New Mayor of The Hills Shire Council Elected
Published on 03 September 2014
Clr Andrew Jefferies has been elected as the new Mayor of The Hills Shire following an extraordinary meeting of Council last night.
Mayor Jefferies thanked outgoing Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne for her outstanding leadership and engagement with the community over her two years as Mayor. Clr Byrne decided not to run for Mayor but was elected to the role of Deputy Mayor.
He said he had a long-standing passion for politics and the local area, that was sparked as a child by a visit to his primary school by a federal MP, and inspired by former federal opposition leader and then Prime Minister John Howard, who he said stood up for views and reforms that were well ahead of his time.
Mayor Jefferies said he’s proud of the way The Hills has been turned around from a Council in financial ruins to becoming one of the strongest Local Government Areas in the state.
“Despite the challenges that we face with future growth and development, we are now the envy of every other Local Government Area in New South Wales,” Mayor Jefferies said.
“More importantly however, I believe that our ratepayers respect this Council for its financial conservatism and its recent record of infrastructure delivery.”
Mayor Jefferies said that six key priorities would form the focus of his term as Mayor – light rail, local infrastructure, the Hills visitor economy, knock down rebuilds, commuter car parking and Council amalgamations.
“These six key areas of focus will help the Sydney Hills maintain its position as one of the best local government areas in this state, where people want to live, where people want to do business and where people want to visit,” Mayor Jefferies said.
“I’ll be working hard to deliver on these six key areas over the next 12 months.”
Deputy Mayor Byrne said she felt extremely privileged to have been at the helm of The Hills Shire Council over the last two years and that she was proud of the many milestones she had accomplished.
“We have so much to be proud of at The Hills Shire Council. We are rolling out more infrastructure than ever before with our record footpath construction and community amenities. We have new playing fields in the pipeline and have begun the process of rejuvenating town centres,” Deputy Mayor Byrne said.
“The Hills is an incredible community and every day has provided me with the opportunity to meet inspirational people and community groups and to see what makes The Hills tick.”
Mayoral Speech – The Hills Shire Council
Tuesday 2 September 2014
July 1986 was when I got my first taste and fascination for public service and leadership.
At the time, there was a seemingly unpopular Opposition Leader who was quoted as saying that one day, “The times will suit me”.
Back in those days, I remember thinking it was cool that my Federal MP would come along to Murray Farm, deliver a short speech and help fly the Australian flag.
I was intrigued when the Council workmen would seemingly come to my street on a monthly basis to fill in the potholes every time it rained. It was later revealed that Council could only afford to use a cheap grade of asphalt.
It was the year that construction first commenced upon The Hills Centre, sending our finances on a pathway to ruin.
I also clearly remember a number of parents on my street writing to Council requesting the construction of a footpath. Well that footpath eventually arrived, but I actually had to get elected to Council to make sure it became a reality!
How times have changed?
That unpopular Opposition Leader went on to become the Prime Minister for eleven years after implementing effectively every economic reform that he was derided for espousing in 1986.
Council turned around its finances, becoming debt free, running thirteen years of surplus budgets whilst delivering a local infrastructure program that fixed up the potholes and built those footpaths.
The Hills Centre was demolished to make way for the new North West Rail Link and today, we sit here in this wonderful new building that was not only purchased and built at a profit, but is now delivering ongoing income streams via the leasing of surplus floor space.
Despite the challenges that we face with future growth and development, we are now the envy of every other Local Government Area in New South Wales.
More importantly however, I believe that our ratepayers respect this Council for its financial conservatism and its recent record of infrastructure delivery.
Throughout the year as your Mayor, I would like to address six key priorities.
Whilst we are particularly mindful of the costs and expense of a Light Rail project, I am determined to ensure that residents in our southern suburbs are not left off the map, as they were by the former Labor State Government.
As a Council, we have played our part in ensuring that demand is met for future residential dwellings with the approval of the Carlingford Precinct.
However, we now respectfully ask the State Government to do its bit, look after our residents and deliver an effective and sufficient link between Parramatta and the future Urban Activation Precinct at Epping.
Remains a key priority to ensure that the needs of our community continue to be met.
At our last Council meeting, we asked our General Manager to explore options to speed up the delivery of some of our outstanding footpaths and I look forward to announcing further initiatives that will be welcomed by our ratepayers throughout the year.
- The Hills Local Visitor Economy
A modern and forward focused Shire also requires a vibrant and refreshed local visitor economy, with all the necessary facilities and events to match.
On the horizon, we have the Sydney Country Music Festival, our very own Christmas Sounds and Lights Show and yesterday we announced the arrival of the International Sand Sculpting Championships, having pinched this event off the Hawkesbury.
Our strategy is designed to boost investment and visitor numbers to our local economy and is coupled with future plans to grow and develop our key event and leisure centres at Bella Vista Farm Park and the Castle Hill Showground.
It is critical that Council moves quickly to providing a future vision for both these sites and ratepayers can rest assured that the vested interests who continue to oppose change will not stop us from delivering for the wider community.
Our Council has already discussed ideas and options with local builders that would make it easier for our Hills residents to build a new home on their existing block.
Incentives that reduce red tape and the cost of application fees will be reviewed and brought back to Council for debate in the near future.
Already we have commenced work on the first of our commuter car parks at Torrs St, Baulkham Hills and I hope to make further announcements for our long suffering M2 commuters and local residents adjacent to Barclay and Oakes Roads.
As one of the most financially sound LGA’s in the state, we know that many other LGA’s in Sydney are at the opposite end of the scale. Many are unsustainable and are propped up through IPART permission to exercise extreme rate increases.
The Hills Shire Council wishes to play a part in what we hope will be a rational and effective process to reduce the number of Local Government Area’s across Sydney.
We look forward to working with the Baird Government and its local representatives to ensure that Hills residents are not disenfranchised and that our boundaries, drawn up prior to the horse and buggy era are simplified to take key areas of interest into account.
In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge a range of people who have supported me for many years.
Firstly, our outgoing Mayor, Clr Dr Michelle Byrne. Could I acknowledge your strong support and friendship.
As a fellow member of the class of 2008, it has been a pleasure to watch you grow and develop in your role over the last two years.
You have garnered enormous support amongst our local community and I know that I have very large shoes to fill. I welcome you as my Deputy.
Secondly, I would like to thank all of my Liberal colleagues, but in particular the advice and confidence of Councillors Peter Gangemi, Mark Taylor and Yvonne Keane.
I believe that you all have huge roles to play in the future representation of the conservative side of politics and I appreciate your support for the year ahead.
It would be remiss of me not to thank our hard working State and Federal members – David Elliott, Ray Williams and Alex Hawke.
I look forward to kicking goals with you this year and it goes without saying that I hope you are both rewarded with Ministries in a second term of the Baird Government.
Finally, I must acknowledge my family and friends, for your ongoing love and support. In particular, I thank Amanda and the girls for allowing me the necessary time and approval to take on the Mayoralty and for being there for me as my number one support crew.
Ladies and gentleman, it is a tremendous privilege to represent The Hills community at any level of Government. We have a wonderful Shire that in coming years will see us continue to grow and prosper.
I look forward to the year ahead and ensuring that The Hills becomes and even better place to live.