 Liberal Action Team On the Campaign Trail |
| Fair Deal for Car Owners in Sydney under Liberal Lord Mayor |
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Liberal Lord Mayoral Candidate for the City of Sydney Councillor Shayne Mallard has continued his strong policy agenda setting campaign by announcing his Liberal Action Team's 'Fair Deal for Car Owners'.
"Owning a private motor vehicle should not be treated as a crime in the City of Sydney." "People choose to own a car for many reasons including moving the family and pets around, travelling for work, getting around when there is poor public transport and for the old fashioned joy of motoring and prestige of car ownership," Shayne said. "The City of Sydney has been introducing anti-car policies that are largely driven by the thought police and political correctness. These include crazy restrictions on how many parking places are provided in new apartment buildings and new parking meters springing up across the city." "The current Lord Mayor has even put a London-style Congestion Tax on the table by not ruling this failed car tax out and saying that she was "exploring all realistic options available." (24/08/2008, City News)" "If I am elected Lord Mayor of Sydney with my Liberal Action Team, we will end the Left's discrimination against car owners in the City of Sydney," Shayne continued. Shayne Mallard's plan offers incentives to reduce car use, tackles the parking under supply, intelligently taps the next building cycle to provide more parking and offers real incentives to forgo owning a car. The Liberal Action Team's 'Fair Deal for Car Owners' plan includes:
Under Sydney2030, the current administration has signed Council up to building an additional 55,000 dwellings in the City of Sydney. The Fair Deal for car owners policy will provide off street parking for all the new residents. But there is also an opportunity to tap this development cycle to provide additional parking for surrounding areas and fix up the crazy undersupply of car parking in areas like Green Square, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Surry Hills. "The Liberal Action Team will establish a control plan that gives property developers a development bonus if they supply additional car parking spaces beyond the needs of their new residents." "Off-street secure car parking will be available to neighbouring residents through a new Community Parking Bank. We estimate that by 2030 with the construction of 55,000 new dwellings the City will have ownership of 10,000 additional off-street parking spaces available to local residents without off-street parking." "This is a huge and valuable asset for the ratepayers of Sydney." The Liberal Action Team's 'Fair Deal for Car Owners' will not only level the playing field for residents but also small business owners and their employees. A Liberal Council will:
"Given the current concerns about global warming and climate change the Liberal Action Team will continue our strong bipartisan support for sensible measures to reduce the City's carbon emissions," Shayne said. "Our approach is less about Big Government knowing best and more about giving residents and business owners the freedom to make informed choices. We offer carrots and not just the stick of this current administration. " "Residents who sign a Carbon Pledge and sell their private car will be rewarded by a $500 cash incentive to be used for Car Share, public transport or buying a push bike. The carbon pledge will be a contract not to purchase a private motor car for five years whilst a resident of the City of Sydney and will be capped at removing 2000 cars for the first 5 years. "Hybrid and Electric Vehicles will have exclusive priority parking bays throughout the City and half price fees at parking meters as they do in Copenhagen. When residents need to own a car they will now consider the exclusive parking spaces and reduced parking fees for environmentally friendly hybrid and electric cars in our City." "The Liberal Action Team will continue the bipartisan support for Car Share schemes, building a bigger and safer bicycle network and improving pedestrian mobility throughout the City of Sydney. "We will continue to push the state and federal government to improve public transport services for the inner city including a light rail network in the future." "We are committed to providing all options for getting about in our City and we will not punish residents just because they own a car. We offer understanding and constructive solutions and not guilt and blame for owning a car in Sydney." "There are only two choices in this election. Common Sense Shayne Mallard or the Hard Left," Shayne concluded. |