Lane Cove Has a New Mayor and Deputy Mayor

At the Lane Cove Council Meeting held tonight (10 January 2021), via zoom, Councillor Andrew Zbik was elected Lane Cove Mayor, and Councillor Bridget Kennedy was elected Deputy Mayor.  Andrew Zbik will be Mayor for two years, and Bridget Kennedy will be Deputy Mayor for one year.

Two councillors were nominated for the position of Mayor – Andrew Zbik and David Brooks Horn (six votes to three votes).

Two councillors were nominated for Deputy Mayor – Bridget Kennedy and Kathy Mort. (six votes to three votes).

After being elected, our new Lane Cove Mayor, Andrew Zbik, stated:

“Thank you to all the councillors who supported me tonight … In 2017, I never dreamt of being the Mayor.. I am sure all councillors will conduct themselves in an honourable and respectful way.  All our councillors are serving for the community first and foremost.”

Who is Andrew Zbik?

Councillor Zbik was elected in September 2017 to represent Lane Cove Council’s, West Ward.  Andrew made history in 2017 when he was the first endorsed Labor candidate to be elected at any level of Government in Lane Cove since 1944.

He was also the Labor Candidate for the Lane Cove Electorate in the 2015 and 2019 NSW State Government elections.

Andrew told ITC:

“People laughed at me when, in 2012, we ran our first Local Council campaign for Lane Cove. They told me that I didn’t stand a chance being elected as a Labor Councillor in Lane Cove.”

“… I believe in a progressive Australia; just because this area has traditionally been considered blue-ribbon Liberal heartland, does not mean that progressive candidates should not hold back from providing the community with a viable alternative”

“Since being elected to Council in 2017, I have engaged regularly with the local community on social media, sending a monthly video newsletter and since COVID holding regular community Zoom meetings prior to each Council meeting to hear feedback and ideas from residents”

“I look forward to leading a progressive Lane Cove Council, collaborating with all Councillors and residents. The ultimate mark of success of this term will be to have residents saying with confidence that “our Council is working for us”.”

Andrew has lived in Lane Cove for over 15 years.  He is married to Bronwyn and has three young children. Andrew proposed to Brownyn the day after the 2012 Lane Cove Council Elections.  Before having their third child, Brownyn was a teacher at Lane Cove West Public School.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University and runs his own financial planning company.

Andrew is a whiz at social media and zooming (his Zoom with Zbik sessions have been popular).

During the In the Cove Meet the Candidates Forum, Andrew stated if re-elected, he would be available to mentor all new councillors and provide information on council procedures and processes.  There are six new councillors.

Before the NSW Local Government elections, Andrew Zbik provided the following information to ITC:

“Our community needs engaged local Councillors. I have put this into action with a monthly video newsletter and community zoom meeting and being active on In The Cove answering residents’ questions.

Surprisingly, the majority of Councillors opposed my initiatives to:

• Improve community consultation
• Seek more funding for the Bike Plan
• Stand up against developers changing local planning rules
• 1st attempt for Council to source 100% renewable energy

I am re-contesting as many residents tell me they want a Council that works collaboratively with our community.

My plan is to:

• Reform Councils processes to move from ‘consulting’ to collaborating with the community.
• Build a toy library
• Create a virtual solar grid in Lane Cove
• Plus many more policies.

I am passionate about serving our community with energy and passion.

Local Government is the closest to the people and impacts our everyday lives.”

Andrew, ITC looks forward to the 2020 Council collaborating with the community.

Message From Andrew Zbik

After the Lane Cove Council Meeting finished, Mayor Zbik released the following video and committed to a weekly forum where residents can raise issues with him.  Click here to join one of his community forums.

Bridget Kennedy – New Deputy Mayor

The Deputy Mayor is Bridget Kennedy.  Bridget is a well-known figure around Lane Cove.

She is a founding member of The Repair Café Sydney North, the instigator of The Sydney Edible Garden Trail and The Sydney Library of Things and was awarded 2018 Lane Cove Citizen of the Year.

She is also a jewellery artist and retail business owner, a board member of the Australian Design Centre and World Crafts Council of Australia and began her career in the early days of the IT industry in banking and finance.  You can read the article we wrote about Bridget Kennedy in 2019 here.

Before the election, Bridget told ITC that she will bring her financial management skills and entrepreneurial, creative drive to all her initiatives.

Complete List of Councillors Elected December 2021

West Ward

Andrew Zbik (ALP)
Scott Bennison (Lib)
Rochelle Flood (Greens).  Rochelle is the youngest person on Lane Cove Council.

Central Ward

Kathy Mort (Lib)
Bridget Kennedy (Indep)
Kathy Bryla (ALP)

East Ward

Merri Southwood (Indep)
David Brooks Horn (Lib)
David Rosenfeldt (ALP)