Soccer officials stand for council election to give sport a bigger voice in shire

Laura Cowell, vice president of the Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA), is the lead candidate for Shire Sports Independents in E Ward (Menai area) for the council election on September 4.

The group includes the association's president Matt Brady and treasurer Giulio Di Stefano, but Ms Cowell said, "This is definitely not just about SSFA - it's about all sports and all volunteers in the shire."

Ms Cowell said volunteers needed more effective representation.

"With limited open space, alignment between the different council departments and transparent, open communication with sporting organisations and other users is critical," she said.

Ms Cowell said volunteers needed more support to access government grants, council infrastructure management required an overhaul and development applications for sports projects should be discounted or free.

The council should also be looking at 'innovative parking improvements" around sporting fields, parks and playgrounds.

Three councillors will be elected for each of the five wards.

In E Ward, Ms Cowell will be up against present mayor Steve Simpson (independent), sitting Labor councillor Peter Scaysbrook and a Liberal candidate yet to be determined as Cr John Riad is not standing again.

Labor has named its team, with Jen Armstrong replacing Barry Collier, who is retiring, in number one position in C Ward.

Ms Armstrong, the 2016 NSW Woman of the Year, represented Labor in Miranda at the 2019 state election.

Sitting Labor councillors Michael Forshaw (A Ward), Jack Boyd (B Ward) Diedree Steinwall and Greg McLean (both D Ward) and Peter Scaysbrook (E Ward) are standing again.

Most Liberal candidates are known, but preselections for some wards are due to occur in mid-July.

The Liberal team will include Louise Sullivan, the president of Netball NSW and a lawyer, who is supported by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman.

Ms Sullivan will fill the number one position in B Ward, with Kent Johns moving to the number two spot, which is also an expected Liberal win.

Former deputy mayor Hassan Awada, who was ruled out of the 2016 election after failing to notify a change of address by the required date, returns as the lead candidate in C Ward.

Crs Carol Provan and Marie Simone are competing to be the lead candidate in A Ward, while Cr Carmelo Pesce is in No. 1 spot in D Ward.