Clover's eNews—Friday, 30 September 2005—No. 266CENTENNIAL AND MOORE PARKS – THE GREEN LUNG OF THE CITYMy detailed submission on the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust’s draft Plan of Management rejects the plan’s “Monumentalism” in favour of green open spaces and recreation. The Plan of Management should genuinely document the principles and mechanisms that protect and promote parkland priorities and values, and will be effective in guiding and directing the Trust. The parklands face increasing pressures, with urban consolidation bringing significant residential growth in surrounding suburbs. This will add another 30,000 residents to this area, many of whom will have little or no private open space. Nearby suburbs such as Surry Hills and Redfern already have low rates of open space. The Trust’s primary role should be to provide for the open space and recreation needs for the region’s surrounding residential communities now and into the future. The Trust should maintain rather than diminish open space and soft landscaping, and take all opportunities to extend parklands by reversing past alienations. Another important and broader role of the park complex is extending tree canopy for city environmental benefits – to maintain and expand absorbent areas that compensate for the increasingly hard surfaced surrounding urbanised suburbs. The draft Plan does not include detailed information about current users, car parking, and finances. I understand that about 70% of users live within 5 km of the parklands, and what they want most is protection of the parklands as well as basic facilities like toilets, weather shelters, and cleaner ponds. The consultation on this draft was restricted and inadequate. “Invited” people were asked to structured discussions. The Information Day was cancelled due to scattered showers, with no notices on the day. My submission proposed important principles to underpin the Plan of Management:
Past Trust decisions have indicated a preference for the creation of monuments and formal spaces, instead of basic works to enhance everyday usage. The expensive gate structure for the Grand Drive was at a cost that could alternatively have put flanking power lines underground, or put a footbridge across Anzac Parade to facilitate park access and connectivity. It is shameful that basic works such as preventing the flooding of footpaths around the Grand Drive have not occurred, while aggrandisement continues apace. The Plan of Management should emphasise works based on park usage and values. Information:
FORUM ON GREEN SQUARE’S FUTUREThe community will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss planning directions for Green Square at a community forum on Wednesday 10 October. The Green Square Urban Renewal Area, located between the CBD and the Airport, is nearly three hundred (300) hectares in size and covers the suburbs of Zetland, Beaconsfield, Alexandria, Rosebery, and Waterloo. The City wants to build on the area’s accessibility so it becomes a vibrant, dynamic, and sustainable urban place, with a Green Square Town Centre that is the commercial, retail and cultural hub of the district. City staff and I will provide feedback on issues raised at the Community Forum in August and updates on projects affecting the development of the area. Topics we will be discussing include:
This forum will be part of ongoing community consultation. I hope residents will join with us and get involved in a living project to create the community where they will want to live, work and raise their families. The Forum will begin at 6pm at the Green Square Community facility, 3 Joynton Avenue, Zetland on 10 October 2005. COURT IMPOSES STRICT CONDITIONS ON SPRUIKERSThe Land and Environment Court has imposed strict conditions on spruikers operating outside Playbirds International at 70-70A Darlinghurst Road. The strip club had appealed against Council’s condition prohibiting spruikers as part of the consent for the club. On 16 September 2005, Commissioner Bly gave approval to a 12 month trial for one spruiker to operate outside the club at any one time. The spruiker may only occupy a radius of half of the width of the footpath, and there is to be no security guard. Commissioner Bly also adopted the Club’s Spruiker Management Plan as part of the conditions of consent. Under this Plan of Management spruikers should not:
Spruikers must stay within a radius restricted to half the footpath width and wear a uniform. They may trade for 23 hours per day. Council will ensure compliance with the terms of the Court's consent over the trial period. Should the premises fail to comply with these terms, the trial will end after 12 months and will not be renewed. If residents observe spruikers who are not behaving according to the conditions, they should contact Council on 9265 9333, email council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or use the contact form on the City’s website, www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. CITY HELPS RESIDENTS NEEDING HOME-BASED HEALTH CAREMany City of Sydney residents need to receive ongoing health care at home from health care professionals. To help residents and their carers, the City has introduced a Health Carer Visitor Parking Scheme. The Health Carer Visitor Parking Permit enables health carers to be exempt from the time limited parking restrictions and parking meter fees while they are visiting residents needing care. Eligible residents obtain the permits from the City and hand them to their carer to display in their vehicle. The permit is available to eligible residents in the City East, City South, and CBD areas. In other City of Sydney areas, residents can apply for a Visitor Permit that can be used for health carer visits. To be eligible, residents must provide a letter from an appropriate Area Health Service or the Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care verifying they are in need of long-term health care. The letter must also list all the vehicles used to provide health care services to the resident, including the registration numbers of those vehicles. For more information about the scheme, phone the City on 02 9265 9333 or go to the City’s website www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. From there, click on About Sydney on the menu bar, then Parking and Transport and Health Carer Parking Permits. SYDNEY SALUTES THE SWANSI was delighted to present the key to the City to the Captain of the AFL Sydney Swans in recognition of the team’s determination, courage and triumph in breaking a 72 year AFL Premiership drought. This is the highest honour the City can bestow. The presentation, on the steps of the Town Hall, followed a victory parade through the CBD in which the team was cheered on by thousands of supporters. At the Town Hall the team was greeted by the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir, and the Premier of NSW, Morris Iemma, who presented a plaque to coach Paul Roos on behalf of the people of NSW. The event was hosted by the City of Sydney and the State Government. I also wish the Wests Tigers rugby league team in Sunday night’s big match against the Queensland Cowboys. If they win, we will look to celebrate the victory with a special event. 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 |
Back
Home