Liverpool Community Independents Team

07/06/2026

🏠 A 4-storey apartment block could go up next door to your home — and under proposed NSW Government rules, nobody would be required to tell you a thing about it.

Your home is likely the biggest thing you'll ever work for. You deserve a say in what happens next door to it. 👇

That's not consultation. That's not community participation. That's the appearance of process with none of the substance.

We've been raising this loudly — and so has Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who called it exactly what it is:

"This isn't a community participation plan, it's a non-participation plan." Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said this week.

🔗 Read our full breakdown — including a serious governance concern right here in Liverpool:
https://lcit.com.au/liverpool-families-deserve-more-than-a-weeks-notice-before-the-crane-arrives/

💬 Tell us in the comments — did you know these changes were being proposed?

20/04/2026

The recent election delivered notable shifts in voter sentiment. Independent candidates collectively secured 37% of first‑preference votes, emerging as the strongest-performing group. Labour maintained stable support at 35%, consistent with the previous election, while the Liberal vote fell sharply to 20.7%, a significant decline from earlier results.

First‑time candidate Susie Kneipp, running as an Independent member of the Liverpool Community Independents Team (LCIT), achieved 3.1% of the overall vote. The overall results for Independents suggest voters have moved away from the Liberals while maintaining similar levels of support for Labour compared with 2024. (Edited).

Since 2008, mayoral outcomes have alternated between the two major parties: Liberal Mayor Ned Mannoun was elected via the South Ward in 2012–16, 2021–24 and again in 2024, while Labour Mayor Wendy Waller was elected via the North Ward in 2008–12 and 2016–21.

Across this period, Labour‑led terms delivered more community outcomes than in any previous term, supported by the presence of Independents (LCIT) who held the balance of power. It appears this dynamic will continue for the remainder of the current Council term, with Councillor Peter Harle, now in his fifth term, holding the casting vote on contentious matters.

13/04/2026

It’s important that voters understand how preferential voting actually works. You can choose to cast a single vote, but doing so limits the influence your ballot has. By numbering candidates in the order you genuinely prefer them, you contribute to a more democratic and accurate reflection of the community’s will.
Ask yourself: if your first-choice candidate doesn’t have the numbers, who would you want next? Your preferences ensure your vote still matters.
And don’t rely on “how to vote” flyers. They’re designed to serve someone else’s interests. Make your own decisions about the order in which you want candidates elected.

26/03/2026

South Ward elections; There is a candidate with a proven record of constructive engagement in Council and Community Forums: Susie Kneipp. She has consistently advocated for residents and, with the support of her team, has helped shape outcomes on road closures, liquor outlet proposals, traffic issues, road maintenance, and upgrades to footpaths and parks. These are significant achievements that few candidates can match. Susie’s contribution to the South Ward community is substantial and well‑established.

21/02/2026

22/12/2025

07/12/2025

Good afternoon LCIT members and friends,
I trust you are keeping well despite the heatwave over the past two days.
I wish to address some negative publicity directed at me on social media that you may have seen.

Independent Councillor Ristevski is currently the subject of numerous Code of Conduct complaints, as evidenced in the Public Inquiry into Liverpool City Council. In my view, his conduct has been a major factor in the dysfunction of Council over the past 12 months.

Although I have not lodged any complaints against him, nor do I intend to, I am disappointed by his antagonistic and untrue comments posted on social media which denigrate both myself and the LCIT members.

I believe it is important that you are aware of this.
Such posts contribute to the escalation of Code of Conduct complaints, which now exceed 200 and have cost Council an estimated $300,000 to process. These are ratepayer funds that could be far better invested in serving our community.

Below, is the Facebook post in question along with my factual response to his accusations.
Regards,
Cllr Peter Harle JP

Copy of the post and my reply.

Liverpool deserves to see exactly what he signed off on
Here is what Peter Harle actually voted for:
1. $20,000 of your rates shipped off to Lebanon
2. Voted to STOP the community in having a say on the Council Facebook policy
3. Voted to protect the contractor behind the Diamondabout disaster
4. Voted for a surplus budget that has blown out into a $6m deficit
5. Voted to increase your rates
6. Voted to spend $500,000 on Ramadan
7. Voted with the Liberals to secure himself the Deputy Mayor role
8. Used his casting vote to censure me while I was standing up for the community
These are not opinions. These are official votes. Liverpool is paying the price for them right now.
Liverpool First.

Reply by Councillor Peter Harle JP
As usual, the author resorts to typical lies and misinformation, accompanied by the familiar tactic of blame-shifting. Below are my responses, in order:

1. Aid to Lebanon:
All Councillors voted for the $20,000 aid package to Lebanon. While I argued against it, I ultimately supported the motion. Councillor Ristevski nominated the funding source.

2. Media Policy:
The majority of Councillors supported the new Media Policy, designed to prevent denigrating and unsubstantiated remarks on Council’s page. These types of comments are the primary reason behind the large number of Code of Conduct complaints currently being addressed, with costs projected to exceed $300,000.

3. Diamond Roundabout Contractor:
I voted against naming and shaming the contractor responsible for the Diamond roundabout. Responsibility was unclear, and such action could have exposed Council to significant legal costs.

4. Budget:
I voted against the so-called “Fake Budget” and publicly called it out.

5. Rate Increase:
I voted in favour of the 6% IPART-approved rate increase, as did ten of the eleven Councillors and adopted by every Council across NSW.

6. Festivals:
Ten of the eleven Councillors voted in support of all festivals, including Ramadan, Pacifica, Blessed Nights, Lantern lights and others.

7. Deputy Mayor Nomination:
Several Councillors nominated me for Deputy Mayor. I did not nominate myself, and my acceptance was conditional on unanimous support—which it received.

8. Censure Motion:
The censure motion is highly confidential. It will be actioned by the Office of Local Government regardless of whether Council supports it.

All of the above is factual and verified via Council meeting records.

02/08/2025

We're sending more rubbish to landfill quicker than our population grows 🤯

There's a solution!

Lots of your problem household waste can be dropped off for free at a Community Recycling Centre or Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Waste items include paint, batteries, gas bottles, oils, chemicals and much more.

You'd be surprised how close your local service will be.

Find out the full list of what you can bring plus your nearest service at www.cleanout.com.au

01/05/2025

Have you seen someone litter rubbish or a cigarette butt from a vehicle and wished you could do something about it? You can!

Take down the vehicle’s numberplate and as many details as possible, then report your observation through the ‘Report to EPA’ website. Once the details are verified by the NSW EPA, a littering fine will be issued from $500 - $1,000 to the owner of the vehicle.

Photos and dash cam footage can also be uploaded with your report but is not essential. Reporting to EPA is a quick, simple and safe method for reporting litterers, which holds them accountable for their actions.

Over 19,500 Western Sydney residents have registered to report litterers and over 55,000 littering fines have been issued so far from public reports.

Help keep western Sydney clean by registering with a report to EPA at: https://ow.ly/SYqr50VJkJN

NSW Environment Protection Authority
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)

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