City-News-July-25.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
cent of the primary vote for Sydney at the 2010 Federal Greens Election, compared to Greens candidate Tony Hickey’s 24 per cent. Clover defends broken DA “If everyone who voted for Alex Greenwich, Chris target Sydney Harris and Jamie Parker votes for me, it’s going to be promise for Fitzroy Gardens BY MARCUS BRAID is not required for the work, because it is an extremely interesting election,” says Ms Hiles. BY PETER HACKNEY Sydney is too expensive, does not have enough Ms Hiles has framed herself as a beacon of hope in a categorised as Exempt Development.” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has affordable housing and job security is worsening. political landscape dominated by negativity. The Lord Mayor said the City had defended her decision to backtrack on That’s the synopsis according to Federal Greens “There are two draw cards when voting: one is conducted extensive consultation about the a commitment that the City of Sydney candidate Dianne Hiles, who will take on Tanya fear and one is hope,” says Ms Hiles. “When people upgrade, which will see new playground Council would lodge a DA for the proposed Plibersek for the seat of Sydney at the upcoming are frightened, they tend to vote on the conservative equipment installed, and the playground playground works at Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Federal Election. side of politics. It’s a ploy to keep people frightened, expand from 130 square metres to 317.5 Cross. “There is huge unmet demand for affordable when in fact there are other things to be much more square metres. In a letter that has come to the attention housing. The budget does not even talk about it. This concerned about – not least of which is the state of our “The City of Sydney has gone through a of City News, the Lord Mayor gave a is something that is affecting people in their normal environment. huge amount of public consultation including commitment late last year to Paul Wagner, co- living. The price of rent is going up and the Australian “Rather than developing something positive, the an online forum, 15 meetings, two information convenor of Friends of Fitzroy Gardens, that dream of owning property is becoming totally Opposition is intent on pursuing the negatives and sessions and two workshops with local the City would lodge a DA before any works unrealisable,” she says. Labor goes chasing after them.” schoolchildren,” she said. proceeded. “Sydney itself is one of the most expensive places This is Ms Hiles’ explanation for the Federal “This consultation found the playground “As I said to you on 23 August at the to buy a home or to rent. The policy settings in terms Government’s new policy, announced last Friday, that was in dire need of an upgrade and the City mayoral candidates’ forum in Potts Point, of tax breaks for investors are not doing anything to asylum seekers arriving by boat would be exported to has refined the design to take community the City will lodge a development application create the necessary housing. Public housing has to Papua New Guinea. feedback into account.” (DA) before proceeding with the proposed provide, in effect.” Ms Hiles, a Rozelle resident, is well placed to Ms Moore reiterated that the upgraded playground expansion,” said Ms Moore in the Ms Hiles acknowledges that Ms Plibersek, the comment on refugees. Twelve years ago, she co- playground would make up just 6.3 per cent letter, dated 8 October. Federal Minister for Health and Medical Research, is founded Children Out Of Detention (ChilOut), an of the total Fitzroy Gardens area, and would “City staff will also prepare a report to the favourite to retain her post at the election, but she organisation advocating the release of children and be located in the park’s lower terrace area, Council seeking permission to lodge the DA to believes change is on the way. families from immigration detention. which was constructed in the 1990s. upgrade the playground. If Council endorses “It’s not a matter of if the Greens Ms Hiles became a Member of the Order of But Andrew Woodhouse, President of the proposal, we will consult the community win Sydney, it’s a matter of when,” Australia (OAM) in 2010 for the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage again as part of the DA process,” she wrote. she says. “I’m very proud to be her dedication to human rights Conservation Society, said last month’s Council endorsed the proposed expansion playing a part in the transition through Amnesty International, motion approving the works should be hris Peken Children Out Of Detention and and upgrade of the playground last month rescinded or re-listed, and that the City must [away] from a party that has lost C without any DA being lodged. its relevancy. Labor has moved so the Evatt Foundation. lodge a DA for the proposal. Photo: Photo: The Lord Mayor admitted that she had far to the right that the Greens are But she has more issues in her Mr Woodhouse has received independent given Mr Wagner a commitment that a DA stepping into the mainstream.” sights, beyond refugee rights. legal advice indicating that the City does, in would be lodged – but said new information Sydney has traditionally been “Nobody is talking about fact, require a DA. had come to light since then, causing a the domain of the left, epitomised housing, job security is getting A City of Sydney spokesperson insisted the rethink. project would continue without a DA, echoing by the longstanding popularity of worse, and we’ve got one in six “I wrote to Mr Wagner advising him what I Ms Moore’s stance. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, children living in poverty,” she understood at the time to be the case,” said “A development application is not required her successor in state parliament says. “I’m making it quite clear I’m Ms Moore. for the works as it’s categorised as Exempt Alex Greenwich, and the Greens’ standing for the people who have “However, the City’s planners later Development under state planning laws,” said strong polling over the last decade. been left behind.” established that a development application the spokesperson. Ms Plibersek garnered 43 per Federal Greens candidate Dianna Hiles Council forum piece of public art … to stay,” Potts Point she said. explores Ms Moore said the priority Published weekly and distributed in the CBD, Pyrmont, art market proposed permanent now was finding an alternative Ultimo, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, East BY ROBIN MARSHALL public art markets such as those queer symbol way to recognise the GLBTI Sydney, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Prominent Potts Point artist at Green Park in London, and community at Taylor Square. Chippendale and Glebe. Distribution enquiries call 9212 Shayne Chester has proposed a local Montmartre in Paris. BY PETER HACKNEY She said she was inspired by 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. artists’ market for Embarkation Park, He said his idea also sprang Colourful light installations, the many ideas she heard at the While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, above the Royal Australian Navy from frustration with the relatively plaques and flags erew among forum. The City News takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors car park. limited local art scene, and a desire the suggestions made at a forum “As I moved between different or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169 Mr Chester’s plan involves to reinvigorate one of Sydney’s last Tuesday night exploring the tables, I heard suggestions of utilising the fence surrounding the most spectacular, but underutilised, possibility of a permanent symbol lighting trees around Taylor Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons park during weekly markets held locations. recognising Sydney’s GLBTI Square with rainbow lights, Group Manager: Chris Peken each Sunday. By ensuring prospective artists community. new plaques commemorating Group Editor: Marcus Braid Artists would rent a portion of the register and pay a nominal fee in The ‘Rainbow Rights in important events in the area’s history, a suspended rainbow City News Editor: Peter Hackney fence to hang their works, displaying order to be allocated a part of the the Spotlight’ forum, hosted at over Taylor Square South and Editors: Adam Hunt and Daniel Paperny them against the impressive backdrop fence, Mr Chester said a wide variety Paddington Town Hall by the of the city skyline and harbour. City of Sydney Council, saw even a rainbow flag on the Contributors: Alisha Aitken-Radburn, Robin Marshall, of local talent could be displayed and “Sydney has no dedicated art Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Harbour Bridge,” said the Lord Andrew Hodgson and Joshua Tassell nurtured. market – only community markets Moore join with GLBTI groups Mayor. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone which sell clothes,” said Mr Chester. and members of the public for “It is essential the community Moore said the City of Sydney Live Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley He said Embarkation Park would a civic brainstorming session on is involved in deciding what Council would “love to see more Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan be an ideal location for a public art the issue. form that recognition takes. We details of the proposal”. Advertising Managers: David Sullivan, Toni Martelli, market. The forum was precipitated are encouraging people to visit “At this stage we’ve just received Robert Tuitama and Debra O’Kane “It is a shame to waste such a by the removal of the Rainbow sydneyyoursay.com.au to give a one line proposal and image,” said Design: Joanna Grace space, which only comes alive once Crossing at Taylor Square, which us their comments and views on Ms Moore.