By Julian Bajkowski

The sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Christine Forster, has lost a high profile bid to become the president of peak council group Local Government New South Wales after incumbent co-president Keith Rhoades following elections in Sydney during the body’s annual conference.

The re-election of Mr Rhoades, who is an independent councillor and former Mayor of Coffs Harbour City Council, cements in place the merger between the former Local Government Association of NSW and its country equivalent the Shires Association of NSW that was put in train in March 2013.

The merger of the groups into a single, cohesive representative body for the local government sector has been a core issue for councils across the state as the O’Farrell government considers sweeping reforms that include restraining council planning powers and investigating amalgamations.

Ms Forster, a Liberal, had been regarded as a strong contender for the LGNSW presidency given the record number of Liberal councillors elected across the state.

However the leadership spill was hotly contested with a total of eight presidential nominees standing including Jodie Harrison (Labor), Leo Kelly (Labor), Jacqueline Townsend, James Treloar (National), Monica Wangmann and Maria Woods.

“I am as dedicated today as I was when first elected to the LGA Executive in 2008 to improving and strengthening the NSW Local Government sector,” said Mr Rhoades.

“As the peak industry association for all NSW councils, LGNSW is 100 per cent committed to helping our members achieve strong and prosperous communities, and I’m pleased to lead our newly united association and members on that journey.” 

Mr Rhoades said he was thrilled and humbled to have been chosen by councillors across NSW to represent them as the first official LGNSW President.

“I am as dedicated today as I was when first elected to the LGA Executive in 2008 to improving and strengthening the NSW Local Government sector,” Mr Rhoades.

“As the peak industry association for all NSW councils, LGNSW is 100 per cent committed to helping our members achieve strong and prosperous communities, and I’m pleased to lead our newly united association and members on that journey.”