Greens condemn Baird's council sacking

MEDIA RELEASE - May 12, 2016
Greens MPs and local inner west councilors condemn Premier Baird’s forced amalgamation of Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield councils stating that this action reaffirms this government’s absolute disregard for community concerns and its ruthless program of reducing services to NSW residents.

“Make no mistake - the sacking of Councils is about cutting jobs and services. It is about removing what limited voice remains for communities to stand up to over development and to projects like WestConnex which will decimate our communities."
Jamie Parker MP, Member for Balmain“

This is the Liberal agenda - a vision for government tailored to developers and large private interests, at the expense of community voices and services that support the most vulnerable. The sacking of local councilors and the imposition of administrators until September next year will mean our community who are facing massive threats from WestConnex and Urban Growth will be without local representation at this crucial time."
Jenny Leong MP, Member for Newtown

“Marrickville Council is the second largest employer in our local area. Those jobs aren't just about picking up garbage and maintain our parks - they run our child care centres, our Meals on Wheels programs and our community festivals. The things that our residents love most about our Councils are what we stand to lose."
Cr Sylvie Ellsmore, Marrickville Council

"This is all about the Baird Government pushing through their pro-development agenda. All three councils have strongly campaigned against over-development and to stop WestConnex - by amalgamating them their effective advocacy will be lost. We will see rates rise and services fail and a loss of local accountability and democracy. The Greens fundamentally reject this, and we will continue to fight for the right for residents to control the future of their local communities. Shutting them down and sacking elected representatives is not what we call democracy."
Cr Rochelle Porteous, Leichhardt Council

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FERRIES AT ANNANDALE AND WEST BALMAIN

Imagine hopping on a ferry at Annandale or West Balmain and being in the heart of the city within minutes.

In 2020, we won the campaign for a Glebe ferry. Now, we have the opportunity to connect more of our area to the ferry network. New ferries at Annandale and West Balmain will provide a faster, smarter route into the city without adding to the traffic on our roads.

Both Labor and the Liberals want to build more polluting and destructive tollways across Sydney. But we have costed a comprehensive plan for a world-class public transport system that makes getting around our city fast and easy.

Dear Transport Minister,

New inner west ferry services would provide efficient, fast and environmentally sound travel to and from the area for workers, tourists, students, pensioners and the general public.

I therefore ask that the Government build on the success of the Blackwattle Bay ferry and establish a ferry service at Rozelle Bay for the Annandale area and reinstate the ferry at West Balmain.

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