The leader of one of the five groups of independents in the Sutherland Shire Council election says the fact there are so many candidates from outside the major parties is a clear sign residents are unhappy with the council's performance.
Nominations for the December 4 poll closed last week, confirming an independent group in each of the five wards, plus others running solo.
Tony Robins heads Shire Independents in C Ward, where three new councillors will be elected as none of those who were chosen in 2016 is standing again.
Mr Robins, who has a background in banking and finance, is the treasurer and a 20-year member of Sylvania Heights Community & Youth Club. His two running mates plus many supporters are also club members.
Another group, Shire Sports Independents, which is contesting E Ward, is led by Laura Cowell the vice president of Sutherland Shire Football Association and includes the association's president and treasurer.
An inter-generational family group named The Passmore Independent Team is running in D ward.
Craig Chantler, a local high school teacher, heads an independent ticket in A Ward, while Pam Brown, former chief executive of Kookaburra Kids, is lead candidate for a group in B Ward.
Mr Robins said he had seen "a lot of inefficiency in the council" during interaction for the youth club and other organisations.
"The inefficiencies are both at the councillor level and the council officer level," he said.
"The council itself needs a bit more energy and fresh faces. We need to take out of local council the domination by the major political parties.
"They have had a very good run since 2012 and, if we look around the shire, there are a lot of things that are going begging at the moment.
"That is borne out by the number of independents who are running for council.
"Even though it is going to be a short term, the number of people who are are putting their hands is a big message to council and the councillors who will continue on that the residents are not happy with the current performance."
Mr Robins said, in C Ward, there were three issues which needed to be carefully managed.
"They are, in no particular order, traffic and parking around grass root sporting field facilities, the Oyster Bay playing fields masterplan and the car park situation with the Woolworths development at Jannali," he said.
"There are 19 community sporting codes in C Ward and every one of those clubs is telling me they have major issues of parking - safe parking - at their facilities".
Mr Robins said the group's policies also included supporting sustainable development and preserving the shire's environmental values.
"The duplex model in vogue in the shire is not working for residents from the point of view of increased on-street parking, the size of the duplexes and the tree canopy," he said.
"We also need a better strategic policy around high-tech and manufacturing jobs.
"Where are our high-tech industries, high tech parks?
"We have got to be able to create employment opportunities for out kids."
Mr Robins claimed there was a "a real lack of community engagement by the council".
"They have the Join the Conversation website feature and a big budget to run it, but ask people how the council has engaged with them on both simple matters and big matters and the responses will be negative."
Mr Robins said they were asking "not for a protest vote, but for an ongoing vote because it will be difficult to get some major things done when we only have a short term, but there is certainly an opportunity to start things happening."
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Murray Trembath
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering politics, urban affairs, council, development and general community news. Email: mtrembath@theleader.com.au
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporter covering politics, urban affairs, council, development and general community news. Email: mtrembath@theleader.com.au
