Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore slammed by residents after council repairs one side of street, home to her property

Neighbours near one of Clover Moore’s properties have accused the Sydney Lord Mayor of ‘favouritism’ after her council carried out repairs on her side of the street, but not the other.

Neighbours living near one of Clover Moore’s properties have accused the Sydney Lord Mayor of “favouritism” after the City of Sydney council renovated her side of the street and not the other.

The criticism follows the council, of which she is the mayor, carrying out landscaping works and repaving one side of Kepos St in Redfern back in July, leaving the opposite pavement and grass beds untouched.

Across the road, the mostly uneven pavement looks weathered and worn.

It is a stark contrast to the side across the road where Ms Moore’s apartment sits. Garden beds were filled with fresh mulch on Thursday, while shrubs were kept in neat condition as the sun beamed on the clean white pavement.

One resident, who asked for his name to be withheld, questioned why only one side of the street had been cleaned up by the council, highlighting how it happened to be done on the side of Ms Moore’s property.

The new footpath and driveway outside Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s property on Kepos St, Redfern. Her side of the street has been repaved by her council, but the other side of the street hasn’t. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Lord Mayor is seeking a historic sixth term in the top job as September’s local government elections inches closer, having spent two decades leading City of Sydney council.

“It’s very curious that the only section of Kepos St to receive new paving and landscaping … was the section adjacent to the mayor’s house,” he said.

The side of the street which is home to Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s property. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The opposite side of Kepos St, which is yet to be repaired. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“You have to ask why they didn’t fix up the entire street.

“Clover Moore’s council may have destroyed Oxford St by its neglect, but it is certainly looking after the mayor’s patch.”

The Daily Telegraph asked the City of Sydney council whether it planned on rectifying the issue and why work had only been done on one side.

A council spokeswoman said condition assessments were carried out and a section of the footpath on Ms Moore’s side of Kepos St “was found to be in a poor condition”.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: Jane Dempster / The Australian

Clover Moore’s property on Kepos St. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“As part of all our renewal works, we add plants to green these footpaths when space and accessibility requirements allow,” she said.
“Our footway renewal budget for this financial year is $5m and will see walkways improved across the local government area.”

The spokeswoman did not say whether the council intended to fix the opposite side of the road.

The resident said the council had “spent a lot of money” on landscaping that particular section of the street.

“I’d like to know who approved ... It really smacks of favouritism.”

The man said local residents also got a laugh out of the fact the driveway outside Ms Moore’s house was the only driveway on the street with official “no parking” signs around it.

A female resident, who had lived on the street for two decades, was surprised both sides hadn’t been completed together, saying it seemed like the residents on her side “didn’t complain enough”.

She said while both sections of the street were in a similar condition before the repair, there was more need for her side to be redone given elderly people frequented a nearby senior’s activity centre.