Sunday, May 31, 2020

A Walk down Marrickville Road


Alex Trevallian Square, Marrickville Road, Marrickville

Yesterday afternoon Jo and I took a lovely walk down Marrickville Road.

The footpaths were busy with people social distancing outside shops.

Cafes were popular with people flocking back to enjoy breakfasts in the sun.

I relished my first Pho accompanied by fresh basil, bean sprouts, chilli and lemon  in many months. I could feel it doing me good!




We also ran into Nicole who has started #TheVilleFoodPantry in Illawarra Road (at Westpac)



Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Walk to the Sydney Fish Market (27 May 2020)


The Sydney Fishmarkets were due to be demolished and so, a walk and lunch at the markets on this beautiful day was a treat.
Unfortunately the outdoor seating had been fenced of due to COVID-19 but we did manage to get takeaway and find a table to sit at near the auction room floor.

Every second table was crossed out. The Market was quiet but not deserted. We decided to catch the Tram back to Annandale. Fortunately, we were just ahead ot the end of the school day and got home safely.

Bubbler Bicentennial Park, Glebe







Sydney Fishmarket

There was much excitement on Tuesday as the lights at the intersection of Johnston and Booth Street were out and police were directing traffic.

When the number of pedestrians accumulated the police would stop the traffic in all directions to allow passengers to cross. This meant it was safe to cross diagonally from the North Annandale to the post office.

A limb from a tree outside the appartments next to the bank had fallen on electricity lines and there was standing room only at the cafe across the road to watch the show.

Returning from a walk to the fishmarkets on the following day the tree had been chopped into pieces and was stacked along the footpath.






Saturday, May 23, 2020

23 May Covid-19 Walk along the Cook's River to Canterbury

Willie Wagtail - Cook's River

Westconnex Truck Canterbury

Canterbury Hotel


Consttantine's Hand Made Shoes for Men and Women at 13 Crinan Street Hurleston Park - Phone 95589272


Constantine sharing newspaper clippings of the Wonder Woman boots he made


Foord Street Rain Garden


Fungi by the Cook's River

The Mango Tree grew too big, people stole his fruit, he could't climb up it to get the fruit and bats also took the fruit. So, he cut it down and has now planted a new Mango Tree.

Resident with his blood orange tree - he brought the seedling from Italy


Dahlias
St Paul of the Cross Dulwich Hill
New Canterbury Road
Euston, 67 Floss Street Hurleston Park

Euston House and War Memoral in Euston Park at front of house
See Walk to Canterbury on 23 May 2020

Friday, May 22, 2020

Vale Heather Melbourne


19 April 1932 - 11 May 2020

I have many fond memories of Heather, who I first met in 1998 at the Rozelle Bay Community Nursery where we both did Bushcare.

We were also both regulars at the Annandale Precinct Meetings.

Heather with her friend Hilma was a core member of the Presbyterian Community in Annandale.

Through Heather, I got involved in guiding heritage walks as part of the Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church Heritage Day.

Heather encouraged me to write my Annandale Short Walk Books and provided valuable feedback on drafts of my first six books (1890s Annandale, Federation Annandale, Annandale's Great War, 1920s, 1930s and 1940s Annandale) published between 2010 and 2016.

Heather left Annandale in 2015 and returned to Narrabri. My partner and I visited her in Narrabri in 2016. Heather was a great tour guide of her home town. We visited the Observatory and Sawn Rocks.

A thanksgiving service was held at St Stephens Presbyterian Church in Narrabri and Heather was buried at the Narrabri Lawn Cemetry on 15th May. The text of the sermon and recordings of the service are available via https://www.facebook.com/NarrabriPC/posts/705395276903789

My condolences go to her family.

Presbyterian Womens Association Annandale Fete 2012; Heather in beret, with Hilma in light blue cardigan and Emma in red cap


Margaret Beveridge, Emma and Heather at Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church Anniverary Service 28 Feb 2010
2013 Heritage Festival

Leaving her home in Annandale at 213 Nelson Street, October 2015

Lunch with Heather at  Arts Centre Narrabri, 10 June 2016

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Impacts of Westconnex Stage 1 Local area improvement strategy (LAIS)



In April, RMS released plans for changes to roads in the inner west following the opening of Westconnex Stage 1 tunnel portals at Parramatta Road and Wattle Street (Ashfield and Haberfield). In 2016, the Administrator (of the amalgamated Inner West Council) commissioned a study which made recommendations on mitigating the effects of the opening of Stage 1 of Westconnex.

RMS: "Haberfield, Ashfield and Leichhardt local network improvements"

The RMS plans are on exhibition until May 24.

Interactive Map of changes for comments viewed on 21 May at https://v2.communityanalytics.com.au/tfnsw/iwlocal


"Transport for NSW is planning for improvements to the road network in the Haberfield, Ashfield and Leichhardt areas to make travel to and around the area easier and safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians."
Changes at
  • City West Link, Norton Street and James Street
  • Dobroyd Parade and Waratah Street
  • City West Link, Mortley Avenue and Timbrell Drive
  • Parramatta Road and Dalhousie Street "
More Information and Make submissions  at https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/haberfield-ashfield-leichhardt-improvements/index.html

Inner West Council 2016-8 Local area improvement strategy (LAIS)

Inner West Council under the administrator commissioned a report on the operational impact of Westconnex. The report made recommendations on what should be done to ameliorate the effect of the opening of WestConnex (stage 1) which includes tunel portals on Parramatta Road and Wattle Street at Ashfield/Haberfield. The estimated total cost of LAIS works is up to $29million and further community consultation would be required.

These are the measures proposed in the LAIS for Haberfield, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Annandale.





 

Local area improvement strategy

In late 2016 Council  [Administrator] resolved to undertake a study to assess the operational traffic impacts WestConnex will have on residential streets in the Inner West Council area....

Officer's report to 8 May 2018 Council meeting

To view the officer’s report on the WestConnex LAIS, visit Council's business papers and minutes page.

Final LAIS report

The final WestConnex LAIS report is available here. Itcomprises the main report by Beca Australia, and a traffic modellingreport by Veitch Lister Consulting (Appendix E).

 

Legal advice

Advice from prominent Sydney barrister Tim Robertson SC has indicatedthat there is no chance of Inner West Council mounting a successfullegal challenge against the unpopular WestConnex motorway project.

You can view the advice below:...

NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Ability of local governments to fund infrastructure and services

Councils receive grants from Federal and State Governments as well as Charging Fees (e.g. for School Swimming Carnivals and Domestic Wast...