News Brief
Rebirth of Bellevue Cottage
Glebe’s vacant Bellevue Cottage, overlooking Blackwattle Bay, has been granted approval for a 60-seat indoor and outdoor café.
Convention centre upgrade
A million dollar upgrade of Sydney’s Convention and Exhibition Centre was announced last week. Peak industry body The Australian Tourism Export Council said the upgrade is needed to keep Sydney competitive with new centres in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East.
Motorbike bandits
Police are requesting public assistance in identifying a group suspected of the robberies of six businesses across the Inner West. In each instance one to three offenders wearing motorcycle helmets have stolen money with the aid of a firearm, escaping on a stolen motorcycle.
Footway licence restrictions to stay
Council’s Cultural and Community Services committee has unanimously voted for ongoing footway licence restrictions in State Government liquor freeze areas. The committee has been recommended to uphold the restrictions until June next year.
Women hit by bus
A bus hit two women crossing Enmore Road, Newtown on Sunday morning. Both were taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, one in a critical condition. Police are investigating the cause of the collision.
Rally in Martin Place
Brinks armored car employees held a strike rally in Martin Place on Monday and Tuesday morning, demanding pay and conditions equal to competitor companies.
Comancheros charged
Police charged three Comanchero members after a scuffle involving police and security at a club on Darlinghurst Road in the early hours of Sunday morning. The officers were members of Strike Force Raptor, a squad targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Museum of Contemporary Art extension
A $53 million extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art will begin next month. It will include more gallery space, a new lecture theatre and an interactive classroom. Designed by architect Sam Marshall, the structure will resemble a jumble of white, grey, black, brown and tinted glass boxes.
War Memorial gets heritage listing
Hyde Park’s Anzac War Memorial is now protected under the State Heritage Register. The structure reopened last year after a $6 million upgrade.
Public facilities the winner in draft budget
City Council has allocated $133 million in the 2010-11 draft budget to upgrade parks, cultural venues, street lighting, youth recreational facilities and childcare centres. The draft budget will be on public display starting Tuesday.
No to nukes
Council will call on the Federal Government to support the adoption of a global Nuclear Weapons Convention. The City of Sydney will be acting in tandem with other cities around the world as members of international lobby group Mayors for Peace.
Word
The Dictionary of Sydney, a website project developed over the past five years and unveiled in November, was granted ongoing funding by Council on Monday in the hope it would become an ongoing resource.
