Lithgow City Council - Mayoral Notes

Council considered a report relating to the Prime TV Television transmission. It was noted that correspondence had been forwarded through The Honourable Bob Debus to Prime TV and a response indicated that some work was likely to take place towards the end of April. However, this work may have been hampered by the poor weather over the last couple of weeks. Council in general however, are still unhappy with the TV reception in a number of locations within our Local G overnment area and are seeking an inquiry on the issue and a report regarding the SBS and possible solutions to have SBS to be introduced into the Hartley Valley .

Following the last PACT (Police Accountability Community Teams) meeting a report came to Council which included the fact that staffing levels are expected to increase by six (6) over the period of April to May in Lithgow. This will help to deliver a better service in our area. It is also expected that when the new Commander arrives, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, that the Commander of the Chifley area will be in a position to come and address Council on a number of issues. We look forward to having that opportunity to meet the new Commander and raise the issues.

For those people who have made inquiries on where the fluoridisation of our water supply is up to, it should be noted that an Advisory Committee of Fluoridisation of Public Water Supplies will be held on the 15 th of May 2008 and providing that final procedures are then followed, it is expected that the fluoridisation will take place in the upcoming financial year and in fact has been listed in the Capital Works items of the Draft Financial Plan for the upcoming financial year.

Lithgow Show Society have recently written to Council thanking Council for the help that was given to the Show Society during their recent and very successful Lithgow Show. The Committee have very much appreciated the help given by Council and all of their volunteers to make the show the success it was.

Following the adoption of the change to the Council's Draft Code of Meeting Practice, it may be interesting to those who attend Council meetings from time to time, that they will in future be on a Tuesday, not a Monday. The dates and times of these meetings will be advertised in due course through the local media.

Born on 4 November 1953, Neville Castle was educated at Rydalmere Public School, Asquith Boys High School and obtained his BA Dip. ED at Macquarie University.

Together with his wife Wendy, to whom he has been married 18 years, he has two children Craig & Lauren. He has been living in Portland for 21 years and teaches Social Science and PE at Portland Central School.

In 1987 he was elected to Council and was the Deputy Mayor for 7.5years. Neville was elected Mayor on 6 April 1999 after the retirement of Gerard Martin from Local Government to concentrate further on his new career as the State Member for Bathurst. He was re-elected to Council and the position of Mayor in September 1999 after the Local Government Elections. He originally joined Council as an independent however he is now affiliated with the Labor Party.

He is interested in most sports with his main sporting passion being cricket and has been the Chairman of Council’s Sports Advisory Committee for 13 years. He has coached local junior and senior sides, Junior District and Western District sides, Open Western Area and NSWCHS Boys and Girls sides.

At various times he has been a member of:

The Board of Directors of the Portland Golf Club
A committee member of the East Portland Tennis Club
Portland Cricket Club
Coleman House
Tabulam Cottages
Crystal Theatre Management Committee
Portland Community Centre
He has & does represent Council on various Committees of Council and Committees that Council is affiliated with such as:
Delegate to the Blayney Abattoir County Council (now redundant)
Bush Fire Advisory Committee (9 years)
Cox’s River Catchment Management Committee
Association of Mine Related Councils
Airport Working Party
Budget Project Team
Business Lithgow Board
Citizens Access Committee
Joint Consultative Committee ( A council staff committee)
Sister Cities Committee; and
Sydney Road Links Committee
Neville believes in keeping the community informed with regard to Council policies and decisions and is endeavouring to develop a broader economic base for Lithgow’s Local Government Area.