The Mayor's Column
It has been a busy and interesting year for me as mayor.
Some of the highlights were:
- The Mosman Festival, which was held on the cusp of the last mayoral election and this wonderful community event will be held again this year.
- SHOROC regional councils of Manly, Pittwater and Warringah supported Mosman’s opposition to the proposed widening of the Spit Bridge. Oh happy Day when the idea was dropped. We continue to work regionally for holistic and viable solution to our transport and traffic problems.
- Ward boundaries and names were settled and the new Wards for the next local government election in September 2008 will be Mosman Bay, Middle Harbour and Balmoral.
- A Future Mosman forum was attended by councillors and staff to discuss plans and policies for the next twenty years and beyond.
- Kimbriki has been secured for Mosman’s waste and recycling services well into the future.
- A fire damaged the Rawson Park Pavilion but fortunately it has been restored. Federal funding of $172k will help water the oval and Drill Hall Common, where we will soon have a terrific sporting facility, particularly for netball and hockey.
- The smoking ban was extended to parks, council underground car parks and bus shelters, at the request of the community. The launch of an Anti Smoking kit for councils was a positive endorsement of Mosman’s lead in this initiative.
- The Minister for Local Government agreed to an infrastructure levy, which will help us enormously to repair our footpaths and ageing pipes.
- The draft LEP was sent to the Minister for Planning’s approval to put it on public exhibition.
- Mosman’s Good Design Awards attracted a much-increased participation this year and a DVD was produced featuring Mosman’s built heritage.
- Our new graffiti contract removes graffiti from private property as well as council’s.
- In a real effort to reduce the carbon footprint of Mosman, the Al Gore film, “An Inconvenient Truth” was shown four times, the Environmental Expo was a great success with a variety of activities, and the Sustainability Panel is coming up with ideas to reduce our carbon footprint.
- We hosted a fund raising dinner for the Tikondane Community in Africa, and two events for Bridge For Asylum Seekers Foundation to fulfil our charter as a Refugee Welcoming Zone.
- Friendship agreements grow in strength with Glen Innes, Mudanjiang in China, and our new friendship relationship with Maubara in East Timor.
I am grateful for the support over the year of the community and of the councillors who work together for the good of Mosman.
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
