THE two councillors who take the reins of Sutherland Shire Council have spoken out in response to concerns about their property interests.
Councillor Carmelo Pesce was elected mayor, with councillor Hassan Awada as his deputy.
The new leadership team, both first-term councillors, was elected at Monday night's council meeting, after being chosen on Sunday night at a meeting of Liberal councillors. (See related story: New shire mayor introduces new planning policy direction)
Liberals make up 11 of the 15 councillors.
In the lead-up to the election, several Liberal councillors were deeply concerned about the make-up of the proposed team because Cr Awada was a developer and Cr Pesce had links to the industry.
Cr Pesce said any perception he had links to developers was wrong.
‘‘I am not associated with developers; I am a cleanskin, a family man,’’ he said.
Cr Pesce operates a shop fitout business throughout Australia and New Zealand.
He owns several properties in the shire, including four home units and two shops in Cronulla. His businesses include Bianchini’s Espresso at Cronulla and Gymea. He also owns the premises which houses the Gymea cafe. He rents the premises for the Cronulla cafe.
Cr Pesce owns the premises which formerly housed the Blue Parrot cafe at Cronulla, now the Queen Margherita restaurant.
He said his main business, shop fitouts, involved the building trades, but that was the limit of his association with the industry.
‘‘I have never done any development apart from work on my own homes before I joined the council,’’ he said.
‘‘The home units and shops I own, which have mortgages, are an investment; my superannuation.
‘‘I am not interested in developing; I am interested in collecting the rents.’’
Cr Pesce said when the zones that his properties were located in were discussed for the new local environmental plan, he declared an interest and left the meeting.
Cr Pesce said he decided to run for local government three years ago ‘‘to put something back in’’ to the community after he enjoyed success in business.
He said if he became mayor he’d work hard to win the respect of council staff and other councillors. ‘‘It’s all about listening — not about being a dictator,’’ he said.
Cr Pesce, 47, is married with three children, aged 15 to 24.
He lives at Kangaroo Point.
His father Tony, 78, has been a barber at Caringbah for 49 years.
‘‘People say I’m pro-development but I say I’m ‘pro good development’,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not a fan of something like the Meriton development at Caringbah. And the Kirrawee brick pit development concerns me.’’
VOTE CONCERN
Labor councillor Phil Blight said there was ‘‘a great deal of concern’’ about the mayoral election, with Liberal councillors forced by the party to follow a caucus vote.
‘‘A gang of six can force the 11 Liberal councillors to vote one way, meaning a new mayor only has the support of six of 15 councillors,’’ he said.
‘‘The result could be quite different if all councillors could vote the way they wished.’’
Cr Pesce was nominated for mayor by the incumbent, Kent Johns.
He was unopposed, but a secret ballot was held and one informal vote was recorded.
Cr Awada was nominated by Cr Johns, while Cr Kevin Schreiber nominated Cr Carol Provan.
One source said Cr Awada received six votes and Cr Provan three, while there were two informal, but another source said Cr Awada received ‘‘more than seven votes’’.
What do you think of the new leadership team?
