Clover Moore MP defended her tenure as Lord Mayor at a robust candidates night last Tuesday at the Beauchamp Hotel.
Hosted by the 2010 Darlinghurst Surry Hills Business Partnership, Ms Moore was joined by her fellow City of Sydney Mayoral candidates to discuss the
revitalisation of Oxford St.
The evening escalated into a near slanging match when Living Sydney representatives Barry Goldman and Stephan Gyory posed questions to Ms Moore. Once an ally of Ms Moore in the prelude to her 2004 City of Sydney election victory, Mr Goldman was scathing in his assessment of the Lord Mayor before asking her: “What have you done in the past eight years?”
Ms Moore said: “I am surprised at your position. I have not seen hide or hair of you for eight years and then you emerge setting up a group to run at Council.
“I don’t know what’s going on there and I don’t know why you would come along and be so insulting.”
Ms Moore said her term as Lord Mayor had coincided with a “golden time” for Sydney. “We are taking the city off the coal-fired [electricity] grid, we are rolling out LED lighting, we are the most cutting-edge government in Australia that is doing something about climate change and that’s the most important issue that’s facing us,” she said.
Greens Mayoral candidate, Irene Doutney said Oxford St was “struggling to maintain its identity and viability.”
“One of the main planks of my platform is the establishment of precinct committees, like those in North Sydney and Leichhardt,” Ms Doutney said. “It would allow local residents to have a greater input into Council decision making and early notification of all development applications in their areas.
“I think this would be particularly valuable to Oxford St.”
Ms Doutney acknowledged Council has made improvement on the strip through the opening of 66 Oxford St, plans to revitalise Foley St and in supporting the Mardi Gras. But Ms Doutney was critical of Council when it came to the area of non-resendential voting and the lack of business sway in the City of Sydney elections.
“I know that there is a major complaint from business owners that they are not encouraged to vote and be part of the political life of our city. As some here tonight know, I put up a notice of motion to try and get the City to encourage business owners to register to vote. However, my motion was not carried and a watered down version was passed.”
Living Sydney candidate Angela Vithoulkas focused on presenting a “dynamic and diverse” alternative for the electorate, presenting herself as an advocate for small business owners. She said: “The City lacks joy. Oxford St, Darlinghurst… you’ve been neglected. Why has nothing been done?
“Six years of numerous consultations, numerous round tables, numerous committees and endless reports.”
Labor candidate Linda Scott wants to see Sydney “become the city for everyone.” “When I talk to other people in the city … they tell me that they are very much reliant on the different services that Council can potentially offer to them.
“Many people tell me they have their children down on waiting lists and they can’t get them into child care.”
Most candidates were in favour of adopting the wards electoral system, rather than the current ‘first past the post’ system. The controversial decision to award the City of Sydney’s outdoor maintenance contracts to a Melbourne owned company was also discussed at length.
