By ALLISON HORE The rates harmonisation process has continued to cause strife for Inner West councillors who called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the changes in response to growing community frustrations. Currently there are three rates structures across the Inner West. This disparity comes as a result of the three pre-amalgamation councils- Ashfield Council, Leichhardt […]
By EVA BAXTER A string of delays to the reopening of Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain has local politicians pointing fingers. Inner West Council’s heritage restoration of the Baths was meant to be completed in time for the 2020/21 summer season. The opening has been delayed well past December, with the reopening date now set […]
By ALLISON HORE Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne is feeling the burn of a potential suspension he faces as a result of a NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) inquiry. The local government watchdog accused the mayor of an “abuse of power” as a result of a 2019 council meeting where he used a council […]
By ALLISON HORE Dog owners in the Inner West are calling for areas of Callan Park to be set officially aside for off-leash dogs when the detailed designs are put together for the precinct. Officially, dogs are only allowed on-leash across Callan park’s 60-hectares of green space. Owners are allowed to let their dogs off-leash […]
By DANIEL LO SURDO Inner West Council has decided to halve the amount of Council Meetings taking place in 2021. The recommendation to decrease two monthly meetings down to one was made official in December when a majority of Councillors led by Mayor Darcy Byrne expressed their support for the motion. Independent Councillor Pauline Lockie, […]
By ALLISON HORE The plans for a skatepark at Leichhardt Park have hit another roadblock after council voted to put the park's plans under an extra layer of scrutiny. The move will mean the decade-long decision making process for a new Inner West skatepark will be drawn out even longer. The vote follows lengthy debate […]
By DANIEL LO SURDO Inner West residents were left bewildered last month as over 90 portable toilets were delivered to foreshore parks in Balmain East and Birchgrove in preparation for New Year’s Eve celebrations, despite Inner West Council declaring the popular vantage points closed over three weeks earlier. Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne pleaded […]
By ALLISON HORE Construction delays have plagued the reopening of Australia’s oldest sea pool. Located in Elkington Park, Balmain, the Dawn Fraser Baths were not reopened for the start of the summer swim season as the Inner West Council had hoped. The popular swimming spot has been closed since September 2019 for extensive renovations to […]
By ALLISON HORE A food waste recycling scheme in the Inner West is transforming uneaten food into renewable energy. The food waste recycling service in Leichhardt has been operating since 2008, in 500 apartment buildings and 5,000 households. Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, first introduced the program when he was mayor of the pre-amalgamation Leichhardt […]
By ALLISON HORE With New Years Eve just around the corner and a new COVID-19 cluster rapidly growing in Sydney’s Northern beaches, councils around Sydney have raised concern about gatherings of revellers. In September, the City of Sydney handed the reins of the annual New Years’ Eve event on the Sydney harbour over to the […]