This shared goal is one that requires collaboration and involvement from our community, and our council.

My role as a councillor requires me to listen to your views and expectations, and bring them to the table for review.

Our region is home to more than 83,000 people and growing, and spanning from the coastal hubs of Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven, through to Wauchope and our hinterland.

So it's vital that we engage with you, so we can represent the needs of the locals in all the space we occupy across the region.

Earlier this month, we had our first council meeting of the year.

I encourage you to get involved and view council proceedings to see how decisions are made, as the decisions we make are always in the interest of our community, and of your varying needs.

I truly wish to hear of the wishes of all community members, and advocate for the change they want to see in our region.

At this month's council meeting, I sought to represent the growing North Shore community.

The Hibbard Ferry is an important roadway that connects our North Shore residents to the rest of our community.

These residents rely on the service to get to school, work, and appointments, but the service also caters to all residents in our Local Government Area, linking us to our neighbouring northern communities.

After hearing your calls to increase the hours of operations for the Hibbard Ferry, I advocated for this change, but I need you to as well.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will be gathering feedback on the Hibbard Ferry service, and I want you to 'Have Your Say' on how the service currently operates.

The engagement will run over the first two weeks of March and the findings will be reported back to the April council meeting.

Be involved, contribute ideas, and tell us how we could improve this service for you.

Let us advocate for the changes we wish to see in our beautiful region, together.