The SP (City branch) has called a public meeting on the Shapelle Corby affair for this Tuesday, May 31st, 7pm, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon + Victoria Sts, Carlton South. I will be the speaker.

Comrades

It is vital you come to the next Council meeting.

1. The child care action, see previous email. There will be a large media presence, not just from the two local papers. Already there are a huge number of children and parents/carers who have rsvp'ed for the night.

2. Other community groups are attending with their issues with Council, including those Abbotsford residents concerned about the future of Victoria Park.

3. The proposed official 2005/06 budget will be presented. Residents are then given until the next Council meeting in July to discuss and debate the budget. If it is anything like previous budgets, you can be guaranteed that there will be the mother of all debates on the budget.

Don't miss this meeting.

The Socialist Party is fully supporting the upcoming massive child care protest at Yarra City Council, for Tuesday 14th June. We support Council action to fix the problem instead of the fake, hollow warm and fuzzy noises we get from the right-wing Greens and the neo-liberal line from the ALP.

Read this leaflet from the campaign:

Who Cares about Child Care?

Kids in Kouncil Childcare Campaign

In the City of Yarra there is a childcare crisis

On June 14th the newly formed Kids in Kouncil Childcare Campaign will arrive at the Yarra City Council meeting at 7.10pm

Simply, we will ask our council to care about childcare and provide access to childcare places for all residents in Yarra.

We need you

Mums, Dads, babies, kids, grandparents and about-to-be-parents to attend the...

Kids in Kouncil childcare campaign

7.10pm start time

for only 30 minutes

Richmond Town Hall

333 Bridge Rd, Richmond

Tuesday 14 June 2005

Kids should be instructed that the usual restrictions on bad behaviour will not apply. Our kids voices need to be heard. This action will take only half an hour of our time.

It is an easy, quick and extremely effective way to ask our Council to care about childcare and provide new places. Circulate this notice through any e-lists and tell all your friends. Your presence will make a difference. Bring your kids and their voice.

If you care about childcare, join other concerned parents in the City of Yarra.

Show you care about childcare

‘Inner city revolt’, by Ellen Whinnett,

Herald Sun, 25 May 05



A COUNCILLOR wants the State Government to intervene in a planning dispute in Collingwood.



Stephen Jolly says the community will protest at developer Banco's plans to build a large flat and office complex in Smith St.



Cr Jolly said new plans Banco tendered to Yarra Council last week failed to ease community concerns.



"The first plans were totally outrageous; these plans are only outrageous," he said.



The dispute has been raging for two years.



Banco has appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal against the council's decision to knock back the original planning permit application.



Banco has lodged amended plans, but Cr Jolly says the proposal for 157 flats, more office space and a supermarket was inappropriate.



"It will spew out extra cars and people into Collingwood without giving anything back to the community -- no childcare centre, no library," Cr Jolly said.



He called on Planning Minister Rob Hulls to intervene, saying he could bring both parties to the negotiating table.



"There will be development on this site," Cr Jolly said. "We are not a bunch of crazed anti-development councillors."



"Banco can either go to VCAT and bully this development in over the community's heads or they can negotiate it.



"If they don't negotiate, there will be picket lines in Smith St, there will be resistance."



Banco director Mario Lo Giudice said the new plans reflected the company's consultation with the community and the council last September.



He said it was inappropriate to discuss the issue because it was before the tribunal.



More than 1500 people objected to the original Banco application, saying it was out of step with the area.



A spokeswoman for Mr Hulls, Melissa Arch, said the minister had met councillors, including Cr Jolly, and it was agreed the council would develop an interim structure plan for the area.



She said the structure plan was the basis for any decisions on the site.



Herald and Weekly Times