Bayswater councillor Steven Otsaszewskyj.
Camera IconBayswater councillor Steven Otsaszewskyj. Credit: Supplied/ShaBo

New Bayswater councillor wants change

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

NEW Bayswater councillor Steven Ostaszewskyj wants to see a change in culture around the way local government works.

The Morley resident was sworn into the council last week for the first time.

Cr Ostaszewskyj said he felt a mixture of nerves and excitement at the induction, where his family, friends and supporters were in the gallery.

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“For many years, I have been engaged and active within our local community, so being selected by the ratepayers and residents of Central ward to represent them as their new councillor is an honour I accept humbly,” he said.

“I am ready to serve.

“Each councillor has welcomed me with open arms and I thank them for their willingness to help me transition into this new role.”

Newly elected Bayswater councillors. Kristie Lim
Camera IconNewly elected Bayswater councillors. Kristie Lim Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Cr Ostaszewskyj said having been involved in the community groups and engagement, he knew there was a feeling that community and administrative services should reflect local conditions, wants and needs.

“There is a strong feeling that our rates shouldn’t go up yearly and that budgets need to be optimised and wasteful spending needs to stop,” he said.

“I’ve learnt that we need improved resourcing of our ranger and security services to reduce criminal and harassing behaviours across our district and people would like to see a program of pride implemented where we pay particular attention to cleaning up, beautifying and making our neighbourhoods and streets safe.

“We all deserve better.”

He said the people councillors represented should always come first and every decision should be made with their best interests in mind.

“I feel strongly that the ratepayers and residents collectively own the local government and often, in my opinion, governments seem to get that twisted around the wrong way,” he said.

“There is a mood in the community is that ego, power and greed get in the way of good decision making.

“I would like to see a change in culture around the way that government works.

“People are craving a new approach that builds relationships, trust and respect and puts them back in control and back into the heart of democracy.”

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