11/09/2024
Make sure your vote counts and help keep MTB safe on the coast.
Voting Advice by Ward - MTB Friendly Parties & Candidates - Above the line voting!
Gosford East Ward
Group A – Lawrie Mckinna – Team Central Coast ✅
Group B – Labor ✅/❌ (No response)
Group C – Liberal ✅
Independents – No information so ❌
Gosford West Ward
Group A – Team Central Coast - Daniel Abou-Chedid ✅
Group B – New Independents - Jane Smith ❌❌❌ ( Do not vote for Jane!)
Group C – Rate Payers Choice – Kevin Brooks - limited information ✅??
Group D – Liberal ✅
Group E – Labor Unfortunately Labor have selected Mark Ellis in Gosford West, who has been actively campaigning against MTB ❌
Group F - Independent – No information ❌
Wyong Ward
Group A – Liberal John McNamarra ✅
Group B – Team Central Coast - Kyla Daniels ✅
Group C – Labor – Kyle MacGregor – Unknown no Correspondence ❌ / ✅? has voted against MTB in prior council.
Budgewoi Ward
Group A – The Greens Susan Wynn – No Correspondence ❌
Group B – Doug Eaton ✅
Group C – Labor – Helen Crowley ❌❌ (Group contains Joy Cooper Active anti -MTB campaigner)
Group D – John Mouland ✅
Group E – Central Coast Heart - No correspondence please do your own research ❌
The Entrance Ward
Group A – Labor ✅/❌ No Response??
Group B – Animal Justice Party – No correspondence ❌
Group C – Liberal ✅
Group D – Corinne Lamont ✅
Group E – Team Central Coast ✅
Candidate Groups
Team Central Coast ✅
Has provided good support in written response, has some hesitation around cost etc are newish to MTB and what it stands for. They have a strong team across all wards and are willing to support MTB. Team Central Coast is not politically aligned to either Labor or Liberal to our knowledge. They are not providing preferences to any other party
Liberal ✅
Are very supportive of MTB at all levels of government
Labour – (Budgewoi/ Gosford West ❌) – (Gosford East/ The Entrance ✅/❌?) (Wyong – No response❌ )
At state/ federal level Labor is generally supportive of mountain bike access and have assisted with funding for the Ourimbah Mountain Bike Park we have a good relationship with Liesl Tesch and David Harris. At Council level it is a mixed bag. In particular for the Budgewoi Ward where Joy Cooper has protested anything mountain biking at Council and has spoken against mountain biking frequently. From a mountain biking perspective please do not vote for Joy Cooper (Budgewoi) or Mark Ellis (Gosford West) Belinda Neal has also stated no MTB in COSS (Local Bushland) However Helen Crowley in Budgewoi ward (Thank You Helen) has stated her support despite Joy Copper being her running mate. A mixed bag which is disapointing given Labors support at higher levels of government.
Rate Payers Choice - On the fence
In principle support for MTB, however they are not across what MTB really is and they are hesitant on costs. Will assess each case on its merits. Our understanding is that preferences will go to Labour, there are both better and worse choices.
The Greens ❌
No response from The Greens, however have been in past far from supportive in of MTB in COSS lands. This is unfortunate as Greens in other parts of the country are supportive of MTB
New Independents ❌
Hard No for them, led by Jane Smith who attempted to have Council vote to remove mountain biking from the Bush
Group D – Corinne Lamont- ✅
Has stated that she recognises the importance of COSS and MTB Running on a No SeaWall at Wamberal Platform.
Independents – Unknown???
We are limited by time and have not interacted with all the Independent candidates, research and make your own decisions as they vary considerably in policy and position.
Note - We recognise that there are many facets regarding which candidate or party deserve your vote, the above is based only on how favourably a candidate looks upon mountain biking and if they consider access to bushland to build and have trails appropriate. The other facets of the choice are all on you to decide.
