On the job
Cutting back on red tape and bureaucracy
- Brought a report to Council examining new technologies to simplify and reduce the red tape burden on local families and businesses
- Started reforming our Tree Management Order to give local families the rights and freedoms they need to get on with the job of maintaining and managing their own properties
- New powers for local families to manage and maintain any and all trees within 2 metres of the family home (or external garage) without seeking Council approval
- 14 new species added to the list of undesirable trees which to not require Council approval to approve
- Moved to rewrite the existing TMO to remove all the bureaucratic gobbledygook and make it easier to understand for the everyday person.
- Supported the implementation of the state government’s policy for “exempt and complying development” policy which allows for permissible development to go straight ahead after Council notification.
The policies are working, turnaround times for Development Applications are improving and people are doing business with Council again.
Investing in parks and sporting facilities
- $80k invested in upgrading the western field at Bathurst Street Park in Greystanes to 100 lux lighting
- Upgraded picnic settings and shelters at Canal Road Park and Bathurst Street Park
- Resurfaced the cricket pitch at Bathurst Street Park and upgraded the pitch at Daniel Street Park
- Opened the multi-purpose Joe Grubba Pavilion at Merrylands Oval
Cleaner, healthier and happier community lifestyles
- Supported the creation of the Pemulwuy Wine Festival and the Back to Wentworthville street fair
- Increased Council’s cleanup budget to $500k and called for the introduction of laws which would make graffiti-vandals clean up their own mess
- Supported National Tree Day and the planting of more than 1,000 trees across the Holroyd local government area
Decisive action on major issues
- Began the process of major reform to our outdated pools by better targeting ratepayer funds towards the development of a multi-purpose superpool which properly caters to the needs of locals in the 21st Century
- Developed a pathway towards the funding and completion of a Pemulwuy Community and Childcare Centre
Holding the state Labor government to account
- Fought the state government’s cuts to local bus routes and offered a better solution which would save money and restore services
- Worked together with Shadow Cabinet and the Canal Reserve Action Group to put pressure on the state government to reconnect the canal reserve cycleway over Reconcilliation Drive
- Joined a bipartisan effort with Labor councillors and trade unions to change the state government’s policy on asbestos removal
- Demonstrated leadership by supporting the Rees Government where they were right, and slamming Kristina Kenneally’s decision to axe the West Metro
Restoring balance and accountability to Council
- Strengthened Council’s Code of Conduct to incorporate standards accepted by the federal government
- Clarified vague issues in the Councillor’s Payment and Expenses Policy so as to prevent ratepayer money from being abused
