Save Our Sand (SOS) no-seawall campaigner Corinne Lamont has indicated she will stand as a candidate in the September 14 Central Coast Council election.
A dedicated campaigner for the Coast community, Lamont has led the Wamberal Beach SOS campaign to stop a seawall and is also an active supporter of the Tuggerah Lakes community’s efforts to get a solution to reduce flooding there.
Lamont has lived on the Central Coast for more than 30 years, raising her children first at Wyong, then migrating south to Killcare, Terrigal and Wamberal.
She says protecting the Coast’s treasured natural assets is paramount.
She also understands the importance of attracting increased investment to the Coast to create jobs and sustainable business opportunities that increase prosperity across the region, but says this needs to be done with “fair dinkum community engagement and consultation”.
“We all need to think about what we want the Central Coast to be and look like in five years, in 20 years and beyond,” she said.
“We need councillors who will engage honestly and transparently with and in the interest of all.
“We need councillors with vision – a Council that looks to the future, protecting and achieving what is important to all of us, sustainably and fairly.
“We need to unlock the Coast’s potential by looking after it and allowing it to thrive and prosper as a region, providing opportunities for everyone.”
Lamont said with the emerging education and health precinct in Gosford, there was an opportunity to develop the Central Coast as a vibrant technology, science and professional services innovation hub.
“Wider manufacturing and rural sectors would benefit from this as well,” she said.
“Council needs to keep supporting and driving initiatives such as the Night-time Economy Strategy and the Uptown District Acceleration Program, which should extend to other areas on the Coast.
“We also need to step up the Coast’s festivities calendar to boost the tourism and retail sectors that employ many locals.”
Lamont said spearheading the SOS no-seawall campaign had given her an insight into Council’s operational issues, opportunities and failures, especially with respect to governance, trust, transparency and culture.
She said she had gained experience in dealing with Council senior management, media, state and federal MPs and Ministers of all political parties, to get action for the Coast and she won’t be “fobbed off”.
“Council has many dedicated frontline staff who work hard to provide vital local services,” she said.
“Most Council staff are also community members, and their honest opinions are important.
“I will back a culture where Council’s frontline also has a voice.
“Dedicated staff often spot opportunities for improvement, but they need to be listened to.
“Council is understaffed and the reasons for this must be examined, and changes made so that Council attracts and retains the best suitably skilled workforce.”
With Central Coast Council being the third largest in the state, Lamont says strategic financial governance and leadership was needed to address the growth challenge.
“Things must change to help us flourish in a different future,” she said.
“Council needs to be setting records other than being the most complained about Council in NSW.
“While councillors are limited in their influence in some operational matters, I aim to be part of a new group of councillors who will encourage and insist upon a positive culture and an improved, trusted Council identity, and a Council delivering what the community wants.”
A former Martin Place bank manager, Lamont owns an education technology export business with her husband and is used to leading staff and overseeing the daily balancing of large transactions.
She says she is a successful local business owner and property investor who studied accounting and is comfortable analysing and auditing financial reports and business plans.
Lamont said being a councillor was all about listening, acknowledging diverse opinions, representing balanced views and working hard and smart with others for the greater good, regardless of politics.
“Sometimes hard choices and actions must be made, but that can only successfully happen with open, honest and transparent dialogue between Council and the community,” she said.
Lamont will run for The Entrance Ward as an Independent.
She says stopping Council’s support of a Wamberal Beach seawall and seeing The Entrance channel cleared to reduce flooding around thousands of Tuggerah Lake homes would be priorities.
She said she would also focus on local priorities such as local roads, sensible development, housing and cost of living pressures, and favour initiatives that created jobs, business and sustainable development across the region.
To join her campaign email corinne.lamont22@gmail.com
Couldn’t get a better representative for the area. Honest and hard working hope she is elected
Thanks so much. I really appreciate your support.
A little concerned that she thinks Council is under staffed? Given massive blow outs in staffing numbers were a key factor in the crash of the last Council.