POLITICS
United support for war widows in Hawkesbury
Member for Hawkesbury, Ms Robyn Preston MP has welcomed Hawkesbury City Council’ s unanimous support for a Mayoral Minute calling for fairer access to council rate concessions for war widows.
The Mayoral Minute calls on the NSW Government to amend Section 134 of the Local Government( General) Regulation 2021 to remove the income and assets test that currently excludes some war widows from receiving support.
Ms Preston said 27 war widows in Hawkesbury are currently missing out due to the existing rules.
“ This is about fairness. These women should not be excluded from support because of an outdated means test,” Ms Preston said.
“ The cost to Council is modest, but the benefit to those widows is significant- especially as cost-of-living pressures continue to rise.”
Ms Preston said the decision builds on her ongoing advocacy for veterans’ families.
“ This continues the work I began as Shadow Minister for Veterans, working alongside War Widows and the Families of Veterans Guild to address inequities like this,” she said.
Ms Preston thanked Mayor Les Sheather for bringing this important issue before Council and appreciated the full support of Hawkesbury City Councillors.“ This is a strong message from the Hawkesbury community that we stand by those who have sacrificed for our country.”
FROM THE MAYOR’ S DESK
with Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather
It is an exciting time to be serving the Hawkesbury as your Mayor. Over the last month I have had the privilege of meeting with many of you to hear your thoughts and share with you the exciting projects that are coming up.
Late last month Council welcomed tens of thousands of enthusiastic and curious visitors to our tent at the Hawkesbury Show. The Show is our best opportunity each year to connect with you, to share the exciting progress we are making on our current and upcoming projects, and receive your feedback. I thank everyone who came, had fun, and took the time to learn about what Council is doing in your community.
I was also privileged to be able to take a tour of our two biggest underconstruction projects in our City right now – Woodbury Reserve at Glossodia and Fernadell Park in Pitt Town – with members of our local community. At both these locations, we are delivering the respective communities with a new beating heart of active and passive recreation and lifestyle. Fernadell Park is especially exciting as it is rare to be able to create a brand-new park that didn’ t exist before. Both these parks will be ready, weather permitting, by mid next year, but in the meantime you can see a video of the Fernadell works on Council’ s Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also learn more about all our major projects on Council’ s new Delivering Local Projects page on Council’ s website.
If you want to look ahead and see what we have in store for the next financial year, our 2026 / 2027 Operational Plan and Budget is now available for the community to read and to provide feedback. Staff and Councillors have worked very hard on this year’ s Operational Plan to ensure Council is delivering on the community’ s priorities while also delivering a balanced budget. The Plan is also an excellent opportunity for all residents to read and learn about what it takes to run a complex and multifaceted organisation like Council. You can read the plan, and have your say, at our libraries, Council’ s Administration Building, and online at www. yourhawkesburyyoursay. com. au
And finally, let me take this opportunity to thank our outgoing General Manager Elizabeth Richardson for her nearly five years of exemplary service to the
Hawkesbury community. Ms Richardson steered this Council through years of challenging natural disasters, with Council emerging a far more resilient, proactive, prepared and forwardfacing organisation. Her list of achievements is long – I encourage everyone to go onto Council’ s website and read Council’ s statement on our Council News page.
20 ISSUE 192 // MAY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT