Mr Piper is one of a number of Boorowa-based candidates, however only months ago it looked as though the town would remain unrepresented on Hilltops Council after Wendy Tuckerman became the Member for Goulburn.

Mr Piper said the Boorowa district needs a voice on council.

"Still no one came forward and all of the people that I was talking to, they all had the same opinion, we're waiting for someone to stand," he said.

"When the election was announced, that it was going to be this year, and no one had come forward, I had a talk to my wife and I said, I'm going to stand and see what we can do'.

"Because no one else was coming forward, I came forward."

If elected, Mr Piper said there are a number of local issues he intends to tackle, in particular problems which have plagued Boorowa for years.

These include funding, roads and water supplies.

"I've got to be a councillor for Hilltops, Hilltops is the area but within that, I've got to be a councillor for Boorowa," he said.

"Getting a little bit more equal distribution of funds would be one of my priorities.

"There's been a little bit of work done on it, [but] we need work done on our zebra crossing in town... people still aren't slowing down.

"We've [also] got to get more maintenance done and good maintenance, not just a shovel full of tar in a hole and drive off

"This is going to come to the fore more and more now because of the rain or the wet weather that we've had ruining our roads.

"Also since the time we've been here, since the very beginning, everyone in town has got the same problem, our water.

"[I will] try and get us a good, reliable stable supply of water."

Employment and further development in Boorowa is also on Mr Piper's list of priorities, as well as making sure both Boorowa and Harden have their concerns heard by council.

"Let's build businesses around Boorowa if we can," he said.

"It's not just Boorowa that is missing out, it's Harden that is missing out too because we seem to have the vocal point based in Young."

Mr Piper and his wife Sandi have resided in the Boorowa district for the past five years following a move from the south coast.

Prior to his retirement, Mr Piper worked at the Port Kembla Steelworks for more than two decades.

He then purchased a powder coating business, which he operated for 13 years before passing it onto his middle son.

Since their move to Boorowa, the Pipers have become active community members, with John becoming a member of the Rural Fire Service and a director of the Boorowa Ex-Services Club while Sandi was recently elected as President of the Boorowa Hospital Auxiliary.