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- June 2007 -

Newsletter for Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia  Volume 9, Issue 235 June 2007     

Important Information for Offshore Residents

Due to very sad family circumstances, Roy Baker has had to travel to the UK. His presentation, scheduled for Saturday 23rd June, will be rescheduled early next year. Roy is keen to give his presentation, but will be away for the rest of this year. We look forward to hearing his very interesting presentation next year.

 Please DON’T go to his house on Sat 23^rd.

Wild Storms Lash Pittwater LGA

The cost of the recent wild storms that lashed the NSW Central Coastal and Hunter areas is still being assessed by Pittwater Council.

Council's General Manager, Mr Mark Ferguson said that strong winds and driving rain caused widespread damage to hundreds of properties throughout the Pittwater LGA and indicated that the cost to Council property alone could amount to as much as $400,000 with sections of Palm Beach, Bilgola Plateau and Avalon the worst affected.

Local beaches suffered significant erosion but there were no reports of damage to private beachside property. The main road at Palm Beach and the carpark at Bilgola Beach were blanketed in sand whilst wind blown sands also covered regeneration works at Mona Vale Beach.

Shade structures, public wharves, Mona Vale and Avalon Golf Courses and trees on Council's Reserves felt the full fury of the storm and will account for approximately $130,000 of the final clean up costs.

Council received in excess of 1000 storm related enquiries and calls for assistance and worked closely with Energy Australia, State Emergency Services and other emergency response crews to clear debris from roads, parks and private property with Bilgola the worst affected with power lines and other services down.

Mr Ferguson praised each of the response crews that worked, in some instances, for 13 continuous hours in terrible conditions to help restore essential services and to ensure the safety of motorists.

However, he added that it could be some weeks until Council's normal works program can resume due to the enormity of the clean up operations currently underway.

"Council currently have three (3) contractors working full time to help clear the debris caused by the storms and at this stage it is very difficult to accurately assess the true cost of the damage as new jobs are still being reported", he said.

Mr Ferguson also added his sympathy to the family of Avalon resident, Mr David McGill, who perished in a house fire during the height of the storm.