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Marrickville Council moves to prohibit coal seam gas at St Peters

Marrickville Greens – media release

9 May 2012

At last night’s Marrickville Council development meeting Greens Councillor Max Phillips moved an additional condition of consent that prohibits coal seam gas exploration and extraction for the Dial-A-Dump site at St Peters, where Dart Energy has controversial plans to drill for coal seam gas.  The additional condition was supported unanimously by the elected council.

The additional condition of consent reads:

That mining or gas exploration or extraction activities be prohibited on the site, due to the proximity to residences, the safety and health risks associated with gas extraction, and the uncertainty over the effect of coal seam gas extraction on the local environment and aquifers, and the potential to further contaminate the land

“This sends a strong signal to both the land holder and Dart Energy that Marrickville Council is united in its opposition to coal seam gas in the Inner West,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips.

“Dial-A-Dump should rip up its landholder agreement with Dart Energy.  Its now crystal clear that the community and council do not want gas exploration or extraction at St Peters.

“The State Government should cancel the exploration licence that covers the Sydney Metropolitan Area.  No part of Sydney should become a dangerous coal seam gas field,” he said.

Contact:  Cr Max Phillips: 0419 444 916

Update: It has now been revealed that neither Dart Energy nor the gas exploration companies that held the licence for St Peters have ever negotiated a land access agreement with the Dial-A-Dump company that owns the land where they planned to drill for gas!  More at kateausburn.com

Green Leadership on Pool and Library

Delivering the new Marrickville Library is shaping up like a re-run of the campaign to get Enmore Pool built. Four years ago The Greens strongly supported of the campaign for the new pool. Back then we were bitterly opposed by Independent councillors, Morris Hanna and Victor Macri.

Now these same councillors oppose our vision for a new Library, Community Hub and forecourt park on the Marrickville Hospital site. Again they are being supported by the Labor Party Councillors.

The success of the Enmore Pool provides council with a great model for its other Major Projects, such as the Library. After a year of operation Enmore Pool has proven a huge success, with crowds enjoying the centre’s 3 pools, gym, and café. Its popularity has been reflected in the bottom line and the previously heavily subsidised pool now runs at a small profit.

The Greens vision for the new Library is to provide a sustainable civic hub that adaptively reuses and extends the heritage Marrickville Hospital building and integrates a park/ forecourt with the internal areas of the Library. We want to develop the hospital site not overdevelop it.

Clr Hanna, now the Mayor of Marrickville, and his colleague, Clr Macri, want to build a 9 storey building on the corner of Marrickville and Livingstone Roads. This would rule out the idea of providing a park for Library users and the local community.

Morris Hanna’s track record of never once voting in support of Enmore Pool can hardly give the community confidence in his plans for the Library. The Greens think he just wants to overdevelop the site rather than deliver the best Library for Marrickville.

The Greens supported a vision of Enmore Pool that involved the community. Council has developed some great designs for the new Library and the Greens support progressing the design competition winner. Our track record of getting it right with Enmore Pool should give the community confidence in our ability to deliver a great library for Marrickville.

Labor and Independent Councillors flee the building to stop Council meeting.

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Tonight Labor and Independent Councillors fled the Council building to deny the scheduled Council meeting a quorum.

Councillors Marika Kontellis (right) and Cathy Peters (left) wonder why Labor and Independent Councillors have fled the Council meeting

About 40 residents waited patiently for half an hour to see if the Councillors would show up, but they failed to materialise.

A quorum for Council meetings is seven Councillors.  The five Greens Councillors were there, along with Independent Councillor Dimitrios Thanos.

It is believed the Independents and Labor Councillors wanted to avoid facing the community and voting on several motions relating to the new library and community hub project.

Councillors Iskandar (Labor), Tsardoulias (Labor) and Hanna (Ind) moved a rescission motion to delay the new library process and go back to the 2009 master plan that incorporated a nine storey building on the corner of Marrickville and Livingstone Roads, rather than the current plans for a new park and library forecourt.

“The failure of the Mayor Morris Hanna, Clr Victor Macri and  Labor Councillors to attend the Marrickville Council meeting is a real slap in the face to the community,” said Greens Councillor Peter Olive.

Where is the Mayor?

“These councillors were promoting
a 9 storey building instead of a public park to be built in front of the proposed new library.  When those who were here realised they didn’t have the numbers to push this through, they left the building so the meeting could not start.

“This tactic further delays progress on the library/ community centre /urban park project.  Playing politics should not be a replacement for responsible  governance and these tactics can hardly give the community confidence in those councillors who left the council chambers with a full gallery.”

Labor backing away from commitment to new Marrickville library

Media Release – Marrickville Greens

22 March 2012

The Greens have slammed Marrickville Mayor, Morris Hanna and the Labor Party for backing away from their previous commitment to a new library after they voted to delay the latest step in the new Marrickville Library project.

The five Greens Councillors combined with Independent Councillor Dimitrios Thanos to support further work into the requirements for library and community facilities, but were defeated 5 – 6 by independents Morris Hanna and Victor Macri and the Labor Councillors

“This delay is unnecessary and clearly shows that Labor Councillors and the Independents want to use the library issue as a political football in the lead up to the September council elections,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips.

“Working towards a quality new library and community space for the citizens of Marrickville should be too important to play election politics with.

“The Greens want a quality new library and community space.  We consider it an investment in our children and community well being.

“Independent Councillor Macri let the cat out of the bag last night by telling the council meeting that he wanted a bare bones ‘soup kitchen’ style library.  Surely our children and community deserves better?,” said Councillor Phillips.

A rescission motion was lodged prior to the end of the meeting which means the matter will be revisited and voted on at the next Council meeting.

“Labor have a chance next council meeting to show whether they are really committed to building a quality new library, or not,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips

Contact: Councillor Max Phillips 0419 444 916

Marrickville Metro expansion approval is a very bad planning decision

Media Release – Marrickville Greens

22 March 2012

The Greens have condemned the Planning Assessment Commission’s decision to approve the expansion of the Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre, labelling it a terrible planning decision that will harm the community.

“An expanded Marrickville Metro is not only bad for local residents and traffic, but will harm the economic health of our local shopping strips,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips.

“This decision is a legacy of Labor’s Part 3A planning law that stripped local communities of important planning decisions.

“This decision totally disregards zoning provisions and Marrickville’s urban strategy which is to strengthen existing shopping strips and community hubs.

“Why on earth did the Department of Planning agree to the Marrickville LEP, only to blow a massive hole in it a few months later by approving an expansion to a shopping centre in a zoning where it is not permissible?

“The perception is that while local residents and small time developers have to abide by planning rules, the big players like AMP Capital can ignore the rules.

“The Greens congratulate the excellent community campaign that did have an impact by improving the expansion plans.  However, at the end of the day the community’s wishes have been trumped by AMP Capital’s slick PR and corporate muscle.

“If this development had been decided by the locally elected council, it is clear it would have been rejected outright.  Labor’s controversial Part 3A laws, which have since been abolished, made this expansion possible.  The O’Farrell Government has unfortunately kept many features of the Part 3A system – such as Planning Assessment Commissions deciding developments rather than local councils.

“The Greens will continue to work on Marrickville Council and with the community to minimise the impact of the expanded Metro on the local community, traffic conditions and local businesses,” he said.

Contact: Councillor Max Phillips 0419 444 916

Twenty Years of Greens on Marrickville Council

Twenty years ago, on the 14th of September 1991, Bruce Welch was elected to Marrickville Council and John Sutton was elected to Newcastle Council. They were the first Greens elected to local government in NSW.

How To Vote Green in 1991

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Bruce’s election, Marrickville and Petersham Newtown Greens have organised a get-together of all eleven Greens elected to Marrickville over that twenty year period.

There will be brief speeches from Bruce Welch, our first Greens Mayor, Sam Byrne, and our current Greens Mayor, Fiona Byrne.

Members are welcome to join us in this modest celebration of our two decades of representation on Marrickville Council.

When: Thursday the 22nd of September 2011
Where: Petersham Town Hall, Crystal Street Petersham
Time: 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

RSVP to Colin Hesse for catering purposes at colinh@nsw.greens.org.au

For more details on the history of the Greens in the inner west (and Colin Hesse’s hair style through the decades) visit http://davidshoebridge.org.au/2011/09/14/greens-celebrate-twenty-years-in-local-government/

Video: Build the GreenWay Bike Ride – 28 August 2011

Don’t let the New State Government dump the GreenWay

From Friends of the Greenway:

Friends of the Greenway today called on the NSW Government to commit to funding and implementing the 5km long Iron Cove to Cooks River GreenWay, as an integral component of the light rail extension from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill.

Friends of the Greenway Convenor Jud Agius said the GreenWay is a 15-year vision to turn the former goods line into a bushland and integrated active transport corridor for walking, cycling and light rail, linking the Cooks River with Sydney Harbour.

“It is vital that the new Government follows through on funding for the GreenWay, so that the benefits of this integrated transport project are realised. Integrating the GreenWay with the light rail was a commitment made by the previous Labor Government, and it is what the community are saying they want” he said.

The GreenWay will include a shared pedestrian and cycle path and regeneration of a diverse bush corridor, alongside the light rail route.

The regeneration will assist with the recovery of the threatened population of the Long-nosed Bandicoot which has been found living in the corridor.

The former NSW Government committed around $20-30 million for the GreenWay, less than one fifth of the total project budget of $150m for both the light rail and GreenWay. Despite requests by Friends of the Greenway and the Councils, the new State Government has not confirmed GreenWay funding, while committing to funding the light rail.

“We are now hearing rumours from credible sources that the GreenWay funding is to be cut in the State budget to be released in September. We are calling on residents of the Inner West to let the State Government know we want the GreenWay as much as the light rail, and it must not cut the GreenWay’s funding.” Mr Agius said.

“The GreenWay will be a show case for a people-friendly Sydney, and a glimpse of what a sustainable Sydney could look like in the 21st Century, with walking and cycling happening alongside sustainable public transport. In fact the GreenWay will increase patronage for the light rail.” Mr Agius said.

“The GreenWay is a once in a generation opportunity that we cannot afford to lose. It will be much more difficult and a poorer outcome, if the GreenWay is not built and designed at the same time as the light rail.”

“The GreenWay vision was actually around long before light rail was even mooted, so the current refusal of the NSW Government to commit to it is very concerning.

“Without the GreenWay, we’ll simply be turning an industrial goods line corridor into an industrial light rail corridor and leaving a degraded, weed-infested area around the line. With all the new medium density housing going into the area this would be a sub-standard result for the area.”

Mr Agius said the GreenWay would have many advantages including:

• Helping to increase patronage of the light rail, by linking regional cycling and walking routes (such as the Parramatta to Botany Bay route along the Cooks River and Bay Run to City route) with the light rail operation;
• Creating a regional active transport corridor linking with Sydney’s CBD for the growing (and ageing) population of not only the Inner-West, but surrounding Sydney sub-regions;
• Providing much-needed open space for the community, volunteer bushcare groups and habitat for local flora and fauna;
• Protecting an Endangered Population of bandicoot, and establishing a green bush corridor though a highly urbanised part of Sydney;
• Getting people out of their cars and on to other sustainable transport forms – reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting Sydney as a sustainable city;
• Providing an opportunity for children to walk or cycle safely to school, with some 23 schools within the GreenWay catchment area. The State Government and Councils have already created this expectation with parents and teachers in the area.

Mr Agius thanked Ashfield, Marrickville, Canterbury and Leichhardt Councils for their ongoing support of the GreenWay.

“The Councils have been doing a fantastic job, advocating for the GreenWay and promoting it to the community. There are many Council run projects already underway in the GreenWay that have involved several thousand residents and school kids.” Mr Agius said.

In 2009, the NSW Government provided a $1.8m Urban Sustainability Grant to Ashfield Council on behalf of the four Councils to help build community support for the GreenWay. In addition, the Government has given a number of grants to help plan for the corridor.

The ‘2nd Greenway Festival’ from 23-29 October 2011 is being organised by the Urban Sustainability team based at Ashfield Council.

To write to the Premier and Minister for Transport, download campaign letters at www.friendsofthegreenway.org.au

For more information about the Greenway go to www.greenway.org.au

Marrickville Budget puts works on the ground

29 June 2011 – media release

Marrickville Council’s 2011-12 budget will see works on the ground fast-tracked with funds ear-marked for increased bicycle parking infrastructure, the upgrade of Marrickville Station precinct, grants for community gardens and verge planting and tree planting, new filtered water fountains in Marrickville and Enmore, and the renovation of Petersham Pool.

“This budget is about getting tangible work on the ground to improve the local neighborhood and improve environmental sustainability,” said Greens Mayor Fiona Byrne.

“Council is continuing its many great programs to cater for our diverse community through aged care services, child care services, continuing the improvement of the Cooks River, improving our foot paths, civic areas and much more.”

“Works will commence to renovate Petersham Pool after the summer swimming season.

“The cycling boom in the Inner West will be catered for with new bicycle parking built at train stations and shopping strips.

“Filtered water fountains will be rolled out in Marrickville and Enmore after a successful trial in Newtown.

“More street trees will be planted to improve streetscapes and increase the canopy of the Inner West.

“Grants will be available to citizens to help establish community gardens, verge planting and bush pockets.

“Council will also look into partitioning sports field lights so that lighting can be used sustainably, saving electricity and reducing carbon emissions.

“There will be big challenges ahead, especially the redevelopment of a new library on the Marrickville Hospital site. This budget will set us up to undertake this important work.”

“Council committed $240,000 to fighting graffiti and diverting young people into more constructive activities.” said Mayor Byrne.