Go Ahead and Ask the Question? Round Two
This week, Community Labor, the Greens and Sydney Liberals respond to our readers’ questions…
Q There is no real difference in the attitudes of current councillors to local issues. All sides appear committed to doubling the meter rate, which stops shoppers from parking their cars outside local businesses. Who on council has the guts to support local business’
David’ Evans (Liberal)
We will not double the price of parking meters. The Sydney Liberals will increase the number of parking spaces across the city. If elected, I will seek an increase in the number of 15-minute free parking meters, which allows the public to perform simple tasks like posting letters, picking up and dropping off goods and giving taxis better drop off points.
Chris Harris (Greens)
I would want to see some evidence that a lack of parking was the reason that business was being affected adversely. If parking was the problem, I would support a “first 15-minutes free”-type system or possibly a short-term parking regime outside of shops. Enforcement is important otherwise the policy would not achieve what it is meant to.
Edward Mandla (Liberal)
I hate parking meters. We ought to call them by what they are: meter tax. I find it despicable how parking rangers congregate, waiting for 8am to come to book people. What’s worse is local businesses can’t even park their cars for 10 minutes to unload unless that have a station wagon. People park a car for an hour and drop a few hundred dollars in our electorate. If you make parking difficult they just drive to Bondi Junction. Is that what we want’ If the answer is to lower meter rates or remove meters, I’ll back it.
Q Should council introduce a London-style congestion charge for non-residents who want to bring their cars into the city’
Irene Doutney (Greens)
I think at some point, council will have to take action to discourage people from bringing their cars into the city. A light rail service would help move people around and encourage people to use public transport, which will take cars off the road.
Rebecca Lau (Liberal)
I come from a family that has been operating a local business in Haymarket for over 20 years. I have had a firsthand view of how these parking issues are affecting local businesses and the hardships that local business owners experience. We will be introducing policies which will provide more off-street parking for shoppers and support parking permits for businesses across the city.
Linda Scott (Labor)
No. As we know from overseas evidence, this would result in traffic congestion moving from the CBD to the surrounding suburbs of Glebe and Redfern. No one wants this. Community Labor will ensure council plays a bigger part in encouraging residents and visitors to walk and cycle where possible, and to maximise public transport use.
Q What can council do to ensure there is affordable workspace in the city for artists’
Edward Mandla (Liberal)
Is it cheaper for artists in Paris, New York and London’ Isn’t struggling in a big city part of what really gets creative desire going’ With some big picture thinking there would be possibilities to create specific live work developments for artists, hopefully before 2030.
Q What will you do to ensure there are more bike links between major areas in the city’
Linda Scott (Labor)
Moving between suburbs in the inner city is currently a challenge, and the Clover Moore Independent Party has done little to assist. If elected, Community Labor will ensure council plays a bigger part in encouraging residents and visitors to walk and cycle between suburbs. We would listen to the community, and bring together the RTA and State and Federal Government ministers to create more cycleways between suburbs.
Q Skateboarders and bike riders are invading our footpaths. The city has signs indicating it is an offence to skateboard in certain areas. What can be done’
Shayne Mallard (Liberal)
Skateboarders have always been an issue on footpaths yet council has failed to provide alternatives. Council should get on with building a CBD skateboard facility as promised by Clover Moore four years ago.
Chris Harris (Greens)
Build more separated cycleways and implement the Greens plan to build three skate plazas in various locations in the next term.
Q Should council restrict the placement of cafe tables and outdoor displays on the footpaths to provide access for blind and disabled people’
Irene Doutney (Greens)
For too long, our city has been uninviting to the disabled. It is important that we make it as useable as possible for all residents. We all love sitting outdoors, but this must be balanced with the needs of other members of the community. I think council should examine how this problem has been handled in other places, with a view to installing some sort of signalling device that could guide the blind.
Q What is your position on a plan to designate a portion of the proposed public housing at the Bay Street Depot as a workspace for artists’
Shayne Mallard (Liberals)
We don’t support council providing millions of dollars worth of ratepayers’ land for affordable housing experiments. This is another example of big spending from Clover Moore, The Greens and Labor. Our model is one that is funded by developers, as part of a development levy system. It is a more sustainable approach to affordable housing.
Q Should council lease the public footpath to News Corp for $360,000 for the distribution of MX’
Linda Scott (Labor)
Community Labor actively supports independent media, and would never support allowing exclusivity of use of city premises for free or other media. We believe leases, where present, should not all be negotiated at commercial terms, thus allowing publications such as The Big Issue to continue to be distributed.
Q Will you support the repeal of Section 1.13 of council’s Development Control Plan to allow the demolition of heritage buildings for a higher economic yield’
Shayne Mallard (Liberal)
The main issue is the quality of the “heritage” building. My view is that good heritage is compromised by the inclusion of too much bad or dubious heritage. Under my leadership the council will review all heritage listings.
Linda Scott (Labor)
Community Labor’s team has a history of campaigning for the protection of our local environment and against over-development. Meredith Burgmann’s record against demolitions in The Rocks, Kings Cross, the North Western Distributor in Glebe and in support of local communities across the city cannot be questioned.
Q Should council meetings be held outside business hours so that residents can participate’
Shayne Mallard (Liberals)
Yes. Our policy is to hold every second council and committee round at a local town hall. If it’s good enough for Kevin Rudd’s Federal Cabinet then Clover Moore and Labor can reverse their opposition for our council meetings.
Q Redfern Park and the park at Central aren’t frequented by thousands. Why are millions of dollars being spent to upgrade parks’
Irene Doutney (Greens)
I can think of a lot of things that could have been done with all the money spent on the Redfern Park upgrade. I believe only the interests of the operators of the oval were considered when this plan was undertaken. Redfern has lost what was a lovely old Victorian park. It has been replaced with the regimented side part of the oval. How much money has been spent to put up the rows of 40-foot poles with floodlights’ I dread to think what is going to happen to Prince Alfred Park and Fitzroy Gardens after the appalling job done in Redfern. I think the opening of Redfern Park is a huge election stunt, costing ratepayers a fortune as the workers continue late into the night to get it finished in time for the election.
Q Do you support the use of council resources to promote individual councillors or groups’ Should council have a policy of ensuring rate payers are informed about the work of all councillors rather than just the controlling group’
Linda Scott (Labor)
Community Labor would support any changes to council policy that prevents council staff and resources being used to promote individual councillors. Labor thinks the council should be more open and accountable, which is why we supported a motion for council to create a register of political donations. It is very unfortunate the Lord Mayor used her casting vote to defeat the motion.
