Councillor Chris Harris

When the new Surry Hills Community Centre came before committee this month there was much debate amongst councillors as to why its budget had blown out over five times from the original $3.6M to $19.9M.

“Surry Hills residents are overdue for an improved facility and I certainly support building a quality sustainable community centre in Surry Hills,” said Cr Harris.

“However I am at a loss to understand how this blowout has occurred. I was told the ‘outstanding’ sustainable inclusions were to blame.

“But this is just not true. What concerns me is that people will see the price of this centre and think that sustainable buildings are unaffordable.” Cr Harris said. Read the rest of this entry »

Those who are sick of living with a conga line of army helicopters flying around Sydney streets because of Dick Cheney’s visit will be pleased to know that authorities are now locking off Post boxes in the city centre.

Australia Post advises that indeed this is because of Mr Cheney. People wanting to post letters can still go down to the GPO in Martin Place.

On top of that, police are advising people to avoid the city from Thursday night until Sunday when the world’s foremost neo-con and architect of the
Iraq disaster leaves our shores.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald:

“The traffic problems will begin at 5.30pm (Thursday) when protesters from the Stop the War Coalition will march from Town Hall and move down George Street.

“The protesters will also demonstrate on Friday morning at the Shangri-la Hotel in The Rocks, where Mr Cheney is scheduled to speak to the Australian American Association.

“Cumberland, Gloucester and Essex Streets in the Rocks will be closed due to the visit until Sunday morning.”

Consider that an invitation to join the demonstrations.

Differential pricing of parking permits according to the size of the vehicle would be a great idea for Sydney.

And the RTA is now accepting submissions about providing dedicated parking spots for car-share schemes.

Charging fuel-guzzling vehicles more forparking permitshas been working well in North Sydney and it’s yet another small thing we can do to minimise climate change.

Large cars use more street space and inflict more damage on local roads, which council has to pay for, so there is fairness in a differential rate. Council’s road maintenance spend is more than ten times the income from parking permits. Read the rest of this entry »

The Mardi Gras Fair Day held yesterday in Victoria Park enjoyed perfect weather and a packed crowd. I planted a heart for equal rights along with fellow Greens Candidates Rochelle Porteous and Fiona Byrne, and Senator Kerry Nettle (all pictured here with one of the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby organisers).

Interestingly a bunch of Labor candidates turned up for the same photo op. The difference is The Greens vote for same sex unions and Labor vote against it. See you at the Mardi Gras on March 3rd!

Despite a clear direction from the Governor that the City would be divided into wards before the next council election in 2008, it has become a matter for Council’s discretion according to advice sought from the Department of Local Government.

Even if council decided to introduce wards, it would be unlikely to occur before the 2012 election because it would require a constitutional referendum, according to the advice.

“This is a crucial issue for voters in the City of Sydney, and Clover Moore needs to decide one way or the other as soon as possible,’ said Chris Harris, Deputy Lord Mayor and Greens candidate for Sydney.

“First it was precinct committees that seem to have dropped off the agenda, and now it’s a ward system that is under question.

“These are fundamental issues of local democracy and the real test of how representative this council actually is under Ms Moore,” he said.

The issue goes back to the 2004 Proclamation which amalgamated the City of Sydney with the former South Sydney Council and parts of Leichhardt. Read the rest of this entry »