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| - May 2009 - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newsletter for Offshore Residents
of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 10, Issue 385 May 2009 |
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| Editorial:
Common sense finally prevails with the rejection of the development proposal at Currawong. This is a fantastic result and an triumph for the Friends of Currawong and their tenacity. This editor has received numerous emails congratulating Shane and the group for their hard won battle. This win also helps to remind us that it is worth jumping up and down and making as much noise as possible about such issues, despite what is sometimes seen as an overpowering influence that business exerts on our decision makers. More details regarding the outcome below. Well we manged to fool quite a few readers with the Woody Point Redevelopment expose in our April 1st issue. A big thanks to Paul Burchall for coming up with the poster photo and the idea to "stir the pot" a bit. The ANZAC Memorial Service at Church Point attracted a good crowd this year with Morning Bay resident Piers Akerman giving the speech. June has kindly submitted some photos of the event, these can be seen here on the online gallery. What do you use to cure swine flu? Onik-ment! Enjoy.
 Luxury homes plan for Currawong rejected Matthew Moore and Elicia Murray April 29, 2009 Sydney Morning Herald Brisbane Times.com.au THE State Government has blocked a development proposal to build 25 luxury houses at a site owned by Unions NSW in the national park at Pittwater and put the whole area on the State Heritage Register. After a 12-year campaign to save the historic holiday cottages at Currawong within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on Pittwater's western shore, the Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, revealed yesterday she had refused the application to subdivide the site to allow residential development. At the core of Ms Keneally's decision was concern about the plan to dump huge quantities of fill onto the site to build houses on low-lying land around a creek prone to flooding. "While it would be technically possible for the valley floor to be developed, it would not be justifiable, considering the susceptibility of the site to shoreline recession and flooding during high tides or storms," she said. Her department and a separate independent assessment panel had advised that the risks of infilling were unacceptable in a clear warning about the dangers of flooding due to the effects of global warming. "That situation would only worsen with any rise in sea level over time," she said. Ms Keneally said the ministerial panel considered a recommendation from the Heritage Council in 2007 to list the site and concluded it had great heritage value. The president of Friends of Currawong group, Shane Withington, said the decision provided hope for other sensitive coastal areas under threat of development. "This ludicrous development has been rejected in a great victory for common sense." He said the site should continue to be a cheap place for family holidays but it must be included in the surrounding national park to ensure a gated community did not develop. Friends of Currawong said it had raised $500,000 and Pittwater Council had pledged $4 million to buy the site, and the Government should put in. Unions NSW bought Currawong in 1949 to provide cheap holidays for working families but the former secretary of Unions NSW, John Robertson, successfully argued it must be sold and the money used in the 2007 election to campaign against Work Choices. Developers Allen Linz and Eduard Litver agreed to pay $15 million in what Mr Robertson said was the highest "unconditional" offer. They did not return calls yesterday. Last night Unions NSW refused to confirm whether it had received anything more than a deposit of about $1 million for the site or whether it would refund in full. Expert Panel report on the Currawong Decision can be seen at this link; http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=1809 Pittwater Commends Currawong Decision Pittwater Mayor David James has welcomed the decision by the NSW Minister for Planning Kristina Keneally to refuse the development proposal for a subdivision of 25 homes at Currawong. “Pittwater Council is very pleased that the Minister has signaled the NSW Government’s intention to protect this historic site from inappropriate development,” the Mayor said. Currawong was the subject of a development proposal for 25 luxury homes by Eco Villages Pty Limited, following negotiations between the developer and the owner Unions NSW. The NSW Department of Planning took over the assessment of the development proposal from Pittwater Council, after it decided the site was one of state significance. In 2008 an independent planning assessment panel was formed by the Minister to hear submissions from the Council and the community on the development proposal. The panel retired at the end of last year to consider submissions and put forward a recommendation to the Minister on the development proposal. Minister Keneally advised the Council yesterday that the development proposal would be refused. In refusing the development application, Minister Keneally cited ‘visual amenity, indigenous and European heritage, mainland parking and access and the method of wastewater disposal’ as key reasons. She was also quoted as saying that the ‘vulnerability of the proposed development on the lower lying section of the site’ to flooding was another important factor in the decision. The Minister has also announced the NSW Department of Planning will place the whole Currawong site on the State Heritage Register. Mayor James said the Council and the Pittwater community had sought a heritage listing of Currawong for over a decade before the Eco Villages development proposal was submitted. He paid tribute to the Friends of Currawong and the Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes. “They have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Currawong was spared from this development,” he said. Mayor James said that the Minister’s decision meant that the site would no longer be considered as ‘state significant’ and that Pittwater Council would assess any future development application for the site. “However it’s our belief that the site should be acquired publicly and as a result fully protected from any development in the future.” Media contact: David James, Pittwater Council Ph: 9970 1104 Offshore Book Launch - Saturday 16 May Michelle McDonald's book - The Kiss of Saddam  Michelle McDonald is having
an off shore Pittwater launch of her book - The Kiss of Saddam.Date: Saturday 16 May. Open house from 2.30 pm until 6.00 pm. Everyone welcome: Michelle McDonald's house, two-storey grey cottage next to Beashells boat shed. The subject of the biography, Selma Masson and Mohamad al Jabiri, her husband, will be present and happy to talk about their amazing lives. Mohamad al Jabiri was Iraqi ambassador to Spain and chairman of a human rights committee in the UN when he disappeared. His wife, Selma personally pleaded with Saddam Hussein for his release. 'The Kiss of Saddam' is the story of an amazing women who gambled everything for love and freedom. All wine, tea, coffee and finger food will be provided.  Pittwater
Community Arts - Open MeetingThe Sydney International Piano Competition "The Inside Story" Please join Pittwater Community Arts at their next Open Meeting for a talk on; The Sydney International Piano Competition - The Inside Story by Professor Warren Thomson OAM - Artistic Director of SIPCA Wednesday 20th May 2009 - 7pm Avalon Recreation Centre Old Barrenjoey Road Avalon Professor Thomson will talk on the logistics and mammoth undertaking of this competition which is held every 4 years. Hear all about the world wide audition process, the make up of the international jury, voting regulations, and behind the scenes running of the 2 week event by volunteers. After the talk you will be invited to ask questions. A sparkling wine supper will be served at the end Gold coin entry Enquiries Janice Tuynman 9999-1937 Local Council Notices  Public Meeting on Pittwater's Planning Controls Pittwater Council will hold a public meeting to discuss the current review of Pittwater 21 Development Control Plan on Thursday 7 May at Mona Vale Golf Club from 6pm to 8pm. The review is being undertaken with the emphasis on making the planning controls easier to understand and DAs easier to lodge. Council’s Planning and Assessment Manager, Lindsay Dyce said the meeting will be a chance for residents to give feedback on the changes, to propose additional changes and ask questions. “The revised controls should offer increased protection for the character of Pittwater’s ‘special places’ such as foreshore areas, which can be vulnerable to development,” he said. “Concerns raised by residents had played a part in forming some of the new controls. For example, residents have said they want noise from equipment in new homes such as air-conditioning units and pool pumps better controlled. “Pittwater’s Development Control Plan has more than 1100 pages and it has taken staff around six months to scrutinise every page and make changes where needed,” Mr Dyce added. The plan is on exhibition until Friday 8 May and submissions on the changes will be accepted until 23 May 2009. The draft plan is available for viewing at www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/Documents_On_Exhibition or Pittwater Council’s customer service centres at 1 Park Street Mona Vale and 59A Old Barrenjoey Road Avalon. For more information about the proposed changes visit www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au or contact Karen Chapman on 9970 1161. Media contact: Andrew Pigott, Pittwater Council, Ph: 9970 1163 New Budget and Management Plan go on Public Exhibition Pittwater Council’s draft 2009-2010 budget and four year management plan will be on public exhibition for comment between Saturday 25 April and Friday 22 May. The management plan sets out the goals to be achieved by the organisation on behalf of the Pittwater community for the next four years until 2013. The draft 2009-2010 budget has also been prepared, showing a small surplus of nearly $80,000. The Council voted to adopt the draft plan and budget at its meeting on Monday 20 April. Both are on exhibition for public comment, after which the Council will meet to consider the budget and management plan for final adoption. Mayor David James said that despite the impacts of the current economic downturn on local government in general, the Council had achieved a good result in terms of budgeting. “Staff at all levels of the organisation have worked hard to find ways to cut costs without compromising services to the community,” he said. “For the first time the organisation’s performance will measured through key performance indicators.” “This means that the community will be able to monitor more closely how we as an organisation are delivering on the goals that residents have said they want to see achieved.” Projects identified as priorities for the community in the next four years include:
The Council will also hold a community briefing on the budget and management plan at 6.30pm on Thursday 14 May at Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street Mona Vale. Media contact: Simonne Shore, Pittwater Council Ph: 9970 1103 Mona Vale Library Events  Stitch-Up @ The Library  Mona Vale and Avalon
Libraries are hosting a simultaneous ‘stitch-up’ of knitted squares for
the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.Friday 1 May - 7am to 7pm Mona Vale Library – 1 Park Street Mona Vale and Avalon Library – 59A Old Barrenjoey Road AvalonStitch-Up @ The Library click to load the
flyer
Law Week - A free legal talk for Seniors Date: Friday 15 May 2009  Time: 11am to 12 noon Learn how to:
click to load flyer
Author Talk@ Mona Vale Library Crime Writer, Sydney Bauer, "Move to Strike" Thursday 7 May 6.30pm.
It was the writing talents of these scriptwriters, and an admiration for authors such as Lee Child, David Baldacci, Dennis Lehane, John Grisham, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais and Richard North Patterson, that inspired Sydney to put pen to paper and start her own franchise - in the form of a series of novels featuring Boston based criminal attorney, David Cavanaugh. Catherine Buddin Events & Promotions Librarian Mona Vale Library Park St Mona Vale NSW 2103 tel 9970 1600 or 9970 1605 fax 9979 1465 catherine_buddin@pittwater.nsw.gov.au Author Talk Forthcoming Events April-June 2009 May Thursday 7 May – Author Sydney Bauer ”Move to Strike”. Crime fiction Thursday 14 May – Author Mary Moody “Sweet Surrender. Love, Life and the Whole Damn Thing”. a memoir Thursday 28 May – Author Donna Gibbs “When I’m 64.The New Retirement” June Wednesday 17 June – Author Noel Braun “Whistler Street”. A novel
Ariel Salleh's Book Launch Eco-Sufficiency & Global Justice: women write political ecology  An
invitation to the Sydney and Melbourne launches of Ariel
Salleh's
Eco-Sufficiency & Global Justice: women write political ecology.SYDNEY Monday 4 May Gleebooks, 6 for 6.30pm To be launched by Lee Rhiannon, Greens MP, NSW Legislative Council MELBOURNE Tuesday 2 June Readings Carlton, 6 for 6.30pm To be launched by Prof Verity Burgmann, School of Political Science, University of Melbourne click image to load flyer For those of you in Sydney, the launch is a co-launch with Bill Dunn's Global Political Economy: A Marxist Critique. For more details on the book, visit: www.spinifexpress.com.au/book_detail.php?id=196 Spinifex Press PO Box 212 Nth Melb Vic 3051 www.spinifexpress.com.au Ph 03 9329 6088 Fax 03 9329 9238 You Asked.. Fellow Islander in New Zealand Introduces his Island Hi There, I became interested in your island after my brother moved there recently. I also live on an island (Kawau Island in New Zealand) and it would appear that your community faces similar issues to ours. Kawau Island is quite a lot bigger than Scotland Island but we have fewer full time residents than you have. We are located about 8 km off shore from Warkworth and have no reticulated water, sewage etc. As well we have an ongoing battle to convince the mainland officials that things are different on an island and mainland templates do not apply. We are also currently battling a proposed 300% rates (Property tax) increase from the mainland Council we come under. Like yourselves we have our own Volunteer Fire Brigade and provide first response for medical emergencies. If any of your members are interested in more information on our island, they could view my website: www.kawau.co.nz or www.kawauisland.org.nz If any of your members are visiting New Zealand, they would be most welcome to visit. Regards John Pryor Violin Teacher Class 11 student playing violin with the Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra available to teach violin to beginners. Anyone interested please phone Elena on 9999 4885. Luisa is a eurythmy therapist - If anyone is interested please ask for Luisa on the same phone number. Need your Septic Pumped out ? Anyone needing to pump septic tank in the next four weeks? Please contact Tony Hill: tevake2@gmail.com or 0412529104
For Sale If you have something for sale that you think locals would like - let us know and we will put a SINGLE line entry in the PON at the beginning of each month...
The Local Guide
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
Membership of SIRA, Emergency Scotland Island Water Contacts and Application for Water + Guidelines for water, in one document: click here for information (while online) Download the Scotland Island 'Water Agreement' by clicking here (while online) AIRLINES, BUSES and RAILWAYS:
WEATHER:
Archived Newsletters: A complete set of past electronic newsletters since May 2000 can be found and read at https://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?sira or by clicking here or
by visiting the Mona Vale Library.The Island website is at www.scotlandisland.org.au Finally: If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's easy!. Send an e-mail to the editor by clicking here. Type your short contribution (100 words would be fine) and assuming it is of general interest to the community, does not include matter of a political nature and is not offensive to your neighbours, it will appear next month. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: To get on and off this newsletter, click here or got to: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/signup . To change your address, click the 'modify' link at the bottom of this newsletter. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents Association (SIRA), or the Western Pittwater Community Association (WPCA) |
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