19 Aug 2024

Trenton Brown, Ryde Liberals – East Ward

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What is your name, political party and electorate?

Trenton Brown, Ryde Liberals in the East Ward and for the Mayoralty.

Are you running for Mayor and if so, why?

  • I am running for Mayor because I believe I can make a difference to our community by offering strong and respected leadership as your Civic Leader. I have the professional skills to guide Council through the financial and probity failures of the past and set-up our community with a long-term financial plan that keeps Council Rates low and builds the required infrastructure that our community demands.
  • I have a track record of taking strong action in decisive community events such as overturning the previous Council’s endorsement to demolish the Macquarie Ice Rink and to protect and preserve important green open spaces such as TG Millner Fields.

Tell us about your background both personally and professionally

  • My professional background is in financial services, having been a stockbroker for approximately 25 years. I have multiple finance related qualifications including a Master of Applied Finance. In the last 8 years I have transitioned into becoming an accredited Governance, Risk Management and Integrity adviser.
  • I am married and have two teenage sons. My wife was born at Ryde Hospital and is a fourth generation resident of our City. She is very proud of her family’s long-standing commitment to civic life as her Grandfather and Great Grandfather were both former Mayor’s of Ryde Municipality. She is very supportive of my commitment to Ryde Council as Mayor and is a great adviser and (sometimes) critic of my performance.
  • We have two teenage boys who attended local public Primary and High Schools. I was an active parent in the school P&C community as both a Secretary and Vice-President for more than 8 years.

What are some things you love about your electorate?

  • Our City is substantially bounded by the Lane Cove River and The Parramatta River. I grew up sailing on the Parramatta River and I have many great experiences from my youth by the river. It is an important part of life for so many residents who use it for transport, recreation or as a beautiful backdrop for exercising along the foreshore.
  • My family are active sporting users and the parks and sportsfields play a big part in our lives given how active my two teenage sons are in both summer and winter sports. This is why it is important to have a Mayor who recognises the importance of sport to our community and will elevate this need to improve the quality and quantity of grounds available for our growing community.
  • Like all young families, I value the need to have playgrounds in our parks. In early 2018, I campaigned to stop Ryde Council from removing up to 30 playground areas from our City due to perceived cost savings measures. This was a great win for young families that would have been badly impacted by the removal of playground equipment suitable for children up to 12 years of age.
  • I have also supported the building of new parks and playground areas across the City and will continue to build the necessary infrastructure that families need in our community.

What do you believe are the 3 main issues affecting your electorate and why?

  • Australia is in a Cost of Living crisis and we need to ensure that Local Government recognises it can play a role in restricting rate increases to our residents. In the first budget of the current term, the Ryde Liberals froze Council Rates – thus providing a Real reduction in Council rates (after inflation). In the second budget we increased Council Rates (on average) by only $81 per year, or $1.50 per week.
  • Sydney’s population is growing and the housing crisis demands that all Council areas contribute to the increased need to housing. However, we need to talk about ‘building communities’ and not just dwellings when we talk about a housing crisis. Otherwise, the population will arrive before the schools are built and the parks and open spaces are available for play. That is why preserving open green spaces like the North Ryde Common and the TG Millner Sporting Fields is essential for growing communities.
  • Finally, the NSW Government Housing Reforms place at risk the employment of more than 20,000 people in the Macquarie Park Innovation District. The NSW Government proposes to displace employment zones in favour of housing zones and turn Macquarie Park into a housing dormitory and a data centre hub.

What are the 3 key things you plan to achieve if elected?

  • Rates will always be lower under the Ryde Liberals because we are focussed on the cost of living and we guard against the careless expenditure of monies.
  • I am the only candidate for Mayor with an unequivocal policy to protect and preserve our open green spaces. This includes the protection of TG Millner Fields and the North Ryde Common. I will stand up and speak up against the NSW Government when they develop policies that harm the interests of our community. I have maintained a consistent track record of opposition to the building and development of the TG Millner site.
  • It is important to build the infrastructure that our community needs. This includes a new carpark at Eastwood, building new ovals for our sporting users, and opening Ryde’s first 24/7 library.

What about your long term vision for the area?

  • Ryde has a diverse and harmonious community and the Liberal team reflects that same diversity. This term we elected the single most diverse team in Ryde’s history, be it in terms of gender, culture, progression or age. We are seeking to beat our own record this election, which we hope will inspire many more women, young people, migrants and those with interesting professional backgrounds to consider serving our local community.
  • Your Ryde Liberal team is committed to maintaining Low Council Rates for its residents, building the infrastructure that we need and protecting our green open spaces for a growing community.
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