Laura Wells

My Coast LAURA WELLS

A model for saving our coastline and marine life from plastic.

LAURA WELLS IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP PLUS-SIZE MODELS AND HOLDS DEGREES IN BIOLOGY AND LAW, AS WELL AS QUALIFICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. SHE’S ALSO A KEEN SCUBA DIVER. IN FACT, IT TOOK BEING ACCOSTED BY A BLUE GROUPER FISH WHILE LOOKING FOR OCTOPUS AND EXPLORING SEAWEED PATCHES ALONG OUR COAST THAT FIRST TRIGGERED LAURA’S AWARENESS OF THE BEAUTY AND FRAGILITY OF OUR BLUE PLANET.

‘I’ve had amazing wildlife experiences on all seven continents,’ says Laura. ‘From walking the rocky, icy shores in Antarctica [Laura was a member of the largest all-female expedition there], to meeting penguin chicks, swimming with turtles in Hawaii, with manta rays off Lady Elliot Island, humpback whales in Tonga, and orcas in Norway. I’ve also watched sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean, and seabirds feed their chicks.’

Laura was also a mentor in Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, encouraging systemic change for the future.

‘Closer to home, I’ve been lucky enough to experience the beautiful Central Coast, Hawkesbury and Port Stephens area on many occasions – scuba diving on shipwrecks, snorkelling off our beaches, and hiking our coastal trails. It’s so beautiful and there are many hidden gems just waiting for people to find.’

Laura was also able to work with scientists from the University of NSW to help document and restore Posidonia seagrass where boat mooring chains had dragged along the ocean floor, scouring it, and ripping out important meadows of seagrass.

‘The seagrass is home to many different species, especially juvenile species looking for protection. So it’s vital in the survival of so much of our marine life.

‘Every coastal and ocean experience has been incredible and leaves me with a sense of gratitude … but I have also experienced the utter devastation of plastic pollution rampant on many beaches around the world. Sea creatures entangled in plastic waste, beaches degraded by plastic trash, and micro plastics so thick you stick your hand into it and pull out just plastic and not a grain of sand.’

These sights left an enduring and lasting impression on Laura, which she has turned into a positive. She has become Take 3 for the Sea’s newest ambassador, championing awareness and encouraging all of us to be mindful of the impacts of plastics we use.

‘My modelling career has given me a great platform to educate people in this space, because I can inform the people who follow me on Instagram in the environmental space and grow a tribe of eco-warriors.

‘Having a background and love for the ocean encouraged me to delve deeper into these issues, find the cause and effect, find solutions and other like-minded people. Researching plastic pollution, volunteering my time and working to educate others on solutions has become my focus,’ says Laura.

‘We are all connected not only to each other but to our environment. Phytoplankton and algae, marine weeds and grasses create most of the oxygen we breathe. So if we don’t have healthy oceans, we can’t have healthy humans.’

Some of Laura’s favourite local places:

Shipwrecks: ex-HMAS Adelaide, off Terrigal Walks: Bouddi Coastal Walk, Bouddi National Park Cafes: Green Tangerine, Long Jetty Seals: the bachelor seal colony, Barrenjoey headland Penguins: the little penguins at Lion Island

WHAT HAS LUCY WICKS BEEN UP TO DURING COVID?

“We may have been in lockdown, but my local team and I have never been busier!“

Part of my vision for our region is seeing the Central Coast come into its own. We have a unique identity. We are not Greater Sydney, Newcastle or the Hunter. And I look forward to the day when we no longer have to leave the Coast to find economic, career, educational or other advancement opportunities, because we have them right here. • A university in Gosford has been a long-held dream for the Central Coast, and stage one is up and running. This investment puts our region on the map as an area of medical excellence, as well as forming part of our strategy to attract and retain more doctors and professionals. The Coast has welcomed its first 170 medical students and 700 nursing students. • Everyone’s work–life balance is important, and I know the difference that less time commuting can make every day.

We’ve been working hard on the business case to pursue faster commuter times, and investing in up to 740 additional car parks at Woy Woy and Gosford train stations will also make a difference. • We have so many young families here who play sports on the weekend or visit our local parks. These spaces are important and I am really passionate about delivering infrastructure for playgrounds, community spaces, clubhouses and skate parks where we can gather, create memories, and belong. – Redevelopment of the Narara Skate Park, one of the oldest skate parks on the Central Coast has begun. – We have committed $4.3 million to more footpaths and safety upgrades so parents with prams in North Avoca can get to the local shops and beach safely. – I am absolutely committed to seeing the $8.25 million upgrade of the Peninsula Recreation Precinct which includes the delivery of a skate park redevelopment, two new clubhouse facilities, and upgrades to another facility at Umina Oval. • The Morrison Government has committed $86.5 million to upgrade 29 local roads across the Central Coast, including

Lushington Street in East Gosford, Steyne Road in Saratoga and Del Monte Place in Copacabana. I welcome your input, so please contact me on lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au so we can help realise the vision for the Central Coast together.

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Lucy Wicks and the Morrison Government are delivering for the Central Coast.

Construction now complete for the $45 million Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute in Gosford.

Reducing travel times for Central Coast residents with the $15 million Faster Rail Proposal. $18 million for a university campus extension in Gosford, including design, development, construction and fit-out.

Up to 140 car spaces at Woy Woy Train Station and up to 600 at Gosford Train Station, with a $35 million total investment.

Cutting travel times for Central Coast residents with the NorthConnex tunnel linking the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Hills M2 Motorway. Construction underway for The Glen Women’s Rehabilitation Centre on the Central Coast.

Delivered upgrades to the M1 Motorway, including at the Kariong and Somersby interchanges. Investing $7 million to build a new regional library in Gosford. Continuous mobile phone coverage between Wyong and Hornsby and Wi-Fi at train stations is completed. A new $3.85 million Linear Accelerator for Central Coast Cancer Centre is now operating. $300,000 in additional funding for Clean4Shore environmental clean up programs. $20,000 to purchase a van for ‘Soul Soup’, a charity providing meals and welfare services to disadvantaged locals. Rollout of the Love Bites Respectful Relationships Program across local high schools.

Delivering better health outcomes for those sleeping rough through the Health on the Streets Homelessness Program.

LUCY WICKS MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON

Level 3, 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250 4322 2400 lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au lucywicksmp.com LucyWicksMP