I have a clear vision for a Parramatta where all residents feel a strong sense of belonging and are empowered to participate in the future of our city and its neighbourhoods.
A Clear Vision
A connected, informed community
All residents feel informed and connected to Council services, facilities and libraries.
Parramatta Council has some incredible services and facilities on offer to residents. I believe we can increase community participation by improving communication and reducing barriers to access. This includes ensuring that our facilities and services are fit-for-purpose.
This is something I will strongly advocate for.
Residents have shared with me some of the Council services that have recently been important to their wellbeing:
Active Parramatta online fitness program
In addition to our existing services and facilities, the North Rocks Ward is a growing and changing community and it is imperative that we advocate for upgraded and contemporary community facilities and libraries to cater to this growth.
An affordable place to live with transport connectivity
Our children and grandchildren can afford to live here. They have access to contemporary community infrastructure and are connected through effective transport.
We know that the population of Parramatta is set to double by 2044. How we realise this growth will be the defining factor of the future liveability of our city and its neighbourhoods. We also know there is significant growth occurring in the North Rocks Ward, in particular in Carlingford.
Carlingford is an established low density residential area. In recent years, there has been increasing medium to high density residential development occurring within the suburb, particularly in Carlingford Town Centre and along Carlingford Road and Pennant Hills Road. The majority of future growth will be in and around the town centre, with 4,200 new dwellings expected by 2041 in this area.
Source: Forecast id, rounded to the nearest 100
You can read more about the projected growth and plans for Carlingford in the High Growth Areas section of Council’s Community Infrastructure Strategy here.
We must ensure that these development plans, and all future development is balanced and advocate for:
Significant contributions to community infrastructure
Improvements to traffic conditions and transport links
Contributions to affordable housing
Innovative sustainable approaches
A beautiful and habitable environment
Our city and neighbourhoods are cooler, greener and more resilient against the effects of climate change.
We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change through urban heat, with Parramatta experiencing temperatures almost 10 degrees hotter than Sydney’s east. Earlier this year, our Federal Member Dr Andrew Charlton, in collaboration with Western Sydney University, published Parramatta’s first Climate Adaptation Action Plan to help build a more climate resilient future for our City.
There are five key actions in this plan:
Reduce Urban Heat
Improve Transport
Create Better Buildings
Enhance the Circular Economy
Educate and Engage
It is imperative that we support the implementation of the actions outlined in this plan on a Local Government level and play a strong advocacy role across all levels of Government, and with industry and community groups. Recent research conducted by Council has found that between 2010 and 2022, Carlingford and North Rocks suffered the greatest losses of tree canopy cover, losing 6% of tree canopy in 12 years. We need to address this.
Actions that are particularly relevant to the North Rocks Ward include:
Rethinking, redesigning and replacing hard surfaces - more porous surfaces, upgrade roads and footpaths with lighter coloured and sustainable materials
More diverse green spaces in many places - planting more trees
Creating more public cool spaces and shaded throughways - increasing shade shelters
New building requirements - encourage new builds to be more sustainable
Supporting more useful public transport and active travel - improve links, increase bus services
Incentives to reuse, repair and share - boost the circular economy
You can read more and download the Action Plan here.
A strong sense of belonging
All residents feel a strong sense of belonging through access to our incredible local arts and culture, community events and festivals.
Culture is the way in which our community expresses its past, its present and its aspirations for the future.
Source: Community consultation for the new City of Parramatta Cultural Strategy
In my role as Cultural Services Coordinator at Council I contributed to the development of an ambitious new 10-year Cultural Strategy that strives to increase access to arts and culture for all people living in or visiting Parramatta and its suburbs. The Strategy acknowledges the role of artists, creatives and cultural organisations in creating opportunities for connection and belonging and driving the growth of our city. This Strategy has been developed through extensive community and industry consultation and is in the final stages of development. It will provide a roadmap for achieving the ambition of the Parramatta 2050 Vision, for Parramatta to become a global creative hub and ensure that all people, and local suburbs, are participants.
The draft Parramatta 2050 Vision was adopted by Council on 12 August 2024. It is a long-term strategic vision for a leading, innovative, creative and sustainable city for all. Read more here.
A place full of opportunities
There are abundant opportunities to work locally, and our workers have safe, secure and sustainable jobs.
City of Parramatta is responsible for employing thousands of people locally and I am passionate to embed Labor values in tendering, procurement and employment policies and procedures to ensure industry standards are met.
On the 28 July, the Premier Chris Minns announced a $252 million committment to the state’s 128 local councils to employ 1,300 apprentices and trainees to fill gaping skills shortages. This will fund the next generation of mechanics, engineers, early childhood educators, plumbers, civil construction workers, and planning cadets. The United Services Union has fought for this investment in local jobs for the past 3-years.
You can’t have ‘rhyme time’ at the local library, or a nice clean pool to swim in in summer or freshly mowed ovals on the weekend unless you have highly skilled, hard-working council workers providing these front line services seven days a week.
Source: United Services Union
It is important for our young people and future generations to have increased pathways into these important trades, and opportunities to work locally. You can read more about this funding and the new job opportunities it provides here.
Core Values
We listen to community, collaborate and operate with transparency and professionalism.
I believe in best practice outcomes-focussed, evidence-based methodologies for planning and decision-making. We must be informed, intentional and proactive in this approach, abiding at all times by the Councillor code of conduct.
We hold people first. Social justice and Labor values are at the core of our collective decision making.
The NSW Labor Party believes in the values of equality, democracy, liberty and social co-operation. Our commitment to Labor values means working together to make sure that the benefits of rising prosperity are shared fairly and underwrite a better and fairer future for the next generation.
Education: Opportunity starts with a great education. Labor in government has always lifted investment in our schools and our literacy and numeracy rates are among the highest in the world.
Health: Labor has always increased funding for health and re-built or upgraded every major hospital in NSW. We remain committed to keeping health care accessible for all.
Workplace Rights: Labor is committed to the application of democracy in industry to increase the opportunities for people to work in satisfying, healthy and humane conditions, and to participate in and to increase their control over the decision-making processes affecting them.
Environment: Labor knows the fragile and diverse nature of our natural environment and is committed to its protection. That’s why we’re committed to maintaining our national and marine parks, as well as tackling climate change.
First Nations people: We recognise the prior ownership of Australian land by First Nations people, and recognise the essential relationship with the land as a basis of their culture.
Equality: A healthy democracy ensures social justice and equality for individuals, the family and all social units, and the elimination of exploitation based on gender, race, or age.
Source: NSW Labor
We operate with a deep respect for Dharug people as the custodians of the land on which we live.
The City of Parramatta adopted a new First Nations Strategy on 11 December 2023. The Strategy recognises the Dharug People as First Australians, peoples of the oldest continuous living culture in the world. It aspires to a future where the cultures, histories and rights of all First Nations people are understood, recognised, and respected by all Australians. Council has made a commitment through this Strategy to making this future a reality.
The Strategy has five clear goals for the future of Parramatta: Social Justice, Cultural Leadership, Social Cohesion, Celebration and Accountability. It provides outcomes and strategic actions as a roadmap to achieving these goals.
I fully support the implementation of this Strategy and encourage you to read more.