OUR POLICIES

What We Stand For:

​1. A strong independent council
2. Open, transparent and accountable administration
3. Genuine public consultation on all major issues
4. Active representation for Manly Ward
5. Addressing residents' needs

Our Policies focus on:
​The environment, arts & culture, transport, the community, & local businesses. 

Repurpose Manly Town Hall as a multiuse performing arts centre
We want to transform Manly's night-time culture, and bring first-class entertainment to the heart of Manly.  The  Town Hall heritage building will be repurposed to include a multi-purpose theatre, small cinema & exhibition space.  Details here

Protect Cabbage Tree Bay & designate it as a swimming zone
Manly's aquatic reserve is brimming with fish, rays & friendly sharks. It's loved by hundreds of swimmers & snorkelers. But there's no room for boats which destroy seagrass with their anchors & are a safety risk to people in the water. 

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Bring back the vibe to Manly's CBD & suburban village centres
We're part of the Northern Beaches, but we have to keep our identity & our friendly village vibe. We want our centres to have pedestrian-friendly zones & vibrant open spaces, adequate parking for locals & thriving small local businesses. 
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Reinstate the iconic boardwalk & harbour pool next to Manly Wharf
Manly had a huge calm-water swimming pool & magnificent boardwalk stretching from the Wharf to Federation Point. We have a comprehensive plan to bring them back, this time with special protection for sea grass & little penguins. Details here.
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Support the continuation & management of 'the office' at East Esplanade
We've fought for years so people can keep enjoying a sunset drink at this lovely spot, & we're committed to keeping it that way. We'll make sure  Police & council staff stay involved to ensure drinking stops at 8pm & there's no anti-social behaviour.

Upgrade Manly Ferries to clean energy maintaining their retro style
The big, double-ended ferries are part of our heritage, & famous round the world. They're needed to transport our large tourist numbers & when the ocean is rough. But now they're under threat. We're fighting to keep the fleet, until they can be replaced by clean energy replicas.
​Details here.

Retain the Hop Skip & Jump community bus service
It's essential that everyone in our community can get to the shops & the village centres. Another big bonus is that the bus service takes cars off the road & frees up parking spots. 
 

Continue to support off-leash dog areas
We have 43,000 dogs in the Northern Beaches, that need exercise & socialisation. They have become a large part of our community & need to be catered for. We have strongly supported Manly Lagoon off-leash area & successfully increased the available dog exercise space at LM Graham Reserve. 

Continue to grow the cycleways & trails across the Northern Beaches
COVID has really shown us how important it is to be able to exercise near your home. Cycleways & paths are crucial for the physical & mental health of our community, as well as getting cars off the road. We strongly support them. 
 

Accelerate the Electric Vehicle charging station rollout & clean energy initiatives
It's clear that EVs are the way of the future. The  Council is playing its part by moving its fleet to EVs & hybrid vehicles, & rolling out charging stations, but it can do more. Council has also switched to 100% renewable energy, installed over 800KW of solar panels & switched to energy efficient outdoor lighting. 

Monitor the environmental & community impacts of the Northern Beaches Tunnel
While the traffic chaos of the Northern Beaches needs to be addressed it must not be at the expense of the health of residents.  We will work closely with community groups & authorities to ensure a proper outcome is found.

Continue to support sporting & playground infrastructure investment
These areas are essential to our community. We strongly support the council's infrastructure upgrades, including work done at Balgowlah Oval, & the revamped playgrounds coming to Little Manly & Clontarf. We will make sure that Manly Ward gets our fair share. 

​Support practical policies to enable affordable housing
We've been working for years to make sure people on low incomes & key workers, like police officers & childcare workers, can be part of our community.  I'm proud that Council now mandates that 10% of affordable rental housing must be included in any new planning proposal. 

Advocate for targeted mental health programs & funding
We're passionate about suicide prevention & mental health support. We will make sure the Council continues to focus on  supporting community groups, training community 'gatekeepers', helping socially isolated residents & making Northern Beaches locations safer.  ***

COVID support & recovery for local businesses
COVID has been terrible for our local businesses, and stressful for the whole community. We strongly support the Council's policies to make life easier. That includes waiving fees for outdoor dining areas, helping businesses build digital hubs and deferring rentals for council tenants. *****

Ensure responsible financial management & governance

Strong financial management and accountability is very important for a successful council