Our Newcastle Independents have promised to put an end to "overblown and over budget vanity projects" and adopt a back to basics approach to managing the city's resources if elected.
Led by Dr Ross Kerridge, a former Labor party life member who quit earlier this year after losing a pre-selection challenge against lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes, the team formally launched its campaign at Mayfield on Monday. The Our Newcastle independents are challenging Labor's control of the council following allegations of bullying and party disunity within Labor ranks.
Their policy platform includes ending the privatisation and commercialisation of assets and services, limiting rate increases to CPI or lower, and launching an "appropriate" investigation into the Scott Neylon letter writing scandal.
He said the team's policies would these policies would deliver positive change to the city following "a decade of Labor's overblown and over budget vanity projects".
"Our Newcastle's policy launch demonstrates the range of key issues that have either been ignored or could have been done better under the last decade of lord mayor Nelmes's leadership," Dr Kerridge said.
"It is my intention as lord mayor to implement positive policies that aim to get our focus back to the basics of local government.
"From building footpaths, fixing potholes, focusing on affordable housing and keeping rates low, Our Newcastle policies are straightforward and fair."
Running alongside Dr Kerridge in ward one is former CEO and head of schools Peter Gittins. Marketing professional and former small business owner Leisha Parkinson will be the team's lead candidate in ward two, owner and publisher of The Local community newspaper Mark Brooker will be the lead candidate in ward three and library manager and former Labor branch secretary Tahlia Kelso, who quit the party earlier this year amid a bitter feud over bullying allegations, will top the ticket in ward four.
Dr Kerridge has also pledged to overhaul the management of council chamber to "foster a respectful relationship within council meetings and within the council administration".
This would include rotating the deputy lord mayor position annually, a common practice on other councils, and seating councillors in ward groups rather than by political alliance.
In addition to launching an investigation into the Scott Neylon matter, Dr Kerridge also said he would also launch reviews into council transparency, the handling of Freedom of Information requests, accounting methods and an alleged "toxic culture" within the organisation.
"When I've been out and about talking to community members, the number one concern is they don't feel listened to by their council. We want to change that," ward one candidate Peter Gittins said.
"Dr Kerridge is committed to bringing the Local back into Local Government. I'm proud of the policies we've built through weeks and months of conversations, not just as candidates but as members of a community."
The team also plans to withdraw council's consent that would allow a new basketball stadium built on New Lambton sports fields.
Dr Kerridge said he would work with stakeholders to find an alternative location for the facility.
He would also provide more council-owned land for social and affordable housing as long as there are already sufficient social, cultural and environmental amenities in the community.
"It is vital that we plan for the future of our city while attempting to fix the errors of the last decade," Ward 2 candidate Leisha Parkinson said.
"Ward two residents have been telling me they want a council that focuses on fixing the basics and keeping rates low.
"As the mum of young kids, I want them to have decent sports fields when they start playing sport, I want them to be able to access council community spaces at an affordable rate and I want them to enjoy our green spaces and parks."
