Meet the Candidates Forum

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association is giving the community the opportunity to meet East Ward candidates for the Port Stephens Council elections tonight.

The Port Stephens 'Meet the Candidates' forum is on tonight at Nelson Bay Bowling Club from 7pm.

About ten of the candidates have agreed to make an appearance and tell residents just what they'll do for them if they're elected on September 9, and likewise, residents have the opportunity to tell candidates what they're concerned about and what they'd like to see from them.

Association Vice President Dick Appleby believes when it comes to local council there's nothing more important than knowing what your council is doing for you.

"Transparency, accountability, and consultation are very important to our community and we're hoping these new councillors will step up to the mark and improve things over what was happening in the last council."

The association say the forums are always very successful and are the perfect opportunity for residents to have a voice in the lead up to the election.

"Residents should take this opportunity to meet the candidates in the forthcoming council election. It's their responsibility to understand the issues facing our council and carefully choose the candidates who will best represent their interests and provide consultation, transparency, and accountability in the new council," said Dick Appleby.

Nelson Bay Says No to Highrises

BY RACHEL STORER

Part of the Nelson Bay Foreshore. Image: Port Stephens Council.

Port Stephens Council planners have recommended that an apartment block in Church Street be raised to 29-32 metres tall.

This recommendation is more than double the existing allowable height outlined by the Local Environment Plan. There is also concerns from residents that the council proposal is ignoring the review of the 2012 Nelson Bay Town and Foreshore Strategy.

Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA) Vice Presdient, Dick Appleby says he is particularly concerned of the council trying to turn Nelson Bay into the next Gold Coast.

"We've done a survey and looked at the ABS figures and the occupancy rate, or rather the 'un-occupancy' rate for the apartments in the area stands at 76-78%," he said.

"We don't really agree with the idea of build it and they will come, we think the answer to it is to make what's here now more attractive, which was in the original 2012 strategy.

"We can't see the sense in having a comprehensive review of the strategy, calling all these consultant groups and public meetings regarding building height, and then not waiting for it to be finalised and seeing the results," Mr Appleby said.

The TRRA has assured the public they are not "anti-development' for Nelson Bay, rather they want to see the town prosper without the council's idea of 20-storey buildings throughout the CBD.