Serena Copley is fed up with what she perceives as a lot of talk but not enough action in the Kiama electorate.

The former Shoalhaven councillor has been endorsed to run again for the Liberal Party in the state election early next year after she was a distant runner-up to Katelin McInerney in last September’s by-election.

Copley said “the desire to serve my communities never left me”.

“I think it's important to have as much time as possible to work with the community - issues don't just turn up a matter of weeks before an election,” she said.

“They are there all the time and if you're serious about the community you want to work on them for as much time as possible and I was very keen to keep going and keep talking to people and working towards solving some of the concerns that people have in our electorate.

“I'm in it for the long haul, not just you a flash in the pan before an election.”

Copley said it appears McInerney and the Labor Party are happy to “mark time” in the 18-month period from the by-election to next year’s statewide poll.

“There's a lot of reading of Labor media releases and talking points but we still have Ground Zero, same old, same old with a lot of our issues.

“Our infrastructure is at breaking point. We're not getting the movement on promised infrastructure that we should be getting and those are the things that I will be pointing out.

“The community is coming to me and making it quite easy to do my job because they're coming to me and saying what about this, what about that? And I agree with them.

“We can't just mark time until the next election, we actually need to get things done now and it's important to act now for the community. I'll be fighting for those improvements.

“People that are coming to me are starting to get really frustrated. It's one thing to just trot out statements about good intentions but what we absolutely need is a Member of Parliament who will actually fight for and deliver for that community.

“I do have a track record of delivering for my community and I will continue to be a community champion - that's what's important to me.”

Copley is pleased to see increased development occurring on the South Coast but warned that transport, schools and big-ticket infrastructure items needed to be planned in conjunction with the expected population explosion.

“My real concern is with projects of the volume and density that are being proposed that we absolutely need to make sure that the current infrastructure is upgraded to be able to handle the increased density and so that it provides quality living for our residents and our community into the future,” she added.

“We need to be delivering more schools and it can't take the amount of time it's taken so far. Calderwood Public School has been on the table since 2023.

“We need to get these facilities built and being delivered for the public as soon as possible because you can't retrofit these things - they need to be planned with the projects that they are announcing, otherwise our community into the future is going to be dealing with bigger issues, unless we get this sorted now.

“We are going to need to have a world-class transport system.

A major change since she was unsuccessful in the by-election in September is Kellie Sloane taking over from Mark Speakman as the leader of the Liberals in a bid to reinvigorate the Opposition.

“Kellie is an outstanding person and a wonderful leader so I'm really excited to continue on with her and have her representing us as a leader,” Copley said.

“I got to know her quite well through the by-election - we worked together quite heavily at that time and got to know each other.

“She's such an authentic person who cares deeply about local issues in the community. She is a wonderful communicator and as you've seen just in the recent tragedy that happened in Bondi, she's genuine.”