"The kinds of things people are telling me on the side of the rugby field or school events is they really want someone who can protect and preserve the unique character of our electorate," Liberal candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane told AAP.
The former Nine News journalist made headlines earlier this month when she told reporters she did not think people in one of the wealthiest areas in the state should have to suffer through more development.
"I don't think we should be punished down the track by building more houses," she told reporters at the time.
Eastern suburbs locals have nuanced concerns about the area's water, sewage and school infrastructure, and whether it could cope with population increases, Ms Sloane said.
"Although it's perceived to be, and is in many ways, a very fortunate community, it's also a community with a lot of needs."
Independent candidate Karen Freyer said Vaucluse locals were wary of development because they had no way to have input on projects to ensure they delivered community benefit.
She told AAP the government had done a really poor job in ensuring that the community has a say.
Developers had a record of backtracking on delivering affordable housing in the area, by writing it out of their plans mid-development, Ms Freyer said.
"Affordable housing is just as much a part of infrastructure as the trains and the buses and the green space."
The two candidates' comments come on the back of the release of the latest Rental Affordability Index, which showed renting has become more expensive in Sydney during the last year, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Traffic was another significant frustration for the electorate, which sits on a peninsula and is serviced by two main roads in and out.
Public education is also front of mind for Ms Sloane, who will campaign for the area to get a second public high school.
"There are plenty of private schools in our community," she said.
"I'm a public school educated girl, I believe in choice in public school education."
Vaucluse has been held since 2011 by Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton who is retiring at the March poll, and has been in Liberal hands since the 1930s.
The seat fits within the federal electorate of Wentworth - which flipped from Liberal to independent 'teal' Allegra Spender at the May election.
Ms Freyer says the mood for change is on and people feel like their vote has been taken for granted.
"The seat of Vaucluse has always been Liberal - it's probably one of the safest seats in the state," the former CNN and BBC journalist said.
"Everyone's frustrated, they're frustrated with not being heard."
She echoed the concerns raised by the Liberal candidate, but said locals are also troubled by the government's record on the environment.
"There are a number of people in the electorate who are incredibly concerned about koalas," she said.
"Another issue that I'm just flabbergasted by is the logging of native forests."
"We have here what seems to be a Liberal government whose policy has been dictated by the Nationals."
It comes after the government teetered on the edge of reigniting the 2019 "koala wars", after the Nationals lodged a bill to parliament proposing changes to planning laws affecting koala habitat.
The bill was later withdrawn by Nationals MP Dugald Saunders, who said the party would undertake further consultation.
