Greens and democracy

I don’t normally respond to the political ramblings of my political opponents but the comments of Greens NSW Local Government spokesperson David Shoebridge about the state of democracy in our City demands an answer. In reality, he bags Council and our residents.

Complaints that democracy is absent in our City from a person who gained a seat on Wollahra Council with a 6.05% of the total vote of the people of Wollahra  and who came unelected into the NSW Legislative Council (he got the nod as a Greens MP to replace another Green who departed for greener pastures) is, to use as old saying, the devil quoting scripture.

I suppose I can be blamed for many things but I think it’s stretching credulity to be blamed for the last Council Election when no one stood against any of the incumbent councilors, or, indeed, myself. We welcome people offering themselves for election to Council – that’s everyone’s democratic right and that’s the democratic process. It’s also the democratic reflection of the people that their representatives get a majority of votes.

There is no inherent right to a seat on Council for the Greens if they get just 10% of the vote, a figure Mr Shoebridge himself couldn’t achieve.

A left wing, socialist sitting in the rarified environs of Vaucluse, dispensing wisdom to us like some wise sage, should at least try and get some votes among his fellow members of the Legislative Council, who, by the way, didn’t bother to have a formal vote to reject his self-serving, inherently superior view of how local councils should be elected.

He is one of those people who knows his views are correct (and should be unquestioned by the rest of us) and that his views are best for everyone and everyone should agree unreservedly with his way of thinking and let him and his ilk run the place how they think fit.

Now that’s not democracy, the philosophy he espouses, which is say one thing – do another.

School Holiday Program – Primary School

Apart from the library events to coincide with the school holidays, our Community Services have organised a wide range of Vacation Care events over the two weeks, commencing Tuesday April 10. 

Venue for the activities will be Botany Public School on Botany Road in the Out of School Hours Room (come in via the Bay Street entrance to the school). The centre will be open from 7.00am to 6.00pm each day and on offer will be games – indoor and outdoor – all under the theme “Blasting off into Outer Space”. 

If you need more information, or would like the special info pack, call Sherryl on 9366- 3576 or Grace on 9666-6128 between 3.00pm and 6.00pm. All details of the program are on our website – www.botanybay.nsw.gov.au – and you’ll find the necessary forms under Vacation Care in the Community Services section.

School Holiday Program – High School

Council’s youth workers have put together another active and entertaining holiday program for our local high school students. The program kicks off on Monday April 16 with dancing your way to fitness with Zumba – fitness with a Brazilian flavour. 

 

Tuesday, April 17 sees the activities at Eastlakes Community Centre (Crn Evans and Florence avenues) with the youth centre comp where all the usual PS’s and X-box have an added component with the table tennis competition. It’s between 4.00pm and 7.30pm and dinner is provided. 

Wednesday, April 18 is movie day at Hoyts Eastgardens, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm (again free). 

 

Thursday it’s off to Hillsdale Community Hall at 236 Bunnerong Road for the Hillsdale Youth Centre Comp, where there’s another table tennis competition along with all the electronic games and other activities. This runs between 4.00pm and 7.30pm. 

 

The two weeks’ activities wrap up on Friday April 20 with the free bowling comp at Manhattan Superbowl in Mascot. The comp is between 4.30pm and 7.30 pm (with dinner provided) and we ask prospective competitors to get a team of six together and come and enter. For all details contact Community Services on 9366- 3889.

Mascot Station Precinct and its transformation

The transformation of the Mascot Station Precinct is an exciting time for Council and myself. However, I do understand that for those of you who have only recently moved in it may also be a frustrating experience.

So, let me explain why we are excited about, and committed to, the revitalisation of the area in which many new residents have chosen to make their home.

The City of Botany Bay was some years ago an industrial city, a city where industry, often noxious industry, lived next door to residents, and that was not pleasant. There were acrid smells, noise, heavy traffic and pollution.

When I was first elected as Mayor, it was my vision to turn this City into a much sought after residential area. I wanted the City of Botany Bay to be a place residents are proud to live and a place others want to live. That vision is now becoming a reality, but there is still much to be done.

The first step was to put proper planning procedures in place to allow industry and residents to live as "good neighbours" but, eventually not side by side.

The result has been that over the last 15 years several new residential areas have been created on sites which were once factories and industries, particularly in Botany. As part of this overall transformation of the City, the idea of the Mascot Station Precinct was born. The concept is the result of careful and strategic planning. The idea is to create a vibrant and exciting new "town centre" with a mix of medium to high density residential along with some commercial and retail uses.

I, and my fellow councillors and our planners, are excited by the change that has begun because we can see the vision being created and coming to reality. And I know that once it is complete, Mascot Station Precinct will be a much sought after residential address.

For residents living in the area while this transformation occurs, I realise that there will be some pluses and negatives. Buying a prime piece of real estate in the early stages is a good investment, but the price one pays is living with construction noise, dust and traffic while the other developments are completed.

So I ask for the community's patience and tolerance. The building sites under development are currently at their peak. This results in congestion as the number of workers on site, additional delivery movements to and from the area all make it difficult at times for those of you living in the midst of it all.

It is not an easy time, and in an ideal world all the development would occur simultaneously and the residents would not move in until everything was completed, beautified and landscaped. It is unfortunately not a perfect world and Council will do all it can to ensure that the transformation happens as quickly as possible and with minimal impact on those residents who have already occupied the new developments.

Improvements to the visual amenity of the area are already beginning. Work has begun on creating the pedestrian mall, Laycock Walk. The new pocket park at the corner of Bourke Road and Coward Street will soon be named the “Nancy Bird Walton,” honouring a pioneer aviator who learnt to fly on the old Mascot airfield, now Kingsford Smith Airport. Another initiative will be the conversion of the one-way Church Avenue into two-way traffic, which will benefit local residents. As well, a new outdoor fitness area and children’s playground is planned for Mascot Park, just down the road and next to Mascot Oval.

Developers working in the precinct must abide by their Conditions of Consent, and must consider the surrounding residential neighbours. Council staff carry out regular inspections and several developers have already received hefty fines and been served emergency orders. Indeed, we have involved the local police command in the enforcement of some of the conditions.

I, certainly welcome residents input and your feedback. If you are concerned about anything at all please do not hesitate to contact me on 9366 3600 or via email at mayor@botanybay.nsw.gov.au

Local School Children Honoured

Last week we held two special receptions for the local primary school students who helped brighten up our latest Community Report. 

 

Over the two nights, children from Banksmeadow Public School, Botany Public School, Botany After School Care, Eastlakes Public School, Gardeners Road Public School, Mascot Public School, Pagewood Public School, Pagewood After School Care, and St Therese Primary were acknowledged as well as number of local children who submitted their own independent entry.

 

The children and their parents and carers, and even more than a few proud grandparents, enjoyed the recognition the children received. The young artists and writers from the Community Report were treated to lots of party food and entertained by a magician and balloon sculptor as well as receiving a special citation. Their works of art can be seen in the children’s section of the Central Library, Eastgardens. Photos from the evening will be available from my office from next Monday.

Seniors Garden Party Correction

In a story on Senior’s Week Activities in last week’s Southern Courier there was an error in the details for my annual Seniors’ Garden Party. Inadvertently the date was given as March 27 but in fact it is May 27. A number of people called my office – which shows how closely people read the local newspaper – and I know that Raylene, the Editor, has also made a correction.

School Holiday Program

Like the scouting and guide movements, we are always prepared and, with the first term school holidays due in a couple of weeks, Council staff have organised a wide range of holiday activities.

We have two separate programs – one for under 12/s and the other for those students aged between 12 and 18. For the littlies we’ll be using both the Central Library at Eastgardens and the Mascot Library in Hatfield Street and you will have to book by calling Candy on 9366 3888. 

On two dates, Tuesday April 10 and Wednesday April 18 between 10.30am and midday, the K to 12’s will be asked to show their drawing talents as they draw different shapes on scratch boards. The children will also have the opportunity to prepare Mother’s Day cards. For either of these two days – which are at the Central Library, Eastgardens – there is a charge of $5 and, as seats are limited, you’ll need to call quickly. 

On Friday April 13 (and it’s not a bad luck day!), the library team has organised The Pram Show and they’ve extended the audience to ages 2 and up. The Pram Show provides great fun for everyone, fast-paced, lots of action and audience participation with a colourful cast of monkeys of all shapes and sizes. It’s madcap and the kids have great fun and talk about it for ages. Again, there is a cost of $5 per child (with one accompanying adult for free) and the venue is the Mascot Library in Hatfield Street and it’s on between 10.30am and 11.15am. 

Events go back to the Central Library, Eastgardens on Monday April 16 with the mosaic workshop. This is where the children learn to master the ancient technique of mosaic as they decorate picture frames with colourful mosaic stones and glass beads. This runs between 10.30am and 12.30pm and there is a cost of $10 per child, which is $5 for entry and $5 for the materials.

For the 12 to 18 year olds, our Youth Workers have organised a two-week program beginning after the April 9 public holiday. 

Tuesday, April 10 has the free youth centre day at Eastlakes Community Hall, Crn Evans and Florence Avenues where, between 4.00pm and 7.30pm there will be PS 2 & 3 and X-box 360 along with many other activities. 

The following day it’s off to rock climbing and the bus leaves the Central Library at Eastgardens at 11.00am and returns at 2.00pm. For this one there is a cost of $10. 

Thursday is another youth centre day but this time at Hillsdale Community Hall, 236 Bunnerong Road between 4.00pm and 7.30pm with all the usual activities. 

Friday the 13th is ice skating at Canterbury Ice Rink and the bus leaves the Central Library at 10.00am and returns at 2.30pm. There is a cost of $16 for this one. 

I’ll give details next week of the second week’s activities for the high school students. If you want more information, or to book an excursion, contact our community services on 9366 3889.