Securing a strong future

I was pleased to hear there was a strong turnout at Council’s community meeting about the NSW Government’s proposed changes to independent planning panels held on Wednesday 7 February.

These changes will affect the operation of our successful MDAP planning panel, which makes decisions on the outcomes of development applications (DAs), and I will be making ongoing representations to the Planning Minister in a bid to preserve it in its current form.

While I will stay in touch with the State Government about matters of local significance, I am also ensuring the voice of our local youth continues to be heard. I will be holding regular informal meetings with interested youth to enable me to hear about their priorities and concerns and to ensure that I and my fellow Councillors stay informed about matters close to the heart of our future leaders.

We are also looking after the interests of local families, with Council recently resolving to redevelop the child care centre in Balmoral Park to provide a new and improved facility.

This new centre, proposed to be constructed later this year following the conclusion of existing lease arrangements, will be Council’s first built-for-purpose child care centre and will be run by Council staff. More details will be available on this exciting proposal in coming months as designs are prepared and a development application lodged.