Spotlight celebrates what has been a busy 2 years in the Lord Mayoral Chains for City of Parramatta Councillor Bob Dwyer. Councillor Dwyer passed the Lord Mayoral chains to Councillor Issa at the Council meeting 27th September 2021, after the required vote for Lord Mayor for the short time before council elections in 2021.
During his time as Lord Mayor Councillor Dwyer has been a good friend of Spotlight appearing on the show 12 times since the show started in July 2020. We welcomed the support Councillor Dwyer has given to a cause deep to our hearts being the Westmead Push for Palliative Care.
During his final council meeting as Lord Mayor, Councillor Dwyer thanked councillors, staff and executive team as well as his family.
“I would like to thank my family, my wife Jenny, our children, and grandchildren, for their encouragement and support, not just in my time as Lord Mayor but throughout all my time as a Councillor. Without their backing, I would not have had the opportunity to serve as a Councillor or Lord Mayor and for this I am grateful.”
Lord Mayor Councillor Bob Dwyer
Councillor Dwyer has been instrumental in raising the media profile of City of Parramatta, and Spotlight is proud to have been part of media journey, keeping regular updates going out to our listeners even in times of COVID.
“I am immensely proud to have played a part in the ongoing transformation of our City, particularly in a time where we experienced one of the toughest periods our community has ever faced as we keenly felt the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Lord Mayor Councillor Bob Dwyer
Included below is a snapshot of the achievements of the City of Parramatta during Councillor Dwyer’s 2 year Lord Mayoral term.
- City of Parramatta COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Packages
- At Parramatta City Brand Launch, Home AT Parramatta and Go Local campaigns
- Parramatta Square
- 5 Parramatta Square construction
- Parramatta Square Public Artworks
- Parramatta Aquatic and Leisure Centre progressing
- Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal endorsed by Council
- Council’s Prioritisation Assessment Program to fast-track DAs and Planning Proposals to fast-track shovel ready projects and stimulate the economy
- Driving forward with our redevelopment of the iconic Riverside Theatres with the release of our concept proposal
- New Strategic Alliances
- EducateAT Parramatta
- Parramatta Square Precinct Alliance
- Wentworth Point Community Centre & Library opened in late 2019 and delivering programs to reduce social isolation and support kids throughout Covid-19 related lockdowns
- Parramatta as a 24-Hour City with the launch of our Night Time Economy Activation grants and our live music trial
- City of Parramatta honoured as Australia’s ‘leading Smart City’ for innovative, world-class projects including
- Smart Planning at Melrose Park
- Parramatta CBD Parking Finder
- FloodSmart
- Storybox Parramatta
- Phillip Street Smart Street Stage one is almost complete, with planning for Stage two underway
- Innovative proposal unveiled for the expansion of the Parramatta Legal and Justice Precinct with the inaugural meetings of the Coalition taking place recently
- Escarpment Boardwalk is complete and open to the public, which is also part of the multimillion-dollar transformation or Parramatta Quay including the redevelopment of Charles Street Square
- Boronia Grove Community Centre is complete, ready for the community to use once restrictions ease. It will soon include a new café, adding yet more vibrancy to Epping
- A state-of-the-art synthetic sports field was unveiled at Rydalmere Park as part of Stage one of the ground’s multimillion-dollar overhaul
- Parramatta Foundations Mini-Documentary Series
- New life for Parramatta’s historical treasures digitised in partnership with Macquarie University partnership
- Interactive 360-degree self-guide virtual tour of Parramatta
- Heart of Play Master Plan adopted
- John Wearn Reserve has been upgraded as part of the $5.2 million refurbishment of the park, which includes a safari-themed playground, dog park, amenities block, skate park and more
- Local park upgrades were delivered across the LGA including at Goodin Road Winston Hills, Gallery Gardens Old Toongabbie, Max Ruddock Reserve North Rocks and Pierre de Coubertin Park, Newington.
- Local neighbourhood centres have been transformed and refreshed including Chisholm Centre Winston Hills and Constitution Hills shops.
- Winston Hills commuter car park on Junction Road is on track with works progressing in partnership with Transport for NSW and The Hills Shire Council
- Plans for Alfred Street Bridge are progressing following Council securing a multimillion-dollar funding contribution from the NSW Government
- Council has secured its future in the CBD with the purchase of 9 Wentworth Street
- Council’s advocated heavily throughout the term for the benefit of our communities, including on topics of:
- Covid-19 relief and recovery measures, and improved trading conditions
- Calling for a Westmead Precinct Deal
- Advocating for the renewal of the Camellia Precinct
- Advocating for improved infrastructure and transport services for our City, including advocating to address and minimise the impacts on the City of construction of Parramatta Light Rail and Sydney Metro West
- This includes advocating for support for businesses and improved communication and consultation with businesses impacted by PLR construction
- Council successfully advocate for the retention of direct ferry services between Parramatta and Circular Quay
- Welcoming the appointment of Lendlease to build Powerhouse Parramatta, with it set to become an iconic cultural institution for our City for generations to come.