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Pittwater Life June 2017 Issue

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

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