good evening everyone I would like to
acknowledge the original custodians of
our land the Gadigal People the Euro Nation
and pay my respects to the elders both
past and present and acknowledge the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live in
our city and the people of very many
nations who live in our
city Almighty God we thank you for the
gift of this remarkable City help us
deal with its needs and the needs and
aspirations of all its people with
compassion and fairness and planned its
future with wisdom and farsightedness
thank you please be seated
do
so Council this meeting and welcome
to our
visitors this meeting is audio
visually recorded webcast live and
archived on the city's website please
refrain from making any defamatory
statements and ensure there's no
personal criticism directed at any speaker
or
staff in times to vote on an item I'll
advise the following all those in favour
say I those against declare it all
those against say no and where the votes
not unanimous the chair I will ask
for votes to be announced and the
results
confirmed so the council's in attendance
tonight and myself Clover Moore the
Deputy Lord Mayor council Robert Kok and
councilors Hy William Chan Emelda Davis
Sylvie Ellsmore Lyndon Gannon Shauna
Jarrett Robert Kok Linda Scott
and Adam Whirling we have our our CEO
Monica Barone here and also our
directors item one confirmation of
minutes so I'll move the confirmation of
minutes seced by the deputy Lord mayor
I'll put that to you all those in favour
say I those against carried unanimously
item two statement of ethical
obligations and disclosures of
Interest so I'll move that is that
seconded by the Deputy
Mayor and are there any disclosures of
interest
no disclosures of
interest item item three minutes by the
Lord Mayor 3.1 Vale Dr Lowitja O'Donahue AC CBE
DSG so Council I wish to inform
you tonight of the passing of Dr Lowitja
O'Donahue on the 4th of February 1924 was
best known for her lifelong advocacy for
the health and well-being and rights of
indigenous
Australians also known as was Lois ?
and Lois Smart Lowitja was one of six
children born to an Irish pastor's
father and a young ? mother and an
? a remote Aboriginal
Community Northwest of South Australia
at a very young age
Lowitja among with her two sisters was
removed and placed removed from their
family and they were placed in the Colbrook
Children's Home in Corn born along
with thousands of other members of The
Stolen Generations there her name became
Lois and she did not see her mother
again for more than 30 years she went to
the Corn primary school and later moved
to Eden Hills in South Australia where
she attended Unley girls Technical High
School in Adelaide at 16 she was sent to
work as a domestic servant for a very
large family at Victor Harbour and later
became a nursing Aid and did some basic
training after a long struggle to win
admission to train at the Royal Adelaide
Hospital in 1954 she became the first
trainee Aboriginal nurse in South
Australia some years later she was
promoted to staff sister and then to
charge nurse and in the 1960s Lowitja
traveled to Asam in Northern India to
hone her nursing skills with the Baptist
overseas Mission Lowitja returned to
Australia in 1962 and joined the South
Australian Public Service as an Aboriginal
Liaison and Welfare officer in 1967
she joined the established newly
established Department of
and Aboriginal Affairs and 3 years later was
appointed the Department's Regional
director in Adelaide the first woman to
hold such a position in a federal
government Department Lowitja was a member
of the Aboriginal rights legal movement
from 1970 to
1972 in 1976 she became the first Aboriginal
woman to be made a member of the Order
of Australia for her work and to improve
the lives of Australian indigenous
peoples year later she was elected
chairperson of the national Aboriginal
conference for the expression of
Aboriginal views that had been
established by the Australian government
1979 she married Gordon Smart a medical
orderly at the repatriation hospital whom
she had first met in
1964 in 1990 Lowitja became the founding
chairperson of the Aboriginal Torres Strait
Islander commission playing a key role
negotiating Australia's historic native
title legislation which granted land
rights to First Nations people and in
the successful 1967 referendum which saw
First Peoples included in the National
consensus throughout the '90s and the
2000s Lowitja continued her tireless work
and became a patron of many Health
welfare and social justice organizations
only a long list of accolades and awards
including Commander of the Order of the
British Empire in 1983 companion of the
Order of Australia AC in 1999 the Dame
of the Order of St Gregory the Great DSG
a Papal Honour by Pope John
Paul II she was also the recipient of
honory doctorates from five Australian
universities and named an honorary
fellow of both the Royal Australian
College of Physicians and the Royal
College of Nursing in 2010 Lowitja Institute
was formed in founded in her honour a
research body dedicated to advancing
indigenous Health outcomes in 2022 The
Institute announced the establishment of
the Lowitja O'Donahue Foundation which seeks
funding for scholarships to assist Aboriginal
and Torres Straight Islander people I
recommend we observed a minute silence
to Mark the extraordinary life of Dr
Lowitja O'Donahue and
outstanding contribution to the
advancement of Australia's First Peoples
Aboriginal rights and Reconciliation and that
Council expressed sincere condolences to
her
family that's seconded by councilor
Davis so I'll put that to stand
for we put to the vote first so I'll put
Councilor Davis you wish to speak
yes
thank you Lord Mayor I've been
contacted by the indigenous people's
organization in Sydney to read a
tribute in respect to the loss of
Dr O'Donahue we gathered today to pay
tribute to a remarkable leader and
Auntie to all who knew her Dr Lowitja O'Donohue
who her passing leaves a void that can
never be truly filled but her Legacy
will forever shine as a beacon of
hope resilience and unity Dr O'Donohue was
more than just an Aboriginal leader she
was a true Aboriginal auntie and warrior
a champion of justice and symbol of
strength and resilience for indigenous
communities across Australia her journey
from the red earth of South
Australia to the halls of power in
Canberra was marked by unwavering
determination compassion and commitment
to bring bring about true justice and
positive change for our peoples in
1932 IND Delana in the anag excuse my
pronunciation anago panjara yanara AP
ylands Dr O'Donohugh's early life was
testament to the resilience of her
people she faced discrimination and
adversity but she never allowed these
challenges to define her instead she
used them as fuel for her unrelenting
drive to create a fairer and more
inclusive Australia Auntie Lowitja
Journey led to her to become the first
Aboriginal nurse in South Australia she
went on to establish herself as a
trailblazer in the field of health care
advocating for improved health
care services for indigenous communities
her tireless work in this area earned her
respect and admiration of countless
individuals whose lives she touched but
Auntie Lowitja impacted extended to
extended far beyond the field of health
care her appointment as the chairperson
of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
commission ATC in 1990 was a watershed
moment in Australian history in this
role she fought tirelessly for the
rights and recognition of indigenous
Australians paving the way for greater
self-determination and power and
empowerment her advocacy and the
leadership were not limited to the halls
of government Auntie Lowitja was a
unifying force bridging divides and
fostering understanding among people of
all backgrounds her commitment to
reconciliation and her ability to bring
people together for a common cause will
be will be remembered as one of the
greatest contributions to our nation as
we mourn the passing of Dr Lowitja O'Donahue
our beloved Auntie let us also celebrate
her extraordinary life let us honour her
by continuing the work she began
striving for justice equality and
reconciliation let us remember her as a
trailblazer healer
and a visionary leader who
brought us closer to excuse me who
brought us closer to ideal of more
inclusive and harmonious Australia rest
in peace Auntie Lowitja
among your honored ancestors your memory
will forever inspire us to continue your
your legacy and carry the touch of
Justice forward on the ancient and for
all our people thank you thank you
councilor Davis so councilor
Scott thanks Lord Mayor thank you for
moving this Mayoral minute Dr O'Donohue was
of course one of the most extraordinary
women Australia has ever known she was a
passionate strong and inspiring leader
who was remarkable able in her ability
to hope and advocate for a more united
Australia she never lost faith in those
that perpetuated discrimination towards
her and showed a remarkable ability to
see the possibility for change and
growth something that I deeply admire
about her and that I I think we should
all aspire to she was of course the
first Aboriginal woman to be recognized
through a membership of the Order of
Australia and was the Australian of the
Year in 1984 something that cannot be
underestimated may she rest in peace
and our condolences to her family
loved ones but this is of course a loss
for the whole of
Australia thank you councilor Scott so
I'm recommending to council that all
persons attending this meeting
observe one minute silence to mark the
extraordinary life of Dr Lowitja O'Donohue and
her outstanding contribution to the
advancement of Australia's First Peoples
Aboriginal rights and Reconciliation and ?
Council express its sincere condolences
to Dr O'Donohue's family I invite you all
to
stand doesn't matter does
it
thank
you so I'll now I'll now put the vote to
you all those in favour say I those against
declare it carried unanimously thank you
item three .2 Vale Steve Ostrow OAM I
wish to inform you of the passing of
Steve Ostrow entrepreneur opera singer
and founder of ? mature aged gay
group known as MAGS on the 4th of
February 2024 at the age of 91 I first
met Steve when I attended a MAG Saturday
night dinner in ? basement he was
then working for ? mature age
project and initiated these dinners for
older gay men to meet socialize and in
a convivial atmosphere establishing
social space for gay men was not new to
Steve in 1968 he' established the
Continental Bars in New York to provide
an attractive safe friendly alternative
for gay men over time the bars
expanded to include a gymnasium health
clinic disco dance floor restaurant
stage and live entertainment among those
who performed at the bars was a young
Bette Midler who built a strong following
and attracted wider interest following
her early performances the bars gave
other performers a chance to advance
their careers including Barry Manalow the
Manhattan Transfer and Peter Allen he
also presented an evening of grand opera
promoting it as a black tie evening he
settled permanently in Australia in the
1980s after a period with Stutgart
Opera in Germany in 1988 he took an HIV
test as a result was negative he decided
to become an ? volunteer providing
emotional support to people living with
AIDS the remaining years of their lives
as well as an AON telephone volunteer
taking calls from people who wanted
information or who needed to talk in
1990 he got a part-time job at ACON
assessing the needs and concerns of men
at risk of HIV and continued with
AON for the next 18 years he was very
talented and also taught singing for The
Ensemble Studios and established his own
Academy of Vocal Arts where he taught
and mentored many private students he
wrote three Memoirs guide books and a
crime novel in 2013 he received the New
South Wales seniors week award and in
2021 he received a medal in the Order
of Australia the citation read for
service to the Aboriginal community and to
the Performing Arts the Australian
honors website noted that Steve was
influential in having homosexuality
being declared legal in New York City I
recommend we observe a minute silence
to commemorate the rich life of Steve
Ostrow and his significant contribution
to LGB ? plus communities of New York
and Sydney and to the Performing Arts
and and that Council express its
condolences to Steve's many friends and
convey council's condolences to mature
aged gay
guys I so I'll that's seconded by
Council Whirling I expect I'll put that
to you all those in favour say I those
against declare it carried and I'll now
invite you to all stand to observe a
minute silence to commemorate the rich
life of Steve
Ostrow
that b me
FES
thank
you Council chair thank you Lord
mayor Steve Ostrow OAM was a true pioneer
of the ? QA plus communities for
many years Steve was a much loved member
of the team at Aon volunteering on
support helplines and working on safer
sex campaigns during the most harrowing
times of the HIV AIDS epidemic Steve
also established the mature age gays
initiative in 1991 now an organization
which is flourishing today and an
organization that I had the opportunity
to celebrate it's the belated 25th
birthday last year prior to moving to
Sydney in the 80s Steve owned New
York's renowned Continental gay bath
house and as mentioned by the Lord mayor
this venue famous famously gave Stars an
early boost to their careers Steve had
been a singer in the New York City Opera
and was instrental in the USA and the
New York state law reforms during the
70s and the
80s and so it's fitting that last Friday
we raised the progress pride flag here
at Sydney town hall to pay tribute to
the shoulders of giant we stand on
including Steves so that we can continue
to fight for equality for the next
generation of sexually and gender
diverse communities to come talking to
the mature age gays David Baron and
Steve Warren who are present here
tonight at the flag raising Steve's
passing has left a legacy around the
globe with news outlets such as the
Washington Post New York Times City News
Toronto pain tribute to Steve's
leadership in the past week Steve was
one of those Giants and his legacy will
be remembered as one of a kind a
gentleman charismatic determined kind
fascinating and giving he loved people
our community music his family and so
much more valet SE austro thank you
Council
chair item 3 3 progressing action on
safety for our
lgbtiqa plus communities thank you Aon
so on the 9th of February 5 counselors
joined me for the lgbtiqa plus safety
Smit in customs house the smit was
in response to aon's request following
horrific attacks on sexually and gender
diverse communities both online and in
public including in local libraries it
was attended by 120 people from the
lgbtiqa plus communities academic
experts Allied or organizations and all
three levels of government a theme that
emerged was the need for governments to
work with and support the community in
ensuring lgbtiqa plus safety and a key
to this is the role of the police we
heard many accounts from Community
leaders of the pain anguish and the
sense of Abandonment when dealing with
homophobia transphobia and
discrimination people spoke about the
failure of police to respond to cuse for
help and the over policing of lgbtiqa
plus community communities and the
communities resulting lack of trust in
the police and there were serious
criticisms of police training it was
deeply upsetting to hear about these
failures according to this minute
accordingly this minute notes that the
member for Sydney Alex gr and I will
request a meeting with the minister for
police and the New South Wales Police
Commissioner to discuss these issues the
minute also recommends we call on the
New South Wales government to implement
the recommendations of the special
Commission of inquiry into
lgbtiq hate crimes relating to mandatory
and ongoing police training without
delay Dr Justin Ellis who is a law and
Justice lecturer at the University of
newcast Newcastle spoke at the smit
and referred to productivity commission
data which showed public perceptions
perceptions of police Integrity are at
10year lows nationally he suggested one
reason was targeting was targeted police
methods such as the use of drug
detection dogs so-called decency checks
and strip searching he asked what could
policing look like at mardig in queer
spaces and at music festivals without
drug detection dogs this me had asked
Council to reaffirm its opposition to
such practices I also note that the
council is already funding Aon to
deliver online training for local
government staff especially those people
in library in the libraries that are
also being
affected we heard several Accounts at
the smit from attendees such as dkes
on bikes about how it was often up to
the lgbtiqa Plus Community protect
themselves from violence and abuse that
governments need to do more to support
safety initiatives so I am recommending
support for Community Le initiatives to
keep the community members safe and
supported this minute asked the CEO to
investigate ways to increase rates of
reporting from lgbtiqa plus community
members and improve the collection of
information of acts of violence
discrimination vilification harassment
and abuse in public domain in the public
domain and online it also asks a
communitybased legal social and
emotional it Al also asks for
community-based legal social and
emotional support for individuals in
particular the most marginalized and
vulnerable members of the community
such as Asyl Seekers and sex workers
who seek redress from the violence
discrimination vilification harassment
or abuse against them this is often
challenging and potentially traatizing
and without support many people may not
pursue such such actions or give up
legal centers are often the only support
available I'm asking Council to support
additional targeted funding for our
community legal centers as well as
advocacy to the New South Wales
government to increase
funding also there is a need to combat
the misinformation the disinformation
and Prejudice which fuels transphobia
and homophobia Dr Ellis suggested that
pre-b buunk not sure if you heard of
that term but it means preventative
misinformation from spreading in the
first place and that could be used he
described
pre-unit inal inoculation to equip
people with the knowledge to challenge
misinformation through pre-exposure to
accurate information the opening of
copia Sydney's Center of history and
culture for the lgbtiqa plus Community
later this week presents one such
opportunity utopia's education and
exhibition program is vital in
contributing to pre- a pre- buunk
strategy Utopia Sydney will also help
realize one of the suggestions Justice
sacka made in his special Commission of
inquiry report he suggested that the
history recorded in his report and its
broader historical contents should be
the subject of a comprehensive queer
heritage project copia Sydney has
written to me asking whether it would be
possible for the city of Sydney to fund
free entry to cutopia on Sundays for 12
months I ask Council to support this
and request the CEO investigate a grant
and process for this purpose doing so
would enable more people to enjoy C
Utopia attract more people to the Oxford
Street precinct and contribute to pre-b
a
preuninger sack's report I would like to
extend my sincere appreciation and
thanks to those who attended and spoke
at the smit particularly c community
leaders who shared this their sincere
and personal experiences it is through
these accounts that we can better
understand the need for Urgent actions
following the smit and I ask Council
to support my recommendations a tog and
that's seconded by Council
wling so do I have any speakers I'll put
that to you then or Council
elore thank you Lord mayor I wanted
to rise in strong support of the
recommendations I was particularly
pleased to see so many practical actions
being implemented by the council
straight away there was such a sense of
urgency at the event and I acknowledge
that the many senior figures who are
here today who have been working in the
community for so long doing this work I
think I think what was particularly
interested and and the thing that I I
think might be the hardest for us but
the most important was the discussion
around how we support the local level
community-led initiatives for the
community to like there was obviously
discussion about police which is
recognized in your lord May or minute
and a high level of cynicism about
police there are different views in this
Council about that but particularly
views that oneoff training doesn't work
and and acknowledge that the
recommendation here is as per the
inquiry that it needs to be ongoing and
continuous
that that that we recognize police as
a top- down organization and both the
rules need to change and the culture
need to change and that takes a long
time but what was particularly telling
for me and across the generations I
thought was very interesting was this
sense that there was this lack of
support that was worse than it had been
for a long time for the community to be
able to lead these things themselves and
local Council being the the best place
to because we have the spaces because we
understand the needs of our communities
better to support that kind of work
th I'm very strongly in support of this
but I'm particularly looking forward to
supporting this work and further
advice from the CEO having consulted
with the community about how we support
those community-led initiatives because
I think I think that's the main game but
it's not going to be easy so thank you
thank you Council elore so I'll put the
motion to you all those in FA to say I
those against declare it carried
unanimously thank you item 3.4 Monica
Baron public service award councilors
I'm very pleased and not at all
surprised to report that our CEO Monica
Bron was recently awarded a public
service medal for outstanding public
service to the local government sector
and resilience Sydney as part of this
year's Australia Day honors list Monica
is an exceptional leader and a
passionate advocate for the people of
Sydney she works tirelessly to make sure
our city is social a socially just place
with an economically and culturally
diverse community over the past two
decades Monica has contributed
enormously to public policy and the
community contributing to make the city
a leader in sustainability and resist
resilience she has improved Community
resilience both locally and overseas
through her work with 100 resilient
cities and resilient Sydney and as a
board member of the international
resilience cities Network now 18 of the
33 councils in Greater Sydney have
adopted or are developing their own
local resilience plan thanks to our work
thanks to Monica's work 16 have Urban
Forest plans to mitigate heat that's
incredibly important when you think of
the western suburbs and 23 have Net Zero
targets like we do and 30 have purchased
renewable electricity to run their
Council operations like we are so her
efforts during the covid-19 pandemic
exemplify her extraordinary stewardship
of our organization and great tenacity
in her successful coordination of our
response her work ensured everyone in
our community including our most
vulnerable members had access to vital
services and resources all while
safeguarding the financial
sustainability of the city Monica has
made a significant contribution to our
community and I'm grateful for her
enduring dedication to the city and I
will invite councilors to join me in
congratulating our CEO Monica Bron on
this much deserved recognition but I
know Council Scott wants to that's
seconded by Council theut Lord may but I
know councilor Scott you wish to move an
amendment thanks Lord mayor
time
last
thank you Council Scott I'm H happy to
add your minute to to my my minute do
I have any other speakers Deputy Lord
mayor thank you Lord mayor LA mayor I I
fully support this LA mayor
congratulations Monica on being
awarded public service medal well
deserve recognition for all the hard
work dedication and achievements which
speaks for your over the many years
leading the the executive team and and
in service to the people of city of c
I first met Monica back in 2008 when
I first got elected in in in Council
and and I always Bly remember your
your very kind words and and of
encouragement and and and your
guidance you know for new new newly
elected counselor I really appreciate
appreciate that you know you're
welcoming me to the council and and
the other that really got me
really excited was the leadership in in
sustainable Sydney 2030 and in
putting that together that that s of our
our City's signature
policy and and all all your support
throughout the years you know working
with you thank you very much for for for
the support it's been pleasure and and
privilege for me and also to see you
work Lord mayor said you're
exceptional leader ership but
exceptional might beating it I'd say
in my opinion I've always always
been amazed by your work work ethic
your your knowledge and your passion
across all all issues every everything
and and in all matters in in in Council
in the community and and in business
Community every time I POS a question
you know you're able to answer on that
and you're across that and and and
you still have time to to attend the
many Community events and and
business events so congratulations
Monica well well deserved and I'm I'm
so glad to be able to be working with
thank you Lord mayor council
Davis thank you Lord mayor I'd like to
take this opportunity to congratulate
Mona Baron for her outstanding work in
local government and the public sector
as well as being awarded the public
service medal in this year's Australia
Day honors Monica you've been at the
helm at the city of Sydney Council since
2006 and under your leadership we get to
enjoy a resilient Sydney that is
centered on community leadership our
city of Sydney stays at the Forefront of
policy development and has been an
organization that leads other councils
as a progressive model to be
exampled you have been the CEO for over
20 years managing graciously I might add
over 2,000 staff and successfully
overseen the development and
implementation of the city long-term
vision for a sustainable Sydney thank
you Monica for your patience your
skillful negotiation skills that support
all walks of life in advancing their
needs across our city thank
you Council Chan through you Lord mayor
AR rise in the chamber to celebrate and
honor an extraordinary extraordinary
public servants your dedication Monica
and passion has really transformed our
city of
Sydney Monica your journey is one of an
unwavering commitment and remarkable
stewardship of our community the city
staff and yes to this Council for me
working alongside Monica at the city of
Sydney you have exemplified Community
centered leadership and strategic
planning resulting in enhanced Community
resilience and sustainability outcomes
your Visionary approach has positioned
the city as a beacon of innovation and
progress setting the standard for local
governments
Nationwide Sydney is Australia's Global
City and Monica's contributions extend
to the global stage where she has
championed the cause of resilience
through her involvement in the resilient
cities initiative and network she has
served on the international board and
shared capacity and knowledge with 100
International City it was much deserved
for her Innovation and Legacy of
resilient City
and Sydney to be credited at the recent
un climate change conference cop
28 this was credited by International
colleagues who have collaborated with
her her leadership has been instrental
in fostering collaboration and driving
meaningful action to enhance the
resilience of communities
worldwide moreover our CEO has
consistently demonstrated an innate
understanding of The Han Experience
and an relentless drive to create
positive change Monica's advocacy for
women in leadership and commitment to
promoting equity and inclusion has left
an indelible impact not only within the
city but also more broadly across the
community it's due to Monica's
leadership that at the city of Sydney
there is no gender pay Gap in fact the
pay is skewed 7% in favour of
women your efforts have paved the way
for countless women women to pursue
their professional Public Service
aspirations and to break barriers
congratulations
Monica counc
willing thank you Lord mayor for this
wonderful Lord Marl minute but a much
bigger thank you and congratulations to
Monica
Bron the transformation of Sydney over
nearly TW the past 20 years has been led
by two Visionary women Sydney knows a
lot about the Lord mayor Clover Moore
but the woman in the wings is mon
Bron since I became a counselor it's
been a baptism by fire and by
Monica she picks up the phone when
there's a problem she doesn't shy away
from difficult conversations and she's
available to us even when she's
not being the CEO of the city of Sydney
is not a task for the
light-hearted without a doubt it
requires huge sacrifices long hours and
very thick skin yep in all my dealings
with our CEO even before I was a
counselor I always found her to be
empathetic measured and on a few cases
when I thought I was in the right she
was able to give me well-rounded advice
be a straight shooter and negotiate like
any good leader knows how thank you
Monica for your True Grit and gption
for being fair determined and patient in
equal parts and I must say your passion
for the environment is crystal clear and
your Fierce determination to address
systemic behaviors guarding waste
inspires me greatly if I had a glass of
something right now Monica I would raise
it to you massive congratulations you
truly deserve this and the courage and
spirit that you've put in to get it does
not go unnoticed thank you councel
willing so I now invite councelors and
everyone in the chamber to join with me
and congratulate our CEO all on your
feet
thank you everyone Monica would like to
address this I'm going to be very brief
firstly I just want to say that I was
really really chuffed to get the public
service medal because I did choose
public service service to the community
as a vocation and it really means a lot
to me to be recognized as a public
servant so I was really chuffed I want
to thank councelor for their wonderful
words your very kind words and counselor
Scott for you know for participating
in the nomination and all the lovely
things that you've said but I do have to
say of course
that me all of the examples that you
gave I thought oh yes we did do that but
it was we did do that all the people in
this room this wonderful Council who've
been you know so consistent and
hardworking over many many years to
really deliver wonderful things for the
community it's you know public servants
can only do what Their leaders enable
them to do and give them themom to do
and so firstly we can only do our good
work because of you the elected
representatives and of course then I'm
surrounded today by colleagues and there
are many who are not here today who have
all worked tirelessly to achieve the
things that you mentioned so it is a
reflection of the great work of many
many people but it is very very
flattering to receive this award and
to hear your lovely words thank you Lord
mayor thank you thank you Monica and I I
too would like to also thank our
stunning staff have a fantastic team and
everyone in Sydney can see the
results so thank you led by Monica thank
you
Monica so I'll put it to the vote all
those in favour say I those against
declare it carried youry thank
you
I i' now like to move a procedural
motion that items 14.1 valet Bill gr
grer and 14.2 valet lilan cromby and
14.11 valet Auntie lilan cromby be con
considered prior to item
four so I'll put that to you or those
say I those against declare it carried
so we'll go to item
14.1 B bill
grer counc
willing Bill Granger passed away on
Christmas Day last year and there was
widespread Community shock and sadness
at this passing and I thought it was
important today for his family and for
Sydney that we honor him with his
valet if Sydney was a breakfast it would
be dreamt up cooked and served by Bill
Granger not many 23y olds would have the
confidence to start their own restaurant
but Bill did on Liverpool Street in
darlinghurst and over 30 years later
it's still open to this day what a
testament to him bill was self-taught he
learned to cook using women's weekly
recipe cards and wasn't afraid to keep
it simple actually in fact he relished
in it creamy creamy scrambled eggs the
fluffiest ricotta Hot Cakes dripping
with honeycomb butter crisp corn FS
beauti
simple unfussy dishes were Bill's
calling cards his crble is always in
my freezer for a quick dessert and when
a friend is unwell it's the lentil and
veggie soup that I
deliver when I think about that
Liverpool Street Cafe and of what bill
created it was very
special what was striking about the
original bills was how unpretentious it
was everyone was welcome alist Stars sat
alongside doctors and patients from the
hospital around around the corner young
families and office workers I used to go
and pour over one of the many fashion
art or design magazines that were strewn
across the communal
table bill quickly became known as
Sydney's king of breakfast and further a
field The Godfather of avocado toast but
his influence was much greater than that
he was one of the first Cooks to go out
there and take the IP of being
Australian
Global anytime you find yourself in a
big city or even a small country town
perched at a communal table with a flat
white and a sunny plate of scrambled
eggs you're benefiting from a little of
the DNA that bill created in
darlinghurst and put on the world
stage I remember back in the '90s the
first time I was introduced to bill in
chalice Avenue pots point he was dressed
in a denim shirt white jeans and a pair
of tan loafers for years and decades to
come whenever I saw Bill he was always
wearing a vision of that outfit it was
quite sophisticated quietly
sophisticated much like his optimistic
and IL galarian approach to
food bill wasn't about fine dining or
strict recipes through his books and
many TV shows he gave people the
confidence to be able to cook at home he
was he was about family communal eating
a genuine celebrity chef without acting
like a
celebrity sadly at just 54 Bill grer
died too young and with so much more to
give he leaves an incredible
Legacy he leaves an incredible Legacy
not only with his three beautiful
children Edie inz and Bunny he also but
also 19 restaurants around the
world to quote journalist and Aussie xat
David prior from Pub to a cafe to tea to
coffee from evenings to early mornings
it's impossible to overstate the
inspiration impact and importance of
what bill and his wife Natalie created
and how it ushered in a change to our
culture Australian food used to be a
question bill made it a statement I
think those words beautifully s up
Bill I offer my S sincere condolences to
Bill's wife Natalie brother Steven and
the rest of his adored
family thank you councelor Walling so
so I'm very happy to second that
yes are there any other speakers so I'll
I'll put that to you all those in favour
say I those against declare it carried
unanimously and would I ask you all to
stand for minute silence honoring bill
grer
thank
you call out the
item item 14.2 valet lilan
cromby
that's Council councelor Milda Davis
thank you Lord mayor Lord mayor
counselors and the city staff and
viewers at home it is with gratitude
that I have the blessing of the family
to acknowledge the late Lian crby who
crossed over to her ancestral resting
place on the 3rd of January
2024 to Elaine Lillian's daughter and
two grandsons Michael and Andrew we send
our sincere condolences to our Global
from our for our Global Community has
lost a formidable woman that was
selfless and deeply committed to family
and her craft Lord mayor elain cromby
elain Lord May elain cromie's
daughter sent a thoughtful email
message to the city of Sydney and it
reads thank you for recognizing mom
Sydney has been Mom's home my entire
life and just like her I love you thank
you for holding her for all these years
end quote Lillian cromby was a child of
the stolen Generations a proud Pitt J
Jara yankan Jara woman born in 1958 and
was raised by her foster parents in Port
purri South Australia as a child Lillian
trained as the only black girl in a
Classical Ballet Class igniting her
passion
for dance and drama excelling to the
point where she was offered a
scholarship to the dance concert Limited
in s in Sydney it was there lilan was
taught a diverse range of cultural dance
styles from other countries Lillian was
16 years of age when she enrolled in the
black Theater Red Fern dance and drama
classes and this is where I first met
Lillian and we were similar ages my mom
volunteered at the black theater
alongside Auntie Betty fiser Uncle Bob
maer and Carol Johnson to assist and
care for the students therefore keeping
us in line my brother and I and school
friends were enrolled in regular dance
classes for a few years black Theater
Red phone is the foundation for the
Black Arts family as mob traveled from
all over Australia joining forces in the
Civil Rights quest for freedom and
self-determination and we navigated the
black prec which included trami
Cooperative in GLE and the block Lord
mayor for our communities Performing
Arts were the perfect negotiator as a
dance as dance activism saw public
performances in educating broader
communities on the culture and the
diversity of first nation's people and
lilan cromby was among those
foundational members in
1976 today's dance and education
industry has been inspired by the black
theater Aid Aboriginal Islander dance
theater nasda and bangara successors
which is which is owed to Keepers and
choreographers to knowledge Keepers and
choreographers but not without the
deliberation resistance and
self-determination of those original
dance cohorts namely Lil and cromby
dorothia Randall Cheryl Stone Wayne
nickel deceased darl Williams Michael
Leslie Malcolm Cole deceased Richard
Tonga and Philip Langley this was
Lillian stomping ground and we all found
Community stability and big family in
red fern ner today is the oldest Dance
Theater in New South Wales Carol Johnson
the lead choreographer shared with me
just a note about Lillian Lillian let
people know she was a classical dancer
bringing her pink toeo to class those
too went everywhere with her even to
remote areas of North Queensland where
she was a part of NASA's teacher
training team lilia's Wildside saw saw
her love for driving motorcycles in
particular Palm Island and hope where
two of the communities where she was
off into the wind from the confines of
community and I guess Freedom Lil
lilian's daughter Eline shared through
mom's deep connection with all her
Sydney mobs from the last 44 years plus
I have an entire family from 32 acres to
Murray country Palm Island and Tor
straight mothers like Anie AGS Agnes
wear Anie Maru Marin cin Anie Annie
Anie Annie Annie gandhy Anie Ruby Ruby
Hunter fathers like David pagee and
Uncle Willow Willow maada and so many
more that can be mentioned but they know
who they are end
quote ever reaching for the starles
liliam was offered a scholarship to
train at the world-renowned Alvin ay
American dance theater in New York on
her return to Australia Lillian attended
the National Institute of dramatic art
nider where she met classmate and today
film film director Bas Lan in
1983 lilan applied for and won his
role in 2008 for the film Australia baz
said in a tribute at Lillian's funeral
in saying Lillian cromy was a gifted
artist and an extraordinary positive
spirit in everything she did and
quote Lillian's life's achievements were
profound and significantly diverse from
drag shows in mime which for me was
Lillian's signature in performing the
song I Will Survive by Gloria Gainer
other screen and performing Arts credits
included ma The
Peacemaker conversations with the Dead
Black Mary Festival of dreaming GES
capricornia the Cherry Pickers rainbow
rainbows end and television series such
as the secret life of us and mystery
Road in 2019 Lillian was recognized with
a Lifetime Achievement Award by the
equality foundation for her
contributions to the art
Wesley Eno playwright and artistic
director described Lillian as a trail
Trailblazer for First Nation stories to
be told Lord mayor Lillian was a dear
friend to so many Sydney ciders and we
all knew her love for the Sydney Swans
the swanes and she founded the black
swans Club in supporting first nation's
players and her communities first first
in anchoring social justice needs within
the
organization Lillian went on to
establish the Lillian crby Foundation
of which I was honored to assist her as
one of the inaugural board members all
of our women were equally passionate and
worked hard in support of Lillian's
Vision to assist families financially to
bury their loved ones or to travel to
see an ill family member lilan knew only
too well the suffering for First Nations
and marginalized communities as she lost
her brother under similar circstances
the foundation is now situated in Port
Pur Lillian founded in 2020 just
recently the Lillian crbly promy
School of Dance in Port Peri and when
she when she was asked why lilan said I
really want them to have the same
experience as I have and I want the kids
I want the kids to if they do love
whatever they do be be a fireman a
dancer a policeman whatever
lastly I'd like to finish on a poem that
lilan wrote for her
foundation and it says see our loved
ones no longer here we won't cry we
won't shed a tear across these lands we
feel them
near close to our hearts oh dear waving
emotions is our closest friend we won't
forget you till the very end ancestors
are calling you I hear their sounds now
you must fly Homewood bound have a safe
journey valet
Lillian thank you Council Davis do I
have other speakers Council
won Lord May we actually have two
motions so I think that it'd be
appropriate that my motion also be read
out and and then we'll have a minute
silence just one minute silence so I'll
speak to my motion
okay so
who is seconding C Deputy May second
Council Davis's motion so I'll put
it to you all those in favour say I those
against declare Carri unanimously so
now we will stand for a minute silent no
no so now we will hear Council won's
notice of motion what item is that item
1411 thank you Lord me I too spoke to
Elaine and I have two aunties here aie
Jun and a Lizzy
family of an Lillian it's appropriate
for me to speak as I have known her
pretty much my entire life and she's
actually a part of my family she is
culturally my
auntie this VI motion isn't just about
another person passing away to be placed
on the
record this motion is a remembrance of
what we all must and should stand
for what cannot change if we do not make
that change that is
needed Annie Lilian was a trial Blazer
not because she set out to make changes
but because this is what she achieved
through pushing forward in being the
first in some of her journey but because
an error was not inclusive of her her
people or her right to be
here being a child of the stolen
Generations removed because of the
policies of the day which some would say
are still happening
today being taken from her family her
practices and her Traditions to be
taught others along that way of her new
family where she was loved in a
different environment that generations
of her family weren't a part of Aunt Li
expressed herself with dance from the
early days in Port Perry those steps she
made along her path as a child and later
in the mirrior timber Floor dance rooms
of South Australia to he in
Sydney in fact Aunt Lillian was one of
the first to be the intake at nasda the
national abinal isander schools dance
Association and then the performance arm
of nasda The abigal Islander dance the
Aunt Lillian was one of the first to
tour
internationally I actually recall quite
clearly on Bridge Road naso in those
early days and actually watching these
performances and to see Aboriginal
dancers in many ways from culture to
contemporary steps were so power
empowering but also quite a profound
impact on me which I later danced as
a as a teenager and certainly I will
share that now Uncle Paul Gary Farley
Lester bosto and Jenny Shan had formed
the national black
theater Aunt Lillian undertook the six
week training at the national black
theater but to us it was known as black
theater a place I still remember quite
vividly in fact the black theater even
though there's other things that are
built there now it's still the black
theater site from so many of us and I
recall the Abal Children Service that
had out offices there radio Skid Row was
upstairs the dance theater was also
upstairs and there was always dues or
sort of impromptu does that were taking
place over the weekend and it was the
likes of my mother would have to clean
the stairs for us kids to be able to
walk up to be able to go to our dance
classes on
Saturday there's so much about the black
theater site that shows that we have
been here we have never been anywhere
else but the struggles back in those
days still continue and when I think
about the black theater site and so many
that were homeless you know when we see
them today living in parks there was a
place at the black theater that people
actually felt safe and I'm talking about
our men that were treated in awful ways
and and particularly our men that were
released from prisons in such awful
circstances in the middle of the night
and were outcasts but yet we had these
organizations such as the Aboriginal
children's serves the dance theer in the
skid row that didn't treat them as
Outcast they're actually a part of our
community i' also like to highlight some
of more of Annie Lillian's contributions
early in her career Aunt Lillian joined
the Sydney Marr to support the gay
community during the HIV aids pandemic
performing in a mixed drag a and at
fundraising events and I recently spoke
to Steven pagee who talked about the
impact that she had on him but also that
sharing of that performance perance the
performance in them the performance in
all of us in 2015 Lillian established
the Lillian crby Foundation to support
indigenous families travels needs for
sorry business and I think about Aunt
Lillian and what she saw Even in our own
family where she saw my grandmother pass
and in the same year my Uncle
Pete and then lat ony bets and with the
sisters that remain today
it's hard because you see the difference
that Aunt Lian made just being there
just being a part of us and being a
major part of
that as was stated by councelor Davis
that she was a supporter of the Sydney
Swans she was the Black Swan in so many
ways and when I think about going along
to some of those games she spoke
about swans going in there she spoke
about swans going out of there but she
flew that flag and she waved it around
and she made sure that anyone around you
would actually be barrian for Sydney
Swans even if you're in the oppositions
toam I think about the difference that
she made and the memories in time and
the memories on me the memories on my
kids but also on the kids around us and
I think about Elaine and how even when I
recently saw her perform at the Opera
House in opening night and it was
actually the night after the yes vote
that didn't happen for my people and
having a yarn with Steven pagee and so
many others about how much more do we
have to
enure but when I think about my memories
of Aunt lilan I think about the time she
gave and particularly the voice that she
had when she sang you had to sing with
her and the kids would stop running
around playing tips and they would stop
to listen to her because it was a voice
to be
heard she would take her time to talk to
the kids performing for them and
reinforcing so much about maybe what she
didn't have with her own family that she
didn't get to
meet but how much of the family that she
got to
meet that giving of her time and when I
think about that reinforcement of
cultural
connection and being my cultural
Ary she had a belief in everyone
regardless of what cultural beliefs that
you had your religions or anything that
you
chose she was always smiling and she had
that laugh that strong laugh that you
heard it would wake you up and moive you
all at once there was something about
that laugh that you could not forget and
I will not forget it I think about so
many of my people that have gone on that
were able to be
connected with Aunt but when I think
about this night from Elaine and I know
some of it has been covered by councilor
Davis but some of the words I think that
elain has shared goes to the core of who
we all should be and who we all should
love that was the beauty of Mom I
believe because of her longing for her
family she just found family and other
people there were people that I've known
my entire life who are actually my
family I can feel it in my soul and it
is because of
mom the closest families I have we have
me and the boys Aunt Lizzy Ingram Tama
and Ray
Ray Ray and tamaa are my little brother
and sister I've known them since I was
13 they have known mom their whole lives
mom's been there with them Aunt Jannie
Matt and John Paul they are mob they are
family one
time Aunt mom brought John Paul to
Brisbane to visit alen while she was
living up there and from the outside
people probably were a bit
confused is that he was Mom cruising
around with other people's kids but not
other people her sister Jan her nephew
John Paul them two cruising around the
countryside through mom's deep
connection with all of a Sydney mobs
from the last 44 years
plus Alain still has us as family from
the 32 acres to Bow desert to Murray
country to Palm Island to the Toler
stet there are friends and family across
this country that have core memories of
M busting out in laundry rooms to rip
out amazing drag
nbers that to me is deep and filled
with love it makes me smile thinking
about it and I haven't even touched our
Black Arts family the family that holds
you when you're away traveling telling
stories telling other people's stories
mom was a master of
that a master of holding space for
others stories to come through through
dance through acting assing characters
and then just for fun
or because it's a Friday to throw on a
wig to put on some music and lip syn
like your life depends on it because for
Mom it
did elain would like to thank the city
of
Sydney for which has been mom's home for
ela's entire life just like
her and she loves us all for thanking
and for holding her in our
space for when I think about the legacy
of what Aunt L Aunt Lillian has done she
has created Pathways when we didn't even
know it she had steps of belief in
herself and in others long before it was
anyone
else when we think about the difference
we can make we need to make it and Aunt
lulian did that for us and she will
continue to if we hold her with the
honor that she deserves and I ask that
we do do that through a minute silence
thank you thank you councilor
Wen so there's a second for that motion
Council Scott I'll put the motion to
you or in favour to say I those against
there carried anesty now I invite you
all to stand for a minute to
celebrate the life
of
thank
you
so now we'll be moving so now we'll move
to the business of council I just want
to say that tonight we've honored a
nber of inspiring outstanding
Australians and it's a very inspiring
way to commence our first meeting of the
year so thank you everyone item four
memoranda by the chief executive officer
there are none item five matters for
tabling 5.1 disclosure of Interest
returns so I'll
move is resulted that the disclosure
interest returns be received and
noted so that's seconded by Deputy Lord
May I'll put that to you all those in
favour say I those against declare it
carried you see thank you item six
report of the corporate finance
properties and tenders committee deput
Lord
mayor thank you LA mayor mayor 6.1
and 6.2 6.1 the confirmation of minutes
of the report of the corporate
finance properties and tendance
committee this 6.2 was the statement
ethical obligations and disclosures of
Interest
6.3 lotm two 2023 24 quarter
review delivery program for the 2022
to
2026 we had a presentation by
director Bill Carter committee last
week with an overview of the
quarter 2 report and the report
reviews the operating and capital
results against the budget for the 2023
24 Financial year and progress against
the performance measures identified
within the operational plan 2023 24
within the broader delivery program of
2023 to
2027 well we had a very good
report and we're in the black and
favourable variances throughout so ID
like to thank thank Bill Carter
and the city staff for for for all that
also the Capital works the images
are very exciting small
and we 4. 6.4 and 6.5 are
investments as held 31st December
2023 and 31st January
2024 6 six is the land
classification 6.7 to 6.9 are proposed
land classifications all were moved
unanimously Lord mayor I'll move
6.3 sorry 6.1 actually 6.9 in Global
so that's a second
second by Council Hy Chan Council
elore thank you Lord mayor I had a
question in relation to 6.3 I was hoping
that could be pulled out so that's the
quarterly report the quarterly review
delivery
program so I'll put I'll put the I'll
put the all the the items other than
6.3 to you and that's
seconded moov and seconded I'll put that
to you all those in favour say I those
against declare them carried unanimously
so we'll now go to 6.3 Deputy Lord
mayor 6.3 the 2023 24 quarter
quarter to review delivery program 2022
2026 so I'll move the recommendation and
so I'm happy to second that
recommendation Council elore thank you
chair I was hoping to ask a question
of the staff for an update happy one
as councilors might remember we
unanimously passed a motion about the
Darlington activity center and work
has started on the center we've seen the
tree Choppers and a series of other
works so thank you staff for the updates
and also for putting some signs up
when that work started happening we got
a bit concerned I was hoping the
staff could provide an update about how
those more urgent works are going and
how we are progressing with the request
from the community remember the first
requests were can we have an open day to
have a look inside and see what it's
like and and to update the furniture
which was a bit broken because people
were using the gardens up the front and
they'd like to continue doing that
although I understand there's some
safety issues but I'm not sure what they
are that have stopped that since January
so I was hoping the staff could give an
update and also advise whether any
specific budget variations were being
recommended in this quarterly review
for those works or whether that was
going to come to us later for next
year's budget so to see
you I might take that on notice and
prepare a c update because there was a
lot of questions there and so Mr
Woodby I think that would be best that
we just get all of that information into
one memo so we'll do that for this
Friday that' be all right thanks thanks
Lord mayor thanks Council so
councilor Scott is this
6.3 thanks Lord May I had a couple of
questions in light of the email
that Council has received last Monday
night about the asbestos Discovery in
a nber of city parks Lord mayor and
then I also had an amendment to this
recommendation I wanted to thank
the CEO for her answers to my
questions on notice that are later in
the papers Lord mayor I'm at your
guidance about how best to do this I
might just ask a couple of questions and
then sit down and then perhaps
staff can answer and then I'll stand
back up and ask a couple of more
questions I've got some questions about
the asbestos incident Lord mayor so
would you like me to ask a couple and
then sit down and ask a few more the
the aspo issue as as as as serious
and as shocking as it is is not in
this quarterly to review so it's
it did not happen within the time of
this review so it's not relevant to this
item yes well there is no item on
the agenda for this issue you can't move
it in this it doesn't exist in this item
dealing with the course to review 2023
2024 yes well then I can move an urgency
motion Lord mayor if you'd prefer I'm
happy to take your guidance on the
procedural Way Forward but given we
haven't had an opportunity as
directors of these organization to ask
questions and to take a view I
think it is obviously our job to do so
and this is the first available meeting
Lord mayor so
well well my advice is that you can't
do it via the 6.3 you could do it as a
mo motor motion of urgency well then
I'll just so no we're going to deal
we're dealing with 6.3 sure we'll deal
with this item and then and then
we'll deal with the the this paper okay
well then I just have some questions
about the matter and they do relate
to the finances of the C Council and
they relate to the quarterly report in
so much as I asse there's budget
implications of the asbestos incident
that I would like to
understand so my understanding is
that that this is dealing with a period
before the asbestos was exposed or the
asbestos drama started so I I
think we need to deal with this delivery
program now that's the advice I
had okay and so there's no amendments to
the city's dely program to the budget
not in Rel not in relation to a SP us no
right okay well that in itself is
revealing I'll then Lord May after
this item foreshadow that I'm going to
give notice of ancy motion i' like to
complete dealing with the Finance
paper this is the last item so we have a
a motion before
us that we adopt the quartly to
review and that's the matter we're
dealing with right now Council won do
you wish to speak to the courtly two
review
I'm I'm a little bit confused Lord May
the finances for in this quarter
would have actually
funded the actual asbestos related
products so is it not relevant to it no
no the this cour to review is dealing
with a period before the asbestos was no
the asbestos was
found but it's actually when it was
installed and what's been paid for
within this delivery program yeah no my
advice is that this doesn't relate to
this report we can deal with it in
another way but we're not dealing with
it
here so deput May do you wish to say
anything more to this item no L Bar
has been mov in a second okay so I'll
put it to you all those in so I'm now
moving this is the last item 6.3 all
those in favour say I those against
declare it carried your thank you so
that's the finance paper and Council
Scott wishes to move an urgency motion I
do thank you Lord mayor the urgency
motion has been circulated Lord mayor
and it is simply to note that
asbestos just a moment I haven't seen
that yes it was circulated by Aon as
an amendment to item
6.3 oh so it's to note that asbestos in
all its forms is a carcinogenic mineral
resistant to heat elect and corrosion
extremely dangerous to hans when
exposed to on the 13th of January 2024 a
community request from Mrs Natasha
Molton was passed on to the CEO
requesting confirmation that green life
was not part of the city's supply chain
along with a request to test All City
Parks and two days later on the 15th
of January the CEO provided formal
advice Council Scott could I just
interrupt you there you need to move the
procedural motion first okay before
speak to the item in depth so you
need to move the emergency and then I
need to ask the council if they wish to
deal with it and then I have to decide
on the urgency okay I move the
procedural motion in light of the
fact that the council has not had an
opportunity in this the first meeting
since we were notified of the
aspect so that's been seconded by
Council welon I'll put that to you
so I'll put that to
you so the motion is that the motion be
considered y so the motion is that
that that motion that's been moved
without notice be considered by this
Council so I'll put that to you it's
been moved and seconded all those in
favour say
I those
against so it's now my role to decide
whether not or not this is a matter that
we need to deal with
okay could I just clarify that vote all
those in favour for the the urgency
could you raise your
hands and those
against so
five votes to
five so the procedural motion is lost
with and that deals with that matter yep
so that that is lost Lord May I'd like
to move a procedural motion that
councils have an opportunity to ask
questions of the staff you would
of course recall that we were notified
extremely late at night on Monday night
about 14 hours before questions on
notice were received and Lord mayor
we have director's duties as responsible
administrators of this organization I
have a series of questions that it's
very important to ask to uphold our
director's duties so Lord may I think
it's very important that we have the
opportunity to ask questions so I move a
procedural motion that council's be
given the opportunity to ask questions
about this matter given that no item was
placed on the
agenda I will ask U the CEO to to
speak briefly but I understand that
the CEO is organizing a briefing for
next week is that
right
yes yes yeah yes so there is going to be
a briefing organized for Council next
week at our briefing
session so I don't believe that we
need to progress that now Lord mayor
I've got community members watching
tonight with questions about the health
of their children I do think this is
urgent and it's very important that we
have the opportunity to do this
transparently so that community members
can watch and seek responses not have a
briefing that's behind closed doors Lord
mayor thank you Council Scott I
think the fact of the matter the
seriousness of of the matter is that the
EPA has now set up a task force the
state Minister for the environment
has set up a task force to look into the
matters surrounding this and and
that that should give us the answers
about how this occurred what the
sources of it it is and of course the
EPA is continuing to give us advice
about any other parks that we need to
to to have assessed that work is
continuing but the we can have an
extended briefing where you can ask all
your questions next week and we should
know more we should know more from the
EPA task force and I think that's the
critical matter here it's the EPA that
is now looking into this issue this is a
state this is not just the city of
Sydney issue this is a really important
across the State issue a task force
as I said has been set up and and we're
waiting for answers and the the EPA
is continuing also to assess whether
or not there any where where there
are other contaminations so I think
that's where the matter
is see do you wish to add to that the
only thing I would say Lord mayor is
that everything that we know we have
provided it emails to the counselors and
everything that we know for the
community is also up on the website and
we are continuously updating the website
and sending information to counselors as
that information comes in and as the
Lord May says there are 120 people in
the EPA investigating this matter now
they need to get to the bottom of this
issue and there is a special task force
and you know I mean I mean even now
I'm still getting messages from the head
of the EPA saying this is where we're up
to and this is what we know and
everything that we get I pass on WE
process it and we let counselors know
and we put it all up on the website and
that is all we can do we do not know
anything other than what we are telling
you and I have told you in all of the
emails that I have sent you and updates
that I have sent you since this matter
broke but this is not actually an item
on the agenda Lord mayor so we
should thank you so we're now up to
item seven report of Lord mayor you
haven't voted on my procedural motion to
answer questions points of order Lord
mayor Lord mayor we have counc Jan has a
point of order sit down please Council
stop
what councelor Scott is bringing to
council is actually in breach of the
code of meeting practice
8.14 question must not be asked at a
meeting of the council unless it
concerns a matter on the agenda of the
meeting now we've debated a procedural
motion for the urgency and that's been
lost because it didn't gain a
majority and I uphold that point of
order and so we're now dealing with item
so I move procedural motion that we have
the ability to ask questions and that we
consider this item Lord mayor and I do
so because the questions on notice
tonight reveal that the
CEO mayoun SC coun coun Scott the CEO
informed it is not it is not a
procedural motion and you did not coun
Scott it is not a procedural motion
could you please take your seat today
could you please take your seat no Lord
may I will not the questions
on so Council Scott this was on I ask
you to uphold my point of
order in accordance with
9.36 of the code of meeting practice all
counselors must be heard without
interruption and all other counselors
must assist otherwise not on the code
you must not remain silent while council
is speaking now you are acting in a
disorderly way we do not have a matter
before us the procedural motion did not
get up we are now dealing with item
seven no Lord mayor this is completely
unacceptable this is the most serious
thing point of
order 5.9 not speaking over the
chairperson of the Lord mayor when the
chairperson Rises or speaks during a
meeting of the
council any councelor than speaking
present must be silent to enable the
chairperson to be heard without
interruption this is unbelievable you
know as as former president of the New
South Wales local government Association
that you need to sit down now because
I'm standing I have never stood in this
Council chamber before the behavior has
never been so out out out outrageous and
you it coming from you it's really quite
shameful and in accordance with
Clause
9 of the of the code of meeting practice
all councils must be heard without
interruption your Interruption
constitutes an act of disorder under
Clause 14.19 of the code of meeting
practice and I ask you to stop
interrupting so that we can get on with
the business of
council item seven report of the
environment
M councelor Council
Walling I'm called we're dealing with
item seven and I've called I've called
councilor
Walling me I would like to table a
request to you an extraordinary council
meeting to address the spe matter there
is I think there is something seriously
wrong with our meeting processes and our
practices that the contamination of our
local parks and espe has not been
considered or addressed at this counc
meeting so I would like to table this
with you Lord May where you have five
councellors that have actually signed
that we have an extraordinary meeting to
address it and to have our questions
answered so not a briefing an
extraordinary
meeting
I it's how disappointing it is that the
first meeting of council is descended to
such a state I'm now going to move
that we have an an adjournment I'm
going to adjourn the meeting for 10
minutes due to the behavior that
is happening and also to consider the
matter that's just been given to me so
I'll move that second by Deputy Lord
mayor but to you all those in favour say
I those against declare it carried thank
you
I move that we reconvene and is that
seconded by Deputy Lord mayor that to
you all those in favour say I those
against declare it carried so I
have received a request from five
councilors to hold next a a
special meeting and an extraordinary
meeting and I undertake to do that
but I want to say that I have full
faith in our staff for keeping our
community safe that this is not an
exclusive city of Sydney issue and that
the EPA and Minister have now stepped in
and their their task force is looking to
to get to the the the bottom of
this this very serious Community issue
and the EPA is in constant contact
with Council and all the information
that comes to us is going up on our
website and I I think what is
really important now that it's a time
for facts not fear mongering and I
we'll we'll call that extraordinary
meeting and now we'll move to item
seven report of the environment
committee Council
Walling thank you Lord mayor
sorry thank you Lord mayor at last
week's meeting of the environment
committee there were two items on the
agenda were carried unanimously and
there were no disclosures of
Interest City staff have issued a
relevant two memo for both items 7.3 and
7.4 it provides information about the
nearest public toilets artwork in the
vicinity recognizing first nation's
culture disability access in park
upgrades the need for shade sales the
renaming process and schedule for
renaming theog
Reserve with that in mind I therefore
note items 7.1 and 7.2 and propos to
move items items 7.3 and 7.4 in
globo second the council
chair Council Scot thanks I'd like to
pull out
7.3 so
Council
Walling so you're moving in
globo
we will pull out 7.3 and put 7.4 in
eng globo so 7.3 is coming out so
you're moving 71 2 and
four yes correct and that's signed by
Council chair so I'll put that to you
all those in favour say I those declare
Carri so thank you 7.3 Council
Walling I would like I would like to
introduce the item 7.3 project scope
Robin kemus Reserve renewal
GLE so do we have any speakers Council
Scott I'm very happy to second that
excuse me wonderful memories of a very
wonderful person who made a great
contribution to this city as well as to
the university
Council Scot thank you Lord mayor
this is one of the parks that has been
named on the list of parks that has the
risk of contamination of asbestos and
so in light of that I move the
amendment that I previously sought to
move that is noting that asbestos in
all its forms is a carcinogenic mineral
that a community request from Miss
Natasha Molton was passed on to the CEO
on the 13th of January requesting
testing of all parks that green life
assurance that green life was not part
of the city's supply chain on the 15th
of January the CEO provided advice to
councilors we now know falsely that
green life was not part of the city
supply chain and the request to test
city parks was rejected we were told
on the 12th of February we now know
the Lord mayor was told days earlier
following an EPA notification that mulch
had tested positive in several City
Parks for contamination first meeting
reports about The asbestos appeared
just over an hour after counselors
were informed and yet 12 further hours
went by before any fences went up
Lord mayor this motion formally refers
this matter to the city's audit and risk
committee and requests that an
independent investigation be done into
the asbestos outbreak with terms of
reference to be determined by the city's
audit and risk committee and that a
report be received back to council
and request the CEO to undertake testing
for All City Early Education and Care
Centers Parks playgrounds garden beds
and areas with Mulch and publish the
results on the city's website provide
legal advice to counselors on the legal
and other liability risks to the Lord
mayor and counselors provide advice to
counselors on the estimated resourcing
implications regulatory requirements and
steps undertaken to me Scott I'd like to
call you to order provide a weekly SC i'
would like to call you to
order
future liability and other relevant
expenses to
count so according to 8.2 of our code
of meeting practice which you're very
familiar Clause 81 does not apply to
the consideration of business at a
meeting the business is already before
directly relates to a matter that is
already before the council is the
election of a chairperson to presite the
meeting or subject Etc so what
what you are doing is is is trying to
break the rules for our our meeting
practice and and allowing us to conduct
the business that has been presented to
council before this meeting to consider
I have undertaken to call an Emergen
an extraordinary meeting to discuss the
asbestos issue and I have also
encouraged people to keep their to
check out out on on the website and get
up updates on the information whilst the
EPA the responsible Authority carries
out the investigation it needs to carry
out so we can get to the bottom of this
matter so Council whirling do you
have anything you wish to say about 6
point
three thank you Lord mayor I believe
we need to wait for a report from the
EPA and through you Lord May if the
CEO wants to make any further
comments yes so we we're talking about
the item that was before us I'd like to
ensure all Council talks about the item
that is before us councelor
Weldon actually would just like to get
some clarification you made a comment
Lord mayor about the the confidence in
our staff this actually these issues
that have been raised is not about a
lack of confidence in our staff it's
actually about communication
coordination and accountability I'm
actually so in terms of this Park
itself with actually having apros
material there although that you've
actually said that we can't raise these
issues I'm actually so
concerned i' like to call you to order
the information that you have
said call you to order please Council
welen we have a matter before us that we
are meant to be dealing with and I'd
like Council warling to deal with it
Council
warling Council CH you to speak on this
item that is before us yes Lord mayor I
do wish to speak council's received a
relevant to memo I think it's really
important that we recognize the
information about how the nearest public
toilets have been placed in terms of
that further information on the artworks
and within the vicinity recognizing
First Nations culture which relate to
the basketball indoor basketball
courts which are there as well as as
disability access in Park upgrades the
need for shade sales and the REM naming
process which has been scheduled for
menog Reserve so that relevant to memo
actually covers both the items yes
this is a very important park because it
is aimed at younger children taking into
account that there are other child
friendly Park upgrades that the city is
doing this is at Glee Street playground
at monog Reserve also in point of
order Lord mayor Council chair I'll hear
the point of order relevance if we
cannot raise asbestos directly about a
park that is impacted this councilor is
Raising points
about
Lord do not upold the with your
sign open of Jubilee from 10 years ago
being installed by Council staff and
none of them doing any assess could you
please take your seat I call you to
order councilor
Scott your your interruptions constitute
an act of disorder under
14.19 code of meeting practices you will
know Council
Scott councilor Shen yes so the draft
concept plan for this project scope
for Robin chem Reserve includes new play
equipment including a play structure
with slides platforms climbing ropes
interactive panels swing set seesaw
spring up and stepping pods nature play
areas including a mix of natural sturdy
materials improved Park path Network
throughout the park more seating
upgraded with barbecues and plants and
new no new low shrub planting a new
water bubbler and Bin and a gated fence
widening of the existing footpath on
Franklin Street in Glee to improve
pedestrian movements so this is a
something I support because we need to
be looking after our young people our
children and the design of these
playgrounds point of order point of
order Council Chan is to be heard in
silence please as you will know
councilor
Scott point of order 9.36 all councilors
must be heard without interruption and
all other counselors must unless
permitted remain silent while another
councelor is speaking without respect
Council
chair these so this is an incredible
incredible Park that we're working on
and it would allow for child friendly
play and to ensure that we continue
developing for our youngest residents
and citizens thank you Council chair so
I you have moved the
recommendation and that's been
seconded I'll put the motion to all
those in favour say I those
against sorry I I put the motion no I
would would like to speak you you
allowed others to speak can I speak well
I did ask if there are any other no you
didn't you didn't you didn't you just
move Council W what would you like to
say I actually would like to vote
against this motion considering that
we're talking about safety of children
and yet we're exposing them to aesto so
I'm voting against this
motion so I'll put the motion to you
all those in favour say
I those
against I declare it carried apart from
two counselors Council Walling item
eight report of the resilience
communities and economy
committee thank you Lord mayor item
eight report of the resilient
communities and economy
committee thanks I'll be reporting on
the resilient communities and economy
committee from last Monday the 12th of
February councilors I note that at
committees last week all items were
carried unanimously therefore I would
like to note items 8.1 and 8.2 and
propos to move items items 8.3 and
8.4 in globo which indicates the Dixon
Street Improvement Grant and Hay Market
activation Grant and the grants in
sponsorship Community grants Aboriginal
and T strand Islander collaboration fund
second by deput Lord
mayor
Council
Wen I'd like to pull out
8.4 8.4 MH so we're moving we're voting
on 8.3
and 8.1 8.2
8.3 and it's been moved and seconded
I'll put it to you all those in favour
say I those against carried no so we now
deal with 8.4 councelor
Davis but Davis will be in Council Davis
is introducing it yes and then we'll go
to council welon thank you Lord mayor
item 8.4 is the grants and sponsorship
Community grants Aboriginal and tar
State Islander collaboration fund this
report asks Council to approve five
grants totaling
182,780 2024 will be
28,6 35 I note that councilors received
a confidential CEO update before
committees with further information
about the
grants
second Lord mayor I'll put that to you
counc won you wish to speak yes Lord
mayor as I stated in the previous
comment is around Yan itself and Yan was
sponsored out the grant and sponsorship
this this one specifically so I'm
concerned about I mean the Aran
providers would actually be required to
make sure that safety of all was being
met and yet Council has not done that
when we have exposed so many of our
people that attended Yan actually to
asbestos would' like to know what's
actually taking place to ensure that the
thousands and thousands of people from
the arban event are actually been
informed not the EPA what the council
theity your Sydney Council are actually
doing to ensure that the people that
have traveled across New South Wales and
in fact from other states to attend Yan
that we have exposed them to
asbestos so I don't think the CEO can
answer that the EPA is the
appropriate authority to investigate and
advise us on on on these matters and
we have to wait to their task force has
completed their work although as I said
the EPA is in constant communication
with us are giving us up updates and
giving us any advice about action we
need to
take sorry Lord mayor that's not what I
asked I actually asked about the
communication to the thousands and
thousands of people that attended not
the EPA what the city is doing because
the city actually sponsored this event
with Yan with the providers from Yan
with kurri radio and yet they had met
their obligations the city should have
met their obligations by making sure
that it was a safe environment and
because we are now aware that it is not
safe
what are we point of order Lord mayor we
doing to of order point of order counc w
point of order Council
W Council
Davis irrelevant questions
8.14 a question must not be asked at any
meeting of the council unless it
concerns the matter on the agenda Lord
mayor I uphold that point of order and I
I just want to say that I attended
Yan I don't know if councilor
Wen attended Yan and certainly
there was no information about asbestos
contamination in Victoria Park at the
time of yan and so it wasn't an issue
at that time so there there's very
little that we can do other than wait
for the EPA to give us advice about
about the situation because their
task force is investigating it so I
don't think there's anything more to say
than
that May point of order that is
factually incorrect the EPA is not
legally of not a point of order not a
point of order it is not a point of
order councelor Scott would you please
sit down incorrect councilor Scott would
you please sit down there's not a point
of
order I we understand what you're trying
to do and I don't know whether it's
because you're embarrassed that your
government is responsible for this
because they have responsible for
the EPA that you are trying to to to
sheet sheet the sheet the the
responsibility to the city when it's
not could you please sit down councelor
Scott I'm calling you to order would you
please sit down councelor Scott would
you please sit
down so I'll adjourn the meeting for
10 minutes due to the inability of
councilor Scott to behave
herself that's seconded by councelor by
je m that to you all those in favour say
I those against declare it carried what
do we up
to Second so we're dealing with 8.3
it's a matter that is before us it's
been moved and seconded I I'd like to
put that to you all those in favour say I
those against declare it carried
unanimous declared it carried
unanimously so we'll Mo move now on
to .4 grants and sponsorship for a
collaboration
fund okay right item nine report of
Transport Heritage and planning
committee Lord mayor we haven't voted on
8.4 which is the one councel welen
pulled out I didn't understand what you
said Council Scot haven't voted on
a well but the advice is we just voted
on it no you didn't you said
8.3 she said 8.3
no I apologize I did then say 8.4 and
that's what we voted on and it was I was
getting I usually get excellent advice
but that day time it slipped so I'm
happy to reconvene 8.4 do you wish to
speak on that Council Welden you won't
let me speak again will okay thank you
we'll vote on it 8.4 all those in
favour say I those
against I declare it carried
and when when you don't vote it's a no
registers and
abstentions councelor Wen
councelor Jarett thank you now item nine
report of the transport Heritage and
planning committee Council Chan Council
Hy Chan thank you Lord mayor councilors
are to note items 9.1 and 9.2 I'd like
to recommend that Council move all items
in globo thank you seconded by the deput
a Council El Council elore thank
you Lord mayor I'd like to request
that I item 9.5 be pulled out the Epson
Road proposal sorry item 9.5 the Epson
Road proposal 9.5 is being taken out so
apart from 9.5 Council chair you're
moving moving those in globo yes and
it's been signed so I'll put put the
ones we're moving in globo all
everything except 9.5 to you all those
in favour say I those against declare
them carried unly thank you Council
chair 9.5 post exhibition planning
proposal 11 18130 Epson Road and 905
South Dowling Street setland Sydney LP
and Sydney DCP 2012 amendments the
report recommends the council note
merian's withdrawal of the offer to
build affordable housing on site and
approve the planning proposal and draft
DCP subject to the original public
benefits offer the proposal reverts to
what was publicly exhibited last year
and presented to councilors before the
last minute offer to build the
affordable housing on site the other
commitments on sustainable targets EV
charging Jewel plbing and Retail floor
space in the original planning agreement
as well as the details of the planning
proposal remain unchanged by this
proposal in June 2023 between committees
and the council meeting and following
the city's advocacy the developer
revised its public benefit offer to
include a commitment to build affordable
housing onsite in its own separate
building any affordable housing
contribution required on top of what is
provided onsite would have been supplied
to the city as a financial contribution
unfortunately and without explanation
the developer withdrew its offer to
build 25 affordable housing units on
site and will now instead provide the
required affordable housing as a
financial contribution estimated at $29
million and the public benefit offer has
refered back to the original offer and
so the planning proposal must be
reported back to council and it was
approved by the central city planning
committee last Thursday Lord mayor i'
like to move this recommendation so
that's seconded by deput Lord mayor so
that's the matter we're dealing with now
councilor
elore thank you Lord mayor I spoke at
length about this item previously but I
think it's important obviously I'm
voting against a very significant major
planning proposal tonight and I wanted
to briefly reaffirm that having
spoken to the community further my
strong position has not changed that
Council should reject this proposal this
is not a REV voting proposal to create
more density it's to move existing
density around to make the land much
more valuable for the developer and we
have very little limited powers as a
council to be able to capture some of
that effective privatization of airspace
and privatization of what was public
wealth that will now be a benefit to the
developer it's an example that the the
way our hands are tied with this
proposal in terms of our inability to
require ire development to include
affordable housing on site one of the
last remaining undeveloped major urban
renewal sites that are in the green
square area as I've said before is an
illustration about what's wrong with
this planning proposal we've never had a
developer Brazen enough before to tell
the community and make a promise they
were going to build affordable
housing on site and then just drop out
at the last minute with no explanation
and when we quiz the representative for
meritan the answer last week appeared to
be because we don't have to think
circstance ansers have changed was the
most detail we could get so ultimately
they don't have to I have a notice of
motion where I'll be asking Council to
consider creating a power or asking the
state government the power to require
affordable housing on site because
that's ultimately what has to happen
that's how other International cities
around the world have managed to do
massively better than the city of Sydney
in the last 5 to 10 years and the whole
of the Sydney and the whole of other
Sydney's major the city Australia's
major capitals is by requiring
developers not just to pay out
contributions to so that the council can
find somewhere else to build the housing
down the track in our already quite full
cities but to build it on site and also
because you the principle that we should
be putting people of different incomes
in all of our communities when we let
developers and we let the profit decide
who can afford to live somewhere we
get more expensive housing second most
expensive in the world now as a city in
Sydney but it also means we have
communities that are not diverse the
opposite of what we want to do the
system has to to change you've got an
opportunity tonight councilors with a
later notice of motion to change it but
I want to take this opportunity one last
time to apologize for the Comm to the
community about this outcome to be quite
Frank about the Lost opportunity and to
once again call shame on meritan
Australia's L New South wales's
largest apartment Builder which has
never built affordable housing in any of
its developments in the city voluntarily
and it's never going to unless we change
the
rules so do I have other
speakers Council
Scott thanks Lord mayor I also oppose
this item on the basis that the council
has already made a decision about
approving this development it came to
council last year we were given
advice by staff we were given a written
commitment from the developer to provide
units in this development itself and on
that basis I voted to support this
development and allow it to proceed
I've never in my 12 years here had an
item that was a planning item come back
before the council Lord mayor you
have the delegation to approve the
agenda so you allowed this item to be
revoted on when the developer put a
weaker commitment to this Council and I
don't support that we should not be
negotiating across the council table
with meritan we should not be allowing
developers to backtrack on commitments
that they have provided in writing to
this Council for the provision of
affordable housing that housing was
committed in writing to this Council on
that basis we approved it the item
should not even have been allowed by you
on the agenda for this Council we have
made a decision that is the approval if
meritan wants to not abide by that and
not progress with the development well
that is a matter for them but that is a
commercial decision not a governance
decision by this
Council coun Council chair you'll be
speaking in reply so do I have any other
speakers if I don't have any other
speakers i' I'd like to to
to say I think the opposition to this
proposal is really quite extraordinary
coming from a greens counselor and an
Alp counselor both of whom say that
they're very concerned about housing
and and and also affordable housing
this proposal is about 8115 homes
including 785 apartments and 30 lowrise
Terraces for families th this is
probably one of the best proposals we
have had for the green square area and
we've had some pretty good proposals for
the green square area but this is one of
the best because we've got a generous
setback to South Darling Street which we
haven't been able to have in the past
protecting solar access for existing and
new residents and improving solar access
to the new park it includes a new child
care center a supermarket which means
people don't have to get in their cars
and drive to a supermarket other
retail opportunities and a public
transport Corridor which is what we
always support there will be new
streets there'll be a 2,500 square park
that is a generous Park and a new Plaza
and the environmental credentials set a
a terrific precedent for other
developers because for the first time we
are getting recycled water out of the
town center and we are getting
dual Plbing so everyone who moves into
the apartments or the houses on this
site will be won't be using drinking
water to flush their l or water their
garden and this is the first time we've
been able to achieve this outside the
the the Town Center so this is
this is housing that we need and as well
as that $29
million towards affordable housing
and I I know that there are community
housing providers out there waiting to
to that could probably even put
together a proposal build it faster
than than than than the meritan
development could could could go so we
are getting affordable housing I was
really very pleased too last week I
turned a sod on a site in Burke Street
which is affordable housing for
essential workers I did that together
with Minister Jackson and that's
that's quite in inspiring because it's
being funded by super
superannuation funds so it's affordable
housing for essential workers as well as
that we have an the first residential
development that I I I opened in green
square area was affordable housing and
it was on the it exorian block that's
how this name it's adjacent to m m
maton Ruby Park and and the creative
Center so the 29 million can be put
to very good use to provide affordable
housing and so from this we get 815
homes 785 Apartments we get the really
good environmental improvements and
and we get money for affordable housing
knowing that we have community housing
providers waiting to to build that
housing and and so I think it's really
quite extraordinary that that you are
voting against it I would have would
have liked the housing to go on the site
too and I did write a very strong letter
to Mr Trio when he withdrew but he
had a right to do that U we're still
getting the 29 million we're still
getting the affordable housing and
we're still getting all these other very
big benefits probably better than any
other proposal that we've had so far for
green square so you know whilst one
thing is disappointing the rest is
really good news and so that's why I
think Council should support it Council
chair I don't know if there are any
other Council
Wen I hear what you're saying Lord mayor
and I commend our staff for winning
many of these elements but I simply
cannot support this motion the way
meritan has conducted themselves in this
instance is disgraceful you actually
stated at the committee's meeting
that you were disappointed in the
process but what I concerned about is
actually the the Ari that's taken place
between Council and what was agreed to
in increasing the height to and also
impact our local environment the
traffic flow in that area when we do not
have suitable traffic management
plans such as other alternative
transport options there is not enough in
that space at this moment and when we
think about affordable housing
and when this money will be received by
Council we're thinking maybe about 5
years time which is going to increase in
terms of costs of living increase in
cost of building and so we're probably
looking about maybe 10 to 15 years down
the track for the affordable housing
whereas it should have been in line with
the actual housing that's been built I
find it extremely disappointing that you
Lord mayor have back flipped on what you
have stated from committee's maintenance
to here tonight so I'd just like to
ask Mr Yan just based on the
collection of levies and the the
provision to the community housing
providers can you give me some sort of
understanding of of the time it takes
for that to happen so the payments are
made before CC conu the construction
certificate so that's they passed on
they come to the city and if they're
over a certain amount they passed on to
CHP straight away so what sort of time
frame are we talking
about which part
well when do they get when do you well I
just want to get some idea because I
know that it's not a slow process
because I know those community housing
providers are waiting to do that
affordable housing and they have sites
in mind and it's the the money once they
get the money they can go ahead so I'm
just trying to give some comfort to
counselors about how long this might
take all things going equal
possibly at the end of this year or
the beginning of next year right
councelor Wen all questions go through
the chair so beginning the end of this
year beginning of next year Council so
was that is that in title so 29 Million
worth is what you're saying you need
to well I'm asking you but I'm looking
at him because I'm going to hear the
voice from him am and I so what's
your question Council won so you asked
the question about the money being
received and so stage one is that the 9
million in its entirety because we have
heard from providers previously that it
takes roughly 10 years because we
haven't got the land where affordable
housing going to be built within our LGA
do we because we I know it hasn't been
allocated so but are we going to receive
29 million at the end of the year we're
going to receive you can't really all I
can ask is for a time frame based on on
the operation of developers and
relationship with Council but mran if
you can do your best with that yeah I'm
happy to we we receive the portable
housing component for the stage that is
being
delivered so we don't know it's
certainly not more than three stages the
first stage is the
largest right okay so we have a very
good record actually of getting the
Monies to those community housing
providers and getting that the housing
occurring do I have any other speakers
councilor Chan you're speaking in reply
now
yes I am as I mentioned last week at
committees yes I agree with you Lord
may it is quite disappointing in fact
it's very disappointing that meriton has
backflipped on delivering 25 affordable
housing units on
site now that being said I want to
assure the community that the same
nber of affordable housing units will
still be delivered in our local area
through merian's financial contribution
as been has been discussed in the
$29 million now that is public wealth
that is public wealth so approximately
25 affordable housing delivered offsite
in the city of Sydney as this is a
planning M up the item should be
assessed based on the planning and
environmental merits which I believe has
the grounds for approval in fact this
item was unanimously supported by
members of the central Sydney planning
committee last
week this project has strategic planning
merits due to it being a master plan
development that takes into account
diverse types of housing from Apartments
to lowrise Terraces with d these teres
actually have direct addresses to the
public domain enabling active edges
we've heard from our residents of the
importance of connectivity access and
transport this development will provide
a new 23 meter wide public transport
Corridor def Avenue Lord mayor with
regards to sustainability this project
demonstrates pioneering green
initiatives I want to draw the council's
attention to the commitment to design
and construct all future buildings on
the site so as to be able to have dual
reticulation water systems for water
consption this is a piece of critical
infrastructure it's a positive
commitment because it is not a
requirement outside of the Town Center
but it is being delivered anyway
secondly the stretch sustainability
targets exceed the minim Basics
requirements which are the state
government's building sustainability
index finally all residential parking
spaces will be capable of being fitted
with EV charges now let's talk about the
public wealth there are other positive
public outcomes including a new park new
through site links and connections Child
Care Facility facilities and Retail
Services in fact over
3,600 met of community floor space will
be delivered for public benefits
including our child care center
supermarket and other General retail a
new 2500 squ meter Park mul Park is
another public benefit not only will
this be dedicated to the city as public
space the solar access to this green
space has also dramatically increased
from a whopping from 53% to a whopping
78%
this is a fantastic outcome that has
come about from the improvements to the
built form the site is also nearby our
worldclass facilities such as green
Square library ganama Park Aquatic
Center and the future green square
Public
School Lord mayor if this planning
proposal does not proceed in this
Council round and is
finalized by the 2nd of March
2024 it again risks being taken over by
the new soues government
this risk is extremely heightened at the
moment with the government proposing
untested sweeping changes in an attempt
to meet housing
targets those councilors voting voting
against Lord mayor is essentially
blocking the delivery of 815 apartments
and the $29 million affordable housing
contribution during a housing crisis
point of on Lord mayor the decision
that's not fact factually correct that's
not what this proposal does what's the
point it's it's to without this resoning
the existing zoning the same nber of
housing it's not a point of order
correct I urge
fellay microphone Council CH so could
you just repeat that please yes so I
urge fellow counselors not to delay the
supply of sustainable housing with good
public amenity and to support this
Planning Development thank you Lord
mayor
misrepresentation yes misrepresentation
yes councilor CH just Mis represented
the views of the three counselors
that have indicated their support for
not supporting this notice of
motion he claimed that we were blocking
the housing and blocking an
affordable housing contribution that is
factually incorrect I'm sorry Council
Scott you know that's not a
misrepresentation it is fact incorrect
he no it's not a misrepresentation I'm
sorry Council Scott on what my Council
Scott it is not a misrepresentation and
I really do urge you to start applying
the the code of meeting
practice no coun counselor Scott it is
not it is not a a point of order it's
it's it it it's it's not
misrepresentation Council
chair thank you Lord May I've got no
other response thank you thank you so
I'll put the recommendation to you
all those in favour say
I those
against so carried 7
73 thank you Council chair item 10 local
planning panel appointment of interim
chairs so who does
this so CEO do you wish to speak to
this or will I just move the
recommendation so I'll move the
recommendation a b and c seconded by the
deputy Lord mayor noting the
ministerial Direction dated 22nd of
January requiring councils to point inm
chairs to the local planning panel as
shown attachment a we endorse the
appointment of Richard Pearson as chair
of the city of Sydney local planning
panel for the interim period the 30th of
June endorse the appointment of Linda
Pearson and Jan Mar Morel as alternative
chairs of the city of syney local
planning panel for from period of 30th
June 2024 so I've moved that that's
been seconded by Deputy Lord
mayor councilor elore thank you Lord
mayor I'll be voting against this
item today I in particular I do not
support the endorsement of Richard
Pearson as the chair of the city of
Sydney local planning panel I have
experience and the community has
experience with Richard Pearson as the
administrator of the in West Council
when the councils were merged and I do
not think he's an appropriate person to
act as chair for a whole range of reason
I don't think I need to say more than
that but I hope a recommendation to
appoint him on a more permanent basis
and I know this is only interim does not
come back to this Council and Council
considers other recommendations that
will extend beyond the 30th of June when
we get the next
decision so I'll put the recommendation
to you all those in favour say
I those
against so do I have three abstentions
there do I
right so that it's voting no y voting
against well I I declare the the the
vote is
carried item 11 submission New South
BS government changes to create low and
midrise housing so councilors I I
plan to move our
our draft submission I've there
have been amendments proposed by
councelor illmore and councilor Scott
and I have distributed those to you the
green is Council ellsmore and the red is
Council Scott and I propose to
incorporate those in my
recommendation that I'm moving to
council so I'll just go
through a brief smary of what's in the
our draft submission before those
amendments were added and then if
Council Elmore council's got one to
speak to the the proposed amendments
that I've included we could do that so
the this is very rushed we did seek
an extension we didn't get that
extension and so it's it we had to
put the smary in now we had to put the
submission in now so key issues with the
proposal is that it's inappropriate to
propose blanket height and density
increases across most of our local
government area without properly
considering local conditions amenity and
Heritage impacts and the increased
demand for infrastructure and services
proposals have been rushed without
working with local government and
without releasing the State's new
housing targets it will undermine
housing delivery and other agreed
strategic priorities in precincts
already planned for higher density
proposed non-ref standards mean the city
will not be able to refuse an
application on the basis of height and
floor space if it meets those standards
proposed increase to height and floor
space May conflict with Council policies
including Master planning and Heritage
Provisions this is very serious these
conflicts will will lead to appeals and
inevitably slow down housing
developments so we don't get the good
outcome that we've planned for and it
actually slows down housing we oppose
the proposed changes to the apartment
design guide which will lead to more
apartments with less amenity such as
sunlight privacy and Landscaping and we
can't agree to that the density of ID
Sydney is comparable to many
International cities and does not have a
low population density the evidence
provided by the New South Wales
productivity commission about density is
misleading development of the scale
propos must be supported by public
transport to avoid significant in
congestion and Associated cost to
businesses and New South the New South
Wales economy proposals on top of
already proposed changes to provide 30%
height and floor space bonuses for
development that includes 15% affordable
housing and it is only required
affordable housing for 15 years all the
affordable housing we support is in
perpetuity why the city is best place
to plan housing through our careful
planning and in consultation with our
communities we already deliver a third
of the entire housing Target set by the
New South Wales government for the nine
councils across Eastern Sydney and in
new urban renewal areas and throughout
the local government area we have the
second largest housing delivery in New
South Wales second only to Blacktown
denser cities can be the healthiest
greenest and most stimulating places for
people to live in with the least
environmental impact the city of
Sydney's been at the Forefront of
providing the highest residential
densities King's cross chip andelle Hay
Market green square and Pont alur
now Heritage conservation areas are a
model of diverse modest homes already in
high densities which we understand is
the government's goal for other parts of
Sydney the city has contributed
3,263 affordable housing dwellings in
our area either built or anticipated in
the near future and of course that's
through our levies and our community
housing providers that we've been
talking about tonight so the
recommendations are that the National
Housing Accord committed state
governments to work with councils to
deliver planning and land use reforms
that will make housing Supply more
responsive to demand the new southwales
government must work with the city that
density should be focused around public
transport not commercial centers which
should be removed as a parameter plans
for additional infrastructure must be
prepared before widespread resoning the
city has a strong record of delivering
housing and Precinct planning and should
be given the opportunity to respond more
effectively to the State's new targets
they finally released urban newal areas
and carefully planned precincts must be
exempt floor space must be removed as a
non-reusable standard the high control
must Prevail over floor space to avoid
dramatic and unintended outcomes as
developers attempt to accommodate
available floor space and any
development uplift must be
accommodated must be accompanied with a
requirement for affordable housing and
perpetuity a minim car parking rates
must not override and exceed the city's
maxim car parking rates I think
Council Scott's also suggesting I
seek a meeting with the Minister for
planning which I'm already sought I
haven't yet received response yet but
that's certainly in train and Council
Scott do you wish to speak to your
amendments or I'm having to include
them thank you Lord mayor my
amendments simply seek to
additionally note that we recognize the
seriousness of the housing Supply crisis
and that all elected representatives at
all levels of government must take
responsibility for addressing it and
that the council agrees in Principle as
you've noted that increased residential
density around transport hubs is a vital
element to increasing housing app
nevertheless Lord mayor it is important
to recognize that this Council and many
others in New South Wales have not been
provided with our housing targets and it
is very difficult for us to plan without
those and so my amendments seek urgent
clarification from the New South
Wales government about what those
housing targets are and Urgent
clarification also about how this
will impact existing Heritage
protections and Heritage conservation
areas in the city of Sydney of course we
know there are many of them and also
seeks an urgent meeting with the
Department to help seek a commitment
with all other councils that if the
targets that we are provided are met
then Heritage protection and Heritage
conservation areas will be allowed to be
preserved by councils where council's
determine and that the Provisions
under these planning agreements were not
will not be applied I think this is a
very important component of our
submission and we should be very clear
with the government
that this should work according to
what councils can deliver if councils
can deliver sustainably and sensibly in
accordance with our targets then we
should be allowed to do that there is
no doubt we are in the midst of a
housing crisis there is no doubt
that the state government and the
federal government have an important
role to play but there is no more
important role to play than local
governments and if local governments are
given targets if we are on track to meet
those targets then there is no reason
why state governments should come
over the top and not provide councils
with the support that they need to give
the approvals and handle the process
constructively and importantly preserve
Heritage protection and conservation
areas Lord mayor thank you for accepting
my Amendment thank you so just for
everyone's understanding the docent
i' circulated is in three colors the red
is councelor Scott the green is
councilor El and the black as me
taken from the original submission from
that council's put so that's the
recommendation I'm moving and who
seconded
that Lord mayor council elore thank you
Lord mayor just briefly very happy to
support this motion thank you for
accepting the the further amendments
and to the community members who
contacted us after the city put out the
presentation and the guide to
encourage members to members of the
community put it in their own submission
it's really helpful these are really
technical changes and many of them being
that do different things overlapping
with each other being released at the
same time right before Christmas with a
quick turnaround after schools come back
so it's really helpful when Council does
that work thank you to the staff who
really hustle to get that together I
did want to strongly support the
submission I strongly support the city's
approach that this isn't in any way an
anti-d density thing we're saying we can
do density and do it well and the city
has a track record of doing that
contrary to what was discussed earlier
I'm certainly not an anti-d density
counselor I've always lived in the inner
city and density is one of the things
that makes our city wonderful we should
not be locking the gate and we should
particularly not be sending people to
suburbs where there is less public
transport as our city grows it is Our
obligation but it's Our obligation to do
it in a livable way the biggest
concern for me around these are
obviously affordable housing and that
it's design it's sold to the community
that we need this because it's going to
be more affordable housing when it will
actually switch off or bypass some of
council's own ability to collect the
modest affordable housing
contributions that we are able to
collect under our current rules and
something that is not mentioned but I
think it would be useful for us to
consider in the addend is this is
going to radically make land more
expensive to say you can't refuse a
development if you own it's two-story
and suddenly it's a six-story and our
calculations with the fsrs council have
put together could be up to 30 stories
with that calculation that land there
then becomes really really valuable so
people people who already own land and
investors will suddenly have land that
is worth much more more money the state
government is trying to say to us don't
worry this will make more opportunities
for people to buy their houses it will
lock in Forever Beyond even what we are
already facing the intergenerational
inequity that we've got in the hope that
somehow some of those people whose land
is now worth more valuable will bu
build apartments and sell them to people
rather than just rent them to them and
make people renters for the the rest of
their lives so that's not something
that's covered in this particular
submission but I'll be talking to
staff about that further addend but I
I guess it's just really important this
is devastatingly bad policy worse than
the Liberals to be quite Frank would
have ever like I don't know what the
hell the labor party's doing but
it does feel like there's a lot of
unintended consequences and perhaps the
more we highlight those we can remain
optimistic that they'll realize that if
they've got a particular goal this is
not the way to achieve it thanks so
Council
chair thank you Lord mayor and thank
you I do support the alternative
recommendation you've put up
incorporating the Amendments from
councilors Scott and
Ellmore I think this proposed change to
the New South Wales planning law is a
matter of great concern to all of us
especially for our
community we're in a housing crisis
which is even more the reason that we
consider the deeper implications and the
voices of those who will be directly
impacted by by these
changes as we have heard the city of
Sydney has been proactive in planning
for increased density as evidenced by
the successful residential public
amenity projects across the city we are
meeting the housing targets that have
and it has been challenging to meet
these housing targets and that have been
set by the new sou Wells government Lord
may we haven't Shi away from the
challenges of Greater density you had
mentioned King's cross King's cross has
25 ,700 people per square
meter come let's also then look at
Sydney's green square which will become
densely populated in Australia too with
22,000 people per square kilometer by
2030 not only have we not Shi away from
density we are showcasing to the to
other areas how density can be done well
with design Excellence higher liability
outcomes and award winning public
amenities and Facilities
I remember a renowned Danish City maker
and architect young gaale even
describing green square as one of the
best examples of a strategic Town
development Town Center development in
the world in the world yes in the world
during his recent visit at the end of
last year his visit to Green
Square now I hope you can entertain me
in terms of just describing some of my
concerns to our community and to this
Council the new southw government's
proposed changes particularly section
4.1 mandating minim controls within
800 meters of station and Town Center
precincts poses significant challenges
to existing local planning Frameworks
under these proposals council's existing
leps and DCPS could be overridden if
they are not con if they are
inconsistent with the state government's
directives this not only undermines
local autonomy in terms of planning but
also disregards the new approach needed
to address the unique characteristics of
different areas within the city of
Sydney local government area the on siiz
fits all approach outlined in The
Proposal fails to account for the
diversity of our neighborhoods and the
specific needs of our communities as I
referred to during our Council briefings
it makes no sense that the walking radii
do not take into account existing Street
structure Urban blocks or Street War
edges in our city it means that you
could end up walking down our twostory
street and may be confronted by a one
site that has increased to six stories
furthermore the proposed non refusal
standards for residential flat buildings
and Shop top housing with maxim
building Heights of 21 M and 16 M
respectively raise concerns about the
impact of the fysal amenity and
livability of our neighborhoods this is
especially the case for our narrow
streets the allowance of six-story
buildings to have the same building
separation as a four-story building will
acerbate issues such as overshadowing
the loss of sunlight significant impact
significantly impacting the quality of
life of our residents the proposal's
minim car space
allocations exceeds council's maxim
standards raising questions about the
adequacy of infrastructure to support
increased density and the potential
strain on local services such as
transportation and parking there's also
discrepancy Lord mayor in the floor
space ratio between tow houses in
lowrise low density zones and inner city
Terraces it highlights a lack of
consistency and equity in the proposed
regulation it's concerning that the
proposed floor space ratios for town
houses is significantly lower despite
occupying larger blocks of land
potentially discouraging much needed
infield developments in these areas
perhaps more importantly the future of
our City's Heritage conservation areas
hangs in the balance as the
interpretation of how Heritage and
environmental considerations will
continue to apply remains uncertain at
this point of the draft proposal while
there's no doubts about the importance
of addressing the housing shortage in
Sydney it must be done thoughtfully and
in collaboration with local stakeholders
the city has a proven track record of
meeting housing targets set by the set
government and it's essential that any
proposed changes are line with the
city's long-term vision for sustainable
growth and livable communities so I urge
our community to use the city of Sydney
Sydney's Council submission as a tool to
make their own submissions through the
planning portal before the exhibition
deadline of February 23rd let's work
together to ensure that any state
government changes to planning laws
prioritize density done well and the
livability of our communities thank you
Council chair
so that's it y so I'll put the
recommendation Council
Wen thank you Lord mayor I'd like to
thank the staff for their work on our
submission they've identif identified
some important issues I agree Lord mayor
that the broadscale resigning is rushed
and I strongly encourage the state
government to respond to the concerns of
local
councils having said
that I'd like to commend the New South
Wales labor government for taking bold
action we're long been called for bold
action and here it is it's not perfect
but let's work with them to make it
stronger so I'll put the
recommendation for item 11 to you all
those in favour say
I those against declare it carried
unanimously thank you
we do for a break
yes yes I'm going to move that we have a
break for 15 minutes second up by
councelor Ganon put that to you all
those in favour say I those against
declare it carried thank you why don't
we that's seconded by the by Council
Lindon
Aaron item 12 questions on notice
item 13 supplementary answers to
previous questions item 14 notices of
motion 14.3 acknowledging the 40th
anniversary of the Bobby Goldsmith
Foundation answer
Walling thank you Lord
mayor young old gay straight by queer
male female non-binary trans HIV doesn't
care but we
do that we is Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
or as we F fondly refer to it today
bgf bgf is the only not for-profit in
Australia providing Frontline services
and support to people living with HIV no
matter their age race ethnicity or
gender the notice of motion tonight is
to congratulate bgf as they enter their
40th year of outstanding
service Bobby Goldsmith was one of
austra's first distrain to die from an
AIDS related illness in June
1984 while he was sick his friends
rallied around him to support him at
home with
dignity after losing their friend they
realized that if direct support could be
provided for one it could be provided
for many the foundation started
originally as a result of the very thing
that I love
Community the foundation's mission today
is to help people living with HIV to
thrive they have no political or
religious affiliations just a
deep-seated desire to help people Live
Well on their terms through practical
tailored assistance last year alone bgf
was has supported 650 clients across
more than 11,000 interactions totaling
upwards of 15,000 hours of community
support in people's
home as people living with HIV a age
their support needs change huge
challenges such as poor mental health
inadequate access to Affordable housing
drug and alcohol dependency and
underemployment crop up time and time
again and here's some sobering facts 50%
of people living with HIV live below the
poverty line and 36% have a diagnosed of
one or more mental health
conditions we all recently experienced a
global pandemic and the unknown of that
was terrifying at times everyone's
mental health suffered well in the 80s
the gay Community was experiencing their
own pandemic these were dark days there
was so much to fear for the future so
much bigotry when actually what this
community my community needed was hope
and help today almost 30,000 people are
living with HIV in Australia we are
indebted to organizations like bgf who
continue to show up for these people and
show them that their quality of life is
just as important as people living
without
HIV to the entire team at bgf who I know
are listening in tonight in particular
the leadership of their CEO Nick
Lawson and Mike S Susan Duppy Cameron
Brown and the dynamic Community
ambassadors like Steve Spencer and
Katherine wolf wolfgram I offer my
sincerest gratitude and congratulations
for every single one of those 40 years
your foundation is a fierce reminder
that there is a collective power and
progress when we put aside our our needs
for a moment to help someone else thank
you Bobby Goldsmith foundation for the
hope you have and continue to support to
sorry you continue to provide for so
many thank you thank you Council willing
I'm very happy to second that I've long
admired and worked with Aon and they do
indeed provide an incredibly important
contribution to our very important
part of our community so do I have other
speakers I'll put the recommendation to
you all those in favour say
I those against declare it carried
unanimously thank you item
14.4 that's withdrawn we just need a
procedural to withdraw it I move that
it be
withdrawn so I happy to second
that put that I need to put it under
I'll put it to you all those in favour
say I those against declare it carried
you Noy thank you item 14.5 extension of
no fee higher no fee for for hiring
Community spaces councilor Scott
thank you and I note there's been
an amendment circulated by counc Davis
and I provide my intention to
support that I note that Council
Ellmore raised this motion on the
12th of December 2022 and Council
unanimously resolved to provide free use
for the City's community spaces since
then we've seen lots of use for
Community Gatherings award ceremonies
cultural performances and learning
spaces the community strongly
supports this initiative and they've
asked us to continue it Lord mayor I
urge all counselers to support this
motion if we don't the fee waver will
elapse on the 30th of June this year
and so the primary purpose of this
notice of motion is to extend that
at the very least for another year
and of course to look further into
the future to see if we can do it on a
more permanent basis this is exactly
what our community centers should be
used for for our community groups coming
together and gathering with each
other to support Services activities
and advocacy for a better future for
Sydney thank you so Council Davis so
you're seconding and speaking to it yes
yes good thank you thanks Lord mayor I'd
like to move an amendment to councilor
Scott's motion to reflect the
significant investment in our community
centers that's been made since your
meril minute back in March 2022 and
through subsequent resolution could
Council Scott has accepted your
Amendment but you should speak to it
anyway yeah of course will I keep going
yes thanks firstly I'd like to
provide some insights into my
experiences accessing the city
community centers since the late 990s as
a participant and organizer of local
community events and engagement
activities as well as of in of day
and after school care for my children my
lived experience from a not for-profit
and individual access has always been
very positive I've always felt well
supported by the city staff with
opportunities for free access to venue
High Gym facilities and an abundance of
community controlled programs and
Services I must say Lord mayor the city
of Sydney does community centers Center
access very well supplying
ultramodern services and especially for
those I've reg regularly frequented
such as kgv Ultimo Pont Glee green
square just to name a few I'd also like
to comment on the city of Sydney's
staff and Frontline workers Who
deliver above and beyond when it comes
to customer service as I mentioned my
amendments seek to clarify previous
commitments by the council during this
term including adding 9.6 new staff
positions at our community centers worth
1.2 million as well as other
improvements I ask Council to note that
in the 18 months between the 1st of July
2022 and the 30th of December 2023 the
city waved 314,000 in higher fees for
over 11,000 hours of free bookings made
by local community groups finally I
strongly support extending the fee over
higher but believe it is financially
responsible for the CEO to investigate
the financial
implications of of that and in the
longer ter in the longer term while we
also continue to deliver other essential
services for our communities thank you
thanks Council Davis Council
elore thank you Lord mayor I
obviously rise to support this motion
and I want to acknowledge when I I
first moved this at the city was because
obviously the for CES as the resident
action groups had gotten together and
had written a submission to council and
asked and said we are concerned that
postco in particular we want to
reactivate the community centers it
would really help us if Council
considered free waiver and cover from
public liability insurance so I just
wanted to say thanks to them again
because this really was something that
came from local groups saying this would
really help us reactivate the spaces
I think it should be permanent in our
budgeting I think it's good for us to
get advice about how it's working my
understanding is that there's only been
a modest increase in the nber of hires
based on this policy so I think it's
really good for us to have that
conversation I am a bit concerned about
this figure costing of 314,000 when I
first moved this in December I'd put
questions on notice and received advice
from staff that the effective cost of
providing free hire for Community spaces
for local groups was $177,000 a year
including coverage of public liability
insurance so I think and that was
obviously the groups already get a
discount so I just wanted I think it's
important that that was the modest
figure that we discussed and that we
haven't seen a massive increase in the
use of our the free hire that we were
sort of talking about with our community
centers I hope we can encourage more to
be honest but I would also really like
us to understand better these figures
because I don't see any cost barrier
here and I don't understand the
difference such a radical difference
between those two costs I look forward
to the further advice from the staff
about that and also how we think it's
going and whether we should make I hope
the criteria wider than it currently is
thanks so if we don't have any more
speakers I'll I'll move the I'll put the
amended
recommendation to
you and that was
who yeah so it was moved by Council
Scott signal by Council DAV put that to
you all those in Pap say I those against
declare It Card unanimously thank
you item 14.6 action on vaping in the
city of Sydney councilor
Walling thank you Lord
mayor New South Wales Health Minister
Ryan Park called vaping one of the
biggest public health challenges we Face
the cancer council's Public Health chair
called it a Public Health crisis rapidly
unfolding before our eyes I've brought
this notice of motion to council today
because I believe this crisis is
something the city must address and
advocate for young people are the
predominant consers of Vapes and just
to be clear here this includes
non-nicotine Vapes which as I found out
in my research can be just as
harmful a study of the contents of the
smoke from a non- nicotine Vape found
243 unique chemicals of which 38 were
listed as
poisons sadly that's what's in fashion
right now the state and federal
government have introduced laws and a
suite of reforms to be rolled out over
the year to help address The Vaping
crisis and stop the flow of illegal
Vapes which now extends to single use
and nicotine Vapes however Dr Kerrie
chant Chief Health officer in new sou
Wales was quoted only a week ago saying
it was going to take at least 6 to 12
months before we saw the substantial
closing down of Supply
Avenues the reason I want to bring this
motion here today is because I'm worried
about the proliferation of vape stores
on our high streets and I know our
community is too as councilors we're
hearing from residents throughout our
LGA through King's cross Kenville new
town and Glee and the sentiment seems to
be that where we used to have small
businesses and creative retailers we're
now seeing vape stores after vape store
aside from the obvious Health implicate
impacts the popularity of vaping is
truly jeopardizing the aesthetic
integrity and diversity of our
neighborhood High streets we need to
find
Solutions so what can the city do well
vaping and ecigarettes and nicotine are
regulated by national and state laws not
local planning laws so our hands are
somewhat tied for now we don't we also
don't run public health education
campaigns that is the role of the New
South Wales health and after
conversations with staff I Now
understand that we have always been very
careful not to cut across their
messaging and education
materials until we see the government
reforms start to have an effect the city
needs to
Advocate the motion ask for the Lord
mayor to write to the New South Wales
Premier expressing our concerns about
the proliferation of vape stores and
tobacconist in the community
I asked the New South Wales government
to review how tobacconist and
ecigarettes can be better regulated and
just as government did with cigarettes
and gambling this might also include
reviewing signature signage packaging
and advertising I hope you will all
support me on this notice of motion
thank you so there's a second for
that three seconders I'll go for the
deputy Lord mayor
top do I have any other
speakers if not I'll put the
recommendation to all those in favour say
I those
against declared carried apart from
councelor
Jarrett item 14.7 more Park Road
temporary cycleway safety issues and
timetable for removal Council
Wen thank you Lord mayor at our
meeting in May 2023 Council voted by
majority to extend the operation of the
mo Park Road and F Fitzroy Street popup
cycleway until May 2026 or until a
permanent cycleway on oxa street is
built whichever happens first the Lord
mayor acknowledged that the public
commitment made to the community in 2021
that the cycleway would be removed by
May 2023 had been
broken the Lord mayor also said that
this that this time the commitment to
remove the Cy away would definitely be
met because she had personally met and
spoken to the new southw Minister for
transport Joe Halen although we don't
have that information the Lord May told
counselors that the minister and the
government were committed to the early
construction of the Ox Street cycleway
and would accelerate the required work
to complete it what we do find has
happened nine months on from the
councilor's voting to retain the mo Park
Road and Fitzroy Street cycleway for a
further two years based on the
information provided by the Lord
May the new information from transport
for new souw was provided to me by a
resident Group after I submitted this
notice of motion it is clear from the
contents of an email issued by transport
for New South Wales on the 23rd of
January that after 3 years the proposal
by transport for New South Wales to
build a permanent cycleway on oxit treat
has been sent back to the drawing
board so what is
needed now is an absolute commitment
from the Lord mayor that will there will
not be any attempt to further extend the
operations of the temporary cway on M
Park Road and Fitzroy
streets it obvious it is obvious there
is a long road
ahead Road really ahead to the time when
and if a permanent cycleway will be
funded and instored on octed street by
the New South Wales government residents
in the waterer Community have been
misled regarding the construction of a
cycleway on oxy Street the Lord mayare
owes an explanation to the residents and
to council who voted to extend the
operation of the pop up cycleway on more
Park Road based on what now seems to
have been wrong
information during my time as a
counselor time after time when Psy
issues were being considered data
relating to usage Community
consultations accidents and safety
investigations has been shown to be
unreliable since bringing this Nom to
council I have been contacted by
residents of bridge roade GLE where
another pop-up cycleway was installed
with Council support in
2020 these residents were concerned that
on transport for new southwes website
there had been recently been significant
revisions and changes to cycle usage
data measures daily by countering stored
since July 2020 on the cycleway near
woolly
Street revised data on the website
claims that the nber of trips daily to
be 20000 or even 300% higher than that
the counter recorded in real time that
was updated daily over the past three
years residents are currently seeking
clarification about when and how the
alleged errors in data collection for
pway usage were discovered and the
technical issues and the validity of
attempting altering cway count data
retrospectively it is vital that
accurate reliable information be
provided to the community in a timely
fashion particularly when road safety
issues are involved there are safety
issues impacting cyclist on more Park
Road and Fitzroy streets due to in part
the greatly increased use of nearby
venues residents have understandably
lost patience about broken promises and
certainly about the impacts on them
about the timetable for removing the
temporary cycle way and they deserve to
be told the truth I commend this motion
which I hope will restore some of that
credibility to council following the
broken commitments to remove the cycle
way in 2021 and incorrect information
being provided by Council in
2023 so is there a second Council
Jared Council
chair thank you Lord mayor I do have an
amendment on the table which I would
like to move but also reserve my right
to speak to sorry sorry just a moment
Council chair councilor won sorry Lord
mayor there's been many issues tonight
about the streaming on on line of our
council meeting they had been cutting
off during some of the debate that took
place and now it appears that now that
this motion is now being not being
streamed can we please get the online
streaming to be either rectified or
actually refreshed in its entirety
because I find that it's absolutely
insulting that there are key issues
particularly when we rais matters the
counselor Scott had raised about the
asbestos matters but also about this
matter that there is continually
problems here tonight and the fact that
that had been cut off during some of
these thank you ISU need to be refesh
just ask your question
so so eron is informing me that the
recording is intact but we are having
some Wi-Fi issues so the streaming is is
dropping out but is it okay now it's
operating now thank you thank you
Council
chair thank you Lord May so sorry did
I get a second of council won's motion
oh Council Jared yes Council chair so
I I've got a Amendment on the table
which I would like to move and
reserve my right to speak on and I'm
happy to incorporate the minor
Corrections that councelor Wen has
forwarded to the council this afternoon
okay so you're going to speak to your
Amendment
yes so my amendments is being put
forward because I don't agree with
councelor M welden's original motion to
force the removal of the temporary m
park cycleway by May 2026 even if the
New Oxford Street East cycleway is not
built by then arise to advocate for the
continuation of the more Park temporary
cycleway until the Oxford Street East
cycleway is fully operational the more
park cycleway has been a Lifeline for
cyclists providing a safe and dedicated
path along Mo Park Road are routes
historically plagued by accidents and
fatalities the primary goal of any
infrastructure projects especially one
related to Transportation should be the
safety and well-being of the community
the mo Park temporary Cycle Way has
undeniably contributed to the goal by
significantly reducing the nber of
bicycle crashes since its installation
it has provided a FAL link for cyclists
allowing them to navigate this busy
thoroughfare from from the city center
to the Eastern suburbs with peace of
mind between 2009 and 2019 an average of
2.3 serious crashes occurred every
single year involving people riding a
bike on more Park Road including the
fatality of a bike rider rider in March
2018 over those 10 years more Park Road
will s was the ninth worst Road for bike
crashes in our local area since the
popup Cycle Way was installed there have
been no police reported bike crashes
removing this cycle way before the New
Oxford Street East Connection is ready
will jeopardize safety and based on the
evidence will certainly increase the
risk of injuries and even deaths
furthermore the data speaks for itself
over 3,600 bik trips a week is recorded
on M Park Road cycleway The increased
usage on the cycleway has been evidenced
by our trip counter data which
underscores its importance to the
community people are choosing to cycle
more frequently and we owe it to them to
provide safe and reliable infrastructure
to support this shift towards active
transformation this is especially the
case since the construction timelines
for the Oxford Street East part are
unknown at this stage because the
cycleway remains unfunded by transport
for New South Wales that is why I am
requesting the Lord m to write again to
the minister for transport requesting a
commitment to funding and accelerate the
detailed design and construction so that
it is operational by 31 May 2026 and we
can remove the pop-up Cycle Way on M
Park Road what I do know is that during
the course of this year the New South
Wales government still has to progress
the concept design the final business
case and the public domain and
activation strategy for Oxford Street
East the New South Wales government has
presented this information to the city's
cycling committee Lord May our
commitment to safety does not end with a
temporary cycle way this is where the
Oxford Street East cycleway Missing Link
comes into play therefore we should
continue to support the more Park popup
until the Oxford Street East cycleway is
fully operational this ensures that
there is no Gap in the cycling Network
and that cyclists continue to have a
safe route to navigate through our city
I want to stress that both cycleways
being considered are new Well's
government infrastructure projects the
former state government introduced a
popup on more Park Road and this current
state governments are yet to fund the
alternative Oxford Street East cycle way
so I call on the New South Wales
government to fund and accelerate Oxford
Street East so that we can keep
progressing with our cycle
Network the continuation of more Park
Cycle Way on a short-term basis is a
prudent and responsible decision Lord
mayor it prioritizes the safety and
well-being of cyclists while reaffirming
the commitment to a permanent cycle
Network for our
city so I'm very happy to second that
thank you for that Council Chan which
updates councils on our work and
you you're in a very good position to do
that as your chair The Pedestrian
cycling and Transit traffic caling
committee which does such good work and
the bike network is so important for
for particularly our
our our our for many people in our
community and it's an alternative
transport option it's taking people
off overcrowded buses out of cars
improving the environment and and
giving a lot of joy to a lot of people
so we appreciate that the frustration
that more Park Road residents have we
share that because commitments were made
work should have been done by now
some of the work should been done by now
so we could be meeting that that
Target that was set previously but I
I think councilor Chan has has described
the importance of it and and I strongly
support what he's
said
so do I have any speakers on the
amendment so I'll put the amendment to
you all those in favour say
I those
against the amendment's carried
that's now the
motion does any any speakers on the
amended
motion so I'll put it to you all those
in Council
Wen Lord May I've raised this matter
because it is a key matter for those
people living and actually accessing the
other side of the road not the cycle the
temporary cycleway they are actually
using the other side of the road because
that is far safer the shared
way we've heard heard so many times
before all of this data all of this
information so I would asked councelor
Chen to meet with the more Park Road
residents and even go for a ride along
there and speak to them about the data
that's been provided because it is not
accurate and it is not fair to those
people that have been
impacted in terms of what was
supposedly appropriate in a temporary
situation there was no consultation with
the resident on Mo Park
Road why wasn't this put on oxed street
as a temporary one with the planned
permanent
one in terms of what we've actually got
here at the moment it is unsafe it is
often closed because of the events that
have taken place and it's going to
increase to be closed with all the
events that are going to take place in
nearby
venues how is that safe when it's
constantly closed it is temporary it
should be temporary but yet it continues
to be extended at the expense of the
very people that live there and are
impacted from these decisions that
should not be in
place so I'll put the amended motion to
you all those in favour say
I those
against carried except for Council
Wen item 14.8 Lord Merill Styles and
titles Council
Wilden Lord May or to use the full title
the right honorable the Lord May words
matter and titles matter they affect the
way we portray ourselves to our
community and they affect the way we see
our responsibility to that
community and how they affect our
members of the community and engage with
us and how approachable we
are as we heard tonight some people
receive some information but not all of
us our city of Sydney Community is
Progressive and diverse so why is it
that the LGA settled with a mayor called
the Lord mayor and which has the words
right honorable stuck in front the title
Lord mayor does not have any basis in
Australian law it is a title that has
been bestowed by the British crown the
new southwes Local Government Act refers
to Mays not Lord Lord Ms it is the only
city of Sydney act which does so section
225 provides that a local government
area must have a May the only reference
to the Lord May at all is in the
dictionary to the ACT and it states that
the word me includes Lord
May with respect to councelor whirling I
reject your Amendment the title Lord May
is not required by the city of Sydney
act the Act passed in 1988 simply
recognizes the title then in use after
making this change references to that
act to the Lord mayor would just be read
as
mayor the question ought to be does any
new southwes law require that the mayor
of Sydney is called the Lord May the
answer is no it is overdue for Council
to the Lord mayor Styles and titles
changing the name and title from the
right honorable Lord mayor of Sydney to
Simply mayor of Sydney is an act of
recognition that the mayor of Sydney is
elected by the people in a democratic
legit Arian
process the tital LA May is not only
sexist the word La Lord means a male
person who has control over other people
and it is their
Master it is the Lord who is the all
powerful decision maker by definition
the Lord does not answer to
anyone it is the opposite of what that
role of the mayor should
be the mayor should be responsive to the
needs of the community certainly the
counselors the mayor should act as a
servant of the community decades ago
Australian abolish knighthoods in
Imperial honors New South Wales was
often led the way in 1993 the liberal
government abolished the titles Queen's
Council or King's Council since then in
Us South Wales the title senior Council
applies local government is the arm of
government closest to the community well
certainly should be here the name of the
elected leader of council should reflect
this the title Lord mayor is not just
outdated and Colonial it is in fact
fudal in its origin and in practice the
Lord mayor is up here and the community
is down here even more ridiculous and
inappropriate is the style right
honorable right in this contact means
proper or fully historically it was for
members of British privy Council the
closest advisor to the king or queen of
the United Kingdom in Australia only
Lord Mays continue to have this title
Prime Ministers do not have the title
right honorable the Prime Minister the
governor general and I don't talk about
any of Governor generals and who they
may be State Premier and chief justices
all carry the title The Honorable the
title honorable is intentionally used by
heads of state heads of government and
leading judicial figures great cities of
the world like Paris and New York have
Mayes in fact across the world the word
may is used here is a real irony since
90s greater London has a mayor not a
lord May the title Lord mayor only
applies to the city of London which is
an area of less than 3 Square km
Canadian cities Toronto Montreal and
Vancouver have Mayors not Lord Mayors
Parts e andf of my motion relate to the
robes chains and symbols and emblems of
the Lord May Council Council was
promised review of these in 2022
councilor Scott raised these issues in
2019 nothing has happened very little
progress has been made since it's
disappointing my motion requires that
this review be finalized well prior to
the end of the current term of Council
in sufficient time for Council to make
considered decisions on these
matters Sarah seconder Council
elore Council
whing I will move my Amendment
which I have circulated and reserve my
right to speak so I'm happy to Second
Council welling's Amendment and I'd like
to make the following
comments the title Lord mayor and the
prefix right honorable will our legisl
terms for elected Council leaders in the
city of Sydney Act 1988 these titles
relate to the position not the person
the words Lord mayor appear in four
sections of the city of Sydney act
section 23 in relation to the method of
election of Lord mayor section 23A
requiring a candidate for the election
of Lord May to be a candidate for the
election of counselors and section 34
and schedule one relating to section 35
and these relate to the Lord May's
membership of the central Sydney
planning committee any change to these
titles would have to be agreed to and
legislated by the parliament it is
something we couldn't unilaterally do
nor even if we wanted to the tit of Lord
May does not come with any additional
powers or advantages except for the
recognition it brings to the reputation
of the council all capital cities in
Australia as well as wolen gong param in
Newcastle and New South Wales have a
lord mayor a title which recognizes
these cities as prominent areas for
their culture history and geography all
Lord Lord Mayes are directly elected by
their constituents except for the Lord
mayor of parata who is elected by the
city of of par matters councilors every
2 years Lord mayors of capital cities
are also members of the Council of
capital city Lord Mayors which has been
working for over 50 years to provide
National leadership and a strong voice
to advance the interests of our cities
particularly to the federal Parliament
given the widespread use of the term
Lord mayor by Australian cities any
change should be done in consultation
with those cities and not
unilaterally in terms of things we have
done or are doing the meral robes and
the three cornered hat have never been
worn by me or indeed by any other
counselor during my leadership the chain
of office I now wear as a simple band
donated by a constituent while the
official traditional chain is being
modified via Council resolution to
remove references that could be taken as
offensive to the first nation's people
the city of Sydney official flag with
its inappropriate symbols is no longer
flown and has and hasn't been since 2007
i' just like to comment that I've had a
nber of Titles since I've been elected
representative I was elected as the
an udman for Redfern ward in South
Sydney Council and then elected as as a
red fern Ward orderman on on the city
council I was elected as by as an
independent member for blah in the
Federal in the New South Wales
Parliament and the name was changed
to the electorate of Sydney after
redistribution and and then I became
the member for Sydney and Lord May
conjunctly until the count the
parliament chose to move legislation
which didn't allow members of parliament
to also be Mayors despite the portraits
all up and down our Corridor of people
in political parties who also happen to
be members of parliament and Lord Mayors
but the point I want to make is that
I might have had all those titles but
when the the Council workers drive
by they always scream out hello Clover
and that's what most people have always
called me and I'm really proud to have
that name thank you to my mother do I
have any others councelor Elmore
thank you Lord mayor I'm rising to
speak in support of this actually I look
I'm a greens counselor and we have
always always had a fierce debate about
whether even MPS should use honorable
and it's not an official party position
but I have been involved in some very
passionate debates and the way that and
obviously for the reasons that Council
the councilors have discussed already
that you want your MPS to be
accessible as possible that includes
counselors they're not above each other
they are meant to be delegates delegates
in service of the people so most of rmps
have chosen not to use that title but
it's not an official policy I myself
think it would be wonderful if we just
dropped it when I was the deputy Lord
mayor thank the support of the
councilors last year I just changed I
didn't use the Lord because I was
uncomfortable using it I'm female a
deputy lady me May sounded really weird
the idea that it was bestowed by the
monchy was very outdated and it
didn't really make sense and so I just
didn't use it and that's the way we
could do it we actually don't need a
legislative change we could say we're a
modern Council all the other councils
that haven't done this the major Capital
Cities will look weird and outdated
because why are they still clinging to a
monarchy that no Australians support but
can't be asked getting rid of we just
wouldn't use it and occasionally it
would get used but I think it would be a
wonderful step for the council to be
honest I think it would be Forward
Thinking I think it would be a nice sign
for the community and it's where they're
at at the moment so I'm very happy to
support this I think it's a good debate
to have I thank the counselor for
bringing it Forward and look I'm
happy also about the comments around the
let's review our symbols thing can I Al
just ask again on that separate note
that the largest remaining spot where
the old just going to say the old
races logo that we don't use anymore
at The Dru Street entrance more than a
meter wide we use that entrance all the
time and there is still no cover or
notice or any context for that I it's a
real priority in terms of this review
and I just urge the staff on that
separate point but yeah I think this is
an important debate I hope the council
reconsiders its position I think it
would be great if we didn't didn't use
the Lord
anymore so Council
Davis thank you Lord mayor i' I'd
just beg to differ because if we are a
progressive and you know Forward
Thinking Council then surely the Lord
mayor has the right to retain her title
my challenge is that I've been elected
in my homelands of vanatu as was and
that is a a title bestowed on me by the
people if they choose to take that from
me then that's their right customary
practice and surely this should be
respected in the same
manner so Council
whirling thank you Lord mayor there's
no doubt election season is of and
running you only have to read Andrew
Taylor's piece about this in the Sydney
Morning Herald on Friday to be reminded
with respect to discussing this with you
sitting right here Lord mayor outside of
this chamber I call you you Clover when
I speak with other community members
they usually call you clover as well and
occasionally we hear Lord mayor I
personally see the Lord mayor Monica as
a mark of respect not as outdated
Superior or culturally inappropriate as
the original motion suggest this is not
about pomp nor something that the Lord
moer has ever insisted upon or chased
again I stress the Lord mayor has never
worn robes and she wears a chain at
Civic events council meeting and
citizenship ceremonies and on that note
many new Australians have said to me
that it was an honor to be presented
with their Australian citizenship by the
Lord mayor this means something to the
community I can't support Council won's
motion and I have circulated an
amendment which covers some of the
process that would be required to make
Council won's request happen most
importantly as we've discussed is
changing the titles required requires
Parliament to amend the city of Sydney
act council is not the appropriate For
to raise this I would suggest you raise
it with a member of parliament
Parliament made this decision in the
first place and at the same time why not
inquire about the titles counselor prime
minister Premier Minister governor
general I urge all counselors to
consider whether this is a pressing
issue and weigh up what the pr practical
benefits of this would be to our res
presidents let us focus on initiatives
that seek to progress reconciliation
deliver first nation's Justice and close
the gap this request I see is just
simply rearranging the furniture and I
prefer that we just get on with the work
I urge counselors to support my
Amendment do I have any other speakers
to the
amendment if not I'll put it to you all
those in favour say
I those against
right
so the Amendments carried I'll put
the amended motion to you all those in
FA
oh sorry what
POS any speakers to the amended
motion there's been lots of things said
here tonight and implied around act
changes and the likes and about being
Progressive
there's nothing Progressive about
holding on to a
Colonial
Title those titles that have been
bestowed upon is not from the people it
is from the mothership and when we think
about where we're at in terms of
progression simly when talking about not
talking about counselors what we're
saying is is that there is no one one
one may being a la Lord above the other
which is no different to pronouns that
are getting used I find it so insulting
that people believe that someone should
be referred to as her right honorable
over some of the key parts of our
country that actually do hold titles for
very significant reasons those
significant reasons is not in the act of
the city of Sydney act because it does
not require changes it just actually
states that that can be referred to as
may as other Mayes
are the word Lord is
sexist it is not normally used for a
female and even though we say we're
Progressive holding on to that title for
whatever purpose shows how we are not
Progressive at all
so I'll put the motion to you all those
in favour say
I those
against Council Jarett has abstained and
Council Wen voted against it everyone
else voted for it motions carried
item 14.9 bilingual Library program Cuts
in darling
Square oh so who is this thanks Lord
mayor I move item SC 14 Point N and
in doing so note that on the 24th of
January a Community member raised
concerns with me and with the council
about the fact that on the city of
Sydney's website a bilingual Library
session at darling Square had been
reduced the programming explicitly on
the city's website showed that the
program had been reduced from weekly
to monthly the website noted the green
square weekly program would continue
but was very explicit in noting that on
the city's website the program at
darling Square library had been removed
to monthly when the Community member
questioned the city of Sydney about
this on the platform known as X or
Twitter the city responded that we
continually assess programs and make
changes based on community feedback
acknowledging therefore that the city
had made cuts to this particular
program at the darling Square library
we then received a media inquiry
about this and it was written up as a
story by the local paper the city Hub
and in fact the city Hub has been
contacted by a city of Sydney
spokesperson someone allegedly
from our media team and they've
requested that the story be censored
and taken down claiming that no Cuts
should be made this is absolutely
astonishing it is clear that Rhyme
Time a really fantastic Library program
here at the city of Sydney much loved by
our community at both green square and
darling Square indeed for a period of
time was cut from weekly to monthly at
darling Square I'm really pleased that
that decision has been reversed and the
program has been restored and I'm really
pleased to see that as a result of the
public advocacy that we undertook with
community members we now have a
commitment that that program will
continue on in a weekly fashion that
is a really important commitment but
under no circstances should
journalists here be threatened by City
staff and asked to take stories down
from the public domain when the
stories are factual and accurate Lord
mayor this notice of motion seeks for
the council to allocate the full funding
that has been allocated for this
program in this financial year so that
there is an assurance to this Council
that no Cuts will be made guarantee
no future cuts to current and future
bilingual library programs and provided
advice to counselors to prepare a report
as to why the cuts were made in the
first place Lord mayor councilors
were not informed about the fact that
these Services were going to be reduced
from monthly to weekly I only found out
because a member of the city
Community got in touch with me and
alerted me to this change when he
was checking the time table in order
to take his child to this valuable
program at the very least if there's
going to be changes made we should
consult our communities and we should
inform counselors about changes constant
changes to Services undermine the
community's confidence that they are on
and undermine attendance and certainty
and devalue the benefit of these
incredibly important local Services Lord
mayor so I'm really pleased that the
program has been restored
I'm really pleased to see that it
will continue monthly I hope it's not
reduced again because we know how
popular these programs are and how
important they are for our diverse
Multicultural Community and I hope
that council is support this notice of
motion tonight to ensure that in future
these programs won't be changed
and they will continue to be funded and
Lord mayor over time where changes need
to be made that the community will in
engaged and consulted and certainly that
councilors will be
informed
second CC elore Council Deputy Lord
mayor mayor I have an amendment which
has been
circulated LA mayor the questions on
notice for tonight's meeting includes a
question about the Mandarin bilingual
Rin time programs at darling Square
library the answer is that no programs
were
cut Council Scott could have obtained
this information from the chief
executive officer by an email or phone
call however not wanting the facts to
get in the way of another beat up they
launched a petition and rush to the
media the result was that this the
result Lord mayor misrepresentation how
does council that I didn't email the if
you if there's a misrepresentation you
can put your hand up and come to you at
the end but that's not a point of order
no it's not it's a misrepresentation he
yes could you sit down please and I'll
come to you after Council deput May has
spoken and you know the rules you're
really misbehaving tonight I've got to
say Council Deputy Lord May the result
was the disturbing and in inaccurate
headline Sydney Council slashes Mandarin
program days before Luna New Year this
is not not only very disappointing and
hurtful and in in an attempt to divide
you know the community it's a it's a
very divisive you know statement to
to be made on on the headline and I I
don't think any of you have have ever
felt how it is to be vilified by the
race racial
vilification the city of Sydney's
website Lord
mayor defamatory misrepresentation if
there is any
allegation presentation you can you can
put your hand up and I'll come to you at
the end may this is bordering on defry
Council Scott could you please sit down
and and start you know acting in
accordance with the the code of
meeting practice count deput May L May L
mayor I I'm I'm referring to what I
have personally
experienced La the the city's website
was updated on 1st February noting the
programs will continue continue to be
offered weekly from 7th February at
darling Square library on 9th February
the CEO updated and clarify that I quote
a trial reduction in bilingual story
time did not repeat did not take place
at darling Square library no programs
have been
cut and and it follows all programs
continue on a weekly basis staff
regularly review programming in our
libraries and will continue to do so to
suit community needs and feedback so
given given this LA mayor it is very
surprising that Council of Scot is
moving this notice of motion perhaps
you know the the COO updates were
missed the city of C is one of the most
Multicultural cities in the world and
Hay Market is home to C iconic Chinatown
and many Chinese residents so we must
question why unchecked claims were made
on the eve of a Luna New Year the most
important cultural de day for many who
celebrate the Lun year and especially
for the Chinese Community we must also
question why this motion has been moved
given the information provided by the
CEO and this was on 9 February so
accordingly I moved the amendment I've
circulated which cor corrects the record
thank you Lord mayor I ask
representation Council Scott thank you I
ask that councelor Co withdraw his two
comments firstly making the allegation
that he could not possibly know
whether or not I sought advice from the
CEO he could not possibly know whether
or not I did that so he has no knowledge
of that and yet he's made an allegation
before the council tonight that he has
knowledge of that and the second
misrepresentation was that he implied
that I had somehow subjected him to
racial vilification that is false and
defamatory and I ask that he withdraw
both those false
statements so I'm just taking a bit
of advice
here yeah councelor Scott i' I've taken
advice which Mar is what what I had
thought myself that is the the
first misrepresentation that you
describe is really a point of debate
and and the second is is also close to a
point of debate but if you feel it's
racial vilification is that what she
thought
she defamatory so
deput Lord
mayor I I I don't think there's
convincing case there but I think in for
the purposes of of good relations
in Council you could withdraw that
statement that she thinks is
defamatory lot mayor it
wasn't
my my intention of accusing
Council Scotti here of raal vilification
it's just that I'm saying that such
statements I mean such headlines made
is only divisive to the to the
commune and so of it
was in in in in in light in light of of
this I mean to to to to clarify all
that and and I I'll
withdraw thank you councilor warling
you wish to speak on this
item thank you Lord mayor look I got to
say these these sort of Noms are the
ones that really wind me up
I find the level of Mis misinformation
on this
bewildering as we've heard tonight
the city did listen to the community on
the first and on the 1st of February
they made it very clear that there would
be no reductions in these
Services the website was updated with
this information maybe you didn't see
that but a week later on the 8th of
February you proceeded to stir up a
hornet nest with social media post and a
petition that was full of wrong
information which to a media story which
we've heard about and more false
information even after the CEO update on
the on the 9th of February the day after
you chose not to correct your post or
take the petition down so this day
you've chosen to mislead the people so I
have to ask you where is the
responsibility to the community when you
leave this misinformation up this to me
just reaks of being clearly
political Lord mayor I'd like to respond
again to that
misinformation so you you you're saying
that's misinformation on on what basis
well I've been asked by councilor
warling to a series of questions and
made the allegation that this is
political it is not it is clear as I
said that the Community member who
contacted me had checked the city's
website and the programs had been cut
what we have is now a journalist who has
been asked to take a story down about
that period of time when the community
services by this Council were not cut it
is misrepresentation to say that that is
a political misstatement or that
there is anything false about this I do
not uphold that as mises
misrepresentation and I think the
conclusion that's been drawn about
the misinformation is quite accurate
because the the correct information was
out there and it been out there for a
nber of days before you put out your
comments on social Council
Chan thank you Lord mayor I have no
idea if councilor Scott contacted City
staff or not I don't think that's the M
matter at hand for me I did contact
staff on the 1 of February about
children's programming across our
libraries I received a response from
City staff on the 2nd of February and it
said that that there's weekly bilingual
story
time at the Hay Market library and
that's there's also weekly bilingual
programs act GRE Square library I was
also told that from staff that they
continually assess early literacy
programs and make changes based on the
community
feedback this happened on the 2nd of
February I also checked the websites and
on the 1st of February it was confirmed
that these weekly programs were
happening so I don't really know where
the sentiment is coming from because my
understanding is that it is a full
program and that is the the advice that
staff has given me when I ask the
question
directly and this happened on the 1st
and 2nd of
February thank
you so we have an amendment before us
and I'll put the amendment to you is
there a second of the amendment
councelor Walling seconding the
amendment I'll put that to you all those
in favour say
I
those
against declare it carried we that
the amendment becomes a motion I'll put
it to you all those in favour say
I those
against declare it carried you know
see part Council Jarett didn't vote
thank
you item 1410 integrity and local
government lobbyist and property
developer register coun
genon
thank you Lord mayor while politics
might be the art of compromise I think
there's something we can all agree on
that politician should never compromise
their integrity the city of City LGA
is the principal local government in New
South Wales as such we should be leading
the way when it comes to Integrity
disclosing our meetings with lobbyists
will bring us into line with state and
federal counterparts sorry
parliamentarians including profit
developers will take it a step further
this I trust you all will agree with
increase Integrity in local government
iak has asked for this time and again we
heard it in operation Eclipse we heard
it in Dasher in Whitney and in Tusa for
years ministers have
enacted I believe we should go out alone
and set the example for local government
in New South Wales it's too important
not to and I hope that all my colleagues
are on the same page as I in taking a
stand for honest and ethical conduct and
against corruption and secrecy it's time
we put more Integrity in local
government now to council Chan's
amendments which he circulated area
earlier we had a discussion about it
specifically to point A9 I don't agree
with it my original motion called for us
to compulsory disclose our meetings
this is already happening in other local
government areas such as North Sydney
with mayor Zoe Baker disclosing her me
meetings on a on a monthly basis
including with property
developers and I believe we should
all agree to do it now L I've actually
been working on this behind the
scenes since 2017 meeting with then
local government Minister Gabriel Upton
then Minister Shelley Hancock and then
Minister Wendy
tuckman to no avail and as I've said
before I C ask for this many times and I
think it's something we should take
seriously and hopefully Implement and
that's why I'm using my position in this
place to put it on on the agenda and I
hope you can all support the original
motion with point B thank you Lord
May
Council
elore so you're seconding that are you
yes very happy to thank you councilor
Ganon I'm I'm very happy to support this
motion and I I don't support the
foreshadowed amendment it is a policy of
the New South Wales greens that we've
been fighting for all local councils to
have to to have a lobbyist register
and to make public who they meet with we
are actually one of the only I think
we're the only counselors in the state
that actually have staff where we would
have the Practical administrative
capacity to share our Diaries
regly without and have the you know
because one of the issues as we all
work to meet these compliance
obligations is is one of the issues but
but realistically we're also the richest
Council in Australia there is a real
issue with trust in the community around
and and we're about to do there when
especially when the big topic of the day
massive development changes where
billions of dollars in this in money
are going to be created through
rezonings it's important more than ever
that people have integrity a voluntary
system where some some councilors do it
and some don't is not going to give
anyone confidence if if we you know I
just think we should do it if other
councils are leading the way we should
be catching up to say we are best
practice and I I struggle to understand
why such a simple and straightforward
request could not be agreed to
considering the the view that this
Council has on a whole range of other
matters around transparency and what a
leader it is on these other
matters so do I have other speakers
Council w
I support tider rules around Lobby
lobbyists but I think there are a few
things that need to IR out in this
motion I note that the motion implies
that the rules for lobbyists are the
same as the federal and state level this
is not correct the state rules may be
better because they were developed later
and on the basis of the 2021 iak report
meanwhile the Commonwealth code only
applies to ministers not backbenches and
the obligation is to ensure that the
lobbyists are
registered if you want to create an
obligation it must be done clearly this
motion is not clear and it is based on
the false assptions that Federal MPS
are required to publicly disclose
meetings with lobbyists and property
developers this would be great if it was
the
case Council
chair thank you Lord mayor and to
councel Ganon I really appreciate how
you described this important matter
about accountability
and integrity in local governments I put
forward an amendments that includes the
current work that the office of local
government is undertaking to increase
transparency and accountability around
the lobbying of local government
officials note that councils can make
disclosures about meetings with
lobbyists and developers an option that
is open to councilors currently the
operation to Loa findings that councilor
Ganon mentioned are about seeking or
accepting benefits in relation to
planning matters and deliberately
failing to disclose a conflicts of
interests the four recommendations don't
specifically reference lobbying while
operations Dasher eclipse and Whitney in
2021 2021 and 2022 respectively they
specifically consider and make and have
made recommendations about corruption
risk associated with the lobbying of
counselors now iak has made
recommendations to amend the lobbying of
government officials act to ensure all
Provisions apply to local government in
response to iac's recommendations the
office of local government is developing
guidelines to enhance transparency
around the lobbying of counselors and a
model policy on lobbying to supplement
the provisions of the code of conduct
Lord mayor it would make sense to
achieve this through an amendment to the
model code so it applies to all new
southwes councils as I've mentioned the
office of local government is
undertaking this work already let's get
this work going which is why the CEO
should write to the office of local
government to see where this review is
up
to so Council Ganon your
response we need a second of the
amendment second May Council genon only
to reiterate that I think we should lead
the out of the 128 local governments in
New South Wales we are the principal and
we have a role to lead those other
councils in this state IA have
asked for it many times before I've been
working on this for many years I think
it's time that we show some leadership
thank
you I agree with Council gon I've
you know when I was first elected mayor
I got the phone calls from the
developers and I I said if you want to
talk to me you'll talk to the central
city planning committee and the phone
call stopped so
any conversation that I've had over
the many years is very rare and it's
only when there might be a crisis
happening that perhaps I I can help with
but that also is very rare because we
have such an excellent planning
department so I I'm I'm inclined to
to support Council Ganon we can say
we can still write to the office of
local government and say how we we
support it and we and we can introduce
it ourselves I I think I'd like to
combine the
two Council Chan I'd like to combine the
two what you're saying with Council
Ganon thank you very much yes look I
I I do understand where councelor
Ganon is coming from and it will be
great to remove the suggestion
voluntary disclosures so that it can
be further strengthened for
accountability and transparency I mean
this is with a background of members
Mayors across the the state being
involved in a various activities in
relation to development and so I
think there's a real case there for
greater scrutiny and
transparency so we'll have just have
to work out what we're actually going to
move
okay so what have we
got
you can you see if you
agree
e
so yeah I'll just go to the CEO
now thank you through you Lord mayor
we've just asked whether we could just
in the amendment I just give the a
little bit of time for the for the
council for for me and the and the staff
to develop a process and procedure so
that you don't resolve that you have to
do it from tomorrow we need to have a
little bit of time to work out how you
do it how you fill it in where it gets
recorded all of those sorts of things
and so we might just need a few weeks to
develop that so we'll bring something
back and then we'll be give it a start
date something like that yeah
thanks so have we got words that we can
move to say
that why don't we ask kir to work on
while okay we'll get Kirsten to work on
it while you we do the next one so we've
got it nice and
tidy so the next one's been withdrawn
it's going very
well item 1412 power to require
affordable housing be built on site by
developers
counc thank you Lord mayor I raise to
move this motion with a slightly amended
version that has been circulated to
counselors we've obviously had this
debate last week and this weekend
previously about this is about
council's ability to require affordable
affordable housing to be built on site
currently in our planning rules we
are the only Council to have an LG wide
local government areawide set of
rules that allow us to effectively Lobby
get a tax from Developers for
affordable housing it's 3% residential
and then we have some other rules that
we hope are not Switched Off by the
state government but when we're rezoning
and making things a lot taller or a lot
dense we can sometimes collect a little
bit
more this asks counselors to write to
the state government and ask for
permission for us to change our local
environment plan we need to do that
through a planning proposal to give
Council the power to make a choice about
whether we want to require developers to
give that by cash and then we have to go
find a community housing provider or
someone else to build it to in down the
track or to require the housing to be
built on site it puts the choice in
council's hands it doesn't try to say
when would we do that you might recall
we're restructuring our rules to give us
more flexibility about how our
contributions plans are going to work
anyway around affordable housing but the
key is we've just had an example with
the maritan case where we couldn't
Force the developer to build the housing
on site even when they could have made
it a standalone 25 Apartment there were
interested community housing providers
and they've made a promise to the
community to do it developers are not
going to deliver this affordable housing
unless onsite like we want them to to
make mixed communities where appropriate
unless we have the power to do it
this not notice of motion ask the
council to ask the CEO to draft a
planning proposal and bring it back to
us to also give us advice about who we
should consult going forward there will
be an opportunity to talk about some of
the details but I I really urge
counselors I realize as a foreshadowed
motion which I will not support tonight
that has been
circulated which says we're looking at a
suite of other changes I know we are
because I moved them last year and
they're a result of a motion that I
moved that we try and increase the
amount of that we're requiring
developers to pay because the amount
that we currently Lo requiring I
would suggest is very very modest
compared to where we need to be but this
is a standalone change that is quite
simple and does not need to wait for all
of the other changes working out when
when and how and all the best places to
do the best level of developer
contributions in the future and all the
related stuff is a complicated piece of
work this is not a complicated piece of
work it does not need to wait and we've
just seen if we do wait there will be
more examples like the maritan case that
we had today where developers will do
the easy thing the thing that is cheaper
for them that will mean we don't get
affordable housing built in these sites
and we should be building it everywhere
so I urge counselors to not
delay I also really want us to deal
with it this term and I'm just not
confidence we're going to unless we move
this tonight I did I flagged I also just
want to say again I flagged this more
than a year ago multiple times with
councilors we have a notice of motion
yeah I'm really looking forward to when
these changes come forward from the
staff but I do not think this change
needs to wait and I think we've just had
a perfect example of why and what we
want to avoid in the
future so is there secretor
Council Wen Council
chair thank you Lord mayor I do support
council's elmore's Motion in
understanding how we can dedicate build
affordable housing in appropriate
developments however I don't support her
latest
amendments my Amendment seeks to include
the city's work and development in
affordable housing including the current
review being undertaken by the city that
was resolved by Council in June last
year at committee last week I emphasized
how merian's backflip was a lost
opportunity because the Epson Road
master plan developments would have set
a great precedent as the affordable
housing was proposed to be built in its
own separate building and title and it
would be easy to manage by a community
housing provider this would have shown
great leadership on meritan part with as
especially within the residential
development sector and it would have
been underpinned by the values of mixed
tency and housing for all as Sydney
develops the inner city land becomes
scarcer there may be certain
circstances such as in the Epson Road
example where in large developments it
is beneficial and efficient to have
affordable housing contribution built on
site today only one voluntary planning
agreement has been entered into in which
a developer has committed to building
their affordable housing contribution on
site
this is the war of site at 923 to 935
Burke Street watero where 12 of the 21
dwellings will become affordable housing
previously the city also entered into
voluntary planning agreements for
affordable housing delivered at Harold
Park land only and also on Bay Street
Glee now built housing however this
housing was not associated with any
requirements in the LPS at the time I
note to council that the city's leps can
amend affordable housing contribution
requirements only when it meets the
requirements of the environmental
planning and Assessment Act and that the
New South Wales Department's guideline
for developing an affordable housing
contribution scheme and only with the
approval of the state government my
Amendment also states that City staff
have commenced a review that was adopted
by Council in June 2023 this review is
on the city's affordable housing
contribution rates including what
changes could deliver more affordable
housing in our area such as rate
increases changes to City policies
planning controls and resoning
proposals finally whether the housing is
delivered on site is important to
consider but I do want to stress that
the monetary affordable housing
contribution works the city has
contributed to over
3,200 affordable dwellings either built
in the pipeline or expected that was
3,200 affordable homes by 2036 the city
will be on track to contribute over
5,200 affordable dwellings in
perpetuity I have included as I priority
that the CEO report back on the findings
of this review and advise Council of
options for affordable housing to be
built on site by developers it's
important that we consider the holistic
changes and the improvements that we can
make and the options so that we can
really understand what can be done to
prioritize onsite affordable
housing so that's the amendment
seconded by Council Davis is that is
that what you're putting your hand up
for and you don't like to speak yes
Council
Davis thank you Lord mayor I Rise I Rise
to speak in support of councilor
Chance's Amendment item 14 12 and to
express that social and afford
affordable housing is critical to a
diverse and thriving Community social
and affordable housing means equity and
access for marginalized communities and
for those working in our City's
essential Services it is no secret that
our nation is in a state of flux with
the lack of affordable homes as a
resident of social housing and seeing
the new faces of young and professional
people sleeping rough and struggling
with the cost of living around Sydney I
can't help thinking just how grateful I
am to to have been supported by
community housing as a single mother of
two with an incredible which has made an
incredible difference to our lives
although housing primarily a New South
Wales government responsibility to the
city to the city to the city continues
its strong track record of contributing
to affordable housing as of June 2023
the city has contributed
3,263 affordable housing dwellings
either built in the pipeline or expected
this includes
1,429 dwellings from 399 million in
levies while I acknowledge councilor
elmore's intention to get more
affordable housing built in the city of
Sydney I agree with councilor Chan's
amendment that the council should be
updated on the city's review of
affordable housing contributions before
making
changes to how we collect the
Farms thank you Council
Wen I strongly support Council Elmer's
unamended motion and I would like to
acknowledge her leadership here our
affordable housing contribution scheme
might have broken some ground when it
was first
introduced but but it is grossly
inadequate if we are serious about
keeping our city livable diverse and
vibrant we must pull all the laevers we
can we're failing to meet the targets we
set ourselves for affordable housing
Sydney is a developer City we must Lobby
for the power to be able to demand that
if developers want to build in the city
of
Sydney they have to include affordable
housing within their
developments that's what they do in
London
in Paris and many other cities around
the world we need to do that here we
heard earlier that it it can be quite
quick but when we talk about receiving a
money then finding the land and then
getting all the approvals unless you're
a a a large company that's worth
billions you can actually get that done
quite quickly but if you are a community
housing provider often those money sit
in the bank and they actually don't get
achieved
quickly and there are people that die
waiting to be housed because the housing
is not keeping up as we all know we are
in a situation where the cost of living
is out of control the cost to be able to
live in our city is in our control and
that control is by accepting in its
entirety councilor elmore's
motion
coun
Scott thanks Lord mayor I too support
a provision in the city's planning
controls that enables us to ask
developers to provide units as an
affordable housing contribution
rather than providing a monetary
contribution we know with the rising
cost of housing prices in Sydney that
the likely inflationary effects of the
contribution that we've seen tonight
before us from meritan will likely mean
that there are far fewer affordable
housing dwellings provided as a result
of that contribution then would have
been have they held up their original
commitment to actually provide dwellings
we know that without these kinds of
Provisions we risk having clusters of
affordable housing in the one place
rather than spread in a range of
developments right across the city
enabling much better social outcomes and
diversity for the city and it is indeed
the model that other Global cities use
it is disappointing to see people
oppose this tonight and amend it such
that it won't come into effect in a
timely way in this term of council
there is no denying that we have a
housing crisis here in Sydney there is
no denying that the role of this Council
alongside every other level of
government is to do everything we can to
prevent this crisis there is no denying
that this Council has a strong record of
investing directly in public housing the
prime minister of this nation grew up in
a unit just down the road from here that
was owned and maintained by this very
Council there is a role for the city
of Sydney it is a long historic
important role it should take a stronger
role and this Mo notice of motion
would enable the council to do that it
is disappointing to see tonight that
there is opposition to
it misrepresentation Lord
mayor I ask it from now don't yes
Council chair what's Mis representation
yes Scott mentioned that this will
delay what's being put forward and it
will will not be considered by this
term of council I don't have that
information and I never mentioned that
it would be delayed it you know my
Amendment actually seeks the CEO as a
priority which was councelor El Moore's
words to report back on the findings of
the city's review and to advise Council
of options including drafting a planning
proposal to amend the city of Sydney's
Le p and related docents as needed to
give the city of Sydney the ability to
require that affordable housing
contributions be delivered in the form
of land or buildings on site in
appropriate developments I've been
misrepresented L
May I I accept that
misrepresentation and do we have do I
have any other
speakers
so coun chance Amendment i' I'd like to
just make a couple of points to clarify
the the situation for people who might
not know a lot of suppositions being
made about we won't get the housing
as quickly and it won't be possible for
the community housing provider to do
what could have happened if meritan had
done it we we don't know that what we
do know is that we have a incredibly
successful record of providing
affordable housing as a result of the
levies that we were the state only
allowed us to collect in peont Baltimore
and green square up until very recently
and we lobbied very very hard for very
many years to to both the labor
government and the coalition
government to allow us to see make
the apply apply those levies to all
development over many years and and
we got the agreement about a year ago
and it means that we will be able to
provide more affordable housing but
we during that time had approved
about $15 billion worth of development
and it breaks my heart to think what we
could have provided if the state labor
and Coalition had allowed us to collect
those leevy so that's one point I want
to make second point I want to make is
that people compare us with London and
Paris we're very different from London
and Paris the area that mayor H an
helgo is responsible for is the size of
the metropoLowitjan area and she is also
responsible for housing the Sak
Khan in London has an area the size of
MetropoLowitjan London and and he
is responsible for housing in in New
South Wales the state is responsible for
housing together with the federal
government and and local government
does not provide housing in the past
local government did provide some
housing and it's right the prime former
Prime the Prime Minister did leave in
the affordable housing that was owned
by Council now do you know the labor
state government sacked the
council in
1987 and appointed Commissioners who
then sold all the housing that we had
back to the state because the state did
housing so that's why we don't have
housing but what we do is we collect
levies to provide community housing
providers to build affordable housing in
perpetuity that is provided to people
who need it and we are very very proud
of what we have done in fact I
understand we provided more affordable
housing than any other Council these are
things to be really proud of no it's not
our our our core role it's the state
government's core role core
responsibility but we do some very heavy
lifting and more heavy lifting than any
other Council so let's stop
misrepresenting the
situation where are we up to so
Council Chance's Amendment I'll put it
to you all those in favour say
I those against declare it
carried and we now dealing with an
amended
motion councilor elore thank you Lord
May in reply yes very briefly in
reply I know it's the end of the night
we're nearly there and it's been a big
meeting we're going to keep having
these conversations I do think it's
important for us to keep having them
about whether we're doing enough one of
the reasons I don't I did not support
Council Chan's Amendment and I moved an
amended version that talked about about
the fact that we're going backwards in
terms of affordability is that it is
really important to acknowledge what the
city does well every one of those homes
that the city has helped build is a home
for somebody and it's incredibly
important but what the community wants
to know is could do you do everything in
your power could you do more could you
do it faster because the scale of this
crisis is overwhelming us all and my
strong answer to that is no so we will
continue to have these baits as a
council but it is not inconsistent to be
proud of the work that this Council has
done and say with our muscle and our
money and our resources and the the
staff that we have here we could do a
lot more and it's our responsibility to
do that and I'm disappointed that there
you know I'm glad we're going to get
there eventually I but I I will remain
frustrated because I think we could
have got we could get somewhere faster
than we are right now and I'll keep
pushing that up with this Council and I
hope we keep having these respectful
debates right thank
you so I'll put the amending motion to
you all those in favour say
I those
against declare it carried apart from
liberal
counselors so we'll go back to
1410
Cen yes through you chair I've
made the Amendments if you refer to
councelor Chan's version of the
1410 I can just talk it through so
councelor Chan's paragraph 9 which
starts in the absence of such a policy
that has been emitted and removed
entirely count paragraph 10
which had been struck out on councelor
Chan's version is now reinstated so that
says we as councilors must lead the way
in holding our own Integrity
paragraph B is reinstated but has been
amended and I'll just read the amendment
out Council ask the CEO to develop a
procedure by which city of Sydney
councilors be required to publicly
disclose their meetings with registered
lobbyists and property developers on the
city's website in the same fashion as
state parliamentarians and report back
to council with a process and timeline
for
commencing that give you so that gives
the CEO what she needs to be able to
to do that thank you Kirsten so the
party's happy with
that good thank you so are we moving
the amendment or are we moving motion
we're moving a varied motion Council
Ganon and so I'll put that to you all
those in favour say I those against
cleare it carried you know thank you so
we have one more item 1413 support
for the settlements after school and
holiday
programs Council
Wen the settlement has been part of the
fabric of the red f wood L Community for
more than 130 years the neighborhood
center serves as a safe and welcoming
place for local community drop in to
connect and access a range of services
and programs and speaking of dropping in
I would encourage all counselors to head
down there Leslie and her fabulous team
some who are tuned in tonight would be
really happy to see you the settlement
has a multigenerational connection with
the local abam community in fact there
are children there today where their
parents actually attended the settlement
90% of the community that access the
settlement are Aboriginal the majority
of the settlement's team are Aboriginal
and many have grown up in the local area
the settlement's programs for children
and families are particularly
significant the settlement provides
after school and holiday care with a
school pickup and home drop off service
the program incorporates learning and
play with activities including cooking
swimming tennis basketball homework help
art music and dancing these programs are
so Val valuable for the kids
participating beyond that many local
parents working full-time rely on the
settlement to provide a safe and
nurturing environment for their children
the sediments valued after school care
and holiday programs are no longer fully
funded and the continuation of these
programs is uncertain it would be a huge
loss for these programs to be paid back
I'm hoping you will all endorse this
motion calling for one the Lord mayor to
write to the relevant New South Wales
government ministers highlighting the
significance of the settlements programs
and requesting funding to ensure the
continuation of the after school and
holiday programs and secondly that the
CEO investigate opportunities for the
city of Sydney to provide interim
support to ensure that the continuation
of the settlement after school and
holiday programs I actually understand
that they've never received any money
from the city
which is disappointing considering they
have been around for 130 years I think
we need to make sure that we are
supporting key people in our community
that are making a difference some of the
children that actually get supported in
this program are actually supported in
such a way that it helps alleviate the
stresses and strains on our families
particularly those families that may
potentially come under the scrutiny of
different departments that don't
actually support
families in the way that they should
and rather they actually judge them on
what they should not thank
you so that's seconded by Council I
just want to say that in 2014 the
settlement contacted me to seek
helpful funding for to upgrade the youth
room at their Darlington Center I
got in contact with the property
industry Foundation Who provided them
with a 38,000 Grant to renovate the mitz
area to create two safe and private
spaces to be used for youth at risk
programs and one room for youth
counseling work and one for a larger
Youth Study and discussion groups and I
remember they also fixed the roof so
I was really pleased that we were able
to do that for the
settlement do we have any other comments
councilman I just I'll be very quick
really the end of the night now I
want to say thank you I did have the
chance to drop into the settlement and
this is a fantastic motion from Council
of
Welden the settlement is such fixture
in Darlington I actually I should
disclose my partner was formerly the
chair of the settlement and there was
a period about 15 years ago or maybe it
was 20 actually where some of the new
local neighbors who wanted to gentrify
the area and were uncomfortable with the
fact that there was effectively an
Aboriginal support service and
housing owned by this community center
in their street took over the board and
then the community had to kind of rally
to stop from selling off the building a
lot of people will remember that a lot
of people know the settlement and it's
touched so many people's lives over
really long time but our a lot of the
state funding systems are now designed
that you have to fit a really neat box
and if you're a neighborhood center like
this that doesn't measure the kpis
because you're focused on empowerment
and supporting whole communities it can
also it can often be impossible to get
funding to do the important work that
you do so I think it is the kind of
service that the city should consider
providing this support for and they
are really getting organized in this
current funding crisis that they've
gotten another wave of it but it is a
wonderful service that does a really
important job and it's more the rules of
other funding programs that stop them
getting the support they need not
anything around the way they operate so
it's thank you fantastic motion Council
welon thank you Lord mayor thank you to
councilor Welden I'm not moving an
amendment so don't worry I just want
to clarify that the
settlement was successful for our city
of Sydney festivals and events Grant
events Grant of 19,000 $200 in 2022 to
run the very successful Edward Street
Fair on Edwood Street Darlington on the
Sunday 20th of
November my comments Lord mayor was
actually not about some of the other
activities it was actually about the
programs and services they provide for
those children so they after school care
and the likes they've never received
funding for
that thank you so I'll put the motion to
you all those in favour say I those
against declare it carried uny thank
you very much thank you very much for
your
attendance