Crazy banks to blame for Kings Cross rental sting?

I have long wondered why landlords in places like Kings Cross and Oxford street prefer an empty shop at outrageous rent to a tenanted shop at a reasonable rent. Elizabeth Farrelly in the SMH last Thursday explained:

'This disturbingly counter-intuitive effect derives from the fact that retail
properties are valued on rental yield. To reduce rent is to lose borrowing
capacity, summoning the spectre of foreclosure. Even vacancies are better
than that.'

So banks would rather lend to a person with no rental income than to someone with a reasonable one.

It's a vexed question in Kings Cross which, despite endless spin to the contrary from Council and the Kings Cross Partnership, continues to drag its retail feet.

Some residents, and Clover Moore, want to curtail the liquor and club industry in the Cross. There is a theory this will reduce rents in neighbouring premises.

However it would be difficult to prove the effect -- given that the same problem exists elsewhere, and it appears to relate to banks, there is a risk that this negative policy would only succeed in curtailing the more successful night time economy of the Cross while having little effect on rents. Let's not forget that all these late-night patrons are voting with their feet and their dollars They have rights to their entertainment just as we residents have a right to have a say in our area.

Arts festival de-funded

Ironically the previous post on this blog was an interim web presence for the last Kings Cross Arts Festival program. Nearly a year later, it looks as if the 6th annual festival was the last one as council has decided not to continue funding. Council's rationale is that the festival had received funding for three years therefore other things had priority.

On the other hand the Kings Cross Partnership, a big-business association which has also received funding for several years, has been awarded $70,000 in direct funding, seemingly $20,000 above the limit set for business associations.

Council's rationale for de-funding the arts festival would therefore appear to be utter drivel.

This comes as no surprise to the local arts community as this council has bent over backwards to block, divide and sabotage the volunteer-driven event. Originally awarded $30,000 pa by the previous Lucy Turnbull council, this council halved it when a splinter arts group also applied, cutting the budget to $15,000. This is hardly enough to pay for publicity, let alone to hire artists or mount public events, and contravenes the council resolution which approves funding for AN arts festival each year.

There appears to be no redress when staff simply disobey a council resolution.

Nevertheless the Kings Cross Arts Guild went ahead and produced two successful festivals on this reduced budget, with an extensive program covering several weeks, featuring a high proportion of local and original talent. The Kings Cross Partnership refused to sponsor or support the festival.

The problem? The local community of Kings Cross are, shall we say, forthright, earthy people. This is not acceptable to Lord Mayor Clover Moore and council staff who it appears respond only to corporate or gentrified elements. They are rabid about 'cleaning up the Cross' despite their 'City of Villages' policy which aims to maximise the unique character of each urban village.

Unfortunately for them, the character of Kings Cross includes strip clubs, homeless people and thousands of late-night clubbers so its character is unacceptable to the 'naice' people. After $20m+ spent on 'upgrading' the place, not much has changed and we have 60 or so vacant shops in or around 'the strip'. The banks have all moved out and there is little parking. Yet the KX Partnership and council continue to fantasise about turning it into a nice little retail strip for 'the mother and child market' -- just like every other suburb in Sydney. Llankelly place, the first area to be 'upgraded' is virtually dead and its thriving Pad Thai restaurant is about to move across to Roslyn Street where they have more indoor seating.

Many locals, on the other hand, believe that major arts initiatives are the way to revitalise the Cross in a way that evolves its character rather than destroys it. So what does council do? Remove funding for the local arts.

Kings Cross Arts festival 2005

Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm
Elizabeth Bay House, 7 Onslow Avenue
Changing Spaces
Elizabeth Bay House was built between 1835 and 1839. It was designed by John Verge for Alexander Macleay (Macleay Street) and was considered the finest house in colony.
It was subdivided into flats between 1941 and 1973 and because of this four of Australia’s leading architects and interior designers have been commissioned to transform the dining room and drawing into two modern self contained apartments to showcase the potential of new uses for historical buildings.
You are invited to inspect their work in progress and the history of the house is on display in conjunction with the installation. Admission $7 ($3 concession) Families $17.
The Exhibition continues until the 28th of October -- 10.30am to 3.30pm (closed Sunday)
Wednesdays and Saturdays

12 October--29 October
The Tap Art Gallery, 278 Palmer Street at 8pm
The October Sapphire -- a Musical Comedy
Written by local playwright, Nick Coyle, and set in a ruined mansion, this is a play about love, regret, and magic… it’s beautiful, decadent and nostalgic and something to behold.
Bookings MCA ticketing.

Wednesday 12--29 October
Kings Cross Art & Books, 33 Roslyn Street
Elastic: An Archive Project
Elastic is a group of nine artists who create projects that invite other artists to participate with a view to expanding the scope and interpretation of the project. The subsequent results are recorded and exhibited for people to touch and draw their own conclusions with regard to the authenticity of the artists’ interpretations.
The exhibition will be opened by Susan Charlton, the Creative Producer of the NSW State Archives on Saturday 15 October from 4--6pm and a Cross Conversation with the artists themselves on Saturday 22 October at 4pm.

Thursday 13--22 October
50 Macleay Street
Flanagan and Mason Artworks
This is an exhibition of the art of Julia Flanagan and Kiata Mason that involves painting, film, sculpture, drawing, collage and incorporates multi media installations to convey contemporary images that have grown out of the human form, everyday household objects, domestic surroundings and mythological stories.

Thursday 13 October at 9.30pm
The Aussie Rules Club, 28 Darlinghurst Road
The Best of Muff : Pearls Before Swine
(Sydney Premiere)
In the current climate of imploding screen culture in Sydney, the Kings Cross Arts Festival is proud to present a selection of edgy Australian feature films and shorts from the Melbourne Underground Film Festival -- the launching pad of numerous Oz filmmakers including the makers of the Hollywood smash ‘Saw’ and the just-released ‘The Magician’.
Pearls Before Swine is presented by director and MUFF creator, Richard Wolstencroft.
It is the story of a hitman given a contract on an author of subversive literature and pornography. Stars American cult figure Boyd Rice.

Friday 14 October at 9.30pm (Double Feature)
Razor Eaters (Sydney Premiere)
This is Shannon Yuong’s killer detective chiller about a bunch of vigilante arnarchists who record their crime/murder spree on video -- described by legendary pop-culture bible Film Threat as “Fight Club meets The Blair Witch Project”.
plus…
Bullet in the Arse (Sydney Premiere)
Hong Kong Bullet Ballet meets Spaghetti Western in this slick, ten years in the making actioner about a cold-blooded trio whose world is ruled by lethal weaponry.

Saturday 15 October at 9.30pm (Double Feature)
Defenceless (Sydney Premiere)
Mark (Sensitive New Age Killer) Savage’s latest opus about a woman who returns from the dead to avenge her politically motivated murder. This is uncompromising horror.
plus…

The Garth Method
Hilarious satire about an unsuccessful actor who deserves his own dangerous 'method' to get into character and achieve thespian glory.
Stanislavski he ain't as Garth finds hImself in an ever escalating series of real life situations that threaten life, limb, sanity and goof taste.

Thursday 20 October at 9.30pm
The Best of Mini Muff 2005 (Sydney Premieres)
A selection of wild, wicked and award winning shorts from this year’s competition.
Tropfest it ain’t as these speedy gems fearlessly tackle issues you know or issues don’t want to know…
Admission to all sessions: $10 (concessions $5). Persons under 18 years not admitted

Friday 21 October at 9.30pm
darklovestory (World Premiere Charity Screening)
Admission by Donation -- all proceeds to Rough Edges and The Wayside Chapel
Local filmmaker Jon (Redball) Hewitt’s tale of two star cross’d lovers chasing a happy ending. A dialectical fairytale about storytelling wrapped in a crime thriller and set in the mythic neon realm of KX. Completely shot on the streets of Kings Cross and starring Aaron Pedersen (Water Rats) and Belinda McClory (Matrix) this edgy, strange and magical fable is a must see.

Thursday 13 October 6--9pm
The Tap Art Gallery, 278 Palmer Street
The 6th Annual Images of the Cross
Art Exhibition Gala Presentation Night
The Exhibition, featuring the artwork of over 80 local artists runs at the Tap Gallery from the 12th to the 23rd of October between 12 to 6pm.
The Presentation Night has live entertainment and prominent guest speakers and there is over $1000 in prizes to be won! Applications from www.tapgallery.org.au

Thursday 13 October thru to Saturday 29 October (excluding Mondays)
THE DARLINGHURST THEATRE, 19 Greenknowe Avenue

The Internationalist
7pm (Tues--Sat); 5pm (Sunday)
‘The Internationalist’, a surreal, noir comedy thriller, turns on its head the classic journey to find oneself, thanks to playwright Anne Washburn’s original new voice.
Starring Jamie Mears, Torquil Neilson, Christopher Baker, Melissa Bruder & Christopher Burke. Directed by Laurisa Poulos and produced by Margot Bruder & Margot Woodward for The Practical Theatre Company.

plus...

Matt & Ben
9pm (Tues-Sat); 7pm (Sunday)
Mindy Kaling & Brenda Withers’ award winning play ‘Matt & Ben’, spoofs the friendship between two of Hollywood’s most celebrated leading man, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Deliciously spiteful, the casting of women in the roles of Matt and Ben (NIDA graduates Trilby Glover and Jasmin DeMain) adds further spunk to this fiction.
Sold out at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2002, the play also took the prize for the Best Overall Production.
Directed by Alex Broun and produced by After Party Productions.
Tickets for both Shows: $27 ($21 Concession) Bookings: 8356 9987 or www.darlinghursttheatre.com

Thursday 13 October, 8pm
Bar Me (the old El Rocco), Cnr William & Brougham Streets
The Susan Gay Dowling Trio
This is an act you won’t want to miss. This lady gets rave reviews wherever she goes.
As Jim McLeod said on ABC Radio: ‘A genuine musician’s singer; a special talent on the Australian jazz scene. There are few singers who are that special but Susan is one of them’. Come feel the noise!
Admission: $12 (show only) $25 (dinner and show)

Friday 14 to Thursday 27 October
Kings Cross Library, Level 1, 50--52 Darlinghurst Road
Cross Crazies
Opening 5.30pm on Friday the 14th and on show everyday during Library hours, this incredible exhibition features the costumes that made Monique Kelly a legendary star of Les Girls and Diva Divine; Damian Harris’ and Nick Collerson’s images of the Strip… and Toby Zoates’critiques of Kings Cross’ mean streets. Very entertaining, never bland -- you’ll wonder who’s crazy now!

Friday 14 October, 6pm
Gowrie Gate, 117 Macleay Street
Neon Walking Tour
Art Deco Society
The neon signs of Kings Cross have long been considered works of art.
Sadly many have disappeared and conservationists are fighting to save the survivors while encouraging a re-invigoration of the medium.
Jennifer Hill, the heritage architect, will take you on an informative tour of the signs of the times… Cost: $12 (Art Deco Society & Arts Guild members $8)


Friday 14 October to Sunday 16 October
Friday 21st October to Sunday 23rd October
Bar Me, Cnr William & Brougham Streets
Desperate-singles.com
A Cabaret written and performed by Nikki Aitken. A night of soul mate surfing that will have you in stitches! Bookings on 9368 0894

Saturday 15 October at 3pm
Gowrie Gate, 117 Macleay Street
Art Deco Walking Tour
Art Deco Society
Jennifer Hill leads this walk through the streets of Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point to explore some of finest inter-war era apartment blocks in Australia. A magnificence we can only look back on.
Cost: $12 (Art Deco Society & Arts Guild members $8

Saturday 15 October, 1--4pm
Art Gallery Walk
A chance to visit local art galleries and historical houses and hear all about the artwork by resident artists as well as learn about the history of the area. Starts at the Tap Gallery at 1pm, adjourns for high tea at the stately Mansions, takes in a floor talk at the East Sydney Academy by Tony Johansen and ends at Cross Art & Books and Cross Art Project Exhibition.

Saturday 15 October between 4 and 6pm
Piccolo Park, Roslyn Street
Poetry in the Park
This is an invitation to join featured poets and songwriters and perform in the park opposite the legendary Piccolo Bar. Compered by Kings Cross poet, Robert Balas.

Sunday 16 and Monday 17 October, 11am--6pm
Kings Street Gallery on Burton,
The Wayside Chapel Art Exhibition and Auction
The inaugural Art Exhibition and Auction was held last year both as a way of raising much needed funds for the Wayside Chapel’s well known care programmes and as way of strengthening the links they have had with the local artistic community.
It was an outstanding success and this year’s donating artists include Archibald Prize winner, Adam Cullen, Reg Mombassa of Mambo fame, Andrew Sibley, Gav Barbey, John Hawley, Kellyann Denton and many, many more.
Enjoy the exhibition over the two days and join us for the Auction on the Monday evening at 6.30pm for pre auction drinks. The Auction starts at 7pm.
Details on www.thewaysidechapel.com or call 9358 5582.

Sunday 16 October, 3--5pm
Kings Cross Library, Level 1, 50-52 Darlinghurst Road
‘Open 24 Hours’
Book launch
Proudly sponsored by the City of Sydney, ‘Open 24 Hours’ is a book of poems by Robert Balas, based on the colourful and eclectic character of this unique area, illustrated with over 40 paintings and drawings by local artists.

Sunday 16 October from 7--9pm
El Alamein Fountain, Fitzroy Gardens, Macleay Street
‘Milonga’
by Patio de Tango
Sydney’s Tango Argentino aficionados gather together to dance socially in front of Kings Cross’ most beautiful and well known landmarks. Come and find out why Argentino Tango is the most sensual, romantic and beautiful dance in the world.
Hosted by Sophia and Pedro Alvarez. A Free event.

Monday 17th October, 8 to 10pm
The Darlinghurst Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue
New Sydney Comedy
The Cream of the Crop
This your chance to see and hear some of the best and brightest talent in town. Featuring special guest, Justin Hamilton (Triple J, ABC’s The Glass House) and compered by Dave Bloustien (Middle Class Hero) who is one of the best ad-libbers in the business, the show also stars Sam Bowring and Kent Valentine and many more. A night not to be missed; sides will be split… Tickets $12.50 (concession $10 -- stubs from other Arts Festival shows apply).

Monday 17 October
Bar Me, Cnr William & Brougham Streets
Open Mike Night

Tuesday 18—22 October at 6.30pm (for 7pm start)
Tusculum House, 3 Manning Street
Cross Projections 2005
This is a digital photographic-audio screening that has grown out of the wish of experienced documentary photographers to have control over and showcase their personal work to their peers and the wider community in a theatre environment.
Previous years’ shows have all sold out and this year includes dance, Sydney and country subcultures, intimate and public domains as well as indigenous themes.
Tickets: $15 ($11 concession) Bookings on 9357 2038 (10am--6pm/7days)

Tuesday 18 October
Café Pralinka, 7 Roslyn Street from 8-9pm
‘70s Folk Club
Featuring Brian Anderson and Ant Horn
Beards, Blues, Berets and Bad Poetry -- the folk clubs of Kings Cross in the 70s will be reborn for one night only at this funky café. Book for Dinner and the Show ($25) or Show only ($15) at Café Pralinka or the Community Centre.
Dress up as you did last time you went to a folk club and enjoy Margaret Fulton’s famous apricot chicken, an avocado shrimp cocktail, fruit trifle and coffee -- byo wine, beer or mead.

Tuesday 18 October and Tuesday 25 October
Bar Me, Cnr William & Brougham Streets
MakebeLive Productions
presents…
An evening of open mic musical antics. Entry is free and you are encouraged to bring your favourite party piece and come on down. The night kicks off with a variety of acts taking the stage and ends up in an all out jam! Great fun!

Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 October 8pm--late
Candy’s Apartment Nite Club, 22 Bayswater Road
Entertainment Plus
Tuesday features Ed Burton, Sons of Genghis and Hoo Ha’s. Admission $8
Wednesday features Loonshine, The Tongue, Rival (human beats), DJ Dias and is headlined by Botanics. There is also a freestyle battle with $150 prize money. Admission $10

Wednesday 19 October
33 Roslyn Street at 6pm
The Annual Literary Contest for Seniors Awards
This is the 9th Annual Short Story and Poetry Awards Ceremony as part of Seniors Week.
Hosted by the Kings Cross Community & Information Centre and featuring the brilliant guitar of Brian Anderson who will be playing traditional jazz and swing favourites for you as you arrive. Entry Free. A good night for Seniors, their families and friends.

Wednesday 19 October at 7pm
Bar Me, Cnr William & Brougham Streets
Seasons of Love Cabaret
A new entertainment dimension -- cabaret, acting, singing and live performance. Join our artists in a rollercoaster ride through their life stories -- passions, relationships, dilemmas and all our different seasons… the love, the sadness, the laughter and all that jazz!

Thursday 20 and Friday 21 October at 9pm
The World Bar, Bayswater Road
The ‘Sign of the Cross’ Show
In a one hour show by Vashti Hughes, Kath Ellis and Trash Vaudeville plus musicians, the audience will be treated to a rambunctious night of music and song, twirling hoops and spoken word. Trannies and spruikers, showgirls and the homeless -- local living identities are conjured up into a fabulous melting pot that captures the madness and the pulsing heart that is Kings Cross. Entry: $15

Thursday 20 October at 6pm
The Cell Block Theatre, East Sydney Technical College
Absolut Secret -- Drawcard 05
This is the small canvas art show at the National Art School where collectors are invited to choose from over 200 artworks from both established and emerging artists including Robert Jacks, Noel McKenna, Martin Sharp, Euan McLeod, Wendy Sharpe and Colin Lanceley AO. All artworks are $200 and are signed by the artist on the reverse side.
The artists remain anonymous until after the sale.
All proceeds go to the National Art School Exhibition programme.
No cash sales -- credit card (Visa/Mastercard/Bankcard) and cheque only.

Friday 21 October at 7pm
St. John’s Anglican Church, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Cross Collections
Cross Collections presents a variety of performances for one night only in the beautiful St Johns Anglican Church, Darlinghurst.
David Davies performing ‘FINCHIE’ is a tribute to the legendary actor Peter Finch in his Sydney years, and his dreams of turning the Mercury Theatre into the National Theatre Company of Australia. We follow him on his journey from overseas to Kings Cross to the formation of the Mercury Theatre Company. David Davies is a NIDA graduate who has been a member of the Bell Shakespeare Company for the last 5 years. He was last seen as King Edward the 4th in Bells The War of the Roses and in his one man show HYDE/FINCHIE at the TAP gallery.
‘FLOTSAM’ -- Ken Foux, Gary Ross and Peter Urquhart play a series of folk and acoustic song arrangements and improvisations. The vibrant sounds of 6 string and 12 string guitar, violin and voices complement arrangements of ‘Under the Milky way’, ‘Khe Sanh’, ‘Caroline’, and ‘Angie’.
‘The Canyon of the hidden jewels’, composed by Peter Urquhart, is a trio for alto voice (performed by the amazing Jeannie Lewis), baritone and piano and contains movements of the latin Mass -- ‘Sanctus’, ‘Benedictus’, ‘Agnus Dei’ and ‘Pie Jesu’. The piece fuses tones and modes of of different musical periods to create an inspiring and timeless experience.. Admission: $10 ($5 Concession).

Friday 21 October between 6 and 9pm
The Tap Gallery, 278 Palmer Street
‘Open 24 Hours’
Multi Media Event
Poetry recitation by Robert Balas from his new book, ‘Open 24 Hours’, acoustic music by Mary Jane on classical guitar, Adam Hill on didgeridoo with featured Sydney poets --
all with Catalin Anastase’s photographic projection of 40 artworks featured in ‘Open 24 Hours’

Saturday 22 October at 2pm
El Alamein Fountain
Sketch Club in the Park
A chance to see how good an artist you are. A real life model will pose for your drawing and a professional artist will give you help as you go. Easels and paper are provided. Entry $5

Saturday 22 October at 5pm
The Tap Gallery, 278 Palmer Street
Chix with Stix
All female drumming concert featuring many traditional drums from around the world.

Saturday 22 October
Fitzroy Gardens at the top of MacLeay Street from 8pm
Films Under the Stars
Come and enjoy a wonderful selection of short films from Australia’s leading filmmakers under the stars in the shadow of the El Alamein Fountain. Be entertained and bring a blanket or cushion as there is only ground seating. Free Admission.

Sunday 23 October. Noon at Balmain Wharf (Birchgrove Oval)
Sketch Club Ferry Cruise
If you feel like a wind-down and chill-out recovery day after the Arts Festival, come and join us on the vintage ferry ‘Reliance’ for a champagne lunch and sketching trip up the Lane Cove River. Only 30 seats available, Cost: $45/$38 (all inclusive plus a life model)
Bookings: 9361 0440

Council reverses staff spin on signage

Three small businesses in Kings Cross will soon be able to advertise their presence on the street with a revolving sign. Council staff have repeatedly opposed the idea but last Monday Clover Moore's team amended the local Development plan, removing any policy impediment and any rationale for the staff's opposition.

This opposition was already based on pretty thin reasoning and defied councillors who supported the sign. After repeated petitions from Avry Ben-Zeev, who owns World Internet in Darlinghurst Road, staff executive Jason Perica could only base his refusal on the grounds that the sign would 'increase clutter and reduce public amenity'.

Ben-Zeev rejects this as the single sign, shaped like a Toblerone packet with three sides, would replace two existing static signs. He also pointed out that all the JC Decaux signs move, so council was applying a double standard. Councillors agreed that this was a material argument.

Perica repeatedly stood up and argued against the proposed amendment during the council meeting until he was asked to desist by Mayor Clover Moore. The amendment is specific to Kings Cross.

The World internet site held three businesses -- a money exchange, internet room, and a travel agency which had cancelled its lease because it had been unable to advertise its presence.

The development control plan for signage in Kings Cross now encourages creative and animated neons and allows moving signage.

Council workshop on East Sydney street closures

-- from a DRAG press release --

DRAG, 2011 and local business associations are campaigning for a City East Traffic Plan.

Council has agreed to convene an open workshop also open to residents and businesses in the surrounding areas to develop a Traffic Study and Plan for City East. Thanks to Greens Cr Chris Harris for his work on this key planning issue.

Chris Harris put a motion to council on 21 February. It was heavily amended by Clover Moore to read:

That Council
1) recognises the need to regulate the passage of motor vehicles through some streets to provide pedestrian, cycling, amenity, public domain and traffic improvements;
2) supports community consultation, and traffic and other appropriate studies of the affected areas (East Sydney, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, KIngs Cross, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Elizabeth Bay) prior to road changes;
3) notes the variety of opinions in East Sydney, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross over the possible beneficial and negative
impacts of road changes in their area, including:
a) completion of the Cross City Tunnel;
b) William Street upgrade, including possible closure of Bourke Street;
c) Oxford Street upgrade, including possible partial closure of Palmer Street; and
d) trial closure of Liverpool Street at Whitlam Square; and
4) requests the Lord Mayor convene a workshop with representatives of relevant community and business groups in the surrounding areas, Council officers and interested Councillors, with a view to developing an agreed a way forward.
5) The proposed public consultation for the proposed trial closure of Liverpool Street at Whitlam Square, as required under Section 116 of the Roads Act 1993, be deferred until the outcome of the workshop has been reported back to Council for consideration.

Bogota puts Sydney to shame

Carr-addicted Sydney was put to shame last night by the achievements of Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogota Colombia, who spoke at a free talk put on by the Council at Angel Place Auditorium.

Penalosa had confronted powerful interest groups and took electoral risks by rejecting the typical RTA solution of building more roads to solve traffic jams. This was like putting out a fire with gasoline, he said.

A major study by Japanese engineers had recommended a Darling Harbour-style aerial freeway cutting across Bogotar. Penalosa instead built a 35km Greenway through the city, built first for buses, bikes and pedestrians and filled with trees and greenery. Cars came a poor last -- and the people loved it.

He also went on a campaign to remove cars from sidewalks -- he showed slides of previous car anarchy with the demand for parking in the cash-strapped city dominating most public space, to the detriment of social amenity. By contrast, later slides showed people walking, cycling and congregating in the freed space.

He overcame stiff resistance from pro-car interest groups and from a golf course which lost some land to the Greenway.

"It is much easier to tell the story than to do this," he said, raising a laugh from the audience.

He redirected scarce city resources towards an integrated bus system with car-free express routes interchanging with local routes at stations. One ticket gives all-day travel and there is a flat price for all, regardless of the distance travelled. This helped the poorer people who tended to live further out of town -- their fares were subsidised by the richer people in the centre doing shorter trips.

Instead of paving roads and carparks, limited money was spent creating and paving children's amenities, along with a network of free public libraries with computer acess. Slides showed well constructed civic areas surrounded by carparks which resembled bogs.

Traffic jams are a good thing, said Penalosa, because they were a cost-free way of limiting traffic. His message was that car use had to be restricted in conjunction with the improved public transport and cycle facilities. Rather than a congestion charge which dominates the Sydney debate, the rapt audience heard about a tag scheme which kept 40% of cars off the road two days a week. The City's main drag was closed to traffic on Sundays, a move which is so popular that if the police forget to erect the roadblocks on time, the locals do it with rocks and junk.

When asked how he bulldozed his vision through, he recommended a 'dictatorial' approach, taking the political gamble that the moves would prove popular afterwards. We in NSW are used to that -- only our dictators are Philistine carr-loving headkickers living in a 1950s dreamland.

Penalosa is running for the presidency of Columbia this year and has published a number of books including "Democracy and Capitalism: Challenges of the Coming Century." He said Sydney was the most beautiful city he had seen and wished he had all our problems, in an ironic reference to the relative wealth we have.

Clover Moore opened the talk and remained in the audience with her new General Manager, Peter Seamer.

Traffic snarls will boost tunnel profits

The RTA has a grand plan for traffic in our area. Local groups claim it's really about channelling traffic into the Cross-City Tunnel. The following research has been compiled by DRAG and 2011 residents' Association for your information. The plan looks pretty crook for locals, we think.

1. STREET CLOSURES IN CITY EAST

The following closures to local streets and regional roads (by City of Sydney) and to the arterial road network (by the RTA) are proposed or have been approved:

1.1. Sydney City Council proposes closing:

# Liverpool Street to all traffic at Whitlam Square (except emergency vehicles);
# Francis Street to all traffic at College Street;
# All traffic coming down Stanley from College can only turn left into Yurong and then proceed to William Street;
# Palmer Street exit to Oxford Street (as part of Oxford Street Upgrade).

1.2. The RTA has recently implemented or proposes closing:

# Bourke Street closed South of William Street or permanently half closed north of William Street;
# Prohibit right turns from William St into Bourke St northbound;
# Bourke St (north of William) is now one-way running south. Driving south from Bourke St you can only turn west to the CBD ;
# Cathedral St is now one-way between Palmer and Bourke Street eastbound. The rest of Cathedral remains 2-way.

1.3. The CCT/RTA has approval from Dept of Planning (now DIPNR) to implement these changes:

# Stop traffic from Sir John Young Crescent from entering the Harbour Tunnel. Instead, traffic will U-turn at a single lane roundabout constructed at the intersection of Crown and Sir John Young Cresc to Macquarie Street and over the Cahill Expressway or proceed via Cathedral Street/Bourke St to Cowper Wharf Road;
# Restrict access from Cowper Wharf Road to northeast CBD. Through traffic originating east of Kings Cross would be required to use either the CCT or William St;
# Access to the Harbour Tunnel only from Cowper Wharf Roadway westbound;
# Kings Cross traffic will now enter the CCT portal via a new ramp from Ward Ave (located 30 metres east of the existing Kings Cross Tunnel).


2. IMPACT OF PROPOSED CHANGES :

The effect of these changes would be to:

# Force locals to use a more circuitous route to the CBD or Harbour Tunnel;
# Force surface traffic trying to access the Harbour Tunnel into the CCT;
# Increase traffic into the CCT by ensuring increased “choice” of the CCT by locals.” The RTA aims to encourage car use as a Public-Private Investment (PPI) incentive;
# Cause delays for locals exiting Woolloomooloo east of Bourke St;
# Increase traffic on Ward Ave, Kings Cross Road and Victoria Sts as well as Neild Ave, McLachlan Av and Liverpool St (Darlo) and MacDonald St;
# Concentrate traffic onto New South Head Rd (already congested by 72,900 vpd beyond its capacity of 60,000 vpd);
# Create a bigger bottleneck on Macquarie Street (from 19,800 to 26,800 vpd) ;
# Increase traffic northbound on the Bridge (+7000 from Cahill Expressway and +7840 vpd from Bradfield Highway).

3. NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CITY EAST RESIDENTS & BUSINESSES

3.1. In East Sydney & Woolloomooloo

Traffic in East Sydney is now light, except for the four streets—Oxford, William, Crown, Stanley—all densely packed with residents, businesses and restaurants. These streets are heavily congested, with heavy noise and air pollution. The proposed closures are of streets with light traffic which will decrease further when the CCT opens.

Congestion on these heavily used four routes will be aggravated because:

# Traffic from the City will have to use Crown Street to access any streets between Hyde Park and Crown. There will be a single lane turn for east traffic into Crown from William;
# If Bourke Street is closed south of William, traffic cannot turn into William Street from Bourke Street. All Bourke Street traffic will travel along Crown Street or Stanley/Yurong to leave the area;
# Traffic currently using Liverpool Street to enter East Sydney will travel via Oxford Street and Crown Street;
# Traffic currently exiting from East Sydney to Oxford Street via Palmer will travel via Crown Street or Victoria Street Darlinghurst;
# Crown Street between Oxford and William Streets will be jammed during peak hours. Cars from side streets already have great difficulty turning into Crown Street;
# The only east-west streets open in East Sydney also carry the 389 bus route;
# The 311 and 312 bus routes would be re-directed in Woolloomooloo. The 311 will be gridlocked between Cathedral and William;
# Harbour Tunnel access is by weaving via Crown or Palmer to Cathedral, then via Bourke to Cowper Wharf Road;
# Harbour Bridge access is via Macquarie Street or through the City or via the CCT;
# The increased traffic threatens the success of the Oxford and William Street upgrades.

3.2. In Kings Cross, Potts Point and Darlinghurst

# Traffic on Victoria Street will increase;
# Ward Ave and Craigend St will be clogged with traffic accessing the CCT;
# Traffic will increase on Darlinghurst Road, Macleay Street and Wylde Street in Kings Cross, since this will be one of the major routes for Darlinghurst and Kings Cross residents to access the Harbour tunnel;
# East Sydney traffic will use Darlinghurst Rd/Victoria Street or Darlinghurst Rd/Macleay St as an alternative to Crown Street.

One small step for Ombudsman

A giant leap for Sydneysiders appears to be on its way in the long overdue reform of the secretive despotism of council staff.

Another Press release from Clover Moore follows, referring to the Ombudsman's scathing report on CoS staff. This was triggered by complaints by the SMH that council refused to supply documents concerning their ten-year refusal to implement a bike plan for Sydney. One hopes that the senior staffer who recently boasted that he likes running down cyclists will get a kick in the pants.

-------

FREEING UP INFORMATION

The NSW Ombudsman office has recommended changes to the City of Sydney's Freedom of Information (FOI) procedures. I support full
implementation of the recommendations, which include redetermination of a two and a half year old FOI request and an independent review of similar FOI requests during the preceding 18 months.

I also want the City go beyond the Ombudsman's recommendations and undertake a review of the City's existing FOI processes and related procedures for providing public access to information.

The review should consider best practice approaches and develop options for Council's consideration on how to enhance ease of access to document the public has a right to view, minimise the number and length of time documents are withheld, and ensure reasons for withholding documents are clearly articulated.

I am strongly committed to FOI reform and, during the 52nd Parliament, co-authored the Independents' Charter of Reform that
opened up political decision-making processes, increased scrutiny of public administration, and made freedom of information processes more accessible.

Most recently, I sponsored in Parliament legislative reform (the Government (Open Market Competition) Bill) to increase public scrutiny
for government contracts and grant arrangements. In November, Council supported my proposal to review Council's handling of tendering and contracts with a view to strengthening these principles in Council's operations.

I will pursue the positive principles of the Charter of Reform within the City of Sydney. Council recently appointed a new Chief Executive
Officer who will have my full support to continue a process of positive reform.

Council provides 'thought leadership'

A press release from Clover Moore follows. One can only hope that the disparity between this thinking and what's happening in William Street will close with time. I suspect it will need more than a 'workshop' with council staff.

-------------------------------

I hosted the first in a new series of "Thought Leadership" seminars at Town Hall this week. These seminars are a way to get distinguished experts on urban living to talk about their ideas and projects -- and to stimulate discussion towards more enlightened city governance.

The speaker at our inaugural "Thought Leadership" seminar (attended by over 200 residents, business leaders and planners) was Professor Jan Gehl, whose particular and important contribution has been to bring a human dimension into urban planning.

Half the world's population lives in urban areas, but many cities are dysfunctional, with common social problems. To often, the emphasis is on development, not planning, and there is rarely the will to fund the changes needed to plan for quality and sustainability in urban life.

Throughout the 20th century, the motor vehicle became the dominant feature in urban planning. Here in Sydney, our comprehensive tram
system was dismantled in the 1950s, and successive governments have promoted city expressways over public transport. We now have to
address the impacts of alienation, transport gridlock and pollution.

Remaking city areas and returning them to people have been Professor Gehl's major contributions. Lively or lifeless public spaces depend on quality and the invitation extended to users to walk, stay, sit or otherwise enjoy the area. Professor Gehl's insights provide inspiration and a system to provide a careful treatment that creates inviting and human public spaces.

His work in Copenhagen, over a thirty year period, has led to its renaissance as a "walking city", with substantial benefits to that city's residents and tourists. He has been involved in other cities around the world, including London, Wellington, Zurich, Adelaide,
Melbourne and Perth.

Our City is committed to the creation of new public parks, places, walkways and cycleways, and has embarked on a comprehensive program of renewing existing public spaces, from parks and foreshores, to streets and laneways.

Professor Gehl also ran a workshop with city staff. We hope to learn from the clarity of his vision for bringing life to our streets.

Oh, the William St spin

'Ooh la landmark' was the headline over a plug for William St developers in the Herald's Domain on Thursday. A developer trying to sell apartments on the Avenue still reckons it will be Sydney's Champs Elysees once the cars have gone underground and it's all grey granite and plane trees.

Council's landscape architect (the one who believes 'consistent' equals 'attractive') says he expects life to be more civilised once traffic 'disappears'.

That's a no-brainer. No mention, though, of how council staff fought tooth and nail to eliminate or minimise the cycle lanes -- they must not be 'civilised' in his eyes. If the comparison with European cities was continued, council's attitude would show up as more on the barbaric end of the continuum.

And no mention of any idea that 'grand plans' imposed from above are always anti-resident. The avenue is already alienating because of its sheer scale (humans don't feel comfortable if there are no boundaries to the space they are in). This is only made worse by the uniformity of paving, tree species and official banners that will run from Town Hall to the Cross.

This 'consistency' is in fact psychologically disturbing to locals because it makes it virtually impossible for any sense of place to differentiate the micro-precincts we live in. The lack of landmarks is disorienting, and that is one of the most urgent discomforts we can feel -- it's only a few degrees from the panic of being lost. You can never tell someone to 'meet me at the cafe on the corner with the jacarandas,' for instance, because jacarandas are verboten. It all has to work by street number and even they are hard to fnd on the skyscrapers.

No, it's all about paving the way for developers, as the Herald article demonstrates. Yet there is no mention of preserving the many charming, old buildings which might save the avenue from the super-alienating domination of high-rise with its consequent wind-tunnel effect, already acute. Horrible in winter.

The article goes on about 'concerns' about 'the world's oldest profession'. An expert says it won't go away. "It may well be that the gentrification of William Street displaces some of that activity into the back streets, but it's not going to get rid of it. It's got to be somewhere in the Cross." The developer has another 64 apartments to sell out of 91, priced from $400,000 to $2.5m.

Maybe Richard Clapton will feel inspired to write a reprise to 'Girls on the Avenue'. What about 'Coffee on the granite'? Doesn't really have a ring to it, does it.

KX always the poor relation

A reader posted this comment below another story:

What on earth is NOT going on at the Rex Building?

BEFORE the conversion to residential, the tenants in the council-owned community units were:
KX Community and Information Centre,(KXCIC)
The Early Childhood Centre,
The KX Library,
An airless meeting room.

SINCE the conversion, the library after many moves is now operating in Darlinghurst Rd., the Earlly Childhood Centre has space in the Reg Murphy Activity Centre and the KXCIC after intense lobbying has returned to the Rex. However, the space is at rhe rear of the building
The council owned units are nnow of commercial lease and what of the area that that library occupied? It will, supposedly, be a community space. Has anyone seen the area? It is behind a latched door!

Latest news is that it will be ready for use in April, 2005.
In the meantime, community groups are denied space for various projects and have to scrounge around for commercial space or have their projects postposed if not abandoned. Why is KX always the poor relation when it comes to community facilllities?

Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

A member of the community went to see the Place Manager at the KX Neighbourhood Service Centre(NSC) requesting a grant for a community project and was told the cupboard was bare. Today, I read in the Sydney City Mag of council grants available. The place to collect the necessary info kit is from your NSC from Feb 7.

Merry Christmas and reverse bon voyage

Have a good one folks -- the next posting will be from London, Wales, Paris or Amsterdam -- if I get the time to spend on the net -- otherwise you can talk among yourselves!

Back mid-January.

Michael

Compromises on Wayside Chapel, PO developments

Press release from Clover Moore:

The City is committed to revising and updating the planning controls
inherited from the former South Sydney, City and Leichhardt Councils.
As this major task will take some time, in the interim we will need to
deal with anomalies and make some site specific decisions.

Recent Development Applications (DAs) for the Wayside Chapel and
Potts Point Post Office sites highlight the work needed in the Kings
Cross area in particular. Given the history of inappropriate
development in the area, I have asked Council staff to address the
area as a priority.

In considering a DA for the Wayside Chapel in Hughes Street, Potts
Point, Council identified a mismatch between allowable height and
floor space ratio (FSR). Unreasonably low FSRs previously enabled the
South Sydney City Council controls to be bargained upward at the DA
stage to provide "development bonuses" to Council.

In April Council resolved to improve certainty by strictly applying
core development controls. The resolution provided for major
variations to occur only through amending the control itself, after
public consultation and consideration of issues such as the character
of the area, density, transportation, environmental capacity,
sustainability and cumulative impacts.

The City proposed to review the controls for the Wayside Chapel site.
Council staff surveyed the area and found a wide variation, but the
predominant built form around the site is three to four stories with
FSRs of 5:1, 8:1 and 10.1. Council has approved a revised FSR of
2.5:1, satisfied that it is appropriate in the location for any future
development, whatever it may be.

This revised FSR is lower than previously proposed by the Wayside
Chapel development. The applicant has indicated that a revised DA is
being prepared to conform to the new controls and address concerns
raised by Council and the community, such as overlooking, on-site
activity and ambulance access. Council will need to be satisfied that
any proposal meets the range of applicable planning provisions before
approval is granted.

Council will next week consider a revised DA for the Post Office in
Macleay Street Potts Point. In 2003, the Land and Environment Court
supported community concern about the unacceptable bulk and scale of
the previous DA, which would have impact on sunlight, views and
heritage.

The new proposal is significantly improved and is supported by many
residents who opposed previous schemes. However, the FSR controls for
the site are below the actual level in the current building on the
site, as well as less than that proposed in the new DA.

Where existing buildings that exceed the controls are being
adaptively reused (such as heritage buildings) or detract from an area
(as the Post Office building does), Council needs to work toward
better buildings and better design that reduce impacts on the
neighbourhood.

The Council planners report on this development recommends approval
for the DA, with additional conditions to better comply and reduce
amenity impacts.

Bouquets to the pedestrian historian

Council Historian Shirley Fitzgerald is doing a fabulous job with the footpath plaques. The texts, events and characters she has chosen truly distill the history of Kings Cross. They stop people in their tracks, too. Haven't found any typo's yet, either!

You could criticise it in terms of the 'photograph it and knock it down' approach, (ie destroy it but leave some brass markers), yet what is emerging is truly unique -- what other precinct can match the colour, characters and texture presented here in a fascinating installation of unexpected scale? Visitors and new residents will find their appreciation of the place enhanced and deepened.

History is being made here, not just commemorated. Full credit to those who made it happen.

Sartor in line for Carr-spot?

It's the scuttlebutt around the big end of town -- that Premier Carr is headed onwards and upwards while none other than Frank Sartor is being groomed for the top spot. That could be why Carr is getting all the unpopular decisions out of the way now -- so he can carry the opprobrium elsewhere and give Fix-it Frank a clearer run at the next election. If this is the case, I wonder what Costa/Scully/Refshauge/Knowles did wrong to be so nimbly leapfrogged?

Meet the new boss -- worse than the old boss. Look forward to an unbroken line of condo's right up the NSW coast, serviced by super-freeways paid for with money withdrawn from the arts budget and the total sale of the railway system. At least Bob pretends to be an environmentalist.

I'm thinking of writing a book examining the methods and principles of the reptilian elite of NSW, calling it "How to stay on the gravy train". It needs somehow to be written as a popular comedy, though. How?

Carr to sell off more of the farm

STOP PRESS -- a modified version of the story below was published in the SMH today in Letters. Call me a media junky...

The announced closure of the Newcastle city rail is a disaster. It will increase car traffic while robbing inner city Novocastrians of their transport lifeline. It will damage CBD businesses because changing to buses at Broadmeadow, especially while carrying shopping, is a time-consuming hassle. It is heritage heresy and ecological vandalism.

Mr Carr simply wants the money for the real estate and yet more profit for his developer mates. The only force that can stop it would seem to be the transport unions, and I do hope they act -- even if it means more transport turmoil for Sydney!

Meanwhile, take a day train to Newcastle while you still can -- it's a classic journey, especially the Hawkesbury section, and the beachside city is a great place to spend a weekend.

The gang's all back!

Apparently today's Tele has reported a leaked document showing that former Council GM Robert Domm is already back with Frank Sartor -- running the Redfern/Waterloo Planning Authority. And guess who's turned up on Frank's hand-picked Board? Lucy Turnbull of course. That might explain why her repeated response to questions about it on radio was: 'something drastic has to be done.' Spoken like a true slum-clearing modernist. Personally I think we should bulldoze Point Piper and hand it back to the original inhabitants. That would be drastic! But then the big developers wouldn't be raking it in.

It's all in the detail

Now we can see Darlinghurst Road in its finished state. What a relief!

Interesting how the council staff have applied their own agenda, in little ways. For instance, the KX Bikers have lost their bikes-only parking that had been so kindly granted by Lucy Turnbull. They are appealing (that's a verb, not an adjective).

And what's this? 1P and 2P parking signs -- yes, folks, it's to be parking meters until 10pm every night. Good for council, bad for businesses. I suppose it had to come, but it's interesting how they weren't mentioned in any of the 'consultation' we were supposed to have enjoyed.

Then there's the 24-hour Council-only parking in front of their own offices. Oh well, they ARE more important than ordinary Australians, I suppose.

And one small teething problem: several of the bluestone kerbs have already been dislodged by armoured vehicles mounting the footpath. They don't seem to get booked, either. I guess it's one rule for the banks and JC Decaux, another for the rest of us.

On the cloned smartpole banners: they make Kings Cross into a model city (a small imitation of the real thing). Let us rejoice at the politically correct snow crystals and multilingual captions. Remember, the official reality is the only reality.

The facelift that nearly killed the Cross

The SMH today ran a story about the damage to businesses caused by the KX facelift. William and Oxford St businesses are understandably nervous. Those projects are much bigger than Kings Cross and in addition, those roads are major traffic routes into the city. Having them blocked will affect Kings Cross yet again, especially as Council seems set on listening to ESNA and closing Liverpool street through East Sydney.

And how do people rate the weekend street party? Will it be effective in bringing people back to the Cross?

We liked the festival itself and had some great times watching the entertainment. The outdoor party at the Empire certainly went off!

Click the headline to see the SMH story.

All set for big street party

Everyone geared up for the excellent entertainment at this weekend's "Rediscover Kings Cross" street festival? There are some great acts and events.

As predicted, they've got the Llankelly Place lights working just in time. And, late breaking news, as the rain falls, the futures market in street stalls has crashed. As of 4pm today you could get a $250 stall for only $35!

Let's hope the rain stops over the weekend, or much of the advertising budget will be a-blowin' in the wind and the cloned smartpole banners will be a bit limp. See you there anyway!

Hope for Minton House

Council's planners have recommended against a DA to convert iconic Minton House to a backpacker hostel. Minton House is on the corner of Bayswater and Darlinghurst Roads and has accommodated arts and movie legends including John Coburn, the originators of Tropfest, and Charles Blackman.

The report cites heritage and artistic associations as reasons for the refusal, and it goes on to recommend that the building should receive a heritage listing from council.

There had been a strong community campaign against the re-development. The recommendation has yet to be passed by the planning committee and then council as a whole.

Hurrah! More grey granite for the Cross!

Surprise surprise! Another of Sydney's unique and historical precincts is to lose its individuality in favour of homogenous city branding.

Council has announced Springfield Avenue is to get grey granite paving in the 'Gateway' style identical to the Darlinghurst Road footpaths. This is another triumph of Council priorities over clearly expressed community wishes.

The decision ignores a clear community vote at a 300-strong public meeting for different style of paving in the Cross; it ignores a smaller Springfield Avenue meeting with Council in which four different people called for terracotta paving, and others favoured the Llankelly Place style; and it ignores several written submissions opposing the granite.

It ignores the fact that Springfield Avenue is a residential precinct that needs to be visually differentiated from the neighbouring Kings Cross strip (now continuous grey granite will connect the two vastly different precincts via Springfield Plaza). And it ignores the prevalence of Art Deco brick buildings in the street, which most people think calls for sympathetic terracotta paving.

Council's announcement follows:

"We are pleased to advise that Granite Austral Verde has been approved as the pavement finish the works, which will now proceed on this basis from mid-January. As a special threshold to Springfield Plaza and the Darlinghurst Road Precinct, the continuation of granite through Springfield Avenue was considered appropriate in this instance.

"For your information, a range of responses were received from the community. The final selection meets the broad community support for a high quality finish, whilst keeping some consistency with the City palette, and ensuring a superior performance pavement that will endure in the long term."

It's a classic piece of bureauspeak. As a public service, we offer translations of some of the key phrases into plain English:-

1. "considered appropriate in this instance" means "That's what we want in every instance, so bad luck folks."

2. "a range of responses were received from the community" means "the submissions ran against what we wanted so we ignored them." (This is precisely the same phrase used by the Boundaries Commission when they recommended the forced council amalgamations -- even though OVER 90% of submissions were passionately against it).

3. "broad community support for a high quality finish" means "there was no support for council's first proposal: tearing up the terracotta paving and laying bitumen."

4. "keeping some consistency with the City palette" means 1. "council loves bland homogeneity and hates diversity," or 2. "neo-modernism is the one true church of planning. "The City Palette" means "grey".

We urge readers to speak up about this rubbish -- email councillors about it. Ask for an accurate report on community submissions. Expose these dull despots for the petty bullies they are.

The works are scheduled to commence from mid January 2005 and completed by early April 2005.

New rules for Bill Posters

A 'lost cat' or 'garage sale' notice in King Street Newtown or Glebe Point Road might now stay up for five days after a revised graffiti policy was passed at Council last night. But in Darlinghurst Road your cat won't get the same coverage because Council's 24-hour removal policy remains.

The 24-hour rule still mostly applies to designated 'hot spots' ,ie main street shopping centres. Sections of King Street and Glebe Point Road have been excepted from the 24-hour rule, along with part of City Road near Sydney University. Elswhere, a five-day removal cycle remains.

Political posters are a different case again -- they will be allowed to stay up two weeks before an election.

Crs Chris Harris, Greens, and Verity Firth, Labor, were not happy with inconsistencies in the policy and persuaded Council to consider it again next year.

Harris wants the 14-day political rule applied to all community notices. 'Why should political parties get special treatment?' he said.

He also wants the hot-spot exceptions extended and a notice area defined for Kings Cross. He says the removal schedule should be posted on Council's website so people can avoid having their notices torn down the same day they post them.

Our local 'hot-spots' (daily poster removal) are: William Street from Riley to the tunnel; Victoria Street from Burton St to the Potts Point end; Darlinghurst Road from Oxford ST to Fitzroy Gardens and onward down MacLeay Street.

Elsewhere, five days remains the rule.

Council spent $3 million last year on graffiti and poster removal, listing 31,000 instances. That's $96.77 per removal, which is nothing compared to the cost of signage if the police get to extend their no-alcohol areas. Those signs cost Council $500 each, plus maintenance costs.

Autocracy equals 'flexibility' in Frankspeak

In the face of leaked plans which reveal Frank Sartor intends to give over 75% of the housing commission area in Waterloo to private development, Frank described his autocratic powers as simply giving him the 'flexibility' to solve the area's social problems. He knows full well this will sound reasonable to the average politically disengaged punter, and he will be able to isolate and ignore the locals who protest.

Meanwhile one woman who had lived there for 22 years, interviewed on radio today, lamented any break-up of her Waterloo community because of its close-knit self-help culture. 'When people are sick someone always visits and looks after them,' she said. 'Who will do that if we all have to move?'

Elsewhere Frank has derided those who protest his power to override heritage laws as 'heritage mafia'.

And word is that the first area to be declared 'state significant' will be the Block in Redfern, which will give Frank power to be his own consent authority. What could possibly go wrong?

Twas the night before Xmas

Someone posted this comment below. You have to pay the poetry!

The Night Before Christmas
By Warren Brown

Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the town
The whole city's gone quiet and the lights are turned down.

No Town Hall bright tinsel
Is strung out this year.
No carols are heard
No laughter, no cheer.

No Christmas tree baubles.
No presents as well.
No Dancer, no Prancer,
No Santa, Noel.

So why isn't our city
The worlds greatest starter,
Its all over Clover-
Where the hell is Frank Sartor ?

Do they know it's Christmas?

The Tele has another swipe at Clover Moore today over the pathetic Xmas decorations in Sydney. It's not one of council's strong suits, that's for sure, although the snow-crystal smartpole banners in the city are kind of gay. Perhaps a smartpole banner is a smartpole banner is a...

Last year council did a woeful job of decorating the Cross -- I did a straw street poll, asking people what they thought of the decorations. Ten out of ten people hadn't even noticed the unlit tiny silver flags strung above the shop awnings.

This year we get red smartpole banners advertising the library. Get it? Red. No doubt, though, there will be more for the coming street party over next weekend.

But it's all wonderful compared to a few years ago in Frank Sartor's day when the town hall was decorated with apalling giant blow-up figures. Now there's an idea for the Cross. Lots of our retail outlets sell blow-up figures. Perhaps they should chip in and do a number?

Must suggest it to council...

A real estate agent in Newcastle shows more originality -- they are hiring a big Bedouin tent and having their party on the Stockton sand dunes, complete with a herd of camels. Who said you couldn't find three wise men in Newcastle?

STOP PRESS: John Howard was just on the radio criticising Clover. 'This is political correctness straight from central casting,' he said, obviously believing the Tele's line that the City was going slow on the decorations so as not to offend non-christian religions.

A spokesman from Clover's office questioned the accuracy of the Tele's story, pointing out that this year's $600,000 Xmas budget was higher than last year's. Must be a slow news day.

Labourer forced to pull his boots in

An English building worker living on Elizabeth Bay Road was forced to pull his boots in earlier this week. He had come home to his flat after a hard day's work and, out of consideration for his flatmates, hung his smelly boots on some window-box infrastructure outside his window.

In no time there was a knock on his door -- it was the building manager, who told him to pull in his boots because a neighbour over the road had complained.

Great to see such excellent vigilance from locals concerned about the tone of our area. If you let that sort of thing go, who knows what would come next? Dancing in the streets?

Serious stabbing in Roslyn Street

A woman was stabbed near the heart during a robbery at the Kings Mixed Business on the corner of Roslyn St & Ward Avenue, according to a bystander. The attack occurred within the last hour and the woman was reported to be 'gushing blood'. Police have taped off the area.

There has been a spate of robberies in Darlinghurst Road over the past two weeks, some involving a knife, netting small amounts of cash -- $40 in one case where a tobacconist was robbed.

KX Police have been seen on pushbike patrols in the area. Perhaps there should be more of it -- the quick, silent bikes allow police to surprise criminals and to pursue them effectively.

UPDATE 2/12/04: at the PACT Police Community meeting last night Supt Steve Cullen told residents the alleged 21-year-old female attacker, who lived close by, was arrested at the scene. A struggle with screams had spilled out onto the street -- right opposite a Rose Bay Highway Patrol which was doing random licence checks on Ward Avenue. Three police intervened and applied first aid to the victim, aged in her 50s, who was stabbed in the neck. She was in a critical but stable condition after surgery at St Vincents Hospital, according to news reports this morning.

The highway patrol also caught two illegal immigrants driving cabs.

Residents get better access to DA information

In a move to empower people who may be affected by new developments, City Council is giving the public a lot more access to information about Develpoment Applications.

According to Clover Moore:

'Now, the DA letter distributed to neighbours can also be accessed on line, including the most informative plan or
drawing of the development proposal.

'Over coming months, this online access will be expanded to include additional information, such as typical floor plans, elevations, concept sketches and supporting documents. The City is working on the technical and security issues required to fully integrate internet access.'

Council one-stop-shops will get public computers to facilitate the web access. Photocopies of non-confidential parts of applications will be available on an order-and-collect basis.

Criticisms Frankly offensive

Frank Sartor is apparently offended by criticisms of his carte blanche powers over Redfern/Waterloo (see stories below). He keeps talking about what a consultative type of guy he is, even though the Parliamentary Bill requires no community consultation and allows Frank to override the Heritage Act.

Yet the critics keep criticising. Local Heritage Society boffin Andrew Woodhouse has the following very succinct letter in today's Telegraph:

'The loss of heritage in Redfern and Waterloo is a concern to all communities ("Redfern plan takes shape", Daily Telegraph 29 November, page 9). This "razor plan" is a reflection of a state government that does not respect our past. How can we learn from the past if we destroy it? As a former history teacher, Bob Carr has become a traitor to his own past. Let's hope this form of demolition by neglect is Frank Sartor's "Waterloo".'

And yours truly emailed the following to Sally Loane this morning after her interview with Lucy Turnbull yesterday (the Dame of Point Piper claiming that 'something drastic' was needed for Redfern):

'Frank Sartor's plans for Redfern/Waterloo are presented as somehow solving the social problems of the area. However they are little more than the old, discredited, 'slum clearance' mentality which created the Waterloo towers in the first place, and which in reality displaces whole communities, destroying the many strong and healthy community relationships that exist there and that don't make the news. The only people who really benefit in the end are the big developers.'

Brawl a reality check for the Cross

The gentrification of the Cross was set back a year last night with wide news coverage of eight people being arrested after a brawl that closed Darlinghurst Road for a time.

Reports named Cronulla League captain David Peachy as one of those arrested -- apparently he had been at a Christmas function to raise money for disadvantaged kids and two members of his family later got into a punch-up. Peachy got involved trying to break it up and was one of four released without charge.

An interview with a man who was working at Maccas at the time offered a different slant to the police reports.

On 702 radio this morning he said police were 'really pissed off' at a crowd that was clapping and cheering the brawl. He repeatedly said 'junkies' were present and that they showed absolutely no fear of the cops. He didn't explain how he identified them as junkies. A bottle had been thrown and a policeman was injured in the leg when he fell on the broken glass. The brawl may have spilled out from a 'club' behind the C-store opposite Maccas, he said.

Our sympathies to the injured policeman, and to others who are spending a fortune trying to portray the Cross as a family-oriented Christmasy outpost of middle-class blandness. And it's good to see the effectiveness of our local police in dealing with real trouble under difficult conditions.

THAT Wenty letter

Gee, Daniel Morrissey from Darling Point is down on the Arts Festival (Wentworth Courier letters, today). He makes a big thing of claiming Louis Nowra's play 'The Woman with Dog's Eyes' was included in the festival 'to pad it out' using 'public money'.

I just had a yak to Louis, who confirmed he had agreed to and was happy about the play's inclusion in the program, as was the Griffin Theatre Company.

The play, by the way, sold out every night -- Louis' most successful yet.

As far as the public money was concerned, five or six square cm of space in a program costs nothing. We could have omitted it and made a picture bigger -- same cost, less info.

Daniel's bitter letter smells of factionalism -- a surefire downfall for local groups. We say again, let's support ALL the KX events and avoid the small-town trap of throwing stones when you live in a glass house.

The Arts Guild at this stage feels those who enjoyed the many successful events know the truth, so they are ignoring the letter.

Not me though. I have sent a reply to the Wenty wearing my hat as one of a host of community members who gave their time gratis to the festival (and last year's BTW). I hope they'll publish it.

Council's decision to split the arts festival funding between two groups showed all the wisdom of Solomon -- only in this case the baby was torn in two! Well, maybe two half-babies are better than one...

Old nighties don't please everyone

A reader sent this message today:

'Had a bit of a cruise through the Cross last night and I gotta say the red banners on Darlinghurst Road are very frumpy -- like some old nighties that have blown off someone's line. They have nowhere near the Stalinesque grandeur of their downtown counterparts on the Queen size poles. Which would've been a lot worse.

Also thought the paving and street upgrade is pretty unexciting considering the disruption it's caused -- and the new uniform signage on Macleay St is just plain scarey.

Still no sign of the Llankelly lights -- must be bringing the replacement parts in from overseas by camel. '

You have to admit the wide footpaths are refreshing, though -- ed.

Heritage Society petitions the Pope

Pell's Bells! The Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Society certainly believes in going to the top.

Cardinal George Pell seems intent on overriding the local parish to build a multi-storey medical school on the site of the Sacred Heart Church at Victoria and Oxford streets. So Andrew Woodhouse of the Heritage Society has written to the Pope asking for intervention.

That's optimism -- given the close relationship between Pell, the Pope and their Opus Dei mates, this move from a secular lobby group would seem to stand little chance.

But maybe Mr Woodhouse has a sectret weapon -- as an organist, chorister and Anglican, perhaps he plans to go over the Pope's head. Even though the prelate claims to have a direct line to God on matters of faith and morals, the creator apparently listens to lesser mortals as well.

So if we end up with a faith-based medical school in the heart of gay Sydney, it can only be the will of God! Or can it?

Local lensgirl does good

Wedding photography was never like this!

Kings Cross photographer Roslyn Sharp will soon have a major exhibition at the Museum of Sydney with her series 'getting married', a collection of wild and wonderful wedding shots focusing on the more exotic ethnic traditions enriching our culture.

It's staged by the Historic Houses Trust as part of the Festival of Sydney, and one of Roz's shots has been published as the cover photo on the Trust's new 'Events' booklet . It's a Jewish Civil wedding with the groom in a psychedelic paisley suit dancing along followed by a Gypsy-influenced band. Page 3 features another shot from a very ornate and joyous Bangladeshi Muslim wedding.

Roz also featured in 'Cross Projections' -- a sellout event from the recent Kings Cross Arts Festival -- with a captivating series shot in barbershops and hairdressers around the world.

Click on the headline to book or see all the events on the HH Trust website.

The inside story of the Injecting Centre

The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre at 66 Darlinghurst Road has not only rocked the boat locally but has made waves around the world. Now we can read the inside story of its first two years, and the extraordinary challenges dealt with by its dedicated staff.

'In The Eye of the Needle' by the centre's Medical Director, Dr Ingrid van Beek, is a blow-by-blow account based on her taped diaries, providing a very personal and highly detailed window on the hidden world of drug addicts and those who seek to help them.

The MSIC exists in a half-world defined by human foible on the one hand and unworkable prohibition laws on the other, a place where people can legally inject illegal drugs. It is a raging success measured by its enthusiastic adoption by the drug community, yet endures repeated attacks from its enemies in the press, in parliament, from troublemaking clients, the US-controlled International Narcotics Control Board and from some Kings Cross locals.

The book left me in no doubt that the Centre saves many lives. Hundreds of overdoses occurred and were headed off, usually by the administration of oxygen and only in rare cases by the use of Naloxone -- a problematic drug which, the book reveals, neutralises the effects of heroin and leaves addicts in a state of severe withdrawal and likely to go in search of another, even more dangerous hit.

Not that heroin is necessarily the major problem -- cocaine was the most common drug injected in the early days of the centre, far more dangerous and difficult to manage than heroin, and the mixture of other drugs with benzodiazapines such as valium and temazepam is the most common cause of overdose.

Constant battles with bureaucratic stupidity are well documented. I will be borrowing one succinct phrase from the book -- about one public servant who 'found solutions instead of erecting roadblocks'. Unfortunately the opposite is usually the case.

Ms van Beek lays to rest many of the issues which have erupted. The conclusion of the Evaluation Report that only four lives had been saved during the first 18 months is shown to be the result of an extremely strict definition of overdose which ignored all the oxygen-based treatments. Many of these, because help was immediately at hand, almost certainly headed off more serious overdoses which would have occurred if the user had been on the street or simply alone in a room.

The rubbish spouted by the likes of Major Brian Watters and Fred Nile is also debunked. Nile had the lives saved down to three, and Watters claimed that the centre had referred no clients to his Salvation Army rehab centres -- even as the centre was receiving a call from one of their clients who was in a Salvo rehab centre. Claims that the centre was way over budget were also untrue.

But the otherwise even-handed writing seems to go a little askew when it repeatedly names and attacks -- from page one -- Malcolm Duncan and the Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce which destroyed itself opposing the centre. Malcolm, who ironically opposes prohibition, seems to have gotten under Ingrid's skin.

True, the Chamber amplified some of the above myths but it also had valid concerns about the location of the centre. It is a fact that all centres dealing with highly marginalised people are not welcomed by the neighbours -- from needle exchanges to half-way prison houses to, at Ms van Beek's own admission, an injecting centre in Frankfurt which was located in an industrial area precisely to avoid such problems. Not only were the neighbours objecting, but a drug dealing scene had formed in the area.

I keep asking the question: why should the owner of the shop next to the centre, now untenanted for over two years, pay the price for our social conscience? I haven't had a satisfactory answer. I strongly support the centre, but if I wanted to open a main street business, I would probably choose another shop to rent especially if my life savings were at risk in the investment. And while by far the majority of Kings Cross locals support the centre, the further away from the centre they live or work, the greater the support. It's difficult to see how to resolve this conflict. Compensation might be the only way.

This well-written, revealing book is a must-read for Kings Cross locals and anyone interested in the drug scene, prohibition and policing. Published by Allen & Unwin, it's on sale now.

Frank Sartor gets dictatorial powers

The Bill which will create the new Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) gives Frank Sartor, as Minister responsible, powers that would be the envy of most dictators, including the ability to override the Heritage Act. The RWA can also become its own consent authority. It amounts to the rape of Sydney, despite Frank's heart-warming spin about solving the social problems of the area and his vapid references to 'community consultation'.

1. The Bill gives the RWA power to create any development plan it likes, by any process, with no public accountability or recourse.

2. Frank Sartor will be able to appoint his own nine-person board answerable only to him. The board must contain one Aboriginal member.

3. The Authority's primary role is to stimulate economic development, mostly through the development and sale of government owned lands. The bill leaves the responsibility for 'human services' with the existing Redfern Waterloo Partnership Project, which will have no power over the RWA.

4. The RWA will be able to extend its own territory at Frank Sartor's discretion (the strip to the airport being the front runner). The Carlton United Brewery site in Chippendale has already been raked in to harvest funds for low income housing, according to some interpretations of the bill.

5. The bill allows the authority to compulsorily acquire public and private land. It will be funded by selling these assets, and will not be required to disclose financial details. Only 'non-core' public land can be acquired, but Frank pretty much gets to decide what is 'core'.

6. The RWA can establish private corporations operating outside any of the normal limitations of government.

7. Frank can declare very expensive developments to be 'of state significance' which will make the RWA its own consent authority, like the discredited Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

8. The Bill allows the Minister to override the provisions of the Heritage Act 1977.

Our advice? Form a development corporation now and start brown-nosing people from the Labor right. Only the rich will benefit from this. If you don't believe the above, click on the headline to see for yourself.

Uncool creep cruels kittens

The bag landed with a thud beneath the McElhone Street cliffs. A local lady looked out her window and saw it moving. Inside were four kittens -- two dead and two alive.

The bag had been thrown from the rear carpark of the flats at 147 Brougham Street where a grey feral cat has lived for years, fed by locals and the 87-year-old cat lady who has a rendezvous with them each evening in McElhone Street . The cats climb down through a thicket of vines to meet her.

You can't get near the mother, but the kittens were too slow and someone who probably lives at the flats caught them. Instead of calling the RSPCA or at least destroying them quickly and cleanly, they took the coward's way out and just tossed them over the cliff. The survivors were taken to the RSPCA.

Pete, who lives at the flats, knows a vet who will desex the mother for free. Anyone know how to catch a feral cat?

STOP PRESS -- a local who read this just told us the same thing happened in January -- he was walking past when a kitten landed on the road, badly injuring it. He was forced to put it out of its misery.

Smooth serendipity

Last week Kings Cross seemed to be awash with old airline magazines. In restaurants, under my door...

In a Virgin magazine was an ad for an 'Intimate Shaver System' with the motto 'Dare to be bare'.

The mail order address was Bald Hills, Qld. Had to happen.

Today Redfern -- tomorrow the rest of Sydney

The Redfern Waterloo Authority will be able to expand its area of influence by a stroke of the pen according to an SMH story today -- click the headline for a link.

Not a mention of windfall profits for the people who donate most to Labor coffers. Frank Sartor's star is on the rise. High rise, uniformity on a grand scale and the scent of diesel fumes would seem to be the future of Sydney.

Propaganda flies in the Cross

Now the Kings Cross Arts Festival is over, I can document some of the amazing actions of the council in blocking and sabotaging the event they are largely paying for.

Smartpole banners are a good example. According to council spin the banners are to 'celebrate community events'. More cynical commentators see them as just another advertising medium -- see the inaugural red ones now flying which advertise council's 'Information Space' even though it is still a construction site!.

Looks like the cynics are right. The Arts festival is the biggest community event on the Kings Cross annual calendar, yet local Council bureaucrats refused permission to give the festival street presence on banners. Three councillors took up the request but were also fended off by council staff.

The excuse was the financial cost, but real intentions were betrayed by their refusal to allow even an ordinary school fete type banner across the main road.

Council couldn't bear to have the arts festival steal the thunder from their own programs -- like the belated opening of the library, and the Christmas party they are planning next month to unveil the new re-made Kings Cross. I and others also kept requesting that the Llankelly Place lights be switched back on in time for the festival. No reply. What's the bet they'll be on in time for council's event?

It's like dealing with a bunch of petulant teenagers from an American high-school movie circa 1955. 'It's my party and yours can go jump'. Only total sycophants get any help.

The festival was nevertheless a success, climaxing with the Arts Ball on Friday night which absolutely cooked thanks to Jeff Duff's Band, drag acts Monique and Miss 3d, and the excellent staff and management at Ladylux nightclub.

STOP PRESS: the council spin has started -- a press release just out begins:

'Kings Cross will have a spectacular burst of energy for the launch of the City of Sydney urban renewal program of Kings Cross on Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 December. 'The Strip' will shimmer as the precinct celebrates the makeover of this famous Sydney cultural icon.'

Fabulous, isn't it? When the Arts Festival didn't even get mentioned on Council's 'what's on' web page. Nevertheless, the council launch should be supported -- for the good of the Cross -- along with the 'other' arts festival slated for next March or so.

Greens oppose more booze police

Greens Councillor Chris Harris strongly opposes Sydney City Council's move to establish alcohol free zones on approximately 100 streets and lanes throughout the City- an increase of 140% over current exclusion zones.

"Why are we planning to introduce these zones when police powers are more than adequate for dealing with drunk and disorderly behaviour? ", asked Cr Harris.

"The state government has armed Police with the Summary Offences Act, the Young Offenders Act and extensive search powers. This is not a local government responsibility and the City of Sydney should not be drawn into introducing these draconian measures" Harris continued.

"The Greens know that those who will bear the brunt of enforcement will be the homeless, public housing tenants, young people and members of the indigenous community. Areas targeted include the Glebe Estate, Redfern St, the Waterloo Public Housing areas, the Matthew Talbot Hostel, Edward Eagar Lodge, Foster House and the Wayside Chapel", said Cr Harris. "You can be sure that middle class drinkers won't be targeted by the police".

"We live in an exciting and diverse city, and we need to preserve that diversity. Council should not be wasting money on useless signs but should be putting money into outreach and positive programs that help people with alcohol problems."

Sydney City Council will debate the introduction of these alcohol free zones at its 15 November meeting. Cr Harris will be urging his colleagues to allow current zones to lapse and to discontinue the process proposed in the council agenda.

--press release

Sartor gets his toys back

After its crushing defeat in the City Council elections the Carr clan is about to get its revenge by passing laws to put ex-Mayor Frank Sartor in charge of re-developing south Sydney. This would remove significant control from City of Sydney Council.

As usual, the will of the people is but a minor setback for these control freaks and their developer mates.

The spin-merchants are already out, claiming the redevelopment will slash unemployment in Waterloo and Redfern. Demolishing the place will certainly achieve that.

The Tele reports Clover is concerned that there will be proper community consultation.

There will be, Clover -- but if our local experience of the Sartor vision is any guide, the consultation will happen only after the plans are all made and the contracts signed, and a couple of token changes will be agreed to for the sake of PR. Typically for this government, the announcement comes before a Parliamentary committee enquiring into Redfern/Waterloo has delivered its findings.

What's the bet the new plans will involve grey granite, smartpoles and plane trees all in a row? Ah, Frank's 'vision'. Good to see he'll be fully employed now -- sorting out Sydney's water problems must be too small a problem for such a visionary.

Click the headline to see a report in The Australian.

Library to open tomorrow!

Ladies, gentlemen and others -- the King Cross Library will at last open to the public tomorrow 9/11/04 at 10am, according to a very reliable source who GUARANTEED it. See you there!

The strip's still a drag

Latest business closure on Darlinghurst Road -- the Chinese BBQ behind where the KX Bikers used to park (opposite Krave). The shop has been blocked by construction work for over seven months.

Meanwhile, for those hanging on to their borrowed books, the library still isn't open.

The Tele today has had another go at Clover Moore claiming she used her executive powers to extend street works in Kings Cross, causing them to drag on till April. It is old news, though, referring to Springfield Avenue and Roslyn Street where the residents in fact welcome the work.

The original completion estimate was February. Work in the main street, cross fingers, will be finished well before then.

Roslyn Street gets a boost

Roslyn Street has a funky new micro-cafe, Spud & Douglas on the corner of Barncleuth lane. The exterior has been worked over by stencil artists as part of the Live Walls event conceived as part of the Kings Cross Arts festival.

On Friday night members of hot Sydney band Hubris performed there with acoustic guitar and violin accompanying great lyrics well-sung.

Those who lament repeated attempts to gentrify Sydney's most atmospheric cafe street will welcome the newcomers. Coffee's great, BTW.

Ultimo to get full aquatic centre

The determination of the previous city council to reduce the scope of the proposed Ultimo Aquatic Centre has been overturned and the centre will be built according to its original concept, says Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

The centre will include an Olympic-size pool, leisure pool, hydrotherapy pool, spa pool, sauna, cafe and fitness centre. The Centre will be located on Harris Street, in a distinctive wave-form building designed by Harry Seidler.

The previous council had decided it couldn't afford the full monte and had proposed to reduce its size and delete the hydrotherapy pool.

Clover Moore says the project dovetails in with her team's City of Villages policy for creating focal points for local communities to meet, relax and enjoy themselves.

The facility will be known as the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, and Thorpe has agreed to an ongoing association with the centre.

Barrister spikes van Beek book

Local barrister Malcolm Duncan has taken out an injunction to prevent the local launch of 'In the eye of the needle', written by Ingrid van Beek, Medical Director of the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre.

He claims there are defamatory statements in the book, which deals with the history of the Darlinghurst Road facility.

Duncan was active in the now-defunct Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce which took legal action to prevent the centre being opened in its present location. The chamber lost the action against the Uniting Church, which runs the centre, and heavy costs were ordered against the chamber which eventually resulted in it being wound up.

The launch was to have taken place at The Cross Art + Books on Tuesday at 6pm. The book is published by Allen & Unwin and we understand that the injunction does not prevent its sale.

Poo on sticks to be wiped

The Owners' Corporation of the Elan Apartments is considering replacing the infamous poo on sticks at the top of William Street with something else. They are open to suggestions.

There has been a lot of talk about putting a giant neon sculpture in place to celebrate the heritage of neons in this area, and the new pro-neon signage policy applying to the Cross. I like a giant pink pussycat. Another suggestion is a giant phoenix, referring to a now-demolished sign in that spot which was a well-known rendezvous point.

Click the headline to see another blogspot on the subject.

Remember the Kings Cross Library?

As correctly pointed out by comments posted recently, our library remains closed. Council sources say they have 'no idea' when it will be open. Apparently the mezzanine level still has no balcony railing, so it is unsafe.

Work on the street, though, appears to have accelerated with observers noting longer hours of work on the paving in the parking bays, now mostly finished. However we are told no parking will be allowed for several weeks because the concrete beneath the pavers needs to cure before they will bear heavy weight. Makes you wonder about the heavy vehicles and stacks of pavers in some of the other bays.

Bush win boosts arms industry

The US stock exchange shot up on the re-election of President George W Bush, led by arms industry stocks. Presumably investors are confident that war and violence will continue to be used as a primary tool in international relations.

Yet analysts say 'moral issues' were uppermost in the minds of many of the midwest majority who voted republican and tipped the scales against John Kerry. Warmongering must, in the minds of these voters, have nothing to do with morals.

Closer to home, Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy has been awarded the Sydney Peace Prize. Roy is succinct on the arms industry, observing that weapons used to be manufactured to fight wars but these days wars are manufactured to sell weapons.

More from Arundhati Roy: 'Today, in a world convulsed by violence and unbelievable brutality the lines between 'us' and 'the terrorists' have been completely blurred. We don't have to choose between Imperialism and Terrorism, we have to choose what form of resistance will rid us of both. What shall we choose? Violence or non violence? We have to choose knowing that when we are violent to our enemies, we do violence to ourselves. When we brutalize others, we brutalize ourselves. And eventually we run the risk of becoming our oppressors'.

Click on the headline to read more.

Pell to usurp control of Sacred Heart church

'The silence from the Archdiocese is deafening,' says Laelie Schwartz, who is fighting to save her Oxford Street Church from being converted into a six-storey medical school run by a Catholic university.

'Fr. Brian Egan's official tenure as Parish Priest expired on October 28 and at present has not been renewed,' says Ms Schwartz, who fears that if he is removed, the Parish committee will be dissolved and Archbishop George Pell would install an Administrator.

That would remove any obstacle in canon law to the development plans, which would normally require the consent of the Parish Priest. A tame administrator would do Pell's bidding.

A wide community movement has developed to oppose the plans, including local resident groups, councillors from the City and Woollahra and local heritage societies. Their immediate goal is to have the site listed on the Heritage Register with the Sydney City council.

Apart from the heritage aspects, some are claiming that the Notre Dame University is homophobic in its teachings, and the project has more to do with George Pell's right-wing ideology.

Ms Schwartz questions the bona fides of the plans, which include commercial leasehold fronting Oxford St. 'Leaked information says that Notre Dame is in some financial difficulty and is already in debt to the tune of $15m, and that it is impossible to build a medical school for a mere $13m as claimed.'

'The real figure is about $250m with professors, lecturers and a minimum staff of about 100 persons. On the Sacred heart site it is impossible,' she said.

Stencil artists re-paint the Cross

Groups of stencil artists hit the streets yesterday spraying their quirky inspirations onto walls around the Cross.

The project, part of the Kings Cross Arts Festival, is dubbed 'live walls'. Under the auspices of the KX Arts Guild, the artists negotiated with businesses who agreed to donate wall space to be decorated.

You can see their work to date at the rear of the Prague restaurant in Kellett Way and behind the Crest Hotel on Victoria Street.

Local artist mini graff has posted some of the work on the web -- click the headline to see it.

Also yesterday the Kings Cross markets came to life with the Southern All-stars steel band who got the place jumping between 11am-12 noon.

Meanwhile the Festival is gathering pace -- check your program for details so you don't miss out on the fun -- see the hard copies all over the Cross or visit www.kxarts.com.

And don't miss the Arts Ball, Friday November 12 at Ladylux in Roslyn Street -- phone 9357 2164 for bookings. Numbers are limited to 200, so book now! Email the editor or post a comment with your email if you want an invitation sent.

Another business closes

The recently opened Diogenes Greek restaurant/cafe has closed already due to lack of business. The restaurant is in Bayswater Road near Darlinghurst Road.

The owner, Jim, says he was surprised when he put two tables onto the new wide pavement and council rangers immediately pounced and ordered him to remove them. He then began the application process to have al fresco tables, but seven weeks later still does not have a result from council.

A more relaxed and helpful attitude from Council may not have saved the business venture, but it sure would have helped.

Junkies break into Rex Building

Junkies last night broke into the Community Centre on the ground floor of the Rex Building, stole a small amount of cash and used the toilets inside to have a shooting-up party.

The entry point was probably fire doors according to Robyn Greaves, centre co-ordinator. Ms Greaves has been warning Council, who own the community space, of the attractiveness to heroin addicts of the otherwise empty premises.

A large quantity of injecting paraphernalia was left in the toilets.

Roadworks conveniently speed up

The new Kings Cross Library is due to open today. Those who have been given a tour say it's pretty impressive It's certainly one good thing to come out of the turmoil, neglect and backflips of two council administrations over the past few years.

However it does little to relieve the pain of the extended roadworks being suffered by local residents, and particulaly main street businesses. Despite repeated calls and half-promises for the delayed works to be accelerated, nothing substantial has happened -- until, that is, Council wanted the street tarted up for the Library opening today.

Suddenly, it seemed, someone found the will and the money to pay for extended hours of work over the weekend -- teams were racing all weekend to complete the street parking bays outside the council building, and work powered ahead on the building itself. One could see the pavement works growing metre by metre before one's eyes yesterday, Sunday.

Where there's a will, there's a way, it seems. Unfortunately the great progress over this weekend just goes to show what's possible -- and that only council's priorities matter while the rest of us can go jump.

It also goes to show that the realpolitik hardheads at council understand that while Kings Cross may jump and shout, they can afford to ignore us because beyond shouting and pleading we are not really a serious problem within their ivory tower. The only way to influence council, it seems, is by more direct action.

Any ideas? A rates strike would be the most effective, to teach these arrogant apparatchiks that they work for us, not the other way around. But most people would be too timid. Wouldn't they? What about a class action from main street businesses? Yesterday is proof that council could have finished the works much earlier if they cared a fig. Any takers?