Colourful finale for Council

The City of Sydney Council has ended the year in colourful fashion – literally – with the final Council meeting of 2012 approving a proposal for rainbow colours to be painted across signal-controlled pedestrian crossings in Darlinghurst.

The plan, introduced by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, was passed unanimously on Monday night.

The initiative, modelled on a similar scheme in the West Hollywood district of Los Angeles, will see the rainbow colours of the gay pride flag painted across both Taylor Square and Whitlam Square, honouring the culture of Australia’s queerest neighbourhood. Planned to run as a trial, the $75,000 project will commence in time for the Sydney Mardi Gras in February, and become a permanent fixture pending a Council evaluation in September and approval from the State Government’s Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) authority.

While the Lord Mayor’s colourful plan passed unanimously, the meeting was colourful for other reasons too, with a wide range of issues hotly debated by councillors.

Christine Forster’s push for a trial closure of George St was voted down, prompting harsh criticism from the Liberal politician. Cr Forster said the City’s plan to close George St to all but pedestrian traffic to accommodate light rail “needed more investigation”.

“Closing George St would be a huge change to the heart of the city, with possibly very significant impacts on businesses,” she told City News afterwards.

“It’s irresponsible to embark on such a massive change, which can’t be easily reversed, without trialing it first.”

Cr Forster’s motion to establish a childcare centre in Pyrmont was also defeated, as was Labor Councillor Linda Scott’s proposal to investigate the Council depot at the intersection of Wattle and Fig Streets as a site for new childcare facilities.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Cr Scott, who noted that “Team Clover” – Councillors Green, Kemmis, Kok, Mant and Ms Moore – “voted as a block to reject or amend every idea presented by the new councilors”.

However the Lord Mayor said childcare was a priority across the City, not just in Pyrmont.

“There is an urgent need to increase childcare across the City of Sydney. We know that many areas, including Pyrmont, are facing this challenge and City staff are reviewing properties across the local government area for potential locations,” said Ms Moore.

In other childcare news, Council approved major revisions to the controversial expansion of the KU Frances Newton Preschool at 222 Palmer St, Darlinghurst.

In a win for local residents who opposed the loss of the John Birt Memorial Playground and the closure of Berwick Lane to accommodate the expansion, Council approved a new design for the centre addressing their concerns.

As part of the redevelopment, Council will now set land aside for public use as a pocket park, and Berwick Lane will continue to remain open as a pedestrian link between Palmer and Bourke Streets.

Ms Moore said local residents had responded positively to the revisions and had thanked Council for listening to feedback.