City News
The dreamworld of WestConnex PR
By WENDY BACON This week WestConnex launched what the Federal and NSW governments boasted was an “interactive, world-first online community event” to promote Transurban’s WestConnex M8, the tollway from Kingsgrove to St Peters that will open soon. It’s an interactive video with lots of places where you can click to immerse yourself in the tollway […]
Marsh mural censored
by ALEC SMART A controversial Scott Marsh wall mural in central Sydney has been covered over by City of Sydney Council authorities, following a NSW Police request, only 19 hours after it was painted. Marsh, an internationally-respected artist, is renowned for his detailed and humorous wall murals in central Sydney that typically satirise prominent politicians […]
Powerhouse in peril
by ALEC SMART The NSW Govt has released costings that underpin their motive to close the Powerhouse Museum, prior to its demolition and transfer of some of its exhibits to a smaller museum in Parramatta. However, the documents, obtained under Parliamentary Order by a cross-bench of Upper House MPs, reveal NSW Govt’s plans for the […]
Sydney transport: trams halted, buses ‘hacked’
By ALEC SMART In a series of incidents that impacted Sydney’s central public transport network, the light rail service was halted following a ‘fire alarm’ incident, and the state-run bus network experienced a computer outage blamed on ‘hackers’. A mysterious fire alarm at the Randwick depot caused the suspension of Sydney’s new light rail service […]
Libs split over preserving Sydney’s heritage
By ALEC SMART A split has appeared in the Australian Liberal Party over preservation of Sydney’s heritage, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s NSW Government favouring commercialisation over the Federal Government’s plans for conservation. NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes rejected the outcome of an independent inquiry into maintaining and caretaking historically and culturally important sites in Sydney […]
The Big Issue with Covid-19
By JOHN MOYLE Even in the pre-Covid hustle and bustle of city life, the one sight that was welcomed and we always had time for was our local The Big Issue vendor. Along with much of our city life, The Big Issue retailer has been missing from the landscape for around three months as more […]
Heritage halts skatepark
Opinion by ANDREW WOODHOUSE Champagne corks are popping across Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay and Darling Point. The NSW heritage office previously recommended that the much-cherished Rushcutters Bay Park on its eastern side and Yarranabbe Park, both under the control of Woollahra Council, be state heritage-listed. And last week the Minister signed off on the proposal […]
Best Endeavours
by ALEC SMART The voyage of the replica of Captain James Cook’s ship HMB Endeavour, which was scheduled to circumnavigate Australia from March 2020 to mark 250 years since Cook’s April 1770 anchoring in Botany Bay, has been postponed indefinitely. However, many of the nationwide events and displays associated with the cruise will still proceed, […]
BLM rally a difficult but necessary choice
Opinion by JOSEPH O’DONOGHUE Concerns over the health risks caused by the Black Lives Matter protests on Saturday 6 June, were valid. After two months of lockdown, we’re finally beginning to see some thaw. Day-to-day life has been inching back towards normal again. A mass gathering that threatens these valuable gains is surely a risk. […]
Blackwattle Bay scenarios unacceptable
Opinion by Dr Hannah Middleton Infrastructure NSW has issued a shiny brochure with three “scenarios” for the development of the Blackwattle Bay Precinct. Hands off Glebe Inc argues that none of the three options is acceptable as a vision for Blackwattle Bay. In line with the Sydney Harbour Regional Environmental Plan, we value the harbour […]
