Local News Update: If you hadn’t realised, I’m pretty passionate about community engagement! It is so important for a Councillor. To be able to represent your community, you need to hear from them and work with them to achieve results.
I regularly attend the Annangrove, Glenhaven, Box Hill, Glenorie, and Lower Portland Sackville North Progress Association meetings. Some meet monthly, some every second month, some quarterly and some when there are growing issues. However there has not been a formal community meeting in the Maroota and South Maroota areas for some time.
Recently there have been a number of growing issues raised in the Glenorie, Cattai, Maroota and South Maroota areas. These needed to be addressed and the community needed an opportunity to be heard. So, I decided to host a community meeting at South Maroota Hall.
Over sixty concerned locals participated in constructive conversation. Issued raised included maintenance of Old Northern and Wisemans Ferry Roads, vegetation management, drainage and flood issues, signage, truck movements, speeding and wildlife.
A number of these shouldn’t take too much to resolve, others are more complex and will take some time. But we have to start somewhere. Many of these are State Government department issues but as a Councillor I feel it is my role to advocate on behalf of our residents no matter who is responsible, and that is what I will do.
Eastbend Rural Communications and Lower Portland Sackville North Progress Association also attended and provided their perspective on the issues raised with their respective groups.
Thank you to The Hills Shire Council staff, Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston, Mayor Peter Gangemi and Hornsby Councillor Warren Waddell for your attendance and input.
I will now work with our council staff, state government departments, and Robyn Preston MP on resolutions and will look to host another meeting in a few months to report back.
It was also great to have representatives from the local rural fire brigades who were able to tell the crowd what they have been up to of late.
Given the genuine interest in those that attended, it is hoped to hold more meetings like this in this area and spread the word. You can follow me on Facebook to find out more as we progress through these issues.
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