Councillor Todd Carney was elected Mayor of Penrith City for a third consecutive term, at the Ordinary Council Meeting held last night.
Cr Hollie McLean was elected Deputy Mayor.
Mayor Carney, a long-time resident who was first elected to Council in September 2016, said it was an honour to serve the Penrith community and he looked forward to continuing his work as Mayor for the next 2 years.
“I am deeply honoured to be re-elected as Mayor of Penrith City Council for another term and I thank my fellow Councillors for the trust and confidence you have placed in me,” Cr Carney said. “Serving this City is a privilege I do not take lightly.
“As this term concludes, and another begins, I reflect on what we have achieved in recent years with pride and passion.
“We have significant projects underway that will help shape an exciting future for our City. And while there are many opportunities ahead, I also acknowledge the challenges we must carefully manage as our City continues to grow. We know that the scale of change must be managed in a way that is financially sustainable to deliver the best outcomes for our community and environment and our City’s economy.”
Cr Carney provided an overview of recent achievements:
- Through Council’s Advocacy Strategy 2025, we have focused on the priorities that matter most to our community – housing, jobs, liveability, transport and infrastructure. This advocacy has helped secure important commitments, including further investment in Elizabeth Drive and funding to support Penrith Beach opening for a further two years through to 2027.
- Council has also continued to advocate for the full-length north-south metro line connection, from Tallawong to St Marys and from Bradfield to Leppington and Macarthur. Its recognition on Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List is an important step forward, and we will continue to call for the business cases and delivery commitments needed to make it a reality.
- The future metro will be a gamechanger for St Marys and is central to the St Marys Town Centre Master Plan. Endorsed by Council and supported by the NSW Government, this forward-looking plan will guide the transformation of St Marys into a strategic city centre over the next 20 years, supporting new homes, jobs and community infrastructure.
- We are also working to create safer, more vibrant city centres through the Penrith and St Marys 24-Hour Economy Strategy, OPEN. Alongside Council’s new Penrith Visitor Guide, this work promotes the experiences, businesses and destinations that make our City such a special place to live, visit and invest in.
- This term has also showcased Penrith on the national and international stage. We welcomed the 2025 ICF Slalom World Championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, hosted the 25th Biennale of Sydney at Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery, and proudly hosted the 2025 NSW Local Government Annual Conference for the first time. Each of these events brought people to our City and highlighted Penrith’s strength, diversity and momentum.
- At the same time, Council has continued to plan for the future through important strategies and community engagement. This includes developing the Community Strategic Plan and work on waste and resource recovery, Kingswood-Werrington, disability inclusion, flood studies and the Draft Our River Plan, which will guide future planning for the Nepean River across the Penrith Local Government Area.
- Of course, these achievements sit alongside Council’s everyday work delivering critical services, programs and infrastructure for our community. From shared path upgrades at Nepean Avenue and Factory Road, to programs supporting older residents, local students, young people and families, Council continues to deliver practical outcomes that improve daily life.
“When I was first elected, my vision was clear – I wanted my children and grandchildren to be able to grow up near quality education and jobs, in a place that is well connected and offers a great quality of life,” Mayor Carney said. “I believe our City is thriving and Council is well on its way to achieving this for everyone in Penrith.
“In the coming weeks, I look forward to sharing my vision and priorities for this term, and to continuing the important work of building a connected, liveable and thriving City for everyone who calls Penrith home.”
