Mayor of Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall is preparing to hit back at Coda Conduct's comical attack on his beloved hometown with his very own rap.

Yes, the city councillor is penning a song in response to Is it a Quanger?!, which was recently performed by Canberra all-girl rap duo Sally Coleman, 23, and Erica Mallett, 22, as part of the weather forecast on Triple J's breakfast show Matt and Alex.

"Queanbeyan! What a wannabe! Copied our forecast, got it free. But it's not a shock, cos you're basically... just part of the ACT," its most offending line reads.

Queanbeyan's opening hours, oversupply of takeaway joints and residents' tendency to don socks and sandals did not escape the girls' wrath.

Quanger rapper: Mayor Tim Overall hits back.
Quanger rapper: Mayor Tim Overall hits back.  Photo: Digitally altered
Cr Overall said he was impressed with Coda Conduct's wit but a reactionary rap was underway and set to be a social media sensation. 

"I thought it [Is it a Quanger?!] was clever and amusing but totally out of order," he said.

Canberrans and Queanbeyanites will have to wait in anticipation for more with Cr Overall remaining tight-lipped about the remainder and launch of the ditty.

But a performance could be in the works with the mayor "talking to a local rap group".

He said he was confident his rap would go viral and expected Coda Conduct's reaction to be one of "shock and horror".

No word if light rail or Skywhale feature.

"It is critical it goes viral to restore the integrity and prestige of Q town," he said. 

"There is no way anyone can claim it will be nil cost after year six as at the moment we don’t have any financial information, a business plan or a business model from the proponent."

Cr Overall said ‘‘game playing’’ by a few councillors was obstrucing progress after five years of investigations and nine months of ‘‘detailed negotiations’’.

He said the proposal had been thoroughly scrutinised through three workshops with councillors and senior staff, market studies and analysis as well as 20-year financial and funding plans that had been ‘‘worked and reworked’’.

“If I sound frustrated, I am – so much time and energy to bring another priority of the community’s vision to fruition to be wasted in a few moments by game playing by some [not all] and being disguised as a lack of due diligence,” Cr Overall said.

“I can assure residents that the cinema proposal ticked all the boxes as a low risk, no-cost-to-ratepayers project, and it is a travesty that it has not proceeded to the next stage, which is a memorandum of understanding that would allow things to move forward to the next level.”

The memorandum was needed to secure the cinema operator’s confidence in Queanbeyan.

"It’s been 18 years since we last had a cinema proposal in Queanbeyan,’’ he said.

"Should we not support this it will be many years, if at all, until we see a cinema complex in Queanbeyan."

Cr Overall said a Facebook page had been created to provide the community with the facts.



Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan, is a regional centre on the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. At the 2011 census census, Queanbeyan had a population of 37,991.


Following the founding of Canberra, Australia's federal capital, just 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the west, Queanbeyan has become an integral part of the capital city's economy. The word Queanbeyan is the anglicised form of Quinbean – an Aboriginal word meaning "clear waters".

Mayor of City of Sydney

Clover Moore (née Collins, 22 October 1945) is an Australian politician. She has been the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney since 2004. She was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2012, representing the electorates of Bligh (1988–2007) and Sydney (2007–2012). Moore is the first popularly elected female Lord Mayor of Sydney.

Moore resigned as a state MP as a result of new state laws (labelled in the media as the "Get Clover" laws) preventing dual membership of state parliament and local councils. Following her re-election as mayor in the 2012 elections, she was forced to resign the state seat she held for 24 years before the first meeting of the new council. This resulted in a 2012 Sydney by-election on 27 October in which she endorsed independent candidate Alex Greenwich of the Australian Marriage Equality who won in a landslide victory.

Clover Moore (nee Collins) (born 1945), grew up in the suburb of Gordon, on Sydney's North Shore. She attended Loreto Kirribilli at Kirribilli, before going on to study teaching at Sydney University. While at university, she married Peter Moore, an architect. After graduating from university, the pair moved to London, United Kingdom for five years, settling in the inner city suburb of Redfern on their return. She was elected to the South Sydney Council in 1980. Moore is a Catholic.

In early 2004, the Australian Labor Party government, under Bob Carr, sacked and re-amalgamated the City of Sydney and South Sydney Councils. The move came largely as a surprise, with then-Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull (the wife of now Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull) being notified by a fax posted under her door. The decision to amalgamate the two councils was widely interpreted by the media as an attempt to get the Labor candidate, former federal minister Michael Lee, elected as Lord Mayor, as it would bring a large area of largely Labor-voting suburbs into the City of Sydney. However, several of these suburbs also made up Moore's state electorate of Bligh.

When Turnbull announced soon after that she would not seek re-election, Lee appeared to have the position won. Then, on 24 February, Moore entered the race, labelling the council's sacking a "cynical grab for power" and sharply condemning the sacking of a democratically elected mayor, despite her ideological differences with Turnbull. By the following day, The Sydney Morning Herald was already predicting that she would present a serious challenge to Lee.

Despite a spirited challenge from Lee, who was supported by much of the business community which had concerns about Moore's anti-development stance, Moore won. She finished with more than double the vote of her nearest rival, Lee, and ABC election analyst Antony Green announced that she would "romp through" to win, only 90 minutes after counting began.

Though she had made a point of not directing voting preferences in her four election campaigns in the Legislative Assembly, Moore decided to support a team of independents for the council race. This turned out to be quite successful, with four of her team of six - John McInerney, Robyn Kemmis, Marcelle Hoff and Phillip Black - being elected to council.

At the local government elections held on 13 September 2008 Moore was re-elected as Lord Mayor of Sydney.

After introducing bike lanes through many parts of inner Sydney, Moore broke an ankle on Ride to Work Day in October 2010, while dismounting from her bike, necessitating that she attend some events in a wheelchair.


Since becoming Mayor, Moore has been able to bring to completion the construction of several buildings and pieces of infrastructure.

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre (formerly "Ultimo Aquatic Centre") by Harry Seidler
Surry Hills City of Sydney Library by FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorpe)
Paddington Reservoir Gardens by TZG (Tonkin Zulaikha Greer)
Redfern Park by BVN (Bligh Voller Nield)
Reg Bartley Oval grandstand and kiosk,Rushcutters Bay, by Lacoste+Stevenson
Pirrama Park in Pyrmont by ASPECT Studios
Prince Alfred Park makeover near Central railway station by Rachel Neeson and Nick Murcutt.
Burton Street Tabernacle (to become the new Tabernacle Theatre)
There are also:

On 27 October 2007 Moore proposed a Private Members Bill that would ban the sale of dogs, cats and other mammals in NSW pet stores, and effectively ban the breeding of crossbred dogs. The Pet Industry Association responded with a petition opposing the legislation. The RSPCA Australia has given its support to the measure, although it was rejected by NSW purebred dog breeders.

Bike lanes constructed through Sydney angered many local residents for reducing parking and critics attacked the cost while other groups, including local headmasters and school groups, applauded them. The Bourke Street Cycleway won a Sydney Design Award in 2012.
The "City of Sydney Amendment (Elections) Amendment Bill", became law in September 2014, replacing one optional vote per business with two compulsory votes and it has been alleged that this is one of "two statutes designed to bar her from public life".





City of Sydney

The City of Sydney is the local government area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The central business district of Sydney is roughly bounded by Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour to the north, Macquarie Street to the east, Darling Harbour to the west and Liverpool Street and Central railway station to the south.

On 6 February 2004, the former local government area of the City of South Sydney was formally merged into the City of Sydney. Suburbs within the boundaries of the City of Sydney before the merger include the central business district of Sydney itself, Pyrmont and Ultimo to the west, Haymarket to the south, and other suburbs. Suburbs within the City of South Sydney before the merger included Woolloomooloo, Alexandria, Darlington (now mostly occupied by the University of Sydney), Erskineville, Newtown, Redfern, Glebe, Waterloo, most of Surry Hills and a portion of Paddington.

The leader of the City of Sydney holds the title of the Lord Mayor of Sydney. The current Lord Mayor is Councillor Clover Moore who has been in office since 27 March 2004.

Mayor of Sunshine Coast

I love the Sunshine Coast – our fantastic natural assets, our landscapes and the outstanding lifestyle we enjoy. It is why I choose to live here.But the Sunshine Coast is much more.
Right now, we are writing a significant page in the history of our region. We are building a new economy, shaping a strong community and ensuring we remain second to none when it comes to our environmental credentials.
As one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions and in the nation’s top ten significant urban areas, the Sunshine Coast is fast becoming one of Australia’s leading city regions for the 21st century.
A smart, healthy, sustainable region – with its own identity but intimately connected to the world.
This is my vision for the Sunshine Coast – and I am working hard to make this vision a reality. Building on the past, being decisive now and charting a clear and prosperous future for our community.
We have a long and proud history on the Sunshine Coast – stretching back over many thousands of years during which the spectacular Glass House Mountains were formed and the peoples of the Kabi Kabi First Nation made this their home.
Today, we are a community that welcomes all and offers outstanding opportunities. Through the efforts of the Council I lead, we are building a Sunshine Coast that is a true economic powerhouse in an idyllic environment. A vision that is becoming the reality.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson





Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast is a metropolitan area and the third most populated area in the Australian state of Queensland. Located 100 km north of the state capital Brisbane in South East Queensland on the Pacific Ocean coastline, its urban area spans approximately 60 km of coastline and hinterland from Pelican Waters to Tewantin. The estimated urban population of Sunshine Coast as at June 2014 was 297,380.,making it the 9th most populous in the country.

The area was first settled by Europeans in the 19th century with development progressing slowly until tourism became an important industry. The area has several coastal hubs at Caloundra, Kawana Waters, Maroochydore and Noosa Heads. Nambour and Maleny have developed as primary commercial centres for the hinterland.

Mayor of Wollongong

The City of Wollongong local government area is represented by a Council comprising a Lord Mayor and 12 Councillors. Both the Lord Mayor and the Councillors are popularly elected, that is they are elected by persons enrolled on the Commonwealth electoral roll.
The City is divided into three Wards with four Councillors elected from each Ward.
The current Lord Mayor and Councillors were elected for a one-off, five year term on 3 September 2011.
The next Council elections are scheduled for September 2016 and Councillors will be elected for a term of four years. Voting is compulsory for all persons on the Commonwealth electoral roll at that time.
The Lord Mayor and Councillors phone and email contacts are listed below:
Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM
Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM comes to Wollongong City Council from a strong background in the community. He has been Chaplain to NSW Police, Rural Fire Service, RSL Padre and Administrator of Wollongong Mission of the Uniting Church and Minister of the Church on the Mall for the past 15 years. His services to the community earned him an OAM.
For 15 years he also served as Chairperson of Lifeline South Coast, was a board member of Unanderra Care Services (aged care service) and served as an advocate for homeless and mental health services.
He has supported individuals and groups in business and entrepreneurial initiatives in Wollongong City.

Born and initially raised in Tamworth, Bradbery moved to Sydney and was schooled at Barnardos Children's Home in Normanhurst between the ages of 10 and 16; an experience Bradbery refers to "being raised at the school of hard knocks".

The majority of Bradbery's 25 years as an ordained minister was spent at the Wollongong Mission of the Uniting Church, known as the "Church on the Mall" in Crown St, Wollongong. In addition to his ministerial duties, Bradbery was also responsible for the Wollongong Community Care Centre that runs regular welfare programs for the disadvantaged, including a popular soup kitchen. Bradbery also worked actively with various elements of the community, adopting specialist areas in community development and social justice programs, as well as trauma and bereavement counselling. Bradbery has been recognised through numerous awards for his work with the disadvantaged, the traumatised and the vulnerable.

In addition to his work as a minister and in the community, Bradbery also undertook continued education, earning bachelor's degrees in psychology, sociology and divinity at the University of Sydney.

Following a meeting of the Presbytery of Illawarra of the Uniting Church, the decision was made not to extend Bradbery's term as the head of the Wollongong Mission beyond 2011, with the Chairman, David Jones citing "need to undertake succession planning for Ministry Leadership given the length of time Gordon has been in this placement". There was significant uproar among parts of the Wollongong community as a result of this decision, largely due to Bradbery's extensive community service work.

In 1996, Bradbery was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, "in recognition of service to the community, particularly for his role during the 1994 Sydney bushfires and the subsequent relief efforts for those affected".

In 1996 and again in 2009, Bradbery was awarded Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellowship Medal for outstanding community service.




Wollongong

Wollongong, "The Gong", is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres (51 miles) south of Sydney. Wollongong's Statistical District has a population of 292,190 (2010 est.), making Wollongong the third largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle, and the tenth largest city in Australia.

The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local authority areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north to Gerroa in the south Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra.

Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coalmining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year, and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 37,000 students and is internationally recognised.

The name "Wollongong" is believed to mean "seas of the South" in the local Aboriginal language, referring to NSW's Southern Coast. Other meanings have been suggested, such as "great feast of fish", "hard ground near water", "song of the sea", "sound of the waves", "many snakes" and "five islands".