Three candidates with Peninsula ties
Mr Lawrie McKinna, who is heading up a new five member independent team in the forthcoming local elections, said he understood just how important it was for the Peninsula to have a voice in Council.
He said three of his Team A candidates had close ties to the Peninsula community.
Nick Hagistefanis, Sue Dengate and Gabby Bowles were all familiar with the issues facing residents and business owners on the Peninsula, he said.
Mr Hagistefanis grew up in Woy Woy and has run a local business with his family since the early 80s.
As a Peninsula child himself, Mr Hagistefanis said he knew how important it was to provide local youth with facilities.
He also said improving local sporting fields and continuing to upgrade parks and amenities for Peninsula families was a must.
"Making sure we engage young people in community projects is a great way to ensure we develop a sense of pride in the next generation," said Mr Hagistefanis.
"If kids feel part of something important, they naturally tend to look after and respect it," he said.
Ms Dengate has lived in Umina for over 20 years and said she was very passionate about making sure the Peninsula was not forgotten by Council.
She said she understood that, as an increasingly popular place to settle, the Peninsula needed infrastructure to keep up with growing demand.
Ensuring Peninsula roads could cope with increasing traffic flow and working with other levels of government to find the best option for connecting the Peninsula to the F3 were just some of the things Ms Dengate said she heard were important to locals.
"Too many Peninsula streets have no kerb and guttering or adequate drainage, which should be basic provisions," she said.
Ms Gabby Bowles has run a busy Woy Woy cafe with her husband and siblings for the past eight years and said she understands the pressures on Peninsula businesses.
"Running a business can be hard enough without the added pressures of crime and vandalism," said Ms Bowles.
She said she was enthusiastic about finding ways to prevent anti-social behavior on the Peninsula, not just manage it.
Media Release, 15 Aug 2012
Lawrie McKinna, Team McKinna