Issue 2, August 2012
Those of you who have been at our meetings this year will
know that my wife Karys and I have just returned from ten weeks travel in
Europe. Some our time was spent investigating branches of our family trees and
the research led us to villages in various parts of England and Ireland.
We found the exploration of English villages to be quite a
highlight and discovered some of the ways these communities are governed. In
rural England, The Parish Council has traditionally had the oversight of the
area within its parish boundary and operates in many places as the community
voice on issues affecting the parish. Tacked to church door or outside the
village shop or post office we would see a call to residents to join the
council in its endeavours to make ‘their village’ the most desirable place to
live. Being there at the time of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration we saw
that many communities were organising street parties, village fairs, flower
displays and other localised events.
English village and town
councils, being funded from taxes on residents, have responsibilities similar
to local councils here in Australia. Elected councillors are unpaid but seem to
be genuinely concerned with local affairs and the betterment of their
communities. We were amazed to find in visiting our Cumbrian village, Gilcrux,
current home to 300 people and my ancestral ‘home-place’, that the Hall has
just had a makeover costing over half a million pounds and funded by the
National lottery!
Perhaps we should get
back to reality in our part of the world and see what’s been happening and what
is planned here. Long time residents will remember the early days of our
suburbs when community social events were regularly part of the calendar. Well,
one such gathering will be on again soon. We hope you’ll join us for our own
screening of Red Dog after a 6pm High Tea at the Hall. Make the
date now – Saturday 13th October.
Other regular issues are
ever before us and some of these have been noted in the Newsletter. Do have a
look at our website where the minutes of our general meetings are available for
your perusal. Drop in to our table at the September 8th Council Elections and
chat with the members on duty. Better still, come along to our meetings and
support those of us who endeavour to make and keep our ‘home-place’ the best it
can be.
Jon
COOKING
WITH GAS …and
keeping warm as well!
Many
of our readers will be aware that the natural gas supply does not reach all
homes within our area.
Bruce
Fenwick of Point Clare has been researching what needs to be done for
connection to be provided to streets that remain unreached by the gas pipe
lines. At the July meeting he told us of his ongoing contacts with AGL the
retailer and Jemena the pipe owners. He discovered that there are ways to
expedite the gas connection to an area where at least 42 houses, all in one
street it seems, would need to be willing to sign up to avoid prohibitive
charges that would be levied on individual residential owners.
Bruce would like our
Association to make people aware that it is possible to have natural gas
connection but the way to get over the hoops to do so is none too easy. His
endeavours are continuing for the Wendy Street area where he lives.
Do look at the minutes
of our July meeting where the story of his research is outlined in more detail.
It would seem that we should obtain from Jemena and keep on hand, a clear map
of the network so that all residents, existing and prospective, know what is or
could be available.
ONE HUNDRED STEPS AND A BIKE TO CARRY
Many of you will know that our President, Jon is
a keen bike rider and loves the cycle tracks of our city.
However, he, like many others lives on ‘the
wrong side of the tracks’ and has to carry his bike over Tascott station every
time. He says for years he has wanted a smooth attached ‘runner’ beside the
fence on one side so that he could wheel his bike instead of carrying it.
On his recent overseas trip he was delighted to
find such facilities are provided for cyclists in Germany and England and he
showed members pictures of some of these. The meeting encouraged him to contact
City Rail with the request they trial runners at Tascott with a view to such
installations everywhere where needed.
COMMUNITY
HALL UPGRADE
As
announced in the local press, state government is to provide a grant for a
major upgrade of Point Clare community Hall.
In
a recent letter to the Association, Chris Holstein, local member, stated the
following: “Council will, we understand, be drawing up plans in consultation
with the Hall Committee with a view to starting work within the required grant
time frame. Regular hirers and community members will be asked to submit ideas
as to what should be included in the redevelopment.”
PUTTING
POST-SCHOOL LEARNING TO WORK.
At our recent meeting member Sonnie Hopkins told us about
the Central Coast Campus Friends Association that she has been very much a part
of.
There are many ways local people on the coast can continue
with their education after leaving school and, as part of their 2012 Project,
Sonnie is writing profiles of such learners who have gone on to employment
locally as a result.
If you are one such post-school learner, or know of one, do
get in touch with Campus Friends so Sonnie can arrange an interview for
inclusion in the book for young people she is preparing. Contact: Ms Sonnie
Hopkins, P.O. Box 6227 West Gosford. Phone 4324 0023 or e-mail sonhopk@bigpond.net.au
PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY – STILL A WAY TO GO
A
footpath along Brisbane Water Drive between Scott St and Penang St (pictured
last issue) has now been completed. Safety rail fences have been installed at
both ends and residents are delighted that the route to school is now pram and
pupil friendly.
This
is not the case, unfortunately, further to the north where one section of our
busy main road remains hazardous and dangerous for those without cars and who
need to walk between Tania Drive and Lorraine Avenue. Pictured recently in the
local press were residents risking life and limb as they made their way as best
they could.
From our regularly drawing their attention to the fact, we
know our local authorities are well aware of the problem. Our Association
trusts that whatever needs to be done to ensure safety for both road users and
pedestrians, however major, will be done as soon as possible. We understand
that footpaths follow on from the installation of kerbing and guttering so it
is to the latter we call for immediate attention, even if it means partial road
re-alignment.
Footnote: Council
advised this week that an extension of the footpath in this area is ‘not a high
priority’.
CULVERT REPLACEMENT AT
TASCOTT
Work is almost finished
on the new culvert over Tascott Creek on Glenrock Parade. During construction
pedestrians enjoyed their journeys over their purpose-built multi-angled bridge
while drivers had detours in place. A little inconvenience is only a small
price to pay for progress.
Footnote: Local children tell us they are
hoping their new bridge would stay after the work is finished!
MARINA
TO GO AHEAD
Despite
our concerns at its size, the Koolewong Marina has been approved for
construction to start within the next five years. The Association pushed for a
sewage pump-out to be included in the design and for extra car spaces to be
allocated. Both of these additions are part of the approval. Zaga Palalic, our
reporter, encouraged the Association to monitor the work as it proceeds to see
that it fits the planning approval guidelines.
RAIL
NOISE COMMITTEE.
The
Northern Rail Noise Committee (NRNC) has put the submission request in the
issue of Environmental Protection Licences to the private Rail Freight
operation to NSW Transport. The NRNC is now awaiting a reply from Mr Justin
McGuire from NSW Transport.
MORE
ON GAS
The
association will support and co-ordinate a wider community initiative for mains
natural gas to be a choice for more of our residents.
If
you cannot connect to mains gas because there are no gas lines in your street,
but want the choice to do so, please contact us to register your interest. This
initiative will only succeed if enough residents put their weight behind it.
To
be successful, the initiative also needs a volunteer from each street to lead a
street petition and liaise with AGL. The Association will provide you with
information and support to do this. Please contact us if you are willing to do
this.
Mark your calendar today and join us at the Hall at our
regular meetings.
Don’t forget our special High Tea and Film Night.
It is at 6 pm on Saturday, 13th October.