Luke Sikora will fight for the continued delivery of services and infrastructure for South Coast, after Liberal Party Members backed him to carry on from longstanding local Member Shelley Hancock.
A South Coast local for more than 26 years, Luke has been advocating for his community for decades – from his work on the Nowra Riverfront Advisory Taskforce to deliver the revitalisation of the Shoalhaven River at Nowra, to volunteering with local community organisations such as North Shoalhaven Meals on Wheels.
Luke's strong small business background includes years of hard work for his family's food retail business, before starting his own small business - a restaurant and function centre in Nowra. Recognising his passion for the region and his ability to get things done, Luke was brought in to work for the retiring local Member, and former Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock.
"Working alongside Shelley, I have fought relentlessly to secure more than $5 billion in upgrades to the Princes Highway so that our community can travel on a safer road, as well as funding for new emergency service stations, school upgrades, better community facilities, and investments that have helped to create jobs."
Most recently, Luke has worked as a Strengthening Business Facilitator with Business Australia, assisting local small business operators on the south coast recover from the impacts of the Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our small businesses, and the local community, are still trying to recover from the challenges they've had to face over the last three years," said Mr Sikora. "I want to use my experience to ensure that they continue getting support they need as they battle new challenges like inflation and rate rises."
Luke currently serves as the Service Manager for Nowra Bomaderry Meals on Wheels and Deputy Chair and Director of North Shoalhaven Meals on Wheels.
"Through my not-for-profit work I've been a strong advocate for programs to address social isolation impacting seniors across the Shoalhaven. A highlight for me was when we were able to secure funding for our 'Meals Together' program, which aims to forge lasting bonds among seniors in the community."
Luke has also served the community in a number of advisory and board positions including the Shoalhaven Tourism Board, Shoalhaven City Council Jobs and Growth Committee and Youth Advisory Committee, and as a member of the Nowra Riverfront Advisory Taskforce.
"Our region has greatly benefitted from having an outstanding and dedicated local Member in Shelley. I hope to get the chance to continue her hard work, including delivering important projects such as the Nowra and Milton/Ulladulla by-passes, the major upgrade of the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital and new and upgraded schools for South Nowra/Worrigee and Milton/Ulladulla," said Mr Sikora.
"I will use this opportunity to advocate for more support for the South Coast, and will be a tireless voice for our community in the Perrottet Government for investment in the services and infrastructure we rely on – as well as the support for family budgets."
