Lord Mayor hopeful Charlotte McCabe aspires to create closer partnerships with the community in relation to City of Newcastle’s (CN) decision-making process.
The Greens’ representative officially launched her campaign for the top job in Hamilton at the weekend, flanked by MLC Sue Higginson and numerous supporters.
She’ll face Stephen O’Brien (Socialist Alliance), Independent Gavin Morris, Liberal’s Jenny Barrie, Labor’s Declan Clausen and Independent Milton Caine when residents cast their votes in the by-election on Saturday 18 April.
It comes after the ballot draw was formalised last week.
Pre-polling will start from 11 April.
For Cr McCabe, she’s keen to enhance council’s relationship with its constituents.
“I’m concerned about the disconnect between CN’s strong performance on any independent benchmarks that we see – including financial, resident satisfaction and operational management – and its reputation among some sections of the community,” she said.
“That’s a divide that must be addressed.
“We need a considerable ‘opening up’ of our decision-making processes to the community.
“It’s not just a matter of better communication… or doing more of the same.
“However, it’s important we take the next step beyond consultation.
“Everyone needs to be able to see and feel their input being valued in council, through genuine and deliberative partnerships on matters that affect them.”
Cr McCabe took time to praise council’s community engagement team, too.
“They do a great job… and they’ve demonstrated the willingness to give more information in their role, to consult earlier on decisions, and to give the community genuine options to guide how projects are planned,” she said.
“Engagement on the Southern Beaches Coastal Management Plan and the Creek Road Masterplan are solid examples of this.
“But, I want to see us take the next step.
“To invite representative cross-sections of our community into an earlier, deeper deliberative process of genuine two-way partnership, because there’s a lot of wisdom in the Newcastle community.
“Our resolutions will be better informed and more closely aligned with their expectations.
“Democracy doesn’t only happen every four years, it’s an ongoing relationship with voters.”
Greens’ councillors will move a Notice of Motion at the council meeting on 24 March for CN to develop plans for participatory budgeting and greater use of co-design for major projects.
“They provide structured, democratic ways for residents to help shape decisions,” Cr McCabe said.
“For example, participatory budgeting is a process where locals directly decide how a portion of public funds are spent.”
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