I am an artist, the Mum of a 12 year old boy, and a volunteer for his school's SAKGF program. I decided to get involved in Council to be in a position to make a real difference in the broader community.

Maitland City Council hasn't planned for our future and has formed a budget with no foresight and no ambition. Our current Council have proven time and time again that they would rather line the pockets of developers and big business rather than support residents and ratepayers. That is why I'm running in Ward 4 - to deliver for our community, a Council that will advocate for our young people and future proof the Maitland Region for everyone who calls it home.

I was born and raised right here in the heart of the Hunter Valley and like many Ward 4 residents have deep roots in Greta that have fostered a sense of community, the type of community I want my son to grow up around and be nurtured by, as I was.

Ward 4 deserves a Councilor who will work for them by - Planning for our Future and ensuring that the young people of our city have the opportunity to flourish by being acknowledged and consulted on the issues that affect them. The best way we can create a sense of community for young people is by providing them the opportunity to have a seat at the table and a stake in their city. A city which needs to be accessible. In Ward 4 Traffic and Infrastructure continues to be developed at a rapid rate, yet it doesn't actually suite the needs of our community. We need to work to ensure that all future developments have considered public transport requirements and actively work towards including the scope of these projects in their design. Alongside this we need to take a full look at our housing stock and ensure that ratepayers do not continue to prop up vacant lots and holiday homes whilst affordable housing is pushed aside for a tidy profit to some far away developers.

The future of this city needs to be protected for my son and other children like him. I love Maitland and I want the young families moving to our region to be able to experience the sense of community and neighborly pride that my family always has. It's about time that Ward 4 had a Councilor that advocated for that.