2024 council election: Greens make historic comeback in Campbelltown

The Greens are set to make history in southwest Sydney, with two members likely to be elected to Campbelltown City Council for the first time. Here’s what they said about their imminent victory.

The Greens are set to record a historic win in Sydney's southwest, with two candidates likely to make it onto Campbelltown City Council. Picture: Supplied

The Greens appear to have pulled off a stunning upset in southwest Sydney, where it appears the party has amassed enough votes to install two Campbelltown councillors for the first time.

Almost a decade after it last had a councillor elected in Campbelltown, the party received a swell of community support in Saturday’s local government elections.

The Greens’ lead Campbelltown candidate, Jayden Rivera, secured a comfortable return for the party after a campaign that focused strongly on environmental issues, particularly koala habitat protection and direct community engagement.

Jayden Rivera has previously run in state and federal elections but this was his first time running in a council election. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Counting is continuing but the Greens have already doubled the number of votes they received in the 2016 and 2021 Campbelltown City Council elections, with the party accounting for 11.4 per cent of the vote as of Tuesday.

The historic numbers will likely result in a second Greens candidate, Theo (Tao) Triebels, joining the chamber.

Mr Rivera said he had been “optimistic” about the election result but was blown away by the community’s response.

Jayden Rivera attributed the success of his party to the work his team put into the campaign. Picture: Supplied

He dedicated the win to the NSW Greens’ efforts to “build up a profile both as a party and locally”, and the work his team put into their campaign.

“We delivered flyers to a lot of houses, hosted a koala rally, and had many events over the course of our six-month campaign,” Mr Rivera said.

He noted the complete wipeout of the Liberal Party in Campbelltown, saying it “definitely played a factor in the composition of the new council.”

“However, I think Campbelltown knows there are a lot of issues surrounding our environment and wildlife, in particular the koalas and the Mt Gilead development,” he said.

Running mate Theo Tao Triebels (left), will likely join Jayden Rivera as the second Greens councillor for the first time in Campbelltown City Council's history. Picture: Supplied

Mr Triebels said he was proud to be making history as Campbelltown’s second Greens councillor, and “part of a growing … presence in the region” for the party.

But the outcome had come as a surprise to Mr Triebels, who said the massive wave of support had puzzled him and other local Greens members.

He also believed the absence of the Liberals boosted the Greens’ numbers, “but probably only marginally”.

“Obviously the local community feels confident to elect more Greens at a local level,” Mr Triebels said.

The pair say they will prioritise listening to the community, tackling climate change, protecting wildlife and environment conservation.

Mr Rivera also plans to “declare that a koala extinction emergency is happening, protect the koala population surrounding the Mt Gilead Development, and push for higher tree canopy of at least 40 per cent for Campbelltown”.

Jayden Rivera says he will prioritise the protection of koalas and greater wildlife and environment conservation as councillor. Picture: Supplied

“There is so much that needs to be done, and I look forward to working with everyone in the chamber and the community on what we need to deliver,” he said.

The Greens’ growth in popularity in Campbelltown reflects a broader shift in the political landscape of Greater Sydney councils.

The party also made inroads in western Sydney, such as at Blacktown, Cumberland, and Parramatta councils.