Issues
Removal of restrictions on drinking alcohol in Glebe’s parks
Posted on 2nd October 2024
The City of Sydney Council’s decision not to renew the outdoor alcohol restrictions in Glebe’s parks has angered many local residents. Duncan Leys, the Society’s President, is concerned that the decision was taken without proper community consultation.
Bays and Foreshores Subcommittee annual report 2023-2024
Posted on 2nd October 2024
In the Annual Report of the Bays and Foreshores subcommittee Convenor John Sergeant recalls the Society’s efforts to secure a continuous area of public land along the Glebe foreshore. But more needs to be done to ensure the safety of all users, who move at different speeds and with varying levels of mobility and attentiveness and so on.
Annual report from the Glebe Society’s representative on the Community Consultative Committee for the new Sydney Fish Market
Posted on 2nd October 2024
In her Annual Report, Asa Wahlquist describes the Fish Market Community Consultative Committee’s monthly meetings with the builder, Multiplex, and highlights major concerns about looming traffic and parking issues that are likely to have a major impact on Glebe.
Transport and Traffic Subcommittee Annual Report 2023-2024
Posted on 2nd October 2024
The Annual Report of the Transport and Traffic convenor expresses the Society’s concerns with the Rozelle interchange, local bus schedules, and e-bikes and bike shares
News from the Blue Wren Subcommittee, October 24
Posted on 2nd October 2024
A walk along Johnstons Creek gives insights into Glebe’s bird life. The Society’s Spring Bird Survey is coming up, as is a presentation on the Glebe Hill biodiversity project.
Planning submission re Denman Lane, Glebe
Posted on 2nd October 2024
The Society made a submission to Council on a development application to erect a two-storey dwelling in Denman Lane behind 32 St Johns Rd.
The Slippery Slope
Posted on 28th August 2024
In recent years some of Glebe’s buildings deemed important to maintaining the character of its heritage conservation areas have been demolished or approved for demolition, despite planning laws that are meant to prevent this. Planning Convenor, Ian Stephenson, wants more rigorous control by the City of Sydney Council.
News from the Blue Wren subcommittee: September 2024
Posted on 28th August 2024
Recognition for the volunteers from the Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group and reports on the well-attended talk and walk in July about The Hill research project. A male brush turkey has built a mound in the Wood Street lands area in Forest Lodge. It’s obviously impressive as he has had two female Brush-Turkeys inspecting the condition of his mound.
‘Going to the Dogs’, by Max Solling and John Tracey
Posted on 28th August 2024
Richard Cashman’s review of ‘Going to the Dogs; A History of Greyhound Racing in New South Wales’, by Max Solling and John Tracey, says the authors have undertaken a thorough interrogation of what many have regarded as a sport on the margins of respectability.
Kanangra’s restoration is progressing
Posted on 28th August 2024
At Rozelle Bay some dedicated volunteers are restoring the Kanangra, a ferry built in 1912 that served Sydney Harbour for more than 70 years. The volunteers are keeping alive the old shipbuilding skills that were once a feature of docks on the Harbour foreshore.
Planning Submission: 1-7 Bellevue St
Posted on 28th August 2024
The Glebe Society has recommended some modifications to the development application including the retention of an external door.
Walkshop on 8 Sept: What bird is that?
Posted on 31st July 2024
Join an interpretative walk on 8 September along Johnstons Creek where birds have previously nested and been observed.
Some special visitors: Blue wrens at Rozelle Bay
Posted on 31st July 2024
We thought they’d left us, but a keen-eyed observer discovered two Superb Fairy-wrens at Rozelle Bay.
Blue Wren Subcommittee Annual Report 2023–2024
Posted on 31st July 2024
A busy year for the Blue Wren Subcommittee. The project sponsored by the Subcommittee has made successful observations of some of the fauna resident in ‘The Hill’. It’s just one of this year’s notable achievements by the Blue Wrens.
Letter to the Editor, August 2024
Posted on 31st July 2024
On the never-ending saga of the Bridge Road cycleway
Planning Subcommittee Annual Report 2023-2024
Posted on 31st July 2024
In his annual report, Ian Stephenson, the Glebe Society’s Planning Convenor, recommends that the State Government exempts the Sydney Local Government Area from the proposed Low- and Mid-Rise Housing State Environmental Planning Policy, but sets housing targets for the LGA to ensure the City does its bit to alleviate the housing crisis.
The Glebe Society’s latest planning submission
Posted on 31st July 2024
The Glebe Society’s recent submission to Council on a development application in Forest Lodge.
Recent transport and traffic issues in Glebe–Forest Lodge
Posted on 1st July 2024
Knock-on effects of Rozelle Interchange problems in Glebe–Forest Lodge; transparency concerns about building the Bridge Road Permanent Cycleway; and it never rains but it pours when it comes to local bus arrival times!
Glebe’s Hill: Bunyip Tails? What the cameras saw
Posted on 1st July 2024
Join us for the next instalment of the Innovation and Ideas grant project on the biodiversity of Glebe’s Hill – a ‘walkshop’ with Prof. Dieter Hochuli and Genevieve Heggarty titled: Exploring Glebe’s wild spaces – the fauna and flora of The Hill and Johnstons Creek.
More green time, less screen time – better health outcomes
Posted on 1st July 2024
The Society’s 8th biodiversity lecture in May was an informative and entertaining lecture entitled Regenerative Cities and Flourishing Communities: why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health by Professor Thomas Astell-Burt. He shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for the importance of nature and well-designed green space for improving the health of the world’s city-dwellers.
War and no peace – the never-ending saga of the Bridge Road cycleway
Posted on 1st July 2024
The new cycleway design does not improve safety;, eg. footpaths will be accessible to cyclists via ‘pram ramps’ to avoid cycleway sections with merged cycle and general traffic lanes. Eight months of night-time construction will generate noise levels exceeding industry standards. Recommended Industry-standard noise mitigation measures will not be used due to cost or effect on construction time.
News from the Blue Wrens: June 2024
Posted on 29th May 2024
Work continues on the Innovations and Ideas Grant and there is noticeable activity of small birds around ‘The Hill’. Bushcare volunteers attended a planting day held by the Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group (led by Judy Christie) and more activities are planned. Anna Szanto, leader of the Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group, reports on the state of the Palmerston Street area and Nick Sangster notes that in Harold Park the Casuarinas on the eastern side of Johnstons Creek have still not been removed.
Glebe in the news for all the wrong reasons!
Posted on 29th May 2024
Duncan Leys reports that Glebe was in the news for all the wrong reasons last month. There have been reports of incidents allegedly involving young people which have been addressed in meetings with the police and Council, reported in the next article. A meeting with Kobi Shetty canvassed issues around transport, the new fish market, the Glebe Island Bridge and housing issues. More positively, Duncan noted the continuing removal of asbestos and expressed his enthusiasm for the Glebe Society Guided Walks program.
Recent planning submission by the Society
Posted on 1st May 2024
Whenever necessary, the Planning Convenor makes submissions to Sydney City Council on behalf of the Glebe Society about proposed developments in Glebe and Forest Lodge. This is the latest submission.
From the President: May 2024
Posted on 1st May 2024
The Glebe Society is dealing with a number of substantive issues involving the State Government which were discussed with local MP Kobi Shetty before the last meeting of the Society’s Management Committee. These include WestConnex, the upheavals due to asbestos contamination, zoning laws, housing shortages and the new Sydney Fish Market. The Society is interested in the Bidura redevelopment and restoration of the Glebe Island Bridge. Duncan also wants to encourage attendance at our popular guided walks.
DA: 417 Glebe Point Road, ‘Durham Court’
Posted on 15th February 2008
By Neil Macindoe, Planning Convenor, February 2008 (from Bulletin 1/2008) This development application was lodged just before Christmas, a time favoured by those wishing to avoid public scrutiny. Located between Cook and Leichhardt Streets, Durham Court, originally a large private house, was extended ca 1920 into a large block of flats, but there is still […]
News from Blue Wren Subcommittee: May 2024
Posted on 1st May 2024
The Society’s 8th Annual Biodiversity Lecture will be given by Thomas Astell-Burt. Blue Wren members met with Charlotte Fletcher who is City of Sydney’s new Urban Ecology Coordinator who oversees natural resources. She is also the Grant Relationship Manager for the Society’s Innovation and Ideas Grant, which is funding the University of Sydney’s study of Glebe’s Hill. There are concerns about an invasion of casuarinas on the eastern side of Johnstons Creek.
Wentworth Park revisited
Posted on 27th March 2024
Will greyhound racing depart from Wentworth Park when the Greyhound Breeders Owners and Trainers Association’s lease expires? Ted McKeown, Glebe Society member and former chairman of the Wentworth Park Sporting Complex Trust, revisits decisions about Wentworth Park and examines the Park’s possible futures.
Society’s 8th annual biodiversity lecture
Posted on 27th March 2024
The Society’s annual biodiversity lecture will this year be delivered by Professor Thomas Astell-Burt on Wednesday 29 May 2024. His talk will be on ‘Regenerative Cities and Flourishing Communities: why more trees might mean less loneliness and better health’. Book now.
Planning matters
Posted on 27th March 2024
The Glebe Society has made several presentations and submissions to planning authorities in the last month or so. These include responding with our concerns about the State government’s plans to increase the number of low- and mid-rise multi-dwelling residences, and the Society’s opposition to a developer’s attempt to demolish an early cottage in the Hereford and Forest Lodge Heritage Conservation Area. There’s also good news: the Glebe Society’s efforts to stop the demolition of 181 St Johns Road have been successful.
