Mayoral candidates outline their main priorities and explain why they should wear the robes as the City of Sydney election looms closer

WITH a week to go before the City of Sydney election, the mayoral candidates have shared their final thoughts on how they would take the city forward.

City of Sydney mayoral candidates Angela Vithoulkas, Christine Forster, Clover Moore and Linda Scott. Picture: Jonathan Ng

THE five City of Sydney lord mayoral candidates have each stated their case on why people should vote for them, and provided their priorities, which have varied widely from improving sustainability to making the city more tech savvy.

The challengers face an onerous battle to unseat incumbent Clover Moore who is running for her fourth term and secured 51 per cent of first preference votes at the 2012 election.

The election will be held on Saturday, September 10.

Incumbent Lord Mayor Clover Moore

CLOVER MOORE- INDEPENDENT

Ms Moore is sticking by her green credentials in outlining her priorities and has urged voters to back her to prevent the “old parties” from taking control of Town Hall.

“They will sell off assets, divert or stop investment in community facilities, and wind back our action on climate change,” she said.

“For over a decade, we’ve led progressive, stable and corruption-free city governments. There’s so much at stake, but we have a compelling record, a vision for the future and a talented team to take the city forward.”

Ms Moore was determined to continue tackling climate change.

“Despite state and federal governments blocking effective climate policy, we’re tackling this head on.”

Priorities:

-Deliver environmental targets including $20m for renewable energy, high-rise retrofit program and net zero emissions building competition

-Deliver 10-year, $1.8 billion infrastructure plan including new parks, libraries, childcare and playgrounds

-Challenge ‘bad’ State Government projects including WestConnex, overdevelopment of Redfern and Waterloo, lockouts and attempts to build on Moore Park

Liberal candidate Christine Forster. Picture: Craig Wilson

CHRISTINE FORSTER-LIBERAL

Ms Forster said she would get rid of the “politics of division” on the council by giving each of the ten councillors, regardless of their political persuasion, a portfolio of responsibility to drive change in the city.

“I will also establish regular community listening posts and take personal responsibility for ensuring the feedback we receive stops falling on deaf ears,” she said.

Ms Forster, who is former prime minister Tony Abbott’s sister and widely considered Ms Moore’s biggest rival, said she would make it a priority to protect the City’s $110 billion economy which she described as Australia’s engine room.

She pledged to reduce red tape for businesses and drive innovation and new investment by supporting entrepreneurs, providing affordable office space for start-ups and promoting Sydney’s brand globally.

Priorities:

-Enable enterprise to thrive

-Extend sustainability to the community

-Work collaboratively to reduce homelessness

Labor candidate Linda Scott

LINDA SCOTT- LABOR

Labor candidate Linda Scott said she has spent the last four years outlining a “positive and progressive” vision for the city.

“Labor will put people first and build a fair, fun and sustainable city,” she said.

“Labor will bring to council a talented team with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds that reflects a modern Sydney.”

Ms Scott said she would increase affordable and social housing by unlocking the city’s vacant buildings, create more incentives for owners and developers and by protecting public housing from development.

“The cost of housing in our City is beyond crisis point and homelessness has increased by 25 per cent in the past decade,” she said.

Priorities

-Provide more affordable housing

-Install solar panels on all city properties and reduce barriers to the adoption of renewable energy

-Build and fund a LGBTQI Museum at the T2 Building in Taylor Square, support rainbow families and undertake safety audits in areas like Surry Hills and Waterloo where there have allegedly been homophobic attacks

Sydney Matters independent candidate Angela Vithoulkas

ANGELA VITHOULKAS- INDEPENDENT

Sydney Matters independent candidate Angela Vithoulkas said she would offer the city fresh, independent thinking after 12 years under the “current regime”.

“My plan for Sydney is to build a vibrant 24-hour economy for the whole community,” she said.

“One that is backed by world class technology and a city where fundamentals such as parking, transport, childcare, public spaces and waste management are properly addressed.”

She promised to get out of the “Town Hall bunker” to listen to constituents.

Priorities

-Build a smarter city by rolling out free public Wi-Fi across the city, starting with the CBD

-Make the city safer and enhance the night-time economy by increasing CCTV and lighting, as well as calling for a relaxation of the lock out laws rather than the one-size-fits-all approach

-Make the city easier to deal with, starting with the creation of a “parking ambassador unit” to help residents and tourists find parking and take the onus off fining people

Greens candidate Lindsay Johnston

LINDSAY JOHNSTON- GREENS

Greens candidate Lindsay Johnston said he would strive for an ecologically and economically sustainable city and a gentler, fairer, and more inclusive place.

“The Greens are dedicated to assisting every child to achieve their potential and this is why we are proposing increased investment in early childhood development and preschools with an emphasis on healthy lifestyle education,” he said.

Tackling homelessness was high on the agenda.

“It is socially and morally unacceptable in the global City of Sydney that generates about seven per cent of the nation’s GDP to have hundreds of people left behind and scratching to survive,” he said.

Priorities:

-More action on homelessness, public and affordable housing

-Safe, fun, vibrant city focused on active support for live music in small venues

-Creation of high quality urban space through better planning and dedicated green space for youth recreation