Wireless networks

There must be some in the South Sydney area! I advise listing them here.

Properties for sale

Here's a neat new way of visualising them on a map, with sliders to control for price range and other factors.

Myrtle St karma

Between Shepherd and Pine Streets, the residents of Myrtle St have created their own community garden on the nature strip. Without a doubt, it's more interesting than a few square metres of lawn.

Twice they've planed mandarin trees in the community garden. Twice they've been stolen. In their place, a sign now says:

Dear thief,

May good fruit and enlightenment pursue you to the end of your days. We hope you share your fruit.

(Life In Chippendale has tweaked the grammar and punctuation before publication, but totally endorses the sentiment of the original sign.)

Chris Harris sledges the CUB plans

I have to agree with Chris when he argues for fewer car parking spots and more sunlight. However, I'm more than happy for it to be a high-density development with high-rise buildings.

Backpackers lodge on Cleveland St

I received the following from Chippendale resident and APC journalist Nick Race:

Just a quick one for the Life in Chippendale blog!

I received a notice from the local council about a work about to begin in beloved Chippendale. As I'm sure you are aware, the old MacRobertson Chocolate Factory on Cleveland Street has recently been sold. The council has sent letters for public comment on the plans the new owner has for the place: a 324 bed backpacker hostel with two car parking spaces and a laundromat.

The documents are on the Redfern council website here.

But this is the most interesting - the Heritage impact for the property. It includes a history of Chippendale and of the building and MacRobertson's Chocolates specifically. Someone's done their homework.

I honestly don't know what to think about this. On one hand it will bring a bit of life to the greyness that's the Chippendale end of Cleveland St, but at the same time, what the hell are we going to do with 300 backpackers day in, day out?

Thanks for the tip-off mate!

The work experience kid at The Daily Telegraph

Turn to today's The Daily Telegraph, page 4.

The infographic claims experts fear contamination in recycled water. Actually, experts are near-unanimous in their support for recycling.

The infographic also claims desalination has greater public acceptance than recycling. Actually, recent surveys have shown most Sydneysiders are opposed to desalination and would drink recycled water.

Meanwhile, the Editor's Letter is pro-recycling!

There can be only one explanation: the work experience kid is doing the infographics.

Stumbled on another Chippo blogger

The link can speak for itself.

Hip-hip-horay!

A huge "congratulations!" to our friend and fellow Chippendale blogger Jenny, who recently graduated from Goulburn Police Academy and will be serving from Redfern Station. Now if only we could read Swedish...

Welcome to the neighbourhood, Konrad Florczak

To learn more about our newest neighbour, read his blog.

Parking and climate change

The Sydney Morning Herald says local governments are considering higher parking permit fees for less efficient cars. The motive, apparently, is climate change.

Action in this area is urgently required, but it's the responsibility of federal government.

An appropriate response from local government would be to dramatically raise parking permit fees for any residence that has more than one car. In that case, the specifically local impact of the behaviour — streets clogged with parked cars — is clear.