Labor puts trust first in East Ward Council election campaign

Trust, responsibility and value are the three core pillars of the Labor 4 Gosford East Ward campaign for the September 14 local government election, according to lead candidate, Sharon Walsh.

“I am proud to have been chosen as lead candidate for Labor in Gosford East and our team is already out and about meeting the community and listening to their priorities and concerns,” Walsh said. “We have already made it clear that we stand for restoring the community’s trust in Central Coast Council and that means making sure residents and ratepayers are properly consulted and listened to and that Council’s actions align with the outcomes of that consultation.

“The Wamberal Sea Wall is one example of how Central Coast Council, during the past four years under an administrator, has deliberately ignored the best interests of our community in Gosford East Ward. We know that Wamberal is located in The Entrance Ward, but every household located anywhere near Terrigal Beach or Terrigal Lagoon could be impacted if a sea wall is built.

“That is why Labor 4 Gosford East Ward has already publicly supported the Wamberal Beach SOS group and its efforts to stop the wall. We know the community loves its beaches and lagoons and doesn’t want to see them wrecked by an engineering nightmare.

“The rate hikes we have experienced in recent years should represent value for all – our council’s priorities should be better roads, more sporting fields and more affordable early childhood education, not multi-million-dollar projects to benefit a very small number of beachfront property owners at the expense of everyone else.”

Trevor Drake, Number 2 on the Labor 4 Gosford East Ward ticket, said Central Coast Council also has a role to play in boosting the supply of affordable housing and local employment. “As a local business owner, I think we deserve council rates and charges to represent value for all residents. I am also passionate about committing to transparency and accountability to the community on Central Coast

Council’s finances. A high level of financial responsibility is essential when we have such a big local government area,” he said.

Victoria Collins, who is Number 3 on the Labor ticket for Gosford East Ward, said she was delighted to be part of a team that will take a strong stand on the protection and expansion of the area’s unique Coastal Open Space System (COSS).

“It's been a long time since the previous NSW Coalition Government promised the expansion of COSS as a benefit for amalgamating our old councils way back in 2016. Rik Hart’s recent attempts to downgrade private land surrounding COSS for clearing and development is not good enough.

“Swathes of ‘deferred matters land’ is in the Gosford East Ward and we will make sure it is preserved as bushland. We will, if elected, deliver on the promise to protect and expand COSS,” Ms Collins said.

Sharon Walsh said she believed the combination of her team’s experience and expertise as a former university lecturer, a lawyer and a pharmacist is formidable.

“We understand bureaucracy, the law and the importance of community wellbeing and we are ready, between now and 14 September, to find out what you need and want your council to do during the next four years. Contact us at laborteam4gosfordeast@gmail.com to book a time for a yarn!”

Contact Sharon Walsh on 0417422228 for more information or to organise an interview.

Photo Caption: The Labor 4 Gosford East Ward Team (from left), retired pharmacist, Victoria Collins, retired university lecturer Sharon Walsh and lawyer Trevor Drake.