We all enjoy the benefits of living in this convenient and (mostly) attractive precinct of Sydney City. Many of us have been here for decades, and many of us are new to the area. Irrespective of how long we’ve been here, it’s our home and it’s important to us.
We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years. As residents of the area we daily experience its benefits, and its disadvantages. Unfortunately, we've witnessed the gradual deterioration and degradation of our properties, our streets, our neighbourhood, its general amenity and social 'feel'. We find ourselves living in an area that is all too often noisy, polluted, dirty, and violent. Increasingly our streets’ shop-fronts remain vacant; businesses that complement our community move on; our streets are taken over at night by thousands of visitors to the ‘Entertainment Precinct’; we lose sleep; we’ve don’t feel as safe as we once did in our own neighbourhood; and we bear the cost of cleaning up after those who appear to have little regard for our homes and our neighbourhood.
At times it’s easy to feel betrayed by all levels of government, and that it’s out of our hands to make much of a difference. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Collectively we can influence, and change, what happens in our community.
We're all 'busy' these days and it's hard to find the time, in large or small amounts, to make a difference.
Technology now impacts every part of our lives. So let’s use it to our advantage with this site - to help us ALL have a say in how our community evolves, working together to improve the things we don't like as well as celebrating those that we value.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has --- Margaret Mead
The initial geographic area we aim to cover is shown here. There are no firm boundaries, and several suburbs are involved - parts of Darlinghurst, East Sydney, Surry Hills and Sydney. It's all in the City of Sydney Council, but is covered by 3 different police commands - Central, Surry Hills and Kings Cross. The area not only includes a number of licensed premises and clubs, but is also a major traffic corridor - both for vehicles, pedestrians and revellers making their way to and from city-based public transport hubs. So:
In fact it's for any one who cares, and wants to make things better for themselves, their neighbourhood and their city.
If you're someone who takes the view ‘You chose to live there, so you should expect it” – you’re wrong, and this site is for you too. Take the time to look closer and you’ll see that a lot of us were here long before our neighbourhood got to the state it’s in.
We aim to:
In relation to the pubs & clubs in our neighbourhood, we don't want to close them down, and we recognise the rights of their patrons to do whatever they want behind closed doors - as long as our rights as residents, small business owners and our community as a whole are respected and upheld at the same time. We want to work with council, the police and other agencies to help them do their job to help us.
This is everyone's site - so if there are other neighbourhood projects you want to engage people in, just let us know. If there's anything we can add to this site that will help you, let us know that too.
Individuals can effect change – but it’s a long, lonely road. Group action will help us reach a critical mass of data, opinion and motivation - the tipping point for change. Together we can help solve our own problems, rather than just complain, or retreat into isolation, or move out.
We shouldn't rely solely on government (at any level) or lobbying government - although that's part of what we need to do. This site is intended to be a means for you to communicate, collaborate and take action - in your own time and your own way - and to add to a growing pool of knowledge, information, ideas, expertise - and results.