Inner West Whispers – 276

Leichhardt takes on The Plan – Inner West Starlet – Lock-outs a Royal Headache

Leichhardt Council is considering challenging the NSW Department of Planning in the courts after they announced the rezoning of industrial land in West Leichhardt. The decision will allow for the development of up to 315 units at Lords Road, behind Hawthorne Canal. Leichhardt Council has said that the Department of Planning is using the Parramatta Road strategy plan to justify the change, despite the strategy still being in its draft stages. Leichhardt Council had a win this week with the CEO of Urban Growth NSW David Pitchford agreeing to undertake a study conjointly with Leichhardt Council and the City of Sydney on the need for sporting fields in the Bays Precinct plan.

• Thousands of people are expected to gather at Belmore Park (next to Central) on Sunday to stage a party protest against Sydney’s Lockout laws. Inner West garage punk band, Royal Headache, signed to Newtown’s Repressed Records, are expected to perform. The lead singer, known as ‘Shogun’, said Sydney was increasingly “paranoid and obsessed with money”. Speaking of paranoia, the band’s show at the Opera House was stormed by police during the VIVID festival last year.

• Rising Inner West actress Odessa Young is starring in The Daughter, to be released on March 17. Odessa will also be acting in the film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play The Wild Duck alongside Aussie legends Geoffrey Rush, Sam Neil and Miranda Otto. Odessa attended Newtown High School of Performing Arts, but left before completing Year 12 because the roles just kept rolling in. Mark our words, this talented thespian is going places.