Sharon Walsh, lead candidate, Labor
1/ financial experience
Financial experience includes managing grants, large and small, for research and developing
advocacy campaigns. This experience involved acquittal processes where if not balanced
appropriately, further grants would be declined. I also have experience of
managing/coordinating/leading 2 separate NFP organisations which involved managing the
budgets required to run the services.
2/ work experience
I have worked in the community and human services for 40 years, including more than 20 years
at The University of Newcastle as a lecturer in Human and Community Services and Sociology.
This work involved working with elders including elder abuse,
3/ community activism or involvement
I am currently the Vice Chair of the Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee and have been
for many years. In retirement, I have continued to campaign and advocate in the community
and across the state on all areas of violence against women and children. I have worked,
campaigned and advocated in the social justice areas of child protection, domestic violence,
juvenile justice, women’s health for over 40 years. I will always be an advocate in those spaces. I was active on P&C at the schools my children attended, both primary and high schools.
4/ What current public causes/issues do you agree with?
I am a long term passionate supporter and advocate of women’s and children’s right to be safe
everywhere, I believe in social and environmental justice to protect the world we live in and
keep it healthy and habitable, I oppose the building of the Wamberal Sea Wall and believe in
fairness for everyone being represented by councillors.
5/ Why should I vote for you?
I am a committed long term social justice campaigner and believe in true transparent consultation with and full participation from residents to build the community they want to live.
I believe developing trust with the community is the way forward and in being honest and taking responsibility through being answerable to the community is essential to being a successful councillor.
Questions about the Operational Plan
Q1/ What’s important to you from the Operational plan’s vision and framework?
Choose three
C3: Facilitating economic development to increase local employment opportunities and provide a range of jobs for all residents is and will continue to be of vital importance to the region.
Examining how the development of the Wyong Employment Zone could potentially contribute
to many thousands of good jobs through the development of industries for the Central Coast
and develop y high paying jobs to the Central Coast and to build up productive industries on the
Central Coast.
As the Warnervale airport is within the Wyong Employment Zone, a fully costed business case
needs to be presented by council staff. Putting more ratepayer money into the expansion of
Warnervale airport should not be a priority at this stage and hence opposing any expansion is
appropriate. Examining the fees and charges charged by council should be considered and very
possibly be raised, possibly substantially.
G2: Engage and communicate openly and honestly with the community to build a relationship
based on trust, transparency, respect and use community participation and feedback to inform
decision making.
Options include reintroducing precinct committees and reviewing procedures and policies
around community consultation on council policies and initiatives. Implementing mobile office
type days, drop in meet the councillor times. Aim to keep user charges as low as possible and
make sure ratepayers and residents get better value for their dollar. Community consultation
needs to improve dramatically, support residents to feel they can be proud of their council, feel
that the council listens to them and speaks on behalf of them.
G3: Provide leadership that is transparent and accountable, makes decisions in the best interest of the community, ensures Council is financially sustainable and adheres to a strong audit process.
Q2/ Which upcoming plans already in the pipeline do you support?
Endorse relevant to the Gosford East Ward as follows:
- Davistown Foreshore Cycleway and Flood Barrier – Feasibility Study – flooding is critically
important to the residents of Davistown so I am definitely interested in having a closer look at
this proposal. It must not be another “sea wall” fiasco that we cannot afford
- Chapter 3.2 Central Coast DCP Coastal Hazard – it seems obvious that this Development
Control Plan should have been drafted and sent out for public consultation before any talk of a
sea wall at Wamberal took place.
The Gosford East Ward has many ocean-front and waterfront suburbs and villages impacted by
coastal hazards so this is a very important piece of policy development for my ward.
- Youth Strategy and Skate Park Renewal Program – Frost Reserve Skate Park, Kincumber – these
two are interrelated. As a former child protection specialist worker I understand the importance
of how local governments can intervene in young people’s lives in a positive way, so I
wholeheartedly support the development of a robust, inclusive and innovative Youth Strategy
including initiatives like skate park renewal.
Delete – I cannot find anything from the items listed that could be deleted. The list appears
minimal and does not address important crucial matters including protecting and expanding
COSS, local job creation and affordable housing.
Q3/ Do you support keeping the 2021 ten year special rate variation (rate increase) beyond 2031?
Yes or no?
No at this point and it’s too early to say maybe.
Q4/ How would you increase revenue
Is the council committed to reviewing and auditing revenue sources and current income
streams, without slugging locals for more through higher rates, making service reductions and
crumbling infrastructure?
I would like more detail on the following:
1/ 100304 Plant and Fleet Vehicle Acquisitions Region Wide General Fund Revenue ̃
$17,000,000. This is a significant amount of expenditure, I would like to know more details
around this. Are we talking about plant and fleet so managers get shiny new cars or are we
talking about machinery or vehicles that desperately need to be replaced because of
depreciation, degradation, delays or neglect? What methodology is being used here to
determine what is necessary and what is not with these purchases? It may well be essential in
its entirety, it may not be, without the detail it is hard to tell with a single line item in a budget
having not been part of the process of developing that budget. It does, however, stand out to
me.
2/ 100319 Remediation Works – Gosford City Car Park Gosford Restricted Funds General Fund
Revenue ̃ $1,377,624. This seems like a lot of money to spend on doing some remediation
works on a car park. I would like more detail about this project, particularly around its costs.
3/ 100352 Access Stairs Renewal – Jenny Dixon Beach and Soldiers Beach Norah Head General
Fund Revenue Grants ̃ $2,285,000 – Seems like a lot of money to spend on stair renewal. I
know it is a popular beach and the stairs are surely in need of improvement, but is this the best
value for money
Q5/ How would you reduce expenditure
- A full review of the council’s energy use and a concerted effort to move to solar panels on all
public buildings, with batteries. This will cut council’s energy bills and enable council to be a net
producer of power which could be sold via community hubs.
- Review $17 million for new vehicle fleet appears to be incredibly expensive
