Pittwater Life September 2017 Issue

Editorial
Stay calm and vote wisely...
Far be it from us to tell you
who you should vote for
on Northern Beaches Council
election day on September 9.
That’s not how we do things.
That said, there are some
things we think you should
consider to help you make
your decision... Our cover line
says it all: Stay calm and vote
wisely. We believe the passion
and hype surrounding the
amalgamation of May 2016,
and whether or not the former
Pittwater is returned, should be
taken out of the equation.
Be wary of investing in
candidates who want to take
us backwards, irrespective
of their good intentions – if
de-amalgamation is to happen
it will happen, but it’s a wholly
different matter to the one
at hand: electing the office
bearers we need who will take
a seat at the table of a new
business that turns over nearly
$1 billion a year, and who will
be charged with driving our
local community forward.
Our advice? We need
progressive thinkers and good
communicators on the new
Council to ensure we have our
hyper-local issues and concerns
managed appropriately. We
cannot afford to allow our
voice to be muffled; we will
be represented by just six of
a total 15 councillors across
the 254 square kilometres
from Palm Beach to Manly to
Davidson to Belrose (see our
Dummies Guide on p25).
We need individuals sensitive
to our environment, both built
and natural, who possess the
business acumen (that doesn’t
mean business professional)
and the savvy required to not
just deal with other councillors,
but also negotiate with the
government of the day to
deliver the additional essential
and other services we require,
above and beyond seeing our
bins emptied on time.
Pride is an honourable trait;
just be careful what you wish
for.
– Nigel Wall
The Local Voice Since 1991
SEPTEMBER 2017 3