The City of Sydney has refused the Colombian Hotel's development application for continued 24 hour trading for a further 5 year period. The Council Planning Officer assessing the application cited the high level of incidents which occurred during the previous trial period (49 incidents including 36 alleged assaults) as one of the primary reasons for the refusal. The venue must now revert to its base hours of operation: 10am - 3am daily.

...A step change in the debate around assaults and alcohol came last December when BOCSAR released what has come to be widely viewed as a landmark study on what happens to violent crime when tough liquor trading restrictions are imposed... In March 2008, after complaints by the NSW Police Force against some venues... the state Liquor Administration Board introduced significant restrictions on hotel trading hours for 14 hotels in the Newcastle CBD...

In the year that followed, the authors found that assaults after dark fell a staggering 29 per cent in Newcastle. Incidents of disorderly conduct fell 46 per cent. According to BOCSAR, almost 28 per cent of assaults in NSW occur between midnight and 3am on weekends...

One of the study authors, Kyp Kypri, from the school of medicine and public health at the University of Newcastle, says the Keneally government in NSW has been shown conclusively what happens to violent crime when tight restrictions are imposed on pubs. "This study and its policy implications are big," he says, echoing another co-author, Craig Jones. "This is a very interesting case of how evidence is used in public policy. Here we have a clear case of good evidence and an obvious failure by the state government to act on that."...

Read the full article (Source: The Australian)

Sydney Sustainable Markets' inaugural weekly Farmers Market at Taylor Square is on Saturday 1st May from 8am – 1pm.

Expect to discover seasonal fruit and vegetables (organic and low chemical inputs), free range poultry and eggs, rare breed meats, fish, hand made pasta, artisan cheeses, condiments, organic sourdough bread, olive oil, honey, flowers, herbs and much more.

The organisers are aiming for a plastic bag free market, so please BYO market bags. Also – if you have any surplus green-style shopping bags, they're starting a collection point at the Market Information stall – so please drop them off so someone else can make use of them.

Oxford Art Factory, located at 38-46 Oxford Street Darlinghurst, has lodged a Development Application (D/2006/645/D) with Sydney City Council requesting continued trading until 6am on a permanent basis. The applicant is attempting to bypass one of the main components of the Council's late night trading strategy: ongoing trial periods for extended trading.

Tenants, Building Managers and Owners Corporations - Learn how to make your apartment building smarter, greener and cost effective.

Tuesday 4 May
Customs House, Circular Quay
6.00 – 8.30pm.
Refreshments provided.

The Australian Conservation Foundation’s GreenHome program, in partnership with the City of Sydney, will present the latest sustainable ideas and solutions for apartments at a special forum at Customs House on the 4 May.