7 minute read
Member for Coogee
Woollahra Garden Awards – last chance for entries
Is your garden one of Woollahra’s best? If so, we want you to share the creativity, hard work and sustainable gardening practices you’ve put into your green space – big or small – by entering the 2022 Woollahra Garden Awards.
Don’t miss your chance to win some great prizes: the overall winner will receive a $500 garden voucher, and the winner of each category will receive a $100 garden voucher. Entries close on Oct 14. Visit woollahra.nsw. gov.au/garden awards to enter.
Finalists have been selected for the 2022 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize Exhibition, opening on Oct 12 at the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. The exhibition showcases 50 finalist works from talented local and international sculptors, chosen from a huge 684 entries, including the winner of the main Acquisitive award of $25,000. A big thanks to our sponsors, Mark Moran Vaucluse, Tanya Excell, Scott Farquhar, D’Leanne Lewis of Laing and Simmons Double Bay, Catalina and Crawford’s Casting for their collaboration on this year’s Prize. For more info, visit woollahragallery.
com.au
Special Rate Variation
To deliver the projects and services that are important to the Woollahra community, Council needs to be in a stronger financial position. To achieve this, a Special Rate Variation (SRV) in 2023 is under consideration.
Thank you to everyone who has already commented online and stopped by to have their say at pop-up information sessions throughout the LGA during September – we appreciate your feedback. If you would like to find out more, and comment on the proposal before submissions close on Oct 9, visit yoursay. woollahra.nsw.gov.au/srv for details.
Spring school holiday activities
These school holidays, Woollahra Libraries at Double Bay, Paddington and Watsons Bay have some wonderful spring-inspired, garden-themed activities on offer for kids of all ages. There are creative craft workshops, movies and more. And best of all, they're really affordable and some are even free! Head to: woollahra.nsw.gov.au/schoolholidays for a full list of events.
Bondi Pavilion reopening
Waverley Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for joining us at our spectacular reopening of our beloved Bondi Pavilion on Sept 21! The grand reopening kicked off three glittering weeks of music, live performance, visual art, exhibitions and installations, talks, tours and workshops. To book tickets to events, visit bondipavilion.com.au/whats_on.
32-34 Hall St, Bondi Beach development
I will be lodging a submission to the Waverley Local Planning Panel (WLPP) in the near future, in respect to a development application for 32-34 Hall St, Bondi Beach. Council resolved in Aug Council meeting that I make this submission, noting that the proposed development exceeds the height control development set out in the Waverley Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and that there has been large number of objections from local residents about the proposal. I will be asking the WLPP to take residents’ concerns into consideration when assessing the DA- 271/2022. The DA is for the demolition of the existing residential units and retail shops at 32-34 and 36-38 Hall St, and the construction of a new four-storey apartment building with 16 residential units, ground floor retail and two levels of basement parking containing 16 parking spaces. Objections from the community include that the proposed development will exceed the maximum allowable height development standard in the LEP, impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties on Consett Ave and will negatively impact on trees lining the street.
Destination Hall Street
Waverley Council this month voted not to proceed with the Streets as Shared Spaces (SASS) Trial at Hall St, Bondi Beach, also known as Destination Hall Street. Instead, a report will go to Council in Feb 2023 detailing a community and business consultation and engagement strategy to determine parameters for a full streetscape upgrade of Hall St between Glenayr Ave and Campbell Pde. Council looks forward to continuing to work with businesses in the area and the community on ways to transform Hall St into a pedestrian-friendly space with outdoor dining, street gardens and resting places for the community to enjoy. Whilst the Destination Hall Street trial won’t be going ahead, Council will use these next few months to investigate how an upgrade can best meet the needs of people who live and work in and around Hall St, and look more closely at traffic solutions generated from an expanded local area traffic study bounded by Warners Ave, Blair St from Warners Ave to Wairoa Ave, Wairoa Ave, Campbell Pde, Francis St and Old South Head Rd. To read the Council resolution in full, visit http://waverley.infocouncil.biz/.
The Coogee Rainbow to include Pride Progress Flag
The Coogee Rainbow well-celebrates diversity, inclusion and our LGBTQIA+ community. The current rainbow includes the six colours of the Pride Flag. Councillors voted to update the rainbow to include the extra five colours from the Pride Progress Flag. Councillors agreed on a design unanimously and endorsed the Coogee Rainbow to be included as part of the WorldPride ’45 Rainbows’ to mark the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Mardi Gras.
Clovelly & Carrington Rd Pocket Park proceeds
The final concept design for the Clovelly Rd Pocket Park at the intersection of Clovelly Rd and Carrington Rd has been approved. Council has been successful in receiving $3 million in grant funding from NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program to be allocated toward the funding of this project, which was identified as an area that needed upgrading in Council’s Clovelly Rd Masterplan. Community consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders recognising community priorities and concerns. The proposal will now proceed to design development and documentation.
New Randwick Art Prize to be investigated
Councillors voted to investigate the creation of a new Randwick Art Prize for our creative community, with a theme focusing on art and health. The report will explore a partnership with UNSW and the Prince of Wales Hospital and consider including both youth and adult categories in an allgender environment.
Survey of bullying & harassment in Local Government
Councillors voted unanimously to endorse a motion that Local Government NSW calls on the State Government to undertake a state-wide survey and review of elected Councillors and local government staff on bullying, harassment, intimidation, and other harmful behaviours to improve workplace and Councillor safety.
Alfresco dining and summer music could be back
Council will explore the possibility of re-instating the annual pop-up music program. The program, which was part of Summer in Randwick City in 2020 brought live music to a variety of outdoor locations across our City. Additionally, a report into the possibility of including more alfresco dining options for local restaurants will be prepared.
Marjorie O'Neill MP
MEMBER FOR COOGEE
Hi everyone,
Over the past four years the NSW Government has removed 31 bus routes and over 50 bus stops from across the Eastern Suburbs. Residents from the Coogee electorate have contacted my office to discuss the adverse effects the privatisation of buses has had on their lives. It is truly deplorable that these changes have been made with little to no community consultation.
I have been committed to opposing the reduction of transport services and in early 2022, myself and NSW Labor were able to obtain an Upper House Inquiry. This week the NSW Legislative Council's Transport Committee handed down their report from that Inquiry into the Privatisation of bus services.
The report makes several notable findings. Firstly, privatisation has disadvantaged the elderly, disabled, and most vulnerable in our community, simply to cut costs. Secondly, these cuts have resulted in more limited service delivery, higher costs for passengers, and worse pay and conditions for public transport drivers. Additionally, privatising buses does not create market competition.
The findings from the Inquiry have produced 11 recommendations to the NSW Government. One significant recommendation is that the Government consider returning our Eastern Suburbs Region back to public ownership and operation. I and NSW Labor will continue working to restore the services and bus stops that have been removed. To do so, we need your help. Have your say here.
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 too!
