Greens' Lord Mayoral candidate Mithra Cox has launched a vision document, setting out the party's ideas for the future of Wollongong.
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Cr Cox said she wants to be the candidate with a very clear vision that looks toward the future with optimism and "a clear plan of who we want to be and where we want to go" as a city.
She said Wollongong was a significant city with plenty of opportunities to embrace for an ever better future.
Cr Cox said the Greens' vision was to bring new jobs and investment in new technologies such as offshore wind, green hydrogen and green steel production.
"We want to embrace the renewable energy revolution," she said.
"We want to ensure we have proper transport so people have more choices. We are so car dependent because we don't have the footpaths, cycleways or public transport to allow people to make other choices.
"We also want to ensure there is plenty of fun stuff to do here so we are not reliant on going to Sydney for entertainment.
"We need things for teenagers to do like skate parks, bike jumps and live music so when you walk down the street there is a sense of liveliness and fun, people want to be here and we are a place where you want to stay."
Cr Cox said it was important to ensure Wollongong wasn't just viewed as a satellite city to Sydney. But a place where everyone feels welcome and valued.
"We have got this incredible cultural and linguistic diversity," she said.
"People have come from all over the world and feel welcome. We need to make sure that continues to be the case. And it is really important we have a plan for affordable housing."
Cr Cox said the city also needs A-grade office space in the CBD so more large organisations can come.
"Unfortunately, other councillors voted against proposed changes to the LEP that would have preserved land for office space in the CBD. So this will be the task of the next council," she said.
Cr Cox said the city also needs to protect and enhance its greenspaces.
"During lockdown, we have all appreciated the open spaces that we have and as we grow as a city, these will become even more precious," she said.
"We also want Wollongong to be a city for everyone. A place where diversity is valued, and where everyone can make a contribution.
"We celebrate our cultural diversity and our LGBTIQ community, but we know that housing has become so expensive that it's forcing people out."
Current Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery, Labor's Cr Tania Brown and Liberal candidate Cr John Dorahy are also candidates in Wollongong's Mayoral election.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
