The off-again, on-again State Government amalgamation process is well and truly ON-AGAIN.

The Premier has announced that pending amalgamations in the Sydney area will proceed (subject to the outcomes of court challenges).

It is proposed to amalgamate Willoughby with North Sydney and Mosman Councils. Both have launched court appeals. So until these are determined the matter stays open.

Given that the probabilities lie in that we will be amalgamated, we need to start now working so that the Willoughby we cherish does not wilt or perish.

Please consider joining your local Progress Association or other local bodies that have similar interests (such as the Willoughby District Historical Society).

We will be discussing the issue of parking either parallel across a driveway or on a driveway crossing on public land with our elected representatives over the next few weeks.

It is illegal to park as described above.

Recently, a local resident received a warming notice, he was lucky not to be fined.

Local Lane Cove resident Brian Scott has recently published his book ‘The Business History of the Lane Cove River’. As a Chartered Accountant, Brian brings a unique perspective to understanding the history of the Lane Cover River from 1788 between the Parramatta River and its headwaters near Thornleigh. Brian is a great storyteller. His book is enthralling.

Although today Willoughby has a short frontage to the river, prior to 1895 the present area of Lane Cove was part of the Municipality of Noth Willoughby. So there are many aspects of Brian’s journey that are directly relevant for Willoughby residents. In fact nearly half of the book directly relates to aspects of Willoughby’s history.

Some of the stories Brian tells relate to early timber getting, land grants, William Henry, Orchards around 1850, the wharves on the river, early tanneries, ferry services, Fullers farm and the Jenkins orchard, the Clifford Love bridge, Chicago Starch Mill, Fullers Bridge and Chatswood Golf Course.

The book is well researched (over six years) and well written. Brian has referenced his sources and provides an extensive Bibliography. The full colour, paperback edition of over 200 A4 pages costs $35.00 in a limited edition of 200 copies. It is selling out quickly. If you wish to purchase a copy, contact Brian Scott on 9418 6669 (b.h) or office@scott.com.au

Residents living near the Church of Scientology recently received the following. We have had a number of queries regarding whether it is legal or not for residents to rent out accommodation as suggested.

COMMUNITY, CULTURE & LEISURE DEPARTMENT- Culture & Leisure Unit

6 February, 2017

Dear Resident

 RE: Mowbray Public School Oval – proposed floodlights

Council is notifying residents on the proposal to install floodlights on the sportsground at Mowbray Public School. The oval is currently unlit, and is used for weekday sports training and weekend competitions for soccer (winter) and cricket (summer).

The proposed floodlights will be subject to a Development Application (DA), as per the usual statutory process.  Feedback from the local community will assist the preparation of the Statement of Environment Effects for the DA.  Further community comment can be provided in the DA notification phase.

The attached lighting plan above shows the proposed light locations:

• 5 galvanised silver light poles , 18 metres high
• Lighting level to be 100 lux, switchable to 200 lux as per the recommended Illumination, Australian Standard 2560.2.3-2007 Part 2.3 Lighting for football (all codes).
• Times of use – weekday nights, sunset to 9pm. Special school events on weekends, up to 9pm.

Your preliminary comments on this proposal will be appreciated by Monday 20 February 2017 and can be sent to:

1. Willoughby City Council PO Box 57, Chatswood NSW 2057, or
2. email@willoughby.nsw.gov.au

Enquiries: Julie Whitfield ph 9777 7751

MOWBRAY PUBLIC SCHOOL OVAL – corner of Mowbray Road and Hatfield Street,

Lane Cove West

Proposal for floodlights

Lighting proposal:

• 5 x 18 metre high light poles, galvanised silver

• Light level for football – 100 lux, switchable to 200 lux

• Times of use – weekday nights, sunset to 9pm. Special school events on weekends, up to 9pm.

Service location works – Frank Channon Walk

Sydney Metro is planning service location work on Thursday 2 February 2017 between 7am-6pm.

Work will involve inspecting the existing utility pits, surveying the cable between pits and marking their location on the pavement.

The works are not expected to generate any noise.

If work is required outside of these hours local residents will be notified in advance.

Access to Frank Channon Walk will be maintained at all times.

 The notification was delivered on Wednesday 25 January to letterboxes.

Out of Hours Service Location Works – Mowbray Road, Artarmon (East)

 Service location works will be undertaken along Mowbray Road (see map overleaf) from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 February, 2017(weather and site conditions permitting).

These works will involve:

• Excavating seven narrow trenches in the footpath, kerb and road
• Using a vacuum truck to expose underground services such as water and electricity
• Reinstating affected areas.

 Work hours

Due to high daytime traffic volumes on Mowbray Road, these works will need to be completed outside of standard construction hours. Works will be undertaken between 9pm and 5am.    

Notification were  delivered 27 January to letterboxes.

A recent Court decision may have wide implications for how Crown Lands are used and managed.

In NSW, parcels of Crown Land have typically been dedicated for a specific use. The court case involved land Reserved for Public Recreation. The judge found that such land can only be used for public recreation.

In the past, many parcels of Crown Land Reserved for Public Recreation have been alienated for Private Use. Typically, the land has been leased (either by the State Government of local Councils) to a private body (such as a tennis club, swimming pool or golf club). Often these leases contain clauses that the land must also be available to the public (often for a fee).

The Court determined that clauses seeking to provide access to the public for such land did not meet the relevant test. So, the finding has widespread implications.

We are waiting to see if Councils and the Land Department appeal the decision. If not, we would like to see the process and timeline for returning alienated Crown Land to the public.

Will we see Foot Golf being played on Chatswood golf course?

Foot Golf is a sport played on a golf course in which a soccerball is kicked into a series of large holes, the object being to complete the course using the fewest possible kicks.

The sport is on the rise in Australia including being played on Northbridge golf course.

Many golf clubs are falling on tough times with dwindling participation rates and income. They are scouring for alternate fraternities and revenue streams.

Read more about Foot Golf

Did you know your eTag battery can go flat?

When this happens, it does not register at the Toll Booth.

Then the Toll Operator issues you with a Toll Infringement Notice. They charge you the cost of the unpaid toll plus $1.10 administration plus another charge of $10.

Given you may make multiple trips with a ‘flat battery’ your costs will soon skyrocket. This is exacerbated due to the fact that the toll operator waits a couple of weeks to issue the notice. You could be up for hundreds of dollars.

A morally and unethical aspect of this situation is that the RMS and the Toll Operator can see that you have a ‘low battery’, but they do not advise you. RMS advised that you need to listen to the beep which is different if the battery is low (or no beep I guess if the battery is dead flat).

I recently received a couple of notices for two days for around $ydney. I argued that the eTag with a low battery was’not fit for the purpose that it was provided for‘. The Toll Operator agreed to waive the extra fees and only charge for the outstanding tolls.

If you travel with a trailer or caravan you should list the trailer on your eTag account as when a tag is not detected the camera takes a shot of the rear of the vehicle. If you list the trailer the toll charge will go to your account (presumably without a ‘fine’).