Nick Tobin - the future of the Community Centre
Naremburn residents can have a say in what happens in the refurbishment of the Naremburn Community Centre at 7 Central Street. What do you want?
- A real library in Naremburn, not just a foyer?
- That our asset, the Community Centre, is upgraded?
- That our Community Centre provides services for our young people, now and into the future?
- That adults can take a stroll from home to the Centre, borrow a book or two, a DVD, and attend an interest group?
- That our children can walk or ride to a library in their suburb
- That the NPA has a sufficiently large room for meetings, storage for records, a place for members to work on projects?
The NPA invited the Nick Tobin, WCC’s General Manager to speak to us on the issues. Nick’s presentation commences at 7:30 pm on Thursday 11 February at the Community Centre with an expected conclusion by 8:30 pm at which time there will be a break ahead of the NPA’s February meeting. There is no need to stay for the general meeting. There is a real need for parents and other interested residents to attend Nick Tobin’s presentation and Q & A.
Child Care Centre DA for Donnelly Road
The saga of this long-running Development Application for a Child Care Centre to be built in the cul de sac that is a remnant of Donnelly Road that was cut in two by the Freeway extension, was lodged with Willoughby City Council, refused and then taken by the Developer to the Land and Environment Court, not one but three times. This part of Donnelly Road is off Brook Street and close to the on and off ramps for the Freeway. Read the account of this saga in a letter written to the Naremburn Progress Association here.
Naremburn and the ‘Tour de Cure’ – update
I emailed you details of our charity ride in February and the information was kindly included in the following edition of Naremburn Matters, thank you. We received many positive comments and well-wishes from residents who read the newsletter and article.
I wanted to also let you know of our results from our charity cycle from Brisbane to Cairns. Our goal was to raise $600,000 for our charity beneficiaries:
- National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia
- Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
- Camp Quality
- Leukaemia Foundation
- Cancer Council
Our total raised was $850,000 which we are thrilled about. The Naremburn-based Tour de Cure registered charity has raised since May 2007 a total of $1.7M. Our charity ride next year is set for 7 to 15 May from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast as we travel to Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Armidale, Tamworth, Glen Innes, Grafton, Byron Bay and Brisbane along the 1,433km route in 9 days. The donation target for 2010 is $1 million.
We are also producing a 1-day seminar, called ‘A Day of Inspiration’ to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday 9 September 2009. All proceeds from the event go to Tour de Cure. It’s our 3rd Annual event, and each year we attract a wonderful line up of speakers who generously donate their time to contribute and share their secrets of success.
For more information visit www.tourdecure.com.au or contact me on 0411 044 888
Malcolm Heath
Grandview Street
Naremburn Shops – real or rumour
Many Naremburn residents are upset that the organic butcher shop has closed. Rumour has it that the owner of this shop would not renew the lease for Sam the Butcher because the owner wanted to rent out the floor space above that shop and Sam did not need if for his business.
There is now a DA for the floor space above 296 Willoughby Road (formerly Sam the Butcher) and 298 Willoughby Road (Delicia). DA-2009/334 is for a Fitness Studio with the entrance from the footpath adjacent to the shops car parking area. Comments and questions can be made to WCC’s Kate Drinan 9777 7895 by Wednesday 5 August.
We cannot speak for the views of the adjoining shop-keepers who may be adversely affected by the increased demand on the parking spots, nor for the shop-keepers immediately below the proposed Fitness Studio who may be adversely affected by noise. However, the NPA Executive will discuss the issues at its meeting on 28 July.
The 'cause', retaining the Naremburn Shops, has been an ongoing fight by the NPA since the 1970s. The 1980s plan for the proposed Expressway meant that those shops north of Rohan Street would be lost. Protests and concerted activity by the NPA, together with the Naremburn community, saved these shops. The Lane Cove Tunnel Project also threatened the shops and the car park and our objections were heard.
So, now Naremburn does not have a butcher shop let alone an organic butcher shop. Sam the Butcher is being replaced by Arrosto, a roast chicken shop, and we will have a Chicken Café next to the Fish and Chip shop. Does the Naremburn Shops strip need two chicken shops?
National Tree Day in Naremburn – update
Again Naremburn residents marked this day by planting 23 street trees, this year in Dalleys Road, Northcote Street, Glenmore Street, Rohan Street and Waters Road on 2 August.
A further 15 trees will be planted by the end of September. Trees were selected by Willoughby City Council taking into account existing species, suitability in local soils and being water-wise. This year Council is using a new type of tree guard to protect against overuse of whipper snippers as many of our street trees are under stress due to the damage these cause, especially to soft-barked young trees. Some residents use contractors to cut their grass verges and it would be timely to remind these contractors to go easy with whipper snippers when working around street trees. On the day, residents also put some 80 of these new tree guards on existing trees.
2010 National Tree Day is Sunday 1 August. Meantime if you want to have a street tree planted outside your home give a call to 9777 1000 and one of Council's street tree co-ordinators will follow up on your request.
Ronan Ahern
Northcote Street
Soccer – the NFC & Bicentennial Oval
At its 27 April meeting, Council voted in favour of a request by the Northbridge Football Club (NFC) for a 7 Saturday trial of football (soccer) to be played between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm at Bicentennial Oval. This over-ruled a rescission motion by Naremburn Ward Councillor Kate Lamb, who claimed that the decision did not follow point 4 of the Cultural & Environmental Committee recommendation:-
"Notification of the Saturday afternoon trial at Bicentennial Oval be undertaken to the adjoining residential community and any issue arising be resolved to the satisfaction of the Infrastructure Services Director prior to the commencement of the trial."
Councillor Lamb, in speaking for the rescission motion quoted the lack of respect for the local community in the early 1990s and the subsequent embarrassment to Council when lights illegally erected on this oval were taken down and Gordon Rugby Club was prevented from establishing infrastructure and the playing of organised sport to the detriment of general use of what had been established as Hallstrom Park. In her words,
"we [the Council] have been ambushed into making an ill-advised decision".
Although the first NFC game is scheduled for Saturday, 2 May, WCC is conducting its notification of the
trial to the
adjoining area by sending out 300 letters to affected (?) residents neighbouring the oval after the decision
was
made.
The NFC had the opportunity to air its potential application to WCC at a meeting of the Bicentennial Reserve
and
Flat Rock Gully Advisory Group meeting held on 1 April 2009 and attended by representatives of progress
associations, netball, baseball, etc. In fairness, the NFC may not have had concrete plans for the trial at
this
stage. Although the motion to conduct a 7 week trial was moved at the 20 April meeting of the Cultural &
Environmental Committee, the NFC did not consider this action significant enough to announce it at the Open
Forum of
the 16 April general meeting of the NPA.
Traffic movement and parking are major concern in the Bicentennial Reserve precinct. A planned survey in the
area
remains incomplete after the key officer of Council’s study body left WCC. Northbridge Football Club has
committed
to its team gathering at Northbridge and car pooling to Bicentennial Oval. Visiting teams are to gather at
Naremburn
Oval and similarly car pool.
Teams – two matches per Saturday – are Premier League, 18-30 year old males. It is hard to believe that
there will
be no spectators or family members attending the matches.
Naremburn Ward Councillors: – for the trial, Cr Barry Thompson, against the trial, Cr Kate Lamb. Cr Stuart
Coppock
was an apology due to illness.
Ella Street Bridge temporary closure
The previously announced temporary closure of the Ella Street Bridge at the northern end of Dalleys Road
that was to
take place between March and September 2009 has had its commencement date postponed to September.
Steven Head, Infrastructure Services Director, WCC, whose role includes traffic, is to speak at the NPA
general
meeting on 14 May see above
Latest Laing O'Rourke flyer to affected residents here
Proposed detours when Ella Street Bridge is closed here
Traffic, Parking – Steven Head @ May meeting
Ella Street Bridge temporary closure, and other traffic and parking issues for Naremburn will be
featured when
Steven Head, WCC’s Infrastructure Services Director, speaks at the NPA’s next general meeting on Thursday,
14
May at
the Naremburn Community Centre, 7 Central Street.
Steven will commence speaking at 7:30 pm with normal meeting business suspended until after his Q&A
session. Come
along. Bring your neighbours.
Artarmon Loop bus
Commencing Monday 4 May 2009, The Artarmon Loop is a free shuttle service travelling on a loop from St
Leonards
station through the Artarmon industrial area.
The service aims to encourage the use of public transport and reduce car usage across the City of Willoughby
while
also enhancing the viability of the Artarmon business precinct.
Jump on the bus at any of the Artarmon Loop bus stops located along the route. Take your bike too - Bicycles
can be
stored in bike racks inside the bus.
The Artarmon Loop will run every 15 minutes from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Buses depart from St Leonards
Station
on the hour, quarter hour, half hour, and quarter to the hour. (i.e. 6.00am, 6.15am, 6.30am, 6.45am through
to 6pm).
Last run departs from St Leonards Station at 6.00pm.
Download the Artarmon
loop map and timetable
2009 AGM minutes
Read the President's report on community issues and the achievements of the NPA in the past year.
Ella Street Bridge temporary closure
Update
Latest flyer from the contractors, Laing O'Rourke here
As part of the major periodic maintenance program for the North Shore Railway Line, the existing road
bridge passing
over the railway line just beyond the western end of Dalleys Road is due to be replaced.
Bridge construction works will be completed between March and September 2009 and include the necessary
closure of
the Ella Street Bridge.
During the temporary closure of the Ella Street Bridge, Naremburn residents, as well as those doing rat
runs through
our suburb will not be able to access Herbert Street via Dalleys Road.
No vehicular access and no pedestrian access over the Ella Street Bridge from 3 March to 26 September
2009.
Naremburn and the ‘Tour de Cure’
A charity was formed in 2007 whose head office resides in Naremburn and focuses on raising funds to find a
cure for
cancer; it is named ‘Tour de Cure’.
Tour de Cure features an annual cycle by approximately 30 ordinary people from around Australia. This year’s
ride
will leave Brisbane on Friday 29 May for Cairns covering 1,555km over 10 days, with the longest day being
256 km.
Due to growing interest the rider base has increased to 47 riders from Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Melbourne,
Brisbane
and Perth. The riders are men and women ranging in age from 18 to 52 years old.
Of the 47 riders preparing for this year’s tour, four reside in Naremburn:
- Geoff Coombes, Co-Founder, 20 Park Street;
- Malcolm Heath, 16 Grandview Street;
- Caleb Jones, 28 Waters Road; and
- Daniel Marles, 20 Slade Street
Each rider must commit to a demanding training program (cycling up to 500km+ per week, while juggling family
and
work commitments) and raise a minimum of $10,000 in donations.
We focus strongly on rider safety and responsibility and have produced a
Bunch Riding Rules and Etiquette document
which continues to attract favourable feedback from a wide sector of the community - cycling bodies, City of
Sydney
Council, and other groups and individuals.
Since May 2007 we have raised over $1,000,000 and we fund key projects within the National Breast Cancer
Foundation,
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Camp Quality, Cancer Council and the Leukaemia Foundation. A
feature of our
rides is meeting people from the various towns along the way including the charity support groups, the
public
generally and school students from secondary and primary schools. We promote cancer awareness and
prevention,
attract strong media following, fund raise and promote the benefits of fitness as a means of defence against
the
disease.
For more information, visit the
Tour de Cure website or contact Malcolm Heath on 0411 044 888.