Vote 1 Mark Hammel to make Your Voice count in the Gold Coast 2020 council election

24 March 2020

Dear Division 1 residents,

This week, you will be voting to decide who will be Your Voice for Division 1 at the City of Gold Coast council election. As a lifetime resident of Division 1 with deep family ties to the area for 140 years, I'd love the opportunity to represent you and the people of our fine community.

I decided to run as Division 1 candidate because I believe I am the best person for the job. I am as local as they come, independent of any political party, experienced, engaged in the local community, and I understand how all layers of government work together.

After speaking with thousands of residents and business owners, I've created detailed and deliverable policies on urban planning, traffic, environment, safety and business to help put Division 1 on the right track for a brighter future. I'm ready to back these ideas with common sense, hard work and action, and if elected, I promise to work with you to achieve:

Better urban planning and sustainable development

• Make sure development occurs in the right areas by creating a tailored Division 1 Local Area Plan. This would provide vital infrastructure and certainty for families and farmers when it comes to their future.
• Put pressure on Council to fund residential infrastructure (including roads, water, sewerage and parks) up-front, and reclaim costs from developers on a fee per hectare basis. This is a feasible solution that would fast-track much needed roads, and ensure all services are connected, instead of the current 'piecemeal' approach that benefits no one.
• Connect local road networks to Coomera Connector and upgrade Pimpama-Jacobs Well Road, Yawalpah Road and Peachey Road
• Find a practical solution to current local issues, including footpaths that lead to nowhere and the ineffective and sometimes dangerous pick-up and drop-off school zones including Pimpama Primary College and Woongoolba State School.

Protect the environment and climate

• Change planning to encourage retention of mature trees - and plant new ones - in new developments, and ensure Council buys back land for environmental corridors.
• Work to have dedicated bus lanes and cycle ways included as part of the Coomera Connector and ensure new developments are connected to better public transport from day one.
• Advance sustainable industry and farming practices and minimise run-of into our waterways.
• Educate and incentivise better residential waste and recycling practices.
• Promote eco-tourism for educating the community and boosting the local economy.

Make our communities safer

• Work with State Government to lobby hard for increased police resources, particularly to crack down on hooning in residential areas. This would include ensuring the new police station at Pimpama is well resourced and lobbying State Government to keep the existing Norfolk Village and Jacobs Well police beats open.
• Expand our CCTV network and secure access to mobile CCTV resources to mitigate anti-social behaviour.
• Provide education and funding for grassroots community and sporting groups to educate and engage our youth.

These are just some of the ways I'll be working hard for you to make sure Division 1 is an even better place to live.

I also believe in an open and transparent government, so I would also like to make it clear to you that I will not be doing any preference deals with other candidates or political parties during this election. I believe it is the public’s right for their vote to go to the candidate of their choosing, so a vote for me is a vote for Mark Hammel and nobody else.

You can find out more about my policies by visiting www.markhammel.com.au, or check out my social media channels on Facebook and Instagram by searching Mark Hammel for Division 1. I'd love to hear from you at [email protected] or on 0409 136 669.

I thank you for the time you have taken to read this letter. Please help me make Your Voice count by Voting 1 Mark Hammel at this year’s council election, and together we can make sure Division 1 remains great.

All my best,

Mark Hammel

Division 1 candidate