Former Federal MP and Senator Belinda Neal will lead a 15-person ticket for the Labor Party in the September 14 Central Coast Council election.
Neal was a NSW senator from 1994-1998 and Federal Member for Robertson from 2007-2010 after serving on Gosford Council from 1992-1994.
She said if elected she would apply her extensive experience to ensure the financial sustainability of Central Coast Council so ratepayers weren’t left paying the bill.
The Your Central Coast Labor Team will field three candidates in each of the five council wards.
Neal said the group’s priorities would include putting council service fees on hold for the next four years to help with cost-of-living pressures.
The group would also push for extending the Coastal Open Space System (COSS) to maximise the region’s unique coastal environment, and a service guarantee for Council’s core services including roads, drainage, sporting fields and childcare.
Another priority would be ensuring infrastructure keeps up with development so existing residents aren’t disadvantaged.
“The community is entitled to expect that the council is well run and is not accumulating debt they have to pay for,” Neal said.
“We will ensure the administration is accountable.”
Neal will top the ballot paper for West Gosford, with Adam McCardle and Mark Ellis also running for that ward.
Former councillor Kyle MacGregor will lead the Wyong Ward.
McGregor said he had learnt much from his previous term as a councillor, and as a teacher.
He has a particular interest in supporting families and childcare.
He will be joined in running for Wyong ward by Evan Schrei and Melanie Gould.
The Budgewoi team will be led by former nurse Helen Crowley, who wants to prioritise listening to residents and ensuring core services such as roads and footpaths are done well.
She will be joined by Joy Cooper and Sarah Burns.
East Gosford team leader Sharon Walsh is deeply engaged in the community and believes listening and building trust is at the core.
She will be joined by Trevor Drake and Victoria Collins-Briggs.
For The Entrance ward, team leader Margo Castles says she will work to ensure the local infrastructure keeps pace with development if elected.
She is joined on the ballot by Matt Jeffreys and Joan Pavott.
Neal said the entire team was excited to see democracy returning to the Coast and would put the needs of residents first if elected.
The correct spelling for Joan’s surname is Pavitt !
Yeah nah. I’d have voted Labor in the upcoming elections, but Belinda Neale? Even though she’s not standing in our ward, no way I’d vote for the party that invites her back in.