Group opposed to northern beaches tunnel targets Manly MP James Griffin
A community group opposed to a road tunnel to the northern beaches is handing out how-to-vote cards designed to defeat Manly’s sitting Government MP James Griffin in this Saturday’s state election.
A community group opposed to a road tunnel to the northern beaches is handing out how-to-vote cards designed to defeat Manly’s sitting Government MP in this Saturday’s state election.
It urges voters to put Liberal James Griffin, a Beaches Link supporter, last on the list of candidates on the ballot paper.
The group suggests that residents vote “1” for either Labor or The Greens.
Both parties are against the proposed $8 billion underground toll road.
Beaches Tunnel — How it impacts YOU, and other community groups made up of residents concerned about the tunnel, have created an entity called Viable Transport Solutions Inc.
This entity has registered with the NSW Electoral Commission as a Third Party Campaigner, which allows it to campaign on an issue even though it is not standing an election candidate.
Viable Transport Solutions has created a “how to vote” sheet suggesting to those who do not support the tunnel “to use your vote to best effect”.
It suggests voters write the number “6” in the square next to James Griffin and put either a “1” or a “2” down for Labor candidate Natasha Phillips-Mason or The Greens’ Kristyn Glanville.
Viable Transport Solutions spokeswoman Lucy McLelland said it was created to show that the current tunnel proposal was not a solution to transport problems on the northern beaches.
Ms McLelland said an information sheet would also be handed out at a number of polling booths, stating that if people voted for James Griffin they were also voting for negative impacts from the tunnel including the permanent loss of Balgowlah Golf Course and two 8-10m unfiltered exhaust emission stacks.
“Based on the parties’ stances on the Beaches Link tunnel, we have prepared a how-to-vote card suggesting how to use your vote to best effect if you do not support this project,” she said.
“If congestion, rather than construction, was the issue the Liberal government was aiming to address then they would be focusing on reducing single occupant trips.”
Mr Griffin said the Government was delivering world-class infrastructure for the northern beaches, including the tunnel.
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