2023 Mayoral Election

I am honoured to be commencing my second term as Mayor of Cumberland Council. Thank you to my fellow Councillors for putting their trust and confidence in me to continue as Mayor. Last week, an election was held in which all Councillors voted for the next Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Cumberland Council. I am happy to announce that Clr Ola Hamed will be leading alongside me in the Deputy Mayor’s role and I look forward to us working together to make Cumberland the best place to be. Together, Clr Hamed and I will hold these positions until the next Council elections in September 2024. We both look forward to continuing to serve the best interests of our community. Thank you to outgoing Deputy Mayor, Clr Suman Saha for his leadership and dedication to the role in the past 12 months.

Centrelink Payment Increases

It was recently announced that many Centrelink payments, including the Age

Pension, Jobseeker, Austudy, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Disability

Support Pension and more, would receive a rate increase as part of the $14.6 billion cost-of-living package handed down by the Labor government during this year’s Federal Budget. The Jobseeker payment will now receive an extra $56.10 per fortnight, those on a single Parenting Payment will receive a $20.30 increase ($54.80 increase for partners), with Austudy payments increasing by $40 per fortnight and Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment increasing by $32.70 for singles and $49.40 for couples. To view all the increased payments, or for more information, visit www.dss.gov.au

Holroyd Gardens Green Carpark Opening

Council is revolutionising urban parking with the opening of a green prototype carpark at Holroyd Gardens in Merrylands. It aims to transform the asphalt carpark into cool, cost-efficient and sustainable car spaces. The urban design includes a trellis system across 415 square metres of the western and southern sides of the carpark. These fast-growing vines will take around 12 months to grow and will provide shade for 31 car spaces. Council, in partnership with Western Sydney University, co-funded this project through the NSW Government’s Greening Our City grant and it will help reduce surface temperatures, improve air quality and support birds and wildlife. The carpark is now open for residents and park visitors to use. For more information about

this project, visit www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/cool-carpark-project

Raksha Bandhan Festival

Lastly, I recently attended the Raksha

Bandhan Festival, held at the Sri Mandir Temple in Auburn. Hosted by the Hindu Organisations, Temples and Associations Forum (HOTA), Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu annual ceremony, where sisters of all ages tie a talisman or amulet called the “rakhi” around the wrists of their brothers in gratitude for protecting them, receive a gift in return and traditionally entrust the brothers with a share of the

responsibility of their potential care. Thank you to the HOTA for inviting me to witness this celebration.

Mayor Lisa Lake