A real grass win for Arlington

Real Green grass gets the go ahead for Arlington OvalAfter months of waiting, residents living around Arlington Oval were relieved and overjoyed to hear that Marrickville Council was not going to cover their local field with artificial turf despite lobbying from two A grade soccer clubs who use the oval.

Greens councillor Marika Kontellis has been working steadily with residents throughout this highly emotive period seeking a way forward that would be a win-win for both sides, “The decision to resurface Arlington with natural turf using sophisticated irrigation methods and rainwater harvesting, will make the young soccer players less likely to suffer heat stroke and many of the other health issues associated with synthetic turf. At the same time the decision will give local residents a break from more intensive usage of the field and the loss of amenity that would have gone with that”.

“I’m pleased that the Labor councillors along with Independent West Ward councillor, Dimitrios Thanos finally realized that artificial turf was not a sensible option for Arlington and in the end voted for what the Greens thought was the right solution from the start – green natural grass on the field.”

“It’s a tribute to the local community that they stood their ground and made us all aware of the negative impact the artificial turf would have had on their lives and as an offshoot of this whole process, we hope to see improved conditions for them during the soccer season.”

“As well, I think we need a lot more scientific analysis of artificial turf and its effects on the environment and players before we look at this type of playing surface . It’s one of those things that looks good on face value but in my opinion, does not measure up as it should,”

Enquiries: Clr Marika Kontellis  –  0409076708

Huge Stanmore eucalypt getting the chop

Stanmore is set to   loose a large eucalypt  as Labor and  Independent  councillors  on Marrickville council voted last night against a Greens motion to attempt to save the tree

The corymbia citriodora in Cambridge St., Stanmore is a grand street tree planted in the 70’s, that’s at the centre of a tussle between those that believe the tree is the cause of cracking in a property nearby and those that cite the prolonged drought and clay soil in the inner west, as the major culprits.

“The ongoing drought combined with above average temperatures over a prolonged period, has made many properties in the Marrickville area experience ongoing movement and cracking due to the contraction in the clay soils ” said Councillor Peters

“It’s counterproductive to remove such significant trees from our environment unless there are absolutely no other options.  In this instance the Greens were seeking a period of grace so that proper testing along with amelioration attempts, could be undertaken.”

“This street has numerous properties that exhibit similar cracking in door and window areas and yet in most cases, do not have any trees near them.  This sort of cracking is something most people in the inner west live with and understand that the cracks will close when the soil conditions improve.”

“Trees of this maturity are important assets in our community as they clean our air, sequester large amounts of carbon, provide shade and thus cool the environment as well as providing habitat for native birds and insects. They also add value to our properties and enhance our streets and we need to be mindful of these positive aspects rather than seeing trees as potential risks or nuisances that can be chopped down continually at no cost to us all.”

December 12, 2009

Contact :  Clr Cathy Peters 0419444974

Marrickville Council takes stand against new coal-fired power stations

Media Release 21 October 2009

Marrickville Council passed a resolution at the 20 October Council meeting expressing its opposition to the construction of new coal-fired power stations in NSW as totally incompatible with fighting climate change. Council will write to the state government and advertise its position on this important issue to the local community.

State owned companies Delta Electricity and Macquarie Generation both have plans to build new coal or gas power stations near Lithgow and in the Upper Hunter Valley that would emit 23 millions tonnes of greenhouse pollution every year, the equivalent of four million extra cars on the road.

“Coal is the major cause of climate change in Australia, to build new coal-fired power stations in NSW would be an absolute disaster,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips.

“The plans for two new coal-fired power stations currently before the state government would mean a 16% increase in greenhouse emissions when scientists say we need a 40% reduction by 2020 to avoid catastrophic climate change.

“Expansion of the coal industry and fighting climate change are simply incompatible.

“The Rees government can choose dirty coal power, slightly less polluting gas power, or clean renewable energy. They should be seeking to build solar thermal and wind power stations to help combat climate change, created green jobs and lead in the next boom industry, renewable energy.

“Marrickville Council and local residents are doing their bit to reduce greenhouse emissions, it is time the state government took real action and put a moratorium on new coal-fired power stations.

“I hope local residents concerned about climate change contact the local member, Carmel Tebbutt and tell her a new coal-fired power station is not acceptable in this era of climate change.”

Contact: Councillor Max Phillips 0419 444 916

Notice of Motion

No new coal-fired power plants in NSW

Councillor Phillips

Council notes:

1. Two new coal-fired or gas power stations are planned for NSW at Bayswater in the Hunter Valley and Mt Piper at Lithgow and currently have an environmental assessment with the Department of Planning.
2. Burning coal releases a lot of carbon dioxide and is a major cause of climate change.
3. The new coal-fired power stations planned will produce 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This is an increase of 34% of NSW stationary energy emissions.
4. The gas powered option 12.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. This is an increase of 19% of NSW stationary energy emissions.

   Council:
   

5. Adopts a position of opposing all new coal-fired power stations in NSW on the grounds that it is incompatible with mitigating dangerous climate change.
6. Writes to the Member for Marrickville Carmel Tebbutt the Premier Nathan Rees, Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally, Minister for the Environment John Robertson, stating this position and asking that they reject the new coal-fired power stations and invest in energy efficiency measures and renewable power sources instead.
7. Promotes this position on the Council website and in the Council column in the local newspaper.
8. Makes a submission to the environmental assessment processes of these two projects.

Background

Macquarie Generation and Delta Electricity have both submitted plans to the Department of Planning for either new coal fired generators or gas powered generators.

The Bayswater B power station, located in the Hunter Valley would generate 2 gigawatts of electricity. The coal fired option would produce 12,428,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, while the gas powered option would produce 5,918,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The Mt Piper Power Station Extension, located near Lithgow, would generate 2 gigawatts of electricity. The coal fired option would produce 10,470,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, while the gas powered option would produce 4,910,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The latest climate science says that climate change is happening more rapidly than previously thought and that we are in danger of hitting natural tipping points that will increase the rate of warming further with drastic consequences for humanity.

Rajendra Pachauri, head of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said clearly and unequivocally that we must aim to keep the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million (ppm) or below. Since the industrial revolution, we have increased the amount of carbon dioxide from 280ppm to 383ppm.

James Hansen, Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and perhaps the most respected climate scientist in the world, told The Guardian:

“coal is the single greatest threat to civilisation and all life on our planet…The trains carrying coal to power plants are death trains. Coal-fired power plants are factories of death.” (Feb 2009)

Australia is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita. We must drastically and swiftly reduce our emissions if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. Building new coal fired power stations, or even gas power stations is incompatible with combating climate change.

NSW can avoid building new fossil fuel power stations by investing in energy efficiency measures, building renewable energy power such as wind and solar thermal, and encouraging small scale clean energy installations through rebates and feed in tariffs.

Decisions about how we source electric power in NSW will affect the ability of Marrickville Council and Marrickville residents to access clean energy options and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Tebbutt’s Graythwaite deal with elite private school follows Enmore School sell-off

Media Release – Greens MP Lee Rhiannon – 21 October 2009

Health Minister and Marrickville local member Carmel Tebbutt’s decision to sell off the North Sydney Graythwaite estate to the elite private school Shore for $35.2 million will be poorly received by voters in the state seat of Marrickville, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today.

“The Tebbutt deal with a rich north Sydney private school resulting in the loss to the public of unique heritage land and facilities will be noticed in the inner west, particularly following the controversial sell-off of Enmore School to developers in July,” Ms Rhiannon said.

In September a Greens Council motion (see below) put forward by Deputy Mayor Fiona Byrne, calling for Graythwaite to be kept in public hands received unanimous support, including from Labor Councillors.

“The NSW government could have accepted the $25 million offer for the site from the federal government which would have kept the estate in public hands.

“The fight to save Graythwaite estate is certainly not over and we will be taking the campaign to Marrickville to build support.

“The Greens will be joining Friends of Graythwaite campaigners already working in the Inner West, to gain support for the Green Ban the CFMEU put on the site and for the Greens’ Save the Graythwaite Estate Bill.

“The draft legislation now before the NSW Upper House is based on the Greens bill to Save Callan Park adopted in 2002.

“I will be talking to my parliamentary colleagues about the urgency of this bill and seeking their support.

“The Greens private members bill will provide the legal protection necessary to preserve Graythwaite for future generations and honour the intention of the original owners who had a long term commitment to rehabilitation.

“Anger over the deal with the Shore private school has escalated as much of this school’s $35.2 million offer comes from the public purse.

“Shore will receive an estimated $9.9 million over the four years, 2009 to 2012, from the federal government. In 2007/8, the last year figures are available for, this school received $1.65 million from the NSW government. On top of this is the annual recurrent state and federal funding of more than $4 million.

“Shore private school has said that they will use the three hectare park as a recreational area for students, and the heritage estate homewill be used as a school administrative building. The Shore school has the option to develop the site,” Ms Rhiannon said.

7289 RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Byrne, seconded by Councillor Phillips,

THAT Council:
1. notes the Federal Government’s proposal to buy Graythwaite from the State Government and keep the property in public hands;

2. supports this public land remaining in public ownership for the benefit  of the wider community; and

3. writes to the Premier, the Member for Marrickville, the Member for Heffron and the Member for Grayndler urging them to keep this property in public hands by supporting the purchase by the Federal Government.

For Motion: Unanimous – Councillors Iskandar, Phillips, Byrne, Wright, Hanna, Olive, Macri, O’Sullivan, Kontellis, Peters and Tsardoulias

For more information on Graythwaite – graythwaite.org.au

Affordable Housing Plan a bonus for developers

The State Government’s Affordable Housing plan allows for flats in any residential zone.

The state government has passed a new rule that allows developers to build two storey flat buildings in any residential zone under the guise of its new ‘affordable housing planning policy’.  All a developer has to do is devote a half of the units to affordable housing for ten years and they are free  to build a flat building, even in low density residential zones and conservation areas.

“This is another gift to developers from the NSW Labor Party and threatens our suburban streets and the viability of Council’s planning strategies,” said Councillor Cathy Peters.

“Developers will be able to build two storey flats in any zone, so long as it is within 800 metres of a train station or 400 metres of a bus stop – that pretty much covers the whole Inner West.

“Not even heritage conservation areas are protected from the new law.

“Council’s carefully considered and consulted strategies for planning in the Marrickville area will be completely overridden by this new rule.

“The Greens support real policies to deliver affordable housing, but this looks like a policy that will deliver for developers at the expense of the community and not deliver a long-term solution to the shortage of affordable housing.

“It will take long term planning for affordable housing away from Council by removing the ability of Council to enter into Voluntary Planning Agreements with developers to supply housing for a range of low income earners that is managed by public sector bodies in perpetuity.”

“This new scheme will not protect the users of this housing either as it allows for large scale boarding houses with less floor space and more rooms before an on-site manager is required as well as allowing group homes for people with disabilities to have up to 10 bedrooms even though best practice limits the size to 6 rooms .”

“It’s important that the NSW government rethinks some of the key aspects of this policy and reworks it so that affordable housing stock is created for long term use, the community is protected from overdevelopment, and the needs and rights of the users are protected.”

Greens in the Senate deliver Cooks River cycle path funding

Media Release  15 October 2009

The $200,000 of federal stimulus money that has been directed towards the Cooks River Regional Bicycle Route was a result of the Australian Greens in the Senate negotiating the passage of the stimulus bill earlier this year.

The Greens secured $40 million extra for bicycle infrastructure, as well as funds for heritage protection and home efficiency measures, as part of the stimulus package.

“This is a fantastic result for Marrickville and bicycle infrastructure and goes to show The Greens get results when we hold the balance of power, “said Greens Councillor Max Phillips

“Building infrastructure such as cycleways is a better use of stimulus money than cash hand-outs and I’m proud that The Greens secured this investment in sustainable infrastructure,” he said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that hundreds of kilometres of bike ways and hundreds of jobs were secured when the Australian Greens negotiated the $40 million bike ways package as part of the $42 billion economic stimulus measures in February this year.

Launching the package with Australian Greens Deputy Leader and the Minister for Infrastructure Anthony Albanese today, Senator Brown said: “the project will be matched with $40 million from local government and other entities and will be part of a massive bike way and pedestrian building program in Australia if the Greens proposals are carried through.”

“Bike ways are as good for personal health as they are for the planet. Bike ways reduce obesity, improve health and keep us in touch with the outdoors. The Greens would like to see no new roadways constructed without bike ways being part of the construction.”

“We have recommended to the government the Dutch formula of at least 1 per cent of transport funding being allocated to funding bike ways and improved pedestrian access. That doesn’t sound much but it is enough to transform Australian cities with bike ways.”

“There are dozens more bike way proposals wanting for funding and development which the Greens will be pursuing. I congratulate the Rudd government and the Minister for Infrastructure for taking up this Greens proposal,” Senator Brown said at the Intercity Cycleway in Claremont.

Media contact:

Greens Leader Bob Brown – Peter Stahel 0433 005 727

Councillor Max Phillips  0419 444 916

RTA keeps M4 East extension reports under wraps

Media Release  9 October 2009

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today slammed the Minister for Roads and the RTA for refusing to release key reports relating to the contentious M4 East Extension project, despite the NSW Upper House voting for their release and some already been leaked to the media (RTA refuses to release M4 papers, Sydney Morning Herald today).

Two weeks ago Ms Rhiannon won Upper House MPs’ support for the release of key reports, including a discussion paper on the motorway prepared by the government for community consultation and a report by UK transport consultant Jim Steer which slammed the project.

“Premier Rees claims the days of the secret state are over, but this shows it’s thriving,” said the Greens Roads Spokesperson.

“The government has stamped all documents as cabinet-in-confidence even though some have already been leaked to the media.

“Keeping these documents under wraps means Inner West residents are denied critical information about where the motorway and its polluting stacks will go.

“This is a project with legs. The Rees government says it would love to build it and the federal government is contributing $300 million for planning and preconstruction work.

“Before we know it contracts will be signed and Sydney will have a new motorway built by stealth, with no community consultation.

“The government should be investing in world class public transport, not building new billion dollar motorways that lock us in to a car-dependent future,” Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Greenway and Light Rail can and should co-exist: Greens

 

Media release

30 September 2009

The Marrickville Greens councillors today voiced their belief that the old Dulwich Hill goods line corridor has enough room for lightrail, cyclists, pedestrians and nature.

“A combination of light rail, bikes and pedestrians has always been a vision supported by The Greens, Marrickville Council and the surrounding community,” said Marrickville Greens Councillor, Max Phillips.

“Light rail and active pedestrian areas co-exist all over the world, including Melbourne and in Sydney’s China Town.  The Greens want to see these uses co-exist along the Greenway route.

“I think the only impediment to this project being a success for these transport modes is state government funding.”

“Marrickville and other Councils have agreed to part fund a feasibility study and participate in the steering committee, though with the understanding that they were satisfied with the study’s terms of reference.”

“Unfortunately, the study brief was advertised by the State Government without an initial meeting of the steering committee or an opportunity for input into the study brief.

“Any feasibility study should include all configuations for consideration.  It would be silly to discard any particular option before having an objective look at the facts and feasibility.

“We should be looking at maximizing the use of the corridor for both light rail and cycle path and a green link between the Cooks River and Iron Cove.

“The Greens are confident that any compatibility issues between the light rail, bikes and pedestrians can be overcome with engineering or operational solutions.

“The Greens want  to ensure the feasibility study goes ahead with an eye for achieving the best outcome for residents of the Inner West.”

Contact: Councillor Max Phillips 0419 444 916

 

Greens force release of secret reports on M4 East extension

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon  won support last week in the NSW Upper House for the release of secret reports and documents on the M4 East extension. The reports must now be available to the public within fourteen days.

“The government has kept the detail of the M4 East extension under wraps for years,” Ms Rhiannon said. “The release of these secret reports will help the community scrutinise these massive motorway plans which will have such an enormous impact on Sydney, particularly the inner west.”

“The Federal government has committed $300 million to kick start this project, yet the RTA refuses to publicly discuss where the motorway will go and where its filtration stacks will be located. These reports and documents should always have been in public view. “It is indicative of the secret culture of this government that the Greens and community groups have had to fight so hard to see them,” Ms Rhiannon said.

What papers will be released:

• The paper produced by consultant Mr Jim Steer on the M4 East extension and any correspondence, including letters, faxes and emails, that relate to the preparation and finalisation of this paper,

• The discussion paper on the extension to the M4 East motorway prepared for public consultation by the Office of the Coordinator-General in the Department of Premier and Cabinet and any correspondence, including letters, faxes and emails, that relate to the preparation and finalisation of this discussion paper,

• The Capital Expenditure documentation relating to the M4 East extension which discusses the ‘Victoria Road Extension.

When these documents are released, we will post them on this site.

More information :  Lee Rhiannon MLC NSW Parliament  9230 3551 – www.leerhiannon.org.au

High-rise heaven headed to Marrickville under draft Local Environment Plan

Media release -  27 August 2009

The Greens will seek to amend Marrickville’s draft Local Environment Plan (LEP) before it goes out to public consultation saying it would change the character of the Inner West by allowing too much high-rise overdevelopment and stripping away too much heritage.

“Under pressure from the State Government, the draft local environment plan encourages five, six and seven storey flat buildings to dominate our urban centres,” said Greens Deputy Mayor, Councillor Fiona Byrne.

The future for Marrickville?

“The Greens do not want the Inner West to be dominated by block after block of multi-storey flat buildings built to line the pockets of developers but at the expense of the character of the Inner West.

“Six to seven storey flat buildings will be allowed all along Illawarra Road, from the Woolworths to Marrickville Road. Central Petersham will become a multi-storey apartment ghetto, while Dulwich Hill and even little Lewisham shops will be dominated by apartments.

“Heritage protection has been stripped right back from the current draft areas leaving much of the South of the Marrickville LGA area without protection.

“This is the plan for Marrickville that the State Government wants – overdevelopment that squeezes more and more people in multi-storey flat buildings.

“The community do not want to see the character of their local precincts changed so dramatically, that’s why The Greens will be seeking to amend the draft plan to protect the community against overdevelopment.

“We will seek to implement a maximum height of five storeys throughout the area, increase heritage protection and rezone some areas away from high density flat buildings to medium density townhouse style zonings more appropriate for the area.

“The Greens agree that we need to increase densities around transport hubs, but this does not mean we have to create high-rise ghettos that have failed in so many other areas.

“The Greens have been arguing for a mix of high density and medium density development that is more human in scale and provides better amenity for the existing community and the potential new residents of these developments.

“The Greens encourage the community engage in the consultation process to ensure the planning rules that will shape the future of Marrickville for the next decade will improve life in the Inner West.

Contact: Clr Fiona Byrne 0401 719 120