PAG Members Profile

1. Michael Williams

Michael Williams, an Australian AirForce consultant who has travelled extensively sees the Liverpool region as the dirtiest municipality he has seen within NSW. Having family in Prestons, Mick attempted to form a group called “The Prestons-Clean-Up Group” in 2005.  Mick was surprised with the positive response and a number of people helped organise the first clean-up. About six residents cleaned up around the Prestons shops and Mick spent a lot of his own time keeping Braidwood Drive, Mowbray St and Corfield Road clean from litter. Litter, which was and remains a problem.

The original idea was to improve the aesthetics of Prestons. However, Occupation Health and Safety issues became a concern because if someone was hurt, as the organiser Mick could have been held liable. A new approach was needed to avoid public liability. Then late 2005, early 2006 Mick started to think about the name Prestons Action Group (PAG) which we currently have. He dropped PAG pamphlets to about 70% of Prestons and from that collected < 35 e-mail addresses. This has dropped to 30 due to no further promotion. The change in concept from the first group to PAG was: If we residents can not do it, we have to find someone who can.
 
Since conception Mick’s confidence has grown and with the help of Liverpool City Council (LCC) and the commander of Liverpool Police, PAG have had about a 70% success rate in issues placed before them. So far over 100 cubic metres of dumped rubbish has been removed from hot spots by LCC on PAG’s behalf.
 
So what about the future of PAG? Mick see with increased numbers and some guidelines we will make steady but sensible progress. He would like:

1) to see improvement of the Prestons area
2) to make suggestions to those in a position of influence such as Councils, Police, other groups, other levels of government, etc.
3) to increase PAG’s  scope of activities.

2. Kurt Lee

Kurt is a Chief Hospital Scientist at St. Vincent's Hospital. He is also a Good Manufacturing Practice Consultant for the Cellular Therapy and Tissue Banking Sectors. Kurt is dedicated to offering his web design services to the people of Prestons and PAG. Like Mick, he would like to work actively with the community to create a vibrant, safe and happy place to live in.

In recent years people have become increasingly aware of environmental problems at both the local and global level. As a result of media attention to the breadth and severity of environmental problems many people feel they cannot contribute to the solution of these problems. Thus, it is important that as a community we develop strategies that provide residents and businesses with environmental awareness, knowledge and attitudes about the causes of and solutions to, environmental problems. Through the PAG we can more effectively prompt a quicker response from local authorities to resolve typical concerns such as illegal rubbish dumping, pot holes, illegal parking, hoons, graffiti etc. However, the role of the PAG could be expanded to support environmental and educational initiatives, and other events and activities that help to foster and promote a sense of community. For this to happen requires active participation from concerned residents who would like to contribute but do not know how. A first step would be to join the PAG and get involved in discussions.

Kurt believe that through a community group like PAG, we are heading in the right direction and he hopes to see PAG grow and become more influential.