Mayor's Column - 8 August 2012 - Farewell
Date Posted: 8 August 2012
On a recent Sunday, unseasonably warm weather gave a lot of people the chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Lyn and I visited Caves Beach in the morning and returned home in the afternoon via the north of the lake. It was wonderful to see how well our foreshores were being used; the over lake Red Bluff pathway, the foreshore at Warners Bay, and particularly, Speers Point Park and the Variety Playground were teeming with people.
I wasn't intending to be overly reflective on these things, however, as my term at Council draws to an end, it was a reminder of just some of the great changes I have seen since first being elected 21 years ago.
Council and the community have worked together to look beyond roads, rates and rubbish and greatly improve our quality of life over this time. As well as improved parks and recreational areas, we have tackled major problems such as environmental degradation. These challenges are ongoing but there is no denying the big improvements on land and lake. It is hard to identify what has given me most satisfaction in that sense, but having been intimately involved in the lake rehabilitation since 1991 is near the top of my list.
Lake Macquarie has many assets, but the best is its people. I have made many friends during my time on Council, particularly as Mayor. I cannot adequately express what an honour and privilege it has been to serve as your Mayor for the last 8 years and 5 months. I thank the community, particularly all the friends we have made over that time who have been overwhelmingly kind to Lyn and myself.
On September 8, a new Council will be elected. I thank them in advance for becoming involved in guiding the future of Council and wish them all the best as they serve their community into an always challenging, but exciting, future.
Article by Mayor Greg Piper