My Policies
Independent
I am not part of either faction on council. I will always act independently.
Certainty
In March this year, the number of people leaving Adelaide was higher than the people being born here or moving here. Our net population fell by 609 people. This was the worst quarterly report on record. When a city as amazing as Adelaide is going backwards… we have real problem.
Above all, Government should be providing certainty to its residents and businesses about the future of the city. A long-term plan is essential to providing consumer confidence and generate investment into our city future. That vision plan starts with Council and must include consultation from businesses residents to shape a vision for the next 25 years. I’ve always said that once you have a destination and a vision in mind, all the little decisions along the way become clear. We don’t have that for Adelaide at the moment, and I feel that is holding us back as a City and as state.
If elected to council I will be working immediately on creating a 25 year plan for Adelaide that gives certainty about:
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Planning zones and precincts;
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Planned infrastructure;
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Traffic planning – including cycling routes and electric vehicle charging;
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Residential Density and locations;
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A holistic parking strategy
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Tourism
Climate Change
I have implemented policies that have reduced real Carbon Emissions by 37% during my time on council and saved residents hundreds of thousands in the process. It is all well and good to declare a climate emergency, but if we do nothing to act, then what is the point? I feel that Adelaide has a long way to go in fighting climate change.
We can achieve better outcomes by:
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More high-speed electric vehicle charging stations;
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Planting more trees to cool the city in summer;
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Implement tougher planning laws for sustainable development;
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Implement Smart Lighting Technology;
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Better public electric transport and cycling paths. Install solar on council assets;
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Reducing our waste to landfill; and
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100% of the vehicle fleet being low-emission vehicles.
Our Park Lands
Every candidate is going to claim they will protect the Park Lands. I actually have a plan to do so. I am a board member on the Adelaide Park Lands Association and am actively involved in fundraising to defend and restore our Park Lands. I have a track record of saving open space against development.
My policies are:
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Build a continuous walking/cycling loop around the Park Lands with over/underpasses. This will give better access and can become a track for cycling/marathon events;
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A World Heritage Listing is an absolute priority;
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Direct the State Government to acquire land outside of the city for new infrastructure needs;
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Reform the Park Lands Authority to give it actual protectionary powers;
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Better lighting for the Park Lands at night;
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Develop 25-year Master Plans for all Park Land space; and
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Develop a strategy to make the Park Lands an international tourist attraction.
Parking
City Parking is an absolute nightmare. I want a complete overhaul of the system that considers resident needs and business needs in creating a system that works. It is ridiculous to be required to pay for parking when the entire lot is vacant. We are killing commerce for our city traders and vibrancy for our residents. Paid Parking is a useful tool to share a scarce resource but often it is used simply to raise revenue which can adversely impact the local area. I want a better system overall that serves our community.
Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex issue involving mental health, poverty and community housing. There is no simple solution to solving homelessness across Australia, however, it starts with preventing homelessness in the first place. I was once told by a rough sleeper who lives in our city “If you don’t have mental health issues before you become homeless you certainly have them after.” Early intervention and prevention is absolutely essential to reducing the initial rate of homelessness. Thereafter having sufficient safe public housing with mental health support will be the only way we can turn things around.
We can however treat our homeless with compassion and empathy. I would continue to support the Hutt Street Centre and other community service projects who provide assistance to our homeless community. We could also offer lockers for rough sleepers, offer more safe places to sleep and provide better access to services. This is an ongoing issue and one that I will continue to work on if I am elected to council.
Heritage
Other cities, particularly internationally, manage their heritage so much better than Adelaide. Internationally they celebrate their heritage buildings and showcase them as a key attraction of the city. Here in Adelaide, it seems that landowners see heritage as a burden. We need to work with land owners to revitalise and invigorate our heritage. It should never be an option to allow a heritage building to become dilapidated until it reaches a point where there is no choice but to demolish it.
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Firstly, we need to reduce the costs to landowners to apply for planning permits to improve their buildings. Heritage is unbelievably expensive to maintain, and the rules only complicate the issue. Secondly, we can offer subsidies to incentivise landowners to do the right thing and adhere to a heritage management plan. Thirdly, the city needs to act before the building gets to a point where it is unsalvageable and step in to prevent its active degradation.
Clean Adelaide
I am sure you have seen rubbish lying in the streets, chewing gum on our footpaths, dirt and grime on our building facades and graffiti covering vacant and unused commercial property; I’ve even seen syringes strewn across the street. We as a city can do a lot better.
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We can use technology to make the reporting process a lot easier. Having a snap and report phone application means that we can report and solves these issues more quickly and efficiently. The City Council could also support local businesses by offering a façade cleaning service to reduce the amount of muck and grime that accumulates on our buildings. By issuing fines to people who spit chewing gum on the sidewalk and increasing the number of bins would further reduce the build-up of gum on the footpaths.
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When work is done on services under the footpaths, there are often ugly spot patches of asphalt laid down after the work is complete. These sections remain in place for months (if not years) and the footpaths are not restored. Work needs to be completed and the footpaths restored to how they were not left for years unattended.
Financial Policies
Income from rates between 2018 to 2023 has increased by about $20m from $104M to $123M representing an increase of 18.2% increase. Debt has jumped in a single year from $18.2M in 2021 to $39.8M in 2023 with an interest cost of $2.5M. The city operates with a surplus of $87k which is not in my view a sustainable surplus. The council is also reported to be losing $8M on the sale of the Le Cornue site to developers.
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The City of Adelaide calculates rates on what is called the “annual value method” which is different from most other councils. The annual value method works by estimating the rentable value of the site and then charging rates on that basis. If a landowner lets their property degrade, the rates they pay reduces. If a Landowner invests in their property, their rates increase. This policy is incentivising all the wrong things. I want to bring our rating policy in line with other councils and base rates on the per square meter value of the site.
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Further, I want to set the following financial constraints for the council budget:
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Rate increases to equal to the local government price index;
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Surplus of 2% of income; and
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All debt repaid within 15 years of incurring the debt.
Teamwork
I do not feel that the current council is working well together. There are constant snipes and arguments between elected members which I think is impacting on their ability to deliver for Adelaide. There are accusations about there being factions on council called “Team Adelaide” and it seems pretty apparent to me there is a “Not Team Adelaide” faction.
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Factions on council don’t work. The beauty of local government is that each and every member should be independent and make up their own mind. This results in better decisions. I have no reservations in making a promise to you that I will use my own best judgement when voting and I will not be part of a faction. I will work collaboratively with all councillors to deliver better outcomes for the City of Adelaide.
Accessibility
As a city-dwelling car owner, I see that both public and private transport systems need constant revision and development. I support new pathways to improve access and create efficiency both within the city and out to the state. I do not support forcing people into public transport when these assets remain undeveloped.
Culture and Events
Adelaide has a fantastic history and culture. We have an opportunity to explore our stories and celebrate our milestones throughout the year. I am a strong supporter of festivals and events that bring us together. I support more permanent fixtures to reduce the operating costs of those committed to the arts and to history.
Smart Cities
​Technology offers us new ways to transform and improve the experience for visitors and residents. We need to have an intelligent approach to technology that brings real benefits while respecting individual rights. I believe we can improve parking, rubbish collection and other services without compromising our values. I do not support facial recognition technology in the city, smart cities are something altogether difference.