Monday 22 August 2016

Inner City Ferries, Schools Inquiry, Smart Green Apartments, Walk with Art School, Sydney Salons, Wear it Purple and Overdose Awareness Day

Inner City Ferries

The government’s May 2013 ‘Sydney's Ferry Future’ strategy identified new ferry wharves and services to Barangaroo, Glebe Point, Johnston’s Bay Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo and Elizabeth Bay. While the Barangaroo wharf is well underway, we’ve not seen progress on the other sites and I’ve been asking questions of the minister. Read my questions HERE and HERE.

Sign my petition calling on the government to fast-track new ferry wharves and services at Glebe Point, Johnston’s Bay Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo and Elizabeth Bay, HERE.  

Schools Inquiry

I’m pleased that the Legislative Council will carry out a Parliamentary Inquiry into ‘Enrolment capacity in inner city public primary schools’ to examine total project costs, details of Ultimo Public School alternative sites and costs of the Wentworth Park temporary school and the impact of the Bays Precinct development on future school needs. Submissions are due 18 September. Details HERE.

Smart Green Apartments

The City of Sydney provides grants to help retrofit large strata apartment buildings to reduce energy and water costs and emissions. Aria in Waterloo saves $61,000 a year through lighting upgrades and timers on car park exhaust fans. Cleveland Mews in Redfern saved 82% in power use through lighting upgrades and heat pumps for the swimming pool and spa. Applications close 28 September, apply HERE.

Walk With Art School

Students, staff, alumni, and supporters of the National Art School will march to Parliament House, wearing the NAS orange, to protest against proposals to merge this vital school with the University of NSW. I have called to keep the NAS independent and at the Darlinghurst Gaol site with federal funding and will table petitions in Parliament. Protesters will meet at the National Art School campus 12noon 24 August. 

Details HERE. Join the campaign at gotothisurlrightnow.com  and sign the petition at HERE.  

Sydney Salons

Australian Human Rights Commission head Gillian Triggs will speak on human rights at Sydney Salon Monday 22 August 6-8pm at the Australian Museum Wild Planet Gallery.

Tom Snow, Rhodes Scholar and a founder of Whitehelm Capital, is a passionate marriage equality supporter who will speak about achieving marriage equality at Sydney Salon Monday 29 August 6-8pm at Bonjour Cafe, Alliance Francaise 257 Clarence Street Sydney. 

Information and tickets: www.sydneysalon.org 

Wear IT Purple

High school students created Wear it Purple Day to address homophobic bullying and harassment and it is now a national day to support young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ).

The City of Sydney will light up Sydney Town Hall in purple and hold a free barbecue, with live entertainment from the NSW Police band, information stalls and giveaways. NSW Police, Wear It Purple, Twenty10, The Gender Centre, Inner City Legal Centre, Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and ACON join forces on Friday 26 August 12-5pm at 1 Bedford Street Newtown. Details HERE and information about Wear it Purple available at www.wearitpurple.org.  

Overdose Awareness

Overdose Day spreads the message with resources and tribute pages that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. The Overdose Aware app can help you to recognise overdose signs and respond to save lives. Information: www.overdoseday.com

Kirketon Road Centre has an afternoon tea 12 noon Wednesday 31 August to raise awareness and remember those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. Details: telephone 9360 2766.