Newsletter for Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia Volume 5, Issue 49; November 2003
Editorial:
The SIRA committee visited Dangar Island last Saturday to examine what it is that some people think is better about Dangar resident's environment. (thanks John Aufmanis for providing transport and sustenance) No doubt the next monthly meeting of the SIRA committee will talk about the pluses and minuses of living on Dangar. On another matter, you will notice there is a lot of emphasis in this edition on fire matters - it does look like a long and hot summer. PLEASE read this information carefully.
In this Issue:
TWO Special Events - LAST chance
November 16th 2003
On your behalf, SIRA has organised a visit to this exhibition at a reduced rate that will include afternoon tea and a conducted tour. If you wish to attend you should reply to the editor of this newsletter within a few days! (address below)
Price Breakdown: Entry to exhibition: $10, Afternoon Tea:$5 You can certainly come and make your own way. You do not need to catch our special bus.
Sunday November 16th is the proposed date. If you wish to attend, please email the editor ASAP.
(email: editor@scotlandisland.org.au)
November 30th 2003
The Making of Sydney Harbour
Meeting at Pyrmont Bay Wharf at 1pm, enjoy a two
and a half hour History on the Harbour Tour on board one of the Fleet’s
100 year old heritage vessels.
Check out Goat Island, Garden Island, Mort’s Dock, Woolwich Dock,
Spectacle and Cockatoo Islands and learn from a professional Tour
Guide’s commentary about their historical significance to Sydney Harbour
and the people of Sydney..
Splash out and enjoy this unique harbour tour designed to encourage
understanding and appreciation of the history of Sydney Harbour. Educate
the kids!
SIRA have tentatively booked 20 places on this cruise. There are very few spots left. Most other available days are already sold out!
Price: Adults: $35 Child: $20 Family (2x2) $90 - includes afternoon tea.
On this occasion you will need to book by ringing 'The Australian Heritage Fleet' 9298-3888 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). You must tell them you are part of the Scotland Island Residents Association group! It would be nice if you let the editor know if you are coming (email: editor@scotlandisland.org.au)
Following years of correspondence, telephone calls and letters to politicians, the SIRA committee is pleased to report that the following letter has been received from Energy Australia
Please be advised that the work of removing five (5) redundant
distribution substations on Scotland Island has been programmed to
commence on the 1st December 2003, weather permitting. The work is
expected to take approximately one week.
No electrical power interruptions are involved with this work.
Every effort will be made to minimise disturbance to the Islands residents and Energy Australia apologises for any inconvenience caused to customers while undertaking this work.
Permits required
The bushfire season officially started on the 1st October and runs through to the 1st March 2004. During this period, permits are required for all burns. Call the fire shed for further information 9999 4404 Is your property prepared. Spring is a good time to give the house and garden a good clean up before the bushfire season really gets going. Ensure your roof and gutters are kept clear of leaves and sticks, move woodpiles away from the house. Talk to all members of the family about the possibility of an emergency and prepare a plan for the household that everyone clearly understands.
Upcoming events
Movie afternoons The brigade is continuing to run the very successful movie afternoons on the first Saturday of the month at the fire station at 4.00pm Melbourne cup day The station will again open its doors to the public for the Melbourne cup. The fun starts at 2.00pm with entry costing just $2.00 per person. This includes snacks and nibbles, with a viewing of the race on our big screen. $2.00 and $5.00 sweeps.
For a long time now the parking situation at Church Point has been getting worse and worse with many residents receiving fines that they felt were unfair. You are not alone! A meeting is being organised to coordinate details of fines received and possible solutions to the problem. We are trying to get council to agree on a fairer system until such time as adequate parking is available. If you are interested in attending or would like to submit ideas please contact Richard Hairs at rhairs@fts-aust.com. All submissions will be helpful and will go towards the creation of a document to be submitted to council by SIRA.
Work is progressing well on the new website design. Now is a good
time to think of an area of in
terest
that you would like to contribute to for the site. For example, if you
are a timber boat builder, what about some background information on
your hobby. Perhaps you are very familiar with the history of Scotland
Island and would like to add some text and pictures.
If you would like to help - and we will not need the information until the beginning of 2004, please send the web committee an expression of interest by clicking here or emailing: info@scotlandisland.org.au
Bushfire Awareness Session
The Scotland Island Rural Fire Brigade invites all Offshore residents to
attend a free Bushfire Awareness Session at the Fire Station. The
presentation will cover fire behaviour, preparation for a bushfire
emergency (including preparing your property and evacuation plan) and
what action the Brigade will be taking. These presentations were very
well-received last year and given the outlook for this summer, are
designed to assist residents to plan and prepare for the upcoming
bushfire season.
The presentation will be given on Sunday 2 November at 11.00am.
The session will last for approximately an hour and will be held at the
Fire Station (Catherine Park). Tea, coffee and biscuits will be
available and there will be ample time for questions.
The Land and Environment Court recently handed down a decision
relating to the Development
This decision can be read online by
clicking here
Emergency Water - How to get it!
One of the most common requests the editor of this newsletter receives relates to how to obtain emergency water.
| DISTRIBUTORS as at February 1, 2003 | ||||
| LINE 1 |
Bell, via Carol’s,
Eastern to Pathilda Reserve |
Thursday-alternate Friday Saturday |
Nathalie Muir P.O. Box 263, C.P. |
9999 4449 |
| LINE 2 |
Bell, via Cargo, Tennis to Pathilda Reserve |
Sunday
Monday Tuesday – Day Thursday-alternate |
Karen Burns P.O. Box 423, C.P. |
9999 4960
|
| LINE 3 |
Bell, via Top of Island to Kevin Street |
Tuesday - Night Wednesday |
Cass Gye P.O. Box 52, C.P. |
9979 5853 0418 220 107 |
These
are the initial steps, but the full details about how to get water, what
it costs, who is responsible, problem solving and everything else you
might need to know is now on a page on the web at this address:
www.scotlandisland.org.au/water_guide.html
The editor knows NOTHING about emergency water! Please contact one of
the distributors listed above for more information!
Scotland Island Community Fireguard Information
Important information about your property should be promptly reported to the Scotland Island Rural Fire Service. You are asked to download the attached document and return it to the Scotland Island Fire shed as soon as possible.
The information will be used by the fire service to help protect your home during the approaching summer bush fire season. If you are unable to download or read the document, you can obtain a copy by asking Bruce at the Fire Shed for a copy.
To get a copy of this pdf document either click here or go to this website: www.scotlandisland.org.au/fire
All former students, staff and friends of Pittwater
High School are invited to be part of the 40th
anniversary
celebrations. Two major events are planned for Saturday November 22nd.
An open afternoon and evening reunion and celebratory dance in the school hall are being planned. Please contact the school: 9999-4035 or pittwater40@hotmail.com to register your interest in either or both these events.