COUNCIL VISIT: Strathfield Council Mayor Cr Karen Pensabene, LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM, LGNSW CE David Reynolds and Strathfield Council General Manager Michael Mamo.

24 October 2023

Common themes on council visits

I had the pleasure of visiting five more councils in the past week, meeting with the mayors and senior executives of Burwood, Strathfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Canada Bay councils.

Themes arising throughout these meetings include concerns about the financial sustainability of the sector, and a clear willingness from councils to work with the NSW Government to deliver well-planned urban development and well-considered responses to the housing crisis.

Housing and planning reform

Policy reforms to boost housing supply and increase housing diversity will have more chance of success and community acceptance if they include measures that will enable a legacy of “good growth” and “density done well”.

In line with these principles, LGNSW had made a draft submission in response to the NSW Government’s proposal to introduce generous density bonuses for developers to incentivise inclusion of affordable housing in their developments, as well as a state significant development pathway for certain larger residential developments.

Councils support genuine and sensible efforts to contribute to increasing housing supply and diversity right across the state. However, it is important that this does not come at the expense of councils’ role in strategic planning, which we undertake in close consultation with our communities.

Continual ad-hoc proposals from the State Government and blanket state-level policies that override local plans risk harming the social licence for all development and will only serve to increase speculation and land banking.

Motions portal closed – 298 submitted by councils

The portal to submit motions for inclusion in the Annual Conference business paper has now closed. We have received 298 motions from LGNSW members this year, reflecting the wide diversity of priorities right across the local government sector.

Keep an eye out for the conference business paper – an online link will be shared with all members in the week commencing 30 October. Further details available online.

Last chance to register and nominate voting delegates

Time is running out to register for the Annual Conference. You can also nominate your voting delegates (for motions and the Board Election) during the event registration process.

Registrations and voting delegates must be submitted via your council representative by 5pm AEDT this Friday 27 October 2023.

Register

Last chance – represent local government sector with Ministerial appointment - Food Safety

LGNSW is seeking applications from mayors and councillors to represent local government on the NSW Government's Food Regulation Forum for a three-year term, until 30 November 2026.

LGNSW is seeking mayors and councillors to nominate for:

• three positions as members of the Food Regulation Forum
• one position as chairperson of the Food Regulation Forum

The Food Regulation Forum is a committee constituted under the Food Act 2003 to bring key local government and other food regulation stakeholders.

To apply, mayors and councillors should email [email protected] the following:

• A brief CV
• A cover letter outlining your experience and interest in the position (and advice as to whether you are seeking to nominate for the position of member, as chairperson, or as either).

Please submit your applications by COB on 27 October 2023.

• Nominations will be provided to the NSW Minister for Agriculture for consideration.

For further information, email [email protected] or call 02 9242 4063.

NEW Mayoral Forum - Thursday 30 November

Our Learning and Development Team is hosting a special Mayoral Forum at our head-office in Sydney on Thursday 30 November.

The forum has been specifically designed for incoming mayors and deputy mayors of local government to build leadership skills and manage the intricacies in the role as mayor.

The day will cover topics on how to build and maintain relationships between mayors and general managers, manage relationships with councillors, chairpersons, media, management and more. Spots are limited.

Learn more or register

Annual Report

Finally, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to present Local Government NSW’s Annual Report, which focuses on the organisation’s achievements as well as our performance in supporting our members throughout 2022/23.

Download the Annual Report

 

Sincerely,

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