Item 10 for the Planning Development and Transport Committee tomorrow night is a proposal to close George Street in the Rocks (between Alfred Street and Hickson Road) from 10pm Friday to 4am Saturday and same into Sunday morning. Council and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (the government body governing the Rocks) have come up with the no brainer to break the cruise circuit for so called car 'hoons'. It has been a fascinating and in my view uncomfortable unfolding of stereotyping of a certain community element who get their social engagement from cruising the streets of Sydney in hoted up Subarus. Street closures are not the answer here. All this trial street closure will do is move the 'hoons' to a new route. No doubt back into Kings Cross. "Hoons' - as long as they are law abiding have rights in this ciy as well. We should be working to provide facilities and services that ill meet their legal needs rather than jump to the outlaw options.
One thing is certain - they will not be using Palmer or Crown Streets to cross the Harbour after the outrageous action of the RTA to close the access from them to cross the harbour. Motorists from as far away as Paddington, Surry Hills, Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst will be forced to either crawl through the one well publicised 'rat run' or pay the $1.63 toll in the new tunnel. The RTA should leave the Palmer Street route open - even if they narrow it and phase the lights to discourage heavy intra-suburban traffic.
But back to the Rocks closure. Take a look at the new signs City Council is proposing to install to facilitate a transit way for only two nights a week! As if there is not enough signs already on the streets of this city. I will be moving for a comprehensive review of signs at these locations (looking for rationalisation) and failing a sensible reduction that no new sign posts be installed for the new signs (ie use existing posts). 21 new signs - I can't believe it! In one of the nations top heritage precints as well. In many ways I wonder how far this country has wandered from it authoritarian prison guards and whips convict past sown only metres from this site?
