Greens MPs Say Light Rail Along Parramatta Road Is A Winner
Welcoming news that Sydney University has added its weight behind the campaign for light rail along Parramatta Road, the two local state members said the Liberal State Government needed to meet community expectations and jump into the 21st century with its transport planning.
Recognising Aboriginal History, Welcoming New Australians
Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong will visit a number of events across the electorate of Newtown on Tuesday, January 26th, recognising Australia’s long and lasting Aboriginal history, and welcoming new Australians from across the seas to the local area. Ms Leong will join the Invasion Day 2016 march, which begins at The Block in Redfern, and also visit the Yabun festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Festival in Victoria Park Camperdown.
WestConnex compulsory land acquisitions fail community
NSW Greens spokesperson for WestConnex and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has condemned the Sydney Motorway Corporation’s latest land grab of an extra 6,000 square metres from Sydney Park and surrounding areas. "It’s been abundantly clear since the St Peter’s interchange was announced that WestConnex will have a devastating impact on Sydney Park, but this latest land grab will mean that approximately 3 ½ acres of public green space will be taken from this area.
Greens Call For Rental Horror Stories Ahead of Rental Laws Review
There’s an opportunity to reform NSW rental laws in 2016, with the Review of the NSW Residential Tenancies Act. Although rental properties are people’s homes, too often they are used as a way for dodgy landlords to maximise profits, at the expense of tenants’ security and safety. NSW Greens spokesperson for Tenancy and Rental Housing Jenny Leong has asked renters to share their ‘Rental Horror Stories’ on Facebook, as part of the Greens’ campaign for renters’ rights. Renters can also share their rental experiences via an online renters’ survey. The stories that are submitted will be used to identify the biggest problems with the current rental system.
Government Warned that WestConnex Home Acquisitions Unfair
The NSW Government has known for three years that the process for valuing homes forcibly acquired for major infrastructure projects - including WestConnex - is unfair to home owners. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald (p1) this morning a parliamentary committee chaired by Liberal MP Matt Kean found the compulsory acquisition system is "unfair and inadequate". Yet the Government has forged ahead, acquiring a number of homes along the WestConnex route, with many more targeted for acquisition in the coming months. MP for Newtown and NSW Greens WestConnex spokesperson Jenny Leong has called for a moratorium on all home acquisitions until a fair process has been determined and an independent inquiry of WestConnex has been undertaken. “This is yet another reason why the construction of WestConnex needs to be halted until a full inquiry is undertaken. With the whole WestConnex project looking shakier by the day, people should not be forced out of their communities for what is looking more and more likely to be a failed project.
2015 - What A Year For The Newtown Electorate
2015 has been a huge year for our Electorate Office in Newtown. We couldn’t have done it without your support and enthusiasm, so thank you! Since the election in March it’s been my privilege to represent you in Parliament and to work side by side with you on local issues. Our office has resolved over 450 individual constituent cases and we’ve met with over 100 of the impressive organisations doing outstanding work in our local area and across NSW. Here’s just some of what’s we’ve achieved!
Joint Submission on Parramatta Road Urban Renewal proposal
Greens MP for Newtown, Jenny Leong and Greens MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker cosigned this submission to Urban Growth stating their objections to the proposed overdevelopment of Taverners Hill, Leichhardt and Camperdown precincts. As the local members of electorates which will be greatly impacted by these plans, Jenny and Jamie will work with local communities and in the NSW Parliament against developments such as these which override and trample on existing Local Environment Plans and the Sydney Metropolitan Plan. This is an artists impression of the Camperdown precinct (from the New Parramatta Road Urban Transformation Strategy)
Marrickville Council To Be Forcibly Merged
The Baird Government has confirmed their plans for forced amalgamations of local councils across the state, in the face of growing community opposition. According to the State Government’s plan, Marrickville Council will be merged with Ashfield and Leichhardt Councils. This is despite clear indications that residents in the Marrickville LGA do not want their Council to be merged and strong public statements by the Liberal Government before the election that they would not force amalgamations. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong says: “Residents expect good local representation. Under this plan the size of LGAs will increase dramatically, but the number of Councillors won’t. That will give residents less access to their Local Councillors, reducing the ability for local advocacy. “Marrickville Council is known for delivering local services that cater to our community. We fear that those localised services, like Council run-childcare, community festivals – and the Magic Yellow Bus - are under threat.
NSW hit-hard as Australian Arts Sector Devastated By Funding Cuts
As Australia’s performing arts sector is reeling from the announcement that many performing arts companies have lost their federal funding along with drastic cuts to peak national arts organisations, the real impact will be felt by many artists and arts organisations in NSW. In the wake of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) announcements, Screen Australia will lose $10.4 million over four years, which is the third cut to the funding body for local film and television in 18 months, while a 3% efficiency dividend has been imposed on federally funded galleries, museums and art galleries who will lose $36.8 million. And while Screen Australia’s budget shrinks, an additional $47.3 million will go towards international films shot in Australia over the next two years - Ridley Scott’s new Alien film and the third Thor movie. NSW Greens spokesperson for the Arts and Creative Industries Jenny Leong MP said, “This is a terrible blow to our cultural life and to our ability to tell Australian stories, with savage cuts to key arts organisations and to our emerging artists which will impact on us all for decades to come.
Sydney Metro Station Announced For Waterloo
Today the NSW Government has announced a Sydney Metro station at Waterloo. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong says that it’s reasonable that the local community has concerns about the implications of the decision, particularly around public and affordable housing, and transport accessibility.
Public And Affordable Housing Needs To Be Key In Waterloo Metro Development
NSW Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong, which covers the Redfern area, and Jan Barham, Housing spokesperson have responded to today’s announcement that a private Metro station will be built in Waterloo highlighting the serious housing concerns. Two thousand existing public housing residences will be demolished to make way for the development. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong says: “The announcement by the state Government today will see Urban Growth taking over the development of large parts of our Redfern/Waterloo public housing community. This is cause for serious concern – not because redevelopment of public housing isn’t needed, but because Urban Growth’s track record in our area has seen some pretty devastating outcomes – including the selloff of the Australian Technology Park site and massive proposed overdevelopment at North Eveleigh. “While we acknowledge the Government’s commitment that the number of social housing dwellings will be maintained in the new development, we need to ensure that these dwellings will continue to house the same number of residents. “We have seen cases of redevelopment of public housing where the number of dwellings has been maintained but with a significant reduction in size. As a minimum we need a commitment that there will be no reduction in the number of bedrooms or number of residents that can be housed.
Air Pollution Standard Sets A Low Bar For WestConnex
Under the new ‘Clean Air Agreement’ NSW has opted for air pollution standards below World Health Organisation guidelines. State ministers were divided on appropriate levels of the dangerous PM10 particles. According to reports, the decision to allow a threshold over WHO recommendations was driven by NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman. Stricter standards have been self-imposed by Victoria and the ACT. The decisions have implications for WestConnex and the levels of emissions released by traffic along its route. Member for Newtown and Greens spokesperson for WestConnex Jenny Leong MP said: “We don’t have to look far to see why the NSW Government is so opposed to meeting the recommended levels for PM10 pollution given that the polluting WestConnex tollway, one of the state’s most significant infrastructure projects, won’t meet those standards.
Community United Against North Eveleigh Development
What a strong response to our community meeting last weekend about the NSW Government plans to sell off public land to developers around Redfern and Eveleigh. Our community is united in calling for targets for affordable housing, open space, recreational facilities, schools, healthcare and active transport before there is any sell off of public land to developers.
WestConnex $6 billion cost blowout - Turnbull govt refuses review
Media Release In the wake of the release of the updated WestConnex Business Case and the New M5 EIS the Greens have criticised the federal government for ruling out a review of the project that has now shown a multi-billion dollar blowout in total costs. Newtown Greens MP Jenny Leong said “With the cost of the WestConnex blowing out from the initial $10 billion to $16.8 billion, this project should be urgently reviewed. “Neither the WestConnex Business Case or the new M5 EIS adequately address the fundamental issue of public transport solutions but instead offer spurious benefit cost figures based on questionable financial benefits to the NSW economy. “This is just Utopia-style spin and unfortunately the outcome for locals will be more congestion and polluted air.
OP ED: The way we justify investments in road projects like WestConnex doesn’t add up
Written by Chris Standen for the Sydney Morning Herald. "The approach used in Australia for assessing the "economic benefits" of urban transport projects was devised by highway agencies in the 1960s to justify the massive cost of urban motorways. This has given us the urban sprawl, car-dependence and high transport costs with which we are encumbered today.
