Sydney councillors confirmed

The final make-up of the City of Sydney Council has been confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission (NEC) in the wake of the September 8 local government elections.

Liberal candidate Christine Forster and Living Sydney candidate Angela Vithoulkas have successfully joined Council after counting of pre-poll and postal votes.

Mses Forster and Vithoulkas will join the five successful Clover Moore Independent Team members (Jenny Green, Robyn Kemmis, Robert Kok, John Mant and Ms Moore), Greens councillor Irene Doutney, Liberal candidate Edward Mandla and Labor’s Linda Scott on the team of ten councillors, who will hold their first meeting tomorrow (Friday, September 21).

Ms Forster said confirmation of her position by the NEC marked the end of a nail-biting week.

“It was a long wait for the final results and let me tell you, there was a lot of sitting on the Electoral Commission’s website refreshing the screens,” she said.

Ms Forster, sister of Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, said her election marked an historic moment for the Liberal Party in the City of Sydney.

“This is the first time we’ve had two councillors at the City of Sydney, so this is a new era for the City,” she said.

“We’ve achieved this because of a high-profile campaign, and more importantly, some really good policies.”

A ten per cent rate cut, abolition of pavement dining fees for inner city restaurants and cafes, and shuttle buses from Kings Cross and Oxford Street to late night transport hubs such as Town Hall and Central Railway Station were among the policies, which she said would be pursued with vigour by her and Liberal counterpart, Edward Mandla.

“Our intention is to keep championing the policies we went into the election with,” she said.

Living Sydney’s Angela Vithoulkas said she was thrilled to bring greater accountability to Sydney.

“The fact that Clover Moore no longer has an outright majority means the City has embarked on an era of greater accountability,” she said.

“I’m thrilled to be part of that and I will help ensure Council decisions are not rubber-stamped.”

Ms Vithoulkas said she was keen to determine where best to channel her attention.

“I can’t wait to start work and see the lie of the land,” she said.

“The near future will involve immersing myself in Council business and seeing what the strengths are, what the weaknesses are, and taking action from there.”