Clover's eNews—Friday, 25 November 2005—No. 274WINS AND LOSSES FOR PETSIn Parliament last week, the Government introduced amendments to implement recommendations of the five-year review of the Companion Animals Act 1998. The review received 245 submissions raising about 1,000 issues, demonstrating the importance of pets in people’s lives. When the Act was last amended in 2003, there was too much emphasis on punishing owners and restricting dangerous dogs, and too little on educating our community about the benefits and responsibilities of pet ownership. I am pleased that the principal object of the Act has now been spelled out – “to provide for the effective and responsible care and management of companion animals”. I support the greater prominence the Act gives to community education, but I am concerned that this responsibility is being placed on local Councils. The Bill imposes other responsibilities on Councils, who now must identify all dangerous or restricted dogs in their area; seek alternatives to euthanasia of animals they have seized; and identify the owners of any dogs or cats killed by vehicles. In Parliament, I sought assurances that the Government would increase the Companion Animal Fund in line with the increased responsibilities that Councils face under this Bill. I approve of the introduction of “temperament assessments”, an important step in recognising that behaviour, not breed, should be the basis on which animals are judged. I opposed the Bill’s emphasis on restricting certain dog breeds. Animal behaviourist, Dr Kersti Seksel, told my office that, unsurprisingly, dogs are not the problem; it’s their owners. People who want to own dangerous dogs will buy a Rottweiler or another dog if they cannot buy a Pit Bull Terrier. Restricting one or two breeds will not prevent or even reduce dog attacks; only community education has been found to have that effect. Meanwhile, Woollahra Municipal Council has reviewed the results of a six-month trial for dogs off leash every day after 4:30pm and before 8:30am in the Royal Hospital for Women Park, Paddington. Council officers recommended that these arrangements continue and I asked Councillors to maintain the current arrangements. Instead, Council voted to make the park dog free every Sunday between 10.00am to 8.00pm, with no leash-free period, and hold a further review in six months. I am concerned that this new regime is confusing, and will prolong community division. This is an example where community education for both pet owners and the wider community is required, along with integrated planning for open space to meet all community needs. COUNCIL SETS DIRECTION FOR REDFERN PARKOn Monday night, Council resolved to proceed with its $19 million refurbishment for Redfern Park. After years of debate on the future of the unsafe, unsightly and underused Redfern Oval, the decision sets the direction for the Redfern Park upgrade, with the Oval as a facility for all the community. The design will integrate the new oval into Redfern Park and provide public access to maximise the available recreational and open space. The Oval will be upgraded to a professional-level training field, with a total ground capacity of 8,000, a new grandstand on the site of the existing stand and related facilities. The field will be available to the Rabbitohs to use as their preferred training ground and a limited number of pre-season or exhibition matches. It will also be accessible for all football codes and other outdoor activities for junior and senior teams, and for the general community at other times. The oval will be managed and maintained to a high standard by Council, with a new, sensitively designed, perimeter fence being investigated to protect the playing field. The Redfern Park upgrade aims to return a refurbished park and oval, located on public land, to the general community by end of 2008. Council will now develop a Concept Master Plan, with public consultation, by mid-2006. NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR SURRY HILLSCouncil has begun the initial work for a new multi-purpose community centre for Surry Hills. The much needed centre will replace the existing library, neighbourhood centre and childcare centre in Crown Street, Surry Hills. Council recently appointed FJMT, Architects, to design the new facility and the City is now seeking community input on the design. I invite you a community meeting on 3 December at the Surry Hills Library, starting at 3pm. This will give you the opportunity to present your views on the proposed design. The new centre will provide a “community library for the future”, with first class information retrieval and display systems, and free access to a large number of electronic databases. The new child care facility planned for the centre will have an additional 18 places to help meet the increased need for child care in the area. The Centre will also contain flexible meeting spaces for 20-100 people which will serve a variety of community needs, ranging from public forums to art activities. Council aims to provide a Centre with an informal and welcoming atmosphere for all the community. The new facility will occupy the same site and alternative locations will be found for the current services while construction is underway. THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL ART SCHOOLI have asked the Minister for Education and Training to maintain the independence of the National Art School and its studio-based approach. Several constituents have contacted me about the future of the National Art School and the need to ensure continuing diversity of arts education. In 1994, I supported the then Opposition Leader Bob Carr’s commitment to maintain the National Art School as an independent institution with its studio-based learning model. The issue then, as now, is that diversity of educational approaches in the arts is vital to encourage creativity and initiative. I share community concern that the National Art School not be subsumed into a large institution, with the community losing a unique approach to learning and the arts. I understand that both Macquarie University and the University of NSW College of Fine Arts have submitted tenders to take on management of the National Art School. While they are fine institutions, this would inevitably subsume the National Art School and we would lose an institution that has nurtured many famous Australian artists and sculptors, and a school with a history linked to the early Arts and Mechanics Institutes in Sydney. THE CITY CELEBRATES CHRISTMASLast night I took part in the traditional lighting of the Christmas Tree at a family concert in Martin Place. This popular event marked the beginning of the City’s Christmas celebrations and will be followed by other Christmas events throughout the City. This year, Australian themes and colours predominate in our Christmas decorations. Our Living Colour Christmas flower displays, which are arranged in shapes such as stars, puddings, crackers, stockings and trees, feature throughout the CBD and in Erskineville, Newtown, Woolloomooloo, Pyrmont, Kings Cross and Surry Hills. Our Christmas Banners, featuring gumnut blossoms, bottlebrush flowers, gum leaves and stars line city centre streets and may be in seen in many areas throughout the city. The City has also produced Christmas window banners for use by local businesses in local retail precincts. Fairy lighting in several community parks and Hyde Park add to the festive spirit. The Australian Christmas theme will also feature in the nightly illuminations of Sydney Town Hall (from 8.30 each evening until Christmas) and stunning decorations of two of the brickwork chimneys in Sydney Park, also lit at night. The City is presenting Christmas concerts in Alexandria Park, Alexandria, Turruwal Park, Rosebery and Ward Park, Surry Hills. We are also supporting Christmas events in Kings Cross, Camperdown and Pyrmont. Our libraries and community centres are organising their own local Christmas events. Christmas Trees outside St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney Square and in the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt will be the focus of carol singing. The Christmas message of peace, hope and renewal has relevance and meaning for all of us, whatever our individual beliefs or faiths. Our official charity this year is State Emergency Services (SES) and we acknowledge and support the SES volunteers who are always on hand to help us when needed. The City has contributed funds towards the purchase of two Mitsubishi dual cab Canter fire trucks which I presented to the SES on Wednesday. These top-of-the-line vehicles will assist the SES continue their work providing help throughout Sydney during storms, floods and bushfires. Our ‘Meals on Wheels’ volunteers will deliver over 250 Christmas hampers, and our Community Centres will offer activities and more than 500 Christmas lunches, inviting those who may not have family to share this special time. I hope you will take time to enjoy our Christmas celebrations.
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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