Danish Architect inspires Sydney's future

Reader's of eCouncillor will be well aware of my great passion for Copenhagen and all things Danish. So it will be no surprise that I am excited that the City of Sydney has engaged the professional services of Jan Ghel the renown Danish architect to undertake a 10 month study of the Sydney CBD. The objective is to facilitate pedestrian and related activity and to 'reconquer' Sydney for the people on the streets. With 400,000 daily workers and visitors our streets and public spaces need to be more than conduits between work, transport and shops.

Ghel has worked for cities all around the world including Melbourne where most observers would agree his guidance has turned the Melbourne CBD from desolate car dominated streets in the mid 90's to a vibrant and bustling CBD full of people, art and activity today. Melbourne Council gives him the credit for changing city policies in the mid 90's. The City of Sydney's hope is that Ghel can guide our city towards a path of a more quality urban experience and enhanced human scale public spaces in the CBD. This will mean challenges including ultimately taming the dominance of the private motor vehicle in the CBD. But other cities are doing it and the results are not just a more livable city but higher economic productivity and social cohesion.

Today's SMH reports on Jan Ghel:

City with a hole at its heart shown how to get back on its feet

City with a hole at its heart shown how to get back on its feet

A walk on the wild side … Professor Gehl braves the traffic on George Street yesterday.Photo: Peter Rae

Catharine Munro Urban Affairs EditorMay 9, 2007

TRAFFIC managers are good at monitoring car movements, but no one is studying how pedestrians use the roads, says the Danish architect Jan Gehl. The oversight could be costly. Professor Gehl believes Sydney - like Melbourne, which he began to study while on sabbatical there in the 1970s - is a "doughnut", because it has nothing in the centre.

"A great proportion of those who use the streets, they have nobody to represent them … they have gradually been treated worse and worse until, in America, they go home and stay home and watch TV and go to the shopping mall and that's the end of life," he said.

The City of Sydney has budgeted almost $300,000 for Professor Gehl's team to observe how pedestrians use the city centre. Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne have also used his services. Melbourne is on his list of nine international success stories. Its achievements have been measured through counting how much life had entered the CBD: the residential apartments, the pavement cafes and the nightlife.

City of Melbourne's director of city design, Rob Adams, said Professor Gehl's two studies, in 1994 and 2004, allowed the city to assess the effect of the changes they made, including the closure of Swanston Street. "Suddenly Swanston Street is the most successful retailing street in Australia," Mr Adams said.
Sydney pedestrians could also "reconquer" the city from the car, Professor Gehl said. "I have the feeling that we should be a little bit bold here and a little bit brave."

City of Sydney already plans to give pedestrians room to move on one of its busiest intersections. They have been buying properties opposite Town Hall - including the Woolworths building - in the hope of making room for a park.

A particular bugbear is the pedestrian push button at traffic lights. Professor Gehl argues walkers should not have to "apply" to cross the road. In a study of London traffic, he found most pedestrians crossed against the lights. "Crossing the road is a human right," he argues.
A spokesman for the Roads and Traffic Authority retorted that "not getting hit by a car" was "beneficial to human rights".
Professor Gehl suggests creating a continuous footpath on main streets, so that cars have to drive over the raised area. "Then the cars have the problem," he said.
His recommendations on Sydney will be released in September.

Community centre's $20m price tag

From today's SMH - more later.....

Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter

THE City of Sydney's plan to build a community centre in Surry Hills, which has exceeded its original budget by more than $13 million, was approved by the council's finance committee last night. The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, used her casting vote at the special meeting. The centre will include childcare facilities, a library and meeting rooms, and will cost as much as $19.9 million. The council's 2006-09 corporate plan budgeted for only $3.6 million. The Deputy Mayor, Chris Harris, said he was told that incorporating green sustainable principles into the building had driven up the cost. "But sustainability shouldn't cost that much. I thought it was crazy it's gone up so much," Cr Harris said. "I think this project is very, very important to Clover Moore because this is the heart of her support in Bligh."

Cr Tony Pooley, the former mayor of the defunct South Sydney Council, said the centre was first planned by his old council. "The Surry Hills community centre started off under South Sydney. Our report in March 2003 recommended the facility would cost $2.2 million. It's just inconceivable how much it's gone up," he said. "It's a bigger complex than South Sydney envisaged. The green stuff is good and there's an extra floor being dug underground but even since we knew about that it's doubled."

Councillors have asked staff to provide more detail on the cost blowout, but so far had been denied it, Cr Shayne Mallard said.Cr Moore said there was no point comparing old and new project plans. "Previous figures were based on a different project proposed by the former council, or preliminary assessments of the current design."

Richard Francis-Jones, an architect with the firm that designed the building, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, said sustainable building principles should not be blamed for the rising cost of the Surry Hills centre. "To say that that number is due to sustainability concerns is completely wrong. Generally speaking, if one is trying to produce a sustainable building, it may involve additional expenditure but in terms of
whole of life costs it's generally less." Work on the centre, in Crown Street, was due to begin this month but has been delayed by councillors fighting over the cost.

City prepares for Public Safety

After the horrors of 911 and the London train bombings I called upon Council to take practical steps in preparing our city for a public emergency. Since that time the City's CCTV has been significantly upgraded and expanded. High level security meetings between all levels of government have been underway and for those of us on the streets of the city some tangible evidence of planning as the Daily telegraph reports below. Lets hope that these measures are never needed.

Blaring sirens for APEC

By Lillian Saleh May 07, 2007

ALMOST 50 loudspeakers and sirens will be installed across the Sydney CBD under a State Government plan to safeguard the city during the APEC Summit.
With city workers and visitors facing the prospect of road closures at short-notice, they will now also be warned of any security breaches or terrorist threats via this equipment as 21 of the world's leaders converge on Sydney this September. Sydney City Council has agreed to a request by the State Government to allow 49 public announcement and siren systems to be put on smartpoles. It will also allow for the installation of 12 variable message signs (VMS) on the smartpoles – which are multipurpose street poles with street lights and CCTV cameras – and one on the railway structure of the Cahill Expressway.

A copy of a Principles of Understanding agreement obtained by The Daily Telegraph stipulates 13 conditions including that the PS and VMS system "will be primarily used for communicating and assisting the public to safety in the event of a major incident".

The loud speakers and sign boards will be used to alert CBD workers, residents and visitors of a terrorist attack or natural disaster and guide them to safety. But under the agreement, the council will have the right to use the technology at major city events including New Years Eve. In return, the council will not charge the State Government rent for using the smartpoles. The systems are not permitted to be used for commercial advertising or promotional purposes.

"Except in the event of emergency, the hours of use of the PA system, and message relayed, will be limited to minimise disturbance to members of the public," the agreement states.

Liberal Councillor Shayne Mallard yesterday welcomed their installation and called for a public education campaign. "I have previously called upon the City Council to work more closely with State and Federal governments to improve safety for our 400,000 CBD workers and visitors," Mr Mallard said. September 7 has been declared a public holiday for Sydneysiders with the State Government last week launching a tourism drive to encourage residents to get out of town during the September 7 – 9 long weekend. It is understood a state-wide public holiday wasn't declared because it would have encouraged country locals to head to Sydney.

Secret 35% increase in 'Spin' budget

The problem with Council budgets and Corporate Plans is that they are an omnibus of good and bad spending proposals. On one hand the budget proposes expenditure in areas like child care and libraries and on the other hidden away in confidential briefing papers is a proposal to increase the budget for spin for the council communications unit from $5.52 million in the 2006-07 budget to $7.46 million in the 2007-08 budget - that's a whopping 35% and means more glossy brochures and more slick advertising promoting the City - and the Lord Mayor along the way. The Sydney Morning Herald reports today:

Spin cycle: council PR boost hidden in wash

• Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter
  May 7, 2007

THE City of Sydney council has secretly proposed increasing funding for public relations by more than 35 per cent.

A confidential document, sent only to councillors, reveals a plan to increase funding for the council communications unit from $5.52 million in the 2006-07 budget to $7.46 million in the 2007-08 budget. The unit includes public affairs, publishing services, community consultation and marketing.

"Spin! Looks like they have been taking lessons from the Labor Party," said Cr Shayne Mallard, who opposes the plan.

The money is not for the PR team of the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, which is funded separately. But Cr Mallard said the Lord Mayor still benefited.

"They are pumping out brochure after brochure with Clover's picture on it. There wasn't a communications department like this three years ago," he said, adding that the proposed change should not have been hidden in confidential papers, unable to be viewed by the public.

The document says increased funding was required "to meet demand for community consultations and higher standards for community information on council services and programs, plus consultation related to [local action plan]projects, the city's capital works and for the Sydney 2030 project in 2007-2008."

The council's chief executive, Monica Barone, said public consultation was anexpensive but important part of the council's $150 million capital works plan for the coming year.

"Every time we [propose a change] to a park or a community centre, we advertise a meeting, talk to people, bring draft designs, we do two or three meetings. Those things cost money but they really pay off," she said.

The proposed communications budget was a fraction of the council's operating expenditure and the figures would be made public once the financial plan was put on exhibition, she said.

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.

"It has a sniff of pork to it,"

The SMH reports on Clover's $350 million spending spree. She can't spend it fast enough rewarding her loyal village voters. Meanwhile the CBD where ALL the wealth was created does not get its share reinvested. Cracked and uneven bitumen paths still represent the majority of CBD footpaths. Roads continue to show signs of advanced wear and tear. Key pedestrian and commuter links wait for yet another study as do the retailers as they beg for more marketing resources. Most CBD parks are in desperate need of some TLC. The state of the Pitt Street Mall with cracked and damaged paving is an embarrassment. And finally the homeless and not so homeless lie in doorways and block footpaths begging for cash as if we are in the 3rd world.

Catharine Munro Urban Affairs Editor March 29, 2007

TAYLOR SQUARE, Sydney's meeting point for drunks, drag queens and office workers, is in town planners' sights for yet another makeover.
The City of Sydney has the Oxford Street nightclub hub on its list for refurbishment as part of its substantial $350 million program that started three years ago and will continue for the next four years.
Planners are yet to decide how they will do it, but they want to combat public fears about safety on the square, which is presided over by the historic Supreme Court building but ruled by nightclubs and pubs.
They are considering it as a new spot for jazz performances and offering busking licences, as well as installing more public art. They also want to build a cafe above a disused toilet outside the Supreme Court to encourage people to enjoy the open space.
"It's been dead space for some time ... It's meant to be a community meeting place, a place to gather," the council's general manager of special projects, Steve O'Brien, told the Herald.
But that is easier said than done, says Cr Tony Pooley, who presided over a major renovation of Taylor Square as mayor of South Sydney Council before it joined the City of Sydney three years ago. He spent $5.25 million for a water feature and terraced grass on the so-called Gilligan's Island side of the square, which opened in 2003. He believes the plan failed because Taylor Square is just too busy.
"We had this idea that people ... might break out the paper and have a bit of coffee," Cr Pooley said. The high-speed traffic on Oxford Street and the number of pedestrians made it impossible for people to take in the atmosphere, he said.
The $350 million budget will be spent on sites across the City of Sydney, which runs from Redfern to Rushcutters Bay and up to Glebe, following the amalgamation with South Sydney and parts of Leichhardt.
Following a 12-month community survey, the council plans to start spending what the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, argues were excessive cash reserves accumulated through past underspending on facilities and infrastructure.
"These are concept plans at this stage," said Cr Moore.
But a Liberal councillor, Shayne Mallard, said the spending should be spread over a longer period of time.

"It has a sniff of pork to it," Cr Mallard said.

Another election is over - but who really won?

Finally another election has come and gone (well nearly gone). The new seat of Sydney has rewarded its big spending Lord Mayor by electing her MP. The Liberals have come second in the contest for the first time since losing the old Bligh in 1988. Councillors celebrated various personal triumphs with champagne after Monday night's committee meetings. I raised a glass to the second Rabbitohs victory.

Vote4Cycling.com.au

Edward Mandla on the inner city campaign trail

Electorate of Sydney candidate Edward Mandla may be a heterosexual father of three, but he's also a man for the gay community, he tells Sam Butler.

"Gays don't care about gay and lesbian issues - they care about land tax."

The NSW Liberals did their homework when selecting Edward Mandla as their candidate for the State seat of Sydney: powerfully built, with exfoliated and moisturised skin, distinguished grey hairs and a handsome smile, he's an ideal 'Daddy' fantasy for the otherwise politically-ambivalent 'twinks' residing in and around Stonewall.
Stonewall, in fact, is where Mandla recently launched a fundraiser, without actually addressing any gay and lesbian issues in his speech! He points out, in his defence, that he was there as part of Shadow Mental Health Minister Judy Hopwood's launch of the Opposition's $396 million mental health policy.
Mandla cites Labor's failures in mental health as a prime reason for his decision to throw his hat into the political arena; and becoming Member for Sydney would be a commendable addition to an already impressive resume, including Immediate Past President of the Australian Computer Society (ASC) and current director of Smartforce Solutions.
The father-of-three identifies as a strong family man, but his concept of family is vastly different from that of the Liberal Party's 'family values' proponents. Unlike former Prime Minister Paul Keating, Mandla believes "a man and his dog" does constitute a family, and says the current definition of 'family' pushed by most of his counterparts is in need of a shake-up. To this end, he claims he is the "crusader" needed to challenge homophobic attitudes in a party not renowned for being queer-friendly. In Mandla's view, the Liberal Party is not so much the "broad church" that John Howard describes, but "a high-rise building in the CBD in which every part of society resides" - including, apparently, gay-friendly IT gurus.
So just how gay-friendly is Edward Mandla? "[My] entire campaign team is gay", he says, including his campaign director. He identifies "hundreds" of gay and lesbian friends, including "lonely older gay men" whom he speculates might not be so lonely now if they had the opportunity to commit to one another via civil unions years ago. Consequently, he's strongly in favour of such unions and guarantees to be vocal in his support should he pull off the minor miracle of knocking Clover Moore out of the seat she's held for nearly 20 years.
He claims, however, that his many queer friends aren't talking to him about such issues - "they're talking to me about land tax!" Perhaps this explains why the words 'gay' and 'lesbian' don't appear anywhere in the Liberals' 2007 State election policy platform. Despite this absence, Mandla believes that equality will be achieved for gays and lesbians - in fact, he maintains that it's a done deal, and offers an optimistic time-frame of 'five to ten years' (even under Howard and/or Debnam governments) by which time equality will be achieved. There's even a bold assertion that civil unions will happen under a Liberal government sooner than a Labor government, due to resistance in the latter from old-school Catholic unionists.
Which brings us to the Iemma government. After 12 years of an administration that, even by its own admission, "has more work to do" (a euphemism, perhaps, for wasted opportunities, economic mismanagement and prolonged incompetence) why aren't the Liberals streets ahead in opinion polls? Mandla is actually encouraged by the Liberals' underdog position: "I just love those polls - we're exactly where I want us to be. People are becoming more and more angry that the government could be returned, and increasingly I see people who have never voted Liberal, who may secretly do that for the first time. I love it."
As for his main opponent, Clover Moore, Mandla admits that although he once held this "folk hero" in high esteem as a social champion, he argues that as both the Member for Sydney (formerly Bligh) and the city's Lord Mayor, she simply doesn't have time to "chain herself to trees in Rushcutters Bay"; to represent her constituents as she used to. He believes that Moore has lost hitherto-held respect since taking on two jobs, and claims to be tapping into a well of disgruntled voters who supported her at the last election but now seek a "full-time" member.
Does he believe he can beat Clover? "I'm narrowing the gap. But I have a $50,000 budget - money I raised personally - and I'm up against her 90k-a-month public relations budget. You saw what happened in Mardi Gras, that's what I'm up against. It's hard."
Still, Mandla exudes the confidence one would expect from a successful, self-made businessman, and it's difficult to doubt his conviction that the only way the Liberal Party will improve its generally appalling history on GLBTI rights is for 'new blood' to join up and, over time, chip away at entrenched homophobic policy.
"These things don't happen overnight", he says, which is certainly true. (They also shouldn't take 11 years, which is how long queers have had to wait for their government to address discriminatory Commonwealth legislation.)
With accusations from his staff that the queer media give the Liberal Party 'a rough time', what's the one key, unedited message Edward Mandla wants to get across to SX readers? "Call me!"
It's an open invitation, as the man is keen to consult with his prospective electorate - so go nuts, everyone.
And as a final suggestion: "Don't be afraid to put a 1 in the Liberal box, even if you've never done so before. You don't even have to tell anyone - just make sure you do it."

Save Crown Street Reservoir Rally this Saturday

LINK HANDS TO SAVE THE CROWN STREET RESERVOIR THIS SATURDAY - AN URGENT APPEAL LINK HANDS TO SAVE THE RESERVOIR AN URGENT APPEAL FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This Saturday February 24th the Shadow Minister for Planning and Redfern Waterloo, Chris Hartcher will visit residents protesting the subdivision and sale of the Crown Street Reservoir. The purpose of the shadow minister’s visit is to be briefed by residents on the issue and to make a statement on the future of the reservoir site.

Show the visiting shadow minister and media the extent of resident opposition to the subdivision and sale of the Crown Street Reservoir. Be at the gates when the Shadow Minister and media contingent are in attendance.Residents plan to link hands and form a human chain across the Crown Street frontage of the reservoir. This is a potent symbol of how the community has come together and is united in our determination to protect this historic landmark.

Show your support and be there.In the heat of an election campaign the NSW Government will have to respond to any promises made by the opposition. It only through showing the depth and strength of community opposition to the subdivision and sale of the reservoir that we can get promises to save it! Please arrive at the gates of the Crown Street Reservoir by 1.00pm. CRAG will be there as usual from 10.00am.

The shadow minister and media are expected at 2.00pm.The gates of the reservoir are located on Crown Street Surry Hills between Reservoir and Campbell Sts. Bring your friends and family.Visibility is everything. Bring banners and placards to decorate the gates. Make the most of this opportunity to save the Crown Street Reservoir.

Crown Reservoir Action Group [crag@unwired.com.au]

eCouncillor update

A few eCouncillor regulars have been contacting me asking where is eCouncillor!!


Over the Christmas break we have been working to relaunch the www.shaynemallard.com web site and blog after technical headaches with this site (ie like inability to upload pictures). We plan to be back on a more regular basis in February as the Council returns to the conveyor belt of reports and outcomes. Please stay tuned. Shayne


PS Here I am with my partner Jesper and the mighty Ashes urn! Too get so close was a treat at the South Sydney 'Rabbitohs' charity cricket day held at South Sydney's Allan davidson Oval earlier in January. Congratulations to Peter Holmes aCourt and his team on supporting the community and broadening the offering for the Rabbitohs fans.

Do the Jazz and Symphony in Domain by bike

It takes time but City of Sydney is rolling out pro bicycle policies throughout the organisation and our activities. The announcement below is an overdue but welcome addition:

The City of Sydney is encouraging people to cycle to the Sydney Festival's Jazz and Symphony in the Domain concerts this year for a hassle free and healthy transport option.
For the first time, free bike racks will be provided at both concerts, courtesy of the City of Sydney.
Chair of the Sydney Festival, Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said this year's fantastic Sydney Festival brings some of the world's best artists together in our beautiful city, the cultural capital of Australia.

The popular free concerts draw large crowds to the City. Riding your bike to the event is an easy and convenient way to get there. Cycling to the city also helps keep Sydney's air clean and reduces traffic congestion.

Cycling is also great for your health and fitness - the top two issues for New Year's resolutions by Sydneysiders.

The free secure parking area will be for up to 320 bicycles.
City of Sydney will also be giving away free bike pumps to the first 20 cyclists to use the bicycle parking facility at each Domain Concert.

Jazz in the Domain, Saturday 13th January
Symphony in the Domain, Saturday 20th January

The bike racks will be open from 3:30pm - 11:15pm (the concerts commence at 8pm and finish around 10:30pm)

The secure bicycle parking area is located behind the stage, on the corner of Art Gallery and Hospital Roads. Access from Art Gallery Road.
While the bicycle racks will be within a fenced area patrolled by security, cyclists are required to supply their own bike locks/chains to secure their bikes to the rack.
The City of Sydney is a Principal Supporter of the Sydney Festival.

More info here

Brothel Closure a win for Residents

The decision by the chief justice of the Land and Environment Court to close the Potts Point brothel Misty's has reassured long suffering residents in the area that the law can protect their rights to enjoy security and comfort in their neighbourhood. The decision forces the current operator to leave the site within a few months although unfortunately it does not extinguish the right for the site to continue as a brothel under another operator.
The former pro sex industry South Sydney Council approved the brothel to operate under a different owner in 1998. It should never have done also being located in the heart of a residential area, surrounded by modern apartments and directly next door to a girls high school. Any new operator will be on notice after this landmark case and be warned to proceed with great caution to move into the site which would be much better suited as residential.

It has been noted by several observant residents that so called local publicity seeking heritage experts have claimed credit on this case in usual dial a quote style. Speaking with residents and checking the court proceedings (available on Council's web site link below) they appear conspicuously absent. It is hard to see the publicity driven link between a brothel and so this so called heritage band wagon. Some have suggested it is up there with opposing walking dogs in parks and night clubs in the centre of the Cross. This court case was about residential safety, law and order, public confidence in our planning and legal systems and nothing to do with heritage.

Council report Item 4 here.

Judge orders brothel to shut

Justin NorrieDecember 8, 2006
THE future of dozens of NSW brothels is in doubt after a court decision to shut a Potts Point sex business whose clients regularly disturbed the neighbourhood.
In a judgement that sets a precedent for the sex industry, the NSW Land and Environment Court has ordered the Tusculum Street "massage and masturbation" parlour, Misty's, to shut within four months after complaints by neighbours about late-night disturbances.
It was the first time the court has used its power to make an order under the recently enacted section 17(1) of the Restricted Premises Act . The section allows councils to apply to the court to have a brothel shut where it operates within view of a church, hospital or school and interferes with the public amenity.
Residents and students at the adjoining Catholic girls' boarding school, St Vincent's College, had frequently complained to City of Sydney Council about "antisocial behaviour including urinating, fighting, using offensive language, throwing rubbish and intimidating residents and students", said the court's chief justice, Brian Preston.
The operator of the brothel, Suzelle Antic, did not respond to a request for an interview yesterday. The Herald understands she plans to appeal against the ruling, which also ordered that her business pay the council's $60,000 legal costs.
The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the decision was a warning to all rogue brothel operators.
More than 30 witnesses testified against the Potts Point brothel, which has boasted in advertisements that it has "50 Ladies! Now 10 rooms!"
They were supported by the Potts Point & Kings Cross Heritage Conservation Society president, Andrew Woodhouse, who said: "Brothel owners everywhere should be alert and alarmed about this. We're not against sex; we're for residents. This decision - a major first - potentially affects hundreds of brothels in the state."
Two private investigators hired by Misty's who gave evidence admitted to the court that they had seen groups of young men "smashing bottles on the road, hitting a road and traffic sign with a stick, urinating on trees in Tusculum Street, on nearby apartment block walls and even on the tyres of the private investigators' car."
Chief Justice Preston was unswayed by the opinion of a social planner, Dr Rigmor Berg, who argued the closure would mean that "in the short term, men would not be able to relieve their sexual frustration at Misty's."

"Sydney's Own Dear Clover is More a a Mixture of Respect and Fear"

Scandals: He's not our MOM

Melbourne's Lord Mayor, John So, has been named the World's Most Outstanding Mayor, but we're here to dispute the claim before it goes to the Second City's head. We reckon Melburnians rorted the poll in some way.
As we understand the situation, Melbourne's infatuation with So is a mixture of respect for his management skills and amusement at his cuteness (Sydney's view of Our Own Dear Clover is more a mixture of respect and fear). During the Commonwealth Games, Them Down There wore T-shirts bearing So's name and wrote songs dedicated to him. Now, it seems, they've overwhelmed an international website.
So's triumph was announced yesterday by a group called City Mayors, who said he had been voted the best from among 677 civic leaders. Over five months earlier this year, City Mayors polled 103,000 people (or roughly 0.000016 per cent of the world's population). So got more than 16,000 votes, enabling him to join such previous winners as Edi Rama of Tirana, Albania, who went on to become the country's opposition leader.
Did anyone in Sydney even know about this contest? We're sure Clover Moore would have at least 16,000 supporters willing to cast an anonymous vote to get their mayor some worldwide recognition next year. The campaign starts now: Clover for MOM in '07! Prepare to vote on worldmayor.com. Ballots open sometime in June, we think.