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

Heart in Art exhibition

The work of First Nations artists from some of the most remote areas of Australia is being showcased at the Heart in Art exhibition at Council’s Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. The free exhibition runs until July 10 and is a collaboration between Woollahra Council and First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation to coincide with NAIDOC Week (July 3-10) and the National Indigenous Art Fair.

Visit woollahragallery.com.au for further details.

Malibirr Ngambi (limestone spearheads) by Margaret Djarrbalabal, part of the Heart in Art exhibition

Celebrate NAIDOC Week with us

We have partnered with Waverley and Randwick Councils for NAIDOC in Centennial Park, a special free event on July 8 which will include an immersive welcome ceremony, storytelling and performances by Brolgas Dance Company.

Artist and proud Kamilaroi and Jerrinja woman, Jasmine Sarin will also discuss her creative process and the story behind her work Gadigal Connection, featured on the stairs of Woollahra Library at Double Bay, at a special talk at the Library.

Visit woollahra.nsw.gov.au/naidoc for details on our full range of events.

National Tree Day

Join us on National Tree Day, Sunday July 31 from 9.30am-12.30pm at Christison Park in Vaucluse to plant a range of native plants and help to beautify the park and extend the habitat corridor for local small birds and other wildlife.

All plants, gloves and tools will be supplied by Council, and after you’re done planting, snacks will be provided and kids can take part in our interactive native wildlife program.

Visit woollahra.nsw.gov.au/events for more info.

Help rename Dillon Street Reserve

When Council received a 1300m2 parcel of land from the old Scottish Hospital site in Paddington adjoining Dillon Street Reserve, we worked with the community to redesign and upgrade the park and now that landscaping and upgrade works have been completed, we want to hear your suggestions for an alternative name. Visit yoursay.woollahra.nsw.gov.au to choose your favourite ideas or share your own by July 17.

North Bondi shopping strip upgrade

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos and fellow Labor councillor Tony Kay have called for an urgent streetscape upgrade at North Bondi.

“The North Bondi shops and bus terminus area bounded Campbell Pde, Brighton Blvd, Hastings Pde and Military Rd is in desperate need of attention,” they stated in a motion to a full meeting of Council. “The concrete road and footpaths are in dire need of upgrades, while the pedestrian crossing needs urgent attention as interim patches and fixes are no longer effective. There is also an urgent need for beautification and plantings to help soften the area and address heat island effects.”

Councillors agreed that a report be prepared within two months identifying what needs to be done and estimating how much it will cost.

No right turn at Bondi Road intersection

A no right turn restriction is to be introduced at the intersection of Wellington St and Bondi Rd despite widespread community opposition.

Transport for NSW says it will be installing signage and carrying out roadworks at the during the July school holidays.

Waverley Council has lodged objections to the unpopular project, proposing that integrated traffic lights be installed instead. Council says the plan has been approved without a detailed Local Area Traffic Study being undertaken.

A report to council said the right turn ban would “encourage vehicles to undertake dangerous movements such as U-turns” and is “strongly opposed” by two schools located near the intersection plus local residents.

Bronte Surf Club redevelopment

A revamped design for the redevelopment of Bronte Surf Life Saving Club has come up with a radical answer to community concerns about the building encroaching on the surrounding parkland.

Under the latest plans (pictured), the sandstone rock face behind the club will be excavated to create 384 square metres of new space. Waverley Council has tabled a report by architect Zoltan Kovacs which states the natural rock wall “is low in both environmental and cultural significance.” The excavation would reduce “the visual bulk of the development.”

Public art

Randwick’s Mayor has come up with a plan to enliven local neighbourhoods with street art while reducing illegal graffiti.

Councillor Dylan Parker (--above) wants to see Randwick following the lead of Inner West Council’s Perfect Match Street Art program. He describes the program as a “unique initiative that fosters creative expression and art in public spaces while also tackling unwanted graffiti.” Under the inner west program, residents and business owners can have murals painted on walls being targeted for illegal graffiti and tagging. The council matches locations with artists whose work will be “site specific,” celebrating the area’s unique characteristics and cultural identity.

Councillors agreed to the Mayor’s motion that the inner west program be used as a model in the development of a local Public Art Plan.

Draft Local Environmental Plan

New heritage items, housing growth areas and later trading hours for low impact businesses are proposed as part of a Comprehensive Planning Proposal to amend Randwick Council’s Local Environmental Plan, on public exhibition for public comment until July 12.

The proposed changes seek to update Council’s LEP to strategically align with state plans and Council’s planning framework while meeting State Government imposed housing targets.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said Council is opposed to the targets, but its hands are tied.

He said: “Council shares the concerns of many community members about over population and increasing densities without the appropriate infrastructure.

“We have been vocal in objecting to NSW State Government housing targets, but the reality is we don’t have a choice. We are under direction from the NSW State Government to meet housing targets of 4,464 new dwellings in the next 6-10 years.

“To limit the impact of these housing targets, our draft LEP proposes the additional housing in areas well located to public transport, jobs and shops.”

Marjorie O'Neill MP

MEMBER FOR COOGEE

Hi everyone,

One of the most enduring legacies from the pandemic is the realisation our health services are underfunded, our healthcare workers are undervalued, and our healthcare system is at breaking point. We know how important nurse-to-patient ratios are. We know how important it is to address staff shortages and we know how crucial it is to properly fund our public health services. We need to tackle these concerns head on if we are to keep our community and our incredible frontline workers safe, healthy and well.

My office has been conducting online community town halls over the last few months on a variety of issues, including public transport, planning and education. Our next online community town hall will be on the topic of healthcare, and I am interested to hear your experiences.

To ensure your voice is being heard, I invite everyone to come to our forum so you can voice your experiences and concern. I will be joined by NSW Labor Shadow Minister for Health and Mental Health, Ryan Park, MP. The meeting will be held online, on Wednesday August 17 from 6pm to 7pm.

This meeting is a great opportunity to raise any concerns you may have, to share your experience with our health system and shine a light on any areas in which you would like to see change.

To register, please scan the QR code below or head to the link: https://

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

I look forward to seeing you there!

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 Rd, Randwick.

You can also visit my website at marjorieoneill.com.au and while you’re there, be sure to sign up to my online community newsletter there too!