Culture, climate and de-amalgamation: Stanmore-Damun Ward priorities according to Inner West election candidates

By EVA BAXTER

Stanmore-Damun Ward includes Camperdown, Newtown, Stanmore, Enmore, Petersham and Lewisham and is currently represented on Inner West Council by Labor councillor Anna York, Greens councillor Louise Steer and Independent Pauline Lockie. Lockie is the only councillor bidding for re-election.

Pauline Lockie

Lockie told the Independent that despite the difficulty of campaigning as an Independent with the lack of party backing, “opposed to the last time around, I’ve now got four years of having been an Independent councillor […] and I hope that is enough to convince people to support me again.”

Lockie said she is fortunate to represent an area that includes Enmore Road and King Street, one of the inner west’s most vibrant retail and entertainment cultural precincts.

She said making sure those local businesses and creative communities are supported by council will be a priority for her in the next term.

Liz Atkins

Greens candidate Liz Atkins has been an active campaigner and volunteer in the LGBTIQ+ community and said supporting live music, arts and culture is significant in the Ward.

She also mentioned climate, cool suburbs and improving the loss of tree canopy, as well as affordable housing to ensure a diversity of residents, making Stanmore Station accessible and revitalising local main streets like Victoria St, Lewisham.

“Ensuring our suburbs are easy to get around for everyone, which includes fixing our footpaths, safe places for pedestrians to cross roads, better connected clear bike routes and clean, accessible public toilets,” she told the Independent.

Chloe Smith

In a Facebook post Labor’s Chloe Smith said her priorities include action on climate change, upgrading and maintaining community infrastructure, protecting neighbourhoods from unchecked development, supporting local business and arts and investing in community services.

Smith did not respond to queries from the Independent in time for publication.

The Inner West Local Labor team’s suggestions for Stanmore-Damun include funding a coordinator for the LGBTIQ Pride Centre in Newtown Town Hall and creating a rainbow crossing at the intersection of King St and Enmore Road.

Little Portugal in central Petersham is part of Local Labor’s main street strategy to fund new murals, public signage and cultural events to precincts in the inner west celebrating multicultural history.

Pip Hinman

Socialist Alliance candidate Pip Hinman told the Independent, “I think the most important issue for this ward is to put the local back into council.”

Hinman has pioneered the movement to demerge Inner West Council.

Hinman has worked with residents and councillors to get a residents’ poll on de-amalgamation and hopes the result will require the incoming council to present the case for de-amalgamation to the state government.

She said resident initiatives making communities safer, protecting green space and community assets from developments need to be encouraged and supported by council.

“I also believe we need to go beyond community consultation to community empowerment.

“Empowering communities is going to be an essential part of addressing the challenges of the climate emergency.”