 From 8 September 2008 to 4 December 2009, he was appointed Minister for Water, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for Regional Development in the Cabinet of incoming Premier Nathan Rees.After being voted in as Mayor in 2007, Costa was announced as the Labor candidate for seat of Wollondilly.Deputy Mayor of the time Judith Hannan and councillors Michael Banasik, Denise Appel, Helen Kuiper, Simon Landow and Shane Read passed a vote of no confidence in Costa that limited Costa's powers as Mayor.