The Weekly Times - TWT - 17th April 2019

Wednesday 17 April, 2019 THE WEEKLY TIMES 11
Sign my petition and save
my cafe, manager pleads
Your City News
GLADESVILLE’s famous Aussie Bites Cafe kiosk in Trim Place has urged readers
of The Weekly Times to sign a petition to keep it open.
Cafe Manager George
Pahali hopes to get a
thousand signatures on
the petition which calls on
Trim Place landlord - The
City Of Ryde - to provide
the maintenance and upgrades
he needs to stay in
business in a competitive
local cafe market.
The petition states:
“For over a year we have
been having discussions
with the council with regard
to expanding our kiosk
so we can provide our
customers with better service
and variety.
“Unfortunately the City
of Ryde Council has not
been very helpful with the
ongoing maintenance of
the space and have suggested
the space is more
suitable for another type of
trade, not a cafe, and shut
us down.
“Please support us by
signing this petition so
council can act now to
help us stay trading in Trim
Place.”
Although his petition
does not mention competition
from new and upmarket
cafe restaurants
around him on Victoria
Road, Gladesville, Mr Pahali
is aware that Trim Place
needs urgent improvement
with pavements repaired
and gardens upkeep.
“Just look at the place,
the pavement is not even,
the gardens could be in
better condition and we
have even had the local
school come out to cut the
grass,” he said.
“Gladesville is growing
and there is not a lot of
public space where you
can enjoy a coffee with
friends, family and pets
outdoors.”
Mr Pahali pays rent to the
council and has offered to
contribute his own money
to help pay for a new look
venue.
“There is a real potential
for this space to look fantastic
and I will pay for the
fit out of a new kiosk if the
council will provide one.”
As good as his word, he
has previously paid for and
submitted architect designs
for a new look Trim
Place backed by a 20 page
submission of suggested
options.
He thought his efforts
had been ignored until he
recently received this text
message from the City of
Ryde, which he passed on
to The Weekly Times.
“It may be that your current
or future business
operations do not match
what is possible on this
space,” the text message
read.
It left him fuming.
“What do they want
here instead, a cigarette
stand?”
“What a comment to
make after I’ve been here
for 11 years providing a
service for thousands of
local people in a safe and
friendly environment for
parents and children,” he
said.
“My cafe kiosk is a landmark
in Gladesville and
the first day I received a
hundred signatures for the
petition.”
When he reaches his
goal of a thousand signatures,
the petition will be
presented at an upcoming
council meeting by Clr
Roy Maggio, who told The
Weekly Times he hoped Mr
Pahali will not throw in the
towel out of frustration.
“Our Mayor says he supports
the growth of local
small business and here is
an opportunity for him to
show he does,” he said.
“It is also an opportunity
for this council to work
with George and with his
ideas to make Trim Place a
showpiece site for Gladesville.”
PICTURED above Aussie
Bites Cafe owner
George Pahali invites
readers of The Weekly
Times to sign his petition.
TWT on-the-spot
PHOTO
City of Ryde Council loses an
overdevelopment court case
A LANDMARK case brought by the City of Ryde against over development was lost in court
last Friday.
The Land and Environment
Court dismissed the City of
Ryde’s case that the State
Government’s Medium Density
Code should be ruled
invalid and that controversial
developments under the
code could subsequently be
unlawful
The City of Ryde case alleged
the government failed
to consider certain environmental
issues it was legally
required to undertake before
implementing the code.
In his judgement, Justice
Brian Preston SC effectively
ruled that the Medium Density
Housing Code was valid.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome
Laxale said he is disappointed
by this ruling.
“While it is a disappointing,
the City of Ryde respects
the court’s decision,” Mayor
Laxale said.
“However, our community
does not respect the Government’s
continued targeting
of Ryde with overdevelopment.
“Coupled with the Priority
Precinct program, the City of
Ryde still maintains that the
Medium Density Housing
Code will have dire consequences
for our entire community.
“The code is yet another
example of NSW Government
intervention with the
intention of overdeveloping
Ryde.”
He said the court decision
will not stop the City
of Ryde’s campaign against
over development.
“We will continue our campaign
for the NSW Government
to give us a complete
exemption from the Medium
Density Housing Code and
support Council in its efforts
to continue its work in successfully
delivering diverse
and affordable housing supply
for the community,” Mayor
Laxale said.
“I was heartened to read
that the new Planning Minister
is not wedded to particular
government policies
currently in place.
“I will request a meeting
with him to work through
the situation created by the
NSW Government’s planning
laws and help shape
policies that will deliver appropriate
development and
infrastructure while maintaining
our City’s great character.”
Nonetheless, the Mayor
conceded that the court ruling
is a heavy blow for ratepayers.
“First it was Priority Precincts,
cramming 15000
dwellings into Macquarie
Park, and now the code will
lead to planning chaos in our
quietest streets,” he said.
“The code will completely
change the character of
our City as it will mean the
number of sites capable of
being developed for medium
density housing would have
increased substantially.
“Overnight, the City of
Ryde could be transformed
from predominantly lowdensity
neighbourhoods
with the required supporting
infrastructure in place to
medium density neighbourhoods
outstripping available
infrastructure and putting
untold strain on our local
natural areas.
“ It is these serious concerns
that led Council to
commence legal proceedings
against the NSW Government
and the code.
“The code could also result
in an additional 60,000 residents
in these neighbourhoods
– five times higher
than the targets set by the
Greater Sydney Commission.”
Mayor Laxale Clr said
Council would also lobby
new NSW Planning Minister
Rob Stokes for the City of
Ryde to be permanently exempt
from the Medium Density
Housing Code.
Council acknowledges Land and Environment Court decision
Last week, the Land and Environment Court dismissed a claim
lodged by the City of Ryde that the NSW Government’s Medium
Density Code be ruled invalid.
The City of Ryde commenced proceedings in the court on behalf
of residents alleging the government failed to consider certain
environmental issues it was legally required to undertake before
implementing the code.
While it is a disappointing outcome, the City of Ryde respects
the court’s decision. However, our community does not respect
the NSW Government’s continued targeting of Ryde with
overdevelopment. Coupled with the Priority Precinct program, the
City of Ryde still maintains that the Medium Density Housing Code
will have dire consequences for our entire community.
I can assure you the City of Ryde will continue its campaign for the
NSW Government to give us a complete exemption from the code
and I plan to request a meeting with new Planning Minister
Rob Stokes to try and achieve that.
New skate park completed
I am delighted to announce that construction of the Meadowbank
Outdoor Youth and Family Recreation Space has been completed
and the new skate and scooter park is now open to the public.
This first-class facility delivers on Council’s commitment to provide
more recreational outdoor spaces for the entire community.
I would encourage everyone to get down to the skate and scooter
park on Saturday 27 April for its official opening. This will be a
fantastic day out featuring demonstrations by professional skaters,
a live DJ, Mexican food truck, skating competitions and a free ride
for everyone to take part in.
The opening starts at midday with activities taking place until
4.00pm. More information can be found at
www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/parklaunch.
Anzac Day Commemoration Service
The City of Ryde will host a Commemoration Service at Anzac Park
on ANZAC Day next week.
All are welcome to attend the commemoration service, which
begins at 9.00am and will be followed by a morning tea at
Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club.
Happy Easter
With Easter taking place
this weekend, on behalf
of all of us at the City of
Ryde I would like to wish
everyone a happy break
filled with lots of joy and
happiness.
Customer Service Centre: 1 Pope Street, Ryde
Locked Bag 2069, North Ryde NSW 1670
P: 9952 8222 E: cityofryde@ryde.nsw.gov.au
/CityofRyde
Sincerely,
Clr Jerome Laxale Mayor
Phone 9952 8222
mayor@ryde.nsw.gov.au
SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL -
JEFF SPARROW: TRIGGER WARNINGS
THUR
2
MAY
6.30pm, Ryde Library
Join writer and broadcaster, Jeff Sparrow in
conversation with writer and podcaster Wilamina Russo
as they discuss this and his new book Trigger Warnings:
Political Correctness and the Rise of the Right.
Easter Long Weekend Closures
The City of Ryde Customer Service Centre and all five City of Ryde
libraries will be closed for Easter from Friday 19 April to Monday 22
April. After hours chutes will be available at all libraries for your
convenience. The Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre will be closed Friday
19 April and reopens on Saturday 20 April with opening hours of
9.00am - 5.45pm.
For full details go to www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/holidayhours
www.ryde.nsw.gov.au