Emelda Davis, HY William Chan, Sylvie Ellsmore, Shauna Jarrett, Yvonne Weldon and Lyndon Gannon: City of Sydney elects six new councillors in 2021

Our Lord Mayor may be a familiar face but she is surrounded by a crowd of colourful newcomers. We introduce the newest City of Sydney councillors

A short and sharp term of local government promises to be jam packed in the City of Sydney where half a dozen fresh faces are clamouring for the opportunity to enact change.

From over development to garbage collection find out what your local councillors are going to prioritise.

Shauna Jarrett wants council to focus on what needs to be done immediately – not 20 year plans.

SHAUNA JARRETT

When Shauna Jarrett walks around her home in Sydney’s CBD, she feels frustrated at council’s adherence to long term strategic plans that don’t necessarily take into account the challenges of here and now.

“Partly why I got involved in council was because council lives in these 20 year plans,” Cr Jarrett said.

“But particularly with the way life has changed with Covid, it’s very much the responsibility of councils to be proactive with what needs to be done and what needs to be changing now.”

A visible example of this, according to Cr Jarrett, is the inflexibility in the waste collection schedule.

“This could be something as simple more frequent garbage collections because people are spending more time at home, generating more waste,” Cr Jarrett said.

“We have businesses wanting to extend trading hours – why should you have to put in a development application which takes months to be approved to do that? That’s not supporting local businesses.”

One of Cr Jarrett’s first priorities will be to raise a notice of motion regarding the length of time certain DAs, including those for changing trading hours, take to be approved.

She also wants to oversee the creation of an easily accessible public register of council owned properties.

A lawyer by trade, Cr Jarrett has an impressive history of service on boards and in community organisations.

The Liberal party member is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Australian Museum and she previously spent almost 15 years with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre – NSW’s largest community legal centre.

HY William Chan made the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30 list. (AAP IMAGE/JENNIFER SOO)

HY WILLIAM CHAN

An architect versed in urban design and public infrastructure with experiences as a first generation migrant and millennial – HY William Chan brings so much to the table.

Cr Chan has been kept very busy over the past decade working on projects that champion active and public transport and social housing as well as contributing to some of Sydney’s largest urban renewal developments.

The youthful Clover Moore Team councillor who was born in Hong Kong said he is passionate about helping achieve a people focused city.

“For me it’s about looking at different ways of how we can achieve a city like this and authentically engaging with the community,” Cr Chan said.

“I also want to inspire and instil hope and optimism in people now more than ever.

“It’s wonderful to see the joy when people see they really have been involved in shaping the city of their children and grandchildren.”

The volunteer surf lifesaver said his interests included the circular economy, curbing food waste and urban agriculture.

Cr Chan said he was also focused on cutting red tape to aid the recovery of the 24 economy in places like Kings Cross.

“We also need to assist them in ways that go beyond just extending trading hours and really looking at what other types of activities and initiatives can we have across our city,” he said.

“I think it’s very important that our city is set up in such a way so that when going from precinct to precinct you can enjoy activities along the way in public spaces.

“We also need to be making sure the city is being designed so people can safely enjoy themselves when going from one gig or venue to another.”

Emelda Davis is proud to have watched her family thrive in social housing.

EMELDA DAVIS

A proud public housing tenant for the past two decades, Emelda Davis’ positive experience raising her two children in Pyrmont has made her a vocal advocate for how we can do social and affordable housing the right way.

“I’m not wealthy but I’m rich in community and relationships and family,” Cr Davis said.

“How do we bring community together and make us more connected? My big thing is brokering relationships and fostering meaningful conversation.

“It’s things like: what does access and equity truly look like?

“Here in Pyrmont we have social and standard housing.

“We’ve gone from a situation where they (the neighbours) would say, ‘where did the blacks get that car from and how many people are living in that house?’ To people from all over the neighbourhood supporting me and they’d come and say they’d voted for me. That was really deadly.”

Cr Davis is well known for her advocacy work and she is chair of Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson.

As only the second generation of her family born outside the slave trade that kidnapped people from Pacific Islands and brought them to Australia as labourers, Cr Davis is passionate about advocating for the recognition and support for the group.

“This is a formal position I’m taking, being elected as a councillor, but let me tell you just being black is political,” Cr Davis said.

“I’m stepping into what I see as the fire with a whole lot of protocol and policy I have to get my head around.

“For me what pushed me was when (independent Sydney MP) Alex Greenwich called me and he said, ‘Emelda, you call a spade a spade – you can do this’.

“It’s time for NSW to step up to the plate – it’s time for more diverse and representative voices in government.”

Another of Cr Davis’ key priorities is leading the reinvigoration of Sydney’s night-life.

Sylvie Ellsmore took an innovative route to home ownership.

SYLVIE ELLSMORE

When Sylvie Ellsmore advocates for people of all socio-economic backgrounds to be able to live in the city she’s speaking from experience.

Cr Ellsmore is a lifelong resident of the area who grew up in Glebe and has been only been able to buy a home in Darlington by doing so collectively with two other friends and taking in a fourth person as a renter.

“Affordable housing is the number one priority we talked about during the election,” Cr Ellsmore said.

“The scale of the crisis is so great – every level of government needs to step up and do more.

“We know the single biggest thing that is going to influence the city is who gets to live in it.”

This is the Greens councillor’s second term serving on local government following her stint on the old Marrickville council from 2012 to 2016.

The experience made her even more passionate about conserving heritage and protecting against overdevelopment.

She has particular concerns about the Waterloo public housing redevelopment and whether there is enough infrastructure and open space to service its future residents.

“It is slated to be as dense or more dense than the most developed area in Hong Kong,” Cr Ellsmore said.

“I don’t think people are aware just how people are going to be squeezed in without providing the open spaces, the community facilities, the schools.”

Cr Ellsmore is also working on a renters climate strategy which will speak specifically to the situation of people living as tenants in the inner city.

Yvonne Weldon wants council to properly consult with residents.

YVONNE WELDON

As they lone independent councillor not on Clover Moore’s team, Yvonne Weldon says she’s the only one truly beholden to no one but her constituents.

One of the first things on her extensive list of must dos is to overhaul how the community is consulted when it comes to council projects.

“Sending out a flyer that costs roughly $50,000 a month is not consultation,” Cr Weldon said.

“People are isolated enough as it is – you need to actually go them. Shoving something in the mailbox is not going to cut it.

“I’d rather see that money go to groups already engaging with the local community. Speak to them, not at them.

“We need to be making sure if we truly say we’re consulting we need to do so. Not just mail out a survey or ask them to log online – that just doesn’t cut it for marginalized groups.”

The proud Wiradjuri woman said she wants more opportunities for people from all walks of life to be able to participate in sustainability initiatives.

“There are people living in high rises in Waterloo who can’t even access recycling opportunities for goodness sakes,” Cr Weldon said.

“So what, if you’re from a vulnerable group you don’t have the opportunity to save the planet?”

She also has concerns about the lack of consultation and safety surrounding pop up cycleways and is an advocate for a dog friendly city.

Lyndon Gannon’s Harbour Baths policy resonated with voters. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

LYNDON GANNON

When entrepreneur Lyndon Gannon ran into roadblock after roadblock when it came to getting his business ventures off the ground in the city, he knew he couldn’t be the only one encountering such difficulty.

And so he decided to run for the Liberal party in the City of Sydney local government election.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to be involved in politics. It’s been a real driving force in my career and life,” Cr Gannon said.

“The motivation is a sense of duty to serve the community. It’s a big responsibility to represent the people of Sydney. I’m so fortunate to have this enormous privilege.

“I have a background in hospitality and government. I am currently working to open a couple of rooftop art bars, one on top of the Dymocks building, the other in Surry Hills.

“Dealing with Council to get these happening (which they still are not!) was a big motivator for me to run. Instead of a Council which has a default setting of ‘no’, I want a Council that say ‘great idea. How can we help you to make this happen?’”

Cr Gannon said removing red tape for businesses as we continue to navigate the pandemic is crucial.

“Top of my list of priorities is to support businesses and the community to bounce back better this year,” he said.

“We all know how devastating Covid has been. I am going to work hard to make sure where Council can support businesses and the community to recover, it will.”

During the campaign Cr Gannon received widespread support for his policy to build more free netted saltwater pools in Sydney Harbour.

“I also want to see my Harbour Baths policy happen. It’d a great idea and has unanimous support,” Cr Gannon said.

“There is also a lot more Council can do to support the creative communities, particularly emerging practitioners, which I will work hard to support.”