Coasties Who Care, a grassroots group focused on environmental protection, narrowly missed having their lead candidate, Lisa Bellamy, elected to the Central Coast Council.
Bellamy said she fell short by just 120 votes, with former Central Coast Council mayor, Jane Smith, securing the final seat in the Gosford West ward.
The group, consisting of Bellamy, Sarah Blakeway, and Tegan Mulqueeney, campaigned for the September 14 elections on a platform about protecting the natural environment, particularly the Kariong Sacred Lands, an area under threat of development.
Bellamy expressed disappointment at the outcome but remained optimistic about the impact their campaign made.
“We ran to raise awareness about the need to protect conservation bushland, especially Kariong Sacred Lands, from development,” Bellamy said.
“While we didn’t secure a seat, our message was heard loud and clear.”
Coasties Who Care’s second candidate, Blakeway, said they were surprised by how competitive their campaign became, highlighting how the group’s message resonated with voters.
“We stood firmly on protecting the Central Coast’s natural beauty, fostering community, and giving locals a voice in council decisions.
“The close result shows how important these issues are to the public.”
Coasties Who Care said they engaged other candidates to ensure their commitment to protecting Kariong Sacred Lands, which houses endangered species, wetlands, and culturally significant sites.
The land, located on 300 Woy Woy Rd, is zoned as C2, a classification for high environmental conservation.
However, a rezoning proposal is under consideration by the State Government, which would allow for housing development.
Bellamy said they asked many of the council election candidates that, if elected, would they support a Motion for Council to write to the State Government and the private land owner and developer, Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC), with a view to entering into negotiations to preserve the land at Kariong, which ensuring that DLALC was either financially compensated (under the Just Terms Compensation Act 1991) or given developable land of equal economic value.
“All candidates we spoke to agree to this action,” Bellamy said.
Mulqueeney said saving Kariong Sacred Lands was just the beginning.
“There are more conservation areas at risk, and we must act now to prevent future rezoning efforts,” she said.
“We are not anti-development and know we are going to need more housing, industry, and jobs on the Central Coast, but we believe there are other areas that could be used instead of conservation land.”
Despite the election outcome, the trio said they were determined to continue their environmental advocacy.
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