Clover's eNews – Issue 427 – Friday, 12 December 2008
| Supporting the Seedbeds of Culture | New Local Traffic Scheme Approach for Surry Hills | Progress on Harris Street | New Caritas Redevelopment Plans | Relief For Animal Rescue | Recognising Outstanding Women | Event Alert |
Supporting the Seedbeds of Culture
During a City Talk last year, Neil Armfield, Director of the Belvoir Street Theatre, spoke about the need to maintain the "seedbeds" of culture-the places where artists and performers can work and grow.
This theme was repeated during consultations for Sustainable Sydney 2030. While Sydney has world class cultural venues, people involved in the arts told us there was a shortage of creative workspaces. Sydney's high costs make it prohibitively expensive for artists to work in the City.
On Monday, Council's Cultural and Community Services Committee unanimously endorsed strategic directions to address this need, particularly drawing on an approach adopted by Frasers Property within its Carlton United Breweries (CUB) site redevelopment at Chippendale.
The CUB project involves redevelopment of Kensington Street Chippendale, which includes a row of warehouses and some terrace houses. Rather than leave the warehouses vacant, Frasers is providing them for temporary artist studios and rehearsal spaces.
The spaces are being managed by Queen Street Studio, a Chippendale based incorporated arts organisation. Artists have access to free space for three month residencies in the main warehouse, with the two smaller warehouses available for hire for performance-based rehearsal or presentation of work.
City staff will document this model and look at ways of encouraging owners of unused buildings to allow temporary use of their space by artists.
The City already supports arts and cultural organisations through our Grants and Sponsorship Program, with 13 cultural organisations receiving subsidised accommodation, including Gallery 4A, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, PACT Youth Theatre and Tom Bass Sculpture Studio School.
Several other City properties will also be assessed for new cultural opportunities:
The Riley Street Depot in Woolloomooloo, which could become artists working studios, managed using the same model as Frasers Studios.
The soon to be completed Paddington Reservoir Gardens will be ideally suited for presenting visual arts and performances.
The heritage Taylor Square Toilets in Darlinghurst, successfully used an exhibition space during Art & About, could be managed as a student gallery.
The City is currently restoring the Burton Street Tabernacle as a cultural and community space and the refurbishment of Glebe Town Hall will look at the possibility of providing space for creative tenants, including artists' studios and rehearsal spaces.
Where possible, "writers in residence" spaces will be designed into new libraries or major library redevelopments. In keeping with this approach, plans for the additional floor of Kings Cross library include provision for writers' studios. There will also be increased space for writers and writing groups to present their work and to meet.
Information
Officers' report: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCom...
Related information: | Arts & Culture | eNews |
New Local Traffic Scheme Approach for Surry Hills
The new "Pedestrian, Cyclist and Traffic Calming Scheme" for Surry Hills, being considered by Council next Monday, reflects detailed community consultation, technical review, and a commitment to focus on walking, cycling and amenity in our traffic studies.
Our new approach replaces traditional "Local Area Traffic Management Schemes" (LATMS) with a more integrated review. Participants in recent LATM consultations asked us to consider the full range of local traffic and transport issues in their area. They also asked us to pursue solutions with the State Government where identified problems fall outside Council's direct responsibility.
The draft Surry Hills scheme proposes 50 treatments that will take at least five years to complete, with priority treatments scheduled over the next two years. Recommended treatments include:
a 40 km/hr speed limit on all local streets, subject to RTA approval;
further work to develop the comprehensive cycle network envisioned in the City's Cycle Strategy and Action Plan, including a separated cycleway on Chalmers Street and investigating two-way cycle access on one-way roads;
wider footpaths at all intersections along Albion and Foveaux Streets, and along Crown Street between Cleveland and Devonshire Streets.
kerb extensions at intersections along Elizabeth Street;
an additional signalised pedestrian crossing on Chalmers Street to link Surry Hills to Prince Alfred Park;
investigating the closure of Nickson Street at Cleveland Street; and
Shared Zones are proposed in Nichols Street, Bennet Place, Fanny Place, Bennet Street, McElhone Place and Prospect Street.
The Planning Development and Transport Committee meeting on Monday also unanimously supported Independent Councillor John McInerney's amendment to pursue returning Foveaux and Albion Streets to two-way traffic. The current one-way arrangement creates freeway conditions that encourage speed, undermine pedestrian safety and divide the Surry Hills village.
As the Surry Hills Pedestrian, Cyclist and Traffic Calming Scheme was developed at the same time as the Bourke Street cycleway, some improvements have been incorporated into that project. This includes improved signalised intersections at Foveaux and Albion Streets, improved safety at the intersection with Devonshire Street and new pedestrian crossings, including at Short Street.
Information
Officer's Report to Committee: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCom...
Related information: | eNews |
Progress on Harris Street
Construction for the first stages of the City's Harris Street revitalisation is scheduled to begin early next year, following Council's consideration next week of tenders for the work.
At the intersection with William Henry Street, near the stunning Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, the City will widen footpaths, provide new paving, create a drop off bay for community buses, and install new smart poles and bicycle racks.
Further along Harris Street at the "Pyrmont Village" between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Miller Street, the work will install new pavements, widen footpaths at the major intersections, extend footpath "blisters" for outdoor dining and create a new right turn-bay at the intersection with Pyrmont Bridge Road. Ugly overhead wires will be buried, a pocket park created, new street furniture installed and decorative lighting provided for Union Square.
Council endorsed the scope of works in March following consultation with local residents and businesses, and public exhibition of the draft plans. At the request of many shop owners, work is scheduled to begin in 2009 after the busy Christmas and holiday period.
Information
Officers' reports to the Committee: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCom...
Related information: | eNews |
New Caritas Redevelopment Plans
New owners have applied to the NSW Government to change approved redevelopment plans for the Caritas site bounded by Burton, Forbes and Bourke Streets, Darlinghurst, which was sold to part-fund the relocation of mental health services. A new health facility is now being built at the main St Vincent's Hospital campus.
New proposals include removal of a through-site pedestrian link along the Northern side of Caritas House. The applicant claims that this access is no longer required because front views of Caritas House will provide adequate heritage "appreciation". The application also cites safety concerns with public access and says that it is not a useful pedestrian link.
Modified proposals increase floor to ceiling heights from 3 to 3.15 metres, which the applicant says will allow better thermal and acoustic insulation, and lighting and flooring covering. There are no changes to floor space or the number of stories.
Changes would result in fewer apartments, less commercial space and replacement of one of the plane trees to be removed as a result of the development.
This development will be determined by the Department of Planning. Submissions are due by Friday 19 December.
Information
DOP Planner David Gibson, phone 9228 6589
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?...
Related information: | Planning & Development | eNews |
Relief For Animal Rescue
The Minister for Local Government has responded to my request to allow applications to exempt animal rescue organisations from unnecessary registration requirements.
Animal shelters and rescue groups report that they operate at capacity, and that their costs overwhelmingly outweigh payments for re-homing abandoned pets. While the Department of Local Government can reduce the cost of rescue work by exempting rescue groups from registration requirements, it had not considered applications for three years.
My letter to the Minister for Local Government and Questions in Parliament supported the "Fix NSW Animal Policy" community campaign that resulted in 10,000 letters to MPs. The Department of Local Government quickly announced that it will again accept applications from rescue organisations and has released new guidelines for exempt groups.
I have also written to the Premier to support RSPCA NSW's campaign for funds to upgrade its Yagoona shelter, which risks closure if the facilities are not improved.
Shelters and rescuers cannot re-home all the pets dumped - tens of thousands of abandoned cats and dogs are killed every year in NSW alone. My Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill, which would ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops and markets and limit advertisement sales to recognised breeders and those re-homing abandoned animals, aims to reduce impulse buying and cruel mass breeding practices.
Information
Fix NSW Animal Policy Campaign: www.fixnswanimalpolicy.com
New rescue group regulations www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/documents/Circulars/08-73.pdf
My Bill www.clovermoore.com/main/?id=1874
Related information: | Animal Welfare | eNews |
Recognising Outstanding Women
Each year I nominate an outstanding woman as the "Sydney Electorate Woman of the Year" to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions made by women. If you know of a woman who has made significant contribution to your local community who might be recognised through this award, please call Mary at my Electorate Office by Friday 19 December, phone 9360 3053.
My nominee will join others from across NSW for an International Women's Day reception hosted by the Premier on 5 March 2009, with 10 finalists and a "NSW Woman of the Year" chosen from those nominated.
Related information: | Community Services | eNews |
Event Alert
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY: The Legislative Assembly sits again 3 March 2009. For sitting days, see www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/HHBSitDay2009
CITY OF SYDNEY: Committees and Council meet Monday evenings and the Central Sydney Planning Committee meets Thursdays, generally every three weeks, in the Council Chamber, Level 3 Town Hall House. The next Council meeting is at 5pm on Monday 15 December.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CONCERT, ALEXANDRIA: 6.30 - 8.30pm Saturday 13 December, Alexandria Park, Alexandria. Information: 9265 9333 or www.sydneychristmas.com.au.
GLEBE OUTDOOR CINEMA: from dusk Saturday 13 December, outside the Peter Forsyth Auditorium, behind Broadway Shopping Centre. Come and watch films and video clips produced by local young people. Information: 9265 9333
FAMILY CHRISTMAS CONCERT, SURRY HILLS: 6.30 - 8.30pm Sunday 14 December, Ward Park, Surry Hills. Information: 9265 9333 or www.sydneychristmas.com.au.
LUNCHTIME CONVERSATIONS: Free short lunchtime discussion sessions each Wednesday at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts at 12.30-1.30pm. Information: phone 9262 7300 or web: www.sydneymsa.com.au.
GLOBAL AFFAIRS DIALOGUES: First Monday evening of each month at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts at 7pm. Topics include climate change, war and social strife. Information: phone 0431 605 374 or email dialogue_quest@hotmail.com.
WATERSHED SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS: Worm Farming, Composting, Natural Cleaning, and Eco Choices Workshops are held at the Watershed Sustainability Resource Centre, 218 King Street, Newtown, or at Rosebery Community Centre, 78 Harcourt Parade Rosebery. Information: phone 9519 6366, email watershed@marrickville.nsw.gov.au or web www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Environment/TheWatersh...
BIKESYDNEY TWILIGHT RIDES: Every second Tuesday of the month from the GPO steps Martin Place, between George and Pitt Streets, meet 5.45pm for a 6pm departure. Two hour rides from 10 to 20km. Contact BikeSydney for details: email cityride@bikesydney.org or web bikesydney.org/new
POLICING PRECINCT MEETINGS: All Police Commands hold Community Safety Precinct Committee meetings to identify and act on local crime and safety concerns. Clover is represented at Commands that covers the Sydney electorate and Council officers work with Police in all Commands that cover the City of Sydney. Information, contact Roy Bishop, phone 9360 3053 or email sydney@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
TOUR PARLIAMENT HOUSE: First Thursday of each month 1-2pm. Visit the NSW Legislative Assembly and Council chambers, historic parts of this public building, and learn about the role of parliament within our system of government. No bookings necessary. Meet in the forecourt of Parliament House from 12.45pm for a 1pm start. Information: Education Section, phone 9230 2047.
COMMUNITY CENTRES & LIBRARIES: City of Sydney community centres and libraries present a range of events and activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Information is published on the City's website www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au under the Community menu.
EVENTS IN THE CITY: For more events in the City of Sydney area, visit www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn. You can subscribe to email alerts to let you know about events, Development Applications and announcements from the City of Sydney.