THE need for community representation is being keenly felt across the Myall Coast and its rural surrounds, with a host of local candidates in the mix for the 14 September council election.

The MidCoast Independents, a group of independent candidates from Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, told NOTA they aim to “unite the voters” of the southern portion of the local government area (LGA).

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Led by Thomas O’Keefe of Hawks Nest, the MidCoast Independents (Group B) are a group of six locals seeking to “provide the people of the southern MidCoast LGA with a representative from their local area”.

“We have not had a proper representative for a while, and all the towns and villages in our area feel neglected or taken advantage of by the larger population centres up north,” Mr O’Keefe said.

The MidCoast Independents team also includes Bruce Murray, Jeanette Hart, Mal Motum, Terry Munright and Heather Vaughan.

The local candidates don’t stop there however, with Group F on the ballot consisting of four independent candidates from Booral and Stroud – Emma Mellows, Veronica Frost, Jennifer Lennox and John Fisher.

Representing the Greens on September 14 is Jessica Harris of Bulahdelah, while the six ‘ungrouped’ candidates seeking election are all from the southern part of the LGA.

They are Richard Streamer of Hawks Nest, Elizabeth McEntyre of Tea Gardens, Karen Hutchinson of Booral, Stephen Smith of Bulahdelah, John Sahyoun of Bulahdelah and Vivien Panhuber of Tea Gardens.