Tag Archives
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 […]
THE NAKED CITY – THIS SPORTING POLITIK
Politics and sport have always combined to produce some particularly ugly moments such as the 1936 Berlin Olympics, hijacked by the Nazis as a hideous propaganda exercise. In Australia the 1971 South African Springbok tour was met with numerous anti-apartheid protests but a decade later in New Zealand a similar tour led almost to a […]
Inner West Council can take action on affordable housing
Opinion by DYLAN GRIFFITHS Sydney is the third worst city in the world for housing affordability. In Australia, one in six young people aged 15–19 have experienced homelessness, 25 percent of whom are based in NSW. For many the amount needed for a home loan deposit seems insurmountable with the inability to become a homeowner […]
Airbnb is eating the neighbourhood
Opinion by JANE HEARN Last month the NSW “Airbnb Policy” was quietly gazetted by the Minister for Planning, Mr Robert Stokes MP. This is a major planning reform that permits all housing to be used for short stay tourism. It takes some chutzpah to give in to tourist Platforms in the middle of pandemic with […]
Council de-amalgamation: Rage Against the Machine
Opinion by Peter Hehir Monday night saw the ALP machine get a well-deserved kick in the teeth and the result was a great win for democracy! The ALP Councillors, voting as a block, as is the ALP caucused custom, were soundly thrashed by a majority of 10 to 5 when their rescission motion; which effectively […]
Talking the walk: A field guide to Sydney’s footpaths
Opinion by LIAM WEBSTER About two months ago now I embarked on a new chapter in the book of life – beginning a new office job in Pyrmont. Now, one of the bigger changes stemming from this has been the commute. Every day, about an hour door to door, with twenty minutes on foot. The […]
The Billy Lids picnic
Opinion by PETER HEHIR Residents have until the 18th June 2021 for submissions to the NSW Upper House inquiry into the Western Harbour Tunnel. My take on this ecological disaster, one year from now, borrows from the ‘Teddy Bears Picnic:’ Don’t’ go down to the harbour pools today Or you’re sure of a big surprise […]
De-amalgamation vote: The rescission filibuster
Opinion by PETER HEHIR It’s been suggested by those who oppose de-amalgamation that the argument for it, is simply nostalgia or some unsubstantiated notion that smaller is better. This clearly needs to be examined in some detail. Prior to amalgamation Leichhardt was in the top 10% of financially viable councils in NSW. The KPMG report […]
De-amalgamation to go to a vote: The Heat is on…
Opinion by PETER HEHIR At last night’s special council meeting a most extraordinary thing happened. The citizens of the Inner West actually had a victory! On a debate that was at times acrimonious, with the proponents of the embarrassingly and hugely in debt mega council – including Labor mayor Darcy Byrne and his cohorts in […]
De-amalgamate or perish?
Opinion by PETER HEHIR Those of you who have been following my opinion pieces in City Hub over the last two or three years are well aware of my attitude towards politicians in general; and the major political parties in particular. I was an avid supporter, and still am, of the Open Council concept first […]
