Currowong enjoys a drink and a bath in a puddle on Johnston Street
Elected a Leichhardt Ward Councillor on 9 September 2017 (Leichhardt Ward renamed Gulgadya Ward in December 2018)
Marghanita da Cruz wants to build a community with good footpaths to public transport, community centres and green spaces. Facilities to help us lead active lives. An environment in which we look after our waterways, and harness energy from the sun and wind.
Contact | Bio | Map of the Leichhardt Ward | Donate | Check Enrollment
What has Marghanita been doing? Blog - 2019 onwards | NewsFeed 2017-8 |December 2018 | November 2018 | October 2018 | September 2018 |August 2018 | July 2018 | June 2018 | May 2018 | Spotlight on the approval of Westconnex M4-M5 Link | April 2018 | March 2018| February 2018| Annandale to Lilyfield, 4 Feb 2018 | January 2018 | November-December 2017 | September-October 2017 | Solar our Community | Election Diary | Campaign Log: June | 1-10 July | 11-31 July | August | September
Currowong enjoys a drink and a bath in a puddle on Johnston Street
National Tree Day, White's Creek Valley
Annandale's first post office was run by a woman, Kate Black, in the 1890s and after federation...more
Item 24, Speakers Frances Rush, Asylum Seekers Centre and Kobi Shetty, Mums4Refugees. Followed by Clr Marghanita da Cruz
Speaker: Praveena Gunaratnam followed by Clr Tom Kiat
An Arty afternoon walk through Leichhardt, via Hay Street, the Library to Articulate Project Space for a conversation with the Artists in an exhibition in tribute of Rose Ann McGreevy (1945-2015)
The notorious 370 was on time at the first stop on King Street Newtown on its way to Leichhardt latish on Saturday night.
Nice opportunity to peek into the world of comics, illustration and free-lance creatives at Ashfield Library yesterday.
Artists’ Alley, see and purchase books, comics and art. Also even a play script!!
You Can Die From Exposure, a Comic Con-versation panel presented by Sydney Comics Guild and MC’d by Hilary Sandeman, humorous illustrator, and featuring Regine Clarke, Marcelo Baez, Anthony Calvert, Mike Barry and Louie Joyce.
Badge Making
Geek pop singer songwriter, Meri Amber.Hand Drawn Histories: The Films of Lee Whitmore
on 27 July at 10:00–11:00
at Marrickville Town Hall more
Mother and son team @wendybacon and Luke Bacon at 107 Gallery sharing their analysis of the air quality data from the #Westconnex Monitoring Stations set up to collect baseline data in the leadup to the proposed operation of the M4 and M5 Tunnels.
Luke and Henare Degan's analysis of the data has shown that the level of air pollution being measured at these new locations is exceeding the levels set by the EPA and NSW Health.
More about 107 Gallery and co-working space 107.org.au
The air quality index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily and hourly air quality. It is an indication of how clean or polluted the air is in areas across NSW. The AQI is a quick and easy tool to inform you about: air pollution levels at your nearest monitoring site or region; specific information for people more at risk from exposure to short-term air pollution; simple steps to take to protect yourself...more
When an air quality alert has been issued for Sydney, the Bureau of Meteorology assists in alerting the community by including the following statement in the Sydney Forecast: Example Text: "An Air Quality Alert for poor air quality has been issued by the NSW Health." How these levels relate to the Air Quality Index (AQI): Poor: AQI > 100 Hazardous: AQI > 200... more
Motion:
THAT the General Manager write to the CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council with a view to commencing negotiations towards the signing a Principles of Co-operation Agreement between Inner West Council and The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council ('Metro').
In 2004, Leichhardt Council became the first council to sign a principles of cooperation agreement with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council ('Metro'). The Agreement can be viewed at http://www.leichhardt.nsw.gov.au/Community/Aboriginal-Community/Principals-of-Cooperation
Since then the City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Willoughby, North Sydney and other Local Government councils have signed similar agreements with 'Metro'. The Principles of Co-operation Agreement with City of Sydney can be viewed at:http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/113672/Principles-of-cooperation.pdf
"The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council ('Metro') was established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) ('the Act'). Its primary objectives are set out in s 51 of the Act - namely, 'to improve, protect and foster the best interests of all Aboriginal persons within the Council's area and other persons who are members of the Council.'
Metro's core business areas are described as follows:
(a) Culture and Heritage:
Among other roles, Metro's Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Unit is responsible for the conservation of Aboriginal sites and relics in the area (including more than 6,800 registered sites of cultural significance). It also carries out education programs with the broader community, conducts Cultural Heritage Site Assessments for developers and participates in projects for the repatriation of Aboriginal remains.
b) Land Claims
In accordance with the Act, 'Metro's Land Rights Unit researches and makes claims on vacant crown land within Metro's boundaries of the greater Sydney metropolitan area. This work has enabled Metro to become the largest single landholder in a number of Sydney local government areas.' Metro also monitors outstanding land claims.
c) Housing
Metro's Property Unit aims 'to equip [Metro's] members with suitable and affordable housing, clean water, heating and decent living conditions.' It is also 'responsible for the management and maintenance of Metro residential and business properties.'
Metro's other business includes Culture and Promotions, Employment and Training, Joint Ventures and Tourism.
Metro is a Public Benevolent Institution that seeks 'funding from various bodies, groups and individuals to run programs that meet the needs of the Aboriginal community within [its] boundaries."Source: Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements Project, Centre for Health and Society, The University of Melbourne, viewed 2 July 2018, http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=1832
Comment from Group Manager Community Services and Culture:
If this motion is adopted, initial consultations and collaboration can be undertaken within existing resources.
Resource Implications:
Nil additional for initial consultations and collaboration.
ATTACHMENTS
Nil.
Motion:
THAT:
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has started to cut back support provided through the SRSS program to people seeking asylum living in the community.
Due to several government changes to eligibility for support over the last year, many people seeking asylum have already turned to the community and charities for emergency support. Many of these charities, like the Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) in Newtown, receive no funding from Government.
As many as 3,500 people in New South Wales, including single parents with children, will be left with no income at all by the end of this year following the latest round of changes to SRSS eligibility. They will not be able to pay rent, buy food or clothes, or medicine. For people seeking asylum, already living in the uncertainty of the outcome of their claim for protection, the Government’s decision is adding unnecessary and harmful pressure to an already stressful situation. While people want to focus on getting jobs and being independent, they will now have to worry about being homeless.
The Asylum Seekers Centre is a key provider of services all under- one roof to people seeking asylum and is located in Newtown. The Centre has mobilised its frontline services to full capacity to provide emergency relief to people affected by the cuts and to support people in finding employment. ASC currently supports 3,000 people. In the last few months, its foodbank service alone has increased from 1,500 to 1,800 people, including many young children. Working with 400 volunteers, half of them residing in the Inner West, the ASC is a testament to the vibrant caring and multicultural community of Sydney’s Inner West, eager to offer practical support to people seeking asylum to show their disagreement with Government’s policies.
The Centre, together with agencies across the sector, has warned that the sheer number of people affected, as well as the complexity of their needs, requires the greater community to come together to support people seeking asylum.
For example, Mums4Refugees rallied behind the Asylum Seeker's Centre's emergency callout for nappies – which resulted in an immediate delivery of donations to the centre in Newtown. Mums4Refugees has over 700 member in the Inner West and over 30,000 nationally.
Mums4Refugees seeks to involve and support mothers from all cultural, social and political spectrums who want to see a compassionate and inclusive approach taken towards people who arrive as asylum seekers and refugees. They provide practical assistance to asylum seekers through detention centre visits, conducting donation drives to collect and distribute material aid by engaging in community-building activities. They seek to change the tide of opinion by sharing and promoting the views of organisations and individuals who seek to humanise the discourse around asylum seekers. They provide opportunities for mothers to get involved in community activities and political campaigns supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
This Notice of Motion is consistent with the support that people in the inner west have provided to people seeking asylum or on humanitarian visas. It is aligned with our vision of the Inner West as an inclusive, vibrant, caring and progressive community where everyone is welcome, and with our fourth strategic direction of caring, happy and healthy communities.
July 2018 - SRSS Factsheet How Inner West community can support people seeking asylumComment from Group Manager Community Services and Culture:
If this motion is adopted, initial consultations and collaboration can be undertaken within existing resources.
Resource Implications:
Nil additional
Caught the Light Rail from Rozelle Bay to North Leichhardt. Turned out that the tree planting was at the other end of Richard Murden Reserve.
None the less walking along the canal from the North Leichhardt Stop had its benefits. Saw the work on the wetlands at Blackmore Oval, photographed a couple of Pelicans enjoying the sun on the gross pollution trap and observed the busy dog park across the channel in Leichhardt.
A Darter was perched on a fence, later had its wings outstretched to dry off.
The tree planting site was busy with families, kids, adults all beavering away planting.
On the way home from the Rozelle Light Rail stop I noticed a Camelia Tree in bloom in Annandale Street (just near Piper) Annandale.
Park, Reuss Street, Leichhardt
Coffee at the Bar, La Giara, the Italian Forum.
One coffee at a time - moving from the takeaway single use coffee cups and lids! La Giara, the Italian Forum, Leichhardt.
Annandale Galleries: paintings, drawings, sculptures, bark paintings and ceremonial poles William Kentridge, Loic Le Groumellec, William Tillyer, John Lessore, Charles Cooper, John Bartlett, Gunybi Ganambarr, Galuma Maymuru, John Mawurndjul, Malaluba Gumana, Wanyubi Marika, James Iyuna, Rerrkirrwanga Mununggurr and more. Exhibition dates: July 3 - August 3 More at http://www.annandalegalleries.com.au/exhibition-details.php?exhibitionID=523
Read more at http://www.anmm.gov.au/container
Banksia Elswick Street, Leichhardt
Read more about Ashfield resident Quong Tart at https://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=quong+tart
Motion:
THAT:
Background
The Inner West LGA has a number of very busy state roads pass through our neighbourhoods. Schools and Childcare, Business Precincts and Restaurants are located on these roads making them busy pedestrian precincts and increasingly popular cycling locations.
The NSW Government gave approval to Westconnex Stage 3 in April. This approval included the marshalling of trucks at Whites Bay. The plan involves trucks travelling along City West Link, Parramatta Road and Johnston Street. Westconnex will also induce more traffic on these roads.
The government is also investigating establishing a major construction materials port at Glebe Island, which will also generate truck movements on these urban roads.
"Reductions in the urban speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h reduced crashes by 25 per cent and injuries by 22 per cent”. “Reasonable speed limits were 30km/h in residential areas, it suggested. In other areas where there were intersections and a high risk of side collisions, 50km/h was appropriate”. - Yes, speed really does kill, says global road safety review, 9 April 2018" : https://www.smh.com.au/national/yes-speed-really-does-kill-says-global-road-safetyreview-20180404-p4z7t1.html
On 10 June 2018 the NSW Government has announced it will spend “$180 million to increase liveability and safety in urban communities through infrastructure safety upgrades for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users” - NSW Budget 2018: A record boost to deliver safer roads, 10 Jun 2018, https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/mediareleases/nsw-budget-2018-a-record-boost-to-deliver-safer-roads
Further, to improve the safety of people in our urban places, the NSW Government has said it will:
"Install traffic calming, pedestrian refuges and crossings in busy urban places across NSW, to improve pedestrian and bicycle rider safety, and reduce casualty crashes.
Partner with local government to expand 40km/h in high pedestrian activity and local areas to reduce crashes and protect pedestrians. Explore options to accelerate safety upgrades at intersections through the Safer Roads Program, including:
• Works that deliver safer and more controlled vehicle turning to reduce the risk of dangerous side impact crashes, especially in locations with older and vulnerable road users;
• An expanded pedestrian protection (green on green removal) program and ongoing review of new technology and signal changes for safer pedestrian and bicycle rider movement;
• Raised intersection platforms, profile treatments, and innovative roundabout designs at more urban intersections to reduce serious injuries. Maximise safety integration in bicycle network programs to facilitate safer movement, provide separation from other traffic, where appropriate, and manage vehicle speeds.”
Source: Liveable and safe urban communities; http://www.towardszero.nsw.gov.au/roadsafetyplan.
Officer’s Comments:
Comment from Group Manager Footpaths, Roads, Traffic and Stormwater:
The cost of preparing these letters is $150 of staff time.
ATTACHMENTS Nil.
Resolved Extraordinary Council Meeting 3 July 2018. Minutes at https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2018/07/C_03072018_MIN_EXTRA_WEB.htm
Attended Meeting as alternate Chair. Agenda and Business Papers at https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/