Chris Harris names his Green team

Greens candidates must be paid up members and need to adhere to the party’s principles of ecological sustainability, social justice, non-violence and grass roots democracy in order to join the City of Sydney election team.

‘We have a democratic preselection of the first four members on the ticket,’ Cr Harris said.

Potential candidates must also present themselves to meetings of the two local Greens groups and talk about their personal philosophy, outline their credentials and explain what they would bring to their role as a Greens councillor. A preferential ballot then determined the order of the ticket.

Running alongside councillor Harris is community activist Irene Doutney. A one-time factory worker, Ms Doutney told The City News: ‘Sydney is an incredibly rich city, yet underneath the gloss there exists a whole world of poverty and disadvantage.’

Also running on the Greens ticket is De Brierley Newton, of Glebe. She fought to save Hunters Hill High School from closure and worked with residents to make the CUB site on Broadway sustainable.

Matthew Drake-Brockman was also a key player in the CUB redevelopment. Last year, he was the litigant in a challenge to Frank Sartor’s approval of the site.

‘Since being elected to council in 2004 I have worked closely with the community,’ Cr Harris said. ‘I organised litigation against the minister for Planning over the CUB site at Chippendale and we have achieved an improved environmental and urban amenity result.

As Lord Mayor, Cr Harris would work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop a solar-thermal power plant.

‘I would also seek to increase energy efficiency by looking for opportunities for tri-generation on sites that Council controls.

‘I would also seek to further cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by reducing car usage’ I want Sydney to be a self-sufficient city, one that captures its own water, recycles its waste water and sewage and is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.’

And in a bid to secure more Gen Y votes, Chris Harris has promised to create an inner-city skate park, extra netball courts and a BMX track if he becomes Lord Mayor in September.