COUNCIL NEWS & MARJORIE O'NEILL, MP Member for Coogee

Woollahra to go 100% renewable

From July, 100% of Woollahra Council’s electricity is set to come from renewables.

Our 74 Council sites, including buildings, parks and street lighting will be powered by solar, reducing Council’s emissions by nearly 50 per cent, as part of a deal between the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils and ZEN Energy for supply from the Moree, Hillston and Nevertire Solar Farms in NSW.

The agreement is a further demonstration of Council’s commitment to addressing climate change, following the installation of rooftop solar panels on our buildings, switching street lights to LEDs, installing EV charging stations in the LGA and with the help of carbon offsets to balance our emissions, Council’s recent certification as carbon neutral.

Nevertire Solar Farm in northwestern NSW, one of three locations supplying Council with renewable energy.

Lyne Park Playground upgrade

Lyne Park Playground in Rose Bay is one of Woollahra’s most-used play spaces, which is why Council is giving it a refresh to make it more accessible and even more fun and engaging for all children.

We would love to know what you would like to see in the upgraded playground, so please let us know by your ideas to help us make this marquee play space a high quality, inclusive destination by Friday March 11 at: yoursay.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/

lynepark

Seniors Festival 2022

Woollahra Council is hosting a range of events and activities to celebrate NSW Seniors Festival 2022 (March 25– 3 April 3).

These include including free drawing workshops, grandparents’ storytime, a Cooper Park photographic walk, contemporary dance classes, a tour of the new Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf and much more.

Sneaky timing of backpacker hostel liquor application

A backpacker hostel in Bondi has been accused of trying to get a liquor licence by stealth after lodging its application just before Christmas.

Councillor Michelle Gray (Labor) said the Village Backpackers Hostel on Lamrock Avenue, Bondi Beach put in its application to the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) on December 21, 2021. There were 30 days after that date for objections to be lodged.

“The timing of the application (over the holiday period) means that a number of residents would have missed the opportunity to make a submission to the ILGA regarding the application,” Councillor Gray told a meeting of Waverley Council.

She said the hostel was located in a residential area and “has previously been the subject of complaints to police regarding anti-social behaviour.”

Greens councillor Dominic Wy Kanak further explored the boozy backpacker theme, telling the meeting there was a “documented history of violence and anti-social, alcohol-related behaviour attributed to that backpacker hostel and its neighbourhood vicinity.”

Councillors agreed to a motion that Mayor Paula Masselos write to the ILGA objecting to liquor licences being granted to backpacker hostels.

Tree given temporary reprieve

A threatened backyard tree in Consett Ave, Bondi Beach, has been given a one year reprieve.

Council placed a one year Tree Preservation Order on the century-old Mediterranean Oak, which faces destruction from a development under way next door. The developer has claimed that the tree sits on the border of the two properties, but the latest meeting of Waverley Council was told this was not the case.

Meanwhile, Liberal councillors Sally Betts and Leon Goltsman are calling on the Council to give longer-term protection by adding the tree to its Significant Tree Register. The issue was raised in Council after the Nine Network’s A Current Affair carried a story on the Findlay family’s battle to save their tree.

Bright future for solar

Council will examine strategies for increasing solar uptake by homeowners following a call from newly-elected Councillor Tim Murray. Councillor Murray (Labor) said an uptake of 50% by non-solar households “would generate approximately 42,310 MWh per year, reduce our community greenhouse gas emissions by 6% and add an estimated $5,000,000 per year from household bill savings to the local economy.”

Fatal shark attack

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker says the community is in shock following the death of a man in a shark attack at Little Bay.

“To lose someone to a shark attack like this is chilling” the Mayor said. “We are all in shock. Our entire community’s hearts go out to the family of the victim.”

All Sydney beaches south of the harbour were closed for 24 hours after the death of the 35-year-old swimmer off rocks between Little Bay and Malabar. Council lifeguards on jet skis patrolled Little Bay and the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim, due to take place the following Sunday, was cancelled.

The shark attack came just a fortnight after a father and son drowned after being swept off the rocks at Little Bay. Council is now conducting an urgent review of local water safety measures.

La Perouse parking ‘nightmare’

Independent councillor and former Mayor Noel D’Souza has called for a review of the lack of parking at La Perouse on weekends.

He told a full meeting of council that visitors from outside the LGA were “bringing the area to a standstill as they look for parking.” Residents were having to wait for 30 minutes or more to access their properties. “It is a nightmare on weekends for locals and visitors alike,” he said.

Councillor D’Souza called on Council to review the situation and allocate more resources to improve the amenity and access of La Perouse locals.

Call for strategies to stop rubbish dumping

Greens councillor Philippa Veitch has urged Council to declare war on the rubbish dumpers who are making life hell for Kensington and Kingsford residents.

She told a full meeting of Council: “In some cases waste management teams are being called to collect dumped rubbish from the same locations on a weekly basis if not more often, with new rubbish being dropped in these spots within hours of the last load being collected. The dumped rubbish is extremely unsightly, blocks footpaths and often smells.”

Councillors agreed to her motion for a consideration of new measures to reduce dumped rubbish. One idea put forward by Councillor Veitch was the creation of facilities for residents to donate materials for re-use, or get broken items repaired.

Marjorie O'Neill MP

MEMBER FOR COOGEE

Hello everyone,

I wish to acknowledge that the start of 2022 has been a difficult couple of months for many. I also wish to applaud the community for remaining resilient, and for being proactive in getting third vaccine doses in arms.

COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETINGS

In 2022 I will be hosting monthly town hall meetings to discuss some of the important issues impacting our community. These meetings are a great way to provide a forum where ideas and solutions can be discussed.

I am excited to announce the first of my Community Town Hall Meetings will be on the subject of Public Transport. I will be joined by Jo Haylen, MP, the NSW Shadow Minister for Transport and we want to hear from you.

The event details are included below, and you can sign up using the QR code or via the link below:

https://marjorieoneill.com.au/community/ community-town-hall-meetings/

EASTERN SUBURBS BUS UPDATE

Thanks to the tens of thousands of people who have signed petitions, written to Ministers and rallied to Save Our Buses, we have been able to secure a formal inquiry into the privatisation of our buses in the NSW Upper House. This is an important step forward in our fight to Save Our Buses and submissions to the inquiry are now open.

The scope of the inquiry will investigate the rationale and modelling behind the privatisation of our buses, and its impact on the community. We want to ensure that local voices are heard. Submissions close March 31, 2022.

You can make a submission via the QR code below. I encourage you to share this with friends, family and anyone who is being impacted by the loss of our local buses and bus stops.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.

OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS

If you have any issues relating to the NSW Government, or you are not sure where to go to for help, please contact my office on (02) 9398 1822; coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au or visit us at 15/53-55b Frenchmans Road, Randwick.