Great Green thanks to all the Green voters and supporters

The most heartfelt thanks to all the Greens supporters and voters who have delivered an amazing outcome for Lake Macquarie. We now have two highly capable, articulate and confident Councillors to represent the green aspirations for the City.

It's a momentous outcome for Lake Macquarie and the Greens, two Councillors to represent the community unencumbered by developer donations, fully aware of grassroots democracy, open government and transparency and committed wholeheartedly to representing the community and adapting to climate change.

Now there will be Greens around the table to counter the oft quoted "we're saving ratepayers the expense of going to the Land Environment Court" as another offensive development gets the go ahead. There'll be Councillors who are committed to tackling climate change at the local level, who can see a future beyond coal and who are committed to ensuring there is a future for our city.

As the climate clock ticks on, time for action will become an imperative, local actions driven by local councils are a way to push the issues up through the political landscape to make sure the changes we are wanting actually happen.

A Lake Macquarie Greens reference group will be established within the next week or so to provide a vehicle for community concerns to be presented to the Councillors and to start putting Greens perspectives forward.

What an exciting term this will be!

Greens Breakthrough in Lake Macquarie!!!

The Greens now have a place at the table on Lake Macquarie Council with, Hannah Gissane, North Ward, and Phillipa Parsons, East Ward, being elected.

The youth voice will finally be heard through 19 year old Hannah, and The Greens will be providing some great female role models with Phillipa Parson’s on board as well. The gender balance on the new Council has five females in the traditionally male dominated arena

“As a young Councillor I’ll be able to voice the concerns and issues that are often sidelined by Council” Hannah Gissane said

“As a Greens Councillor I’ll be pushing Council to deliberate over decisions and value principles over pragmatism”

“Getting back to the grassroots is really important in mitigating the effects of climate change, we need to localise our actions, climate change and globalisiation aren’t compatible”

“It’s an amazing opportunity to serve the people and the environment in Lake Macquarie, the Greens vision is for Lake Macquarie to be a leader and innovator in moving away from dirty coal in a just transition to a renewable energy industry” Phillipa Parson said

“I want to empower the community to deal with local issues, not tokenism, real consultation in decision making and community involvement in the development process”

The Greens will also be looking to establish a Local Group in Lake Macquarie now there are local Councillors.

West Ward Candidate, Suzanne Pritchard was unelected by 900 votes, having increased the Greens vote in West Ward from 6.9% in 2004 to 12.4% this election

“It’s a tremendously exciting time for the Greens in Lake Macquarie, there’s going to be a lot to do and I’m looking forward to being able to support our Councillors represent the community and seriously tackle climate change” said Suzanne Pritchard

Greens to break through Lake Macquarie barrier

Lake Macquarie Council could get two or three Greens on Council with a favourable preference flow as a result of Saturday’s election.

“The results so far are looking very promising for the North Ward candidate Hannah Gisanne, and East Ward candidate Phillipa Parsons and a bit iffy for West Ward ”said Suzanne Pritchard-Mayoral and West Ward candidate

“It’s going to be an exciting and dynamic Council with Green councillors on board and several youthful replacements to the outgoing councillors.”

“The youth voice will finally be heard through 19 year old Hannah, and we’ll be providing some great female role models with Phillipa Parson’s on board as well. The gender balance on the new Council could have five or six females and this is such a leap forward in the traditionally male dominated arena.”

The Greens will also be looking to establish a Local Group in Lake Macquarie now there are local Councillors.

“It’s a tremendously exciting time for the Greens in Lake Macquarie, there’s going to be a lot to do and I’m looking forward to being able to support our Councillors represent the community and seriously tackle climate change” said Suzanne Pritchard

The Greens’ analysis of Saturday’s Lake Macquarie Council election is that the new council will comprise 2 Labor councillors, 4 Lakes Alliance, Barry Johnson (North Ward Independent), 1-2 Liberal, and 2-3 Greens, plus the Mayor, Greg Piper.

The make up of councillors elected to the new council is likely to be:

Likely Lake Macquarie Council Composition (2008)
Greens 2-3
Lakes Alliance 4
Independent (Barry Johnson) 1
Labor 2
Liberal 1-2

Likely Results
Mayor: Greg Piper

West Ward Suzanne Pritchard is unlikely to be elected
The four seats will likely go to Labor, Lakes Alliance (2 seats) and Liberal
Greens increased 2004 vote of 6.9% to 13.0%.

North Ward Hannah Gissane is quite likely to be elected
The other three seats are likely to go to Labor, Lakes Alliance and Barry Johnston (ind)
Greens 2004 vote decreased from 15.1% to 12.5%.

East Ward Phillipa Parsons is quite likely to be elected.
The other three seats will go to Labor, Lakes Alliance and Liberal.
Greens increased 2004 vote of 12.4% to 13.4%.

Greens release local election funding sources

The Democraccy4sale.org website has been updated recently to reveal where the election funding for the 2004 Council election has come from, it makes for very interesting reading.

Lake Macquarie Council candidates had the dubious honour of coming in 5th largest amount of donations received at $204,712, just behind Wollongong with $278,591. Newcastle ranked 7th $186,769.

The Greens election funding for Lake Macquarie came from federal election funding returns, and from local grassroots fundraising events such as quiz nights, raffles, barbecues, a whale-watch cruise, etc, and donations by local individuals (mostly members).You can see the details at Clr Michaels Osborne's site, Newcastle Lord Mayoral and Ward 1 candidate

If you would like to see how the other candidates funded their campaign it’s well worth a look.

Previous council election funding returns show that the campaigns of some so-called local Independents were actually funded by vested interests, including donations from corporations such as Hardie Holdings and Rosecorp.For some reason this doesn't appear newsworthy in the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie media.

The Greens don’t accept donations from developers, corporations or any other organisations. Voters can see that no one is buying us, and we have nothing to hide about where our money comes from.

People a Plenty at Prepoll

Prepoll is in full swing at the moment with over a thousand people passing through the Lake Macquarie prepoll booth at Warners Bay today.

It was a great opportunity to meet a lot of locals in a very short amount of time. The general feeling of the candidates that have done this sort of thing before was that 'they've never seen anything like it!'.

The general chat from the voters was that there had been so little media coverage of the local election that they had already well and truly planned their weekend and voting wasn't factored in to it.

The queue was out the door several times during the day and the afterwork rush saw the line well and truly into the carpark.

Prepoll is open from 8.00 am-5pm for the rest of the week and till 6pm on Friday, if you're like a lot of the folk out there and won't be able to get to the polling booth on Saturday, prepolling is an option at 4/305 Hillsborough Rd, next to Lakeview Blinds.

Return Planning Powers back to the people

Local governments should be given back their planning powers was the view of Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon and Ms Pritchard, Lake Macquarie Mayoral and West Ward candidate.

Discussions with Morisset Park District Action Group members, opposing the Trinity Point Development were held at picturesque Bardens Bay today and support given from The Greens that the proposed Trinity Point Marina development should not proceed in its present form.

"Now that Mr Sartor has been sacked as Planning Minister this project should be taken off the list of state significant projects, which come under the Minister. It should instead be put before the new council when it is elected next Saturday. Ms Rhiannon said

"If Premier Nathan Rees wants to distance himself from dubious practices of his predecessors he would remove this donation tainted project from the Part 3A list and allow the new Lake Macquarie Council to make the decision.

"The Premier needs to be aware that the backers of this over-sized marina are major funders of the Labor Party. His clean skin reputation will not last long if does not send this project back to the local council.

" The Johnson Property group donated $334,181 to the Labor Government from 2002-2007 and $111,300 to the Liberal party.

"The new council should be allowed to make the decision on the future of this project. The new councillors represent the voice of the community and this is where the final decision should be made," Ms Pritchard said.

"This marina project could become a white elephant in a climate changing world”

"The 300-berth mega-marina would take up a large part of Bardens Bay destroying much of the aquatic environment, local fish nurseries and the local lifestyle.”

"The marina would be the largest in the State and it dwarfs Circular Quay in it size. There is nothing like it locally and it does not belong in a local backwater that receives minimal tidal exchange and is at the wrong end of the Lake for tourists and the facilities they need"

Renewable Cities

Tonight I listened to an inspiring speaker, Prof Steffen Lehmann who presented some research and ideas on the cities of the future, not too distant future that is.

He spoke of the urgency to change the way building and cities are designed to accommodate climate change and the increase in urbanisation. He was effusive in the need for fast efficient public transport that reduced the need for cars, and connected homes to workplaces.

Prof Lehman spoke of the urgency to develop renewable energy efficiencies and distributed power. ‘Solar is beautiful and Green is Cool’ provided the foundation for reduced operating costs in building design. So much of a buildings cost is in energy usage to maintain the internal environment, he believes that the smart buildings of the future will be energy generating! If this is the case then environmental efficiency makes economic sense, this can further encourage investment in the construction industry to lead by design and reduce greenhouse emissions at all points in the process.

Prof Lehman spoke of the need for urban scale fixes, rethinking of city design, green-spaces and accessibility. The potential, expertise and technology is available to create a renewable City, reduce car dependency, compact the city, recycle existing buildings and create urban farming through community gardens

All of these strategies have been identified in Greens policies and are areas where local government can be making a major difference to addressing climate change and positioning the City to generate jobs, support community and survive in a greenhouse world.

Small Business September

Tuesday night- Southlakes Business Chamber and Community Alliance monthly meeting.

One of the notable aspects of the meeting was it was 2/3 women. “We seem to be the doers around here” was the local response to my observation. The other significant point was the preponderance of small business owners/managers, small business is such a major part of the local economy, the issues are unique and support is vital. As a small business owner I’m very aware and supportinve of Lake Macquarie City Council’s initiatives with the Small Business Centre.

It’s Small Business September at the moment and On Wedesday 10^th & Thursday 11^th there is a Business and Innovation Expo being held at the Jockey Club in Newcastle, I’ll be popping in to hear the Business & Industry Briefing: Regional Opportunities on Thursday .

GREEN JOBS FOR A GREENER HUNTER - WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS ?

It was a great forum! There is a future for the City beyond the coalface.

Two of the speakers were Bill Mitchell Professor of Economics, and the Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE) at the University of Newcastle and Geoff Evans of the School of Environmental and Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Information Technology at the University of Newcastle

They talked about the recently published report, commissioned by Greenpeace, “A Just Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy in the Hunter Region”

A just transition from a coal economy could create thousands of new secure, well paid jobs in research, design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

The report was researched and modelled under stringent economic arguments and dispels the scare mongering that there are no employment options if there is no coal. Well I for one will be strongly advocating that the sooner we get on with accepting the inevitable demise of the coal industry the better position we will be in to capitalilise on a budding boom renewable industry.

Another inspiring speaker was Mark Fogarty a former director of the NSW Sustainable Energy Authority (SEDA) and currently a director of CBD Energy, a company that looks to implementing solar/thermal power in the Hunter. He talked of the need for certainty in policies and how they can drive change such as the feed in tariff in Germany He spoke of how progressive policy platforms can ensure security and investment. He effused of the great economic opportunity that is available as long as there is stability and longevity of policy. It was comforting to know that Greens policies can fit the bill.

Trinity Point or Bardens Bay?

Tonight I went along to a meeting of the Morisset and District Action Group to hear about what was happening with the Trinity Point Development on Bardens Bay and share with the group what the Greens’ position is.

The Greens fully support the group in their opposition to the excessive over-development of the semi rural community. The proposal shows the marina and the heliport within 200m of existing houses and close to a retirement village. The size and bulk of the high rise apartments are unprecedented in Lake Macquarie and would set a dangerous precedent for waterside developments everywhere. This project could become a white elephant in a climate changing world and due consideration needs to be taken on the impacts of sea level rise.

• The nine multi-storey blocks of apartments up to six storeys high fringing the bay, are too high and too many
• the 300 berth mega-marina taking up much of Bardens Bay spells environmental disaster, the destruction of the aquatic environment and fish nurseries
• the heliport on the water is an excessive intrusion on all residents’ lifestyle

Additional information was provided by concerned locals on the effect of the marine fuel on the aquatic life of the bay, the toxic load from the marina would not be adequately flushed in the quiet bay that has its water movement quashed by a breakwall constructed for the marina.

The unfortunate conclusion of the meeting was that because this local development is being dealt with by the State Government under Part 3A , Frank Sartor is the last say and the local community is being excluded from the process.

The Greens have State representatives, Lee Rhianon, John Kaye, Sylvia Hale and Ian Cohen that are fighting to repeal the Part 3A legislation, the Greens are all for keeping local planning decisions at the local level.

The Johnson Property group donated $334,181 to the Labor Government from 2002-2007 and $111,300 to the Liberal party. Donations to political parties from developers distort our democracy and planning processes in favour of developer greed rather than community need. (source: www.democracy4sale.org)

Everyone at the meeting was urged to read the latest in the ever changing submission and prepare a response. More information about the development and where it is upto can be obtained from Morisset Park and District Action Group contact details are PO Box 516 Morisset 2264, mpdag@iprimus.com.au. The President is Keith Arcus 4973 4225, The Secretary is Ken Faulkes, 4973 4444.

Policy Summaries...more to come

The Greens will be launching the Lake Macquarie Campaign and policies at Warners Bay Rotunda foreshore on Tuesday 26^th August, 1pm.

“We are offering people public policies not probable promises. It is vital that the residents of the city know what they are getting when they elect a local representative” Ms Pritchard said

“Our transport policy includes improving the public transport services in an integrated and efficient manner, expanding the cycleway network to link suburbs, advocating for the Glendale Regional Transport Interchange, investigating energy efficient boat transport for the Lake and coastal travel and changing the Council’s vehicle fleet to comply with 7Star Greenhouse Rating.”

“If there was an efficient and integrated public transport system, people would consider it as a viable option, especially with the price of petrol rising. Cycleways are a fantastic recreational resource and every suburb should have them”

“Our Social Equity policy encourages participation in local government by women, Indigenous Australians and young people. The policy includes supporting childcare so that families can continue to participate in the workforce, establishing hospital services in the Morisset area, expanding the cultural, recreational and sporting facilities.”

“The under representation of women on Council is a genuine concern that we are proactively addressing. All our lead candidates are women and bring a wealth of experience and much needed diversity of perspective to Council”

“Our Economic Development Policy supports the creation of a renewable-energy industry that is job intensive to build on our energy production capacity and opposes energy privatisation. Support for the immediate construction of the Glendale Interchange and a second entrance to the Cardiff Industrial Estate are vital for our regional economic development.”

“Our Open Government Policy is about transparency and democracy. Local Government is best placed to make decisions about local issues and so lobbying to repeal Sartor’s undemocratic and compromised approach to planning will be necessary to get community-friendly outcomes that protect our lifestyle and the environment.”

“Our Environment Policy promotes the protection of green corridors, expansion of regional parks and increased support for Landcare. The built environment demands no new subdivisions without services, minimisation of urban sprawl, no mega marinas and the establishment of a community consultation process at concept design stage for community- impacting developments.”

“The Greens have a long and credible regional history with a steadfast commitment to local group autonomy. In local government this means locals make the decisions based on the principles of grassroots democracy, social and economic justice, peace and non-violence and ecological sustainability”

A Blueprint for Sustainable Development

“The Greens see climate change as the major concern for the city of Lake Macquarie. Not just low lying areas threatened with inundation by lake/sea rise, but every household will bear the brunt of climate change unless drastic measures are taken immediately” said mayoral & West Ward candidate Suzanne Pritchard.

“It’s essential for Council to further develop and put into practice a Climate Change Strategy/ Adaptation Response for Lake Macquarie. The Greens’ Climate Change Policy demonstrates how Council and the community working together can deal with the impact of climate change” said Suzanne Pritchard.

“Greens on Council will work with other councillors who share our commitment to tackling the problem of climate change, to further develop and implement a climate change strategy. It’s essential that Newcastle and Lake Macquarie work together to tackle the problem”.

Essential points in our policy include:

• A jobs- intensive renewable-energy industry, building on our strength and skills in energy production
• Protecting our green corridors, expanding regional parks, increasing support for Landcare
• Establishing community consultation at the concept design stage for developments with a significant impact on the community
• Expanding the cycleway network to link suburbs / villages round the lake
• Strongly lobbying State Government for funding and immediate construction of the Glendale Regional Transport Interchange, decent public transport, expanding childcare, increasing cultural, recreational and sporting activities and facilities, and establishing hospital services in the Morisset area,
• Consult with the Indigenous communities to ascertain their needs

“WE SAY NO TO:

Energy privatisation, subdivisions without services, urban sprawl, mega marinas which pollute and essentially privatise the lake, and Sartor’s un-democratic and compromised approach to planning as shown by his approval of the Catherine Bay development. We’ll join with councils all over the state seeking to have them repealed”.

“Our team has developed a full range of policies on the environment, economic development, transport, social equity and transport which will steer our path on Council” said Suzanne Pritchard.

“We have proactively tackled the under representation of women on Council. We have the youngest candidate standing for election in the Hunter. Hannah Gissane, aged 19. All our lead candidates are women,” said Suzanne Pritchard.

“The Green team brings a wealth of experience and much-needed diversity of perspective to Council”

Lead Candidates In Lake Macquarie

SUZANNE PRITCHARD

Mayoral and No.1 West Ward Candidate, Lake Macquarie City Council

Suzanne is an active community advocate and company director. She has lived in Carey Bay for 17 years, has raised three children and served as President of the Coal Point Progress Association for 12 years. She has degrees in Science and Communications and has developed her own company providing environmental education services to community groups and science shows to childcare centres.

“All our candidates recognise that the future will be very different as we adapt to climate change, and ar keen to play an active and positive role in shaping the response of a rapidly growing city.”

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HANNAH GISSANE:

No.1 North Ward candidate, Lake Macquarie City Council:

Hannah is The Greens’ youngest candidate in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area, and is running to highlight the needs of youth and to give them a voice. Hannah has grown up in Lake Macquarie, attending Lambton High and Hunter School of Performing Arts. She is currently studying Communications Law at the University of Newcastle, where she is involved in social justice issues as co-convenor of Newcastle University Student Association’s Women’s Collective.

"As a young person I believe advocating for and representing the youth of Lake Macquarie is crucial in stopping youth disillusionment with the political process.”

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PHILLIPA PARSONS

No.1 East Ward candidate, Lake Macquarie City Council:

Phillipa has a professional background and qualifications in business management and training. Currently completing a teaching degree, she has served as a NSW police officer, insurance investigator, and operations manager of a national company. Phillipa, who has lived in Lake Macquarie for 18 years, wants local action on climate change and unsustainable development in Lake Macquarie, and believes that more Greens on Council will provide more community-oriented leadership.


"The Greens will work towards ensuring development in Lake Macquarie is environmentally sustainable and serves the needs of the local community, not developers.”

Candidate's Announcement

Greens aim for Lake Macquarie breakthrough

Climate change and sustainable, innovative urban development will be the key focus for Greens candidates aiming to win the party’s first seats on Lake Macquarie Council at the council election on 13th September.


Announcing the Greens’ Lake Macquarie tickets today, Greens Mayoral and No.1 West Ward candidate, Suzanne Pritchard, said “I’m stepping forward because I want to see innovative and sustainable development in Lake Macquarie”.

“The Lower Hunter Regional Strategy offers a great opportunity to form new communities that should become models for adapting to the challenges of climate change,” she said.

“West Ward will bear the brunt of Lake Macquarie’s population expansion, so adequate public transport and pedestrian options, as well as proper social services for all members of the community, are essential to prevent isolation.

“Strategies for urban water recycling and protecting the bushland corridors are vital to protect the lake,” Ms Pritchard said.

The Greens’ lead candidate for North Ward, Hannah Gissane, said that she was running primarily to give young people a voice in local government on key issues, such as climate change.

“Lake Macquarie council would benefit enormously from a young and environmentally conscious voice,” she said.

“In this era of climate change, the voice of the future is so often silenced and our contribution discouraged. I want to help to change this,” she said.

“As a young person I believe advocating for and representing the youth of Lake Macquarie is crucial in stopping youth disillusionment with the political process,” Ms Gissane said.

The Greens’ No.1 East Ward candidate, Phillipa Parsons, said she believed Greens on Lake Macquarie Council would provide more community-oriented leadership.

"Greens on the council would work towards ensuring development in Lake Macquarie is environmentally sustainable and serves the needs of the local community, not developers,” she said.

Nine other candidates will support the No.1 candidates, making up full Greens tickets for all three city wards.

Ms Pritchard, said she felt inspired to be the Mayoral candidate with such a diverse team, united by a strong commitment to the future of the city.

"All our candidates recognise that the future will be very different as we adapt to climate change, and are keen to play an active and positive role in shaping the response of a rapidly growing city,” she said.

“Lake Macquarie has never had local Greens representation whilst over the hill, Newcastle has had Greens councillors since 1991.

"It’s time that Lake Macquarie benefited from a party that cherishes grassroots democracy and transparency.

“Council decisions directly affect our communities and Greens policies developed at the local level are an effective way for communities to be truly represented,” Ms Pritchard said.

"Our team gives Lake Macquarie voters candidates capable of representing a diverse cross-section of the resident community in tackling climate change, planning, transport, social issues, and city governance”.

Ms Pritchard said that she and other local Greens candidates would release further policy and position statements on a range of policy areas during the campaign.

"Unlike other groups, we don't accept donations from developers and other vested interests. We rely on our members and supporters in the local community, who volunteer their time and talents because they want our city to have a sustainable future.

"The Greens offer positive and creative ideas for tackling the city's key issues, and can show how local action can help to solve big challenges like climate change and sustainable development," Ms Pritchard said.

Each Greens candidate heading a ticket will maintain an active campaign blog, recording their campaign activity, releasing policy and position statements, and commenting on key campaign issues.

Nomination Day

Today is nomination day. The day everyone finds out exactly who is running in the local government elections and where they are placed on the ballot paper.

Our Lake Macquarie team is experientially and socially diverse. The lead candidates in all the wards are female. The number of females councilors that have represented the city is less than 10, from memory about 6 but I'd have to check...none the less the perspective of half of the population has a lot to offer.

Our North Ward candidate Hannah Gissane is 19. A youth voice to be heard at one of the most changing times in recent history. Hannah is someone who can articulate what youth want for their future. Whilst some may question what a teenager can offer to the political process I think Hannah's presence on Council would provide a constant reality check that it is the future that is being determined and there should be someone representing the views of the generation that will be living with the decisions of today. I think it is also time to be looking at doing things differently.

In order to address climate change we need to change our approach to many things. A youth perspective can offer alternative or different options that may at first seem 'out there' but may provide a new or unique solution. The Greens have often been targeted for their alternative solutions, it wasn't that long ago the Greens were the trying to get climate change on the agenda.

Representing East Ward is Phillipa Parsons. Phillipa has a professional background and qualifications in business management and training. Currently completing a teaching degree, she has served as a NSW police officer, insurance investigator, and operations manager of a national company.

I'm running as the Mayoral and West Ward candidate. I know it's going to be hard to replace Greg and realistically it's probably not going to happen this year, but I really would one day love to be Mayor and look after the City. To do this I need to understand how everything works and to do that I have to get on to Council to start with.

West Ward is where I live and where I want to represent. This ward is going to be under huge population pressures and it's a chance to have a voice on Council that demands to do things differently and for the future whilst respecting the exisiting population has chosen to live here because it is a beautiful city, with a fantastic environment, and we want to keep it that way.

The Turning of the Tide

The last time I posted was the day before the Federal election and how the world has changed! The most memorable thing about it was how good I felt on the Sunday, it seemed like a weight had been lifted and there was hope for a future again.

That feeling of hope still lingers, there was definitely a change in what people thought about the Greens and what we had to offer, with enough Greens elected we formally achieved 'party' status at the national level.

Now there is a new opportunity to make a difference locally. For The Greens, being a grassroots organisation is our foundation. We work with the community and represent the community, we don't accept developer donations. More importantly though the local government election is the best chance of getting a Green voice heard in the local political arena.