John Christopher Sunols
Policies for campaigns to do with all elections
I fight corruption in all places and stick up for the rights of the local people.

In doing this...

1. I work for small business. I will put out council policies to deal with support for the small business above the interests of big business. Unless big business can bring something of use to the community such as employment etc. I believe it is small business that is moving the local economy along more so than big business.

2. I believe that a demographic look at the businesses in the local areas need to be made before allowing new business to start up. Their business needs to be appropriate to the community it will reside in. A market research and social research questionnaire and survey needs to be completed in some form on the local area before any major project is worked on. This needs to be completed through either an academic institution of repute (such as University or TAFE), a business chambers or a research foundation registered with government agencies. Or at least a look at already completed research papers in such an area to see if the proposal fits in with the local community and is appropriate for all of those both directly and indirectly involved.

3. Any council approved business found to be run by those who have court actions against them for illegal activities. Proved to be part of an illegal network in a court of law, will be closed immediately without delay and any future applications by those who have such a record as put through the courts where corrupt practice has occurred will be deemed unsuitable to own and run a business. No approval will be given for their ventures, unless deemed suitable by a court in of law by appeal. If I am elected no tolerance would be given to anyone found to be in a place of responsible service to the community if corrupt. They need to be investigated by the police and dealt with according to law through the court system

4. Some councils have problems with derelict buildings. Some of these buildings are deemed heritage and given heritage orders by the land and environment court. If I am elected I will see that the owner of such derelict building either pulls it down and re-builds it or after failing negotiations the council will do this on behalf of the owner and all charges will be made to the owner of the derelict building. if the building is deemed as heritage it will need to be restored back to its former condition to suit the council.

5. Opening times for night clubs. This has been a problem for a number of years. Violence in the street results out of drunken loutish behaviour. I see the early closing of clubs, pubs etc as only a bandage and not a real problem solver. This relates to human behaviour and we need to have several strategies in place to deal with bad behaviour which include: (this behaviour is not deemed to be part of the disadvantaged or desperate people, instead it is the part of well educated people with good homes and out for the night just getting drunk and being over affected by the abuse of alcohol) If elected I would give the police and security personnel powers of immediate arrest and lock up if needed. I do not believe that closing early solves the situation fully, it is only a bandage to this problem on a temporary basis but no real answer. I believe in a model like that of King Cross in Sydney, The Valley in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Queensland and St Kilda in Melbourne. If they they remain open legislation will dictate that they pay for extra security and police presence. Where you get numbers of people and plenty of security you do not get violence, as proven in the examples given. but where people are put out in the streets before they are ready, they tend to muck up and commit violent actions. Drunken loutish behaviour should have zero tolerance and such actions should attract an appropriate action by the Police, Courts and Security. I will lobby for extra security in Newcastle in such situations and let the clubs recover the costs while considering the price of drinks in after hours situations. (say 2.00am)

6. I am very strong on cleaning up of streets and I believe that it is the council's responsibility to keep the streets clean. Singapore is one good example of this. This is to avoid of repeat of any incidence as the July 07 Newcastle Floods which was partly result of blocked drains in heavy and out of season weather. This would not have happened so easily if the streets were cleaned. I would put a placement for those who do not have work, to help them find work and give small council money to some of these unemployed people to help clean up the streets. Put a manager in place to make sure this is done to the satisfaction of the NSW Department of Health. I would employ a person to take charge of this make this person responsible to keep the streets in order.

7. I would put in place a person or people responsible to keep the public toilets clean and report any unforeseen instance in these places which is deemed regrettable. The police should be made aware and this person or persons would be responsible to keep a check on the cleanliness and reporting of any incident if needed to the appropriate people. This person could also be employed to keep a check on public parks after dark with security qualifications.

8. Newcastle has massive Tourist potential, the Harbour, cruise ships coming in. Stockton could be built up and the Stockton Ferry. The Vineyards and I would see to unlock this potential by appointing a tourism manager to do research into extra area of potential income from tours and leisure venues. Another set of areas that the Universities, TAFE and tour centres could work on.

9. Import - Export, Newcastle harbour needs to be looked at and the coal loaders worked on. Also a grain and bulk terminal could be deemed appropriate if authorised by the relevant authorities.

10. If elected another policy I would lobby for is...
Aged people at the moment receive a Taxi subsidy. This gives them a half fare taxi ticket. This should be introduced to drug addicts who have to go and get methadone. This will keep these people off public transport like buses and trains. Also to stop hitch hiking. I would lobby for those who have methadone subscribed for them to be able to catch taxi at subsidised rates as this would leave them able to get their methadone and not catch public transport. They could get taxi and find it far better. It would create more harmony in society.

11. If elected I will lobby for the council to provide free parking in Hunter Street for all of those who own a business. They can apply through the council go get a voucher to put on their cars where they can prove that they work in Hunter street.

12. I support the save the Mayfield Pool campaign. I reason this as this pool is an important piece of infrastructure for the suburb of Mayfield, which also services the areas of Islington, Tighes Hill and Warabrook. There is around 20-25,000 people living in this area according to the 2006 census and the closest swimming pool is in Lambton, this suburb is relatively restricted by public transport to two different bus services or a $15-20 taxi fare.

The pool services is a meeting point for young families in the community where it serves no alcohol and is seen as a focal point for the community as a whole to have family get togethers and relaxation in the hot summer months.

The Newcastle City council is debating whether or not to sell it and close it down. I suggest in my platform if I am elected I will vote against this being closed down, due to my support of families and family outings. Families are a critical part of our society, family is what drives the economy and builds up the infrastructure of the city. One Father, One Mother and little children to the Mother and Father have been the may stay of society for hundreds of years. I believe this needs to be built on and all the council policies in such meeting places like swimming pools should come under this philosophical view point.

13. Public toilets
These are in a shocking state, they are locked up at night and what makes this worse is that most service stations are shut. Nothing is around to use for public amenities.
If elected I would see  to lobby council to get someone to have a look at the European model of public amenities.

In Europe they give a minor charge, say 50c to use the facility, but there is a person available all the time on a 24 hour basis. There position is to keep the toilets clean, make sure that no illegal activity is held in or around public toilets and show general maintenance of these facilities.

I would act on council to get introduced into Newcastle people employed to do such in the main parks and public utilities, like in the Scott Street Mall in Newcastle.

14. A further council Policy I will adhere to see is put in place for the safety of the people of Newcastle is:

Lighting in all public parks and main areas such as: Islington Park, Civic Park in Newcastle, Gregson Park in Hamilton.
This would leave these places safe at night for all residence to pass through and with the toilets open, with a security person employed to service these areas, all unforseen behaviour of a criminal and socially abusive nature could be reported to the Police.

Here is a link to a letter covering these policies that can be printed.