LAKE Macquarie has a strong chance of producing its first female mayor at next month’s election, with three experienced women councillors vying for the top job.
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The race is wide open as current mayor Greg Piper is set to stand down.
Experienced councillors Jodie Harrison (Labor) and Phillipa Parsons (The Greens) are joined in the race by deputy mayor Wendy Harrison (Independent Lake Alliance).
Also in the hunt for the top job is Jim Sullivan, on behalf of the recently formed Back 2 Basics.
The group was formed in opposition to the council’s recent rate hike and are calling on the council to be more financially responsible.
Liberal candidate Ken Paxinos returns to the scene after taking a break from local politics since 2008.
Independent candidate Arjay Martin wants to see jobs and services retained across the region.
The Star asked the candidates and their parties about their future vision for Lake Macquarie.
Back 2 Basics by Jim Sullivan
BACK 2 Basics is a coalition of 12 non-political independent candidates.
We will listen to you and deliver value for money.
The group has worked hard with the community to gain a 20 per cent reduction in the council’s recent rate rise, but this work needs to continue.
Our focus is retaining and improving infrastructure, community facilities and services, within budget and in a timely manner.
We aim to reduce the council’s current debt, as well as limiting expenditure on corporate salary increases and ratepayer-funded overseas trips for senior staff.
Too much ratepayer money has been spent on studies, including climate change and sea level rises.
To improve facilities and services in our community, vote one above the line for Back 2 Basics.
Principal policies:
■ Keep rates affordable;
■ Review notations and policies relating to sea level rises and contamination on homes;
■ Improve the council’s engagement with the community and reflect the community’s views in council decisions;
■ Develop strategies for all children to have affordable access to council sporting facilities;
■ Improve the city’s main entries;
■ Increase the number of child care facilities;
■ Identify and divest redundant city assets and non-core entrepreneurial services and activities;
■ Review the $100 million waste contract; and
■ Review the use and cost of consultants.
The Greens by Phillipa Parsons
THE Greens will continue to respond responsibly to climate change.
We will campaign for local initiatives to increase energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint so that we can transition away from coal to clean renewable power sources and environmental sustainability.
Our team will work to protect our spectacular environmental assets and biodiversity – including our coast, lake, remaining bushland and green corridors – from inappropriate development. No mega-marinas or urban sprawl.
As advocates of the community, we will continue to lobby for effective and fair community engagement in all development decisions.
We will ensure the community has a continuing voice about overdevelopment and inappropriate development.
The Greens reject state government intervention in local issues.
We absolutely reject and will continue to fight state government pro-development changes, such as the recent Green Paper that will strip planning powers and money from councils and that will ostensibly create a ‘‘developers’ paradise’’.
We will continue to work for transparent and democratic governance and support initiatives that build open and fair practices.
The Greens will work to retain community assets such as libraries, pools and parks and ensure they remain public assets and are not privatised.
Labor by Jodie Harrison
THE Labor teams across Lake Macquarie are committed to:
■ Fighting for better roads, gutters and pathways;
■ Defending our libraries;
■ Improving and increasing parks and sporting facilities;
■ Responsible council spending; and
■ Backing local business.
The Labor team for East Ward, led by councillor Kay Fraser, is committed to enhancing Belmont, Swansea, Windale and Redhead libraries and town centres, as well as ensuring an appropriate balance between high-rise developments and people-friendly environments.
Labor in East Ward will provide more bus shelters to encourage users of public transport.
The Labor team for West Ward, led by councillor Daniel Wallace, is committed to improving the natural environment, working to achieve better collection and disposal of domestic waste at the lowest possible cost to residents, and supporting local community organisations.
Labor in West Ward will work to create local jobs.
My Labor team for North Ward will ensure growing communities like Cameron Park receive the facilities they need, such as the multi-purpose centre and roundabout on the corner of Minmi Road and Northlakes Drive.
They are committed to residents in Charlestown and Cardiff being better off, rather than worse off, because of development.
Labor in North Ward will work to protect local businesses against big business.
The Independent Lake Alliance by Wendy Harrison
THE Independent Lake Alliance is a group of autonomous, diverse people who form a coalition of independent candidates for local government elections in order to meet the Electoral Commission requirement for a “group”.
Our common bond is a belief that local government is best run when decisions are based on community needs and the council is not dominated or controlled by party politics.
What do Independent Lake Alliance candidates stand for?
As a group of experienced, motivated community leaders, the alliance stands for:
■ Good governance and maintenance of a stable, decisive and efficient council;
■ A balance between development and the environment, supporting progress and jobs while maintaining this uniquely natural area;
■ Growing communities within our means while providing more than just basic facilities and services;
■ Decisions based on well-researched data and community needs, while allocating resources fairly and equitably; and
■ Three levels of government working together – ratepayers benefit when local, state and federal representatives work together to ensure the best outcomes for the community.
Liberal by Ken Paxinos
COMPARED to many of our local government neighbours, Lake Macquarie is well guided and managed.
However, pressure to balance the books continues to mount.
The management and structure of council has come into the spotlight, as has expenditure – and rightfully so.
As stewards of your rates and government taxes, the council has a responsibility to be prudent and conservative in its activities.
Liberal councillors will meet with the general manager and executive and ensure understanding of the council’s structure and challenges.
Additionally, they will work with management and the elected body of councillors to ensure an effective and accountable organisation.
What we see in some neighbouring councils is a very real example of what can go wrong and the extent to which those wrongs can distract focus, waste public funds, stall progress and kill efficiency.
Specific issues will always challenge us – development plans, rate rises, service delivery, road maintenance – but these are challenges that will have outcomes.
The primary enabler that dictates the worth of the council and moulds those outcomes is the ability to consult, grasp the key issues, enunciate a point of view and agree on an outcome – without keeping score or holding political lines.
A council that functions well opens the door to innovation, closer ties with state and federal governments and delivering for the community.
Ungrouped independent Arjay Martin by Arjay Martin
WHY risk my hard-earned cash on an election?
Because I cannot stand back and do nothing.
Lake Macquarie City Council generally functions well compared to other councils, but it is no secret it is in debt.
This is due to factors such as depletion of the asset replacement fund, overseas investments, consultancy fees instead of developing workers ‘in house’ and loan repayments.
Why else would it need a special rates variation?
Lake Macquarie City Council is undertaking many costly tasks that are state and federal issues.
It should not be legally nor morally required to do.
I do not want to cut services or jobs to the bare bones, but redeploy some workers into more productive and relevant areas.
I am soon to be 30, married with lovely wife and new-born daughter.
I completed high school, university and TAFE locally.
I am an executive board member and treasurer of The Place: Charlestown Community Centre.
For the past three years I’ve worked alongside senior council staff as a part of its advisory group.
I believe there should be less government interference in your daily lives and council should procure locally where available.
