ALBERTON LOCAL MARK HAMMEL TO STAND IN DIVISION 1

5 December 2019

Alberton local Mark Hammel will contest Division 1 in the March 2020 Gold Coast city election, drawing on more than a century of family ties to the northern Gold Coast to help 'create a balanced, community-led plan for the future’.

Mr Hammel, who lives on the Alberton property established by his family in 1880 - now a family-owned strawberry farm - said while he had always been an active member of the community, he was campaigning for a Council seat to give northern Gold Coasters a new voice and help put their ideas in to action.

"I have lived in Division 1 my entire life and have a genuine love for the area," he said.

"I'm currently renovating the farm house built by my great grandparents with a view to one day raising my own family there so, if elected, the work I do on behalf of the community will be a legacy for my children.

"It's easy to sit on the sidelines and talk about what should be done, but I'm the type of person who wants to get involved and make things happen.

"I have my own ideas about future plans for our community, my campaign is all about listening to locals and giving them a new voice."

Mr Hammel said growing up in Alberton had given him a deep understanding of how life on the northern Gold Coast was evolving.

"It's no secret that parts of the northern Gold Coast, such as Pimpama, are among the fastest-growing regions in Queensland – and things like traffic congestion and a lack of future planning are changing the dynamic of our community," he said.

"I want to work with local people to create a Division 1 Local Area Plan for growth that respects our past as a semi-rural region, while embracing the fact that although change is inevitable, we can help steer decisions to the advantage of everyone living in our community.

"Compared to other divisions, we are in the infancy of our development so we have the chance to create a clear, community-guided vision of where we want to be in the coming decades, and use this as a roadmap for new infrastructure and services.

"We need to make the right decisions about where growth occurs and how infrastructure is delivered to ensure a holistic, long-term approach to the livability of our region."

Mr Hammel said his professional background had shown him the importance of looking after businesses.

"Businesses are the backbone of the community, and I'll be looking at ways we can support people who are in this space and reduce unnecessary red tape and regulation to make it easier for them to operate on a daily basis," he said.

"At the same time, I'll be looking to continue to attract new business to the Yatala Enterprise Area, which is the industrial CBD of the north and has the capacity to generate thousands of jobs." 

Mr Hammel said he would kick-start his campaign with a series of community meet and greets, and was preparing to open an office at the Whistle Stop Pimpama in the coming weeks.

"My first priority is to get out in to the community and listen to what people have to say," he said.

"It's their voice, not mine, that counts when it comes to shaping our future."