The election of Councillor Patrick Conolly to the position of Mayor of Hawkesbury for the 2020-2021 Mayoral Term took place at the Council Meeting on Tuesday, 22 September. It also saw Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett elected to the position of Deputy Mayor. The Mayoral Term will be one year with the next Mayoral Election to be in September 2021 following the Local Government Elections.
“I’d like to thank the Council for their confidence and support in electing me as the Mayor of Hawkesbury. We have a range of priorities to deliver, including the Local Environmental Plan, rolling out the Liveability funding, and a number of governance and risk issues to address,” Mayor Conolly said.
“During my term, my ambition is to work with the whole Council as the ratepayers expect us to, to benefit the community. I also aim to strengthen the partnerships that we have developed with the State and Federal Governments,” the Mayor said.
Council’s committee structures are based on four broad committee types – Committees of Council, Statutory Committees, Committees in which Council has a Financial Interest, and Other Committees.
The membership of the 28 committees was adopted on block at the Council Meeting.
Council’s committees relate direct to Council’s Community Strategic Plan 2017-2036, which forms the basis for key decisions about the Hawkesbury’s future.
The respective Councillors are appointed to the following committees:
Committee | Function | Councillor Representation | Current Councillor Representatives |
|---|---|---|---|
a) Committees of Council | |||
Human Services Advisory Committee | To provide advice and recommendations for the co-ordination of community and social planning for the City of Hawkesbury and to provide a mechanism for the discussion of social issues. | Four Councillors | Clr Calvert Clr Garrow Clr Richards Clr Ross |
Hawkesbury Civic and Citizenship Committee | To consider and determine nominations for recipients of Australia Day Awards. | Three Councillors | Clr Conolly (Mayor) Clr Richards Clr Zamprogno |
Waste Management Advisory Committee | Established to develop options for future waste management in the City of Hawkesbury | Four Councillors | Clr Lyons-Buckett (Deputy Mayor) Clr Rasmussen Clr Ross Clr Wheeler |
Hawkesbury Sustainability Advisory Committee | Established to provide a forum for community representatives, Councillors and Council officers to focus on sustainability issues and to ensure a coordinated approach to the development, implementation and evaluation of Council’s grant funded sustainability projects and other Council approved sustainability initiatives. | Three Councillors | Clr Kotlash Clr Ross Clr Wheeler |
Heritage Advisory Committee | Provides advice to Council regarding heritage and related issues. | Three Councillors | Clr Reynolds Clr Wheeler Clr Zamprogno |
Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee | Advisory Committee established to provide input in relation to floodplain management issues. | Five Councillors | Clr Lyons-Buckett (Deputy Mayor) Clr Kotlash Clr Rasmussen Clr Reynolds Clr Wheeler |
General Manager’s Performance Review Panel | To review the performance of the General Manager | Mayor, two Councillors and one Councillor nominated by the General Manager, if he or she so chooses | Clr Calvert Clr Conolly (Mayor) Clr Rasmussen |
Audit Committee | Provide independent assurance and assistance to Council on risk management, control, governance and external accountability responsibilities. | Two Councillors One alternate Councillor | Clr Rasmussen Clr Ross Clr Conolly (Mayor) (alternate) |
Hawkesbury Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee | Provide advice on strategies to eliminate barriers which may prevent residents and visitors from accessing services and facilities and participating in community and civic life. | Two Councillors | Clr Calvert Clr Ross |
Hawkesbury Tourism Advisory Committee | Established to support the implementation of the Hawkesbury Tourism Strategy. | Three Councillors | Clr Garrow Clr Rasmussen Clr Richards |
Infrastructure Committee | To both lobby and influence other tiers of government and their agencies, as well as consider strategic positioning relating to infrastructure provision | Mayor (Chairperson) Four Councillors | Clr Conolly (Mayor) Clr Rasmussen Clr Reynolds Clr Ross Clr Zamprogno |
b) Statutory | |||
Local Traffic Committee | Committee responsible for considering and recommending requests for alterations to traffic facilities and other traffic related matters. | One Councillor | Clr Reynolds |
clubGrants Local Committee | To consider and rank applications received under the clubGrants Scheme. | Mayor | Clr Conolly (Mayor) |
Greater Sydney Local Land Services Local Government Advisory Group | Committee established by NSW Government to co-ordinate catchment management | One Councillor | Clr Kotlash |
Bush Fire Management Committee | Committee established under Rural Fires Act to provide advice and knowledge on bushfire management for the fire district | Current Councillor representation is The Mayor. The regulations require the nomination of the Mayor or Councillor or Senior Staff representative. An alternate can be nominated. | Clr Conolly (Mayor) Alternates (Deputy Mayor, General Manager, Director Infrastructure Services) |
c) Where Council has a Financial Interest | |||
CivicRisk West/CivicRisk Mutual | Self-insurance agency established by consortium of participating Councils. | One Councillor | Clr Rasmussen |
McMahon’s Park Management Committee | Incorporated body with delegated responsibility for management and operation of McMahons Park. | One Councillor One alternate Councillor | Clr Ross Vacant (alternate) |
Hawkesbury Sports Council | Incorporated body with delegated responsibility for management and operation of Council facilities. In accordance with Council’s adopted Operational Plan and excluding Recreation and Open Space Strategy, Capital Works Program and Sporting field lighting. | One Councillor One alternate Councillor | Clr Richards Clr Garrow (alternate) |
Western Sydney City Deal | A regional body comprising representatives of Commonwealth, State and Local Government established to implement the GSC Western District Plan and associated elements of the Western Sydney Deal. | Mayor The Council General Manager The Council Lead Officer | Clr Conolly (Mayor) (Deputy Mayor – alternate) General Manager Director City Planning (alternate) |
Peppercorn Services Inc. | Incorporated body with delegated responsibility for management and operation of Council auspiced community services (externally funded). | One Councillor | Clr Garrow |
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils | Regional Body established to co-ordinate lobbying for Western Sydney | Two Councillors One alternate Councillor | Clr Calvert Clr Zamprogno Clr Wheeler (alternate) |
Hawkesbury River County Council | Statutory Body responsible for management of noxious weeds. | Two Councillors | Clr Kotlash Clr Zamprogno |
Hawkesbury Sister City Association | Incorporated Body responsible for coordinating Sister City activities. | Two Councillors | Clr Ross Clr Rasmussen (alternate) Clr Wheeler (alternate) |
d) Other Committees | |||
Forum on Western Sydney Airport (FOWSA) | To attend meetings and raise community concerns during the planning and construction of the Western Sydney Airport and inform Council of any issues relating to the airport development. | One Councillor | Clr Rasmussen |
NSW Public Libraries | Established to represent and support the interests of NSW public libraries. | One Councillor | Clr Calvert |
Western Sydney Academy of Sport | Regional Body established to co-ordinate lobbying for sports development in Western Sydney. | One Councillor (not compulsory) | Clr Ross Clr Calvert (alternate) |
Council Budget Preparation Process | To attend the annual Council budget preparation process meetings. | One Councillor (Council previously also appointed an additional Councillor) | Clr Conolly (Mayor) Clr Ross |
Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Advisory Committee | To advise on matters relating to the protection, conservation, presentation and management of the Greater Blue Mountains Area, including strategic policies about Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention. | One Councillor | Clr Kotlash |
