Paving standards reviewed

It’s great that the Sunday press take up the important issues confronting our city…but if you are wearing high heels and take a tumble in Martin Place then you would appreciate that this problem has been raised and acknowledged by Council. I have received several complaints from women about tripping over on our granite paths and after yesterday’s coverage more have come forward including an MP. It is a serious issue with the potential for a life long injury caused by falling hard onto the unforgiving granite. What this issue does highlight is the variation in standards for laying granite around our city streets.

There are different specifications for various projects around town. Not only are the gaps and joints different but also some areas are cemented down and others layed on a weaker sand and cement mix. The result of this is that on some streets we can lift out granite paving stones, sit them aside and then relay them when work is completed eg Oxford street. In other areas contractors have to cut and jackhammer out the granite and then lay new stone to make the paving repairs. An example of this is William Street. People stand shaking their heads as they watch the new granite cut and ripped out by telecommunications contractors. Not a very ‘sustainable’ use of resources.

Council officers are very aware of my consistent concerns about this wastage and are in fact attending a national conference on ‘street paving and openings’ where issues like this and the authority of utilities to open foot ways without consultation with Councils will be discussed.

Martin Place a hazard for heels

By Ellen Connolly April 15, 2007 12:00

Sydney City Council has to undertake essential repairs to Martin Place - because of women's shoes. Each week, scores of women are getting their heels caught in gaps in the deteriorating granite paving. Not only are they ruining expensive stilettos, the risk of injury has heightened.

"It has become dangerous,'' Sydney City councillor Shayne Mallard said. "Women could break their wrists - never mind breaking a $100 pair of shoes.''

Lord Mayor Clover Moore agreed, and last week ordered urgent repairs be carried out. Ms Moore told a recent meeting she also wanted a review of construction standards for granite paving. Anna Farrow welcomed the council move because it would reduce her shoe bill.
"My shoes get caught most days and I'm always getting them reheeled,'' the 21-year-old bank worker said.
The paving was laid in 1998 as part of a $15 million facelift of Martin Place. But the rubber joint filling has deteriorated, creating 10mm gaps. Anna Balashova, 25, said her heels were often getting stuck.
"I'm very conscious now when I'm walking. I'm quite tall and it's a very high fall for me. It's every girl's concern.''
Councillor Mallard said the issue was of public safety as women had reported falling over. "A woman contacted me and said her heel got caught she fell over, face forward and broke her shoe,'' he said.
"The gaps are just too wide. It could lead to a lifelong injury.''

Council Adopts 10 year Cycling vision

Cycle Strategy and Action Plan 2007 - 2017

Below is my speech in endorsing the Council's adoption of the Cycle Strategy.

I was initially cynical about the worth of 'earth hour' last Saturday night. But after this Council got on board and I started hearing the enthusiasm of so many people willing to support an action that was as much about being something within the power of each person to make a small difference as it was symbolic of our city and society to start cleaning up our environmental act. The success of earth hour said to me that people are looking for a way that they can personally make a difference in their day to day lives.

Symbolism is important but short lived if it is not followed up by actions and reforms. And so it is more than symbolic that 48 hours after earth hour we are adopting the Cycle Strategy 2007 - 2017 for the City of Sydney. Individuals want to know what they can do to help our environment, to reduce car dependency, to reduce traffic
congestion and live a healthier lifestyle. They want to know how they personally
can make a difference in a city of millions. Through this strategy as we roll out its funded Action Plans we are providing an important opportunity for people who live, work and recreate in this City to reduce their footprint on the environment and lead a healthier and happier life.

This Council and organisation has travelled a long way in the three years since
we initiated a comprehensive rethink on how this city approaches cycling. My hope three years ago was that we would one day be building separate cycle lanes across the city and I set that in my mind as a long term objective. However the fact is that as I struggled with resistance to this from various quarters, I came to the reluctant view that getting a painted lane network was better than nothing at all and that in time as usage grew pressure would force the powers that be, to start to build safer separated lanes that encouraged more people to rediscover the joys of cycling.

So I am very proud that after three years of hard work by staff, consultants and stakeholders (not to mention my colleagues particularly Clrs Harris & McInerney) that we have a comprehensive strategy that is of course not perfect or totally complete but that lays down the framework and principles for this city to embrace a broad based cycling culture over the next decade. A strategy and action plan that allows each resident, worker and visitor an opportunity to make an ongoing personal contribution to reducing our impact upon the climate.

More information on the cycle strategy here.

Clr John McInereny and me cycling in the City.