The Central Coast Greens have preselected former Wyong Councillor, Sue Wynn, as their lead candidate for the Budgewoi ward in the September 14 Central Coast Council elections.
Key issues she says she will advocate for include council actions to address the housing crisis, protecting the environment and responding to the climate emergency and increasing facilities for Coast residents.
Wynn said the Greens will also be campaigning to retain 15 councillors, to ensure local voices can be heard and voters have access to their elected representatives.
Wynn’s media statements say she is a passionate advocate for democracy, transparency and sustainability.
She believes in creating a Central Coast that is responsive to climate change, supports affordable housing and empowers local communities to work on projects that benefit their neighbourhoods.
Living her values, Wynn has built a sustainable house from hemp masonry, owns an electric car, runs an ethical hospitality business, and has been instrumental in securing grants for local infrastructure projects.
As the only Greens councillor ever elected to the former Wyong Council, Wynn says that she will bring to the table a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of council operations.
With a background in education and a commitment to ethical principles, Wynn is dedicated to making decisions based on The Greens’ easily accessible policies grounded in ecological sustainability, social justice, grassroots democracy and peaceful non-violence.
Wynn said The Greens were also determined to ensure democracy on the Coast was not further undermined by reducing the number of elected representatives.
“The referendum was initiated by the former administrator Dick Persson and supported by the current administrator Rik Hart – not an elected council,” she said.
“The Greens will strongly advocate a no vote for the referendum, to ensure adequate oversight over Council finances and culture and to allow every voter to have a local representative.
“I believe the Central Coast needs a return to democracy and transparency in Council, so we can all live in an area that is sustainable, responsive to climate change, where people can afford housing and where local communities are resourced and supported to identify and work on projects that they know their neighbourhoods need.
“Keep your voice local.
“If councillor numbers are reduced, we risk a conservative council that works for property developers.
“By retaining 15 councillors, voters will have access to local representatives.
“We should not have council wards as large as federal electorates.
“The cost of keeping 15 rather than nine councillors is less than 0.03 per cent of the budget – democracy is too important to cut costs over,” Wynn said.