Mayor George Greiss wants to see council invest its own money in projects that could kick start the revitalisation of Campbelltown.
He says such investment would send a strong signal to investors that council believes in Campbelltown’s future and is doing all it can to realise it.
Council officers have been researching and developing a policy that will define its operational mandate in the revitalisation space as well as set the renewal agenda.
The aim is to create a clearly defined framework for leveraging council assets to implement transformational projects that will attract private and public sector investment.
“If we, as a Council and a community, are serious about the revitalisation of our CBDs, we must not make decisions based on historical narratives that, while they may make us feel like we are maintaining our past, are costing us our future,’’ Cr Greiss writes in his regular Mayoral Minute to be tabled at the next council meeting on Tuesday, July 11.
“We cannot put our city’s growth on hold for memories sake.’’
Mayor Greiss says that it’s important all stakeholders in Campbelltown, including council, realise “we cannot be in a constant state of planning’’.
“While some may argue that the market conditions may have changed due to the time lag between our research and the policy release, and they may be right, we cannot reset and start again.
“Otherwise, we will never finish.’’
Mayor Greiss also cautions that council must be careful not to give itself an unfair market advantage or to crowd out other private investments.
“To do this, we need a policy that will strengthen our ability and capacity to deliver and influence urban renewal outcomes within our LGA,’’ he says.
“This includes potential projects that may sit outside the council’s normal business activities, such as planning and developing strategic sites that will facilitate the creation of vibrant places and generate future revenue streams for the Council.’’
Regarding Mayor Greiss’ comments. I don’t think that it has to be one or the other – past or future. Both can and should be carried out by council. Certainly council has to look to the present and future but this should be able to be done in conjunction with preserving and honouring our past. Not either or. Thank you.