17c起草社区

This post was originally published on .

Local business owner Sue Ritchie, is an Independent candidate running for Lord Mayor of Sydney at the 2024 New South Wales Local Elections.听

The local community activist and consultant is calling for 鈥淎 NEW AND BETTER VISION FOR OUR CITY鈥�.听

Who is Sue Ritchie听

听is the co-owner of The Beacham Hotel in Oxford Street and holds a Degree with First Class Honours in Information Technology from UTS.听听

Ritchie comes from a family deeply rooted in community service, being the daughter of Don Ritchie, known as the 鈥淎ngel of The Gap鈥�, for receiving the Australian of the Year Local Hero Award in 2011 for his efforts to prevent suicides at The Gap in Watsons Bay.听

With more than 35 years鈥� experience in small business and corporate I.T., Ritchie has served as a consultant specialising in strategic planning, integration of diverse interests, and change management, collaborating with top management.听

Ritchie鈥檚 campaign slogan is shaped by the concerns of the grassroots community, who are 鈥渄esperately looking for change and a fresh approach to meeting the needs of ratepayers and small business in the city.鈥澨�听

Sue Ritchie鈥檚 Policies听

Ritchie is running on some key priorities:听听

• Standing up for Democracy, not Autocracy听听

She will advocate for wards听and听a maximum of two terms for the Lord Mayor to 鈥渟trengthen the voice of our Community and the accountability of our representatives鈥�听

• Protecting the Community from the Misguided Visions of Local and State Governments听听

She will work to retain the cycleway on Moore Park Road and will act to stop the cycleway being moved to Oxford Street.听听

Ritchie has voiced her critiques of the plan to relocate the cycleway from Moore Park Road to Oxford Street. She describes the proposed relocation as a failure of the current administration to engage with the community.听

鈥淕reat cities have city villages which are the core of inner city living and vibrant local businesses. That will be destroyed with an autocratic approach to strategy that does not listen to and meaningfully consider the views and wishes of local residents and businesses.鈥澨�听

鈥淟ocal residents and businesses are extremely concerned and do not agree with the current Lord Mayor鈥檚 vision for Oxford Street and fear that it will prove to be no more than a commuter thoroughfare that physically divides the village of Paddington in two and will devastate local businesses and amenity,鈥� Ritchie said.听听

• Revitalising our Cultural Hubs to be Vibrant and Engaging听

At the听鈥淢eet The听Candidates Debate鈥� at the National Art School, Sue spoke about her ideas for Council to invest in Oxford Street, to bring life and fun back to Oxford Street鈥檚 Rainbow Precinct, to make it visually stimulating and engaging to attract interest, such as a fabulous 鈥淥xford Street Darlinghurst鈥� sign, inspired by the Venice Beach sign in LA, at the beginning of Oxford Street at Hyde Park, with fairy lights covering the beautiful heritage architecture of the restaurant, bar and club strip, with oversized DCALs on vacant shop fronts of images of David Bowie or Lady Gaga or whatever, reflective of the Rainbow Precinct culture.听听

鈥淭hese ideas can be implemented quickly, easily and be very effective in bringing fun and life back to Oxford Street.鈥� 鈥�舛寞鈥�舛寞鈥�鈥�舛寞听

Three Saints Square (3SS) Project听

Ritchie is the founder of the Three Saints Square (3SS) Project.听听

The听听includes businesses, residents, and institutions along Oxford Street from Greens Road to Taylor Square. It aims to bring these groups together to address common concerns, improve the precinct, and work with authorities to resolve issues.听听

As part of a larger network, the project collaborates with other Oxford Street initiatives to enhance the area from Hyde Park to Centennial Park.听