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What are your ideas for improving your local area?
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Comment 1 27 Jan 2010, 2:33 PM
I have written to Marrickville Council several times since July 2008 on the issue of dog off-leash areas within Marrickville LGA. To date, I have not received ANY response from the Council.
I have telephone conversations with the Council's Companion animal officer in 2008, and follow up emails promising the new draft park/animal policy for Marrickville. To date, nothing has materialised. The parks department points the finger at the councillors ("there was an election") and the councillors point the finger at the parks department. Stalemate.
Unlike neighbouring Sydney City LGA where almost all parks are off-leash, Marrickville has 5 very widely spaced more…
Comment 1.1 30 Jan 2010, 5:37 PM
Park users are entitled to be free of dogs bounding up to them even if the dog has 'friendly' intentions. They are certainly entitled to be free of the attentions of aggressive dogs and the only way to be sure of that is to have all dog on a leash, even the 'nice' ones.
As a dog owner myself I understand that is a bit tough on the dog but in the end it is human needs that come first.
Comment 1.1.1 31 Jan 2010, 12:10 AM
Park users are entitled to be free of children running up to them even if the child has 'friendly' intentions. They are certainly entitled to be free of the attentions of annoying children or aggressive teenagers and the only way to be sure of that is to have all children and adolescents on a leash, even the 'nice' ones.
As a parent myself I understand that is a bit tough on the child but in the end it is adult needs that come first.
The council does nothing to encourage responsible dog ownership and all the social benefits that arise out of this (including better socialisation, less likelihood of noise etc).
Marrickville council seems to think that its citizens are less competent than the citizens of surrounding local government areas in this respect. I've lived with dogs on 3 continents and in many countries.
Marrickville is singularly behind the times in this respect.
Comment 1.1.1.1 31 Jan 2010, 10:44 AM
Mike, this might be hard for you to accept but humans do have more rights and freedoms than dogs. And, as should be obvious to anyone, the behaviours of dogs and children are very different.
It is unusual, shall we say, for a child to run towards you barking and biting. It happens often enough with dogs and I have a scar to prove it.
City living comes with limitations and limiting what dogs can do, to safeguard public safety and comfort, is one of them.
Comment 1.1.1.1.1 31 Jan 2010, 2:09 PM
I was making the point that people's entitlements in public spaces are limited to the day to day negotiation you have with all people, creatures and for that matter the weather.
I agree that obnoxious behaviour from anywhere is to be deplored. The Council however does not just go after troublemakers, but turns the area into a nanny state. If you want to live your life at the end of a leash, fine, but don't assume it's the right thing for all people (or dogs).
If I go back to my original points, Marrickville Council does not fulfil its obligations under more…
Comment 1.1.1.1.1.1 31 Jan 2010, 11:38 PM
Whenever there is a regulation that happens to be disliked by someone the cry of "nanny state" is automatically raised followed by inferences that anyone supporting the regulation is a supine and cowardly hater of freedom.
This is all childish nonsense and far from wanting to "live my life at the end of a leash" I'd prefer to be free of those who assume that their "rights" are much more important than the rights of others.
Comment 1.1.1.1.1.1.1 1 Feb 2010, 12:36 AM
You're inferring a position that no one is trying to make. Please keep the discussion civil.
There is also a contradiction in saying "I'd prefer to be free of those who assume that their "rights" are much more important than the rights of others." when you're saying above that your rights are more important than others.
Comment 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 1 Feb 2010, 8:27 AM
You think it is civil to say that supporters of the regulation "want to live your life at the end of a leash"? What a joke.
Your arrogant assumption that your "rights" are superior to the rights of others shines through your contributions.
admin Comment 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Admin 1 Feb 2010, 9:40 AM
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Comment 1.1.1.1.1.2 16 Feb 2010, 5:12 PM
I wave been bitten by a doberman on a leash being 'controlled' by an old man who would have had trouble looking after a poodle. Blood was drawm and the doctor gave me a tetanus shot. If it was a teenager I would have been able to charge them with assult. Let owners go to leash free areas if they want to exercise off lead. If they object to having to travel to a special area they should do with outthe dog.
Comment 1.1.1.1.1.2.1 16 Feb 2010, 7:28 PM
There's a good point that "controlling" a dog doesn't equate to being on a leash. There are bad dogs (usually due to bad owners) on or off leash, but plenty of dogs good on or off leash. I hope you reported the doberman to the Council - your age has no bearing on the matter. To be proactive, you should also urge the Council to promote responsible dog ownership and training, neither of which it takes seriously. Fining owners of well-behaved dogs is its current strategy.
Marrickville, Lewisham, Dulwich Hill, Stanmore and Petersham suburbs have no leash-free areas at all.
Comment 1.2 1 Feb 2010, 10:03 AM
I think that dog owners should stop taking the attitude that local parks should be open for their use all day, everyday, especially when they are living in a densely populated area with very few open spaces! Council already supplies off leash parks throughout the area: http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/services/companionanimals/dogs/exerciseareas.htm
It is not like we live in a huge government area where the distances between suburbs are great. All of tehse parks are within a short drive or walk from most suburbs in our area.
In any case, a lot of dog owners ignore signage in parks and have their dogs off leash - Laxton Reserve and Johnson Park at Dulwuch Hill and Marrickville Park are perfect examples. And when you approach dog owners about this, they are rude and aggressive.
Reading your comparison of children's rights vs dog rights below says it all really.
Comment 1.2.1 1 Feb 2010, 11:23 AM
The off-leash parks in this LGA are not well-distributed and are mostly timed for very early or late in the day. Timing means that elderly residents, those with accessbility issues and single women are much less likely to use them.
There's actually no off-leash areas west of Enmore Road, which is where the much greater proportion of this LGA lies. For anyone that side of the road, there's a 2-5km walk or drive to an off-leash park. Unlike most of Europe or North America, you can't get on a bus or a train with your pet to visit such parks.
This means that for many people on low incomes (characterised by the demographics of Marrickville west of Enmore Road) there are no real options available.
Marrickville is not particularly high density compared to many of the cities I've lived in and has a lot more green space, again *much of it unused for most of the day*.
Comment 1.2.1.1 1 Feb 2010, 11:44 AM
Marrickville is one of the most densely populated areas in NSW, to say otherwise is just not true. It may not be desnsely populated compared to major European cities, but then again those cities are not densely populated compared to many cities and towns in parts of Asia and so on. We are talking about our LGA here. Most of the off leash areas provided by Council are available all day - Tempe: 6.00am to 9.30pm every day, Sydenham Green: any time of the day, Enmore TAFE Park:6am and 9am, and 4pm and 8pm every day and Camperdown Memorial Rest Park: 5pm and 9am every day, and ODea Reserve: anytime of the day. Granted, Council may need to provide something west of Enmore Road. Dog owners should stop acting like they are so badly doen by - there are bigger local issues - traffic, the environment, social issues. housing affordability and long term infrastructure improvements.
Comment 1.2.1.1.1 1 Feb 2010, 8:40 PM
I'm not sure where your argument about dense population is going. I've never stated that Marrickville is not comparatively densely populated for here. More densely populated areas of NSW (e.g. Sydney LGA) and more densely populated cities around the world don't have the restrictions of dogs in public spaces that Marrickville has - so what point are you making?
As you note most of the park places are inaccessible to most of the area except by car, and the times (at night in unlit parks) are not useful to elderly, disabled or single female rate-payers.
As I repeatedly note, most of more…
Comment 1.2.1.2 1 Feb 2010, 11:44 AM
There is no basic right, whether you're poor or otherwise, to have your dog off-leash and therefore obviously at some distance from any attempt at owner control.
There is however a basic right not to be harassed and even injured by an animal that is not under effective control. There are many dogs around the area that are large and genetically predisposed to aggressive behaviour (despite their owners protestations that they wouldn't hurt anyone).
We are all entitled, on a reasonable balance of rights and interests, to be free of this sort of risk when we enter a public park.
Comment 1.2.1.2.1 1 Feb 2010, 8:47 PM
"There is no basic right, whether you're poor or otherwise, to have your dog off-leash and therefore obviously at some distance from any attempt at owner control."
That's not an obvious step. Effective control can be established without a leash. Marrickville Council chooses not to promote dog-training.
"There is however a basic right not to be harassed and even injured by an animal that is not under effective control."
No one wants that. The Council has the powers to restrict such animals. Restricting *all* animals is as ridiculous as restricting all people because a subset misbehave. It chooses to stigmatise all pet-owners by refusing to engage in direct discussions on this point.
"We are all entitled, on a reasonable balance of rights and interests, to be free of this sort of risk when we enter a public park."
The risk is very very low compared to the risks from other people. "I speak as someone who spent a year getting medical treatment after being bashed by a group of Sydney teenagers". Encouraging responsible pet ownership lowers the risk further. Marrickville Council is very lax on this.
Comment 1.2.1.2.1.1 9 Feb 2010, 7:09 PM
Mike and Australiana, this is not a forum for your individual beefs but for the development of a visionary plan that goes beyond personal likes and dislikes. Try to see the big picture, guys!
Eva
Comment 1.2.1.2.1.1.1 10 Feb 2010, 2:48 PM
Hi Eva
This *is* a forum. So personal likes and dislikes are going to get an airing.
Isn't proposing greater user of public spaces in the manner of other, more developed urban areas an appropriate topic?
I really do recommend reading the works of influential thinkers like Jane Jacobs on the use of public space from the footpath to the park. Many of the social and environmental problems we see in this area are due to most of our public spaces (aside from a couple of commercial strips) being empty and unattended most of the day. Some council policies work against these spaces being safer and more enticing to residents and visitors.
I also recommend listing to some of the British RSA's podcast series which include many lively talks on civil society from speakers across the globe.
What are your big picture ideas?
Mike
Comment 1.2.1.2.1.1.2 11 Feb 2010, 9:40 AM
I agree with Mike here. If we are looking at the future of the local area then local and particular concerns are going to be part of the debate. You may be congratulating yourself on your visionary nature but it doesn't actually mean anything.
Comment 1.3 15 Feb 2010, 1:08 PM
This long response is hardly an issue for a ten year long range plan.
Comment 1.3.1 16 Feb 2010, 7:31 PM
It's a bit sad that you want to deny the right of residents to speak up on local issues.
Given that the Council's 2008 draft dog policy is now 2 years late and has no sign of being published, maybe another 10 years is just enough to get them to work on it. We can then have a policy that's 12 years out of date.
Comment 1.4 29 Mar 2010, 1:33 PM
I also think that dog parks need to be looked at. Couldn't there be another leash free park in Marrickville along the river? (even fenced)
currently it is horrible to own a big dog that needs excersise in Marrickville.
Comment 2 27 Jan 2010, 3:22 PM
Encourage use of bicycles for everyday transport. Discourage use of cars for short trips by, over time, reducing parking spots along shopping streets and at other car attractors. Get people out walking or cycling to the local shops etc.
Improve road surfaces, there are too many rough sections and potholes or cracks. Employ cyclists to monitor the road conditions.
Reduce speeds to 40 or less everywhere except one or two arterials, where 60 should be reduced to 50. (example, why is Addison Rd 60K?)
Put in cycle lanes where possible or share the road signs where not.
Stop large vehicles from parking illegally overnight on roads like Carrington Rd.
Implement the Bike Plan sooner rather than later.
Comment 2.1 2 Feb 2010, 1:40 PM
I definitely agree with encouraging/enabling cycling and walking, more cycle lanes and with the community monitoring the roads to help the council identify new maintenance issues.
However I think reducing parking spots on streets will only encourage people to go to places where they can park easily, like woolworths or marrickville metro, which is bad for our 'high street' shopping strips and our area as a whole.
I also disagree with reducing speeds across all streets. People are so confused by all these different speed zones and too much signage on the roads. There are other ways to slow down traffic more effectively, such as better road design/shared zones.
Comment 2.1.1 29 Mar 2010, 10:11 PM
As the density of our area grows, the access issues to places like Marrickville Metro really need to be thought through.
The tangle of cars exiting the Metro onto Smidmore Street right into the middle of buses and taxis is an increasingly slow process.
I noticed one morning that not one of the six cars ahead of me even bothered to signal which direction they were turning, which makes it harder for street traffic to negotiate pass there.
Council should work with NSW government on other solutions, like local loop buses to service the Metro. That might also help mitigate the shopping trolleys dumped all over our parks and streets.
Comment 3 29 Jan 2010, 10:45 AM
I think the area bounded by Enmore Rd, Juliette St and Lewyellen St should logically be in Enmore.
Why would Juliette St be the boundary rather than Enmore Rd as the main road?
The Annette Kellerman Pool is known as "The Enmore Pool" despite being in Marrickville.
I can't see why it would be difficult to alter the boundary when it is within the same LGA and tidy up the little residential triangle.
Comment 3.1 29 Jan 2010, 1:14 PM
The problem is that Enmore is one of the three historic divisions of Newtown, and a lot of Marrickville's Enmore-namings (the park, the pool etc) were added later.
Marrickville's top boundary is more fittingly Addison Road. If you live north of there, then Newtown/Enmore is your closest urban centre, not Marrickville.
From where I live, the closest train stations are Stanmore, Newtown, Sydenham, St Peters and then Marrickville runs a distant 5th.
Comment 3.1.1 1 Feb 2010, 12:55 AM
Oops 6th. Even Petersham station is closer
Comment 4 31 Jan 2010, 10:20 PM
Could we address the issue of children's park in the area. My suggesions are as follows: having child safety enclosed fences around all of them....especially Enmore Park on Victoria Road...I know it seems like it should be safe enough that the equipment is in the middle of the park...but when you have a 3 year old that can run like the wind, it is a disaster waiting to happen. Also....I would like to address the issue of shelter at parks. After attending Ryan Park in Stanmore where a shade sail has been erected it makes such as difference, whereas attending Enmore Park, most days you are in the blazing sun. At the end of the day all parks should have some kind of shelter. Finally I would like to address the gaps between railings on equipment eg. the bridges leading up to a slippery dip. The gaps should be minimised whereas at almost every park I attend a child could easily slip through and fall.
Comment 5 1 Feb 2010, 4:32 PM
- Address the structural problem within council which currently sees Environmental Services and Parks and Reserves in different departments/silos, not talking to each other effectively;
- convert grass verges and other appropriate areas to native plantings, less mowing/pollution/greenhouse gases, more habitat/amenity;
- more rain gardens, less concrete;
- online GIS map, to track progress in greening Marrickville, focus on setting and achieving targets rather than plans and motherhood statements which are rarely implemented;
- more and bigger trees;
- enourage and empower residents to replant and green their own streets, facilitate residents and council workers to co-operate on projects
Comment 5.1 2 Feb 2010, 11:21 PM
I agree with Michael T E about encouraging residents to replant and green their own streets. With proper guidelines about species and execution, our streets could be so much nicer. At least allow who want to, the option, as long as they are well-maintained.
Comment 5.2 18 Feb 2010, 11:33 AM
I agree with Michael T E . Council should expand the tree canopy with both larger trees and avenues of large trees in appropriate places. Parks & Streetscapes and Environmental Services need to work closely together to naturalise the banks of the Cooks River and develop wildlife corridors and promote biodiversity; the transformation of verges could be part of this. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) should be part of all Council planning, street refurbishment,and planting. Also permeable material should replace impermeable surfaces wherever possible. I think that the Cooks River is the feature of this area and there should be collaboration between all the councils, relevant state bodies and the community in restoring the river to as natural a condition as possible. The formation of a bioregional council would be the best way to achieve this.
Comment 6 4 Feb 2010, 5:24 PM
Marrickville Road loses all its life at night. I would like to see a wine bar with outdoor seating opened, somewhere you could go for an evening drink that isn't the pub. The newly upgraded Post square would have been a perfect location.
Though there are some excellent restaurants, it would be nice to see more on Marrickville Road. I would like to 'go out' in Marrickville rather than travelling to suburbs further afield.
Friends in my age group (30s) agree.
Comment 6.1 26 Mar 2010, 10:56 AM
Totally agree!!!! The restaurants are fantastic, would be great to have more and some more variety (where is there a local fish and chips place open in the evening?) and to have them open a little later.
Would be great to have the 'European' style of nightlife, a variety of places open, later in the evening. Cafes, little wine bars, pubs, outdoor seating would be a bonus, of course if noise was not an issue with patrons, some live music. The City of Sydney is creating more 'Small Bars' to mirror what happens in Melbourne.
Comment 6.2 5 Apr 2010, 11:37 AM
Totally agree - We visited the new'ish Greek run cafe within the Post Square a few times last year when it opened into the evening. It was wonderful being able to sit outside at 9pm and have a coffee with friends after a meal. I'm not sure if they still open late (maybe summer only), but it was really lovely.
I read a lot of Sydney Foodie blogs & Marrickville really is being touted as the place to visit for a great ethnic meal. Gourmet Safaris (Maeve Omera's company, of SBS fame) conducts 'tours' on weekends - people come from "over the bridge" and far away (!) to check out Marrickville's ethnic eats and shops.
There IS lots of interest in our little piece of Sydney. It would be wonderful if we could promote the fact that you could have a turkish coffee, baklava, a Greek Frappe or even an ouzo or two into the evening here.... at the moment, you're options are a beer with no atmosphere or a beer in a place I wouldn't walk into if you paid me....
Comment 7 7 Feb 2010, 12:43 PM
have a "merry marrickville" push and encourage people to smile at others in the street and say Hello.
Comment 8 8 Feb 2010, 4:33 PM
Just a qick note. I see "cleaning up the Cooks River" as a matter for urgent priority.
I am aware that there's more than one council involved in the management of the river but let's start from collecting Gross Pollutants (plastic bottles and the rest) regularly.
Volounteers do that often but I am yet to see council employees patrolling the Cooks.
Thanks for listening.
Comment 8.1 8 Apr 2010, 4:38 PM
Agreed! The River needs constant attention so it doesnt become horribly clogged with garbage. Thanks Deano! (erika D.!!xxoo)
Comment 9 8 Feb 2010, 10:12 PM
I just want to congratulate Council on supporting independent arts and culture venues such as the Red Rattler, The Vanishing Point and SNO contemporary art gallery located in the Marrickville lga. These venues, amongst others, have added enormous diversity and richness to the cultural lives of residents in this area and for those coming from other parts of Sydney and even inter-state and internationally.
The Sydenham industrial area in particular has great potential to grow into one of the most exciting alternative counter-culture areas in Australia. Small lane way bars (with affordable alcohol licences), alternative galleries, artist studios, performance and music more…
Comment 9.1 9 Feb 2010, 1:45 PM
Thank you for your ideas and feedback.
Please see this link to the South of Lichfield website from NZ. It underwent a transformation creating a combination of heritage buildings and lanes providing an interesting urban environment. http://www.sol.net.nz/info/about
Comment 9.1.1 11 Feb 2010, 9:34 AM
The website linked to is one of those trendy ones that are very dark and hard to read and poorly designed in terms of navigation.
Comment 9.1.2 22 Mar 2010, 11:57 AM
Tsis is a fantstic link PC. Something like this is that industrial area would be a great drawcard for a range of people. Another interesting working factory/recreation space I recently saw was Little Creatures brewery in Fremantle Perth in WA https://www.littlecreatures.com.au/ and then of course the numerous place in Melbourne - eg Abbotsford Convent http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/
Comment 9.2 9 Feb 2010, 3:58 PM
Insofar as there are particular suggestions for Sydenham in your comment, you might consider adding it to the forum for that area.
I am seeing an accelerating use of industrial buildings as artists' spaces in my own street (in St Peters). This transition is taking place in spite of Council's inability/unwillingness to tackle re-zoning issues. The result is a kind of re-zoning-by-stealth: the factories are occupied by artists despite not being officially classed as residential.
I am afraid this only complicates the situation in mixed residential/industrial areas, where Council seems to be avoiding its planning responsibilities.
Comment 9.2.1 22 Mar 2010, 11:50 AM
Will do -thanks John
Comment 9.3 9 Feb 2010, 6:50 PM
I agree artandculture, but I think it's vital to maintain local jobs and services in the face of this sort of development, which means retaining at least some of the industry in the area
Comment 9.3.1 22 Mar 2010, 11:51 AM
That makes sense sugarsnap - a mixture of industry and culture - the two could work really well together and create a sustainable work environment for a range of businesses - creative or industrial
Comment 9.4 26 Mar 2010, 11:13 AM
Agreed! Would be great to reduce the industrial areas of Marrickville/Sydenham, and create some cultural pockets around the LGA, rather than just along Marrickville and Illawarra Rd's. How great would a bar in a converted warehouse be. The factories on Carrington are just noisy, poluting. Change the zoning and make them residential or useful in another way.
Comment 10 16 Feb 2010, 5:32 PM
Illawara Rd and Marrickville Road shoul be rivaling Sydney's other great Eat Streets but there is no requirement to providing adequate access for all. It is no longer enough to say 'this one does have good access', all must provide access for the ever increasing population denied. Any new restaurant/shop should provide access to get their trading license so new owners should reduce floor prior to trading or sellers should before selling. The arguements that this is unfair for existing businesses didn't stand up to putting in ladies toilets into pubs. The cost of retrofitting facilities was use to support men only bars. Nearly 20% have some disability, so think what you or your parents may need in 10 years time!
Comment 11 26 Mar 2010, 11:07 AM
Would be great to see a bridge built on the side where the cycle/footpath is, near Tempe station, going over the Cooks River. It is so annoying when you are riding or walking and you have to back track to get to the lights, cross over, to just cross back over the road when you are in Canterbury. Could Marrickville and Canterbury councils collaborate, would be far more encouraging for people to use this great cylceway, if it were more convenient to do the 'loop'.
Comment 12 29 Mar 2010, 2:01 PM
PLEASE do something about the Warren Road traffic, before someone gets hurt. It is a discrace that residents lose their parking for the benefit of Woolworths trucks, especially on a street that is only wide enough for one way traffic.
Comment 12.1 5 Apr 2010, 11:27 AM
Agree - I have witnessed 3 accidents over the last 12 months, all near the middle of Warren Road, down from Woolies. Accidents ranged from a hit side mirror to a collision where 2 children were involved (they were in the back seat, no one hurt. I was a witness and assisted the drivers).
The street is not big enough for general two-way traffic, let alone Woolies trucks. Simple as that.
This may not be of interest to people who do not live in the vicinity, however, accidents are occurring at a higher than 'average' frequency & they are happening now. Surely that in itself is enough to warrant change?
Comment 12.1.1 8 Apr 2010, 4:41 PM
In the last 6 months i have seen 3 cars lose mirrors, and one truck take down a huge tree branch onto someone's car.
Comment 12.1.2 9 Apr 2010, 7:25 PM
It's not just Warren Road.
I live in a narrow one way street in St Peters, and the same crap happens here: trucks taking out bollards, car mirrors, trees, driving over the footpath and cracking the pavement, etc. etc.
Pedestrians forced to walk on the road because of parking on the footpath. Sheesh.
Comment 13 15 Apr 2010, 8:40 PM
1. Planting of more trees. Bigger trees for streets wide enough (like Frampton Avenue), and more trees generally. It would be great to get native birds into the area.
2. Rubbish. Illegal dumping is a massive problem – more signage and active surveillance (including CCTV) is required. As well as more community involvement (ie. the community also being active in reporting and promoting an anti-dumping culture). Council bins on Marrickville and Illawarra Roads need to be emptied more frequently. Council's free collection service is excellent.
3. Repairing footpaths. The disjointed, broken and undulating footpaths are a serious hazard and need to be more…
Comment 13.1 19 Apr 2010, 12:57 PM
I agree with some of this but I think the idea that footpaths should be narrowed to make way for more parking is not fair to pedestrians. We should be going in the opposite direction - less cars and more pedestrian space and plantings. Also more bike paths, which you and I support, inevitably will reduce the amount of on-street parking.
If you want more trees then you will also have more uneven footpaths. There will never be enough money to constantly rebuild footpaths after tree root damage. More trees are worth the 'cost' and amelioration of hazards through grinding etc more…
Comment 14 19 Apr 2010, 2:07 PM
I think there is a need for more Public Toilet facilities. At the moment one has to go into Cafes or Hotels to find a toilet most of the time. Not something children can do usually. I understand there is a Map available of Public toilets around Australia.How about a map of Public Toilets around Marrickville area on your Info site in the local paper. Maybe there are some I'm missing out on.
Comment 14.1 23 Apr 2010, 9:31 PM
Agreed!! More toilets, especially in the wake of the current baby boom. Mine our now too old for toilet training, but I remember many a time having to get them to wee in some bush somewhere, because there was no toilet OR it was a filthy mess likened to Trainspotting....eg the one in McNeilly Park. So, build them and they will come, but please keep them clean also.
Comment 15 23 Apr 2010, 9:22 PM
Clean up Marrickville Railway Station.
I think the potential for the station area is huge but at the moment it still looks like the type of place you pop off the train to get your illicit drugs. I would love to see something revolutionary like closing off the street that really leads to no where and having cafes and sitting area on the southern side of the station. If done with any thought, there could still be space for a drop-off/pick-up for cars. Planter boxes and the odd tree would also be fantastic. But in the very least, that whole southern area needs a damn good clean-up. It is embarrassing.
Comment 16 23 Apr 2010, 9:28 PM
THANKS TO COUNCIL!!
Now I want to thank council for several things I have been meaning to acknowledge for a long time.
Flowering tree plantings along Marricville Rd, near the fire station. Gorgeous!! And council even replaced them when some nutter vandalised most of them. Many thanks. I can't wait to watch them mature and grow.
Bird sculptures in Marrickville Park. I love and adore them and they make me smile every time I see them. These are something to be proud of.
Fixing our concrete riddled street. Our street is one of few in Marrickville that is all concrete and no nature strip. It has always revolted me and I wonder if it was put in years ago so that people could hose down their concrete (which still happens mind you!). Now, council are fixing the concrete, BUT also removing a good amount of it. WE ARE THRILLED. It will reduce the heat in our street and improve the appearance.
So, many thanks Council BUT....MORE OF IT!!!
Comment 17 29 Apr 2010, 7:01 AM
1. Underground Power Cables
Removing ugly power lines and poles would dramatically transform streetscapes. Take a look at cities like Perth to see how much of a difference it makes. It's safer for residents and more weather resilient too.
2. Off-street Parking for King St
King (peak hour parking strip) St is progressively grinding to a halt. If we don't fix car congestion, buses also suffer. It would be great if people just cycle or use public transport, but reality is vehicle traffic will always increase too. If council purchased land near King St for multistory parking and kept King St open for 2 lanes in each direction, it would improve things greatly.
Comment 17.1 30 Apr 2010, 9:00 AM
Making King Street two lanes in both directions would be a nightmare for pedestrians. The great bulk of the large numbers of people using this street are pedestrians and they have the right to have the street altered to suit them, not car drivers. To have traffic running right next to crowded footpaths would be very unpleasant and unsafe.
The right solution to traffic congestion is not more room for cars and parking but congestion charging with the proceeds poured into public transport, bike paths and the like. This would give more road space to priority users such as trades people, delivery trucks etc. Non-priority users, who generally have public transport available to them, might start to rethink their use of road-space, and the consequent pollution, if they were obliged to pay for it.
Comment 17.1.1 30 Apr 2010, 12:07 PM
Agreed. The footpaths in King St are quite narrow without having the increased danger of high-speed vehicles adjacent all day. The afternoon hours of clearways are the most unpleasant time to be in Newtown as a pedestrian.
If I had a magic wand, I'd have a tunnel from City Road to St Peters or beyond to make non-local traffic bypass King Street. I'm afraid I don't have enough magic to fix our public transport issues.
Comment 18 29 Apr 2010, 8:18 PM
GREEN CANOPY: I would like to see –
- Many more street trees, especially shade trees.
- Control of Energy Australia’s pruning practices & do appropriate planting under power lines.
- Removal of concrete & bitumen encased around a large percentage of the street trees & put garden beds around them instead. Cars should not be able to park right up to the trunks.
- Use porous surfaces around street trees rather than encasing them in cages.
- Plant 3-4 metre saplings to prevent vandalizing. Council accepts the loss of 90-95% of new tree planting. I think this is a waste of more…
Comment 18.1 3 May 2010, 1:35 PM
if i could hit "agree" to this post any more times i would!
