Liberal Party announced four candidates to fight for spot on Newcastle Council

A registered nurse, students and a business manager are all vying for a spot on Newcastle Council come December. The Liberal candidates hoping for a more balanced change ahead.

Covid recovery for small businesses will be high on the agenda for newly announced Liberal candidate Katrina Wark, who will be vying for a spot in ward three on Newcastle Council at local government elections in December.

The 54-year-old cardiothoracic nurse — whose husband Peter Wark is a respiratory professor of medicine at the University of Newcastle — admits she’s been dealing with Covid in the region a lot over the last 18 months, and said the first two weeks out of lockdown across NSW will be “interesting”.

“We’ll see how we go. I think it’s an unknown, it’s scary,” Ms Wark said.

“Covid recovery in small business is very important, going forward rather than backwards.”

The mother-of-seven is no stranger to politics, having run in the 2019 Federal election in the seat of Newcastle against Labor’s Sharon Claydon.

She was unable to get the backing power with just over 35 per cent of the preference vote, but feels a stint as councillor could be a good move, and bring balance back to Newcastle Council, which currently only has one liberal councillor who is set to vacate his seat.

“I am running for council because there’s so many things that need to be done. Make a council that is even and not just Labor dominated,” she said.

“In health you are a team player and you have to be otherwise things don’t work or happen.

“I would like to see more things happening and getting done and money not being wasted.

“With my experience and having a large family, making sure infrastructure is important in Newcastle.”

The Liberal ticket vying for spots on Newcastle Council has a mix of experience and youth.

Local business manager Jenny Barrie leads the team as mayoral candidate and ward two representative.

“We’ve got life experience, diverse of gender and energy of young ones who are great leaders in their community of politics, used to leadership and have a lot of character about them,” the 59-year-old from Newcastle West said.

“We should be able to do very well, there is good competition, we hope to get least two to three at the table, to have more balance.”

The mother of two and grandmother to five, who lost to Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison in the 2019 NSW election and Labor’s Pat Conroy in the 2016 Federal election, is also pushing for more support for local businesses coming out of Covid restrictions.

Knowing the region has to be mindful of its new found freedom.

“We have to be careful, this Delta strain is still here in the Hunter, and people can follow a new roadmap but must be careful,” Ms Barrie said.

“It’s good though because we need to get out, get businesses running but still being careful.

“Council has some great initiatives, but I strongly want to make sure our small businesses are supported and the business rate levies are used to revitalise the city and also business strips in the suburbs.”

The president of the Hunter Business Lions Club is also calling for a “voice of change” on council.

“I feel there’s a lot of bad behaviour and anger in the chamber, it’s not a happy workplace,” she added.

“But we need to call out bad behaviour, the code of conduct should come out more often and people should not use the chamber as a place of infighting, use it to represent the community.

“Personalities are strong, but at the same time they need to behave and get on with the job.”

Two local students will also be bringing some fresh new faces to the local government arena.

Callum Pull, 20, a retail worker and completing a Bachelor of Communication, News and Digital Media at Newcastle University, will be the Liberal candidate for Ward four.

Mr Pull said the council needed someone who could represent the aspirations of young Novocastrians, referring to some of the other intelligent young councillors across the Hunter.

“There’s been a lot of representative popping up all across the Hunter, with Ben Mitchell (Maitland Council) and Declan Clausen (Labor Newcastle Council), they are strong personalities,” he said.

“I’m keen on addressing liveability of city, rates are high and I don’t think council is doing enough to address things like supply side of housing,” he said.

“Newcastle Council needs to support the growth and incentives to build more homes, out in those western suburbs.”

The keen fisherman said he too, wants a more balanced approach on council.

“I do think the Labor Party having the majority has really killed the consultation of council,” Mr Pull explained.

“As a casual observer, the council seems to announce a lot of things before they have a done deal, I think there’s something to say about the financial management, a lot of vanity projects and rates go up, things like art gallery funding.

“The council should enter into funding agreement with the State and Federal Governments where they can so that our ratepayers aren’t taking on all the burden of these costs.”

And on ward one, Blake Keating is also keen to get a more Liberal presence on council.

The 26-year-old, who has worked in construction since 2013, is involved in a Newcastle based family business building wind farms all over Australia and is currently completing an MBA at the University of Newcastle, wants to see pressure off everyday families who are doing it tough.

“Council needs to focus on adding value to ratepayers because sometimes they get caught up in personal attacks with each,” he said.

Newcastle councillor Brad Luke, will be vacating his seat after 13 years of representing his local community. Pic - Britta Campion

“The main reason that drove me to run is the enormous rate increases that people are seeing, we need to do more taking the pressure off people, harder for first home buyers, pressure on renters, doing as much as we can. Increases have been astronomical over the years.

“I think there needs to be more home construction, more housing stock, it’s a simple equation of demand and supply, harder for working families to buy their first home in Newcastle.”

And even though the avid cricket player may be a young up and comer, without some of the experience and being as well-known as some of the other candidates, he doesn’t think it will be a deterrence for voters.

“Voters don’t see age as an issue as they may have in previous year,” he said.

“Across the Hunter people have voted young people to council because they can see young people have something to offer.”

“I want to make Newcastle the best place to live, work and raise a family.”

Outgoing Liberal councillor Brad Luke - who has been representing his community for 13 years - said it’s a great group of candidates who are sure to do a great job if elected.

“They will tackle some of the big issues Newcastle is facing,” Cr Luke said.

“This new team will breathe life into the Council and will represent the people of Newcastle with distinction and renewed vigour.”