Balmain Town Hall Public Meeting with SMC - December 2016

It was standing room only at the Balmain Town Hall on Thursday night as hundreds of residents gathered to hear from and ask questions of the SMC.

Mr Lozano was critical of the WestConnex project when addressing Mr Jones at the meeting. “Here is some feedback, this is due for failure just like every other toll road. The world has moved away from this solution. The world has moved away from roads because you cannot pour traffic into a city and not expect congestion......

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WestConnex Not On Council’s Agenda - 23 August 2016

On Tuesday August 23, the unelected Inner West Council met for the third time since its appointment by the Baird government.

The published meeting agenda ran to over 600 pages, yet failed to include WestConnex or urban growth as agenda items.

John Lozano of Haberfield made an impassioned appeal to the Mr Pearson, that he act on the issue of WestConnex or resign as Administrator.

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How will the Westconnex emissions stack being built opposite Bunnings (Haberfield/Ashfield), impact our community?
Or the one at St Peters, or the ones at Rozelle, or the one at....

What a sad state of affairs we have when we need to formulate policies around a single tollroad. But unfortunately we do.

Westconnex is the single most damaging event to hit our community and its effects will be felt for years to come. I have spoken out at many community meetings, at the NSW Senate Tolls Enquiry and I will continue to do so because it’s just plain dumb.  And you don’t need to be an expert to see the stupidity that’s coming. Tell any local they plan to solve congestion by funnelling traffic onto the City West link and watch their facial expression.

One major party loves it, the other doesn’t like the part about the tolls but is ambivalent about the rest.

Its heartbreaking that the Leichhardt ward can be described geographically by three acts akin to environmental vandalism.

• To the west - Haberfield construction site opposite Bunnings.
• To the north - A possible dive site at Dan Murphy’s on Darley Rd.
• To the east - A possible dive site at Mallet St & Parramatta Rd. 

 Here’s what I am thinking….

1. Let’s form strategic partnerships with progressive like-minded councils. We should be sharing resources and formulating joint policies. Together we are stronger.
2. Our council needs to be a thought leader and an influencer. We need to provide alternate solutions that actually work, are sustainable and live in harmony with all of Sydney. Let's lead the debate not follow it.
3. What hasn’t been built needs to be opposed, what has been built needs to be repurposed. By planning our infrastructure for the people and not for profit, we can deliver cost effective transport systems to our community which do not impact our environment. There are better ways.
4. Our residents that have been/will be impacted need our support - socially, economically and legally.

I love the inner west. Our streets are full of wonderfully diverse architecture. Yes development is needed. But it must fit into the surroundings our community cherishes.
High density style developments, like Waterloo, completely transform our communities and erode away the very things that drew us to the inner west. We are a welcoming community but our services must grow along side our new neighbours. Placing more pressures on our already stretched infrastructure is not the way to go.

Here’s what I am thinking….

1. All developments must be accompanied by additions to public space, parks and active transport systems.
2. Increases to schools, childcare, health facilities and public transport must be factored in to cater for the population growth.
3. New architecture must compliment exisiting suburban landscapes and also add to the diversity that defines our inner west.
4. Let's set up a key position on council. A position responsible for setting strategic outcomes for future developments. We want to see "inner west friendly" proposals. Let's choose an individual with global town planning and architecture experience. Let's set the bar high.
5. Our planning controls are being stripped away by the State Govt. Let's start turning that around. Our council not only has an obligation to shape and contribute towards government policies but also to advocate publicly on behalf of our community when those policies are unfair and unjust.

I am passionate about keeping party politics out of our councils. They add no value and there’s simply no place for it. 

Councils are community forums where independent community minded representatives collectively formulate policies for the interest of the community.

Our council was forcibly amalgamated without our say. No councillor with the communities interest at heart would have voted to strip away our autonomy or put up such little resistance. 

I yearn for an independent thinking council where councillors debate over community issues, not espouse political rhetoric. 

We need to start ruffling a few feathers….

Let’s face it, politicians only sit up and listen when they fear for their jobs. And nothing instils fear in them as the possibility of loosing votes. Huge swings and independent candidates elected to our council sends strong messages. It's a very accurate poll, reflecting the mood of the community. And we all know how much they love their polls. Our community has the power to make a difference. 

Your vote on September 9 can start the avalanche…..

My family arrived in Australia with me in tow in the 60’s. Dad and Mum headed off to factories shortly after. They would remain there until retirement.

We lived on Palace St Petersham and I rode the red rattler to Ashfield Boys. Later we moved out Liverpool way.

I left school, did an apprenticeship and worked in the motor trade a few years. The careers advisor said it was the thing to do - if you liked cars.

 I was drawn to music in my teens and ended up playing in bands. It was the 80’s, the music scene was buzzing and there were heaps of pubs about the inner city. Sadly most of them now closed. We released a single, a video and made the independent charts. Looking to repeat that on Sept. 9.

I settled down got married, a mortgage and two kids. For the next 10 years, I worked in community services providing advocacy for people with disabilities and managing childcare programs.

I coached junior football (that's sock-ah to the “uninitiated”), climbing through the ranks to coach NSW State sides. We won 3 championships - c'mon you blues.

I studied and re-trained in Information Technology and have remained in that field ever since. Today I’m a consultant providing IT services to both the public and private sector.

I was lucky enough to return to the inner west 6 years ago. I love its diversity, its vibrancy and that it's ok to have purple and green hair, if you want. “My time”, is spent between coffee at Cornersmith, plays at the New Theatre and foreign film festivals at Palace on Norton.

I love the place to bits and every bit about the place.

So when my community was threatened I stepped forward. Council amalgamations got me started. Toll roads, over development and the gradual and unrelenting erosion of our democratic rights got me hooked. The sprinkling of disingenuous politicians just strengthen my resolve to make a difference.

I reached out to community groups and asked if I could help. I became an advocate. I’ve spoken at council, I’ve spoken in town halls, I’ve spoken at rallies and even in the NSW Senate.  

I’m local and boy am I vocal.

A WestConnex representative has told disgruntled residents to ‘come after me’ if the promises he makes as project director for the M4-M5 link are broken.

The Sydney Motorway Corporation is responsible for the construction of WestConnex, and finally met with community members after dodging earlier community consultations.

It was standing room only at the Balmain Town Hall on Thursday night as hundreds of residents gathered to hear from and ask questions of the SMC.

Going once, going twice, sold for $3,300....
That's how much council accepted for a 200 sq mtr block of land at Reg Coady Reserve.

So I thought I'd check whether council left a few zeros of the price?

Who remembers the stormy first Inner West council meeting? The unelected administrator, fresh from Macquarie st, was greeted by the full fury of our community. He was so ruffled he hurriedly proclaimed he also "opposed Westconnex in the strongest possible terms!" 

So I wanted to know, how strong that opposition was going to be?