We asked each Lord Mayoral candidate to respond on behalf of their team to three questions raised by our readers. One non-aligned independent candidate standing for councillor was also given the opportunity to respond.
For the first time it is compulsory for business and property owners within the City of Sydney to vote. A total of 22,972 non-residential voters were verified by the NSW Electoral Commission as eligible to vote at the 2016 City of Sydney election.
- PROGRESS — What do you and your team want the Council to achieve in the coming term and what programs and services need to be reassessed?
In the past decade, we have invested $1.2 billion in community facilities. Our major priority in the coming term is the delivery of high-quality developments in Ashmore and Green Square. We are overseeing a $1.3 billion infrastructure plan in Green Square, including the Gunyama Aquatic Centre and sporting park, Green Square library and plaza, a range of new parks and a fantastic new community space which includes a new childcare centre. We will deliver a $81 million infrastructure program to integrate Ashmore into Erskineville through landscaping, new parks and childcare centres.
We will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 44 per cent and source 50 per cent of our electricity from renewables. We will act to reinvigorate Sydney’s nightlife while ensuring safety by advocating for reform of the lock-out laws. We will do everything we can to stop WestConnex pouring traffic into the southern suburbs of our City.
- COMMUNITY INPUT — How do you propose to ensure broad community input into Council’s planning, programs and service provision?
Under my leadership, the Council has developed a world-class system of public consultation. The strategy document that guides our work – Sustainable Sydney 2030 – was developed following the most extensive community consultation process in our City’s history. New policies and programs are always put on public exhibition so the community can have their say, and we actively approach relevant stakeholders to seek their views. The meetings at which Council makes its decisions are public and the community can speak.
We will continue to deliver on transparent government. We are open to suggestions on how to do things better and will use new initiatives such as Citizens Juries (as we have on night-time safety and climate change) where they can work.
- ADVOCACY — Given that the decisions of the state government will have big impacts on local communities in the City of Sydney, what issues and role do you see Council playing in advocating for the inner-city community?
The greatest threat to what we have built over the past 12 years is destructive development proposals from the State Government.
WestConnex will be a disaster for our city. The planned St Peters interchange would have serious impacts on southern sections of the City by pouring thousands of additional cars a day into already congested areas like Ashmore, Alexandria, Erskineville, Redfern and Green Square.
The State Government’s proposals for Central to Eveleigh are also of great concern. The plans for the redevelopment of Waterloo Estate would see unprecedented levels of residential density, condemning people to live in substandard living conditions.
Under my leadership, the City will continue to play a leadership role in opposing WestConnex and advocating for appropriate development in the Central to Eveleigh corridor.
