Shellharbour gets to vote for mayor for first time in a decade

For the first time in more than a decade, voters rather than councillors will get to decide who they want as mayor.

With only one other mayoral candidate running - independent Chris Homer - Cr Saliba has a decent chance to retain the mayoral robes.

But the woman who called for a referendum to decide whether the public wanted a mayoral vote, and who is only running for mayor and not as a councillor, will be fine if they decide to use that vote for someone else.

"I'm really pleased, regardless of what the outcome is on the fourth of December, that the community have their democratic right restored to them to undertake that ballot," Cr Saliba said.

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"I've put my hand up because I believe I have something to offer. I give the job 110 per cent and if that's not what the community wants then I will be very comfortable moving on to the next stage of my life. I'll be disappointed but it won't kill me, it won't break my heart if I'm not elected."

Cr Saliba has announced the Labor ticket for the December elections, which also includes councillors Moira Hamilton (Ward B) and Rob Petreski (Ward D).

Also on the ticket are Maree Edwards and Michael Moon (Ward A), Aaron Vann (Ward B), Lou Stefanovski and Stuart Geddes (Ward C) and Barry Bird (Ward D).

"We're actually standing on our record," Cr Saliba said.

"We have worked very, very hard for our community. We have seen the finalisation of the Shellharbour Harbour and the Shell Cove Marina, we have worked really hard in the provision of infrastructure throughout our city across all suburbs."

She said some of the key issues for residents and the city were housing affordability and the problem of traffic congestion through Albion Park.

"We recognise that councils don't have the capacity to actually ensure [housing affordability] so what we can do is we can lobby and work with the state government to make sure that whatever planning laws they introduce in regards to affordability that we support them," Cr Saliba said.

As for the traffic congestion, she said the Albion Park bypass would be the solution.

"It would run from the Illawarra Highway out to the Western Valley which would feed Calderwood, Tullimbar and those areas," she said.

"If we're able to divert that traffic off the state-run Illawarra Highway and Tongarra Road it's going to be a much better environment for the people who live in Albion Park."

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