Successful LRAC meetings

Inner West Council has held its first two Local Representation Advisory Committee (LRAC) meetings, in Ashfield on Tuesday and last night in Leichhardt.

The LRAC’s are based around the former local government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville, and are made up of former elected representatives – including Labor, Liberal, the Greens and Independents – who will help to shape decisions of the new Inner West Council.

All 12 of the former Ashfield Councillors, including Mayor Lucille McKenna OAM, have agreed to sit on the Ashfield LRAC.

Nine former Leichhardt Councillors will sit on the Leichhardt LRAC, including former Mayor Darcy Byrne.

Administrator of Inner West Council Richard Pearson said the first two meetings were “very successful and constructive”.

“The LRACs will advise me on key agenda items to be considered at Council meetings,” he said.

“For example, the LRACs strongly supported my proposed Minute that will ratify Inner West Council’s position on WestConnex – that we continue to oppose the project in the strongest possible terms. This is consistent with the position of the three former councils,” Mr Pearson said.

“I also sought the advice of the Committee members on establishing a WestConnex Response Unit within Council, which will respond to our residents’ concerns about impacts associated with the construction of approved stages of WestConnex, and formulate all submissions and representations on future stages,” he said.

“As well, we agreed that regular meetings be held with WestConnex resident action groups,” Mr Pearson said. “And the LRACs supported my idea to have a WestConnex Compliance Officer, funded by the State Government, who would be the go-to person for inner west residents whenever and wherever there is an issue with current WestConnex works.”

Other areas for discussion included the operational plan and budget, the potential for a partnership with Transport for NSW to construct a multi-level commuter carpark adjacent to Ashfield Station, and the potential designs for the separated cycleway on Lilyfield Road.

The Terms of Reference for the LRAC meetings were also fine-tuned, Mr Pearson said.

“We quickly clarified that while the Administrator is the official spokesperson for Council, of course the LRAC members are free to speak to media. There was never any intention to censor anyone. To suggest otherwise is to detract from what were otherwise highly successful and constructive meetings,” Mr Pearson said.
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Successful LRAC meetings

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