Questions for the candidates: Do you support ...
As the local newspaper for the Peninsula community, Peninsula News is interested in the changes candidates can make for the Peninsula if elected to State Parliament.
Both our local government and the planning system which determine our quality of life on the Peninsula are the result of State laws and policies.
The following questionnaire was framed with input from the Peninsula Residents' Association and was sent to all candidates for their response.
Democracy?
Administration: Should Central Coast Council still be under administration? Should there be a maximum period set for local government administration? How long should we have to wait for local government elections?
Would you replace the Administrator with someone who does not have the conflict of interest of being the previous chief executive and with one who has a charter to represent residents?
Representation and ward boundaries: At least half the councils in NSW have less population than the Peninsula, and their residents elect their own representatives. Even with elections on the Central Coast, or a de-amalgamated council, there is no guarantee the Peninsula's voice will be heard unless the Peninsula has a ward of its own.
What measures will you put in place to ensure that communities the size of the Peninsula will have their own representatives in council and that ward boundaries will not be gerrymandered?
Would you ensure ward boundaries are based on community boundaries and are subject to an external review? How soon should this be implemented?
Governance: What are the lessons of the public inquiry into Central Coast Council? Have the various parties learnt their lessons? What changes should be made at a State level as a result?
How will you ensure councillors have the processes, structure and support to enable them to control the policy and performance of the council, and that there is tangible accountability to the community for both councillors and for senior managers of the council?
What changes are needed to help the council and its staff regain the trust of the public which it serves?
Would you provide the Office of Local Government with greater responsibility to ensure councils are more functional as participatory as well as representative local democracies?
Working with the community: What practical measures would you put in place to ensure that councils follow the wishes of local communities?
Should local communities determine local planning strategies, planning controls and planning decisions? Should this power be returned to councillors?
How would you/your government ensure residents have early meaningful engagement in council decision-making?
Should councils be required to publish all submissions made in response to its consultations, so that the community can benefit from the transparency of shared knowledge?
The Rule of Law?
Central to democracy is the Rule of Law which says the law should be equally and fairly applied to all people.
It requires that the law is clear, publicised, and stable, so that people know what is required of them and the law can be implemented consistently.
Meaningful laws: Many of the strategies, plans and policies adopted by Central Coast Council, including several required by State legislation, have been criticised by residents for being indefinite, and non-committal if not entirely meaningless.
What measures would you take to ensure they are written succinctly using an understandable, tangible and enforceable wording?
Enforceable laws: The nature of planning on the Peninsula derives from State law and policy. The detail of planning provisions applying to the Peninsula are contained within the council's Development Control Plan. Many approvals have been issued which are not compliant with the DCP and council planning staff have described it as being discretionary guidelines only.
Should the "rule of law" apply to the Development Control Plan? Would your government require compliance with it? What measures should be available to residents to ensure its integrity is maintained, eg subsidised access for residents to the Land and Environment Court?
Liveable neighbourhoods?
What is needed to protect the quality of life in the Peninsula's local neighbourhoods? Should the well-being of our community and the lifestyle that attracted our residents here be protected? What will you/your party do about this for the Peninsula?
Urban environment: What would your Government do to reduce the Peninsula's "heat island"? How would your government achieve the Greater Cities' target tree canopy of 40 per cent for the Peninsula sandplain? Would it mandate larger minimum private open spaces for new developments?
Should our "dunny lanes" be used as new street frontages, as we have seen in recent development applications, or should they be retained as shady back lanes to be used as part of an active transport network?
Housing diversity: The terms "housing diversity" and "housing affordability" have become code phrases to justify the approval of similar or identical multi-dwelling developments, with large areas of concrete surfaces, which have had the effect of increasing land prices on the Peninsula with no corresponding reduction in dwelling prices.
Do you support true diversity of new housing development on the Peninsula, offering a range of housing at a range of prices, and ensuring the availability of home ownership to people on minimum wages? What action will you take to achieve this?