Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Can the Inner West achieve Zere Emissions Travel and Logistics and a Circular Economy in 20 years?

We need to be thinking about Logistics rather than Freight or Waste.

Currently Greenhouse Emissions from Transport is growing and so, we need to work on how we transition to Zero Emissions Logistics (transport of goods) and Travel (transport of people).
 
Zero Emissions Logistics and Travel 
Circular Economy Logistics
We also need to move to a Circular Economy (recover resources and eliminate waste) as well as support our thriving local economy based underpinned by local businesses.

Inner West Council along with other councils in NSW is "required to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement which sets out the 20-year vision for land use in the local area, the special character and values that are to be preserved and how change will be managed into the future" More at https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2019/07/planning-inner-west.html

Future Logistics:

    post office
  • Australia Post and other delivery points, 
  • Home Delivery, 
  • Food Couriers, 
  • Bus Driver changeover and staffing.
  • Robot/Automated vehicle delivery or vehicle recovery (homing shopping trolleys)
The social, economic and environmental benefits of small local post, food, banking, hardware, childcare and schools, community centres recreation, open space.

Use Case - Can we make this woman's life easier?: 

Woman waiting at a Leichhardt bus stop pushing a pram with a child, pulling a shopping trolley and carrying a couple of shopping bags on the way home from work.

Opportunities provided by the Arterial Roads and Rail that pass through the LGA

Economic and Social Value of:
  • Parramatta Rd/Great Western Highway, 
  • Liverpool Rd/Hume Highway, 
  • Victoria Road (Rozelle to Ryde), 
  • King Street/Princess Highway, 
  • City West Link and Westconnex. 
  • Rail linkages the Western Metro, the Western Rail Line, Light Rail. 

Information and Data

Shopping Trolleys: https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2019/05/shopping-trolleys_23.html

The Australian Business Registry is a database on all businesses who have registered for an ABN. See maps of Inner West showing locations of 20,000 of 66,000 ABNs and of Cafes/Restaurants in the Inner West at https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2019/06/alga-nga-2019-australian-business.html

AURIN includes Demographics and Social Indicators * Economic Activity and Productivity * Urban Design and Urban Form * Housing * Health and Livability * Infrastructure and Transport. See maps for the Inner West LGA https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2019/06/alga-nga-2019-aurin-data.html

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Planning the Inner West

\
The Greater Sydney Commission’s five District Plans are a guide for implementing A Metropolis of Three Cities - the Greater Sydney Region Plan at a District level Read More at: https://www.greater.sydney/district-plans (viewed 30 July 2019)

The Inner West Local Government Area (LGA) is in the Eastern City: https://www.greater.sydney/eastern-city-district-plan

The Inner West Council public exhibition of its draft Integrated Transport and Local Housing Strategies closed on 28 July 2019.

Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans for the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville LGAs and Inner West Council Recreation needs study - A Healthier Inner West are available at (viewed 30 Jul: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/policies-plans-and-regulations/other-plans

Norton Street
Every Council in NSW will be required to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement which sets out the 20-year vision for land use in the local area, the special character and values that are to be preserved and how change will be managed into the future .. Local Strategic Planning Statements (LSPS) rationale, purpose and practical use 10 October 2018  Read More at: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/About-Us/Departmental-events/Planning-Connects/The-Local-Strategic-Planning-Statement-LSPS-rationale-purpose-and-practical-use (viewed 30 July 2019)  

What is the purpose of the new local strategic planning statements? The statements will be a succinct and easy to understand document that will allow community members to contribute to and understand the future direction of land use in their area.

Productivity

The average weekly commuting time in Australia has increased considerably since 2002. According to the latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey released today , workers averaged 3.7 hours’ commuting time per week in 2002, but this had increased to 4.5 hours by 2017. http://theconversation.com/australian-city-workers-average-commute-has-blown-out-to-66-minutes-a-day-how-does-yours-compare-120598

 

Posted to Facebook (30 July 2019): An interesting [HILDA Survey data] discussion on ABC RN this morning - worth listening to - people are quitting jobs and rejecting them because of the commuting time - but I think we may have already know that. Women are bearing the brunt - picking kids up from day care and doing the shopping on the way home from work, then feeding, bathing and putting the kids to bed before starting it all again (Bad Public Transport and Shopping centres designed for Cars don't help) https://www.abc.net.au/.../rise-in-work-family.../11365048
The [HILDA Survey data] report contains articles on changes in key aspects of life in Australia, as well as information on other findings. The fieldwork for this report was conducted between 2001 and 2017. HILDA Statistical Report 2019 available at (viewed 30 Jul 2019): https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda/publications/hilda-statistical-reports
 
Posted to Facebook (30 July 2019):The number of public transport trips being taken in Sydney has been grossly underestimated, analysis of Opal card data has found.....For example, the general assumption among researchers was that peak hours for the homeward commute were 5-6pm, however, the data shows it actually extends to 7pm.. Open Opal data offers valuable insights for planners and developers

Parramatta Rd,Haberfield






Parramatta Rd,Haberfield
Inner West Light Rail

Electric Bus - Leichhardt Depot
Parramatta Rd,Stanmore
Parramatta Rd, Ashfield

Saturday, July 27, 2019

The Powerhouse Museum & Signage Ultimo (27 July 2019)

The Powerhouse Museum opened at 500 Harris Street the same month I moved to Sydney to work for the ABC. After temporary accomodation in the Cross, I moved to a unit at 313 Harris Street Ultimo just up the road from the Powerhouse. Later, the ABC was to move to 700 Harris Street and me with it.

View from the forecourt of the Powerhouse Museum
100 years of the Bauhaus
 The Powerhouse has a wonderful collection of ceramics, textiles and technology displayed in a wonderful industrial building. The building was a powerhouse for Sydney's extensive tramwork.

Ceramics
Mars
The museum recognises and celebrates Australian and International Industrial Design.

Locomotive No. 1 brings to life the age of steam travel, which began in 1855 when this very locomotive hauled New South Wales’ first train...https://maas.museum/event/locomotive-no-1/


THE event of yesterday was the triumph, not only of science over natural difficulties, but of the spirit of enlightenment and civilization over prejudice and worldly mindedness. 1855 'OPENING OF THE SYDNEY RAILWAY.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 27 September, p. 4. , viewed 27 Jul 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28637694



Enigma Machine and Apple 1
Wombat Crossing, Thomas Street Ultimo.





‘Wombat crossing’ (childrens crossing) sign Made 1999-2000
"Road signs are now ubiquitous in our urban environment, linked to the development and spread in the twentieth century of motor vehicles and the services that grew to support them. In the 1930s"...
https://collection.maas.museum/object/397989



 Signage around Ultimo

Community Notice Board, Ultimo
Shared Path, MaryAnn St Ultimo

Shared Path, MaryAnn St Ultimo
Shared Path, MaryAnn St Ultimo






Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Annandale Imitation Realists

collage
The Art of parts: collage and assemblage from the collection,
17 Sep – 13 Nov 2016 AGNSW featured works by two of
the Annandale Imitation Realists. The Beautiful One is Here,
Mike Brown, 1969-70 (above) and The Dry Salvages,
Colin Lancely, 1963-64. (below)

tryptitch assemblage on red background

Annandale Imitation Realists

"In 1960 the 22-year-old Mike Brown joined the New Zealand artist, Ross Crothall, in an old terrace house in inner Sydney's Annandale. Over the following two years the artists filled the house with a remarkable body of work. Launched with an equally extraordinary exhibition, the movement they called Imitation Realism introduced collage, assemblage and installation to Australian art for the first time..." - 3.Sailing to Byzantium: Annandale Imitation Realism (1960-62) 2011, English, Book, Illustrated edition: Permanent revolution : Mike Brown and the Australian avant-garde 1953-1997 / Richard Haese. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/158161997

"By 1960, Crothall and Brown were living together in a house Crothall had rented in Annandale and Lanceley was a frequent visitor...The group ended in 1964 when Lanceley departed for Europe." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annandale_Imitation_Realists

"Colin Lanceley first came to notice in the early 1960s" - www.abc.net.au (14 March 2011)
"Brown's philosophy was simple: ''We have forgotten that art isn't some special condiment you splash on life to make it taste a little better." - www.theage.com.au (November 12, 2011)

"Crothall’s experience of art in New Zealand meant that he was able to present new possibilities for the work of a group of Sydney art students, some of whom would become the Imitation Realists. Their work was shaped by the awareness of indigenous art forms of the Pacific" - www.doubledialogues.com (Winter 2007)

The Art Gallery of NSW has two catalogues from the group's exhibitions. The catalog (SA709.94/18) for the exhibition at the Rudy Komon Gallery, 124 Jersey Road Wollahra, is entitled the Subterranean Imitation Realists formerly of Annandale, with cover design Title Lettering credited to R Crothall, the Central Drawing to Colin Lancely and the "Motifs above and below" to Mike Brown. 177 works are listed including 5 "Joint Works" and individual "exhibits". The exhibition included Byzantium, which is now in the NGA's Collection. The catalog carries a description (advertisement) of the services provided by the Rudy Komon Gallery and credits the printers, with a comment that their payment was dependent on the sale of artworks.

In the catalog (SA709.94/19) for the exhibition at the "Museum of Modern Art of Australia" under "Words Words Words - William Shakespeare, English Poet, d 1616" Elwyn Lynn wrote, on 3/2/62 at Double Bay, "Junk Culture is the culture of cities and expropriates its environment in Annandale for Crothall and Brown timber off-cuts and waste metal were readily available; Lancely (and later, Brown) found Woolworths handy and cheap."

The handwritten and illustrated catalog also included Joint Works and statements and individual works from "Countdown Lancely", "Poncho Brown" and Crotheral:
 "Byzantium is a collaborative work that encapsulates the freewheeling, experimental spirit of the early 1960s. It was created by Mike Brown, Ross Crothall and Colin Lanceley"...National Gallery of Australia 88.645

National Portrait Gallery

Colin Lanceley
Mike Brown

Further Reading



Make safe work on Hunter Baillie, Annandale 23 July 2019






cnr of Johnston and Collins Sts Annandale, NSW.

The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church was completed in 1889.

From the June 2019 Hunter Baillie Conservation Appeal Newsletter: "Both the Heritage Office and Inner West Council have given their permission for work to proceed at a cost of about $75,000. The main part of this work will be the removal of the 4 pinnacles at the base of the spire (one pinnacle has already been partially removed). It is unfortunate that the pinnacles cannot be imidiately replace, however, the cost of their replacement is currently beyond our means."

National Trust Hunter Baillie Memorial Church Conservation Appeal

 In In January 2015 the Hunter Baillie Church submitted an application to the NSW Heritage Office for a grant of $150,000 in order to continue the conservation (one might say “rescue”...https://www.hunterbaillie.com/conservation-appeal

Restoration of Hill and Son Organ

After 20 years of fund raising the 1892 Hill and Son Organ inside the Church was restored in 2016....  https://www.ramin.com.au/annandale/restoration-HB-Hill&Son-Organ-2016.shtml

Annandale Heritage Festival
Heritage Festival Open Day 2013

  Visit the Church and 1886 Hall.


The Church and Hall are very much still in use with for regular church services, concerts, weddings and annual events such as the Heritage Open Day and Kirk'n the Tartan.

Organ Recital on 1892 Hill and Son Organ

6.00pm Friday 25th July 2019

Organist Samuel Giddy.
Music by Handel, Purcel and Stanley

Phoenix Collective Concert 25 September 2019 at 2.30pm

https://www.hunterbaillie.com/

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Australia's Building Mess!

NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes

 

Leichhardt DCP 17 for 
all new houses and 
major renovations and 
5 Energy Advice leaflets 
produced by Ted Floyd, 
Friends of the Earth, 1994 

 
This inquiry was established on 4 July 2019 to inquire into and report on the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes.

Terms of Reference:

Inquiry into the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes
1. That the Public Accountability Committee inquire into and report on the regulation of building standards, building quality and building disputes by government agencies in New South Wales,
including:

(a) the role of private certification in protecting building standards, including:(i)conflicts of interest
(ii) effectiveness of inspections
(iii) accountability of private certifiers
(iv) alternatives to private certifiers,

(b) the adequacy of consumer protections for owners and purchasers of new
apartments/dwellings, and limitations on building insurance and compensation schemes,including:
(i) the extent of insurance coverage and limitations of existing statutory protections
(ii) the effectiveness and integrity of insurance provisions under the Home Building Act 1989
(iii) liability for defects in apartment buildings,

(c) the role of strata committees in responding to building defects discovered in common property, including the protections offered for all strata owners in disputes that impact on only a minority of strata owners,

(d) case studies related to flammable cladding on NSW buildings and the defects discovered in Mascot Towers and the Opal Tower,

(e) the current status and degree of implementation of recommendations of reports into the building industry including the Lambert report 2016, the Shergold/Weir report 2018 and the Opal Tower investigation final report 2019, and

(f) any other related matter.

2.That the committee table an interim report as soon as practical and its final report by 14 February 2020.

Online questionnaire
As part of this inquiry, the committee is seeking the views of interested stakeholders via an online questionnaire. Responses are due by Sunday 4 August 2019.

Submissions
Organisations and individuals seeking to provide more detailed responses can make submissions. Submissions are due by Sunday 28 July 2019.

More at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2540 

BASIX

The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) aims to deliver equitable, effective water and greenhouse gas reductions across the state. BASIX is one of the strongest sustainable planning measures to be undertaken in Australia.

Australian Building Codes Board

The ABCB is a Council of Australian Government (COAG) standards writing body that is responsible for the development of the NCC, comprised of the BCA and the PCA. The ABCB is a joint initiative of all three levels of government in Australia. It was established by an Inter-government agreement (IGA) that was first signed by the Commonwealth, States and Territories on 1 March 1994, and has been updated from time to time since. .. https://www.abcb.gov.au/

Inner West Council draft Housing Strategy 

on Exhibition until 28 July 2019
https://yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/local-housing-strategy

Council's Compliance and Enforcement Levies 

Canterbury-Bankstown /Enforcement/ and /Compliance Levy Compliance and enforcement/ of regulations is a requirement imposed on Council by various pieces of legislation... https://www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/development/planning-control-policies/canterbury-bankstown-enforcement-and-compliance-levy

Canada Bay from 1 July 2018, all new Development Applications (DAs) will be subject to a compliance levy...See fact sheet at http://edas.canadabay.nsw.gov.au/dwroot/datawrks/stores/default/default/orig/docid/190003064/dw_get

 Stories...



Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Aged Care in the Inner West - 168 Norton Street, Leichhardt


Council Officers have inspected the vicinity - following our meeting I requested they look at the issue of pedestrian safety and vehicles turning into Macauley Street from Norton Street. Please see points A & B below.

With regard to the Panel Determination and Recommendation: I am advised there was a council traffic engineer present and they did provide verbal advice to the panel. From the public gallery, I only observed the consultation with the applicant’s traffic
engineer.

With respect to financial contributions: S.7.11 (formerly S.94) contributions apply to the commercial component of the development. Development contributions are not applicable to the seniors housing component of the development. The S.7.11 contribution for the DA will be approximately $17,000. The VPA for this site, was a separate process.

Officers have advised this is the recommendation made by the Planning Panel to the Council’s Local Traffic Committee for their consideration: 


1 The possibility of a one-way circulation system for vehicles in the laneway.
2 The possibility of “shared way” treatments
3 The imposition of a maximum of 10km per hour speed limit for vehicles to improve the general safety, particularly for pedestrians, in and around the laneway.




Minutes of 4 July 2019 Inner West Planning Panel including audio recording and determination are at https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/the-council/inner-west-local-planning-panel/2019-planning-panel-meetings/4-july-2019-inner-west-planning-panel 

Please see point C below for response from officers to Panel recommendation on pedestrian safety:

A. Signage has been inspected and arrangements are being made to relocate signs to improve visibility to approaching traffic.

 
B. “Look Out before you step out “stencils have been installed on the footpath at the laneway intersection to improve pedestrian traffic awareness.

 
C. Re the Panel recommendations –
* Note that the traffic arrangements for the development were considered and endorsed by the traffic cttee at its December 2018 meeting.
* One-way traffic arrangements were not recommended to the committee to avoid increased traffic movements north bound in the lane which would create additional potential conflict at the laneway intersection with McCauley St where sightlines to pedestrians are limited by building alignment.
* All traffic exiting the development is required to utilise Carlisle St to the south for egress along which there is sufficient verge for pedestrian movement if needed to avoid vehicular conflicts.
* The developer is required to implement laneway widenings at the intersection with Carlisle St and at development entry/exit to provide laneway passing opportunities.
* The narrow width of the existing laneway already encourages a low speed environment, with low pedestrian and traffic volumes. The capital cost of implementing a ‘shared zone’ is difficult to justify under current and expected operating conditions.
* Speed zoning is not within Traffic Cttee delegation – jurisdiction of RMS


Re first dot point of Point C above: The Traffic Report and Requirements on the Developer were presented to the traffic committee on 1 December 2018. Please see report (which includes details of laneway treatment)
Item No: LTC1218 Item 19 Subject: 168 Norton Street, Leichhardt (D/2018/490) - Development Application (Leichhardt Ward/ Balmain Electorate/ Leichhardt LAC) at: https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2018/12/LTC_04122018_AGN_3665_AT.htm?fbclid=IwAR2CfLI2jgWYHn_L25HT0rq-dgsMyA6mX5mhXEFmGt1XwOOUBf2l8OAf5Mw#PDF2_ReportName_58154

Monday, July 15, 2019

Just another day in the Inner West!

A full Saturday, setting out about 9.15am.

Waiting for the 461 on Parramatta Road, opposite Nelson Street I noticed the trucks hurtling past.

Guess they were going to and from the Annandale dive site a little further east.

The speed limit is 60kmph and the trucks seemed to be doing that and then some.

Caught the tail end of the 8am "show of displeasure" at the opening of the M4 East Tunnels at Ashfield and Haberfield. Observed trucks avoiding the tunnel.

Continued along Parramatta Road on Foot along the Westconnex constructed shared path to Bland Street and the Pedestrian Bridge, where another group were packing up after showing their displeasure at the opening of westconnex.
 

Continuing along Parramatta Road, to Frederick St, through Hammond Park to  Church Street to Croydon Road and Edwin Lane, to attend the smoking ceremony for the new mural in Edwin Lane Croydon.

Then stumbled across a little laneway along the railway tracks before checking out work at the Ashfield Pool and the Elizabeth Street Playground.

Continuing along Elizabeth Street, admired a few more murals and footpaths in need of repair.

Had lunch and coffee in Ashfield and reflected on the moon rising!

Moon Rising in Ashfield



Checked out Comic conversations at Ashfield Library.

Then jumped on a train to Newtown to attend the World Premiere of This Bitter Earth at the Newtheatre and meet the playwright Chris Edwards.

At Newtheatre With Chris Edwards (right) author This Bitter Earth

Picked up a few  pastizzis before heading home on the 370!

Just another day in the Inner West!

Reenactment of the Rum Rebellion

Higinbotham & Robinson & Higinbotham & Robinson. [189-?], Camperdown Parish of Petersham Higinbotham and Robinson, Sydney viewed...