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| November 08, 2010 |
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Notices
for
Offshore Residents
of Pittwater, Australia
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Sunken boats update.. Dear Neighbours, Sadly there now appears to be a significant amount of evidence which suggests that a resident was, at least partly, responsible for the sinking of boats at Carols wharf on Saturday night the 23rd of October. A party hosted that night, “somewhere” between Carols and Bells wharf resulted in a number of incidents which suggest that guests from that party were responsible for the sinking of our boats. The disappointing thing is that the host of that party has not co operated with the water police or come forward to offer assistance. Even more depressing is the fact that people in our community know exactly what happened and refuse to say anything. I would implore that host to please approach me, or the Water Police, so that the culprits directly responsible can be dealt with. Attempting to protect them or deliberately hindering a police investigation is an offence. Ignoring the issue and leaving your neighbours with a damage bill of thousands of dollars is not just offensive – it is morally reprehensible. If anyone would like to approach me to discuss this matter I can be contacted on 0433 839 118. Matt Palmer New Performance Centre for Pittwater High School Did you donate a brick? There will be an official opening of this building in early 2011. The building concept arose in 2002 and many parents responded to the invitation to donate a "brick" for $100 to go towards this building. Some of the school's past records are incomplete and they are trying to track down an accurate list of all brick donors. If you, or any person you know donated a brick, could you please contact the school on 9999 4035. Flashing warning signs at roadkill hotspots MANLY DAILY 29 Oct 10 9 by Brenton Cherry MEASURES have finally been put in place to address the northern beaches’ appalling wildlife roadkill toll. Earlier this week the RTA installed four flashing warning signs at known roadkill hotspots following a sustained campaign from local residents sick of seeing native fauna strewn across our roads. The signs have been positioned on Mona Vale Rd at the intersection of Kimbriki Rd, Ingleside, two on McCarrs Creek Rd and another at the top of Powder Works Rd, Elanora. WIRES rescuer Mandy Beaumont, who is regularly called out to collect dead wildlife, saw the signs in action on Wednesday night and said they were a spectacular sight. “It looked like people were actually slowing down and checking their speedos when they saw the signs,” she said. “It’s not the solution, we still want more wallaby-proof fencing, but at least it is a start. People may now stop, think and be aware that there are animals crossing the road.” Jacqui Marlow, from the Northern Beaches Roadkill Prevention group, said she was delighted that the RTA had listened to them. “But we are not stopping there, more wallaby-proof fences are a must,” she said.  Home Hansard & Papers Legislative Assembly 22 September 2010 Pittwater Electorate Native Animal Roadkill Prevention Speakers - Stokes Mr Rob Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV PITTWATER ELECTORATE NATIVE ANIMAL ROADKILL PREVENTION Page: 25931 Mr ROB STOKES (Pittwater) [6.36 p.m.]: Tonight I raise an issue of real importance in my community of Pittwater, which is enormously fortunate to be surrounded by spectacular national parks, native bushland and iconic Australian wildlife. From the Garigal National Park in the south to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the north, Australia's native flora and fauna constitute one of the most defining categoristics of the Pittwater community. While our natural environment is a treasured part and a unique defining element of our local surrounds, we face the frightening reality that some of our most iconic native wildlife may soon be lost forever. Early last week I had the pleasure of chairing an enormously well-attended meeting of the Northern Beaches Roadkill Prevention Committee, an outstanding group of volunteers dedicated towards reducing the tragic number of native wildlife injured and killed on our local roads. This group was formed in 2005 to raise awareness and to seek better funding for this increasingly important issue, and it has since worked tirelessly to achieve important outcomes. That group worked in the media, in academia, presented papers and posters, refereed conferences and has done hard research work to demonstrate this is a real problem and that with intervention we can mitigate the worst excesses of that problem. One of its most notable achievements has been the construction of a wallaby exclusion fence along the Wakehurst Parkway, a highly successful venture on one of the northern beaches most notorious arterial roads, which has seen the death of scores of wallabies, including bettongs and sugar-gliders. Indeed, I have seen an echidna walking across the Wakehurst Parkway. Fortunately he got to the other side of the road but unfortunately many do not. While this initiative is certainly a step in the right direction, the reality remains that with hundreds of kilometres of bushland surrounding roadway in Pittwater, much more needs to be done to prevent the very real risk that our local population of native wildlife will continue to decline. Whilst the measures in force along the Wakehurst Parkway have so far been successful, other notorious roads within Pittwater such as McCarrs Creek Road, have witnessed more than 30 reported deaths of wallabies over the past year alone. This is a tragedy that we as a society can no longer afford to continue because the death of even one female wallaby is enormously significant because of its cumulative impact on the viability of the local population. If left unchecked inevitably it will lead to the extinction of the local population, which effectively is marooned by the Sydney-Newcastle expressway. There is no hiding from this issue. Anyone who has driven along Pittwater's bush-surrounded roads, including McCarrs Creek Road, the Wakehurst Parkway, Mona Vale Road, West Head Road and many others, are well aware not only of the beauty that exists but also of the dangers that exist to wildlife, motorists and their passengers. What has become increasingly clear in recent times is that despite the fantastic efforts of local volunteers, including Jacqui Marlow, President of the Northern Beaches Roadkill Prevention Committee, committee members like Eira Battaglia, Neva Poole, Niamh Kenny and many others—too many to mention this evening but others such as Sydney Wildlife, people like Mandy Beaumont from WIRES, assisted by local veterinarians such as Gail Carey from Elanora Heights Veterinary Clinic, who I met the other day—we need greater government awareness and contribution, which is imperative, in order to see real improvements. All ideas, policies and suggestions require funding. Whilst the Government has been supportive in commissioning studies, inquiries and reviews on this issue, the time has come for it to start initiating some real action. Anyone who has seen the terrible carnage on our roads knows that no amount of reviews or inquiries will change the situation that exists. Instead, what is required now is the prompt release of adequate funding and the continued commitment of the New South Wales Government. I acknowledge the ongoing support and interest of the Roads and Traffic Authority, especially its regional representatives, and the Minister for Roads on this matter. I urge them to now be forthcoming with the rollout of initiatives and preventive measures to help ensure that our roads are safe and our native wildlife is protected. Although we are not talking about enormous amounts of money, the outcomes and benefits certainly are enormous. Warning signs and wire fencing, whilst not major infrastructure—even putting culverts under roads—will improve road safety, potentially save lives and assist in the preservation of our native wildlife. They have just as much right to be in our community as any living thing. Motorists may not think much about seeing a single native wallaby lying dead on the side of the road, but that would change rapidly if the wallaby were to crash through their windscreen and cause an accident, or if the tragic situation was reached where the local population of wallabies completely ceased to exist. Members may think I am being alarmist. I remember seeing koalas in the area. When I was a young bloke I was very lucky to be able to see koalas in Avalon. My kids, unfortunately, will not get to see them because that population of koalas is now extinct. I would hate to see the same thing happen to wallabies. This is a situation where a failure to act will be viewed as a real pity and a real failure. I certainly encourage the Government to act on this important issue. LOST Lost blue iPod Nano. Lost on Thursday November 4th November between Yamba and Bells Wharf. Treasured 9th birthday present. If you picked it up off the road late in the afternoon last week could you please contact Lisa on 9999 3832 or email lratcliff@netspace.net.au  The Local Guide - Community Information Click HERE to load |
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