Description:

• 1 onion - chopped

• 1 tin can tuna - drained

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 600 millilitres cream

• 1 pinch salt and pepper

• pasta

Boil water for pasta then put pasta on to cook. while that's happening brown the onion in a separate pan. Once brown add tuna and tomato paste to heat thru. pour in cream and add salt and pepper to taste.
Toss pasta and sauce together and serve topped with parmesan cheese.

Free community Wi-Fi Arrives at Newport
Pittwater Council and myKP bring myKPcommunity free wireless internet access to the Newport retail centre.
In a first for the northern beaches, the ‘free internet hotspot’ will provide locals and visitors to the area access to the Internet from their wi-fi enabled devices free of charge. This is now available to the public along Barrenjoey Road and surrounding streets.
The hotspot creates a wireless Internet connection that is accessible through Wi-Fi connectivity. According to Mayor Alex McTaggart, “The hotspot covers the Newport shopping area and some surrounding streets. Visitors and locals can now drop into Newport with their laptop or internet-enabled mobile device and connect free of charge, check emails, chat or surf the Internet.”
The service is part of the recently announced myKPcommunity project currently deploying in NSW CBD, metro, regional and rural communities. myKP CEO Grahame Miles, says “It’s not just about free wi-fi. It’s about economic sustainability and helping promote and develop both our larger cities and our smaller communities”.
“A key benefit is that local businesses can take advantage of increased visitors to the area and also promote themselves online with the intention of encouraging economic benefits” Mayor McTaggart.
myKP users can use the same user credentials across all myKP hotspots when visiting other myKP coverage areas. “For users, the experience is the same whether you’re using our hotspot in downtown Sydney or Newport. For local businesses, the wi-fi hotspots extend to e-commerce, e-marketing and taking advantage of online visibility” said Grahame Miles.

Nominations Called for Community Service Awards

Do you know an organisation or person that deserves to be honoured for their dedication in serving the local community?

Pittwater Council is looking for nominees for the 2007 Community Services Awards. The awards are presented annually in recognition and appreciation of the service given by many individuals and organisations to the Pittwater community.

Pittwater Mayor Alex McTaggart said the awards provide Council with an opportunity to reward and celebrate the achievements of community service volunteers and workers. “There is hardly an area in life that is not touched by their efforts and we want to acknowledge the work they do that enables our community to support and help each other.”

Any resident of Pittwater is eligible and will have a demonstrated commitment to the community through their efforts and support of local activities, either as a volunteer or in the course of their employment. Organisations nominated must provide a community service to Pittwater residents, but do not necessarily have to be based in Pittwater.

The award will be presented at an evening function celebrating International Volunteer Week on Tuesday 4 December 2007 at Mona Vale Memorial Hall. All nominees will receive a certificate of appreciation, with winners receiving an award.

Nominating someone is easy! Simply complete the form online at www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au or download it and complete, then mail to ‘Community Services Awards Nomination’, Attention Louise Jeffs, Pittwater Council PO Box 882, Mona Vale 1660. Nominations close on 19 October 2007. For all enquiries phone 9970 1170 during business hours or email louise_jeffs@pittwater.nsw.gov.au

The Great Debate at Mackerel

Clarification of Wildlife Protection areas at Mackerel Beach

Separate to the road reserves discussed above, at Mackerel Beach there are two Council owned land parcels that adjoin private property and the National Park. These parcels have basically the same natural biophysical attributes as the National Park and as such needed an equivalent level of wildlife protection. The state government relies on local government to ensure that the uses of adjoining public open space are compatible with the ongoing effective management of the adjacent national park. For this reason these parcels are proposed to be designated as Wildlife Protection Areas. As such these are areas where dogs are not permitted, as is the case within the National Park.

Why the suggestion of dedication of Council Wildlife Protection Area lands to the National Park (note, this does not include the road reserves)?

Noting the similarities of wildlife protection status on Council's land and those that apply to the National Park it was seen that there may be merit in having singular land tenure and management arrangements for what is ostensibly the same bushland of high ecological value but currently owned by different government agencies. Why duplicate management arrangements and have two separate organisations a seeking to achieve basically the same outcomes? It was for this reason that the Wildlife Protection Area land parcels at Mackerel Beach were suggested to form part of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

Why was there an attached letter to the Minister?

Because of the current status of the Council owned land (which is subject to a Deed of Trust with the Ministerial Corporation), it was noted that the relevant State Government Minister, in this case the Hon. Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning, would be required to advise as to whether lifting the restrictions on Council's land could be considered. This is a necessary first step to determine whether it is legally possible for Council to dedicate the land as part of the national park. To correct a current misconception in the community, it should be noted that the subject letter has, in fact, not been sent to the Minister, however it does outline Council’s intended request of the Minister and as such is included as part of the current community consultation package.

Why reference to other Western Foreshore locations?

Given that other Western Foreshore settlements have similar issues as identified at Mackerel Beach it was foreshadowed that similar issues may arise. However the focus at this stage was Mackerel Beach. The other settlements would be the subject of further analysis, in conjunction with the community as to what should be Wildlife Protection Areas and whether to include such areas in the National Park.

What lands are generally intended to form part of further discussion?

Across the Western Foreshores there are multiple individual parcels of land of varying sizes and shapes that are either in private ownership, owned by Council or the National Park. The majority of this land is non waterfront and in some instances is a random mix of both Council and National Park lots. These are the primary Council land holdings that it was felt could be considered for National Park inclusion. In addition, along the foreshores there is also a scattering of Council and National Parks properties, some of which are located between residential lots or separated from other national park land by public roads. There should be further discussion as to the most appropriate type of longer term management for these lands given the current constraints that affect their use.

Why is there only a map set for Mackerel Beach and not the other Western Foreshore Settlements?

The reason is that at Mackerel Beach there has been more detailed analysis of the parcels to be designated as Wildlife Protection Areas, whereas at the other western foreshore settlements there is still a need for more detailed analysis. This analysis will need to engage the community, the Department of Planning and the National Parks & Wildlife Service. It may be that not all of Council's land should be put to wildlife protection at these other locations and that there may be some scope to achieve other community and environmental benefits and use for the subject land parcels, by more closely examining what land use patterns and management arrangements should be applied into the future.

Women on Water (WOW)

- is on Wednesday September 12 (ie the second Wednesday of the month) starting at midday. Come and join us at Michelle McDonald's home in Elvina Bay. Just bring a plate of food to share and something to drink. ALL OFFSHORE WOMEN OF ANY AGE are welcome.

Please phone Kerry on 9999 4092 if you haven't been to WOW before and/or have any questions.

The topic for September is: FEAR

"One of the most interesting and pervasive of human emotions, fear is present is many aspects of our lives.

Psychological fears, physical fears beset us daily. Governments and the media use fear to manipulate our viewpoints and to reinforce or alter mindsets. We have a seemingly perverse desire to watch horror movies, and thrillers. We engage in dangerous activities for the thrill of the moment – bungy jumping, rock climbing, speed skiing - the faster, the more on the edge the better.

It seems to me that fear is hugely influential in our lives and those influences can be both positive and negative.

Let's discuss the positives and negatives of fear and how these positives and negatives affect us personally in our everyday lives."