INDEPENDENT - Lisa Bellamy
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I am a long-time resident of the Central Coast and am no stranger to the challenges of everyday life in Gosford and on the Peninsula.
I originally decided to run in this election, not because I thought I could win, but to raise awareness and get some action from our sitting MP on environmental issues.
However, since starting this campaign I have become aware of other challenges facing our community, including the lack of consultation and transparency in government decisions that affect us.
ANSWERS TO
RESIDENT QUESTIONS
Local Democracy
I was in a Central Coast Council meeting recently where I had the misfortune of watching 'democracy' in action.
Our council is not a council. It is a dictatorship.
There is some semblance of community consultation, which once "heard" is swiftly swept under the table and then decisions that affect everyone on the Peninsula are made with a nod from the Administrator.
The election of new councillors won't happen until September 2024.
This is just not good enough.
How many community assets will be sold off and unwanted developments approved by then?
We need proper representation now, not towards the end of next year.
The Administrator wants to reduce the number of wards from five to three, maintaining three councillors to represent each ward.
I believe that the success of this structure, regardless of the population number in each ward, depends solely on the quality of the councillors we elect.
However, in saying that, I do think the Peninsula has been the poor cousin to Gosford for too long, and has unique qualities, assets, and issues, that would benefit from being its own ward.
Governance
Elected officials should be doing more to explain to the community how their policy decisions are being informed, funded, and measured.
How else can our council gain the community's trust?
Councillors should have the full right to question Council staff, directors, and employees, and the council staff and the councillors themselves should be subject to regular, transparent, independent, impartial audits which should be published.
Fixed-contract tenure should be introduced for senior council staff.
Working with the community
I passionately believe we need local solutions for local issues, made by local individuals and community organisations.
Let's listen to our wise elders (of all backgrounds) and our young people.
Meaningful community consultation and community licence to influence decisions is needed in our local Council, not just the ability to make a three-minute speech, or put in a submission, all which can be, and usually are, ignored.
To make these consultations meaningful, we need the local community groups who have already demonstrated both forethought and initiative to have some actual influence over decision-making and the decisions published.
In return, I am confident that they would be willing to engage the broader community to re-write the strategies, plans, and policies using clear and accessible language for us all.
The rule of law
No one in the community is going to feel like engaging with a Development Control Plan that is half an inch thick.
Have the local community re-write it as an exercise in community engagement and shared decision making.
Only then will we receive any measure of integrity from the Land and Environment Court.
Liveable neighbourhoods
The Peninsula is heating up.
The indiscriminate removal of trees and green spaces on the Peninsular is creating an urban heat island.
I would stop all tree removal immediately.
I would mandate tree planting on the sides of the streets and provide support for some of our fantastic community groups such as GUST (Grow Urban Shade Trees) which do a marvellous work planting trees in public places on the Peninsular.
Commercial developments such as the new shopping centre on Ocean Beach Rd is a showcase of what not to do.
Every tree and green area have been removed and replaced with concrete and buildings.
To rectify this, large shade trees need to be planted around the perimeter.
Otherwise, Lone Pine Ave will not even have a lone pine.
The harsh reality is that land will become less affordable on the Peninsula.
We really need some imaginative ideas when it comes to affordable housing.
What makes the Peninsula so appealing are the shady back lanes, the frangipanis in the front yards, the parks, tree lined roads and unique waterfronts.
Let's find ways to keep the character and history that is the Peninsula, while moving forward as a community facing the challenges of sustainability and liveability.
SOURCE:
Media statement, 17 Mar 2023
Lisa Bellamy, Independent