Tuesday 16 May

 Relief Vacancy, Oxford Street Traffic, Westconnex Stage 3, Bondi-Surry Hills Cycleway, Constitutional Reform, Walk Safely to School, Candlelight Memorial & Chechnya Persecution

OXFORD STREET TRAFFIC

In Parliament, I asked the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight to work with Woollahra Council, the City of Sydney and local businesses and residents to address the longstanding traffic concerns with Oxford Street. While she says that there has been a turnaround in business viability on this important high street, I’ve asked to meet with her about community proposals. My question is HERE or watch it HERE.

WESTCONNEX STAGE 3

The latest Westconnex design (Stage 3) links the M4 and M5 with a 9km underground tunnel from Haberfield to St Peters is HERE.

I support the City of Sydney’s proposal to scrap this part of the project, which is the most destructive.  Westconnex would still connect western Sydney with Port Botany and the airport, but the massive, expensive and destructive spaghetti junctions in Rozelle and St Peters would no longer be needed. The $7 billion saved could be reinvested in much needed public transport projects: www.clovermoore.com.au/westconnex. ABC Background Briefing HERE.   

RELIEF VACANCY

I’m looking for a regular relief staffer to take over when my permanent workers take leave – Fridays, some Thursdays and to cover sickness and holidays. It is a casual position but will involve regular work. Applications online – closing 21 May, apply HERE.

BONDI-SURRY HILLS CYCLEWAY

The state government is funding a separated cycleway to be built by the City of Sydney along Moore Park Road linking Bondi Junction to Surry Hills. The pedestrian path between Anzac Parade and South Dowling Street will be relocated to a path around the Korean War Memorial with lighting to improve safety, and the cycleway to be built on the existing footpath. Some loss of grass on Moore Park Road is proposed between Driver Avenue and Anzac Parade however this will not impact on trees. Details HERE.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Today is the closing date for comment on proposals for constitutional reform that would include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and remove clauses that allow racial discrimination. The Human Rights Commission has details HERE. You can provide feedback to the Referendum Council HERE.

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL

Friday 19 May is Walk Safely to School Day, with local schools arranging events to support students walking to school safely: www.walk.com.au.

CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL

This year’s Candlelight Memorial is on Sunday 21 May 4.30pm at the Eternity Playhouse 39 Burton Street Darlinghurst, the 19th vigil for those lost to HIV/AIDS. You can pass on names of loved ones to be read out. Details: www.candlelight.org.au.  

CHECHNYA PERSECUTION 

There’s a vigil at Taylor Square Wednesday 17 May to draw attention and call for Australian Government response to reports that homosexual men are being rounded up, held in concentration camps, tortured and killed by Chechnyan authorities, who are also calling for families to kill gay relatives.

Amnesty International is calling for the Russian Government to intervene, read about it HERE, and there’s an online petition calling for Australia to accept refugees fleeing this dreadful situation, HERE.