Resident Luke Hadfield has set his sights on running for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Mr Hadfield said it has been almost five years since our council was let go and we are well in need of an elected representative body to once again lead the Hastings.
“I was born in Port Macquarie and have lived in the area all my life, completing my HSC at Heritage Christian School,” he said.
“I am currently employed at Rydges Hotel and my long-term goal is to study to become a primary school teacher before moving into state parliament.
“It has been a passion to lead people and, during my time at high school, I was involved with various leadership roles including being selected as the Port Macquarie representative for NSW Youth Parliament two years in a row.
“This role has played a huge part in my development as a leader and my passion to advocate for local issues.
“If elected to council, I would like to see many of our area’s assets promoted on a larger scale and to the wider community.
“I want to ensure the survival of local businesses and help build strong relationships between our council and local businesses.
“I am against coal seam gas mining as it poses very large environmental risks to our pristine areas, especially if we have chemicals leaking into our local river systems and having major repercussions to both the local environment, the tourism industry and health.
“I am a passionate campaigner for youth issues and feel that our community needs to positively engage more with our local youth.
“There are many more key issues that I have been working closely with across the region.
“It is my belief, that, if our council is to truly represent all parts of this community, then there must be members representing the three major parts that make up the Port Macquarie-Hastings region and those members must represent the diversity in our community to make sure our council is balanced and equal.
“This is a view that is openly shared by many in this community. If our council after the elections is made up of nine, aged 40-plus business people from our area, then we have not met the necessity of true, widespread representation.”
