The Greens are hoping to offer a "clear, outspoken Green voice" that has been missing on Lake Macquarie Council in the upcoming local government election.
The party will run 12 candidates across the three wards on December 4, including lead candidates small business owner Jane Oakley in North Ward, aged care support worker Wylie Campbell in East and economist Ingrid Schraner in West.
But the party, which missed the deadline for nominations in 2016 and failed to elect a candidate the previous election, will not run a mayoral candidate.
"We haven't had a Greens councillor in the last two periods," Dr Schraner said.
"It would be arrogant to run for mayor. It wouldn't be a real choice for people."
Dr Schraner said that "a lot needs to change" on council, particularly around development.
She said the Greens would push for a new science-based Local Environment Plan, to protect green corridors and provide better offsets for coastal animals and plants, as well as for action on coal ash and jobs to transition away from power stations.
