Monday 23 October 2017

STR Strata Forum, Vital Green Space, Gift Cards & Ticket Scalping, Crown Street Fete, Stadia Games, The State of Mental Health & Energy Workshop

STR Strata Forum

There are still a few places at the forum I’m co-hosting with the Owners Corporation Network about regulating short term letting Tuesday 24 October 6.30-7.30pm in the NSW Parliament theatrette, register HERE.

Vital Green Space

Sydney's green space is rapidly being cleared and risks being eradicated. In Parliament I called on the Government to introduce new laws to strengthen urban green space protections and immediately start work to expand city green space. Unfortunately the current government’s trend has been to weaken protection of urban bush to fast track development.

Gift Cards & Ticket Scalping

In Parliament I supported the government’s new anti-scalping laws. Resale websites use software to buy tickets to events in bulk and then resell them at massively inflated prices. They pay search engines to advertise so they come up at the top of searches. New laws ban the software and put a cap on the profit when tickets are resold and are a positive move to prevent consumers being ripped off. My speech is HERE.

Crown Street Fete

Last year’s Crown Street Food Fete was a great success and this year’s promises the same. It’s on Saturday 28 October 9am-3pm and funds go towards Crown Street Public School: www.crownstfete.com.au. I hope to see you at the dunking machine!

Stadia Games

The latest push by the Sydney Cricket Ground to build a new stadium conveniently coincides with a push to close Driver Avenue for ’security risks’. But Driver Avenue is closed during major events and I am concerned this is really a land grab with serious consequences for local residents and businesses. I’ve asked the Premier to reject this move, see my letters HERE.  

I’m continuing to ask questions in Parliament about the future of Moore Park including the Entertainment Quarter as there are indications of further SCG encroachments. The Entertainment Quarter’s failures should not be used as an excuse to let the SCG build more buildings and car parks there at a time when the inner city urgently needs more community recreation facilities like netball courts.

At the same time, the government wants to connect the stadia with Westconnex, with road widening, clearways, removal of over 100 trees and property acquisitions. This involves a six lane highway for 120,000 cars a day and a massive $500 million intersection at Anzac Parade and Dacey Avenue. I continue to oppose this absurd and destructive proposal and encourage you to make your opposition known to the Premier.

I’m working with adjacent MPs and Lord Mayor Clover Moore to protect our precious parklands and we will keep you informed with any community action needed.

The State of Mental Health

NSW Mental Health Commissioner Catherine Lourey will speak on the state of mental health in NSW Monday 30 October 5-7pm for Collective Purpose Suite 501 - Level 580 William Street Woolloomooloo. Register HERE.

Energy Workshop

Woollahra Council has a workshop on energy saving and solar energy Wednesday 25 October 11.30am-1pm at the council office 536 New South Head Road Double Bay, information HERE.

Our Energy Future provides free energy advice, telephone 1300 339 915 or online HERE.