Dare Sydney Cyclists to stage a month long rolling car protest.
Placards roped onto the doorside reading ‘I would’ve cycled to work. But government won’t reopen the bicycle lanes.’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/13/sudden-closure-of-iconic-bridge-to-cyclists-shows-car-is-still-king-in-brisbane
#AusPol #NSWPol #FreedomOfExpression #CyclingCycle
When the housing crisis crashes into the underfunded public school system: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-09/parramatta-macquarie-boys-high-school-housing-sydney/105117922 #education #housing #urbanism #auspol #nswpol
"An abandoned school in Parramatta earmarked for housing should be converted into a new school to service the area's booming population, locals say.
"Macquarie Boys Technology High School and the residential care facility at Rydalmere were both shut down in 2009, leaving the 19-hectare plot of land abandoned.
"In 2018, the former state Liberal government announced it would turn the land at Rydalmere into a new primary and high school, but it stalled.
"The current government was looking to transform the site into a residential and commercial precinct, and was searching for developers to build about 2,300 homes on the site by 2028.
…
"Parramatta councillor Kellie Darley said she was concerned that, at present, schools in the area would not be able to accommodate the city's growing population."
Personally, I think a vertical school on part of the site would fill the need for more schools in the area, while leaving most of the site free for more housing.
And there's a fantastic example nearby: https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/a/arthur-phillip-high-school.html
Unfortunately, tickets are sold out. But just the concept of Gladys Berejiklian the Musical is hilarious: https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/gladys-a-musical-affair/ #auspol #nswpol
Fantastic advocacy work by @walk_sydney on reforming the NSW Roads Act, so our streets are for people and not just cars: https://walksydney.substack.com/p/reforming-the-roads-act-walksydney #auspol #nswpol #politics #urbanism
"We want a Roads Act that guarantees freedom to move — especially for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and everyone in between. That means recognising walking as a fundamental right and delivering streets that are safe, inclusive, and accessible.
"We also made the case for a Commissioner for safe and inclusive streets — someone with real power to hold road authorities accountable, require crossings and footpaths, and ensure safety is never compromised.
"The Roads Act Review is a chance to reimagine how our streets serve people. We’re optimistic and we’ll keep pushing to make sure this opportunity delivers real, lasting change."
Fuck yeah. Forestry NSW lose in the high court, opening the way for more legal actions to force them to do their damn job.
https://www.miragenews.com/high-court-backs-community-right-to-sue-nsw-1441522/
The police hid the truth, the government lied and the result was you had more rights and freedoms taken away for no good reason.
Greens voters in Western Sydney: Adam Bandt and Mehreen Faruqi are hosting a campaign rally 6pm this Sunday (13th April) at Parramatta Town Hall. Details & RSVP here: https://contact-nsw.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/info?id=21450&reset=1
"Western Sydney has been ignored by the two major parties for far too long. Communities are sick and tired of being taken for granted, being used as photo ops at our festivals while the issues that matter most to us are ignored.
"This election, that changes. The Greens will be fighting to keep Dutton out and get Labor to act. With a minority government all but guaranteed, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change – and Western Sydney is key to this.
"Join Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, Deputy Leader, Mehreen Faruqi, and our candidates for Western Sydney at Parramatta Town Hall. Over some food and light refreshments provided by the Greens, you’ll have a perfect opportunity for us to hear from you and you to hear from us about what Greens politics means for Western Sydney and why this election is so important."
@bastardsheep.com The river and Church St frontage is the *good* side of the building. It's worse around the back.
Feeling inspired to watch some theatre?
@bastardsheep.com I swung by Australia's least inspiring performing arts building earlier today to take some photos. Renovator's delight is being kind... #arts #auspol #nswpol
Parramatta is set to get a revitalised arts complex, with the plan now open for public consultation.
From ArchitectureAU:
"The $188 million proposal for the redevelopment of Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres is currently on exhibition on the NSW government’s state significant applications portal, with the public invited to have their say on the designs.
"The revitalised building will feature a collection of performance spaces, including a new 1,500-seat Broadway-style Lyric Theatre replacing the building’s existing Lennox and Raffertys Theatres, a refurbished 760-seat Playhouse Theatre, a 341-seat Black Box Drama Theatre and a 116-seat Studio Cinema. A new bar and cafe is also situated on the river side of the proposed building."
https://architectureau.com/articles/design-for-parramatta-riverside-theatres-on-exhibition/
The current building opened in 1988, and it's certainly showing its age.
Current venues in the complex include the 761-seat Riverside Theatre, the 213-seat Lennox Theatre, and the 88-seat Rafferty's Theatre.
So definitely a well-needed upgrade.
You can have your say on the project on the NSW Planning Portal here: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/parramatta-riverside-theatres-redevelopment
I see that the NSW Government are playing ‘High ball/Low ball’ while the argument from Doctors is more nuanced.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/02/doctors-in-nsw-public-hospitals-threaten-three-day-strike-over-pay-dispute-defying-ban
#NSWPol #NSWHealth
RPA hospital closes HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients after staff resignations
Exclusive: Former staff tell Guardian Australia some HIV patients have since required acute mental health care, as hospital also loses specialist pain and eating disorder support staff
The resignation of psychiatrists from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital has led to the closure of a HIV psychiatry clinic with 200 patients, as well as a loss of specialist psychiatrist services for patients in the pain clinic and the most unwell eating disorder patients.
#NSW #NSWPol #health #Australia #psychology #psychiatry #MentalHealth #pain #ChronicPain #EatingDisorder
The North Shore NIMBYs are out in force, "protecting the environment" in the Ku-ring-gai shire by opposing new housing near train stations.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-great-divide-over-this-north-shore-council-s-housing-plan-20250331-p5lnyp.html #urbanism #nswpol #auspol
Looks like there's even more delays for the new CAF R sets, which were supposed to replace NSW's XPT and XPlorer country train fleet:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/bungled-nsw-train-project-risks-running-later-than-worst-case-scenario-20250401-p5lo54.html #auspol #trains #nswpol
Westfield is apparently looking to build up to 1500 apartments on top of Warringah Mall (near Manly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWBiF7YJvYA #auspol #nswpol #urbanism
Westfield also wants to put apartments above its shopping centres at Parramatta, Hornsby, and Eastgardens.
Personally, I think as long as there's proper noise proofing, apartments above shopping centres makes a lot of sense.
For residents, it's convenient to just go downstairs to pick something up from Woolies, Kmart, or the food court.
For the broader community, it saves a lot of car trips and reduces traffic, because the folks who live above shopping centres probably aren't driving there.
And at least in Sydney, many shopping centres are in central locations close to public transport.
Westfield Parramatta in particular is in an ideal spot for more apartments. And Hornsby's CBD is rapidly densifying too.
The only issue with Warringah Mall, other than the lack of trains, is the infamous NIMBYism of the locals.
But in general, I think it's a fantastic idea.
As the LNP points out, this law is mainly symbolic, since both sides of #NSWpol have abandoned the PPP model for new hospitals. But we are still dealing with the consequences of bad deals made a decade or more ago, and the new law doesn't change this.
The $1 Million Miracle: How to Turn Peanuts into $730 Million (Just Ask the NSW Government!)
Remember that time in 2015 when the NSW Government sold the totally outdated, super-polluting Vales Point Power Station for a cool $1 million? Yeah, just your average fire sale of a public asset. But wait — plot twist! By 2017, this "worthless" coal plant was magically valued at $730 million.
Guess it just needed a little private sector fairy dust to unlock its true potential, right? 
Ah, privatisation — where public assets go to become someone else’s goldmine. What a deal! (For some, anyway.) 
#JustGovernmentThings #PeanutsToProfits #DodgyDeals #ValesPointMiracle #Auspol #Nswpol #privitisation
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-24/coal-power-station-sold-for-peanuts-becomes-730-million-asset/9077582
If you can't provide healthcare then you shouldn't be a doctor.
Abortion IS healthcare. This is a ridiculous stance for NSW Health to take. #NSWPol
From: @NewtonMark
https://eigenmagic.net/@NewtonMark/114174354560153621
The #yeahNahPasaran team @slackbastard @sexenheimer have a fascinating and illuminating chat with financial journalist Gareth Gore on Opus Dei - who have produced at least one Australian Prime Minister and one NSW Premier #ausPol #nswPol
https://www.3cr.org.au/yeahnahpasaran/episode/gareth-gore-opus-dei
