Merger threatens sustainability

Let me say at the outset that I have the deepest respect for Jim and the years I served under him when he was mayor were very formative for me.

He was a strong leader of the council at a time of much change.

However, there are two fundamental issues that I need to deal with following publication of his article.

In the current term we have faced many challenges. We have had to lead the city through the worst ever property loss from bushfire. We have had to manage a recovery from that event when the state government withdrew too early.

We have had to pay down the debt of past administrations. We have successfully defended our local environment plan from state government policies that would otherwise have seen it diminished.

We have balanced the budget. We have introduced green bins, radically cutting land fill and greenhouse emissions.

We have led the fight against the airport at Badgerys Creek and we have been one of the few councils in metropolitan Sydney to survive intact from the state government’s forced amalgamation process.

This is not a council where the elected members are run by staff without input. Quite the opposite is true. In fact, I am proud to say that the group of councillors with whom I have the honour to serve have engaged in a relationship with officers that is highly respectful and in the community interest.

Let me also say, that the staff of the council, led by the general manager, are deeply professional people and always have the community at heart in their day-to-day work.

The second matter I wish to deal with relates to commentary around amalgamations.

I make no apology for fighting, alongside my colleagues, to oppose the forced amalgamation of Blue Mountains City Council with other councils. Jim is spot on about this dreadful policy.

We had approaches from councils in the area Jim feels we should have considered. No opportunity was lost. All options were carefully examined.

What underpinned that examination was the question of whether or not such moves would benefit the community.

The councils in the area Jim mentioned are not fit for the future in that their finances and other factors were not in the healthy shape that Blue Mountains is in.

If we had joined with them, or a subset, our ratepayers would have been subsidising the costs of other local governments. By taking on their costs we would have compromised our own sustainability.

This decision was taken by the elected members based on the best advice available to us. It is a decision I am proud to stand by.

I deeply respect and admire Jim. His time as mayor was marked with many achievements.

He is a significant figure in the Blue Mountains and I remain proud of the time we served together in council.