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June 1, 2024

Newsletter for the Offshore Residents of Pittwater, Australia - Volume 25, Issue 1207

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of Pittwater, as well as our Indigenous readers

The Tuesday Discussion Group

Scotland Island Recreation Centre

Tuesday 18 June, 11 am - 12.30 pm

The Recreation Club runs a discussion group, meeting on the third Tuesday of each month, from 11 am to 12.30 pm in the Recreation Centre. Everyone is welcome.

Members take it in turn to design a session. For the May session Robyn Iredale asked the group to consider strategies for the survival of pastoral nomads.

For the June meeting, Tim Turpin is tackling housing planning policies in Australia: are they for better or worse?

Housing policies are significant in light of the all-day “People’s Jury on Housing” which our federal member, Dr Sophie Scamps is hosting on 15 June. At that event 30 local residents will hear from experts on new planning proposals for NSW. Sydney’s Northern Beaches have emerged as a hot spot for contested housing policy reforms.

But this is not just a local issue. Similar debates are emerging across North America and Europe. To what extent are we NIMBYs or YIMBYs? (not in my back yard or, yes, in my back yard).

Suggested readings:

1: Explanation of Intended Effect: Changes to create low-and mid-rise housing, Department of Planning and Environment, Dec 2023. This is a longer article. The three below are brief summaries concerning the debate;
2. Double Down on Density, Northern Beaches Advocate,22 Dec 2023;
3. Social and Affordable Housing Reforms: fact sheet, Department of Planning and Environment, Dec 2023;
4. Comment: Many misconceptions in the debate about housing, Times Colonist, Dec 2023.

The group would love some new participants. To quote one regular attendee:

'For those of us who have participated in the discussions we have found the topics suggested thought-provoking, educational, controversial and occasionally light-hearted, eg cartoons. As cartoonist Glen Le Lievre said, “the deeper the country digs itself into a hole, the more material we get.”

The group is administered via a WhatsApp group, which will be used to distribute further information about this and future discussions. If you would like to be added to the group, send your mobile phone number to editor@scotlandisland.org.au. Alternatively, contact Jane Rich (janebalmain@hotmail.com) for more information or to express your interest in participating.

The Recreation Club asks for $5 per person per attendance to defray expenses.

Market Day: call to stall holders

Catherine Park, Scotland Island

Sunday 23 June, 10 - 1 pm

To book, click here

Winter Café and Market Day

Catherine Park, Scotland Island

Sunday 23 June, 10 - 1 pm

International Folk Dancing

Community Hall, Scotland Island

Saturday 29 June, 7 pm

The Recreation Club asks for $5 per person per attendance to defray expenses.

Island Fire Brigade AGM

Scotland Island Fire Station

Sunday 7 July, 10 - 12 noon

All brigade members are encouraged to attend this year's AGM, which will celebrate the brigade's achievements over the course of the last year and elect field and administrative officers for the year to come. A light lunch will be provided.

To assist with catering, please indicate your intended attendance by clicking here.

The brigade's new all-terrain vehicle, acquired in March 2024

Annual subscription:
The 2023-24 membership fee of $20 (life members exempt) was due by 2 August 2023.
If you are overdue with payment please pay it as soon as possible. The brigade bank details are as follows:

Account name: Scotland Island Rural Fire Brigade
BSB: 082 294
Account: 509351401

Ordinary members of the brigade voting in the election of field or administrative officers must have paid their 2023-24 subscription fee (unless a life member). If 2023-24 membership fees remain unpaid at the time of the AGM then membership of the brigade may lapse.