Television presenter and university lecturer Rosanna Natoli has announced she will run for mayor at the Sunshine Coast local government elections in March.
A Coast resident since 1989, Mrs Natoli said her campaign would focus on the needs of the community.
“I will fight to maintain our lifestyle and to represent the people,” she said.
“I want to make a difference and to give people hope, that they have a mayor who cares.
“Community consultation needs to be meaningful and set the agenda, not the other way around.
“We need trusted and transparent leadership, not secret deals which profit the few. I am dedicated to our region and passionate about seeing it grow while protecting our people, our lifestyle, our businesses and our environment.”
Her husband Joe Natoli will seek re-election as a councillor in Division 4 (Alexandra Headland, Buddina, Maroochydore, Minyama, Mooloolaba, Parrearra and Warana).
“Our family has been passionate about serving this community for decades. We don’t agree on everything, but we will negotiate like all good mayors and councillors,” Mrs Natoli said.
The media personality has been on television screens for 7NEWS since 1995 and has lectured in journalism at the University of the Sunshine Coast since 1999. She is a published academic and has won teaching awards.
She will take long service leave from both positions to focus on her campaign.
Among the major issues facing the Coast, she said, were the rail line to Brisbane, protecting lifestyle, infrastructure, planning for growth and cost of living.
“Everywhere you look, locals are dismayed at what’s happening to their lifestyle, on the roads, on beaches, in business and in their suburbs. It’s time all these voices were listened to,” she said.
“We need fast, efficient transport that connects us all – every suburb, every day. There are 340,000 people who need better transport options and they need them now.
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“I won’t stop until we have heavy passenger rail from Brisbane to Beerwah, Aura, Caloundra, Kawana and Maroochydore, and rail duplication to Nambour. It’s essential. Plus, we need electric or hydro buses connecting suburbs north, south, east and west.
“The heavy rail will ease parking and traffic problems and allow the Bruce Highway to flow again. I already have a strong relationship with our elected members of parliament – we need our fair share of funding and I will work with them to make it happen.”
“What we don’t need is an expensive, outdated, noisy light rail system servicing a tiny 13km strip, that residents don’t want, while the rest of us pay for it.”
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Maintaining economic strength through local businesses and supporting the huge potential of the tourism industry were priorities, she said, along with arts, multicultural communities, our seniors and our youth.
Cost of living was another important issue Mrs Natoli said she would address.
“I see these pressures every day among residents. Families and residents are living in their cars, in parks and in dunes on the beach,” she said.
“That’s not good enough and we need to resolve these issues. I believe our community does have the answers.”
Mrs Natoli said it was an exciting time, with tremendous potential for the Sunshine Coast with strong advocacy in council.
“Protecting our lifestyle is incredibly important to locals and decisions by council impact on us all. I can’t sit on the sidelines any longer,” she said.
“I want to take the Sunshine Coast forward and fight for what matters to us all.
“This is a beautiful place to live and I recognise the intrinsic values the urban and rural communities contribute to the vibrancy of the Sunshine Coast.”
The elections will be held on March 16. Candidate nominations officially open on January 29 and close on February 13.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council area is made up of 10 divisions, each represented by one councillor, plus the mayor.
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