Tag Archives
De-amalgamate! And put the local back into local…
Opinion by PETER HEHIR With the decision due in relation to what has been described as “several counts of misconduct in 2019” during the execution of his mayoral duties, the Balmain electorate awaits the fate of Mayor Darcy Byrne. It was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald and Telegraph on Wednesday that Mr Byrne told […]
NSW COVID: Local Government Elections pushed back to December
By DANIEL LO SURDO NSW Local Government Elections scheduled for September 4 this year have been postponed three months to December 4 as the COVID-19 outbreak throughout the state continues to grow. Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock MP announced Saturday night that December 4 would be the new date that elections would be held, […]
Macri 4 Marrickville: the local councillor focused on local issues
By GEMMA BILLINGTON Local council, local issues. That’s the mantra of Marrickville’s ex-mayor and current independent Inner West councillor Victor Macri. When it comes to navigating the diverse needs of the Marrickville community, Macri’s goal is for every voice to be heard and for his policies to transcend what he considers political barriers. “I’m not […]
Inner West Independents say local suffers when party politics thrive
By EVA BAXTER Inner West Council is infamous for its infighting. Independent councillor John Stamolis told the Inner West Independent, that’s what happens when big party politics interferes at the local level. Stamolis has served his community for 24 years but will be fighting desperately to win an election against rookies backed by political parties […]
NSW COVID: Workers struggling to keep heads above water after Aquatic Centre stands down staff without pay
By ELYSIA COOK As Sydney was plunged into lockdown last month, Marrickville's Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre (AKAC) stood down its entire workforce, indefinitely and without pay. While full-time and part-time workers have been asked to access their annual leave, many of the casual staff working at AKAC aren’t eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment. An […]
Community welcomes Heritage Public Square for Balmain’s Telstra Exchange site
By SASHA FOOT The transformation of Balmain’s Telstra Exchange building has been praised by local residents as it nears completion following an extensive community campaign. The Heritage Square will introduce public seating, urban landscaping and a green wall to the corner of Montague and Darling Street. In 2015, Telstra announced they would demolish the building's […]
De-amalgamation. Why the scare tactics?
Opinion By PIP HINMAN The political forces that were against even asking the Inner West Council to request the NSW Electoral Commission for a poll on de-amalgamation – giving residents their first democratic say on the matter – were defeated by a majority of councillors agreeing. Their efforts are now going into furious postings on […]
Sydney Lockdown: WestConnex to cause further pain for Inner West residents told to stay home
By DANIEL LO SURDO The Inner West is set to undergo a colossal 12 months of construction with work on the Western Harbour Tunnel beginning while Sydney’s Gateway and M6 Motorway development is tipped to start early next year. The Western Harbour Tunnel, an infrastructure project promising a western bypass of the CBD, began excavation […]
Inner West Council: Greens candidate launches petition for basic maintenance of Balmain Town Hall and Library
By ELYSIA COOK Greens candidate for the Balmain-Baludarri Ward Kobi Shetty last week launched her petition to refurbish the Balmain Town Hall and Library. The Inner West Council’s 2021 infrastructure budget lists an upgrade to the Balmain Town Hall as a priority project, with $6.8 million of funding allocated to improving community centres across the […]
Greens accuse Labor of refusing to share power in Inner West Council debate over Mayoral misconduct
By EVA BAXTER A tumultuous Inner West Council meeting led to council acknowledging the findings by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) that Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne was guilty of misconduct. Greens Clr Louise Steer told the Independent, “it is a big step to do a motion like that against the Mayor and it […]
