Mayoral Column 2012

Burwood’s cluster of restaurants, cafes and al fresco options is a unique and attractive feature of our municipality, and patrons deserve to enjoy their experience. Unfortunately, in recent weeks, there appears to be a growing trend where what has started as a wonderful night out in the Town Centre has been soured by an encounter of unruly behaviour.

I invite you to join with our local community to reflect, remember and commemorate the ANZAC spirit this Sunday, 22 April at Burwood Park.This year marks the 97th anniversary of the fateful landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the shores of Gallipoli, and the 53rd year a service of commemoration has been held here in Burwood.

I fully encourage the use of public transport in Sydney. It’s beneficial for our environment, our personal health and for easing traffic congestion across our city. However, one of the repercussions of people using it is the pressure it can place on commuter car parking in public transport hubs. Burwood’s Town Centre is no exception.

I take very seriously the parking concerns of our residents and ratepayers. Over recent months I have heard the frustrations and challenges faced by locals, particularly those close to the Burwood Town Centre who are regularly parked out by commuters and shoppers. Not only is this inconvenient, but it makes for unsafe situations when entering and exiting driveways.

Graffiti vandalism has a detrimental effect on our community: it is visually unpleasant, can evoke feelings of an unsafe environment and the damage caused is often costly. I remain committed to combating this illegal act of defacing of public and private property in our region and ensuring repairs are undertaken as soon as possible.

Over recent months, I have heard our community’s concerns regarding car parking within the Burwood Town Centre. These have primarily related to Council’s recent introduction of 2 hours free parking for ratepayers in Council-timed car parks.

I would like to congratulate Dr Christobel Llewellyn for being awarded Citizen of the Year and John Gough-Fuller for being awarded Young Citizen of the Year.

I hope you and your families have all had a wonderful Christmas break and are now looking forward to what 2012 has to offer.