Former Rockingham mayor to retire from council at October local government elections

Longstanding City of Rockingham councillor and former mayor Chris Elliott has confirmed his retirement and will not contest the upcoming October council election.

Serving three terms as councillor over the past 21 years, including a stint as mayor from 1997 to 2003, Cr Elliott told the Singleton Residents Association it had been a “real privilege” to represent the people of Singleton on the council.

“From when I was first elected in 1978 I have seen Singleton grow from a community of a few hundred people with basically no infrastructure to a community with a population of 3500,” he said.

“Council has built an easily-used and well-maintained road system and we now have the Laurie Stanford Reserve, which has been recently totally redeveloped and now has the state-of-the art community centre. Singleton now has parks across the community with playground equipment that the children love.”

Since moving to Singleton in 1977 the former teacher has played a prominent role in creating several community groups.

“My work on council has been pretty demanding, but I have enjoyed the experience of being in the engine room of helping to make Singleton a better place to live,” he said.