Combatting overdevelopment and climate change at the heart of Woollahra election

By DANIEL LO SURDO

Woollahra Municipal Council is another intriguing battleground ahead of the local elections on December 4. 

Bellevue Hill 

The Bellevue Hill Ward will be contested by incumbent councillors Isabelle Shapiro and Lucinda Regan, while Liberal councillor Nick Maxwell will not be seeking reelection. Hoping to replace Maxwell will be Liberal members Sean Carmichael and James Ardouin. 

Cr Regan is part of the Residents’ First group and is passionate about combatting overdevelopment.

Cr Shapiro joined council in 2004 and has served one term as mayor, and two as deputy mayor. She is most passionate about planning, community safety and public art. 

Cooper 

Residents’ First member Luise Elsing will seek reelection in the Cooper Ward, which generally represents the suburb of Woollahra. Cr Elsing was first elected to Woollahra Council in 2012 and is interested in confronting overdevelopment in Bellevue Hill and Double Bay. 

Nicola Grieve is the Greens candidate in the Cooper Ward. Ms Grieve was previously elected as a Woollahra councillor from 2008-2012 and is running to “ensure climate change remains at the forefront” of council decisions.

Sarah Swan, an advocate for recreational facilities and open spaces, is the Liberal’s number one candidate for Cooper. 

Double Bay 

All three incumbent Double Bay councillors – Deputy Mayor Richard Shields, Toni Zeltzer and Mark Silcocks – will be seeking reelection next month. 

Silcocks has worked to “protect and preserve Double Bay as Sydney’s Stylish Bayside Village” and has helped to preserve heritage and public space. 

Zeltzer has been a passionate advocate for the restoration of the former Woollahra Library at Double Bay. 

Paddington

Similarly to Double Bay, each incumbent councillor – Peter Cavanagh, Matthew Robertson and Harriet Price – will look to retain their seats in the Paddington Ward. 

Cavanagh has served on council since 2008 and is passionate about finding inventive ways to provide ongoing revenue streams for council.

Robertson has served since 2012. He is an advocate for increased affordable housing and climate change action. 

Price has been associated with Paddington for over 45 years. She was awarded the 2019 Sydney Electorate Woman of the Year for her contribution to Paddington and beyond, and is passionate about providing an active voice to residents. 

Vaucluse

Incumbent Liberal councillors Mary-Lou Jarvis and Mayor Susan Wynne will be contesting the Vaucluse Ward. 

Jarvis is a passionate advocate for Vaucluse’s beaches and parks, while Wynne is a strong supporter of outdoor public use infrastructure and has helped deliver upgrades for outdoor facilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Merrill Witt is the Residents’ First member for the Vaucluse Ward and will seek to stop overdevelopment in Woollahra and to safeguard areas of heritage and special significance.