A debate held in Bundeena between candidates for the seat of Heathcote in the upcoming NSW State election was well attended by residents and covered a number of local issues.
Debate Setting
The debate was organised by the Bundeena Progress Association and held in the Bundeena Community Services Club.
The candidates attending were from the three major parties and included current sitting MP Lee Evans of the Liberal Party, Maryanne Stuart of the Labor Party and Bundeena resident Cooper Riach from The Greens. With nominations for the seat of Heathcote still open no other candidates are yet to be finalised.
Candidate Opening Statements
The debate started with each of the candidates giving a 5 minute opening statement to the audience as to their background and why they were running in the NSW State Election.
Audley Weir
A number of questions which were deemed of high importance had been pre-allocated to the candidates by the Bundeena Progress Association. The first of these questions was what would the candidates do if elected to address the issues associated with Audley Weir. Each candidate was given 2 minutes to address the question.
Emergency Services
The next pre-allocated question related to the state of emergency services in Bundeena with particular attention as to whether the ambulance station based in Bundeena should be staffed 24 hours a day.
Spring Gully
One of the pre-allocated questions posed to candidates was in relation to the contentious issue of the development of Spring Gully and if they supported it’s acquisition in to the Royal National Park.
Energy Security
The next pre-allocated question asked candidates on their stance on supporting renewable based energy infrastructure with particular focus on a community battery to take advantage of the installed base of rooftop solar in Bundeena.
Port Hacking Pollution
The last of the pre-allocated questions asked of candidates concerned the environmental risks to the Port Hacking river with particular concerns of coal mining upstream in the Royal National Park.
Bundeena Q&A
After all the pre-allocated questions had been answered questions were opened up to members of the audience in attendance.
A myriad of local issues were brought up and addressed including:
- Indigenous Voice to Parliament
- Royal National Park Road Damage
- Bundeena Parking & Overcrowding
- SES Services
- Jibbon Toilet
- Simpsons Sea Wall
- Mobile Tower
Voter Information
