News

ISSUE 15 | October 2021

NewS Bob passes baton to Steven Bob passes baton to Steven

BOB Dwyer, the Lord Mayor who

gave Parramatta a high media profile through his commitment and promotion of the Central City over the past two years, has been replaced by fellow Liberal Steven Issa. While council elections are on December 4, the State Government still directed councils with chamber-elected mayors to hold mayoral elections in September. Many councils, including Cumberland, decided to continue with their present mayors

I could not do my job as councillor, let alone lord mayor, without the support of Jasmine.”

– Steven Issa.

 LOCAL POLITICS | DI BARTOK

PARRAMATTA’s new Lord Mayor Steven Issa has hit the ground running after his election to the top job on September 27.

After all, there is not much time for him to leave some sort of mark on the city, with the December 4 council elections looming.

While council goes into caretaker mode on November 4, that does not faze Cr Issa, who is proud to be in the position his father Tony held 2008 to 2009.

“As NSW starts to re-open (after COVID lockdowns), I will be helping to steer Parramatta through that,” Cr Issa told the Parramatta Times.

“And there is the continuing development of Parramatta Square, the light rail, the Metro, the Powerhouse.

“But it is not only about the CBD. We have to look at life in the suburbs, with upgraded parks and facilities.”

One of his main priorities is to see that Parramatta gets a fair chunk of the $5B WestInvest money the State Government has promised the West and Southwest for post-COVID recovery. See separate story

page 5.

Cr Issa is expected to take on the job seamlessly, given his commitment to his councillor role since being elected for the Liberal team in Rosehill ward in 2017.

The young councillor has headed council’s Smart City Committee, steering technology in the city as well as being council’s representative on the Central City Planning Panel.

He will take leave from his executive job with a digital health agency, with the backing of his “rock”, wife Jasmine and his three young children.

“I could not do my job as councillor, let alone lord mayor, without the support of Jasmine,” Cr Issa said.

All that being as it may, Cr Issa may not have the top job after the December 4 election, even though he has a good chance of being on the new council.

With all the in-fi ghting in the local branches of the Liberal Party–too complex to explain in this story–Liberal candidates will not be chosen for the election in Parramatta until about October 26.

Sources have told the Times that the Liberals could have only fi ve instead of the present six councillors in the new council, throwing the balance of power more

Parramatta Square.

Incoming Lord Mayor, Steven Issa. Outgoing Lord Mayor, Bob Dwyer.

Proud of his achievements

Labor’s way, with the help of independents and the Greens.

Therefore, Labor’s Pierre Esber, who has been on council for 22 years, may have his chance as being lord mayor after December 4

A moderate, Cr Esber has often given support to the outgoing Liberal lord mayor Bob Dwyer and is more pro-development than his Labor colleagues.

But the Dundas wardsman is still very much rooted in the suburbs, reminding the new lord mayor on election night that Parramatta was “more than just the CBD”.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Michelle Garrard, from the Our Local Community party, was re-elected to her position.

While other councils, including neighbouring Cumberland, are continuing with their sitting mayors for the rest of the council term, Parramatta chose to have a short-term lord mayor–once again, due to internal wranglings in the Liberal Party.

Outgoing Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer had hoped to continue his role up to December 4 but accepted his fate.

Cr Dwyer ruffl ed Liberal feathers with his outspoken views of the behaviour of some of his colleagues on council.

But he is proud of what he achieved during his two-year term, particularly the development of Parramatta Square,

In an emotional mayoral minute delivered at his last meeting as Lord Mayor, Cr Dwyer thanked staff , led by CEO Brett Newman, and fellow councillors for working with him in achieving the best for the city.

“I am immensely proud to have played a part in the ongoing transformation of our city, particularly in a time where we experienced one of the toughest periods our community has ever faced as we keenly felt the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Cr Dwyer said.

Councillors from both sides thanked Cr Dwyer for his hard work.

He will not contest the December election.

The 70-year-old, who has been on council since 1995, will return to his migration business but will also dedicate more time to family after December.

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ISSUE 15 | OCTOBER 2021

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Project to keep cats at home

ANEW initiative to help curb the toll on native wildlife caused by domestic cats across Parramatta has been announced by Environment Minister Matt Kean.

“The Keeping Cats Safe at Home program will help protect our unique wildlife, with domestic cats estimated to kill around 67 million native mammals, 83 million native reptiles and 80 million native birds in Australia each year,” Mr Kean said.

“We all love living close to bushland and even though we love our pets, we know native species and domestic cats don’t co-exist well, so we need to make sure our native wildlife is protected.

Under the new initiative, RSPCA NSW will engage 10 urban and regional councils across the state, providing education and advice for communities on the importance of containing their cats safely at home, including Parramatta.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said all pet owners need to be made aware of best practice when it comes to keeping animals and native wildlife safe.

“Local councils have an important part to play in looking after their communities, including creatures big and small, as well as reinforcing responsible pet ownership,” Mrs Hancock said.

“This new program will be tailored to each council’s needs, so they can customise the best plan to suit their community and protect our precious native wildlife.”

The project will engage council representatives, veterinarians, companion animal groups, cat owners, the general community and wildlife groups in each council area.

Additionally, school curriculum-linked resources will be developed.

RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said the four-year project was designed to change attitudes and behaviours in the community towards responsible cat ownership.

Cats are instinctive killers and incredibly effi cient predators who will hunt even when they are well-fed at home. Each roaming pet cat in Australia is estimated to kill on average 115 native prey animals each year, including mammals, birds and reptiles.

The program is supported by a $2.5M grant from the Environmental Trust.

INDEX

News ...................................3 Chamber .............................7 Geoff Lee ..........................10 Cover story .......................12 Property ............................13 CMRC ...............................16 Fitness ..............................17 Games ..............................18 Travel ................................20 Auto .................................. 22

Films .................................24 Directory ...........................28 Trends ...............................30 Sport .................................31

Local entertainment during LOCKDOWN

Watch locally made fi lms. Stay up to date on infrastructure. Watch profi les of regional leaders. www.netwerx.tv www.netwerx.tv

$5B Westinvest fund for future

ANEW $5B investment by the NSW Government has been designed to secure a brighter future for western and south-western Sydney families and residents, helping build new and improved facilities and local infrastructure to help communities hit by COVID-19.

The Government said the WestInvest Fund would focus on projects that make a real diff erence to quality of life, help create jobs in the process, and change the face of Western Sydney for the better.

“The future of Western Sydney is bright and this announcement is a major fi rst step along the road to recovery after a challenging year,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.

“This is about helping to rejuvenate local communities with improved parks, better open spaces, giving town centres a boost and providing opportunities to grow.”

The unprecedented boost was made possible by the State’s strong fi nancial management and asset recycling strategy, with the NSW Government announcing the sale of its residual 49 per cent stake in WestConnex for $11.1B.

The new WestInvest Fund will allocate $3B for future projects across six areas: • Parks, urban spaces and green space; • Enhancing community infra-

structure such as local sporting grounds; • Modernising local schools; • Creating and enhancing arts and cultural facilities; • Revitalising high-streets; • Clearing local traffic. The remaining $2B will be reserved for high priority projects to be developed in consultation with local communities.

Mr Perrottet said the local infrastructure and facilities drive would create jobs at a critical time, as NSW begins its economic recovery from the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Western and south-western Sydney is an economic powerhouse, but fi rst and foremost there must be places where families can have a great quality of life – that’s what this investment will achieve,” Mr Perrottet said.

“No matter where you live, we want people to love living locally, and this investment will deliver better local facilities, open spaces and convenient services all close to home.

“This investment is just the fi rst stage of our economic recovery strategy which the Government is currently developing for release in October.”

Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the funding injection would be a game-changer and a catalyst for growth.

Parramatta Light Rail – Stage 2

On behalf of Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), RPS is seeking to identify Aboriginal people or groups who may hold cultural knowledge Parramatta CBD and travel to Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point

NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

The purpose of this consultation is to inform the preparation of

Aboriginal person or group who may hold cultural knowledge, in compliance with the Heritage NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Consultation Requirements for Proponents the relevant contact details by no later than 22 October 2021 to: Postal address:

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