Council election candidates were quizzed at a community forum on topics from the infrastructure backlog to the proposed orbital road and steps to reduce graffiti.
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The forum at Port City Bowling Club on Tuesday [September 21] examined community-based issues ahead of the local government election set down for December 4.
Twenty of the council election candidates attended the forum organised by the Hastings Residents Association.
The candidates introduced themselves and outlined their policies and views, and they also answered 10 questions lodged before the meeting.
The candidates were questioned about matters including any political allegiances, the Town Centre Master Plan levy, infrastructure backlog, the tidal pool, the proposed orbital road, graffiti and congestion at the Lake Road/Oxley Highway/Sherwood Road roundabout.
About 30 to 40 residents attended the forum in addition to the council candidates.
Hastings Residents Association president Greg Franks said part of the meeting's purpose was to give candidates a chance to hear from the community about issues of concern to help in the formation of their policies ahead of the council election.
The state government pushed back the election to December 4 due to the COVID outbreak.
Candidates in the Port Macquarie-Hastings had left the starting line and launched campaigns before the election postponement announcement.
Mr Franks said the forum provided some great insights on the candidates' positions on issues as well as great insights into the specific matters that concerned locals.
Issues important to the Wauchope community will be discussed at the Hastings Residents Association's next community forum.
The event will go ahead at Wauchope RSL Club at 7pm on October 6. There will also be a community forum at Laurieton United Services Club on October 21, followed about a fortnight later with a Lake Cathie forum.
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Lisa Tisdell
I'm a Port Macquarie News journalist, keen traveller, angler and cricket fan.
I'm a Port Macquarie News journalist, keen traveller, angler and cricket fan.
