Aldermen Burnet, Freeman, Haigh, Jones, Sexton, Valentine, Zucco are up for election …

Here are some questions for them:

1. Re the 1982 Hobart Planning Scheme: what steps have you taken to bring in a new plain English planning scheme?

2. What are your opinions on allowing multiple discretions in planning matters?

3. How are you going to ensure that members of the public have input into the shape of Hobart and its suburbs?

4. How much say should residents have in how their suburbs are developed?

5. What strategy would you use to improve public transport?

6. Would you protect cultural heritage in Hobart and how do theyou propose to do that?

7. How do you intend to decide on suburban density levels to ensure public amenity?

8. How are you going to protect and improve urban waterways?

9. How are you going to protect Hobart’s foreshore and ensure public access?

10. How are you going to overcome inner city parking problems, for example, in the face of two 13 storey hotels beside the Royal Hobart Hospital, all with no off-street parking facilities of their own?

11. What mechanism are you going to set up to gather public opinion on a regular basis?

12. Would you agree to attend regular public forums throughout their terms of office?

13. Do you believe that they have the respect and support of the General Manager and his officers?

14. Are you going to ensure that development applications are placed on-line, along with all supporting information, during the public comment period?

15. How do you reconcile the fact that a Hobart City Council alderman receives a fuel allowance for life, which is not a benefit for aldermen in other councils, and is entitled to travel overseas twice at council’s expense in a four-year term?

16. Are you members of, or aligned with a political party and if so, which party; and so on and on?

This year’s council elections urgently need publicity and aldermen need to be spotlighted, in order that voters are given full information so they can vote out non-performing aldermen, some of whom have been in council for close to 20 years.

Regards
Ratepayer

Today, The Mercury:
Three-way Mayor race