what it at full capacity could be.”
Mr Boshoff moved to Australia from South Africa on a 457 visa in 2008 and quickly came to call Mount Isa home.
He has worked on the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo committee four years, and been involved with engineering of water board assets such as the filtration system.
“I felt in my whole career of working put me in good stead to make a difference in the city,” he said.