CAMPAIGNS ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS
On a regular basis there is an opportunity for you to support petitions and campaigns I and or other Canada Bay Councillors are pursuing on behalf of residents.
CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE EXTENSION OF FORESHORE ACCESS AND
CREATE A NEW FORESHORE PARK IN MORTLAKE.
In past years council failed to ensure foreshore access and connectivity in lage sections of Yarralla Bay in Mortlake off Hilly Street. There are now barricades and obstructions blocking residents.
There is now a new major development on the old “Jemena site’ in Palace Lane Mortlake. Council has negotiated a foreshore pathway but residents cannot access the foreshore walkway because an old Transport NSW/RMS Works Depot blocks access on the western side of the site off Hilly Street blocks access. This Works Depot was abandoned years ago and is not used for any maintenance, repair or any other purpose. This is a disgrace. Council in 2017 and again in 2024 supported a resolution I moved at Council for Transport NSW to transfer ownership of the site to council and establish a foreshore park. Unfortunately the previous Liberal Government refused and the Depot surrounded by fencing and barbed wire remains idle.
Now is the time for Transport NSW to hand over the site and create a new foreshore park.
ISSA’S RIGHT TO PLAY- UPGRADE CABARITA PARK NOW
The City of Canada Bay Council provides and maintains over 40 high quality, innovative playgrounds across the City, ranging from smaller play spaces located in neighborhoods and district parks to larger iconic playgrounds including McIlwaine Reserve, Timbrell Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and Cabarita Park.
Council does a great job.
However more needs to be done. We need to be the best.
I am supporting a community campaign to improve the children’s playground in Cabarita Park.
This campaign has been underway for years with hundreds of local residents signing petitions but their concerns remain unresolved.
According to the 2019 Council Lets Play Strategy Survey the overwhelming majority of residents supported synthetic soft fall rather than sand in children’s playgrounds.
I support an upgrade of Cabarita Park with synthetic soft fall being installed with a smaller properly maintained sand pit being included.
Issues of hygiene, risks from syringes and broken glass, burns to children, cat/dogs defecating and many more issues are of importance.
Many additional arguments are contained in a recent submission from the Friends of Cabarita Park.
A copy of this submission is available on request from the Fiends of Cabarita Park- friendsofcabaritaparkandwharf@gmail.com
However the deciding issue for me is the rights of all children to play and in particular children with disabilities.
I note the comments of one mother from Breakfast Point Natalie Dunn who told the Inner West Courier last year that she could not use the park because her daughter Issa in a wheelchair could not navigate the sand.
Issa and all children with disabilities have the right to play.