Sydney planning to become “fresh food city”

by Isobel Drake, Australian Food News

Sydney could be transformed into a fresh food city under a City of Sydney plan to increase the number of community gardens, employ a dedicated garden officer and expand the successful Friday Farmers Market at Cook + Phillip Park.The proposal was discussed at a meeting of Council last night, Monday 24 November.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said the idea is part of the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision to develop local village hubs focusing community, business, retail and cultural assets in a cluster connected with the local community. “Producing food locally and consuming local produce is an essential part of sustainability,” she suggested. “People are increasingly recognising that locally and ethically produced food is good for the environment, has a reduced carbon footprint, and has social and educational benefits.”
The plan includes:
* Expanding the existing 10 community gardens in the City of Sydney to 13 with new gardens to be designed and developed in Glebe/Forest Lodge, Ultimo/Pyrmont and a Kid’s Community Garden.
* Employing a dedicated Community Gardens and Volunteer Coordinator to develop the community gardens program, including web-based resources and a volunteering program.
* Investigating expanding the successful Friday Farmers Market in Cook + Phillip Park to other areas to encourage sustainability in the production and sale of food by reducing “food miles”.
* Developing a new ‘fair trade’ award category as part of the City of Sydney Business Awards to recognise those premises which source products from ethical and fair labour.
* Allocating grants for new community garden partnerships as part of the City’s annual $4.5M grants and sponsorship program.
“Community gardens are not just about the production of food. There are environmental benefits and also important social benefits for participants to bring members of the community together for a common purpose,” Ms Moore concluded.

From Australian Food News

You can take a street upmarket …

by Joseph Palmer for The Heckler Column,
The Sydney Morning Herald

"THE upgrade and makeover of Glebe Point Road in Glebe has been a slow work-in-progress, that has dragged on for more than 15 months, despite claims the project is now three months ahead of schedule.
The grandiose vision to transform the battered old road into something like Oxford Street in Paddington - after decades of neglect - will soon be a reality.
The barriers and fences recently came down, but strolling along the road I wondered if it had all been worthwhile.
Some time ago I recall that the good burghers of Glebe were told that there were too many tacky shops on the road peddling inexpensive wares and merchandise, shops such as the discount store, which were competing with big retailers at the nearby Broadway mall.
A makeover to revitalise the road was urgently needed to attract the kind of upmarket boutiques and concept stores that line Oxford Street, and no cost would be spared.
The visionary project has involved the removal of old power poles and "once in a century" drainage improvements. Even the old tram lines were dug out. But now the character of the old road has gone and many empty shops display "for lease" signs. It is sad to see.
Using the road during the upgrade was a nightmare - like tackling an obstacle course, and to be avoided at all costs.
Many owners complained about losing trade, just as shops in the city had been affected by street upgrades before the Olympics. But they were told they should be grateful as their revenue would increase dramatically when everything was finished. Many could not wait that long and closed.
Gone are long established businesses such as one of Sydney's first and largest health food supermarkets. It had been there for more than 35 years.
Other businesses took advantage of the upgrade and moved in, including a fast-food chicken outlet, although somehow I don't think it was part of the vision for an upmarket shopping strip. Maccas might be next.
The flower pots hanging from the new poles are nice, and hopefully the council will one day install CCTVs, something that shop owners have wanted for years to deter the street crime that infests the road at night.
But for all the losses, at least the discount store continues to peddle its wares."

Read the full article from The Sydney Morning Herald here.

A tradition lost on Sydney Harbour

by Dugald Jellie, The Sydney Morning Herald

"AT NOON today a pilot launch will ease from the grey-weathered wharf at Watsons Bay and round the Heads for the last time, to bring in the final blunt-bowed car carrier to Sydney. It will be the end of a nautical history that is as old as the city itself.
Harbour pilots are stopping operations at Watsons Bay, ending an association they have had, in fair weather or foul, since before even 1813, when this little nook was named after one of their own. Robert Watson was the Watson of Watsons Bay, appointed by Governor Macquarie as the colony's first harbourmaster and pilot.
"It's a sad day," says Ross Janssen, a cutter-master, as he ferries a pilot from the jetty, five nautical miles out to sea to board an incoming vessel.
"It's a tradition lost. We've had pilotage running out of here since when they rowed them off the beach in whale boats. But with the downturn in shipping, it's no longer viable."
Sydney Ports said the service would move to Millers Point, and probably next year to a new centre at Botany Bay. The last car ship is to leave Glebe Island tonight. ..."

Read the full article from The Sydney Morning Herald here.

Glebe Street Fair

"The fair on Glebe's main drag has grown but stayed bohemian.

JUDY McCUMSTIE speaks highly of the Spruikers' Box. "It's an opportunity to come along and argue or read a poem. This seems very Glebe," says the organiser of the Glebe Street Fair.
The first Glebe Street Fair was held in 1983. It was the Glebe Food Fair then - a series of stalls from local restaurants between Parramatta and St Johns roads.
"At that point Glebe Point Road was a vibrant, bustling, multicultural area that had established itself as an eat street," McCumstie says. "Every end of the world was represented in a cafe or restaurant somewhere on Glebe Point Road."
At some point during the next seven years, the name changed and the road closed. Performers were given stages. Stalls extended beyond the restaurants. "It has reflected the stylistic changes you see over the inner city in terms of culture," McCumstie says.
"[In] 1990, that was the gothic stage. Everyone was dressed in black. It was like a spin-off in bohemian thinking from Sydney University, spreading down Glebe Point Road."
Stallholders were pallid, in McCumstie's memory - they sold Dr Martens and reflected the crowd. Then the colour came and things changed again. "Everyone was doing their hair with different colours and . . . mohawks any Roman centurion would be jealous of."
This year, the fair's 25th anniversary, things change once more. There is a circus theme, with performances by Circus Solarus and Mojo JuJu and the Snake Oil Merchants, stalls from country NSW and as far as Queensland, a Santa Claus and a dog parade. "We've got some absolutely fabulous variety in the stalls coming this year," McCumstie says. "My concept of this is that it's a whole kilometre of Christmas presents end-to-end.
"And food as well - that's one thing that has continued from the past."
GLEBE STREET FAIR Sunday, 10am-5pm, Glebe Point Road, Glebe, glebestreetfair.com, free."

Read the full article from The Sydney Morning Herald here.

New Glebe artwork commemorates school’s 150th anniversary

"Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP will unveil a new public artwork on the fence of Glebe Public School on Monday 3 November as part of the school's 150th anniversary.
The artwork, Skippedy Skip by renowned public artist Nuha Saad, is a colourful and inspiring work of art and a centerpiece of the City's upgrade of Glebe Point Road.
"The colours of the fence symbolise the diversity of the residents of Glebe and add a vibrancy and vitality to the street," Ms Moore said.
"The artist has made the school fence as colourful and eclectic as Glebe itself, a true tribute to the area's rich and diverse heritage.
"Glebe has changed over 150 years, but Glebe Public School has always focused on what we all want from our education system - to give children the best chance to discover their talents and interests and realise their full promise in life," Ms Moore said.
Artist Nuha Saad said her artwork is based on wooden picket fences found throughout the Glebe area.
"The school fence acts as a link to Glebe's vibrant contemporary culture and its architectural and social history and combines aspects of Glebe's Victorian architectural past with a contemporary art aesthetic," Ms Saad said.
The Glebe Point Road upgrade also includes a new civic space at the corner of Glebe Point Road and Parramatta Road and restoration of the historic Jubilee Fountain. Drinking water will be restored to the fountain which was installed in 1909 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Glebe Municipality.
The City is also helping mark the school's 150th anniversary with banners on Glebe Point Road's new Smart poles."

From City of Sydney Press Release.