Councillor Barry Calvert, the Deputy Mayor of Hawkesbury City Council, has been returned for a fourth term as President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), pledging to engage with the new Federal Government on matters of concern to the people of Greater Western Sydney.
WSROC is the peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney, and advocates on key issues of value to Western Sydney communities. More than a million people live in the six WSROC council communities.
The WSROC member councils are Blacktown City Council, Blue Mountains City Council, Cumberland City Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Lithgow City Council and Liverpool City Council.
Councillor Calvert was re-elected as at WSROC’s President at its Board Meeting held at Blacktown Civic Centre yesterday (Thursday 26 May).
As President, Councillor Calvert chairs the WSROC Executive which sets region-wide priorities and strategies for the WSROC Board and provides organisational direction to WSROC’s Chief Executive Officer and staff.
At the meeting, three additional members of the WSROC Executive Committee were appointed. Joining Councillor Calvert on the Executive Committee are:
• Cumberland City Councillor Glen Elmore as Vice President – Central City
• Liverpool City Councillor Karress Rhodes as Vice President – Western City, and
• Blacktown City Councillor Chris Quilkey as Treasurer.
Councillor Calvert said he was delighted to be re-appointed as WSROC President and for the opportunity to continue the pursuit of WSROC’s priorities.
“It is an honour to take on this role again, to work with the WSROC Executive and staff,” he said.
“Our advocacy, projects and partnerships are producing tangible, positive outcomes for the people of Western Sydney.
“I thank the WSROC Board for re-electing me as President for the next 12 months and congratulate Councillors Elmore, Quilkey and Rhodes on their election to the Executive Committee.
“Our priorities for the coming year will include building Western Sydney communities’ resilience to extreme and urban heat, advocating to improve investment in Western Sydney transport, promoting economic development, sustainable waste avoidance and resource recovery, supporting our arts and cultural industries and social infrastructure among many other initiatives for the betterment of the Western Sydney region and our communities.
“WSROC is also keen to engage with the Federal Government on these and other matters of concern to the people of Greater Western Sydney.
“WSROC’s Councillors will gather in June for a special Strategy Planning and Priorities Workshop to review and set the agenda for WSROC advocacy for the next 2 to 5 years.
“The workshop is an exciting opportunity to exchange ideas and insights with fellow Councillors from across the Greater Western Sydney region.”
Councillor Rhodes said: “I’m extremely honoured and privileged to have been elected Vice President of WSROC Western City and look forward to working with the member councils on some great initiatives to serve the people of Greater Western Sydney.”
