The makeup and the balance of power will be evident from day one and the new mayor will have her hands full keeping order and civility in the chamber.

Councillors Guile and Gash may go head to head as the level of toxicity between the pair is well known. 

Gash is the key to all.

Many will watch and see if she will be a wrecker, a speed hump or an obstructionist or, God forbid, all of the above.

So grab your popcorn and ice creams and sit back and watch because I’m tipping there will be fireworks from day one.

Councillors Wells and Watson may need to be the peacemakers if required. But the level of previously displayed toxic hatred between certain councillors may even too much of an ask for these seasoned campaigners.

So don’t expect too much too early from council until the batting order is sorted out or that councillors acknowledge the outcome of the election.

Either way, it will be compelling and not for the faint-hearted.

Across NSW the recent council elections saw large swings against the Liberals and Nationals.

Local issues were important.

But the election was also a referendum on what people think about Premier Baird's bullying style of leadership.

People are angry at a Premier who refuses to listen to them, and just tells everyone what to do.

Whether it’s the destruction of TAFE, local schools not being maintained, hospital crises or the shock decision to ban greyhounds, people are demanding their voices be heard.

Premier Baird only allowed half of the voters in NSW to cast a ballot in these council elections.

Most of the other 2.4 million voters are in forcibly merged councils, and will have to wait until September next year. Until then they will be ruled by Administrators handpicked by the Premier.

If Premier Baird keeps being dictatorial and refuses to listen to local communities, he does so at his peril.

A staggering one in three of people reading this letter will face at least one natural disaster in their lifetime. And after thedisaster hits, sadly there’s one thing most will also experience.

Regret about not being better prepared.

In Emergency Preparedness Week, Red Cross is calling on all Australians to take action before it’s too late. We want all Australians to be prepared for an emergency, whether it’s a bushfire, cyclone or flood, or a family crisis .

Too many conversations after an emergency begin with “I wish I had…”. People wish they’d taken the kids’ baby photographs; kept their passports safe; upped their insurance; looked in on their neighbours.

For decades, we’ve seen first-hand the trauma, stress, and hardship that disasters bring; things many of us just aren’t prepared for like anxiety, grief and loss, relationship problems, and financial hardship that can go on for many years.

You can’t get back what you’ve lost after an emergency. But you can plan to protect what matters most. And that’s different for everyone. Our free guide can spare people much of the avoidable grief and trauma because we know that the better you are prepared, the better you will cope

Download your RediPlan at redcross.org.au/prepare and get prepared.