The swearing in of newly elected councillor Ben Gilholme will be the highlight of the next meeting of Campbelltown City Council.
Councillors are now legally required to undertake an Oath of Office or Affirmation of Office at the first meeting of the council after being elected.
Gilholme, the Labor Party candidate, defeated Josh Cotter and Gary Potts, the two independents, on March 18 in a byelection to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Councillor Fred Borg last December.
Councillor-elect Gilholme will be able to take his seat on the council after the oath or affirmation of office at the meeting, scheduled for tomorrow night from 6.30pm (Tuesday, March 28).
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Another highlight of the meeting will be a tribute to a retiring council employee, Michael Hurcum, who leaves after 54 years at Campbelltown Council.
The tribute to Mr Hurcum acknowledges that his 54 year career milestone may never be seen again.
When Mr Hurcum started working with council as a junior gardener at Mawson Park on March 9, 1963 Campbelltown was still a municipal shire.
The tribute to him says that over the next 54 years he was a dedicated, reliable and highly respected employee within council’s operations section.
“Having worked in various roles with varying responsibilities over the years, he has continually demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring the aesthetic values and natural landscape of the Campbelltown Local Government Area were embellished and in synergy with the needs and expectations of the community.’’
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Council will also discuss the Greater Sydney Commission 20 year plan for the South West District, which includes the local government areas of Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool and Wollondilly.
The plan is part of the Commission’s vision of a new western city built around the airport at Badgery’s Creek.
A report to council says the plan is “somewhat disappointing in so far that it generally is considered to reflect a suite of existing government policy positions for various planning issues, including the provision of new housing supply, rather than representing a new, bold and ambitious approach to shaping the future of the South West District.’’
The report recommends that council endorse the submission on the plan and invite the Greater Sydney Commission district commissioner for south west Sydney, Sheridan Dudley, the former Camden Council GM, to “discuss the matters raised in the submission with the Mayor and senior council officers as a matter of urgency’’.
