THE changing of the guard at Hawkesbury Council is complete, with new Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett declaring it would be a progressive Council.
Cr Lyons-Buckett was elected Mayor eight votes to three, while Labor’s Barry Calvert will serve as deputy Mayor.
A cloth barrier in the Council chambers separating councillors and members of the public will likely be one of the first casualties of the new regime, with both Cr Lyons-Buckett and Cr Calvert declaring restoring community confidence in Council as one of the main priorities.
The barrier was put up after an incident in the previous Council, along with other changes restricting the amount of time and amount of people who could speak at Council, and has been pointed to as a symbolic divide between Council and the public.
There was opposition in the previous Council to the changes, but ultimately not enough votes to reverse them, however, the new Council is a different matter entirely.
Cr Lyons-Buckett said the code of meeting practice would certainly be looked at with an eye to changing it.
“That [the code] will be reviewed in the very near future. I think the removal of the barrier would send a very strong message that there is no longer a barrier between the community participating in decision making,” she said.
“I don’t know for sure but I think most councillors are prepared to reintroduce speakers on all items.”
Cr Lyons-Buckett said the harsh division in the previous Council would not resurface in the current one.
“I think that we’re off to a very good start. I think that all 12 of us seem to have a lot of common goals,” she said.
“I think we can work together, I don’t think we’ll be plagued with the issues of the past.
“Once the community sees that the Council is working together to achieve things, I think the confidence will be instilled.”
The Deputy Mayor agreed, saying he was confident the current group of councillors could amicably work out their differences through discussion and debate.
“I am really happy that Mary Lyons-Buckett is Mayor, I work well with her and I am looking forward to a very good partnership,” he said.
“I am sure we can restore confidence, because we have shown it is a new era for the Council and we are not going to be bickering all the time.
“We’re already deciding on committees and making other plans and I am sure that collaboration will continue.”
The pair added that remaining as a stand alone Council would be another priority.
Cr Lyons-Buckett said the state government would not be given any ammunition from the new Council to potentially amalgamate the Hawkesbury.
“We’ll be doing everything in our power to avoid anything happening to the Council,” she said.
Cr Calvert said he hoped the state government would elect to shift its gaze from the boundaries of Hawkesbury Council.
“I don’t think we’ll be giving them any reason to amalgamate us,” he said.
Cr Calvert said the new Council would be progressive and he was happy to be a part of a new era of decision making.
“I am very happy to be deputy Mayor because we have a new Council and a new team that is actually going to make a difference,” he said.
“It is not about me being deputy Mayor it is about me being part of a progressive and successful team for this city.”
Cr Lyons-Buckett said it was an honour to be elected Mayor.