Clover's eNews—Friday, 23 September 2005—No. 265HYDE PARK TREES – WHY URGENT ACTION WAS TAKENOn Monday the City began removing 34 diseased and dying trees in Hyde Park. Thorough testing by City staff and external experts has revealed the sad truth that Park soils have been poisoned by at least three virulent diseases. These diseases have no known cure and are not specific to anyone specie of tree While many of the affected trees appear very green and healthy, the diseases are rotting their roots and lower trunks, making them highly vulnerable to falling. In the past two years four Hill’s Figs have fallen over. Fortunately they fell when no one was about. These falls prompted the City to undertake a comprehensive and very time-consuming audit of all 600 trees in the Park. Three independent assessments have underscored our findings. Sadly, the defects could not be rectified by pruning. We had no choice but to completely remove the dangerous trees immediately. Letting them remain would have not only risked public safety but further spread of the diseases. Trees are dynamic organisms and their condition changes over time. Due to the different diseases we have within the park, the trees’ health and condition can rapidly deteriorate. The City is closely monitoring all the trees affected by the diseases and will almost certainly have to remove more trees in an effort to save the remainder of the Park. As soon as possible, the City will start the huge task of replacing and replenishing the existing soils, as well as installing new drainage systems to counter the worsening affects of the contaminated soil from the 1930s railway construction under the Park. More information about the Hyde Park Trees, including the independent arborist’s report, is available from the City of Sydney website www.cityofsydney.com.au. From the homepage, click on “Hyde Park Watch” under “Quick links”. The website will updated with information on action the City is taking. MENTAL HEALTH ACTION NEEDEDThis week in Parliament, I asked the Minister assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) whether the Government would provide immediate funds to redevelop and expand at the Caritas psychiatric facility. The state of our under-resourced mental health services was exposed again on the Monday night’s Four Corners program. I am disappointed that the Minister did not make this commitment. Instead, she has asked the area health service CEO, Professor Deborah Picone, to investigate providing an outreach service from Prince of Wales Hospital to support the nurses at Caritas when necessary. This would address any potential safety and staffing issues at Caritas. Professor Picone will also work with St Vincents in drafting a community mental health service model for the area. While this may provide longer term solutions, it does not address immediate needs. The 28 bed Caritas facility is reported to be at 98% capacity, with people queued in St Vincent’s Hospital Emergency Department waiting to be assessed, others waiting for admission, and others in crisis waiting on inner city streets. The Minister herself recently acknowledged that emergency presentations are increasing, partly as a result of increased use of the drug “ICE”. Media reports identified that the Government promised to upgrade Caritas in 1999 following an adverse Coroner’s finding about the safety of this facility. The Government has not fulfilled this commitment and sadly, a staff member was recently badly assaulted, requiring intensive care support. The Government has provided funds for a six bed Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC) that should be open at the end of October, as I have previously reported. And two new Clinical Nurse Consultant positions will work with General Practitioners and homelessness services to improve care outside the inpatient facility. However, the Caritas facility urgently needs to be redeveloped so it is safe for patients and staff, and expanded to meet current demand. I met several times with the previous Minister for Health (now the Premier) and have asked to meet with the new Minister to get immediate action. Action: EXTENDING DAYLIGHT SAVINGDuring debate on the Standard Time Amendment (Daylight Saving) Bill 2005, which will extend daylight saving during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, I moved an amendment to make daylight saving time begin on the first Sunday in October each year and end on the last Sunday in April. It was very disappointing that my proposal was opposed, surprisingly, by the Minister for Tourism and both the Government and Opposition voted against it. An extension of daylight saving makes sense not just during the Commonwealth Games but also for economic, social, cultural and environmental reasons. People work long hours and would appreciate some daylight time at the end of the working day. That is what daylight saving means: saving time for families and friends. Australians have an average working week that is amongst the longest in the developed world. People want to be able to get home in the evening and have a chance to relax in a park, at the beach, or in their backyards with family and friends. This is one of the best things about the summer months, and we should extend the opportunity to early spring. Extended daylight saving worked for us during the Olympic Games in 2000. Everyone remembers the buzz and feeling around the city during that time. We were out on the streets enjoying long spring days—the city was alive. The logic behind this concept is simple: a better use of daylight hours. Extending daylight saving would allow us to enjoy the world's most beautiful playground, with our harbour, the beaches, parks, and playgrounds. An extension of daylight saving would be beneficial for Sydney business. Shops, bars, and outdoor cafes would experience increased trade and I am sure there would be a marked reduction in stress for office workers. The chamber of commerce has previously indicated its support for such an extension. An early extension of daylight saving would encourage adults and children to stay outdoors and be more active. Families could spend more time with each other, engaged in healthy activities. There are also convincing environmental reasons for extending daylight saving time. Daylight saving has been introduced into many countries to save energy. Another benefit of daylight saving is increased community safety and a parallel reduction in the fear of crime. FINAL CHECK BEFORE CUB EXHIBITIONThe Central Sydney Planning Committee (CSPC) has deferred consideration of draft planning controls for Chippendale’s Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) site to enable a final review and changes before placing the draft on public exhibition. The CSPC supports the creation of a large 5000 square metre area of public open space near the site’s southern boundary. The proposed built form aims to respond to the existing Chippendale buildings to the south and the terraces and heritage buildings along Kensington Street. Larger buildings will be located along Broadway to protect existing residential amenity and limit overshadowing of future open space. The CSPC is continuing to discuss the scale of development, particularly in relation to sunlight access, heritage controls, street grid layout and residential amenity controls. As the Lord Mayor I have championed the need for improved public transport and the reduction of car dependency and it is no different for the CUB site. The Officer's report on the CUB Site recommends that it be treated the same as any development site with regards to car parking and his can only be done by applying the car parking rates that are within the relevant Development Control Plan and Local Environment Plan for Parking. The existing rates are currently being reviewed and they will take into account accessibility to public transport and to other services, and the changes will form part of the City’s greater review and consolidation of planning controls, known as the City Plan Review.
The revised draft LEP and DCP for parking rates is expected to be reported to Council and the CSPC by December 2005, and this is likely to be in place before any applications for the CUB site are received by the City. A Voluntary Planning Agreement is also being negotiated with the land owner to secure commitments for facilities such as a child care centre, a community centre or upgrade and linkages to existing public parks. I expect the draft CUB planning controls will be reported back to the CSPC in October and soon after placed on public exhibition. GOOD NEWS FOR ROSE BAY SECONDARY COLLEGECongratulations to the Parents and Citizens Association at Rose Bay Secondary College who have finally been told that the Government has allocated funds and developed plans for Stage 2 of the redevelopment of the school, which was promised when the Government decided to amalgamate the Dover Heights and Vaucluse High Schools. Julia Meare, one of the campaign leaders, tells me that School Council
members have seen the Department of Commerce plans for this final stage
of the school redevelopment and are happy with the designs. She also says
that the Department has planned the construction work to minimise disruption
to students. EVENT ALERT!
WWW.CLOVERMOORE.COMClover's eNews is a regular update to keep the community informed on important issues, events and campaigns. To join the free email subscription list, email clover@clovermoore.com with SUBSCRIBE eNEWS in the subject and your name, email address and suburb in the body of the email. You can also subscribe here on line. — Clover Moore, Independent Member for Bligh |
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