Mr Bourke has toured NSW in his not-so-conventional campaign vehicle, dubbed "the voter van", and arrived in the city on Tuesday to spruik the party's Wollongong candidate.

Andrew Anthony - a former Wollongong City councillor, whose most recent political tilt was at the 2017 council election - will take on incumbent Paul Scully (Labor) and five others to become the next Member for Wollongong. 

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Mr Anthony, from Figtree, ran for council as an independent but has since joined Sustainable Australia, citing its "comprehensive policies" on the environment and jobs.

"It's a bit difficult when you're an independent to get the message out to people about what you represent," he said.

"It's great when you join a party that shares my views and has a range of policies that I share."

Public transport improvements, including lifts at Unanderra train station, helping Wollongong and Shellharbour councils manage Lake Illawarra, and building a Wollongong waste recycling centre so bottles and cans aren't sent overseas were among Mr Anthony's priorities.

The contender also used this week's flash-flooding in Unanderra as an example of the need for "better planning".

"We want to see all of these new housing subdivisions that are going in to be flood-proof and ensure that existing infrastructure's improved and upgraded to decrease flooding in the future," he said.

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"With the real threat of climate change we see changing weather conditions, and more extreme flooding and droughts, so we just really need to safeguard against those changes that are occurring."

Mr Anthony said while he knew Wollongong was a safe Labor seat and would be difficult to win, the campaign was also about building a profile ahead of next year's local government elections.

Mr Bourke, the party's lead upper house candidate, also didn't shy away from the fact the wheels were already in motion for a "big assault" on the 2020 council polls.

"You'll see Sustainable Australia running for the Wollongong City Council," he said.

Mr Bourke said his party was from the political centre and stood "for the community not vested interests".

"We're an independent party, not linked to big business or big unions," he said.

Sustainable Australia is contesting the seats of Wollongong, Keira, Shellharbour and Kiama on Saturday.