Central Coast top 100 Most Influential: #12 Lucy Wicks
THIS politician is in the box seat to deliver enormous benefits to the Central Coast over the next 12 months if she can wield the influence her position affords.
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- Central Coast Top 100 Most Influential people as voted by you
- #13: The Women’s Advocate
- #14: The Politician
ONE of two federal politicians on the Coast, Robertson Liberal MP Lucy Wicks comes in at number 12 in the Top 100 Most Influential list with the advantage of being in a Coalition government.
Born in Canberra but raised on the Central Coast, Ms Wicks shot to prominence when she was preselected and then won the seat of Robertson with a four per cent swing in 2013.
The former schoolteacher had a quiet first term in government where she was at times criticised for her robotic and repetitive manner during interviews.
But after winning the 2016 election by a whisker the 45-year-old mother-of-two’s natural personality and warm nature began to shine through.
It was also a time she had to show true grit to weather massive public opposition to the government’s earlier decision to plonk the Australian Taxation Office building on the Gosford waterfront.
The matter ultimately ended up in the Land and Environment Court in December 2016 when the Gosford Waterfront Alliance lost its bid to block the development.
#15: The Social Justice Crusader
#16: The Animal Welfare Advocate
Last year Ms Wicks revealed she was suffering from the debilitating chronic inflammatory response syndrome, also known as mould illness or sick-building syndrome, which she developed after a huge tree crashed through her home during the April 2015 super storm.
Ms Wicks has been instrumental in securing federal funding for the Coast including $32.5 million for the Central Coast Medical School and Medical Research Institute in Gosford, additional GPs for the Peninsula, $304,000 for McEvoy Oval at Umina and $550,000 for CCTV cameras at Terrigal and Copacabana.
She showed a compassionate and community-minded side when took the fight to upgrade the notorious dip on Willoughby Rd to Canberra with a 5000 signature petition in the wake of Jackson Williams’ death.
And she also helped track down a homemade bench seat named “Chantelle” for a bunch of knockabout surfers from Copacabana.
After ringing around Ms Wicks found the seat at Central Coast Council’s Erina depot and organised for its return.
“Lucy is tireless in the work she does in the community. She has a young family but always gives 100 per cent commitment,” one reader said in the top 100 online poll.
Another said: “Lucy Wicks has used her position as federal member for Robertson to promote an inspirational vision that is as much about motivating people to create a renewed and prosperous urban environment as it is about actually delivering funding for infrastructure.”
Before the last election Ms Wicks sold 30,000 train commuters a wonderful vision of no mobile phone dropouts and free Wi-Fi at stations between Wyong and Hornsby as part of a $12 million funding package.
However that promise has since ground to a halt because of mountainous terrain and tunnels.
As the sitting member of one of Australia’s most marginal federal seats, Ms Wicks will have to wield all her influence in the next 12 months to move mountains for the Coast — her political future depends on it.
Tomorrow we reveal #11 on the list, another former teacher who has enjoyed success in two very different fields.