The Blue Mountains Greens have announced Kerry Brown as their candidate for Ward 1 in the forthcoming council election on September 10.
Ms Brown is a horticulturist and former manager of Everglades gardens in Leura with many years experience in media and publishing. She has been the public relations manager for the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, a brief that included the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah.
“I am committed to a sustainable Blue Mountains with thriving local businesses and career opportunities that allow people to live and work here. I speak as the owner of a local business who has done my time as a bleary-eyed commuter on the 5.45am train to Sydney.”
Ms Brown is also a volunteer with the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce and Community’s garden group that has been busy recently in Katoomba Street. “We are working very constructively with council, as are the Blackheath Streetscape Group. I would like to see all our town centres showcasing our cool climate garden heritage.”
Ms Brown said that council has a leadership role in the tourism economy. “We need a strategy protecting and advancing our three major assets - our unique natural heritage, romantic built heritage including gardens, and our super-creative arts community.
“Over three million tourists a year are a major source of jobs and prosperity for the Mountains. The stress on infrastructure and services from this influx puts far more pressure on our council finances with a relatively low rates base than most councils have to bear.
“But council must step up to this. It is the largest owner and manager of land in the area with assets that include prime commercial properties.
“Some of these assets are poorly maintained. Dilapidated and empty council-owned shops in the centre of tourism hubs are inexcusable. Rents are lost, repairs become prohibitive, historic buildings are threatened with demolition.”
Ms Brown said that the Blue Mountains should be a leader in sustainable tourism and living. “We need to get our skates on with energy efficiency, renewables, waste management, and footpaths and cycleways linking our villages.
“The Greens-led council of Byron Bay is working hard to be the first shire in Australia with zero net emissions. Let’s beat them to it!”
