Service Article edited
- 1. ‘A Service feature’ Mahsa Banihashemi 29 SEPTEMBER 2014 A celebrated success, Clovelly’s Better block project is about to get better on 19 October this year but this time it is even more than a day event as there are many more ideas coming in to the play. It was one of the regular monthly meetings by the Park to pacific community at the Randwick Literary Institute in the same time as father’s day in Australia on Sunday September 7th 2014. The building looked quite old and those historic walls painted in blue and white and decorated with some attention-grabbing paintings. The meeting was initiated by introducing of the members of the steering committee and other locals who volunteered to contribute supporting the event. Agendas were printed and carefully placed on the big wooden table in the middle of the parlour. A Map was passed around to give attendees a glimpse of event location “mainly on the Clovelly Road this year” said Michael Neuman, part of the Park to Pacific team, a professor of sustainable urbanism at UNSW and of course citizen of Clovelly road. He described the road for the “Park to Pacific” project, which is the idea of the long-term street’s improvement to the entire length of Clovelly Road from Centennial Park to the Pacific Ocean. Innovative and fresh ideas about decorating streets were brought up during the meeting such as hanging flower baskets, Kids activities, Murals on two heritage walls, media releases, planting trees and srubs, printing and publications. “We have got street furniture company who are providing a lot of the benches and seats for free on a day” Ari Anderson said, a member of steering committee for the 2013 Better Block event and resident of Clovelly. He addressed that this year Randwick local council nursery is providing shrubs and other greenery for the day. “One of the ideas is to have much greenery as possible,” Ari said. In the meanwhile a question aroused that what other support has the council provided to support the idea this year? Ari seemed quite content and happy with Randwick council supports. He described the budget details for the council and the ‘in kind’ budget as well compare to last year. “This year council approved $35,000 budget about $20,000 of that was a cash payment and about $ 15000 was in kind support.” He said. Last year council estimated to pay $7000 but in fact ended up paying about $20,000. Thus the current year project is a bigger area, there’ll be more objectives to cover and requires a bigger budget. According to the minutes of ordinary council meeting of the council of the city of Randwick held on Tuesday, 22 July 2014,the budget is essentially going to be divided between tasks. In the budget spread sheet is about $5000 for mature trees and couple of thousands to have banners printed to the day and preparing materials for local artists who are volunteers to paint a big blank wall on a corner of the Clovelly road. “Some of the things like the big mural ‘the big painting’ and the Park let could be permanent.” Neuman pointed. He also mentioned the difference between this year and last year event. As last year was temporary, just for one day, but this year is a demonstration of an example that could be continued in the future; maybe permanent. The Idea of ‘Better Block’ started in United States to help redevelop local communities. Photo Courtesy: flickr.com
- 2. “ What about the parklet concept?” I asked. Neuman stressed that the park let is just one small part of the Better Block, nearly 5%. “We are leading the government and leading the businesses, “ that’s why I stress how important it is that is a citizens intuitive those two words, two most important words, the whole activities and the whole events citizens intuitive.” He replied. It is a blessed privilege that how people and locals aim to contribute their skills and support the community by their sincere intention just to make a better block in the neighbourhood and sharing ideas and developing this idea for the better future as an immense inspiration for other blocks too all over Australia. “To have a nice place that people can walk to or bicycle to, locally instead of driving further to the mall.” Michael Stressed. He also revealed the major point of this concept that our aim is get people out of their car as cars to help reducing carbon emissions, less traffic jams, community safety, supporting local business and helping local’s economy sustainability. Meeting was adjourned with conclusion on how we can out our hands together to reinforce the idea to make our environment better more greenery, adding bike lanes, public arts, slower traffic speeds, safer and more side walks for pedestrians. Can we argue that Better Block is essentially street improvement programme trying to get local communities engaged? And how to convey the message to perceive the council of the communities would really like to see in the streets and improvements can be made a different to the normal sort of works and demonstrates. The chilly meeting room was getting darker and cooler in the last gleams of sunlights through the old windows. The members were headed out for their homes while still exchanging ideas and arguing about the details. At the end that determined and convincing voice echoed in the room to grasped our attention that “hey folks, bear in mind that our intention is not to make a street fair one of the complications we faced last year.” Ari said. The better Block event will bring the opportunity to make neighbours but at the same time it is an urban design awareness exercise so it gives people a chance to meet people they have not met before. Finally the group concluded: we want our block safer, greener and more humane! This article is going to be published in “Southern Courier” a local weekly newspaper in Randwick area. Target audience: locals, Clovelly citizens, urban planners and architects, Randwick council and mayor even for local artists