Issue 174
25 September 2019
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Central Coast Council has a new Mayor L
abor Councillor, Lisa Matthews, became the Central Coast Council’s second Mayor on Monday night, beating the Liberal candidate, Cr Chris Burke, by one vote. The inaugural Mayor, Cr Jane Smith, did not nominate for a second term but instead voted for Cr Matthews. Cr Matthews was voted in by her ALP colleagues plus Cr Smith and fellow independent Cr Louise Greenaway. The four Liberals, along with independents Cr Bruce McLachlan, Cr Greg Best and Cr Chris Holstein, who two years ago voted for Cr Smith, this time voted for Cr Burke. Cr Jane Smith put her hand up for the deputy mayoral role and won the position over two other nominees; Cr Burke and Cr Holstein. Cr Holstein, who was the inaugural deputy, attracted one vote apart from his own; from Cr McLachlan. The four Liberals and Cr Best voted for Cr Burke but the six ALP Councillors and Cr Greenaway voted for Cr Smith. Mayor Matthews fronted her first press conference immediately after the meeting and said her two challenges were the next council election and gaining funding from her State and Federal colleagues, money that hadn’t come their way as much as she thought it should
Mayor Matthews (right) and Deputy Mayor Smith at the press conference have, since forming the the councillors. former Gosford Council regional council. “It’s just the way I in 2012 and it had been a long process since then, “So, I think one of the operate. huge challenges for us “I’m not saying that and while she wasn’t on is to get some money anyone before me has Gosford Council then, on the table, some real done anything that I don’t the present Council had money for some real like, it’s just I’m a bit understood that the latest proposal wasn’t a opportunities to go along different.” with some of our plans She was asked how she concept the community that we have,’’ she said. rated the council over the in its entirety had wanted. “So how could we Asked what she wanted last two years. ignore some of the to achieve, she said she “What we were community, so what we would run a steady ship. given was very shaky wanted was to go back to Asked why she wanted ground,’’ she said of the the community and that to become Mayor, she amalgamation. is what we did. said it wasn’t about her, it She said she thought “It is unfortunate that was about the opportunity that overall the council the bureaucrats decided to be the leader of the had come together that that is not what they team and she wanted well and that under the see fits right now. to encompass what the leadership of Jane Smith team brought to the table they had done some “But we’re confident and they had to deliver really good things. we can deliver something for the community and She defended the in the Winney Bay area.” she believed she had the Winney Bay decision that When asked what foundations to deliver. new initiatives she resulted in the council “My style is I’m an losing $4.6m in funding would introduce, Mayor engager,” she said. said she from Infrastructure NSW, Matthews needed to look at what “I believe in taking the announced on Sunday. community with me so She said the original was on the table and that I am looking at working Winney Bay cliff top walk coming into an election with all community, I’m had first gone to the year, she didn’t want to rock the boat. looking at engaging all
When questioned about party politics dividing the council, Mayor Matthews said it was frustrating when people made those assumptions and she certainly didn’t think that was how councillors dealt with matters. “We certainly don’t deal on party lines. “We certainly deal with what’s come in to council and we make decisions on what’s come in, what’s happened and what information we get from staff and we make our decisions on that. “Party lines don’t happen in council and shouldn’t happen in council,’’ she said. In a press release sent out after the meeting, Mayor Matthews said council had a robust operational plan in place for the next 12 months and her goal was to keep working towards delivering that. “Priority areas residents have told us should be our focus include improving our water and sewer networks, roads, the environment, community facilities and open space and recreation, and these areas will feature heavily in our plans as we strive to create a sustainable and connected Central Coast community that we can all be proud of,” she said. In the same press release, Deputy Mayor Smith said it had been a privilege to serve the people of the Central Coast as Mayor over the last two years and she looked forward to continuing to serve the community as Deputy
Mayor and as a Councillor for Gosford East Ward. “I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of Council staff who give their best efforts to deliver on our shared vision of a better region for all,” Deputy Mayor Smith said. “Over the last two years we have adopted the first Community Strategic Plan for the Central Coast and are well on the way to delivering a 10-year vision to create a smart, green, liveable region with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.” Mayor Matthews was a Councillor on the former Wyong Council, elected in 2008, and appointed Deputy Mayor in 2011. Prior to becoming a Councillor, she worked for council as a community development worker. She has been chair of the Status of Women Advisory Group for eight years and is a member of the traffic committee, consultative committee, sports committee and grants committee. Mayor Matthews works as a community liaison officer with the Department of Education where she provides programs that promote lifelong learning and tools to empower young people. Mayor Matthews will preside over her first ordinary meeting of Council on Wednesday 25 September at the Wyong Chambers.
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Source: Central Coast Council mayoral election, Sep 24 Press Conference, Sep 24 Press Release, Sep 24