Liberal hopefuls virtually everywhere
BY NICOLE HASHAM
Illawarra Mercury
28 Dec, 2010

Twitter is transforming the way political candidates reach out to voters, and Wollongong Liberal hopeful Michelle Blicavs has embraced the tool with more enthusiasm than most.

With the state poll less than three months away, the 39-year-old tweets an average six times a day – updating followers on everything from her bid to unseat sitting MP Noreen Hay to the minute details of her post-Christmas lethargy.

“People get to know who the real me is,” Mrs Blicavs said.

“If something is annoying me I might tweet about that, or today I tweeted that I was being a couch potato watching West Wing series four.

“I let people know where I am and what I’m doing as far as campaigning goes … it’s a good way to connect with people I wouldn’t usually meet.”

The new-media devotee has 777 Twitter followers, and has posted 4856 times since she joined the service two years ago.

Kiama Liberal candidate Gareth Ward, who has 1700 Facebook followers, said new media was a vital way to “link in” with the young and tech-savvy.

“It’s important that a local representative is making sure they hear and represent the views of the electorate, and it doesn’t matter if you’re on a street corner or online,” he said.

“You can come home and upload where you’ve gone, and ask questions of followers on what they think on an issue.”

Full story (including pitfalls of use of this medium) at:

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/liberal-hopefuls-virtually-everywhere/2034894.aspx

Planning minister is too powerful, say green groups
Kelsey Munro URBAN AFFAIRS
Sydney Morning Herald
December 28, 2010

THE public has lost all confidence in the state planning system, which favours developers and has concentrated planning powers in the hands of the minister, according to a new report by three environmental groups.

Despite efforts to make the planning system more consistent and strategic, it had become so complex, politicised and dysfunctional that a complete overhaul was needed, said the report by the Environmental Defender’s Office NSW, funded by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW and the Total Environment Centre.

It said reforms since 2004 to ”cut red tape” and ”streamline the development assessment process” were ”clearly linked to [developer] industry lobbying”.

But a spokesman for the Planning Minister, Tony Kelly, rejected the report’s conclusion that the Labor government’s reforms produced a system that gave priority to short-term economic growth, ignored or played down environmental impacts, and marginalised public input…

full story:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/planning-minister-is-too-powerful-say-green-groups-20101227-198lt.html

REFORMWCC says: PEOPLE POWER REQUIRED.

There is far too much power in far too few hands. The Community Reform Agenda on this website (See “Agenda” on banner above) provides an effective counterbalance to this unhealthy concentration:

13. Change the Local Government Act (and Planning Act) to require all major projects of state significance to be issued with a “statement of community consent” from the relevant Precinct Committee as a prior and necessary condition for the NSW Planning Minister to grant development consent (such statement of community consent not to be unreasonably withheld – with a test of ‘reason’ in contested cases being determined by a popular vote within the area of the Precinct Committee).

Dear Bruce,

I am writing to introduce myself after declaring my candidature to stand for the seat of Heathcote at the March 2011 NSW State election.

John Hatton, former south coast parliamentarian and legend corruption fighter, is supporting my nomination.

John’s return to politics to stand for the Upper House has inspired me to nominate for the lower house – as John puts it – “there will be a seminal change in politics”. I have embraced these principles of open and transparent decision making free of political influence. If elected I will be signing a Statutory Declaration which outlines the various principles that I undertake to uphold.

The core local issues in my home town that have prompted me to nominate are protecting the Royal National Park and Sydney’s Water Catchment area which are under threat from Coal Seam Gas (methane) mining and a Power Station. I will be progressively announcing statements on other issues in the electorate throughout the campaign which you may follow on the policies page on the website at www.gregpetty.com.au

Your comments and feedback would be sincerely appreciated. I am committed to listening to the many views of the community. We need to harness those views in an effectively way to provide a permanent SOLUTION to the electorates’ issues – and where something that I believe in; would support and fight to achieve.

I believe through community consultation, solutions can be found to any problem, we just need to have the desire in our MP’s to be inclusive of community wishes.

A common question I am asked is: “Can an independent be successful in achieving projects and funding for my area?”. John Hatton best answers the question this way “In my years in parliament, Ted Mack and I were often both in the top 10 electorates of money spent! Why, because we frequently and consistently represented the community’s needs in an unbiased way”.

Finally, by way of further illustration how I will maintain my independence, I am not accepting donations in this campaign. I believe this shows me to be above party politics, to be truly independent and free to make decisions based on community consultation, not the quantum or source of such donations.

I would be pleased to hear from the community that share my vision that could assist with letter box distribution, handouts at events, and of course 2 hours on polling day. This would be sincerely appreciated.

You are welcome to distribute my correspondence to other interested community members.

Sincerely yours,
Greg Petty – Independent Candidate Heathcote – Supported by John Hatton
Phone: (0407) 473 889 | Web: www.gregpetty.com.au | Email: greg@gregpetty.com.au

20/12/2010

Hollows words from WCC website:

“Thanks for your 2010 Participation in NFs”

see http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

How about showing some real thanks by WCC actually doing something about the many real issues which have been raised in connection with the WCC designed “independent” Neighbourhood Forums?

Action from WCC Administrators and bureaucrats? Not likely, either now or in 2011.

Vote accordingly – for candidates with strong local government policies – in the coming NSW State election in March.

Merry Christmas and a really reforming and empowering New Year.