Lane Cove Council to close main road to ‘challenge’ families not to drive

A Sydney council which last week voted to support the “Yes” voice campaign with taxpayer money has also ticked off on a plan to shut down roads for a day in September as part of a global “car free day”. Residents want them to focus on more pressing issues.

A Sydney council which last week voted to support the “Yes” voice campaign with taxpayer money has also ticked off on a plan to shut down roads for a day in September as part of a global “car free day”.

Lane Cove council is facing calls that it should stick to its traditional responsibilities of rates, roads, and rubbish, following its decisions to weigh into the Voice debate and campaign for green initiatives.

It came after the council voted to spend thousands of dollars of ratepayers money to campaign for a “Yes” vote in the upcoming referendum.

Mayor Andrew Zbik defended the “car free day” on Tuesday, telling 2GB that the decision was made to “challenge the primacy we have that the motor vehicle is the king of the road”. He said the move was to “challenge people … (to) think about reducing our use of cars when it is feasible and possible”.

Lane Cove Mayor Andrew Zbik, who voted to support the Yes vote on Thursday night.

The move to spend cash advocating for the voice comes despite the mayors of one of Sydney’s most progressive councils declaring ratepayers’ money should not be spent advocating for either side.

Rates in Lane Cove Council will go up 3.7 per cent this financial year.

Council voted to support the Yes campaign in a fiery meeting last week.

The council could spend as much as $6,000 to campaign for the Yes vote – with that money set to be diverted from programs designed to boost Indigenous employment opportunities and provide training for Indigenous students.

During the meeting, Liberal councillor David Brooks-Horn attempted to move an amendment which would have forced councillors to pay for promoting the Yes vote out of their own pocket, but this was rejected.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s council is supporting the Yes vote including hosting Yes campaign events. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Monique Harmer

“It shows you how passionate they are about it – that they’re willing to spend other peoples money but not their own,” he told the Telegraph.

Mr Brooks-Horn and his colleague Scott Bennison both said that Lane Cove should not be getting involved in the referendum because it had nothing to do with traditional council business.

But Mr Zbik said councillors who supported the motion believe the council “should take a leadership role in our community in supporting the Yes campaign”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends the Inner West BBQ for The Voice to parliament at Petersham Park in Sydney in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

At least 10 councils have now voted to support the “Yes” campaign including the City of Sydney, Bayside, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Georges River, Lithgow, Lake Macquarie, Orange, Randwick and Woollahra.

The Inner West council has also actively supported the “Yes” vote, including with “BBQ for the Voice to parliament” attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

But mayor Darcy Byrne said his council was not spending ratepayers’ money supporting either side.

He said other councils who wish to campaign for a “Yes” vote should find other ways to promote the campaign.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said his council was not using ratepayers’ money to campaign for either side of the referendum despite hosting a BBQ for the Voice to parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“I’m not going to be critical of other councils supporting Yes,” he said.

“But there’s lots of ways for councils to participate in civic discussion that doesn’t involve the use of ratepayers funds,” Mr Byrne said.

Locals in Lane Cove on Monday said the council should stay out of the referendum.

Norma Tracey, 84, said the council “should be putting money towards other things”.

She said she would be voting “yes” but was “alarmed” at how politicised the issue has become.

Norma Tracey said the council should not be involved in the referendum. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Business owner John said that councils should be abolished for refusing to deal with ratepayers’ concerns.

He said that Lane Cove council was refusing to address cars parking in a no-stopping zone behind his driveway.

“We have a massive parking issue here and the council tells us they don’t have the manpower to control the traffic,” he said.

Mr Zbik defended the decision of council to be involved in issues like the referendum and emissions reduction initiatives.

“Roads, rates and rubbish don’t create a sense of community, it’s the extra stuff that council does that does that,” he said.