Former Shoalhaven councillor Serena Copley is asking the Kiama electorate if they feel better off after two years of the NSW Labor Government after she was announced as the Liberal Party candidate on Friday for next month's by-election.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman is visiting Nowra on Friday to kick off Copley's election campaign - she will be up against Labor's Katelin McInerney, who was runner-up last time around to disgraced former independent MP Gareth Ward, and Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds.

The Greens are also expected to field a candidate with Tonia Gray considered the likely choice after she also contested the 2023 election.

When asked about concerns that Ward’s past status as a Liberal Party member for a decade up until 2021 would affect the vote next month, Copley addressed the elephant in the room by saying she only wanted to look forward.

“Mr Ward has been a big part of the political landscape in our local community for a very long time,” she said.

“As a councillor, we’d cross paths at community events and various things like that. I am focused entirely on the community of Kiama and delivering for them into the future and continuing to provide improved services and to fight for what they're not getting at the moment.

“I can only put myself forward and ask the community to look at my track record, on my track record of delivery.”

Copley said she would fight for the region’s fair share of infrastructure funding and greater investment in essential services - a strong community advocate who will fight to keep Labor to account.

“The Minns Labor Government have abandoned Kiama. We've had services cut, our train lines are erratic, we can't rely on them,” she said on Friday morning.

“We've got cost of living support, such as the (active kids) vouchers cut or greatly reduced.

“They cannot be rewarded for that. We must fight to bring back a strong community voice and somebody who will fight for the community.

“I've proven that I have done that on Shoalhaven City Council, and I will do that for the Kiama electorate.

“We deserve better, and Labor cannot be rewarded for the performance or luck thereof that we've seen in the last two years.”

Her family has a deep connection with the area - four generations have lived in the Shoalhaven for decades, including her grandson, Jackson.

Copley said she was determined to protect the South Coast’s unique lifestyle and create opportunities for the local community.

With Ward no longer on the ballot, the Liberals' chances of success in the by-election are expected to rise, although the Party has distanced itself from the 44-year-old, who was aligned to them as the local member from 2011-21 before he resigned, becoming an independent, when the police investigation into his sexual assault offences first came to light.

Copley was elected to Shoalhaven Council in late 2021 in Ward 1 but lost her spot at last year's elections in farcical circumstances when the Liberal Party failed to submit the required paperwork for candidates by the NSW Electoral Commission's deadline.

A statement from NSW Liberal Party HQ at the time admitted due to limited resources, they "were unable to nominate in all of the local government areas that were put forward by the State Executive".

“I'm proud to have called the Shoalhaven home for more than 30 years,” Copley added.

“Over the last 14 years, I've worked locally in the TAFE vocational education sector as a regional training manager and a trainer, working with small business and local youth and unemployed people, helping them gain qualifications to find work.

“I've also served as a Shoalhaven City councillor, fighting for my community to deliver better roads, wonderful new infrastructure for our community and also generally just advocating and delivering for our community.

“I'm so passionate about the area that I live in and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I am determined to keep delivering and fighting for our community.”