Published June 23 - Andrew Taylor The NSW government's plan to move the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta could be derailed after opponents secured support for an upper house inquiry. The NSW Legislative Council announced on Thursday the establishment of an inquiry into NSW museums and galleries. But in a major victory for opponents of the Powerhouse relocation, the committee chaired by Robert Borsak of the Shooters and Fishers Party will investigate the controversial move of the museum to Parramatta and plans to sell off its Ultimo site.

     Published June 4 - Kirsty Needham Hundreds of students at the crowded inner-city Ultimo Public School will be moved to a "pop-up" campus in a greyhound racetrack and park next year as their school is demolished and rebuilt. Wentworth Park  is the last remaining large green open space in the Pyrmont and Ultimo region, the most densely populated location in Australia, and is heavily used by residents and sports clubs.  It is set to come under further pressure as the nearby Sydney Fish Markets and Bays Precinct are redeveloped to include high-rise residential buildings.

    Published 31 May - Deborah FitzGerald Manager confesses to taking kickbacks in court There are calls for the Independent Commission Against Corruption to investigate the management of Rozelle's Callan Park after its manager of seven years admitted to taking bribes. As the head of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority staff at Callan Park from 2008 to 2015, senior manager Kylie Vernon took day-to-day responsibility for the operations at Callan Park.

    Published May 17, 2016 - Deborah FitzGerald Submissions on the Parramatta Rd renewal strategy show 30 per cent of people want less traffic but there are no clear plans for transport along one of Sydney's most hated corridors.UrbanGrowth NSW has released an outcomes report after receiving more than 3700 submissions, but detail around transport outcomes is vague.

Sydney Morning HeraldPublished May 17, 2016 - Andrew Taylor, Deputy Arts Editor The Powerhouse Museum may not move its entire collection to Parramatta, with a senior NSW bureaucrat suggesting the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences could find a site in Sydney's CBD for fashion and design exhibitions and programs.--Greens MP Jamie Parker said: "The documents show confusion, secrecy and contradiction in relation to the future location, continuity and purpose of the Powerhouse Museum. "These documents reveal that the proposed sale is simply a real estate deal that will only deliver an underfunded and inferior version of the current Powerhouse," he added. "Together with the community, I remain resolved to oppose this wasteful, destructive plan."

    Published April 19, 2016 - Deborah FitzGeraldTHE long-awaited Greenway along the inner west light rail route could be completed within four years after the State Government committed to funding the corridor. The project will ensure a green corridor linking Cooks River to Iron Cove that will provide cycleways and walkways. Transport Minister Andrew Constance is expected to write to three inner west councils as early as next week to offer funding of up to $7 million.  

    Published April 7, 2016 - Lawrence Gibbons, AltNews Editor Speaking to a joint meeting of inner city and suburban activists following a tour of the North Parramatta grounds, Greens MP Jamie Parker said the plans for both the Powerhouse and Parramatta were nothing more than real estate deals. “These proposals are about the developer driven privatisation of public land and have nothing to do with any positive cultural or community outcome.”

  Published April 5, 2016 - Eliza Barr, Inner West Courier STUDENTS across Sydney who could previously only enjoy free travel to and from school on buses, trains and ferries can now add the city’s light rail to their entitlements. Balmain state Greens MP Jamie Parker, who had campaigned for free travel alongside local students, welcomed the news.

    Published March 31, 2016 - Melanie Kembrey Greens MP Jamie Parker said it was unfair that taxpayers could be left paying an enormous clean-up bill while developers profited from the land. The clean-up of toxic waste beneath Barangaroo is getting started, despite ongoing uncertainty about who will foot the multimillion-dollar bill. The government agency running the controversial harbour-front development could not say how much it will cost to remove the deadly chemicals from the ground or if taxpayers would end up paying for it. Image: Sydney Morning Herald, Dallas Kilponen  

April 1, 2016Today it was announced that free travel for school students to and from school has been extended to include light rail. Finally! This is great news for all of the students and parents who have been working so hard to achieve this policy change.   Students and parents will be able to apply online for the School Opal card for travel on the light rail from 1 July this year with travel available from the start of the 3rd term. Pictured: Earlier Inner West Courier article from Feb 9 2016.