An 18-year-old former School Strike 4Climate organiser has thrown his hat in the ring in the upcoming Lake Macquarie council election.
Bryce Ham will contest North Ward as an Independent candidate at the December 4 local government election.
The teen said tackling the city's "car-dependent suburban sprawl problem", increasing public transport and cycling usage, and establishing a ferry network on the lake were high on his list of priorities.
"The only way to reduce congestion on our roads is to provide people with viable alternatives to driving," he said.
"I want to build a future where people don't have to use a car to get around.
"This future will not come tomorrow but it's not too late to change the car-centric urban planning and suburban sprawl that is destroying our city."
As a former organiser for School Strike 4Climate, Mr Ham said he hoped to engage young people in local government through his campaign.
"I recognise that I am young but I believe that I have the vision and determination that will benefit our community if elected to council," he said.
"Our council should be representative of our city and young people have lacked a voice in local government for too long."
Despite his young age, Mr Ham said he was running as an independent because he didn't "see local government as a stepping stone in a political career".
