All Australian Citizens over 18 years of age are required by law to vote.

Voting in the election is important as it allows residents to have their say in choosing the elected officials that will shape the future of their community. Councillors are democratically elected by the residents and ratepayers of the Local Government Area. Once elected, it is the councillors who are responsible for reviewing matters and debating issues before their council.

An elected council sets the overall direction for the Local Government Area through long-term planning and decision making. The council adopts a strategic view of the future it wishes to achieve for its community and makes plans and policies to achieve this.

Again, I encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Hilltops who are considering candidacy and may want to know a little more about what is involved to reach out to myself, general manager Anthony O'Reilly, or any current councillor for a chat.

I have enjoyed my time with the current council and serving as the first mayor of Hilltops Council.

There have been highs and lows, but we have achieved a lot and it is fantastic to see so much progress in our major projects, including the current replacement of four bridges, a project I have been very vocal about.

We have worked hard to set solid foundations and the future of Hilltops is bright.

I thank the community for their ongoing support and would like to announce that I will be standing at the election.

The current COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. Case numbers in Greater Sydney remain high and we have started seeing exposure areas across regional NSW.

Council have made the decision to close the Visitor Information Centres in the area. At this stage, our libraries and customer service offices remain open.

We are committed to maintaining service levels to the community and will provide regular updates if there are any changes.

Together we must do everything we can to keep ourselves and our community safe.

Please adhere to restrictions and public health orders, wear a mask, limit unnecessary travel, maintain social distancing and strict hygiene measures. If you have even the slightest of symptoms please get tested.

Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram