North Sydney Voters: Meet your 2024 Local Government election candidates – Cammeraygal.

By ANNA USHER

North Sydney voters are heading to the polls on September 14 to choose 10 councillors.

Here you will find helpful links on pre-polling, polling booth locations, and candidates in order of ballot draw, who will tell us why they want our votes.

Please note that North Sydney LGA is divided into two “wards”, Cammeraygal and St Leonards. To see which ward you are in, look at the map below.

Each candidate has been provided equal space (maximum 250 words) and identical questions, and no part of our election coverage is sponsored in any way.

Check your enrolment details and find out which LGA you are in here.

Where do I vote? We have included the voting locations and links for each ward here.

Want to vote early in North Sydney?

Postal votes must be submitted before 5pm on 9 September. Learn about how to do that here. You can also pre-poll vote from 7 September until 13 September (excluding Sunday). The locations of pre-polling booths are listed here.

MEET YOUR CANDIDATES – CAMMERAYGAL WARD

Group A – Substainable Australia

Sarah Kok
Bob Eggleton
Peter Moore
Mark Marsi
Anne Lytle

Sarah Kok

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Sarah Kok

As a Cremorne local for more than 15 years, I care passionately about our community’s quality of life. I’m committed to putting our environment, heritage and community first by standing firm against overdevelopment and fighting systemic unfairness in the NSW planning system that prioritises private profits over the public interest. Our community deserves better!

My priorities:

• Protect Our Environment: Demand urgent changes to the Western Harbour Tunnel project including undergrounding of the ventilation facilities, filtering the smoke stacks and reinstating public open space. Advocate for higher canopy targets, new green spaces, safe pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, and clean, thriving harbours. Champion sustainable practices like reuse, recycling, and community sharing programs.
• Stop Overdevelopment: Stand resolute against reckless State Government upzoning and unsustainable housing targets that drastically increase population density without adequate infrastructure or green spaces. Protect our local villages from inappropriate high-rise developments that flout local planning controls. Push for the government to fund and deliver more affordable housing. It’s also time for a heritage review—the last one was nearly 20 years ago!
• Stop Corruption: Hold decision-makers accountable by demanding full transparency in how community concerns are factored into planning decisions. Reform biased rules and processes that disadvantage the community.

I have 20 years’ professional experience working with governments and the private sector with capabilities in policy, analysis, economics and stakeholder management. I’m ready to leverage my skills, passion, and determination to make a positive difference for our community in North Sydney.

Find out more about Sarah Kok HERE.

Group B – Independent

MaryAnn Beregi
Katie Richmond
Ian Grey
Estelle Blair
Jillian Christie

MaryAnn Beregi

Lead Candidate Spotlight: MaryAnn Beregi

MaryAnn was first elected to North Sydney Council in 2012 and is committed to ensuring that the area is an inclusive, vibrant and accessible place for the large community that lives, works, attends school or university or visits the North Sydney LGA.

Over the past term, MaryAnn has worked to ensure that Council employs a rigourous, evidence-based and sustainable framework for decision making and is fiscally responsible, sustainable and resilient. In this term of Council, MaryAnn has served as Council’s delegate to ARIC (the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee) and the Chair of Council’s newly established Access and Inclusion Committee.

As a real independent, I always act in the best interests of North Sydney – I am only accountable to the community I represent, not a political party or vested interest. I have a proven track record of standing up and speaking out in support of North Sydney and making decisions to take North Sydney forward with integrity and fiscal responsibility.

I ask the electorate to vote for me so I can continue to represent their interests and be a strong independent voice on Council.

Now is the time to consolidate the work of the past two years and build an exciting future for North Sydney.

My priorities include securing Council’s financial sustainability; deliver and open the North Sydney Olympic Pool, protecting our community against the impacts of over-development; lobbying for improved public infrastructure – schools, hospitals, public transport, expand green space and new public open space; deliver more affordable housing in partnership with the State and Federal Governments;  expand active transport opportunities; focus on expanding youth services and develop additional ways to increase connectivity.

Find out more about MaryAnn Beregi HERE.

Group C – The Greens

Angus Hoy
Christopher Eddleston
Andrew Assaee
Graham Healy
Fuchsia Sims

Angus Hoy

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Angus Hoy

Hi there, my name is Angus Hoy and I’m your Greens candidate for Cammeraygal Ward on North Sydney Council.

Growing up on the Northern Beaches, I was always on and in the water, either kayaking, ski paddling, rowing surfboats or just down at the beach. It’s these experiences that gave me a deep love for nature, and particularly our coastal and marine environments. This evolved into a dedication and desire to protect animals and the world we live in.

I am motivated by a deep sense of solidarity and community and a desire for social, economic and ecological justice, the same core values that are at the heart of the Greens movement.

I believe that when we collectively organise, which starts with engaging in genuine good faith dialogue with those around us and building trust and ties of solidarity, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

But I also know that so many of us are doing it tough right now, and people barely have time to keep their head above water, let alone get involved in community politics.

That’s why I promise that a vote for me, and for the Greens, is a vote you can trust. You can trust that I will always put people and planet before corporate profits. I’ll advocate for renters, for people with disability, for animal welfare, for people struggling with bill shock, for people who want liveable healthy and clean communities. I believe in hard work for the responsibilities I take on, and in collaboration, consultation and compassion guiding every decision.

Group D – Labor

Shannon Welch
Travis Velingos
Christopher Lake
Merilyn Alt
Mathew Campbell

Shannon Welch

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Shannon Welch

I am a Labor councillor in North Sydney, Cammeraygal Ward, having been elected in 2021.

Neutral Bay has been my home for over two decades, and it holds a special place in my heart. My children grew up here, attending Cammeraygal Montessori School at Forsyth Park and Neutral Bay Public.

My professional background as an ICU nurse for over 35 years has shaped my approach to public service. Just as I cared for my patients, I care deeply for our community.

My priorities are social justice: continuing to support Stanton Library and our community centres.

Sustainability: Particularly improving the walkability and rideability of our community.

Good Governance: Poor governance by the previous Council resulted in the North Sydney Olympic Pool debacle.

The present Council resolved that all future major projects must go through a Governance Decision Making Framework to stop another North Sydney Olympic Pool debacle from happening again.

I hope to be re-elected so I can continue my work for our wonderful North Sydney community.

Group E – Independent

Peter Noble
Ian Mutton
Joan Street
Julie Lee
Conway Restom

Peter Noble

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Peter Noble

My name is Peter Noble and with my wife, we have lived in Milsons Point for 15 years.

I have been an active advocate in the local community, and I believe that, with the help of the constituents and my team, we can substantially improve the lives of the people of North Sydney.

I have significant experience in English and Australian law in Asia, Australia and United States. I am experienced in business, risk management and governance. With sustainability as a particular interest, I was an inaugural director in an United Nations Environment Program initiative establishing the Principles of Sustainable Insurance. I have also been a Director and Chairperson for two National Industry R&D corporations developing the technology for the future such as robotics and gene drives.

The CommUnity 1st team members are similarly experienced bringing legal, landscape architectural, business and finance administration skills to the table.

The team has chosen six initiatives which, when implemented, will enhance the efficiency of Council and deliver the plans for which the constituents have advocated.

We will not ignore your wishes.

Competent management, governance and advocacy along with the experience and skills of the members of the team will bring North Sydney Area back to a greener, more vibrant and prosperous community, and eliminate the factional hostilities.

A vote for our team, CommUnity 1st, is a vote for you.

Group F – Liberal

Jessica Keen
Efi Carr
Bryson Constable
Andrew Skinner
Hunter Wardman

Jessica Keen

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Jessica Keen

Jess has been a proud resident of the North Sydney area for over 20 years, having raised her family here.

Deeply connected to the local area, Jess is actively involved in local schools, sporting clubs and charity organisations. She loves her neighbourhood, and can be spotted walking around Neutral Bay and surrounding areas on almost a daily basis with her two dogs.

Jess brings extensive experience, having served on North Sydney Council from 2017 to 2021. During her tenure, she chaired and co-chaired several key committees, including Sport & Recreation, and was a member of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

With nearly 30 years of professional experience in the tourism industry, Jess combines commercial acumen with a strong commitment to public service.

If elected, Jess will prioritise the enhancement of community, sporting and social facilities, ensuring that North Sydney residents benefit from ongoing infrastructure and planning developments.

She is dedicated to ensuring the Council’s financial responsibility to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures by keeping rates low. Jess is also passionate about preserving North Sydney’s unique character while advocating for sustainable development and housing options that meet the needs of residents.

Jess is a member of the Liberal Party and committed to working collaboratively with all councillors to achieve the best outcomes for the community – keeping rates low, improving the Council’s service delivery and investing in local community and sporting infrastructure.

Group G – Independent

Pallavi Sinha
Strephon Billinghurst
Leonie Rothwell
Craig Black
Harshita Jyoti
Rajeswari Swaminathan

Pallavi Sinha

Lead Candidate Spotlight: Pallavi Sinha

As a Lawyer, AFR & Westpac 100 Women of Influence, Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Former People of Australia Ambassador & Former Lifeline Counsellor, former Board member NSW Council for Women’s Economic Opportunity, I’m running to extend my community service to serving as a Councillor.

I’m actively involved with Rotary, local precincts & community groups & I want to proactively provide new ideas & better representation.

Top priorities include:

• IMPROVE GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY TO OPEN THE NORTH SYDNEY POOL. The pool is about 3 years behind schedule & has doubled in projected costs.

• REDUCE COST OF LIVING by reducing unnecessary waste of rate payers’ money.

• BROADEN CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS & SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS and enhance the sustainability of local villages, review the new parking metres, car parking policies, paperless facilities.

• PRIORITISE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY and traffic calming, especially with the upcoming bike ramp.

• PRESERVE GREEN + OPEN SPACES. Improve playground and sporting facilities, strike the right balance between development preservation of heritage areas.

• SPEED UP the review of DAs – and get the right balance of development, infrastructure & conservation.

• TAKE ACTION to reduce high rate of Domestic Violence (North Sydney has the highest rate of DV) and mental health problems.

• LOBBY GOVERNMENT: For example, oppose the possible introduction of two-way tolls on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

To learn more about Pallavi Sinha head HERE.