Pittwater Life June 2017 Issue
Cafe Society. Exclusive Q&A: Michael Regan. Dummies Guide To The B-Line. Cash Splash.
Cafe Society. Exclusive Q&A: Michael Regan. Dummies Guide To The B-Line. Cash Splash.
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would be Mayor<br />
keeping with local character. Nobody supports<br />
over-development. Nobody. People<br />
often refer to Dee Why on that front. Even<br />
the high-rise that was introduced by the<br />
administrator, didn’t create more units.<br />
The amount of floor space was determined<br />
decades earlier. I’m proud of what is finally<br />
being delivered to Dee Why. Manly still<br />
has the highest density and the tallest<br />
buildings. A big part of the problem is<br />
that the general public do not understand<br />
how planning works on Council and the<br />
State. The assumption is that Council is<br />
responsible for it. The truth is it is the State.<br />
I love having these respectful debates with<br />
people and educating them.<br />
PL: Would you support councillors being<br />
responsible for planning in their wards?<br />
MR: That’s a good question. I doubt it<br />
is legal as it goes directly against our<br />
responsibilities as Councillors as defined<br />
by the Act. I support local ward Councillors<br />
taking a lead on projects in their area. That<br />
is critical. You would be naïve to believe<br />
that local councillors only could decide on<br />
planning controls in their area. Where is<br />
the legislation? If it exists, what does the<br />
fine print say? Think about it. All across<br />
Sydney, how many ward councillors would<br />
agree to increasing density in their patch?<br />
Nobody. Sydney would grind to a halt. You<br />
have reported Rob Stokes has said this<br />
is going to happen, so it ultimately won’t<br />
matter what anyone thinks. This is perhaps<br />
another example of how State Government<br />
tries to control Council.<br />
PL: What does the ‘Your Northern Beaches’<br />
party stand for?<br />
MR: We are a registered party for one<br />
day every four years – election day. The<br />
rest of the time we think, act and vote<br />
independently. Every vote on council is a<br />
conscience vote – our track record at Warringah<br />
Council proves that. Your Northern<br />
Beaches will strive to give the community a<br />
strong independent voice at the most critical<br />
level of Government. We will endeavour<br />
to make politicians and government departments<br />
accountable to the community<br />
with none of the usual rhetoric, deceit and<br />
power plays that you see from our major<br />
parties. Its members will always maintain<br />
their independence and will work in a<br />
spirit of co-operation to achieve the aims of<br />
the team and maintain the passion for real<br />
democracy. As a team, those broad aims<br />
'We're bringing together<br />
a like-minded group who<br />
are already serving their<br />
local areas and who want to<br />
take the next step...'<br />
are to protect our beaches, parkland and<br />
natural assets from inappropriate development<br />
and the potential impacts of a changing<br />
climate; to commit the NB Council to<br />
best environmental practice as well as the<br />
highest standards of transparency and<br />
accountability; to maintain council services<br />
and where possible, enhance them; to<br />
improve necessary infrastructure; to work<br />
alongside and support local businesses;<br />
to upgrade our sporting facilities; and enhance<br />
the role of community groups.<br />
PL: Where will you get your 15 candidates?<br />
MR: We’re bringing together a group of<br />
like-minded, grass roots community members<br />
who are already serving their local<br />
areas and who want to take the next step.<br />
We’re still finalising details and election<br />
day is a long way off but I’m excited by who<br />
we are bringing together.<br />
PL: What ward will you stand in?<br />
MR: I am amused that everyone is so keen<br />
to know which ward I am running in and<br />
to be honest, I haven’t decided yet – I am<br />
passionate about the issues affecting each<br />
of the five wards.<br />
PL: Do you aspire to the role as Mayor?<br />
MR: Yes. But not for any ego factor or notions<br />
of career progression but because I<br />
am genuinely excited about the challenges<br />
and opportunities for the community that<br />
the new council has brought about. Over<br />
the past eight years I’ve developed a longterm<br />
vision for the area by working with<br />
and listening to the community – not just<br />
in Warringah but with our neighbours in<br />
<strong>Pittwater</strong> and Manly too. I’m keen to share<br />
that vision and develop it further. I think it<br />
is an outrage and a step backwards that the<br />
public no longer get to choose their Mayor.<br />
The people of Manly and of Warringah have<br />
previously voted overwhelmingly to have<br />
that right to choose their leader but now<br />
that right has been lost. I hope that in time<br />
the new council will return to the model of<br />
a directly elected Mayor.<br />
PL: What have you learned chairing the<br />
Strategic Reference Groups for Affordable<br />
Housing and Arts Culture & Heritage?<br />
MR: The Northern Beaches has an amazing<br />
art and cultural scene and a wonderful<br />
heritage with a great local narrative<br />
Continued on page 26<br />
News<br />
Celebrating 25 Years<br />
JUNE <strong>2017</strong> 25