Willoughby By-election: Everything you need to know

Candidates in the Willoughby By-election have made their pledge to voters with everything you need to know for election day on February 12.

Candidates vying for your vote in the lower north shore seat of Willoughby — previously held by former Premier Gladys Berejiklian — have been finalised just two weeks out from by-election day.

A total of six candidates, from a range of parties, have thrown their hat in the ring to contest the Liberals for the seat including Sustainable Australia Party’s William Bourke, Independent candidate Larissa Penn, Liberal Democrat Samuel Gunning, The Greens’ candidate Lynne Saville, and Reason NSW candidate Penny Hackett taking on Liberal Party candidate Tim James.

Early voting for the Willoughby by-election started on January 31, running through to February 11. Meanwhile election day on February 12 will run from 8am to 6pm.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

North Sydney councillor and deputy mayor William Bourke — founder of the Sustainable Australia Party — said he threw his hat in the ring for the blue ribbon seat in an effort to battle overdevelopment and “improve sustainable transport options” across the electorate.

William Bourke, president of Sustainable Australia. Hollie Adams/The Australian

“We want to see an increase in public transport options, including scrapping the Northern Beaches Link for an extension of the Sydney Metro or rapid bus network to reduce pollution and congestion on our roads,” Cr Bourke said.

“Overdevelopment is out of control across our electorate and we need to ensure passive and active infrastructure is in place throughout the community, so we are against further high-rises being approved without community support.”

Cr Bourke, a North Sydney resident, was elected to council at the recent local government elections before being elected as deputy mayor.

“Willoughby is a beautiful area, it is blessed with incredible waterways and green space, so it needs to be protected from further overdevelopment,” he said.

“We want to maintain liveability for Willoughby, but the main thing is putting the community that calls this place home first.”

Independent candidate Larissa Penn believes her ongoing advocacy for the Willoughby community in the Stop the Tunnels campaign is proof she will work hard for the electorate.

The risk assessment expert is the convener of the grass-roots community campaign to put a stop to the NSW Government’s plans for the Northern Beaches Link and Western Harbour Tunnel, while also representing the community on the Willoughby Progress Association and council bushland authority.

Larissa Penn

“I am a mother of three, we have lived in the area for most of my life and are very connected in the local community,” Ms Penn said. “What I am most known for is the advocacy and risk assessment against the Western Harbour Tunnel and Northern Beaches Link.

“We are fighting the NSW Government and challenging poor work already underway, contamination issues, pollution stacks and extra traffic.

“In some ways the tunnel projects show that our voices are not being heard — not just with the tunnels but with overdevelopment, schools and a lack of transparency in planning.”

The local volunteer said the NSW Government “treat Willoughby as a through-suburb, rather than a destination”.

“We have been and are being taken for granted,” she said.

“We have seen unsustainable development across the entire electorate, which is something that needs to stop.

“Our parks are run bare, our schools are over capacity and our hospitals are at breaking point, we cannot face more development without the infrastructure to match.”

Ms Penn said her main commitment would be to “step in and hit the ground running as the voice of Willoughby”.

“My ongoing commitment to our community means I can show parliament the needs of Willoughby now and in the future,” she said. “I don’t give up, I am very tenacious and have been an advocate for our community for several years — if elected, that isn’t going to change.”

Greens candidate and longstanding Willoughby councillor Lynne Saville said her deep roots in the community, health background and small business experience gave her a real understanding of the issues that face the community.

Lynne Saville. Picture: John Appleyard

The registered nurse and health science university lecturer said building standards, sustainable energy and the protection of native bushland were some of her key issues.

“I oppose the removal of the height limits in the Willoughby community, particularly in the Chatswood CBD,” Cr Saville said.

“We need a mandate of environmentally sustainable development across the region, as well as the improvement and increased funding of local schools.”

The Greens candidate, who was born and raised on the north shore, said NSW had the opportunity to become a “renewable energy powerhouse” — something she would advocate for if elected.

“Another key issue that needs to be addressed is affordable housing,” she said.

“This is something that needs to be improved in Willoughby — so many of our workers, who love our community, are unable to live here because they are priced out of the area.”

Liberal Party candidate Tim James said his family had a long history in the Willoughby electorate: “it’s where I was born, grew up and got my first job”.

“My wife, Nikki, and I have two girls and a son who is due very soon; and we’re looking forward to introducing him to the parks and playgrounds that the girls love and I used to play in as a kid,” he said.

Liberal candidate Tim James. Picture: Julian Andrews.

The public policy and chief executive of Medicines Australia said he aimed to continue the work of Gladys Berejiklian to make Willoughby an “even better place to live, work and raise a family”.

“Five generations of my family have served the Willoughby community, from my great great grandfather George James who was on the founding committee of Royal North Shore Hospital,” Mr James said.

“Like my family, I have a strong belief in community service.

“I’ve been a Director of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, a founding member of the Friends of Sydney Harbour and a former secretary of the Artarmon Progress Association.”

The Liberal candidate said his priorities would be focusing on improving local roads, public transport services and infrastructure.

“I want to see the Royal North Shore Hospital, where I was born and my Mum worked as a nurse for twenty years, grow as a world-class teaching hospital.”

Mr James said he would also rally for a new school in Chatswood and Gore Hill.

“As a father of two — about to be three — young kids I want to see more local public green spaces for families, to give our kids spaces to play and enjoy themselves,” he said. “I will also fight to ensure appropriate development that recognises Willoughby’s character, heritage and natural environment.

“If elected, I will be that voice, advocating for our community’s needs.”

Reason NSW candidate, Penny Hackett, was inspired to run to provide residents with an “independent option” on February 12.

Supplied Editorial Willoughby Reason NSW candidate Penny Hackett

“We were expecting someone from the same mould as Gladys Berejiklian, which is not what we got, and why I have chosen to run,” Ms Hackett said.

“I don’t see this as a safe seat anymore and it is an area what is ripe for the picking for an indepentent candidate.”

The Voluntary Assisted Dying advocate said her grassroots community work in an effort to improve local schools provided voters with evidence of her service to Willoughby.

“I worked as part of a task-force to increased school capacity through a series of redevelopment programs and the creation of three new schools in the area,” she said.

Ms Hackett said while there was significant problem when it comes to traffic and congestion that needed to be addressed — the Northern Beaches Link was not the answer.

The Liberal Democratic Party’s Samuel Gunning was contacted for comment.

FIND OUT WHERE YOUR NEAREST POLLING BOOTH IS HERE

Covid SAFETY PLANS ROLLED OUT

A series of safety plans have been rolled out across the state in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid on election day.

Voters are being urged to vote early through the postal vote or pre-poll systems in an effort to “reduce the number of people simultaneously attending voting venues on election day”, while all eligible workers of the NSW Electoral Commission are required to be double vaccinated, with booster vaccinations strongly encouraged.

You will need to check-in and out of election venues and wear a face mask while inside polling booths or in queues.

Single use pens will be provided by the Electoral Commission.