CoS Council 2008 Candidate profiles

Edward Mandla - Liberal Candidate

1. With respect to the vision statement for the City of Sydney 2030, with what do you agree? With what do you disagree?

I support a vision of Sydney that has recovered its pride and its pre-eminent place as Australia's first and best city. For too long, under the current Lord Mayor, Sydney has lost its way. We will be releasing policies during this council campaign that will address the city's crime, parking and financial problems as well as policies to restore pride in Sydney. We want Sydney to be the first place in Australia for global investment and economic growth.  I’m an action person and I find the date 2030 too far out in the future?  Why not 2020?  We own the land in front of the council where Woollies is – we should be finding a way to turn that area into grand public place mixed with restaurants which will make money for the council and draw people too as a great amenity.  Look at Federation Square in Melbourne – we have an incredible opportunity to create a magnificent area like that only better – but with the Clover Moore Party it’s all committees, all talk and little action.

2. Given the importance of democratic participation, what changes or improvements could be made to community consultation forums?

Community consultations are very important, but so too is actually getting on with the job. Clover Moore's consultations have become PR marketing events where expensive and flash graphics in consultation presentations take up 95 per cent of the time and the members of the community don’t get the chance for a good old-fashioned town hall debate. Consultations and committees have become an end in themselves under the current Lord Mayor. She has used endless consultations as a substitute for making decisions and doing the job for which she was elected. As a result of the Lord Mayor's navel gazing, business has gone south to Melbourne, north to Brisbane and west to Perth.

Linda Scott - Labor Candidate

1. With respect to the vision statement for the City of Sydney 2030, with what do you agree? With what do you disagree?

I acknowledge the need for and benefits of long-term city planning. However, residents have overwhelmingly told me that they want Council to focus on providing quality local services and infrastructure for our communities and this is what I plan to deliver. Ensuring Sydney remains a truly international city is incredibly important, but Council must be realistic about the kind of large scale projects it can actually deliver. I will lead a Council team that provides leadership in facilitating world-class projects, but that understands the necessity of involving governments at all levels and the private sector. For example, I think that Clover's plan to dismantle the Cahill Expressway is not only beyond the scope of Council alone, but would be a colossal waste of billions when so many other resident needs are going unmet.

2. Given the importance of democratic participation, what changes or improvements could be made to community consultation forums?

Community Labor and I are committed to genuine community consultation and will prioritise resident participation in Council's decision making processes. I have been to many of Clover's so called “community consultations”. I fail to see, however, how a 55-minute presentation from Clover and her staff with only five minutes of questions is genuine consultation. My idea of community consultation is a process whereby the views of residents inform the policy making process, not tacked onto the end of it. Consultation should be approached with an open mind not used to try and reinforce an outcome predetermined by the Clover Moore Party.

Irene Doutney - Greens Candidate

1. With respect to the vision statement for the City of Sydney 2030, with what do you agree? With what do you disagree?

There are some good things in the 2030 vision that as a Green I am happy to support, such as fresh food markets, roof gardens, less traffic and enegy efficiency. I particularly like the Eora Journey and Indigenous Culture Centre that must be built on the Block. Other aspects of it I find quite troubling. The vision is basically about development and is an expression of the Department of Planning’s Sub-Regional Strategy. The idea of activity hubs and entertainment precincts could be very problematic for local residents as we are currently seeing around Kings Cross and Darlinghurst. It’s a big jump for residents to go from being a village to becoming an activity hub and in many cases it is strongly resented. When we look at the big developments like the removal of the Western Distributor I’m very sceptical. The costs would be prohibitive. There is no real affordable housing strategy or plan to protect and encourage the well being of the traditional residents of the city – workers, low income families and public housing tenants. More development within the city is inevitable so the job for those elected to council will be to protect the existing conditions and amenity of the residents, to mitigate development’s consequences and ensure that it is ecologically sound and sustainable.

2. Given the importance of democratic participation, what changes or improvements could be made to community consultation forums?

I do not believe that the public forums held by the City of Sydney are truly “community consultation” sessions. They are really information briefings. A true consultative process would take place before developments were commenced and would involve giving people real information about the project so they could give considered input. I would like to see Council hold real open community consultation sessions where residents are given the opportunity to have their voices heard in the planning process in terms of Development Applications and major upgrades. One of the Greens core principles is grassroots democracy and we are committed to practices that are centred on community participation. As a Greens councillor I would be working for reform of the current process and looking at ways to directly include the community in the planning process.

John McInerney - Clover Moore Party Candidate

1. With respect to the vision statement for the City of Sydney 2030, with what do you agree? With what do you disagree?

I agree with it. I think there are certain aspects of it that are outstanding. The removal of the Cahill Expressway is an important project. Changes to Circular Quay, lowering of the Western Distributor, the building over of the railway yards and developments to the south of Central station. I think the concentration on sustainability is exciting – sustainability as a major driver of development. The outlining of an integrated transport strategy is also exciting. 2030 sets a pattern to be emulated elsewhere – and, broadly speaking, it’s a strategy that coincides with state government plans. An integrated transport strategy that brings together major public transport investment – that’s important. We’ve seen delays in investment for about 15 years. Another project that’s worth citing is the development of George Street as a public transport and pedestrian zone.

2. Given the importance of democratic participation, what changes or improvements could be made to community consultation forums?

Thinking back about three years, we spent about a year setting up the consultation forums, and I think we got it right. There have been few complaints. There are two types of community consultation forums: those to do with DAs and particular projects; and those involving more general discussion – with panellists and questions from local residents and various advocates. I can see no reason why we can’t develop the latter and encourage further discussion. In fact, the forums are the most efficient and effective form of community information sharing that I have ever seen in any capital city in the country.

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au