Mayor hopeful says homelessness is a critical issue

The first item he would push for if elected is for Coffs Harbour City Council to initiate a homelessness strategy.

Natlaie Stevens, Tim Nott, Jonathan Cassell, Greens MP Cate Faehrmann and Maureen Burgess.

Another mayoral candidate has stepped up in the lead up to the Coffs Harbour City Council elections in September.

In March last year the NSW Government announced it would postpone the September 2020 local government elections for 12 months to September 2021 in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

It was expected Jonathan Cassell would be running on behalf of the Greens, but his official team announcement was timed to coincide with Greens MP Cate Faehrmann’s recent visit to the region.

Mr Cassell ran as a Greens candidate for the seat of Coffs Harbour in the 2019 NSW State elections.

Joining him on the Greens team are Tim Nott, Natlaie Stevens and Maureen Burgess.

“Our community is facing many issues at present and what people seem to want are a council that serves the needs of the electorate from job creation to pothole maintenance,” Mr Cassell said.

The Greens team for Coffs Harbour City Council elections in September are Tim Nott, Natlaie Stevens, Jonathan Cassell and Maureen Burgess. Photo by Meder Photography

“If elected, I will strive to establish a Regional Employment and Investment Strategy that would aim to invest $5M over four years in the Conservation and Land Management sector creating new jobs particularly for our unemployed youth.”

With the region in the grips of a housing crisis, he says the first item he would push for if elected is for council to initiate a homelessness strategy.

“As a team, we are very concerned about the current housing crisis facing our electorate and what council can do to help.

“We believe we need a whole of council response to homelessness and currently the different departments in council don’t have an overarching document to guide the organisation.”

Jonathan Cassell is a keen fisherman.

Another issue of importance to the group is water quality.

“As a fisherman I am very concerned about the health of our estuaries from development pressures.

“My team are also committed to the diverse community arts sector and will work closely with them to establish better outcomes that increase participation with a particular focus on our young people.”

Mr Cassell said he will also endorse the Grow the Grower campaign to support small scale primary producers.

“We live in one of the best climates in Australia for food production and it’s clear council can play a greater role in assisting our local food producers.”

The Coffs Harbour Greens have a new website www.coffsgreens.org for more information.