Brent Hoare, a Hazelbrook resident who has lived in the Mountains for nearly 20 years, will contest ward 2 for the Greens.
Mr Hoare is a seasoned environmental campaigner and currently works as a teacher at Mt Druitt High School, is an active member of the NSW Teachers Federation and a father of two teenagers.
He has volunteered on P&C committees over many years, helps co-ordinate the sustainability crew activities at Winter Magic and the Blue Mountains Music Festival each year, and has been a State Emergency Service volunteer since 1999. He also joined the Hazelbrook Rural Fire Brigade in 2013.
“Being an emergency services volunteer gives you first hand experience that the impacts of climate change are intensifying, and we in the Blue Mountains are feeling those effects most acutely,” he said.
“I would like to see our council more actively engaged in promoting renewable energy solutions to the climate crisis, and promoting more efficient use of energy in our area.
“Council needs to set an example in driving both the pace and scale of the transition to renewable energy that scientists are telling us must be made in order to rapidly reduce emissions and to avoid the worst projected climate disruption impacts.
“Adapting to the threats we face from more extreme weather impacts bearing down on us due to the legacy of rising carbon emissions must become a higher priority,” Mr Hoare said.
“Experts are telling us we need to recruit more firefighters and emergency workers. I call for greater planning and preparation to meet the daunting challenges that lie ahead, and to build stronger community resilience.”
Mr Hoare also believes improving footpaths, cycleways and access to public transport will help get cars off our roads and improve local amenity as well as contributing to the development more broadly of climate safe solutions.
“Erosion of important planning controls are another major issue I wish to pursue. Our villages and environment will be threatened by inappropriate development as a result of recent and proposed reforms to planning laws. I believe it is the duty of all Blue Mountains councillors to strongly oppose any such developments.”
Mr Hoare said he firmly believes being a councillor brings with it the responsibility to be accountable, accessible and responsive to the community.
“I plan to perform the duties of a ward 2 councillor with diligence and respect – by acting both from my strong Greens principles and as a co-operative team player.”