NSW state election in-depth | Our guide to best local gym offers | Bears kick off 2023
February 2023 Issue 20
News and views for North Sydney’s residential and business communities
www.northsydneysun.com.au
State Labor pressed to match NSW Liberal pledges on North Sydney Oval, High Line By Grahame Lynch NSW Labor is being pressed ahead of the March 25 election to match commitments from the Coalition state government to spend $11 million on an upgrade of North Sydney Oval and progress the Lavender Bay High Line plan. North Sydney Council unanimously resolved last week to write to the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Ministers for Sport and Women inviting them to a tour of North Sydney Oval and seeking a commitment that, if elected, they will match the promised funding. A leading advocate for the High Line, North Sydney councillor Ian Mutton, said he would be seeking similar assurances from NSW Labor. Earlier this month, the NSW government promised to form a Lavender Bay Rail Corridor Delivery Group which will include representatives from North Sydney Council, the Transport Asset Holding Entity, Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW and the Sydney Harbour High Line Association to develop options for converting the 3.3km rail corridor between Milsons Point and Waverton into a walking trail. It also promised $11 million to upgrade North Sydney Oval, primarily to entrench its position as the home of women’s cricket in Australia. At a press conference held at the venue, NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said that the upgrades would improve playing surfaces, spectator seating, food and beverage outlets, and player and officials’ rooms. Other upgrades in-
clude improvements to community and stakeholder spaces, public toilet amenities and broadcast media boxes. MP for North Shore Felicity Wilson told the North Sydney Sun that “What we’ll do is, if we’re re-elected, the $11 million funding will be contributed to council almost immediately. And there’s co-funding. North Sydney Council’s putting a $2.5 million as well. And a couple of codes are putting in some funding, too. So once that money goes to North Sydney Council, they’ll then help manage that for the process. They’re on board and as you know, they’ve been working hand in glove with us to try and get this project up. And so I imagine they’ll do it as quickly as they possibly can.” Mayor Zoe Baker confirmed that North Sydney Council had a master plan in place for the Oval that was ready to go whenever funding was provided. “The next step is we’re working closely with Cricket New South Wales and the other codes to make certain we have a fit for purpose oval, in particular for sportswomen,” she told the Sun. She added that the arrival of the Metro station at McLaren St, just one block from North Sydney Oval, would enhance its status as the home of women’s cricket. “That’s a connection between north, western and south western Sydney. People can come here from all over. I think one of the best things ConƟnued Page 2
Godfrey Santer
MP Felicity Wilson, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Emily at North Sydney
World Pride to make its mark on North Sydney By Hannah Wilcox Kicking off on February 17, World Pride festivities are set to paint Sydney rainbow to celebrate the international LGBTQIA+ community and what is pitched as the importance of diversity and inclusivity. The festival, this year themed Gather, Dream, Amplify, will run until March 5 when 50 000 people are expected to walk in this year's march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Kicking off at 7am, the march will start on Pacific Highway in North Sydney right near the entrance to the bridge. Marchers will walk across the bridge from north to south, exiting along the Cahill Expressway, Macquarie Street and finishing at the Domain and Hyde Park. However, extensive road closures will be in place for most of the morning on main thoroughfares into the
city and some surrounding residential streets. Sydney Harbour Bridge, including the Cahill Expressway Circular Overpass, will be closed from 4am to 11:30am on the day with drivers looking to travel southbound recommended to use the Harbour Tunnel instead. Walkways and bike lanes on the bridge will remain open, although the Cahill Expressway walkway will be closed from 6am to 11am. Other detours such as the tunnel can be accessed via the Neutral Bay Falcon Street or Military Road onramps or the Victoria Road route. Motorists are urged to delay any nonessential travel until after the march is finished. From 2am to 12:30pm sections of the Pacific Highway at North Sydney near Harbour Bridge on-ramp will close.
Other road closures in the North Sydney residential area on March 5 include sections of Walker Street, Blue Street, Arthur Street, Hill Street and Pacific Highway from 4am to 11:30am. There will be managed residential access in place for sections of Mount Street and Walker Street. Another thing to note for motorists in the area is the enactment of special event clearway parking restrictions between 1am and 11:30am. These are
strict no-parking zones and there are Alanyafor Drummond no exemptions residents or Mobili& John Lepouris ty Scheme Permit holders. Public transport will continue to operate throughout the day although buses will be terminating trips on either side of the bridge. Trains will continue to operate normally even with road closures in place. Sydney WorldPride organisers have noted that residents and business ConƟnued Page 16