Merry Christmas

As we all (hopefully all)  take a few days off work to enjoy our families, may I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas? May 2012 bring you every joy, health and happiness.

It’s been another big year, with some wins and some losses, but all in all we’ve managed our way through it together. As I look back I take a moment to be grateful that we in this fabulous city can have a say, we can unite for a common cause and we can disagree safe in the knowledge that we are free to do so. To you and yours Merry Christmas, enjoy the break because next year we still have some major local hurdles to overcome and it is an election year, our local greens group is working hard to put together a team that will offer Liverpool a strong and viable alternative to the same old two parties… more on that in the New Year .

Till then, be safe, be happy, remember no trip is that urgent you need to speed, no trip so important to drink and drive, not one life is worth risking to unsafe behaviour, I look forward to seeing you all again in 2012.

Best wishes from my family to you and yours.

                                                                        Signe

 

ps.. don’t forget to tune into 2GLF (89.3) on Monday between 9 and noon, my friend Carol will be on bringing us up to date on local happenings  and the team at 2glf will make sure there is something happening and something to listen to over the break.

Council Meeting 19.12.11

The last council meeting for 2011 was pretty much as one would expect a very full agenda. Coopers Paddock was on the agenda and while the entire site was not given to council we gained more space than we had initially been offered for the safety of the flora and fauna. The ATC will remediate the site and hand it over to council over the coming years, all in all a good outcome albeit a lot of expertise involved to ensure the Powerful owl, the Varied Sittella and numerous other species now have sufficient space to roost and call home… the big hope now is that the remediation doesn’t disturb the more fragile and move them away.  An interesting outcome was for the Direct Freight people, in that they were seeking a 24/7 licence to operate, and no one had mentioned the option of the ‘proposed’ new 400 metre section of road, from what I heard the freight company may be coerced into assisting financially with this road, which would make the lives of the many in that sector safer and happier.

I have attached the presentation I made to councillors, here I’ve indicated what was ‘missed’ by the councillors interjections and frankly I wasn’tperturbed, it was as I expected but I am happy with the outcomes, albeit the nonsense with the carbon tax didn’t get stopped, I am confident the people of Liverpool will know this is a political stunt and treat it with the appropriate disdain. Every thinking person knows the 17% the state government is planning to increase power next year (on top of the nearly 40% in the recent past) will affect us all way more than the compensated .07%. Alas as a council election is imminent this is to be expected. Cllr Lucas did not succeed in his attempt to have the community ousted from the CBD committee (tks to Cllr Stanley for her support) and the community forums (although now two not three) will continue monthly from Feb-November interestingly at Cllr Lucas behest.  The other reason for posting my comments was that as always some councillors don’t really listen and in the discussions later in the evening Cllr Hadchiti clearly misquoted me so I’ve posted here for the record.

As I said it was a full agenda and we finished up at approx 11.30pm, council kindly provided a supper however I and many others were simply happy to make a move home. Some of our staff travel long distances and to their credit some were seen arriving at work at 8.30 as did I. I get a little miffed when I hear disparaging comments about our staff, they are from what I’ve observed a decent and hardworking group of people and I wish them all a very Merry Christmas and may 2012 bring exciting times for us all.

All is not necessarily done for 2011 although that was the  final meeting/committee/forum for the year and I do miss them over the break however I am looking for some time off with family as I am sure most people are.

Points to Liverpool Council Staff

I am delighted to see the Liverpool council staff embracing new technology and supporting the environment as well.  I often comment on poor practice, albeit mostly councillors not staff and commend them on this years Christmas Card. Received with thanks from me (&  numerous trees) and appreciation

Signe

Sir David Attenborough

I saw this and had to share… thanks to BBC and my daughter for bringing it to my attention. Click here and be inspired..,.

http://youtu.be/B8WHKRzkCOY

 

Wednesday Morning ritual

Part of my Wednesday morning ritual is picking up both local papers and reading them almost front to back, sorry property section I’m not reading although I still like to glance at what is available and where.

Having said that I love reading the editors comments, articles but  mostly the community comments, I as most of you would know love the interaction with the community and this is just another form of it IMHO… but today I was livid to read the letter from Paster Henry Jacotine in this week’s Champion, not because I don’t feel he has a right to make a personal comment, he has or that I disagree totally with his opinions regarding the marriage act (which I do) because I happen to believe in an equal & fair society & abhor discrimination. But what bugged me most was  what he  failed to mention, being a couple of what I think are pertinent facts, 1) he’s a pastor at the Inspire Church,(hardly an unbiased opinion)  2) His appalling behaviour at the Carbon forum aside, he’s a former Mayoral  candidate for the LCIT, a local political group who despite their ‘Independent’ tag  consistently  displays a strong Liberal (as in political not open minded) agenda, with both their councillors who most often vote in block with the Liberal councillors, including wearing ‘vote Liberal’  T-shirts & scrutineering for the Libs at recent elections . Lastly as a decent person he disparages me (& perhaps you) as indecent because I disagree with his prejudice (then again who made him final ‘judgement’ officer?) or  that in my opinion we are all created equal. Please Paster Henry Jacotine at least sign off with your credentials so those other (in) decent Liverpudlians can see where your opinions are formed & your allegiance lay.

Also in the paper is the partial agendas for the upcoming council meeting as is the CBD Committee meeting, also mentioned  are Cllr Lucas’s plans for the foreshore of the Georges River, the plans are admirable and I look forward to discussing this further at the Monday meeting, however as the agenda for  the CBD Committee is rarely publically available prior this is your opportunity to give me your opinions to take to that meeting ( I am your community representative) bear in mind talk is cheap, funding such a venture would not and while he gains deserved attention for his foresight not a lot of what he has suggested could be funded by Liverpool Council and would require significant funding from other agencies as well as approval from the State Rail who own the land (I think).

 Also highlighted in the paper are the ATC proposals. As you well know I support saving as much of Coopers Paddock as possible (all would be lovely), and have supported the ATC’s plans for other developments including the proposed future development  of a housing estate on their land to the east and the creation of so much local work,  but it seems a little bullish that the ATC president has indicated its an all or nothing deal…”Mr Cornish said we intend to sell the land to fund the upgrade, no money no racecourse”. What a shame, I know the ATC plan to sell the Munday Street Site but from what I recall the info on Coopers Paddock indicated they were planning to develop the Industrial site… not necessarily sell it off…while I might have missed some fine detail it’s a shame the ATC feel that way and plan to completely give up if they don’t get their approvals 100%.  To that he said “young families in the west deserve world class facilities, not just the toffs in the eastern Suburbs.” (As quoted in the Leader) but only if they get their 100% approval it seems. I can only imagine some of those ‘toffs’ in the eastern suburbs’ would enjoy seeing a wildlife refuge right next door to the racecourse when they travel ALLLLLLL the way out west for the races and probably not so excited about struggling with trucks going to and from an industrial estate.  I guess they won’t be coming at all if the ATC don’t get all their approvals ;-(

Lastly the final council meeting for the year is on Monday at the Francis Greenway Centre at 7pm… Come along, say hi and see what is happening in your city.

Philipino Pasko Pinoy Style Christmas event

I had the absolute pleasure on Saturday to attend the Christmas event for the Filipino community, how lucky are we to be able to experience a wealth of diversity among neighbours and friends. Being born of a Swedish father and an Aussie Mother I understood and appreciated the Yule Christmas celebrations and of course a smorgasbords. My father’s extensive travel had us understand at a young age and appreciate the many types of celebrations and today In our present society we get to learn lots about each other and the different approaches and celebrations of the numerous events simply by being part of our own community. Below are some pictures taken on my trusty phone, Speakers from across the community and politics were in attendance including the consulate general herself Philippine Consulate General in Sydney Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis, MP Laurie Ferguson and our own Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann along with Member for Mulgoa and the Mayor of Blacktown.  All this supported by some simply amazing talent, singer’s, dancers and bands.

How lucky are we?

In this instance I’m saying the Greens members, yesterday I spent the day with approximately 100 like minded, caring and passionate individuals, who worked through numerous policy and party decisions… while debate can be at times full on it is always respectful, topics too varied to list but each with the passion I rarely see in other places. These are everyday people, teachers, lawyers, mums and dads, office workers, mayors, councillors, business owners even state members and federal senators… with one similarity, they all care deeply for the future of our cities, our state, our country and in fact our planet… what inspires me most, is at these gatherings, senators sit with their groups, MLCs alongside their local membership, there is no pretence, no air of superiority, just like minded people working together.

When I joined the Greens, I really had only hoped this kind of group existed, how delighted I am now to be part of this amazing process. To discuss our local issues over lunch with a senator, or get ideas from seasoned local councillors, to work through policy and create new…all because we together believe in what we are doing and doing it together seems the right thing to do.

At a time when forums are finished for the year and committee meetings are winding down I am blessed to be able to continue working with passionate and dedicated people not only locally (our FLG Meetings will continue throughout Dec/Jan) but from all across the state. Where the children are welcomed, in fact two of them yesterday were outstanding in their cheerful ability to help with microphones and make sure everyone was heard even making a game of it. Where knitting is the norm and computers ticking away are standard… ahhh if all in life was like this achieving great outcomes in a busy yet convivial environment… not bad for a political group you’d have to agree.

Finally not all is stopped for 2011, there are items available for comment on the council website, the intermodal public exhibition is still there for comment, the road widening on the M5 is approved and seems like there is no more discussion to be had, our friends at Hoxton Park have been ‘promised’ their long awaited sewerage commencing mid 2012, we don’t feel any closer to noise walls for our Casula residents although not giving up on this one either and will be interested to see if we can continue to lobby for noise walls on the bridge of the M5…and of course there is still one council meeting left for 2011… Monday the 19^th at 7pm at the Greenway centre… all welcome.  And don’t forget to take a walk through the mall… our big Christmas tree is up and glistens in the dark of evening, although I don’t recall reading that it had ‘an official lighting’ this year, it will be nice to take the children along to see it and while there, lets count our blessings, each of us have some amongst the worries and concerns of everyday.. but count them we must for they make all the worries worthwhile.