Leading into the Local Government Election, Penrith City Council has farewelled seven Councillors.
Following a Liberal Party administrative blunder, current Deputy Mayor Mark Davies, Marlene Shipley, Bernard Bratusa and Mark Rusev will not be eligible to recontest their spots at the September 14 poll.
Former Mayor Tricia Hitchen and first time Councillor Jonathan Pullen will not be recontesting their seats and Karen McKeown will not be recontesting due to her role as the State Member for Penrith.
This week, current Mayor Todd Carney farewelled the outgoing Liberal Councillors and thanked them for their service.
“Deputy Mayor Mark Davies, Councillor Mark Rusev, Councillor Bernard Bratusa and Councillor Marlene Shipley – this is not something I was expecting to do, nor is it the way it should have happened, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your service to local government,” Carney said.
“The partnership we have fostered not just during this Council term, but over many years has greatly contributed to your roles and the insights you have brought to this Council.
“I have found the collaboration of Councillors to be the driving force behind the success of our city’s transformation into a vibrant and liveable city.”
Outgoing Deputy Mayor Mark Davies expressed his feelings toward his farewell from Council.
“It is true the words that you spoke tonight about… something that was unexpected and that it shouldn’t have happened,” Davies said.
“But things in life do happen that are unexpected and shouldn’t happen and you’ve got to learn to roll with the punches and you move forward.”
Davies expressed that through his career as a local politician he learned that there is more to being a Councillor than anyone thinks.
“In 2004 I was elected, and it was a bruising experience I must say, in terms of preselection, I politically went through the baptism of fire and [was] battle hardened,” Davies said.
“It was an experience but in 2004 when I was elected, I soon began to learn about local government.
“I began to understand that Council wasn’t just about roads, rates and rubbish and one of the important things I learnt was the important aspect of place making and building community and the important roles that [plays] in our city.”
Davies, during his time on Council, implemented the Our River Masterplan and has since been a strong advocate for the precinct which has seen $150 million of public and private investment. Davies also initiated changes to Council’s Property Investment Strategy to diversify the income base, which now sits at $83 million, and previously called for the introduction of policy which saw trees planted and shade structures installed across 90 local playgrounds over three years and ensured all future playgrounds would have shade.
Councillor John Thain thanked all the outgoing Councillors for their service.
“I just want to thank those Councillors I’ve served with for their input, for their dedication and their collaboration. But I also want to thank their partners and their family for allowing them to do the job that they’ve done on Council over that time,” he said.
Bernard Bratusa shared a teary farewell as he said goodbye to his time on Council.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to have been a councillor for this great city,” Bratusa said.
He added the people of Penrith are what made his time as a Councillor so special.
“It’s the people of this city that makes it great, it’s the people of this city that makes us special,” Bratusa said.
First time Councillor Mark Rusev thanked the community for their help through his time as a Councillor.
“I thank all Councillors and all the staff at Council for their commitment to this City of Penrith,” Rusev said.
“I thank the Penrith City Council community for allowing me to be of service to them.”
Councillor Ross Fowler acknowledged all the hard work put in by the current team of Councillors.
“On reflection of what’s been said tonight, by various people, what they’ve talked about is a lot of things,” Fowler said.
“But if you look at them as individuals, you’ll see that each of them has a passion in some form or other… they all have a passion.
“I think that’s what makes this Council great, that each and every one of us has a passion somewhere and we participate, and we collaborate as has been said on a number of occasions and into the future I’m sure that collaboration is going to continue.”
Carney also farewelled the outgoing Councillors.
“To work with such wonderful and influential people on Council and in the community has been an honour,” Carney said.
Carney said he looked forward to the upcoming Council and that he wishes for the collaboration to continue.
“I trust that the Councillor collaboration during this last term, continues for the good of Penrith with the next Council term,” Carney said.
“The experience each of you have taken away from being a Councillor for the City of Penrith is a momentous achievement and something for which our City is indebted to each of you – I wish you the very best and thank you so much.”
The Local Government Election will be held on Saturday, September 14 which will see at least nine new Councillors elected.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.