Who We Are

Tony Romano - Chairman, Regional Councillor

A relative newcomer to the SMRC, Cr Romano has been a Cockburn City Councillor for over four years. Cr Romano brings with him many years of commercial experience, having worked in and held a number of senior positions in the financial services industry over the past 30 years. He continues to serve on a number of committees and boards both in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Cr Romano’s business knowledge and experience are an extra value he brings to the Regional Council.

Richard Smith - Deputy Chair, Regional Councillor

Cr Smith is currently Deputy Chair of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council. He was the first Mayor of the City of Rockingham. A keen and growing interest in the issues of waste management, recycling, climate change, and the need to strive for a zero waste future, prompts Cr Smith to commit time and dedicated interest to the Regional Council. He believes regional cooperation supporting the SMRC is the only option for sustainable waste management in the growing community it serves.

Sandra Lee - Regional Councillor

Cr Lee has been serving the Town of Kwinana since 2005. In 2007, Cr Lee became a member on the Regional Council. Cr Lee has a strong interest and commitment to Public Health particularly in the areas of Waste Management, Environmental Health and Community Education. Other portfolio areas at Council are Economic Development/ Built Environment, Natural Environment and Community Development.

It is widely recognised by the leaders in our Society that Landfill facilities are reaching full capacity. Therefore Cr Lee believes it is be desirable that waste which is generated by society be processed and recycled to produce sustainable outcomes to reduce to impact on the earths natural resources. Thus ensuring valuable resources are saved to benefit future generations.

Cr Lee recognises the paramount importance that the SMRC's role plays in recycling various materials to assist in environmentally sustainable solutions and results.

Richard Olson - Regional Councillor

Clive Robartson OAM - Regional Councillor

Cr. Robartson is a former Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the SMRC. He has served on the City of Melville Council for over 20 years and has extensive Local Government experience. A former President of the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) and long term member and Chairman of the Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC), he has represented Local Government on many State and Federal committees that include the WA Waste Advisory Board, Perth Region Natural Resource Management Council, State Standards Panel, Australian Landcare Council and the Australian Local Government Association. Cr Robartson recognised many years ago that domestic waste could be a valuable resource if collected, separated and marketed appropriately. He has been a strong advocate of the SMRC's regional waste management strategy.

Doug Thompson - Regional Councillor

Cr Thompson is the past Chairman of the Regional Council. He has been a Fremantle City Councillor for more than eighteen years and has represented Fremantle on the Regional Council since 1994. He has been very involved in waste minimisation issues and was instrumental in testing options for waste minimisation at Fremantle City Council, in order to determine best practices.

Cr Thompson believes that cooperative work towards environmental waste solutions is the most important issue facing local government. As such, he is committed to making a significant contribution to facilitating cooperation between Councils for the achievement of environmental goals.