“Newcastle needs strong, independent leadership to manage our growth, protect what we value and deliver practical outcomes. If leadership at the top is strong, it filters through the organisation and into the community.”

Strong leadership sets the tone for the whole organisation. Gavin’s focus will be on restoring trust, improving behaviour and creating a council that works constructively and delivers for the community.

Commitments

• Build a strong Lord Mayor–CEO working relationship

• Improve council culture and collaboration

• Focus on achievable, staged progress

• Prioritise outcomes over announcements

• Lead with consistency, accountability and respect.ere

“A strong focus on the specific needs of the community through active listening, directing funding equally across all 4 wards and securing our fair share of state and federal

investment. Local decisions should reflect local priorities and shaped through listening, evidence and common sense.”

Local decisions should reflect local priorities. Newcastle’s four wards have different needs,

and council investment must be fair, balanced and informed by listening, evidence and

common sense.

Commitments

• Listen actively across all four wards

• Support fair investment across the city

• Base decisions on evidence and community input

• Advocate strongly for Newcastle with state and federal governments.

“We need to get the balance right, supporting growth while protecting what makes Newcastle unique.”

Newcastle needs more housing however; it must be the right housing in the right places.

Gavin supports sensible growth that improves housing choice and affordability without sacrificing neighbourhood character, infrastructure capacity or quality.

Commitments

• Support faster approvals for well-designed, compliant developments

• Encourage sensible medium-density housing in village centres and well-connected areas

• Increase housing choice for young people, families, retirees and downsizers

• Push for stronger affordable housing outcomes

• Oppose inappropriate overdevelopment

• Ensure growth is matched by infrastructure, transport, drainage, parks and community facilities.

“A city that is cared for sends a clear message about leadership, pride and standards. Clean, safe and well-presented suburbs do not happen by chance; they require focus and follow-through.”

A well-maintained city reflects pride, care and leadership. Residents deserve clean, safe and attractive neighbourhoods and council should work more effectively with property

owners, businesses and community groups to improve local presentation.

Commitments

• Improve coordination on graffiti removal

• Explore practical support for maintenance and presentation

• Lift the look and feel of suburbs, centres and shared spaces

• Work with businesses and community groups to keep Newcastle well presented.

“The quality of everyday life is shaped by the quality of the facilities people rely on. Parks, pools, libraries and community spaces are not extras; they are essential to a liveable city.”

Parks, pools, libraries, beaches, baths and community halls are essential to everyday life. They should be maintained, accessible and affordable.

Commitments

• Maintain and upgrade parks, playgrounds and public spaces

• Support continued affordability of public pools

• Improve access to community halls and shared spaces

• Protect important local facilities, including beaches, baths, pools and libraries.

“People deserve clear decisions, proper consultation and development that fits the character of their community. Growth must be planned responsibly, with transparency, common sense and respect for local infrastructure.”

Council must take a responsible and transparent approach to rates, development and planning. Residents deserve clear explanations, proper consultation, and confidence that decisions reflect local character and infrastructure limits.

Commitments

• Support a simple, transparent approach to rate increases, with CPI as a guide where possible

• Support development that aligns with infrastructure capacity and community expectations

• Oppose proposals that are out of scale or inconsistent with local character

• Ensure major planning decisions are clearly explained and community-informed

“Growth should strengthen Newcastle, not strip away the character that makes it special. Our heritage, greenspace and local identity are assets to protect, not obstacles to progress.”

Growth should not come at the cost of Newcastle’s heritage, greenspace or identity. Gavin supports sensible development that protects the places and character that make this city distinctive.

Commitments

• Protect and restore key heritage sites

• Preserve greenspace, village character and important landmarks

• Support activation of major heritage assets, including the Newcastle Post Office

• Back cultural and economic assets that strengthen local identity.

“Strong communities are built in the places where people come together, play, volunteer and belong. Backing local sport means backing community health, connection and opportunity.”

Grassroots sport is vital to community wellbeing and connection. Local clubs need reliable access to quality facilities, especially after severe weather.

Commitments

• Prioritise drainage and field improvements

• Improve access to local sporting facilities

• Support clubs and community participation across the city

• Recognise sport as a key part of community life.

“Safety and practicality need to go hand in hand. New transport options are here to stay, however, the rules must keep people safe and the city moving.”

Newcastle needs a safer, more practical and better-connected transport system. That means planning ahead, improving integration, and responding sensibly to new transport realities such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

Commitments

• Support better public transport access and integration

• Support CCTV for local businesses

• Advocate for stronger long-term transport planning, including airport access

• Work with the State Government to clarify e-bike and e-scooter rules in high pedestrian areas

• Prioritise safety in shared spaces

• Focus on education and targeted enforcement, not blanket bans

• Support real consultation on major transport and precinct decisions

• Support a thorough review of the 2021 Traffic Management Plan against current conditions.