An extraordinary Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 September 2018 to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor following confirmation Mayor Lindsay Shurey is standing down after 12 months in the top job.

Mayor Shurey is the second female Mayor in the Council’s 159-year history and formed the first all-female leadership team with Deputy Mayor Alexandra Luxford in 2017.

“Serving as Mayor of Randwick has been an incredible honour and privilege. However the time has come for me to focus on other things and I am honouring the commitment made to my fellow Councillors for a 12-month term,” Mayor Shurey said.

Addressing domestic violence, opening the Malabar Headland Western Walking Track and banning single use plastics she says are among her top achievements.

“In the past year I’ve made it my priority that Council continues to be financially strong and forward facing, able to meet the challenges of the future. I’ve championed sustainability and encouraged many artistic and creative endeavours with Randwick City, and worked with the cycling community to create safer spaces for walking and cycling.

“I’m particularly proud to have worked with our many local community organisations, schools, charities and health support groups who all help make our City the wonderful place it is.”

Other achievements noted by the Mayor include:

• Funding more domestic violence outreach workers;
• Expanding Council’s partnership with the Sydney Film Festival with a new 30 Seconds to Randwick short film competition with UNSW;
• Installing rescue tubes at Randwick City beaches – an Australian first initiative;
• Supporting marriage equality;
• Commencing construction on a major upgrade to Coogee Bay Road;
• Progressing designs for walking and cycling improvements between Kingsford and Centennial Park;
• Developing a smart cities strategy;
• Adopting a family and domestic violence policy to provide extra leave and flexible work options for staff experiencing domestic violence;
• Securing a strong financial future for the Council through the Our Community Our Future program;
• Helping residents and businesses impacted by light rail construction, including giving evidence at a Parliamentary Inquiry; and
• Helping property owners affected by banks tightening lending on company title dual occupancy premises.

Mayor Shurey thanked her fellow Councillors, Deputy Mayor, General Manager Ray Brownlee PSM and Council staff for their support and professionalism.

Councillor Shurey will remain on the Council as a Councillor.

The Extraordinary Council Meeting will take place in the Randwick Town Hall at 7pm on Wednesday 26 September 2018.

More information:

• Mayoral Minute – Report from the outgoing Mayor – 26 September 218 (link to come)

Media enquiries:

Chelsea Hunter – 0419 694 983 or chelsea.hunter@randwick.nsw.gov.au

Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au