My brochure from the 2021 local government elections included the text below.
Policies
We want Ku-ring-gai Council to:
- preserve Gordon Bowling Club and other recreational land in public use
- keep Gordon Golf Course in public use beyond the current agreement
- revive Marian Street Theatre, Killara
- maintain 4 public libraries, plus library home services
- prefer Ku-ring-gai residents in new staff hiring, all else being equal
- prefer Ku-ring-gai suppliers, all else being equal
- prefer Australian-made supplies, all else being equal
- focus upon repairs and maintenance of existing roads, paths, and parks
- continue expanding recycling options in waste collection
- after resident addresses to council, allow time for questions and comment
- within 1 week after resident addresses to council, provide staff responses
The Culture of Council
- Councillors should always be courteous.
- If elected, Simon Lennon will reach out to every councillor across Ku-ring-gai, seeking good relationships across council.
- Council ought to be the Council of the Ten: all 10 ward councillors including the mayor acting as a collegial body of municipal leaders.
- Each pair of ward councillors should consult on ward-specific issues, ideally presenting a common view to other councillors.
- Community groups should be briefed on significant proposals,
with opportunities to meet with senior council staff. - Civic receptions can bring together community groups and civic leaders with councillors and senior council staff, developing relationships.
- Policies, not personalities, matter.
Curbing Development
We want Ku-ring-gai Council to:
- preserve fine old homes
- preserve the character of Ku-ring-gai homes, streets, and spaces
- minimise new building heights, ideally to a maximum of 4 storeys
- strive to minimise the requirements for high density housing that state governments impose, without exceeding them
- separate its interests as property owner from decisions as regulator
- not cater to developer demands at residents’ expense
- provide clarity, certainty, and openness in planning and tender requirements
- consider measures for beauty and architectural style, such as brick or stone in place of glass, steel, or concrete façades
To save Ku-ring-gai and the rest of Sydney from choking, Ku-ring-gai needs to:
- co-operate with like-minded people, bodies, and councils across Sydney
- engage with state and federal politicians to limit new housing demands
We oppose:
- rezoning public recreational land to residential use, because people need ground nearby, children need places to play
- sales of public land or other assets to fund ordinary council operations
- demolishing council-bought homes on Dumaresq Street, Gordon except for a park
- council acting as property developer or taking development risk
- the race to the sky in developments across Sydney, because squeezing more and more people into a city ruins the city for everyone
- forced amalgamation of Ku-ring-gai with any other local government area