Clover's eNews—Friday, 28 October 2005—No. 270DEBATING TRANSPORT SOLUTIONSI welcome public debate this week around innovative transport solutions, despite media misrepresentation that threatened to derail productive discussion about the real issues. A central message of my speech this week to the Committee for Sydney is that we need debate on new solutions. Our transport problems and road congestion are threatening Sydney's future. Transport is central to our national economic development, and it is central to quality of life in our city. For too long, State and Federal Governments have neglected their responsibilities—they have been too busy concentrating on marginal seats in outer metropolitan and regional areas, at the expense of our cities and our economic future. I'm calling for a new Transport Co-ordination Agency in New South Wales to be responsible for both public transport and roads. Coordination and cooperation between agencies, and integrated ticketing combined with demand management measures, could achieve the change needed. Rather than looking at individual roads in isolation, with ad-hoc approaches to tolls, we need to consider how to improve overall transport integration across the entire city. An integrated traffic and transport plan is a basic requirement to ensure costly road tunnel projects are coordinated with other forms of transport, well planned and demonstrably in the public interest. Sydney needs to look at the lessons from other world cities—the new solutions to manage congestions and fund transport improvements. In order to decide what can work for Sydney, we need to debate and assess London's congestion tax and Singapore's decision to fit e-tolling devices to all vehicles. Asian cities are quickly developing public transport infrastructure because they understand it is critical for economic development. Hong Kong and Singapore had virtually no urban rail before 1990, but now have some of the largest and most efficient operations in the world. The contrast with Sydney's dilapidated, unreliable, uncoordinated and piecemeal transport system is stark. My central call to our State and Federal Governments is to commit funding to improve public transport so people have a real alternative to cars. Earlier this month, I met with new Premier, Morris Iemma, to present the City's proposals for an extended light rail network. It was encouraging that the Premier was clearly interested—although so was former Premier Carr and former opposition leader John Brogden in previous presentations. A similar briefing for the new Opposition Leader, Peter Debnam has been scheduled. The City's compelling case for immediate action on mass transit has been presented to a range of government, business and transport interest groups, and it has received widespread support. It was encouraging that the recent Federal Parliamentary Committee report on Sustainable Cities recommended extending the Federal Government "Roads to Recovery" program to include other modes of transport, including boosting Federal funding for public transport systems, particularly heavy and light rail, in major cities. This report will be the topic of discussion at our next City Talks, 6.30pm on 8 November 2005 at Sydney Town Hall, with Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Newman speaking. I hope you can join the discussion and debate. Read my speech at:
CHALK IT UP IN PYRMONTChalk artists have today been bringing Pyrmont Bridge and Union Square alive with colour, providing an opportunity for you to visit and discover Pyrmont. This weekend is the inaugural Chalk the Walk Festival, sponsored by the City of Sydney. Pyrmont Bridge will be transformed into a pavement canvas adorned with 26 individual chalk artworks, while Union Square in Pyrmont will be the focus of family activities, with entertainment, chalk art drawing and face painting. The Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce is presenting the three day event, with the City of Sydney contributing $15,000 in cash and in-kind support. I invite you to join in the festivities. You will be able to vote for your favourite artwork in the People’s Choice Award and make your mark on the rainbow serpent on Pyrmont Bridge or the dolphin in Union Square. The climax of the Festival will be the announcement of Champion Pavement Artist, at 6pm on Sunday 30 October. The Champion Artist will be chosen from the artists creating the Pyrmont Bridge artworks. More information:
MILLERS POINT YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT AWARDI congratulate the Millers Point Youth and Employment Partnership on winning the “Large Business Award” in the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships. The Partnership previously won the NSW Award. The project offers a variety of programs to young people in Millers Point—including a mentoring program for young people; a homework club; a breakfast club staffed by Lend Lease employees; and RockFest05, a festival of films by young people. This is a unique community and corporate partnership, involving the City of Sydney’s Abraham Mott Youth Centre and KGV Recreation Centre, and Lend Lease. Lend Lease initiated the Partnership in November 2003 when it relocated its head office to Millers Point. The project has active support from Sydney Secondary College – Balmain campus, Fort Street Primary, Rocks Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Housing, Millers Point Tennis Club, The Rocks Police, St Brigid’s Church, Sydney Cove Rotary and Westpac. VICTORIA PARK POOL DELAYThe Victoria Park Pool reopening, following the current refurbishment, has been delayed due to the discovery of serious problems with the balance tank, the overflow tank for pool water. The need for the work was discovered by an engineering assessment, possible only after the pool was emptied. While we would prefer to achieve the earlier open date, the City has chosen to comprehensively refurbish the tank to provide around twenty-five years of service. A cheaper and quicker option, that may not have delayed the reopening, would only have provided around five years of life for the tank, resulting in another closure then and wasting about two million litres of water. Memberships for this period will be extended at no extra cost to members and Council will notify the reopening date as soon as possible. The work is still being arranged and the length of the delay uncertain, although the pool is expected to open before the end of the year. For further information, contact Victoria Park Pool Manager, Troy Duncombe, telephone 9298 3091 or email tduncombe@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. RESIDENTS SOLD OUT ON LUNA PARKThe State Government last week pushed through its Luna Park Site Amendment (Noise Control) Bill, which sets a dangerous precedent for overturning protection for residents, and could be applied in any densely populated area. The legislation was prepared because North Sydney residents had some hope of winning their court case over Luna Park noise levels. I opposed the legislation because:
By EPA standards, the Luna Park noise level is offensive and intrusive: it is loud, well above the background noise levels, fluctuates in volume, occurs during evenings and night, will adversely affect people's normal activities, and is atypical of activities in the area. The people and Council of North Sydney have every right to try to stop this from happening. I endorse the words of North Sydney Mayor, Genia McCaffery, who said: “I can understand that the government may take away people's rights to protect national security or major tourism, but I'm not sure why the government would take away resident's rights to protect a commercial operation.” ENGRAVE AND RECORD YOUR PROPERTYPolice encourage residents engrave property such as computers, audio equipment, televisions, or VCR and DVD players. This may also be possible with some jewellery. The suggestion is to engrave your driver’s license number or similar number that can be easily located. Make a list of all the property and the serial numbers in case of theft. You may need this list for any home contents insurance policy too. Should your property be stolen, police will have a better chance or locating it and it can be traced if it turns up at markets or second hand shops. Kings Cross Police Command has provided engravers for use at Kings Cross Library. You simply borrow the engraver like a book for a week. The City of Sydney has committed to replacing the engravers so that they will continue to be available 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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