The head of a suburban community group vying to become the next Member for Shellharbour has vowed to be proactive, despite not living in the electorate.
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The Liberal Party on Tuesday revealed Tullimbar community action group president Shane Bitschkat would contest the seat at the looming sate election.
The announcement, made by parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward outside Shellharbour Hospital, came just 33 days out from polling day on March 23.
The 42-year-old lives in Tullimbar - located in the state seat of Kiama, not Shellharbour - and said his community group position meant he had "a wealth of knowledge".
“I have particular knowledge on the local economy and the like since growing up in the Illawarra since day dot," Mr Bitschkat said.
“I’ll continue to fight for the cause of our community, fight for the infrastructure required to develop this fine city of Shellharbour.
“You have my 110 per cent commitment and the community needs to understand that; that I am here for them, and them alone, and I will fight to the back teeth for anything they require."
Asked about his priorities for the electorate, Mr Bitschkat's response was: “Proactive”.
“The candidacy needs to be proactive and that’s where I come from, and that’s where I separate myself from the current MP of Shellharbour.
"There’s a difference between staying and riding on the coattails of a union-backed Labor, where I’m all community, 110 per cent community, and that’s what I will be fighting for."
Asked about specific priority projects, Mr Bitschkat spoke of the Shellharbour Hospital redevelopment and the Albion Park Rail bypass - both projects that are funded and are already under way.
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson took aim at Mr Bitschkat for living outside the electorate and said he was "relatively unknown in our community".
“With just 33 days to go until polling day, it seems that the Liberal Party is banking on my unknown Liberal opponent just filling a void on the ballot paper," Ms Watson said.
The Liberal Party is expected to announce its candidate for Keira on Wednesday.