With less than a week to go until the NSW State election, Mayor Matt Gould is continuing to receive commitments from State candidates in response to the five key election priorities he has laid out for the Wollondilly Shire.

Following a meeting last week, Mayor Gould has warmly welcomed the commitment of One Nation’s Rebecca Thompson to four out of five of Council’s key priorities, joining recent pledges by Independent Judith Hannan and Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith to some of council’s priorities.

Mayor Gould said, “I am pleased to see Ms Thompson has committed to so many of these key priorities if elected. I am waiting on a public commitment from other candidates including Labor and the Greens to make sure that whatever the outcome this weekend the Wollondilly community will get what it needs.”

“It’s up to every individual to decide who to vote for in the State election, but I want to make sure that the person who is elected is fully committed to the people of our Shire and the key priorities that Council has asked for during the 2023-2027 term of government.”

If elected, Ms Thompson has committed to full project funding and construction of the Picton Bypass, as well as reclassification of the entirety of Remembrance Driveway, Menangle Road and Silverdale Road as State roads.

In terms of infrastructure and services for the Wilton Growth Area, Ms Thompson has said she would secure land for a future hospital and commence work on a new urgent care centre, have Bus Rapid Transit in operation by 2024 with a plan approved for future rail services, and four public schools (three primary schools and a high school) funded and on track to open by 2030.

She has also committed to a robust, fully funded infrastructure plan for the Appin Growth Area, including a binding staging and sequencing plan that links any development that does occur to the delivery of identified infrastructure that needs to be agreed to and signed off by both State and Local Government before or in conjunction with any land rezoning.

The Mayor is continuing to meet with all State candidates to make sure the Wollondilly Shire has its voice heard in this State election and is pushing all candidates to commit to all of the priorities our community needs.