How partnerships enable growth

I believe that developing strong partnerships is crucial for enabling growth and prosperity.

Since I became Mayor, we’ve partnered with the NSW Government to secure funding for even more community-building projects.

And I’m proud of our new partnership with Lake Macquarie City Council that will strengthen both our voices for regional growth. 

Recently, Council supported Lake Macquarie’s motion that calls on the Australian Government to progress the Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail route. This motion is being submitted for debate at the National General Assembly of Local Government in June, the largest annual gathering of local government leaders in Australia.

At our February Council meeting, we resolved to submit the same motion to the National General Assembly, meaning our combined voice will be even stronger on this matter of regional importance. 

This is an excellent example of how strategic alliances can strengthen advocacy. 

A national high-speed rail network linking Brisbane and Melbourne, with the Newcastle–Sydney section via Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast as the first stage, has the potential to transform both our regions.

Faster travel times between cities will open up exciting opportunities for jobs, housing, trade, education, tourism and more. 

People will have more choice about where they live, work and study, and new reliable transport options will help to manage population growth.

This theme of this year’s National General Assembly is ‘Stronger Together: Resilient. Productive. United’, highlighting the importance of collaboration on issues of national and regional significance. 

Once again, I commend Lake Macquarie City Council on both their motion to the National General Assembly, and on their commitment to our partnership. 

I look forward to partnering with them on more regional initiatives in the future. 

Mayor Lawrie McKinna