As a regional resident for 15 years, Andrea Vickers is committed to creating a strong and sustainable economic, social and environmental base for Tweed. Having worked with TAFE in educational disability support, she understands the need to provide local skills to nurture young people and their future leadership. In her work in the region’s public and private sectors, she has seen the need for better service delivery and a long term economic strategy for Tweed.
Through her studies in sustainability at Southern Cross University, and as a recent alumnus of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership Sustainability Leadership Development Program, where she worked on developing innovative ideas for sustainable business, Andrea is focused on best practice methods to protect food and water supplies, fund the services the community needs, and make Tweed vibrant and liveable in the long term future.
Top 3 issues
Coal Seam Gas: Protect Tweed’s drinking water
Business and environmental experts say CSG is not economically or environmentally viable. Yet the LNP Baird government has renewed a CSG exploration licence allowing dangerous gas drilling in Tweed’s water catchment. The Greens are standing with the Tweed community to ensure drinking water safety for Tweed residents, and food production security for our valuable red soil areas like Cudgen. The Greens are the only party that guarantees a complete ban on CSG in the region and across NSW.
Better services for Tweed
Tweed is a growing region, and the Greens want to ensure that with the population increase comes the necessary infrastructure needed, such as new schools, adequate funding for TAFE and the much needed upgrade to Tweed Hospital.
The Greens have a comprehensive policy on restoring TAFE funding, as we believe it is an invaluable asset in regional areas. Kingscliff TAFE is an essential vocational and educational service that provides the skills and qualifications needed for local economic development, as well as being an investment in our youth’s future.
The Tweed Hospital has been neglected for far too long and the Greens welcome the recent commitment of funding, thanks to the community’s efforts. To ensure that this commitment goes through we call for a clear timeline for this funding to be released for all three stages of the upgrade works.
Sustainable Regional Development
Our plan for Tweed integrates better public transport, sustainable industries, such as renewable energy and eco-tourism, well-funded, efficient infrastructure and affordable housing to create a vibrant future.
The Greens will dedicate $100 million towards community transport options, especially in regional areas like Tweed where distance and socio-economic factors can make travel very challenging.
Our energy policy supports a rapid transition away from fossil fuels towards decentralised, efficient energy production from renewable sources. Regional areas like Tweed will benefit from this transition.
Finally, to ensure infrastructure matches growth, The Greens support a fairer contribution from developers for infrastructure costs associated with development.
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