When Government arrogance united a community.
Day 1. On Christmas Eve, Sydney City Council workers remove barriers which, (for 18 months) have closed 11 streets in Newtown, Erskineville, Redfern and Alexandria. Residents were informed of the street re-opening in a letter sent by the council later that day. Town Clerk, Mr Leon Carter, stated that the council was directed by the Minister for Local Government, Mr Stewart, to remove the closures in the public interest. Mr Stewart said he was proud to have been the minister responsible for re-opening the roads and regretted not being able to re-open a few more. “I am a citizen of Sydney. I live in a suburban street, everyone has access to my street. It’s not my exclusive domain. Many of the streets were a sort of select domain of independent alderman for select groups of people so they could live in some sort of inner-city seclusion.” Mr Stewart has already resigned from Parliament and is to become NSW Agent General in London. His last day as Minister is New Year’s Eve. SMH 26.12.85, Joe Scavo
Day 3
Angry residents man the barricades; Inner Sydney residents are defying police by barricading streets near their homes in protest at the sudden lifting of a series of road closures. Residents of Newtown, Erskineville, Redfern and Alexandria said yesterday they were prepared to be jailed rather than see the streets reopened. Now residents fear their narrow back-streets will be returned to mini-freeway conditions by speed freaks taking short cuts. Resident Mr Ian Robertson said: “When these streets are reopened the Parramatta Freeway will have nothing on this”. Telegraph 26.12.85, Bruce McDougall
Day 4 Illegal makeshift road blockades in some inner-city suburbs were dismantled twice by police yesterday as angry residents continued to protest against the end of official City Council roadblocks. Yesterday residents were using car bodies, drums and planks to block the streets. Alderman Frank Sartor said “The Council has gone through all the right processes. They followed the law meticulously and had the area surveyed. More than 87 percent of residents voted in favour of the closures. Residents had been fighting for the closures for 10 years and would not be giving up easily. One roadblock in Angel Street Erskineville has become a symbolic point.” SMH 27.12.85, Daniel Moore
Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Doug Sutherland, said the Sydney City Council would rip up street barricades and take court action against anyone installing obstacles. In Erkineville, residents played a cat-and- mouse game with police, rebuilding barricades several times after they were removed. Mr Stewart could not be contacted. Telegraph 27.12.85, Bruce McDougall, Les Kennedy
Day 5 A group of about 15 residents gathered at the remains of the Newman Street blockade after a bulldozer driven by a City Council worker had rammed through the loose material, clearing the path for traffic to enter Newman Street from King Street. The Lord Mayor, Alderman Doug Sutherland called an emergency City Council meeting to resolve the problem. SMH 28.12.85, Shayne Collier
Day 6 First resident arrested in street protest. He was charged with ‘malicious injury to an object, the road,’ when he was seen using a crowbar to dig a hole. Telegraph 29.12.85
Closure issue could spread: It’s a battle that could spread to other suburbs, including places like leafy Mosman where road closure is also a running issue. Yesterday the barricades were still up, first round to the residents. At stake, say the residents, are the lives of their children and the peace that descended on the suburb after the closures. Residents of Angel, Union, Munni, Newman and Rochford Streets have their own horror stories of children knocked over, pets killed, cars sideswiped and houses damaged.
Day 7 Barricades go up again: Residents overturned a vehicle and began digging up a street as the battle of the barricades spread to another
inner-Sydney suburb last night. Telegraph 30.12.85, Bruce McDougall, Louise Nicholson
Familiar faces were dotted among the people at the Erskineville Town Hall who sat, stood or listened through windows or had to be content to stay in the sun outside. The MP for Marrickville Mr Refshauge and the Independent Alderman Mr Frank Sartor were there along with Mr William (Billy) Wentworth, the former Liberal MP and now member of the Australian Road Federation. Other appearances included the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Greiner, who attended by default because no other Opposition MPs were in Sydney, and Mrs Judith Walker, MLC. Mrs Walker, an Alexandria resident, was hissed and booed as she tried to deliver the Government line. Mr Stewart did not attend the meeting. Among the seven motions carried in the meeting were – Appointing a delegation to seek a meeting with Mr Stewart; – Calling on the Premier to instruct Mr Stewart to revoke the instruction to the City Council; – Calling for the resignation of the Lord Mayor, Alderman Sutherland; – Calling for charges against the arrested resident to be dropped. 30.12.85, Telegraph (?),Tracy Aubin.
Day 8 Party after road closure reprieve: Inner Sydney residents last 
night held a street party to celebrate a reprieve by the State Government in their fight over road closures. Retiring Local Government Minister, Mr Stewart, yesterday announced the two month truce after almost two hours of talks with Transport Minister, Mr Unsworth. Telegraph 31.12.85, Bruce McDougall, Les Kennedy