War against car hoons open for comment

Councillors have unanimously supported continued closure of Cowper Wharf Road on weekend nights until the end of June, a measure designed to reduce noise for residents of Macleay Street. Only Cr Shayne Mallard (Liberal) raised any doubts, asking whether there might be a better way to improve amenity than paying police overtime every weekend.

While Council now operates the blockade, police are still required as some angry drivers have ignored Council staff and driven through.

Cr Mallard, who lives in Woolloomooloo, flagged a possible displacement effect which would divert blocked traffic through that residential suburb.

Woolloomooloo residents say traffic has increased in their streets since the blockade, and point to longer queues of traffic heading to Kings cross via William Street, which itself has many residential apartment blocks.

Cr John McInerney repeated the refrain of residents supporting the closures, saying “I received an email from a resident saying they had their first good night’s sleep in four or five years”.

But a City News report questioned this claim after an investigation showed the closures had not in fact occurred on the Saturday night before these claims were made, but this inconsistency does not seem to concern any of the Councillors.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore has indirectly acknowledged a possible displacement effect, saying: “Road closures require significant police and council resources and cannot be applied to every street that has impacts.”

This raises the question: why does Macleay street get preferential treatment while other areas don’t?

Council has opened the matter for public comment until 5pm on Monday 8 March. Email council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

by Michael Gormly