Clr Byrne is a medical scientist by profession and holds a PhD in drug resistance in cancer cells. Clr Byrne studied and worked for the University of Technology Sydney for 10 years in cancer and diabetes research and committed full-time to Local Government upon her election as the youngest ever Mayor of The Hills Shire in 2012.
Clr Byrne is dedicated to bettering the quality of life for all Hills residents and the preservation of the unique community spirit which characterises The Hills.
In this respect, Clr Byrne has immersed herself in numerous local community organisations including Hills Community Aid, The Hills Mental Health Interagency, The Hills Relay for Life and The Hills Youth Suicide Taskforce. She was the founder and driving force of The Hills Winter Sleep Out.
Clr Byrne also holds a Bachelor of Laws and lives in Baulkham Hills with her husband and identical twin daughters.
Clr Harty served as Deputy Mayor in 2004-2005.
He holds a Dip Business Management, Dip Frontline Management, Dip Training and Assessment Systems, Certificate IV Workplace Safety.
Clr Harty has been General Manager of Comet Training Pty Ltd since 1996. Comet Training is a registered training organisation specialising in training programs
for the building and construction industry.
Clr Harty was awarded an Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List on Australia Day 2012 for services to the community, vocational education and training, and contribution to the construction industry.
Clr Harty is married to Elizabeth celebrating 28 years in December 2016 and has one daughter Kelly.
Clr Thomas served as Mayor 2010- 11 and Deputy Mayor 2009-10.
He holds a Bachelor of Business, Master of Business Administration, Master of Economics, Certified Practicing Accountant.
It is an honour and privilege to represent West Ward and the residents of The Hills. It is also important to me that Council treat our residents with respect and remember these are the people who we serve.
On council I support the values of:
-financial prudence, less
I monitor our fine revenue to ensure Council does not use the fining of our families as a source of revenue as so many other councils do.
We are one of the fastest growth areas in NSW. Our families have seen the huge growth that has been occurring. It has put a strain on our roads and other infrastructure and memories of the Garden Shire are becoming distant.
This has made our open space, our parks and gardens much more valuable. We are spending huge amounts maintaining them and expanding what we have.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 27 SEPTEMBER 2016
The Hills Shire Council ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16 23 CLR MARK TAYLOR MP
M 0419 618 790
E clr.taylor@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2012.
CLR ROBYN PRESTON M 0419 200 300
E clr.preston@bigpond.com Elected to Council in 2008.
CLR DR PETER GANGEMI BE (Hons), PhD
M 0419 429 095
E clr.gangemi@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2012.
SEPTEMBER 2012 - SEPTEMBER 2017 COUNCIL TERM
OUR COUNCILLORS
Clr Preston has been a Hills resident since 1988 and has enjoyed raising her family locally while connecting and supporting many business and community groups during that time. She has worked in private and government sectors, not-for-profit organisations and small business.
Clr Preston is an accredited mediator and has experience in marketing, sales, general management and media as a television and radio commentator and a freelance journalist. Her charitable work has raised much needed funds for the NSW Cancer Council, Vision Australia and The Black Dog Institute.
Clr Preston has been an active board member with the Rural Fire Service, the NSW Cancer Council, Chambers of Commerce and the Business and Professional Women’s Group. She also belongs
to several progress associations.
She believes her role on Council is to find acceptable solutions to problems that residents, businesses and community groups present to her – no matter how big or small. She encourages clever planning proposals that incorporate savvy architecture and technology and she wants to ensure that traffic solutions are factored into the mix as the Sydney Metro Northwest Rail construction progresses, bringing with it unprecedented population growth.
Clr Preston is guided by her philosophy of diligent financial management of ratepayers’ public funds, exceptional customer service and a professional and transparent approach to everyone she has the pleasure of dealing with.
Clr Taylor is a long term resident of The Hills. He is married with two young children attending local schools and actively involved in local sporting clubs. Clr Taylor brings to his Councillor role years of experience in the justice sector and community involvement through a local progress association. Clr Taylor is also the patron of a number of community organisations.
Clr Taylor considers Council’s recent achievements in improvements to local infrastructure such as roads, bridges, footpaths, sporting and community facilities as being some of his most rewarding times in community service.
Clr Gangemi has lived in The Hills Shire for 30 years. Peter is an Acoustic Engineer, having completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with several publications to his name. Clr Gangemi is the youngest ever Councillor elected to The Hills Shire Council. In the community, Clr Gangemi has been The Hills
Shire’s Youth Ambassador, has served on The Hills Relay for Life committee, and the Western Sydney Academy of Sports Advisory Committee as well as being a member of numerous local progress associations.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 27 SEPTEMBER 2016
SEPTEMBER 2012 - SEPTEMBER 2017 COUNCIL TERM
OUR COUNCILLORS
CLR ANDREW JEFFERIES M 0427 928 111
E clr.jefferies@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2008.
Left August 2016.
CLR RYAN TRACEY
M 0419 429 217 E clr.tracey@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2012.
CLR ALAN HASELDEN
M 0419 495 089 E clr.haselden@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Clr Jefferies has served as Mayor between 2014-2015 and as Deputy Mayor between 2012-2014.
Clr Jefferies grew up in The Hills, living in Carlingford and attending Murray Farm Public School and Muirfield High School. He has completed a Bachelor of Business Management from The University of Technology, Sydney.
Clr Jefferies is employed by the National Electrical and Communications Association as its Policy and Projects Manager.
He is also a Director of the Hawkesbury River County Council and has previously worked for the Tourism Industry Council NSW and for Federal Members of
Parliament including the former Prime Minister, John Howard.
Clr Jefferies has been a keen advocate for the Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Carlingford light rail route option, the delivery of critical local infrastructure, growing The Hills visitor economy, the promotion of home knock down rebuilds, the development of more commuter car parking and has supported the Baird Governments’ calls to reform the local government sector.
Clr Jefferies is married to Amanda, a local school teacher and they have two young daughters.
During Council I have promoted the heritage and cultural values of The Hills community. My focus has been on maintaining community spaces and amenities for future generations. Clr Tracey actively participates in the community, and carries out Council duties with commitment and community service in mind. Clr Tracey has an Advanced Diploma Community Sector Management & Executive Certificate for elected members.
Current committee member for
The Hills Relay for Life, previous member of Balcombe Heights 355 committee and former Secretary The Hills Musical Society.
Member of NSW Labor Party.
Professionally is a senior manager within the Disability sector in shared living and accommodation.
Clr Tracey has always lived in The Hills, originally from Carlingford and now lives with his wife Monika in Baulkham Hills.
Clr Haselden has lived in The Hills since 1995. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Auckland, he later earned an MBA from the University of New England. Before semi-retirement in 2011, Clr Haselden led operations across the Asia Pacific for Garlock, the major subsidiary of US manufacturer, EnPro Industries.
Haselden believes that the wider interests of the community have to be balanced against the implicit rights vested in land ownership and, from this perspective, was a proponent in the team which saw an easing of Council’s tree preservation regulations.
Representations for Council:
• Floodplain Management Australia
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 27 SEPTEMBER 2016
The Hills Shire Council ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16 25 CLR YVONNE KEANE
(DEPUTY MAYOR) M 0419 553 495
E clr.keane@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2012.
CLR DR JEFF LOWE JP M0419 821 557
E clr.lowe@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2012.
CLR TONY HAY OAM
M 0414 482 000
Eclr.tonyhay@thehills.nsw.gov.au Elected to Council in 2004.
SEPTEMBER 2012 - SEPTEMBER 2017 COUNCIL TERM
OUR COUNCILLORS
Clr Keane lives in Kellyville with her husband Anthony and their children Asher, 7 and Saskia, 5. Clr Keane is an award-winning TV producer/
presenter, magazine columnist, and accomplished business woman. In 2009, when her son was diagnosed as hearing impaired, Clr Keane founded Hear the Children, providing life-changing early intervention therapy for hearing impaired children. Clr Keane’s work has been recognised with several accolades including 2012 NSW Woman of the Year (People’s Choice), United Nations IYV+10 Volunteer of the Year
(Education), a 2013 UWS Women of the West award, and more recently the 2016 NSW Local Government Woman of the Year.
Clr Keane currently serves as a Board Director of the Endeavour Foundation; inaugural Chair of The Sanctuary (The Hills Women’s Shelter and has been appointed to the Council for Women’s Economic Opportunity, by the NSW Minister for Women. Clr Keane is deeply committed to her work on Council and hopes to continue to influence exceptional outcomes for the community.
Clr Lowe serves on the Audit Committee and the Waste Task Group - reducing waste and recycling more is his passion and assists the environment.
Clr Lowe is a Management Consultant and works with a number of
organisations in and around the Hills.
He stands by his election promise, “I will be a voice for small businesses and residents while pursuing fiscal responsibility.” Through savings and good strategic management, Clr Lowe has supported the reduction of our infrastructure backlog from around
$52M to zero in less than three and a half years”.
He has helped numerous businesses by talking with networking
groups such as Business Network International (BNI), Hills Sydney Business Chamber & Western Sydney Business Connect, highlighting the efforts and dedicated work of Council’s Economic Development Unit.
“Council cannot provide jobs, but we can cultivate an environment for small to medium sized businesses of which there are many in the Hills.
This is where economic growth will come from with increased jobs and a greater community,” he concludes.
Clr Lowe lives in Castle Hill with his partner Suzie and their blended grown up family of five. They are both involved in Relay for Life, the fight against domestic violence and many more and both enjoy a game of lawn bowls.
Clr Hay is a resident of Baulkham Hills. He was the Council’s first Labor Mayor in 2006-2007.
Representations on Council include:
Audit Committee since 2006; Waste Task Group since 2004; Sports Task Group 2009–2012; Hills Precinct Safety Committee 2004–2012.
Clr Hay was recognised in the Australia Day Honours list in 2014 and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for more than 25 years’ service to local government and the community.
Since his election in 2004 Clr Hay has served as a Director and Senior Vice President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) Ltd.
In 2005 Clr Hay was elected to the role of President of WSROC Ltd and continued in that role until October 2008.
He was a founding committee member of the Hills Relay for Life serving in various roles including Chairman 1999-2013.
He has worked as a consultant to government agencies, university business units, as the Deputy Chair of the NSW State Labor Industrial Development &
Energy Policy Committee and Deputy Chair of the Finance and Economics policy committee.
He consulted to industry on research and development technology.
He has been a guest lecturer on ethics at TAFE and a mediator with Community Justice Centres.
He is an Ambassador for the Australian Rugby Youth Foundation, the White Ribbon Foundation and Community Medic. He served as a Judge, Lions Youth of the Year (NSW), 2007-2012.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 27 SEPTEMBER 2016
CODE OF CONDUCT
Councillors must abide by a Code of Conduct (published on Council’s website) to further ensure that they carry out their duties in the best interests of the Shire and the residents they represent. The code sets a high standard for their ethical behaviour and decision-making, states Councillors’ roles and responsibilities and outlines the steps to be followed when making and investigating allegations of breaches of the code.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The ordinary meetings of The Hills Shire Council are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, from 7pm, in the Council Chamber. The first Tuesday of each month is a workshop for Councillors where they are briefed by professional Council staff and can discuss issues in an informal setting. The Council meetings provide a forum for residents to ask questions of Councillors or the General Manager. All meetings are open to the public. Council’s meeting schedule, agendas and minutes, are available on Council’s website.
HAVING YOUR SAY
There are many ways you can have your say on the governing of The Hills Shire.
You can:
• Vote for Councillors every four years through the Local Government election for The Hills Shire.
• Arrange to speak at a Council meeting.
• Write to or telephone elected members of the Council.
• Get social and connect with us on our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.
• Make a submission on Council’s Hills Shire Plan when reviewed every four years.
• Make submissions on other major projects or notified consents that are consulted or advertised throughout the year.
The Hills Shire Council is committed to engaging its residents, stakeholders and Council staff in the development of policies, plans and the delivery of services for the community.
LEGISLATIVE REPORTING - ELECTED BODY DETAILS OF OVERSEAS VISITS BY
COUNCILLORS, COUNCIL STAFF OR OTHER PERSONS REPRESENTING COUNCIL (INCLUDING VISITS SPONSORED BY OTHER
PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES FOR COUNCILLORS - CL 217(1)(A1)
BENEFIT $
Councillor’s remunerations 342,530
Seminars and conferences 55,885
Training -
Travelling expenses 28,252
Insurance 9,165
Telecommunications/internet 52,000
Provision of facility policy 63,104
Provision of equipment 21,982
TOTAL 572,918
COUNCILLORS SEMINARS AND CONFERENCE EXPENSES CL217(1)(A1) (PART)
Councillors may be appointed by Council to attend conferences and seminars. All direct expenses such as registration fees, travel and accommodation are paid by Council as well as a sustenance allowance. Councillors attend seminars and conferences to keep up to date with information and developments in areas such as Local Government generally, town planning and governance as well as specific outcome areas such as infrastructure, the community and the environment.
NAME
No of seminars &
conferences attended
COST $
Strategic Planning Workshops
5,795.64 Clr Dr Michelle Byrne
(Mayor)
1 817.27
Clr Dr Peter Gangemi 1 817.27
Clr Raymond Harty OAM 3 9,639.79
Clr Alan Haselden 3 6,901.66
Clr Tony Hay OAM 3 9,866.28
Clr Andrew Jefferies 1 1,030.27
Clr Yvonne Keane (Deputy Mayor)
2 3,342.00
Clr Dr Jeff Lowe JP 3 8,961.40
Clr Robyn Preston 2 4,987.36
Clr Mark Taylor MP 1 1,565.36
Clr Mike Thomas 1 1,343.27