Suzie's commitment

Councillor Suzie van Opdorp

A voice for residents

Since being elected Suzie has advocated on behalf of residents to resolve their issues of concern. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to improved Council facilities and services. She has actively worked with local community services, businesses and other groups to support their priorities and plans.
She is committed to protecting our World Heritage status and our environment and opposes over development.
She opposes the Western Sydney Airport, particularly the lack of curfew, the 24-hour flights and proposed flight paths.

Advocating for Council infrastructure and services

Suzie has worked with residents to achieve positive outcomes by bringing matters to Council’s attention and seeking changes, for example seeking modifications of the Katoomba Golf Course precinct plan in line with community expectations, advocating for the dog off leash strategy and the reopening of Cliff Drive, Leura.
Following the climate-related natural disasters of the past two years, she advocated for the establishment of the Megalong Valley Taskforce to restore Megalong Road and ensure effective communication with the Megalong community.
During her term on Council, she has advocated for increased funding of roads and other facilities. Over the past two years Council has spent millions of dollars on local road repairs. She supports our six local libraries and five swimming pools and sees them as vital to the social and physical health of residents.
She supports the ongoing roll out of energy-saving LED street lights and photovoltaic cells on Council facilities.
She supports Council’s Zero-Waste strategy, the introduction of our comprehensive recycling program and the free on-demand household waste collection service.

Protecting our environment

Moving to the Blue Mountains in 1983, Suzie recognises the unique character of our Blue Mountains villages and will continue to work with the local community to protect character-zoning and village heritage.
She supports our Local Environment Plan to protect the Blue Mountains from over development and opposes the proposed one-size fits all housing codes that will negatively impact our built environment and potentially threaten our UNESCO World Heritage status.
She supports our Climate Change Declaration, the Rights of Nature framework and the Planetary Health Leadership partnership through an integrated approach to Council planning and practices.
Suzie supports our environmental volunteers, Bushcare and the Garguree Swampcare volunteers. She recognises the importance of our Rural Fire Service and emergency services in protecting people and place. Volunteer groups are even more important today given the climate issues and bushfire we are facing as a community.

Strong economic leadership

Suzie supports and endorses the Mayor’s Economic Taskforce which was established to look at ways to meet the increasing costs facing our council whilst at the same time mitigating special rate variations.
This council has reduced debt from $70m (under previous administrations) to just over $10m now. This means rate-payer funds are spent on local services and infrastructure and not servicing debt.