Michael Harbison re-elected as Lord Mayor

[matt08]

Hi, Just found this great forum and would also like to congratulate Harbo and am also sad to hear David didn't get in!

I'm not sure however why people here are calling for building heights in Adelaide to be lifted, some of the most dynamic cities in the world such as London and Paris are not tall cities. Recent planning changes have allowed large increases in heights across the city, building heights are also limited by the location of the airport.

It would be great to see the incoming Council concentrating on improving the cities public realm and pedestrian amenity.

The center of the city is finally moving back to it's traditional heart, as such a priority of the new Council should be the upgrading of Victoria Square into the public meeting space it was meant to be.

anyway thats my say, keep up the good work Harbo!

[Howie]

In the AFR today.


Thanks to Al Bhanji for the scan. If the article is being chopped off on the right, you may need a bigger screen.

[jimmy_2486]

Hmmm he seems to want good things for Adelaide which is good. I hope he can deliver what he promises. If so then he will get my vote in the future.

[Will]

I was reading an article which stated that some councillors got elected with just 400 or so votes. I think that it is outrageous that the future of our capital city can be decided by people elected by such small margins. Additionaly voting should be compulsory next election, as the current system where only 30% of people vote is open to exploitation by the extreme nostalgia residents associations.

[Pants]

Editorial from the Advertiser:

Council rule dictated by the few

SOMETHING is surely wrong with a system that allows a relative handful of South Australians to decide the future of a city centre that belongs to us all.

The lord mayoral race attracted just 5809 formal votes and Michael Harbison has only 2884 people to thank for reinstating him.

Worse - a mere 445 first preference votes proved enough to secure a councillor's seat in the Town Hall.

Does this mean anyone with a large Christmas card list can make the council?

Certainly, the danger is that small interest groups will have more voice in the city than is their share.

Hundreds of thousands of South Australians work or play in the City of Adelaide and are affected by the decision-making of elected members.

The Central Business District is the state's economic, political and retail capital.

There have been some changes.

Trams can now be seen on North Tce and a new bus station has taken shape. But the council is not known for its vitality and agenda setting.

Preservation, rather than development, has been the focus.

Those who enjoy inner-city dwelling are keen to preserve their parklands backyard and the liveability of the city.

Perhaps some radical thinking is required to reshape the governance of the city.

The appointment of administrators, as has happened in other cities, should not be ruled out. But perhaps a much wider net should be cast by the City of Adelaide.

If it redrew its boundaries to include the fringes of suburbs north, south, east and west of the city, it would gain diversity.

Vested-interest groups would have to compete on a bigger stage and, with a larger voter base, a handful of votes would be unlikely to produce a result.

The city's present boundaries no longer reflect those with a direct interest in the governance of the city.

South Australia, and Adelaide in particular, are enjoying a buoyant economy and the city is undoubtedly changing.

But it is impossible to escape the fact that it is not Adelaide City Council-driven.

It is happening despite the elected members - not because of them.

I actually think the last council presided over a good period of growth and initiative for the CBD and played a big part in that.

That said, it is still hard to argue against much of what Melvin Mansell writes.

I would however be against the mere extension of the ACC boundaries. Who's to say that someone in Mile End should have more of a say over what happens in the CBD than someone in Port Adelaide or Glenelg for example? The CBD is the centre of our State and major decisions that affect it should be made by those elected by the State - the government.

Local residential issues should remain a council's responsbility, as should certain events and lower impact developments, and the council should also have a consultancy-type role in any government decision regarding major CBD development, however, I just can't see any justification for councillors elected by so few having so much say on the shaping of the heart of our city.

[AtD]

I agree with you there Pants. How effective has the Brisbane model been?

Local governments mostly deal with contracting, so there's definite economic advantages of having larger LGA's.

[Will]

From the messenger:

Harbo hits the ground running

Louise Russell

23Oct07



REDESIGNING Victoria Square, a Rundle Mall facelift and continuing the North Tce upgrade are the top priorities for re-elected Lord Mayor Michael Harbison.


He also wants to shape his final three-year term around attracting new city residents, building more student housing, upgrading Elder Park, wider cycle lanes and creating a Cabinet-style model for elected members.
Mr Harbison was narrowly re-elected on Saturday (October 20), relying on preferences to defeat Francene Connor by 127 votes 2884 votes to 2757.
He admits some of the items on his wish list will be unfinished dreams when he leaves Town Hall in 2010.
``Obviously we won't be able to do everything but we need to get together as a team and establish our priorities,'' Mr Harbison told the City Messenger.
``We need to have a really big focus on getting more people to live in the city.
``Every person we can persuade to move within walking or cycling distance to their work (will generate) a five tonne greenhouse gas saving each year.''
Mr Harbison dismissed the ongoing controversy surrounding the State Government's plans for a new grandstand at Victoria Park, even though nine of the 12 new council members publicly oppose the project.
``There's always something going on with the city whether it's North Tce or Vic Square there is always a contentious issue,'' he said, adding that some councillors may change their minds after being fully briefed on the project.
Four of the six candidates he endorsed will join him on the new council Anne Moran, Richard Hayward, Sue Clearihan and Francis Wong.
Mr Harbison was keen to establish a Cabinet-style system with members specialising in such areas as planning, transport and business.
``The experience is there. We've got a former mayor (David Plumridge, of Salisbury), a former MP (Ralph Clarke), heritage skills in Sandy Wilkinson, Central Market experience in Bill Zaharis and planning in Stephen Yarwood.''
Mrs Connor, who last month resigned as Royal Adelaide Show marketing manager, said she was looking for a new job that would benefit the city.
``It was very close in the end and at the end of the day all I can say is thank you to my supporters and my friends who have been behind me from the beginning,'' she said.
``I did all that I could have done and I say congratulation to Michael Harbison who has a challenge ahead of him to make sure the city is run well for the next term.''

[Will]

From the Messenger:

Who did what

Chris Day

23Oct07

Adelaide City Council Election results.
Numbers show primary votes cast


Lord Mayor

Michael Harbison - 2736 votes (elected after preferences)
Francene Connor - 2512
Jeffrey Wheare - 127
Arnie Rossis - 635


Area-wide councillors

David Beatie - 233
David Feldheim - 144
Anne Moran - 1407 (elected)
Michael Gray - 263
Phil Sutherland - 73
David Campbell - 236
James Neal - 175
Francis Wong - 516 (elected)
Kelly Henderson - 209
Silvana Zerella - 68
Ralph Clarke - 488 (elected)
David Plumridge - 445 (elected)
Dominic Rinaldi - 52
George Charlesworth - 64
Howard Williams - 73
Ryan Clancy - 160
Michael Dilettoso - 116
Sarah Coligan - 196
Joan Russell - 282
Richard Hayward - 639 (elected)


North Ward

Sue Clearihan - 640 (elected)
Sandy Wilkinson - 489 (elected after preferences)
Pam Andritsakis - 178
Bernadette McAlary - 129
Sharon Mosler - 98
Cris Magasdi - 506


Central Ward

Luke Westenberg - 49
Barrie White - 175
Stephen Yarwood - 376 (elected)
Bill Zaharis - 356 (elected)
Arna Eyers-White - 335
Vincent Scali - 79
Cathy Chong - 285
Ben Norman - 187


South Ward

Sue McKay - 351
Grant Noble - 283
Anthony Williamson - 321
Michael Henningsen - 767 (elected)
Joe Cullen - 357 (elected)
David Crossing - 42

[Bulldozer]

I recommend all users of this forum and particularly keepadelaidealive todownload this document to see what recommendations have been made. Many of them are complementary to suggestions made on this forum.
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/adcc ... c_life.pdf

I've just finished reading through the report and I have to say that I think that it's stating the bloody obvious.

Making all the squares whole, widening and improving footpaths, better lighting, unified "branding" of street designs, discouraging through-traffic and reducing pedestrian waiting times seem like obvious things to do, but maybe that's because I think that the city should look classy and give priority to people rather than cars.

I do think you can see some of the recommendations being implemented or beginning to be: North Tce, Pulteney & Grote St upgrades; city ring-route; and the tram extension.

Putting cycle paths between footpaths and parked cars and even elevating them is a rather interesting idea. I presume the increased safety of this over the current situation is because most car doors are opened by drivers rather than passengers?

[urban]

You're right Bulldozer there is nothing groundbreaking in the report. It is basic urban design principles. The amazing thing about the report is that it needs to be written.

[crawf]

I really starting like hearing more about the council wanting to devlelop Vic Square and Rundle Mall

Council eyes Rundle Mall, Vic Square
Article from AAP
CALLIE WATSON

October 31, 2007 02:10pm
THE REDEVEOPMENT of Victoria Square and Rundle Mall will be among the key focuses of the new Adelaide City Council, re-elected Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said today.

The new council, which on average is 15 years younger than its predecessor, was sworn in at an Adelaide Town Hall ceremony at 12pm.

"What I've tried to get across is the need to move quickly, we must begin redevelopments and encourage more people into the CDB and reduce the city's energy and water use," Mr Harbison said.

Eight new councillors join Mr Harbison and re-elected members Anne Moran, Richard Hayward and Sue Clearihan to form the 144th Adelaide City Council.

Francis Wong was among the new councillors sworn in today and said the younger members will provide a broad skills base.

"I've got a business background and am looking forward to incorporating this, as other members are with their area of expertise," he said.

Fellow councillor Sue Clearihan was confident the Victoria Park debate will be settled "one way or another" in the near future.

Mr Harbison said members will be fully briefed on the current $55 million Victoria Park redevelopment proposal at its first meeting on November 12.

[Howie]

Development priority for new council: Lord Mayor
Ready for another term ... Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison urges the new council to be aggressive in approving development. (ABC News)


Lord Mayor Michael Harbison has used his first address to the new Adelaide City Council to urge its members to be more aggressive in approving major developments.

The 11 new councillors and the Lord Mayor have been sworn in at the town hall.

They are preparing to deal with projects including the $26 million central bus station in Franklin Street in the city, the launch of a solar-powered bus and the future of the contentious grandstand project at Victoria Park racecourse.

Mr Harbison says the new councillors have fresh ideas and are, on average, about 15 years younger than those the council they replace.

"I wanted to get the message through to the council that unless you move quickly and decisively, three years can pass in a heart beat and you may only be left with a pile of paper," he said.

The first council meeting will be on November 12.

Go harbo! We just need all the developers to dust off all their grand plans and get them to the council asap!

[Bulldozer]

Solar powered bus? Who is the moron who thought of that? Talk about useless and pissing valuable money down the drain!

[Cruise]

Solar powered bus? Who is the moron who thought of that? Talk about useless and pissing valuable money down the drain!

we will have to extend daylight savings a long way for evening services!!!

[Ben]

City leaders have a square focus

CALLIE WATSON
November 01, 2007 01:15am

REDEVELOPING Victoria Square and Rundle Mall were among key focuses of the new Adelaide City Council, re-elected Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said.

The new council, which on average is 15 years younger than its predecessor, was sworn in at a ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall yesterday.

Mr Harbison said the need to move quickly on important issues was important for the new council.

"We must begin redevelopments and encourage more people into the CBD and reduce the city's energy and water use," Mr Harbison said.

Eight new councillors join Mr Harbison and re-elected members Anne Moran, Richard Hayward and Sue Clearihan to form the 144th Adelaide City Council.

Adelaide businessman Francis Wong said the younger councillors would provide a broad skills base.

"I've got a business background and am looking forward to incorporating this, as other members are with their area of expertise," he said.

I think it's a very importnant step that this new council is 15 years younger on average. that is a huge difference.