Lord Mayor's Speech: City Talk Sustainability Report

9 November 2005

City Talk
Sydney Town Hall
Inquiry into sustainable cities

SPEECH BY LORD MAYOR CLOVER MOORE MP

Welcome.  I'd like to acknowledge the Gadigal people, of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of this land. 

Tonight we're discussing Sydney's future.  We're concerned about current directions, and we want to make sure our city's future growth and development is sustainable.

The "Sustainable Cities" report released in August by the Federal Parliament's House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage is a welcome, if a long overdue indication that the Commonwealth Government has an interest in our cities - where the majority of Australians live.  

It's important to note that while this groundbreaking report was produced by a bi-partisan parliamentary committee, it has not yet been adopted as Government policy.  The Federal Government is still to officially respond and it is concerning that the Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that the findings of 46 Senate inquiries have been ignored during the past 9 years.  We need to make sure this one is actually implemented.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS - THE CASE FOR CHANGE
Governments today, whilst responsive to public opinion, have shown a reluctance to act in the public interest and show leadership on the long term future of our cities.  Governments, both State and Federal, have failed Sydney with a lack of planning; an anti-public debt ideology, and an in-built bias against investing in the inner city and CBD, driven by the major parties obsession with marginal seats in outer metropolitan and regional areas.  The fact that the Metropolitan Plan has sunk without trace, and the focus on Telstra services in the bush are good examples of marginal seats dominating public policy at the expense of our most important national city - the economic engine of our nation.

The result is that Sydney's future is at risk.  Ad-hoc, short term decision making on the run needs to be replaced with co-ordinated, long term planning and infrastructure investment, with the Federal Government taking a lead role.

In many ways, the "Sustainable Cities" report is remarkably sensible and pragmatic. Looking at the individual recommendations, it states the obvious, and doesn't really come up with too many startling new suggestions. For those professionals who deal with these issues everyday, it's hardly revolutionary.  But it's educational, it's accessible, and it will help promote change.

Many of you will think that the report doesn't go far enough on many issues.  The real significance of this report is that it brings together a very comprehensive, and compelling case for modest and achievable change.  It offers an important first step in addressing sustainability issues in a planned and co-ordinated way. Most importantly, it recommends that Government take the lead and it spells out what Government can do. And the fact that it is so sensible and pragmatic means that Governments can't refute the logic and really have no excuse to avoid implementing the recommendations.  The real danger is that they will just ignore it if they can - so we can't allow that to happen!

We need to promote public debate and push Governments to act, if they are unwilling or unable to take the lead themselves.

The report maps out the way forward in a number of key areas, and I was particularly pleased to see the recommendations on transport as they vindicate the position I've taken in advocating for change.   

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORT - INCLUDING LIGHT RAIL
It's clear that the impact of road congestion and the failure to invest in public transport, particularly in rail infrastructure, is now critical.  It means much more than angry commuters, and is central to Sydney's future development.

The "Sustainable Cities" report reinforces how critical an accessible and sustainable transport system is in addressing Sydney's economic, social and environmental issues.

And it recommends that the Federal Government should increase funding for public transport, including light and heavy rail in the major cities.

In the UK, Europe, and even in the US, the home of the motor car, hundreds of cities are now being re-invigorated and transformed through the introduction of modern light rail and similar mass transit systems.  If it works for other cities facing similar issues, it can work for Sydney too.

Light rail moves higher volumes of people more efficiently, and is quieter, faster and cleaner than buses or cars.  This has obvious environmental benefits, reducing road congestion, traffic volumes, noise and exhaust.  It also offers many other economic and lifestyle benefits, including the transformation of city streetscapes with wider footpaths and room for street trees and pavement cafes, encouraging pedestrian and retail activity.

The City of Sydney commissioned a report last year on the extension of a light rail network in the CBD and inner city areas, reinforcing the compelling case for immediate action.

As well as promoting major long term investment in Sydney's transport infrastructure, we are developing an integrated transport blueprint incorporating mass transit, cross city or shuttle buses linking neighbourhoods, as well as cycling and pedestrian networks. 

CROSS CITY TUNNEL - OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE?
I note that the controversy about the cross city tunnel has given transport issues new currency and offers an opportunity for considering new approaches, including implementing the "Sustainable Cities" report. The tunnel's overall aim of reducing the number of cars in the Central Business District is desirable and could be complemented with a new light rail mass transit system.

But the tunnel issues have also highlighted the importance of co-ordination and public accountability.  Major projects like the Cross City Tunnel need to be integrated with other forms of transport as well as demonstrably in the public interest.  Transport planning should be the responsibility of one authority charged with co-ordinating all transport - including roads - as part of a planned and well-integrated transport network.  Any proposal for private sector involvement needs to fit into this network.

The current situation in Sydney, with State Government agencies working independently, sometimes at cross purposes and with competing priorities are  anathema in terms of coordinated traffic and transport management, and are more likely to make our existing transport problems even worse.

The clear lesson from other cities is that co-ordination of transport agencies is essential, and London, or even Perth offer good examples.  Co-ordination and co-operation between agencies to enable integrated ticketing combined with demand management measures can make a huge difference.  Technology like E-tolling - if used constructively and consistently by Government in the public interest - has enormous potential to manage demand on Sydney's roads, and subsidise investment in public transport. 

The point here is to look for new solutions to Sydney's transport problems, and actively promote rational and thoughtful debate about the possibilities, rather than just dismissing them out of hand for fear of generating a negative tabloid headline.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY - OPEN GOVERNMENT BILL
The other major lesson is the importance of public accountability and participation. There should be full disclosure of all major contracts to ensure they are in the public interest.  There's no benefit in the commercial cherry-picking particular routes and sectors to maximise financial returns, if it just promotes dysfunctional outcomes, exacerbates existing transport problems, and does not benefit the entire system.

The Cross City Tunnel contract arrangements show why publication of major contracts is essential to ensure transparent and accountable decision making by Government, as is commonly required in other countries.  I've given notice in Parliament that I'm introducing a revised Open Government (Disclosure of Contracts) Bill to make sure this can't happen again.

The new Bill overturns the current approach of secrecy and reverses the onus by requiring Governments to routinely disclose information unless there are compelling public interest reasons approved by the Ombudsman. This Bill replaces the earlier one I introduced in 2003 based on the New Zealand experience which was rejected by the Government last year.

I'd also just like to note that my original Bill was referred to the Public Accounts Committee in July 2003 and did not re-emerge until October 2004 after the Committee had taken an International Study Tour to London, Edinburgh, Boston, New York and Washington. Interestingly the itinerary did not include New Zealand, whose legislative provisions formed the basis for my Bill.

CONCLUSION - FUTURE ACTION
There's a lot to talk about tonight, and we're here to actively promote informed public debate about alternatives and long term outcomes. 

At the most recent meeting of the Capital City Lord Mayors in Canberra just 2 weeks ago, we agreed to put Sustainable Cities - particularly transport infrastructure at the top of our agenda.  We are setting up a Secretariat in Canberra to promote to the Federal Government the needs of our cities.

We're fortunate to have Malcolm Turnbull, a member of the Parliamentary Committee that produced the "Sustainable Cities" report to provide an overview, and Professor Peter Newman, NSW Sustainability Commissioner, to respond.

Your participation and interest in these issues is important - and I'd urge you to make sure the debate continues well beyond tonight, making it clear to Governments that this report is an important building block and its recommendations should be implemented without delay.  There's a long way to go, and this report represents the "base case" and a starting point in confronting  some fundamental decisions we need to make as a community.

Thank you.

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