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Monday, September 5, 2016 • Issue 014
www.bluemountainsrecord.com.au www.westernweekender.com.au
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Trades and Services
Your local guide: Pages 27-30 Y
Residents go to the polls “The best I’ve seen”: Mayor praises current Councillors ahead of election
Get on the shoe phone to secure your seats p.17 The current Council held its final meeting last month ahead of this Saturday’s election ERIN MAMO
Amazing photo exhibit p.10 BRAIN BENDERS Test your skills with our weekly crossword p.20
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ushfires, amalgamation speculation and the emergence of the Western Sydney Airport as a key agenda item – it’s been a busy four years for the current Council, which wrapped up its term last month. Blue Mountains residents will go to the polls this Saturday to vote for the Councillors they want to represent them until 2020. Mayor Mark Greenhill addressed Councillors at Council’s August meeting, reflecting on some of the successes they have had since he took on the role in 2013. “Daniel Myles lied to me, he told me this gig was easy,” Cr Greenhill said. “Five weeks into the Mayoral term all I was confronted with was smoke, blue and red lights and a whole lot of trouble.”
The flashing lights and smoke came from the disastrous 2013 bushfires in Winmalee and Springwood. Looking back Cr Greenhill commended each of his Councillors for their support and help during a very difficult time and in taking over the recovery process after the State and Federal Governments moved on. “A four month recovery process for something as devastating as that wasn’t good enough,” he said. “Every single family benefited because you took a stand and took on the Government.” Other successes Cr Greenhill touched on included avoiding amalgamation of the Council with other nearby local Councils including Penrith, the Hills District and Hawkesbury. “The critics said we should be amalgamated but we stayed strong and we succeeded,” he said. Cr Greenhill praised all of the Councillors he’s worked with over the last four years.
“I’ve seen them come and go but this lot is the best I’ve seen yet,” he said. “We have operated as a unified team with political interests taking a back seat to community interests.” Councillors Anton Von Schulenburg and Brendan Luchetti also spoke as neither of them are running for a spot this time around. Cr Von Schulenburg said he was proud to have been a member of a Council that had improved its finances, implemented green bins and worked hard on a Local Environmental Plan for the community and region. Cr Luchetti, an independent who was Deputy Mayor for part of the recent term, said it had been a roller coaster ride but one that he was glad he was a part of. Ward by ward: More coverage of Saturday’s Local Government Election inside on pages 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9.
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