Ownership. Equity. Opportunity.

These three words describe my philosophy of how council must be run.

They are not randomly generated text, nor a cute slogan from a self-help book, they come as result of fourteen years lived Council experience; pages of trying to capture the goals and objectives of the role of council, distilled into three paragraphs and ultimately those three words.

Whatever decision I make, or ask others to make, these are the three words by which I judge the outcome.

Civic leadership has many, many outcomes.

In one day I may welcoming the Governor General, another I might be holding a meeting with our valued residents of Blue Haven. I might be chairing a meeting, or taking a call about an unemptied bin.

Dealing with diversity is the key to this job.

This means owning the issue, ensuring an equitable outcome and grasping opportunity when it arises. It’s not always possible, but these are the measures.

As mayor, I must have grounding in the present, and an eye to the future.

Sometimes a huge change comes along and effects all our area, and others and not all the facts are known, but what I do know is we must own it, ensure there is equity and exploit any opportunity for Kiama. That is the Greater Sydney Commission.

The Greater Cities Commission will create the ‘cities’ of the Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle, Central Coast, Greater Sydney and Illawarra-Shoalhaven. Following the passing of the Greater Cities Commission Bill, the Commission will finalise a new Region Plan by the end of 2022.

Each ‘City’ will have a City Commissioner.

Representing your interests, I have become actively involved in this process and sought to be part of the interview and selection process that will find the right Commissioner who will work with our ISJO Councils, our communities and report directly to the Premier. No mean feat!

I am looking forward to being part of this decision and in exploring what this new direction and new understanding of the interconnectedness of the City to its regions is about, and what it means for our home here in Kiama Council.

I know our community is passionate, engaged and skilled and I hopeful we will find someone who understand and values our views, appreciates our strengths and can represent our unique interests in this new world of planning.

I know the model has worked well globally in places like the UK and San Francisco and closer to home in regions like South East Queensland.

That’s fine, but my goal is to make it work for us here, in Kiama, Minnamurra, Gerringong, Jamberoo and rest of best.

So as I write this column I reflect on the changes our communities are facing – a new CSP, new delivery plan, new long term financial plan, a new direction, with the continued certainty that your council is here to represent you and a role to play in the shaping of a new approach to planning our ‘city’.

We’ll get where we need to be, with Ownership, Equity and Opportunity.