How to Vote for the Forest

Council elections 2024

An alliance of five environmental groups campaigning on forest issues in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle local government areas combined to canvas prospective candidates contesting this Saturday’s council elections. 

Newcastle Council - Candidate Responses

We asked candidates contesting Lord Mayoralty and the four wards in Newcastle to commit to a pledge that they will oppose further clearing of native forest within the local government area, due to the impact on biodiversity and climate change.  We noted that current housing targets can be satisfied in Newcastle without the need to clear more native forest. 

There are four main groups contesting for Lord Mayor and in each of the wards in Newcastle.  

Three of the groups committed to the pledge.  They are Labor, Greens and Kerridge Independents.  The Liberal candidates did not respond to our emails despite us following up.

In addition, both Socialist Alliance, Steven O’Brien and Milton Caine from for the Independent Party are contesting for the Lord Mayor. Both members have committed to the pledge.

Newcastle candidates & their responses. Who will speak for the forests?

It is virtually certain that at least two successful candidates in each ward and the Lord Mayor will have made the pledge.  This will result in a clear majority of councillors on Newcastle Council who have committed to opposing further clearing of native forest.

Media release – Environmentalists confident of election win for the forests.

Lake Macquarie Council - Candidate Responses

We posed a set of questions to the six Mayoral candidates and the 68 councillors candidates contesting the three Lake Macquarie wards

Mayoral candidates Rosmairi Dawson (Independent) and Bryce Ham (Greens) answered yes to all questions.  In addition, all 12 Greens ward candidates; Lake Mac Independent candidate for North Ward, Colin Grigg; Independent candidates for West Ward, Anthony Swinsburg and David Pickard; and ungrouped Independent for West Ward, Eddie Milton answered yes to all questions.  

Labor’s Mayoral and ward candidates answered yes to Question 1 parts a, b and c, which relates to them fully understanding issues and taking community concerns into account, but failed to answer Questions 2, 3 or 4.

All other candidates left all questions unanswered.

Lake Macquarie candidates & their responses – Who will speak for the forests?

Both Labor and Liberal candidates claimed that by answering the questions they could be seen as having a pre-determined position and that they would have a conflict of interest.   

However, the questions had been carefully worded to avoid this as it would be counter-productive for what we are trying to achieve.  

Nonetheless we sought legal opinion, which was made available to all candidates.  The legal advice summarised that the questions are very general and “answering them would not amount to a councillor fettering their discretion or, in other words, give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias.”  

Disappointingly, none of the Liberal or Labor candidates, who raised the concern, deemed the legal advice warranted them answering the questions.  

Unfortunately, in Lake Macquarie, there is little comfort in the general response from candidates.  We can hope the candidates who answered ‘yes’ will be elected but, unlike in Newcastle, there will not be a majority of councillors who voted ‘yes’.  

Media release – Environmental Groups Disappointed with Candidates lack of response. 

The five environmental organisations are:

• Link Road Forest Campaign – Newcastle and Lake Macquarie

• Communities for Sustainable Development (formerly Minmi Matters) – Newcastle and Lake Macquarie

• Save Myall Road Bushland Inc. – Lake Macquarie

• Munibung Hill Conservation Society – Lake Macquarie

• Green Corridor Coalition – Newcastle