Candidate with legacy in mind
NORTHERN Gold Coast resident Mark Hammel is to contest Division 1 in the March 2020 council poll, seeking to represent an old farming region where his family has been part of the community for more than a century.
Mr Hammel, who lives on an Alberton property established by his family in 1880 – now a family-owned strawberry farm – will today announce he is contesting the division currently held by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, who has announced she will contest Division 3.
Mr Hammel told The Bulletin his decision to stand, after being an active community member, was to give northern Gold Coasters a new voice and help get real outcomes.
“I have lived in Division 1 my entire life and have a genuine love for the area,” he said.
“I’m currently renovating the farmhouse 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.”
Mr Hammel said he would run a grassroots campaign based on listening to locals.
“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 road map for new infrastructure and services.”
Mr Hammel said the council must make the right decisions about where growth occurs and how infrastructure is delivered to ensure the liveability of the region.
“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 kickstart his campaign with a series of community meet and greets and was preparing to open an office at the Whistle Stop Pimpama.