THE role of Lady Mayoress is about to be reprised with vigour in Parramatta with Lord Mayor Paul Garrard’s wife about to step out from the shadows.
Between raising their daughter, and running the household and family party hire business, Karen Garrard has been happy to be the behind-the-scenes support for her husband, who has served 35 years on council.
The Garrards have been married for 18 years and their daughter is almost 17.
During that time, Paul Garrard has been lord mayor when their daughter was aged 3, 6 and 11.
“I was …

IF you’re planning a picnic this summer, get ready to pay for the privilege as the State Government rakes in millions of dollars in fees for prime pieces of parkland.

The tradition of sending out a family picnic scout at dawn to reserve a barbecue shelter, and taking turns to guard it zealously until the rest of the party arrives, is all but gone.
The Government and its relevant statutory authorities are the biggest beneficiaries when it comes to hiring public open spaces for private use.
The National Parks and Wildlife …

THE Rudd Government’s strategy to encourage more women into local government is on the wrong track, according to the two independent women councillors of Parramatta and Holroyd.

Holroyd councillor Yvette Whitfield. PICTURE: PHIL BLATCH

Lorraine Wearne, of Parramatta, and Holroyd’s Yvette Whitfield scoffed at the Rudd plan of funding programs and studies, which they say will do little to encourage women onto councils.
Both councillors have seen the number of women on their councils halve between the last two local government elections. The only other women on the councils are from the Labor …

Parramatta’s newly elected Lord Mayor Cr Paul Garrard called on the State Government to ensure a sustainable ferry service is established for the capital of western Sydney.
Reports that more than 50 ferry runs between Parramatta and the City were cancelled every month due to tidal restrictions only highlighted the unsuitability of Sydney Ferries’ RiverCat fleet.
“The tidal flows of the Parramatta River should be no surprise to Sydney Ferries or the State Government and we must now be getting down to the business of establishing a commuter ferry service for our …

The New South Wales Government has announced plans for a new $300 million marina at Homebush Bay.
The 18 hectare site has 900 metres of waterfront access to Parramatta River and Homebush Bay.
It is expected to include boat storage, facilities for building and repairing boats, clubhouses and a possible maritime studies centre.
The Government says its construction would create more than 500 jobs, and would be the largest maritime development in the state.
A master plan for the site was approved in 2005 but a radio antenna leased by radio 2GB had prevented …