Politics at play
There is a deep hunger in the general population for politicians to be wiser, fairer, more caring and more inspirational. No doubt you would have all read about the toxic, hateful speech recently made in the Australian Senate. As your Mayor, I stand with the long list of Australians who condemned the speech which demeaned and diminished our polity and every one of us.
Closer to home and I am sure many of you are very interested in the recent news that Woolworths has been purchasing property on Military Road, presumably with a view to introducing a supermarket in our area. Naturally there will be much to consider if and when such a proposal eventuates; such as traffic impacts, the bulk and scale of the development and the change to our village amenity. Please rest assured that no formal details or plans have been submitted and that Council will keep residents informed as details unfold.
Our library will be extra busy in the next few weeks as, along with the usual plethora of events, students will visit to study for the upcoming HSC. Council’s Community Survey results regularly indicate that our library has one of the highest levels of community satisfaction and our visitor numbers continue to reflect this. Therefore, I encourage every resident to take the time to support the Renew Our Libraries campaign which is advocating for fairer public library funding in the lead up to the 2019 state election. You can find campaign details at the library and on its website.
Staying with the community, on 16 September I will be attending a ceremony during which 22 grants will be awarded to successful recipients of Council’s Community Grants Program, including two grants to Sea Scouts groups run by dedicated volunteers who will be among those acknowledged for their tireless community work.
September will end on a high note with two major events – the official opening of the 2018 Mosman Art Prize will take place on 25 September and I am delighted to announce that former Mosman Art Prize winner and well known and highly respected international artist, Cressida Campbell, will judge this year’s prize. Then on 27 September, following its major upgrade, I will officially open Mosman Junction’s new outdoor dining areas with a free community event featuring entertainment, food by local businesses and a kids’ corner with cupcake-making and face painting. I look forward to celebrating this special occasion with the community. Please check Council’s website for details and information on both events.