Providing a clear Vision for a Vibrant & Sustainable Future

Support and actively work on land solutions to build transitional housing for the homeless in Lake Macquarie
Actively lobby State Government to include quotas of accessible, affordable and sustainable housing in new developments
Work to ensure that major routes of the suburbs, town centres and main roads have off road access for pedestrians
Keep abreast of the road renewal and works program to ensure timely delivery of much needed road upgrades
Support the ongoing and permanent regional solution for continuous and regular dredging of Swansea Channel
Establish in Council documents planning for an indoor sporting facility for youth and community at Toronto
Support the city in development of programs and facilities in arts, culture, sustainability, economic development, community programs and events
Revisit the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Hanger for Our Girl and work towards this vital heritage and tourism project
Advocate for footpaths and shared pathways on major routes to ensure pedestrian safety and accessibility
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Independent and Local

As an independent electoral candidate for Mayor and Councillor for the West Ward of Lake Macquarie City, I will work with my fellow Councillors in conciliation and through discussion to bring forward and deliver vital infrastructure and planning for our city.  I will particularly wish to concentrate on “the forgotten areas” of our city, in South, West and East Lake Macquarie.

I will never make a promise to deliver anything individually, as being a member of a 13-person Council, a majority vote is required.  I will work with fellow Councillors to deliver as many projects as I can during this term to enhance our cities economic development, accessibility, environmental sustainability with a strong focus on local community projects and events.

Below, please find a list of the some of the particular projects that I am going to devote time to in order to meet these objectives.

Policy Platform

West Ward Priorities

  • Advocate for prompt delivery of the Morisset Town Centre Hub (Bawarramalang) and town square.  Work with stakeholders and the community to establish that the facility is fit for purpose from inception.  Current concept plans are on display on the Council website.  I would see aspects of the concept plans improve for final delivery.
  • Establish in Council documents planning for an indoor sporting facility for youth and community at Toronto.
  • Progress the second building to expand the Indoor Sports Centre at Morisset already DA approved. The facility needs to grow with the population.  
  • Work with our State MP and NSW Sport and Recreation to develop the newly announced site at Morisset Hospital to replace  the Myuna Bay recreation camp 
  • Monitor State Government future plans for the Morisset Hospital site as a whole.  My vision is to provide support for a tertiary education facility and other community services.
  • Thoroughly investigate Landcom Development at Woodrising/Teralba off Toronto Road with particular focus on expected traffic congestion, block sizes, road widths, wildlife habitat loss, heritage loss, flooding, density and all issues raised.  
  • Revisit the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Hanger for Our Girl and work towards this vital heritage and tourism project.  The establishment of this facility would form a fundamental part of our city’s heritage and tourism economic development activity for the future.
  • The development of the Mirrabooka Quarry site that was approved for Netball Courts, BMX track and playing fields in 2005 seems to have dropped off the Council planning documents entirely.  This needs to be investigated and proposed for further recreational development for the benefit of peninsula youth and families.  In line with the Recreational Strategy 
  • Work with Council and our State MP to implement design and construction of a safe drop-off zone for Bonnells Bay Public School. i.e. possible Federal funding to be investigated and progressed. 
  • Audit and monitor Morisset and Toronto Catchment Developers Contribution plan (Section 7-11 contributions fund) originally adopted in 2012 and reviewed and readopted in 2021.  Too many projects have not been delivered.
  • Investigate why the shared pathway from Bay Vista to Hillcrest Road on Fishery Point Road, Morisset East Peninsula, that was scheduled for delivery in 2015, has not been delivered yet.  I will commit to working on facilitating the delivery of that shared pathway for the population of the peninsula to gain better access to the shops, school and community centre/recreation facilities at Bonnells Bay.
  • Support not for profit community groups to assist in meeting their individual group needs such as accommodation, areas for gathering, renovations of existing facilities that will enhance their existing operations and groups’ ability to deliver services in the community.  
  • Strongly advocate for  Rathmines Music Centre repairs to be done in a timely manner and that the bands and choir tenants can return to their building as a permanent home.
  • Monitor the implementation of the Morisset Showground Plan of Management, operations and upgrade.  Keep abreast of the future direction of this valued community owned facility.
  • Have targeted input into the next Footpath Strategy of the city so that town centres actually have full pathways and thus accessibility for all levels of mobility, rather than waiting for individual blocks to be developed. Morisset Town Centre will take years to have footpaths if we wait for each individual block to be redeveloped.  Safety and accessibility can’t wait that long.
  • Support aquatic facilities such as installation of pontoon wharfs and making safe existing baths including netting of baths.
  • Monitor and support community groups and Council to liaise with Eraring Energy regarding the ash dam and its rehabilitation.  
  • Work with Council to deliver the original route for the shared pathway from Cooranbong to Morisset.  It was deeply disappointing when Council approved the re-routing of the pathway through Avondale College land to Victory Parade.  Effectively excluding a large area of residents on Freeman’s Drive/Deaves Road  from access to the path.
  • Work with council staff and organisations involved in homelessness.  Look at specific ways to provide affordable housing.  Establish a south/west lake version of Our Backyard.  
  • Work with our State MP and Council to deliver a bypass for the Morisset Town Centre. 

City Wide Priorities

  • Support and actively work on land solutions to build transitional housing for the homeless in Lake Macquarie including a duplicate service of My Backyard in South West Lake Macquarie in conjunction with State Government funding and local homeless services i.e. Southlakes Incorporated and Survivors R Us.  Find land solutions to accommodate the services to ensure their viability.
  • Actively lobby State Government to include quotas of accessible, affordable and sustainable housing in new developments.  Particularly with reference to the new planning low rise radius of 400m for the 5 train stations in Lake Macquarie.
  • Commit to communicating to individual communities of upcoming items on the Council agenda via my social media page. It is difficult to keep abreast of the types and content of decisions coming up to Council.  I commit to advise communities and stakeholders of any important items being put before council that will directly affect people and their environment in local areas.
  • Northwest Lake Macquarie Catalyst Area Place Strategy and Morisset Place. Consultation for these document closed in July 2024.  I wish to monitor the recommendations when the second drafts are created before adopting it through Council.  If there are areas of rezoning or plans for inappropriate development of any kind, I wish to be fully abreast of the consequences and suitability of the proposals and attempt to make further changes if required at the adoption stage of the document.
  • I commit to actively monitoring and ensuring timely delivery of all Developer Contribution plans for the city.  These plans and funds are what delivers our community infrastructure.  I commit to ensure projects are included in budgets and operational plans for delivery.  There are seven Developer Section 7-11 Contribution plans for Lake Macquarie that are in place and adopted for:  Glendale, Northlakes, Charlestown, Belmont, North Wallarah, Toronto and Morisset
  • Footpaths, kerbs and guttering.  With such an enormous square km of land surface to our city, it would be impossible to deliver footpaths, kerb and guttering in every street.  Interestingly, our lake benefits from filtered storm water through land rather than a pipe and drain network. 
  • I wish to ensure that major routes of the suburbs, town centres and main roads have safe off road access for pedestrians as well as proper drainage and other works where it is essential.
  • Work with Council officers and Emergency services to ensure a bushfire early warning and evacuation plan is up to date for the whole of the city in light of the predicted high fire danger coming this Summer 24/25. Paying particular attention to advertising live stock safe spaces such as Morisset Showground, Swansea Equestrian Centre, other suitable temporary accommodation available in the event of stock and resident evacuation.
  • Roads – LMCC is pretty efficient about addressing random potholes in the city if they are aware of them.  Send a quick note to council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au when you see one.  They can’t fix something if they don’t know its there.
  • I propose to keep abreast of the road renewal and works program to ensure timely delivery of much needed road upgrades.  Please note that Council is not responsible for main arterial roads such as the Pacific Highway on the east side and main road B53 on the west side of the lake.  These main arterial roads are the responsibility of the state.  See Greg Piper MP for west issues and for east, Pat Conroy MP or Yasmin Catley MP.
  • Actively lobby and assist State and Federal MP’s along with Council to support Glendale Interchange – Pennant Street Bridge and Railway Station delivery.
  • Support development of the Freight Rail Bypass from Fassifern to Newcastle.  Currently there are unacceptable delays in Newcastle at Adamstown.  This planned bypass will alleviate the traffic issues there, and is relevant not just for coal trains but  particularly in relation to the planned new container terminal to be built at the Port of Newcastle.
  • Belmont update – taken from LMCC website: Stage 1 of the foreshore improvement works at Belmont Bay (located on the northern side of the Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park) were completed in January 2024. The works involved repairing 140m of engineered rock bank including the access point into the water, upgrading drainage lines and planting revegetation bays to increase biodiversity and resilience.   Stage 2 will improve around 190m of foreshore in Village Bay from the north of Clara Street and south of Arthur Street in Belmont South. Design works and discussions are underway and final concept designs will be shared with residents prior to works starting mid-late 2024. 
  • Belmont, work with residents affected by drainage issues where public property issues impact on their residential property.
  • Support the ongoing and permanent regional solution for continuous and regular dredging of Swansea Channel.
  • Swansea seawall stabilisation information update taken from LMCC Website: .  The seawall at Belmont Street, Swansea has been closed since 2021 due to instability caused by over-steepening of the underwater slope of Swansea channel. This issue was discovered during the replacement of the wharf and floating pontoon. The area was then closed to protect the community. Since the closure, Council have been working with consultants to assess the condition of the seawall and identify options to repair it and prevent further steepening of the underwater slope. A preferred repair method has been identified and involves placing large rocks bags in a stepping formation. Before Council can undertake any work, the NSW Government must complete repair works to the underwater section of the seawall. We are yet to receive a timeframe from the NSW Government for the completion of this work. 
  • Catherine Hill Bay: Follow progress of delivery of the Catherine Hill Bay Precinct Masterplan.  Work with community to ensure all aspects of the plan are appropriate and fit with the purpose and nature of community needs. 
  • Revisit Rafferty’s Resort rezoning application and DA approved in June 24. I am fully supportive of creating a tourism facility that competes with the best as is the intention of this DA.  However it is an extremely complicated issue.  If I were to have been on Council for this decision.  I would have especially had further questions on the suitability of the development in such a closed and not easily accessible local area on the lake.  I believe that even though legally the Council did not have to consider the other members of the community title, morally they should have considered them.  I believe that the community residents and surrounding residents to the resort will be very negatively affected by increased traffic, parking numbers, noise, possibly antisocial behaviour and there is a real safety risk in the event of a substantial bush fire.  There are also social issues to consider with the gaming aspect of the establishment.  I believe that the community title owners of Rafferty’s Resort deserve more stringent conditions on the approval and I intend to investigate this matter fully if elected to Council.
  • Support the city in development of programs and facilities in Arts and Culture, Sustainability, Economic Development, community programs and events, development and planning and operations that lead to creating a thriving city and a vibrant place to live

A Mutual Love for the Lake's Tourism Potential

Second candidate on the Group’s ticket, Graham Davidson, played a major role in the production of the original Love the Lake video and television campaign having directed and edited all the footage, designing and carrying out the visual effects and shooting the chopper footage (the campaign was produced by KWCS for Lake Macquarie Council). Rosmairi was a member of the Lake Macquarie Tourism Board at the time and was also proud to have an association with the campaign when it launched at the Warner’s Bay Theatre.

The Love the Lake campaign launch at Warners Bay Theatre. Rosmairi Dawson is second from the left and Graham Davidson is fourth from the left in the front row. 

Campaign Moments

Our Candidates in the Community