![Independent candidate Judith Hannan (centre) launched her campaign at Mittagong RSL on Saturday December 10, 2022. Picture by Judith Hannan - Independent for Wollondilly Facebook. Independent candidate Judith Hannan (centre) launched her campaign at Mittagong RSL on Saturday December 10, 2022. Picture by Judith Hannan - Independent for Wollondilly Facebook.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/C5T5utnEbuCCVHhsQW5GNd/10ae6703-d776-43ff-8bca-3c727745181d.jpg/r0_236_1080_844_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Independent candidate Judith Hannan has thrown her hat into the ring for the 2023 state election.
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The Wollondilly Shire councillor and former mayor previously ran as an independent candidate in the 2019 state election, where she received 20 per cent of the votes.
With community spirit at the forefront of her campaign, Ms Hannan said she was running as a Wollondilly candidate because she believed in the power of community.
"I will solely represent the community and not a political party," she said.
"As a long-time resident, I have seen firsthand the impact we can have when we come together and support one another through good times and bad.
"Whether it's volunteering at our neighbourhood food bank or fighting fires and floods. I know by working together, we can make a difference in our communities.
"That's why I'm dedicated to making sure that all members of my community have access to the resources they need to thrive without losing our very unique identity.
"Whether it's increasing funding for public schools and libraries, building better infrastructure to support affordable housing and transportation options, or creating opportunities for economic development and job growth,
"I am committed to doing everything in my power to help us be a sustainable, exemplar electorate."
Ms Hannan said her priorities for Wingecarribee and Wollondilly were the Picton Bypass, stopping the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall and stopping urban sprawl.
"Millions have been spent on planning the Picton Bypass and it has been promised every State or Federal election but it is not or never in the budgets," she said.
She also cited environmental concerns and residential stress over the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam Wall.
"There is a threat to endangered species, and indigenous history and artwork," she said,
"The stress of the construction impacts the residents of the North end of the electorate."
As for stopping urban sprawl as proposed by Winzero, Ms Hannan said she would look at diverse housing choices, traffic calming by design, traditional architecture, flexible land use zoning, quality footpath and bikeway infrastructure, and community consultation in planning controls.
While the Picton Bypass, Warragamba Dam and Urban Sprawl may be at the top of her priorities, Ms Hannan is concerned about the hospitals in the region.
"As I'm a healthcare worker I am very conscious of the workforce issue in the health sector," she said.
"The need for paediatric services is increasing as young families move in while at the other end of the scale we have to have resources for the best quality care of our elderly."
Ms Hannan also supports more public high schools in Wingecarribee and Wollondilly.
"Children in our electorate have to travel for hours to get to high school and lose the close neighbourhood connections of playing sports and socialising with their peers," she said.
"The electorate needs more public high schools in areas such as Wilton, Warragamba and the northern areas of the Highlands."
As Wingecarribee Shire Council and Wollondilly Shire Council bare the brunt of road costs to fix potholes, Ms Hannan said that if she were elected as the state member, she would get major roads transferred to the state government.
"Many of these go unrepaired for long periods," she said.
"The State Government needs to step up and assist the councils of Wollondilly and Wingecarribee with the burden or not only will we have damaged tyres and rims but deadly accidents as people swerve to miss potholes."
The NSW State Election will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
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