06/11/2009 Regional Role for Cr Graham Pittaway OAM

Cr Graham Pittaway OAM, of the City of Bayswater, was elected at a Special Council meeting on 29 October 2009 as Chairman of the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC). Cr Pittaway is an experienced councillor having served on the City of Bayswater from 2000 to 2007.

He brings a background of extensive community involvement to the role, having been an active member of several community groups in which he has also held various leadership positions for business associations, sporting clubs, and community service organisations. In 2005, he was subsequently awarded an Order of Australia Medal in recognition of his contribution to the community.

Cr Pittaway's vision is centred on encouraging engagement with all stakeholders, to ensure that the best outcomes will be achieved for the residents and businesses of Perth's Eastern Region.

"With a new Chairman and a new CEO leading the organisation, I believe EMRC is entering into an exciting new era and I am so pleased to be a part of the bigger regional picture," said Cr Pittaway.

"Given the growing importance of initiatives to aid the diversion of waste from landfill, to more environmentally sustainable solutions, EMRC's efforts in waste education and recycling are of particular interest to me."

EMRC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Schneider, said he was looking forward to working with Cr Pittaway and the new EMRC Council over the next two years.

"We believe that now more than ever is the time for working together and thinking strategically; only through collaboration will we effectively tackle the big ticket items in key areas such as waste management, regional transport infrastructure, climate change and shared services," said Mr Schneider.

Cr Tony Cuccaro from the Shire of Mundaring has been elected as EMRC's Deputy Chairman.

Following the local government elections on 17 October 2009, each member Council appointed two representatives and a deputy to EMRC, who were subsequently sworn in at an EMRC Special Council meeting on 29 October 2009.

The councillors and deputies sworn in until the next local government elections in October 2011 are: