Former Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage has refused to rule out challenging long-standing Liberal Party councillor Daniel Myles for his spot on council
Cr Myles warned last week of a "pro-development" challenge to his Ward 3 position by the former Liberal MP ahead of September's council elections.
"I understand I'm being challenged and it's by Roza Sage... My intention is for this pre-selection process to be done in an open and transparent way so the public know what's going on," he said.
Mrs Sage declined to elaborate when asked by the Gazette if she intended to challenge Cr Myles for council preselection.
"I am immensely flattered that Daniel Myles should focus on me. However, there are more important council issues to focus on such as rates, roads and rubbish," she said.
Cr Myles, a former Blue Mountains mayor, said the party's pre-selection process for the Blue Mountains "will be a referendum on people's stances on overdevelopment".
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His warning comes as the state government has flagged legislation to ban property developers from standing for council. The Australian newspaper reported last week that the government is drafting legislative amendments to ban developers, real estate agents and their associates from holding positions on local councils. The matter is expected to be debated in cabinet ahead of September's council election, the report stated.
"I strongly support the state government's moves toward banning property developers from running for local councils," said Cr Myles.
"There is a pro-development faction within the Blue Mountains Liberal Party, which I have previously described as a 'cancer'. Their pro-development agenda goes directly against the wishes of the people of the Blue Mountains to maintain the peace and quiet we take for granted. I fear that this pro-development agenda is hiding behind the good name of the Liberal Party.
"In that event, it would be appropriate for the Liberal Party not to endorse candidates for the forthcoming September election. I have no concern in standing on my record of opposing inappropriate overdevelopment."
If a pro-development takeover on council was successful, Cr Myles said there would be pressure to review council's Local Environment Plan, which proscribes development in the Blue Mountains. "And then suddenly people will realise the Blue Mountains is turning into Penrith and Parramatta and Sydney," he said.
Cr Myles said he had no interest "in shutting down the place" from development. "I am interested in keeping it looking like it is. It's under pressure from Sydney everywhere you turn," he said.