Naremburn Community Centre Refurbishment

[Editor: The letter below, dated 25 November 2011, is with the Concept Plan displayed at Naremburn Branch Library. The Plan was in the NPA’s 110th anniversary exhibition.]

The Naremburn facility is at an age and condition where intervention is required. The existing library is not a functional space and the lack of meeting rooms and adaptable spaces make it difficult for the local community to best utilise the facility. Council is planning to undertake refurbishment works to the site and a part of the initial design phase is calling on comments from the local community.

Council will carry out community consultation to try and incorporate the comments into the design development. This will be through a range of letter box drops, community meetings and public exhibition of plans such as the Naremburn Progress Association 110th anniversary open day.

The refurbishment project is in its initial design stages and once community consultation has been carried out, the design development with several consultant fields (architectural, structural engineers etc.) will prepare the documentation required for the development application.

Once development consent has been gained, Council will carry out a tender process to appoint a builder to carry out the construction works.

Further community consultation will start early next year [2012] and the whole design, approval and construction process will be completed by early 2013.

The building will be configured as a multi-use facility to ensure the space can be used for a range of activities such as: branch library, community meeting rooms, available for casual hirers of the space e.g. playgroups and other community based groups, a range of fitness classes arranged via Council’s Willoughby Leisure Centre will also be available. The existing pre-school adjacent to the community space will also remain in operation.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed works. Should you require any further information, Council’s Property Projects Officer Steven Farr may be contacted on 9777-7617.

Steven Head,
Director Infrastructure Services

View Concept Plan

Lower North Shore Volunteer Expo 2012 3.30pm – 7pm, Thursday 17 May Dougherty Community Centre, 7 Victor Street, Chatswood FREE Event

Part of National Volunteer Week 2012, the Lower North Shore (LNS) Volunteers Expo will be held from 3.30pm to 7pm, Thursday 17 May, at the Dougherty Community Centre, Chatswood.

The LNS Volunteer Expo is a great opportunity for community members to learn about volunteering opportunities in their area, with more than 20 not-for-profit organisations from the Lower North Shore showcasing a variety of volunteer opportunities available

National Volunteer Week 2012, held from 14 – 20 May, is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia and provides an opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in the community. Australians currently contribute more than 700 million hours of community service to many areas, including community health care, heritage and arts, environment conservation, emergency services, education, social justice, and sports.

“Volunteers are an essential part of the Willoughby community and many services would not survive without their help,” said Willoughby Mayor, Pat Reilly. “I encourage anyone interested in volunteering to come along to this event and find out what opportunities are available,” he said.

For further information or to book, please phone the LNS Volunteer Referral Coordinator on 9777 7915 or email lnsvolunteer@willoughby.nsw.gov.au

The Progress Association’s Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 8 March 2012 at the Naremburn Community Centre. The Returning Officer was Cr Kate Lamb. All positions were declared vacant. Kevin FitzPatrick (Secretary 2011, President 2007-2010), Barry Shaw (Treasurer 2010-2011) and Martha Follent (Vice President 2011) did not seek re-election.

Election results:
PRESIDENT: Frances O’Brien
VICE PRESIDENT: Roger Promnitz
SECRETARY: Helene Kemp
TREASURER: Carmen Loecherer

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Lynda Ackroyd
Viviane Leveaux
Joann Morand
DELEGATES TO THE FEDERATION OF WILLOUGHY PROGRESS ASSOCIATIONS
Frances O’Brien
Helene Kemp
DELEGATES TO THE NAREMBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE USER GROUP
Beryl Batterham
Kevin FitzPatrick
Barry Shaw
DELEGATES TO THE BICENTENNIAL RESERVE AND FLAT ROCK GULLY ADVISORY GROUP
Frances O’Brien
Barry Shaw
Peter Turner

Naremburn Shops car park
Saturday 31 March 2012
7.00 pm to 9.30 pm – entry is free

For the second year in row, the Naremburn Progress Association is holding Earth Hour Festivities in the Naremburn Shops car park. Mayor Pat Reilly will usher in Earth Hour ahead of ‘Soul Drummer’. Walk or cycle – leave the car at home. Bring a picnic or buy dinner from a Naremburn eatery. Bring your family and friends. Eat by candlelight! Have fun!

• Tables and chairs will be set up on the car park area – why not bring a picnic?
• During this year’s Earth Hour celebrations there will be an interactive drumming circle ‘Soul Drummer’ presented by Clearview Communications Management. The whole family will be able to join in and create beautiful music with the community, without using any electricity. We will be joined by a superb fire twirler, Silke, and the world class African dancer from West Africa, Aisha Keita. Earth Hour: 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm
• KICK Performance Group will entertain the crowd: 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm
• Face-painting by Chanelle: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Wandering Minstrels Ruth de Rosa and Antony Mutch: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Support from three Sponsors makes it possible for this event to be held.
Willoughby City Council ~ Peter Chauncy, McGrath Estate Agents ~ the NPA.
Become an NPA member at our NPA stand! Members can renew for 2012.

Please note: Between 6:00 pm and 10.00 pm on Saturday 31 March, there will be no vehicular access to the Naremburn Shops car park. The Willoughby Road entrance and the entrance via Quiamong Street will be closed to all entering traffic. The Slip Road under the footbridge will remain open, providing vehicular access to the area if needed. Vehicles entering the area via the Slip Road will have to exit west along Quiamong Street.

The NPA has received a WCC grant of $3,000 for Earth Hour 2012 to be held on Saturday 31 March next year.

The Council’s Small Grants program enables community groups to apply for funding for special projects.

The $3,000 is earmarked for African Drummers, hire of tables and chairs, candles and so on for Naremburn’s celebration of Earth Hour 2012 which is expected to be held in the Naremburn Shops car park.

Council’s award presentation ceremony took place on 12 October. Attending on behalf of the NPA were Frances O’Brien - President, Kevin FitzPatrick - Secretary, Helene Kemp - Membership Convenor, and Trisha FitzPatrick, NPA Public Officer, who had lodged the NPA’s application in May

There was a bit of a stir at NPA meetings when the RTA process of installing safety barriers to prevent suicides from the Suspension Bridge resulted in the RTA calling it ‘Long Gully Bridge’. Between September 2010 and March 2011, I emailed the RTA requesting the historical background to the name change and elicited a promise shortly before the State Election that the name would be queried with the RTA’s external heritage consultants. On 13 April I received a phone call stating that the RTA had made an administrative error and that an email to the relevant parties would be sent; it was sent that evening. At the May NPA meeting it was decided to defer the issue of bridge naming to the Willoughby Heritage Advisory Committee (WHAC) and North Sydney Council.

On 1 June, the RTA emailed us to say: "Following your recent feedback it is clear that there is both strong historical and popular support for naming the bridge SUSPENSION BRIDGE. The changes have been updated in the RTA S170 Heritage Register: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4309506. The amendments to the modifications field for the safety barrier and the updated photographs will appear via the internet when the upgrade of the register is complete - hopefully within the next few months. Again we apologise for the original naming error and any confusion that it has caused."

Trisha FitzPatrick
Editor, NM

Burke Lane: John Burke, a founding member of our Progress Association 1901.
Carden Lane: Edwin Edward de Baskerville Carden presided over the public meeting called for residents who showed concern for Naremburn’s future welfare, and held at the Temperance Hall in Central Street on 27 November 1901. A builder and leading figure in the community, when the meeting decided to form itself into a Progress Association, he declined the position of President in favour of another public-spirited citizen, Harold McBurney.
Corbett Lane: Corbett was an early member of the Naremburn Progress Association.
Crowley Lane: Jeremy Crowley was the first Treasurer of the NPA in 1901.
Faunce Lane: A D Faunce of Garland Road, an Alderman, Deputy Mayor 1964-66; President of the NPA; also President of the NPA-sponsored Naremburn Amenities Development Association (NADA) when the Baby Health Centre, Public Hall and Library were opened on 18 October 1958. His wife, Ivy, was awarded Willoughby Council’s Citizen of the Year 1973 for her outstanding charity work.
Furnedge Lane: Furnedge was an early member of the NPA.
Hutton Lane: Mr Hutton was an early member of the NPA and an Alderman of Willoughby Council.
John Allen Lane: John Allen lived in Olympia Road; a member of the NPA, he held various positions; President of the Federation of Willoughby Progress Associations (FWPA) from 1995 until his death in September 2007.
Kershaw Lane: H J Kershaw was a founding member of the NPA
McBurney Street: After Harold McBurney, active in local affairs; Foundation President of the NPA 27 November 1901, later elected to Willoughby Council.
Rohan Street: After Joseph Rohan, active in local affairs; Foundation Secretary of the NPA 27 November 1901.
Schultz Lane: C Schultz, a local builder, was elected Auditor of the NPA in 1901.

We thank our public-minded Naremburn residents who founded the NPA, first progress association in the Willoughby Council area, on 27 November 1901.

At the May meeting, NPA members complained about conditions at Naremburn Park. A letter was sent to Steven Head, WCC’s Director Infrastructure Services. His response includes the following information:-

• Rubbish Dumping – this should be reported to WCC’s Help and Service Centre on 9777 1000. Compliance staff investigate and action removals.
• Clean-up after Sports Hirers – subsequent to the NPA written comments, WCC sent reminder letters to the relevant sports hirers to clean-up after sporting events.
• Solar Lights not Working – water entry was detected and replacement/repairs were underway.

The NPA has representatives on the Bicentennial Reserve and Flat Rock Gully Advisory Group that exists as was recommended by its Plan of Management (POM). The NPA queried why there was not a similar body for Naremburn Park. The Plan of Management for Naremburn Park does not contain such a recommendation; there are "no plans currently to establish further Advisory Committees for individual parks".

Park problems - rubbish dumping, littering by sports groups, lights not working – phone 9777 1000

Walking your dog in public areas

If your dog is in a public area it must be on a leash and controlled effectively by a competent person. Otherwise your dog needs to be confined to your property, not wandering around public or private property. Your dog must not enter:

• Eating areas
• School or childcare grounds
• Wildlife protection areas
• Within ten metres of children’s playground equipment.

Council has established off-leash areas where you can let your dog exercise under supervision.

Cleaning up after your dog

It is the responsibility of owners to clean up after their dog if it leaves waste in public areas. Dog poo on roads, footpaths and parks is a common source of complaint to Council. Council’s Rangers can fine owners who don’t clean up after their dog. The Companion Animals Act dictates a $275 fine for failing to remove dog faeces. When it rains, your dog's waste gets washed down the stormwater drains and into the nearest creek. It ends up in either Middle Harbour or the Lane Cove River. There is a high level of nutrients in dog droppings, and this contributes to toxic algal blooms and aquatic weeds in our waterways. These blooms and weeds harm the marine organisms that keep our creeks healthy. Plus, dog droppings contain bacteria that can be harmful to people. They can contain infectious roundworm eggs that can cause serious illnesses. When walking your dog carry bags to collect your dog’s droppings and put them in the bin. Don’t let your dog out unsupervised or let it poo on your neighbour’s lawn. Take responsibility for your animal; it’s something that comes along with pet ownership.

www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au

The NPA was successful in its persistent request for Willoughby City Council to install ‘Keep Clear’ marked on the northbound lanes of Willoughby Road at the Rohan Street intersection. Residents had been experiencing difficulty with access to and egress from the western area of Naremburn due to traffic obstructing this intersection.