Heathcote

Jill Merrin

Greens candidate for Heathcote

As a long-standing union supporter, Jill Merrin is committed to upholding the rights of working people. She believes that the NSW government has short-changed the people of NSW on planning for equitable and sustainable health, education and transport services.

Other local Heathcote issues which Jill will work on are:

• protection for coastal environmental and cultural heritage from over-development, such as at Sandon Point and Maddens Plains
• the cracking of the river catchments caused by long-wall coal mining, and the loss of our water supplies
• the need for cycleways and comprehensive, reliable and clean public transport rather than more freeways
• local employment opportunities, instead of the loss of even more jobs to central Sydney

Jill has lived in the Northern Illawarra for ten years, and has developed a deep appreciation for the landscape and the people and communities of the area. She swims at Austinmer sea pool, and enjoys playing the piano and pottering in the garden.

Jill has worked in the biological sciences and in environmental management, in both the non-government and government sectors. Jill brings to the 2007 NSW Government election a background of campaigning on environmental and social issues.

Most recently, Jill project managed the 2006 NSW State of the Environment Report, which was tabled in Parliament in December. Previously, she worked for the Total Environment Centre, the Australian Conservation Foundation, and the Illawarra and Cooks River Catchment Management Committees.

Jill was President of the Illawarra Branch of the National Parks Association for several years and is Publicity Officer for the Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group. She was a member of the Illawarra Escarpment Community Reference Group and is an active Sandon Point campaigner.

To contact Jill Merrin, please e-mail: heathcote@nsw.greens.org.au or call 0422 655 711. You can also visit the Illawarra Greens website. A map and full details of this district are available from the NSW Electoral Commission.