Little atheletics

Rotary athletics field: Drat master plan for public exhibition.

Chatswood Rotary Memorial Athletic Field opened in 1967 with contributions from the Rotary Club of Chatswood. The site is geographically constrained by Mowbray Road (south), Epping Road bridge (west), the Mowbray Park bushland (east) and the Lane Cover River (north). The site does not have a current Master Plan.

The key features of the draft Master Plan are:

• Retention of the grass athletic track and throwing facilities
• A new long jump / triple jump / pole vault facility
• A new all-weather rubber surface six lane 110m straight track
• New fixed outdoor exercise equipment
• Improved access into and through the park by new footpaths
• Upgraded picnic area
• Replacement of the three buildings into a single structure

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

Council recently updated its tennis courts strategy. You can view the full report in Council’s agenda papers for the meeting of 11 May 2020.

Council owned courts are located at:

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

Council’s draft affordable housing policy is to proceed to public exhibition for comment.

There is a detailed report in the Council agenda papers for the meeting of 11 May 2020.

Access Council meeting papers

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

This policy is to proceed to exhibition.

The policy includes:

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

The aim of this scheme is to minimise the impact of tree loss on private land, a replacement and offset planting program was proposed as part of the Vegetation Management Policy and Vegetation Management Guidelines.

A replacement tree ratio of 3:1 is required to assist in the reinstatement of the City’s tree canopy. This program will help balance the need for reasonable development and landowners’ expectations against the loss of amenity and gradual loss of tree canopy cover throughout the Willoughby Local Government Area.

The offset planting requirements will apply when there is insufficient space to accommodate replacement trees on private property and will require the applicant to enter into a Deed of Agreement with Council for the planting of replacement trees on public land.

Officer’s proposed that Council: Approve the offset fees for the Tree Offset Planting Scheme as originally exhibited at $2,000 per tree, with a concession fee of $400 to eligible applicants.

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

.

Draft Industrial lands strategy for exhibition: there are three industrial areas in Willoughby:

• Artarmon
• East Chatswood
• Lane Cove North

The key recommendation of the Draft Industrial Lands Strategy is for the three industrial areas to retain their existing industrial zoning and for the encroachment of residential and stand-alone commercial uses to continue to be prohibited. Improvements in relation to the existing tree canopy, active transport opportunities and the provision of sustainable measures such as electric vehicle charging stations are proposed.

Industrial areas are often targeted by applicants for uses that are difficult to locate elsewhere such as gyms, pet day care and childcare centres, however these areas are far from ideal locations for childcare centres because of the potential hazards associated with industrial activities such as excessive noise, pollution and the operation of heavy machinery / vehicles. Council will therefore encourage childcare centres to locate in other places which would provide a healthier, more. As such it is proposed childcare centres be prohibited in industrial areas.

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

Along with other Progress Association President’s We recently participated in a ZOOM briefing by the Mayor and CEO on Council’s reponse to COVID -19. Issue covered included:

• All 142 Head Office staff working from home or some to Depot/outdoor tasks. Vulnerable staff/partners sent home immediately. Multi-union local government SPLINTER award utilised
• Cooperative agreements with casual staff to ensure access to JOBSEEKER
• Post SARS Council had well developed Pandemic, Business Continuity and Technological Support plans
• Fully compliant with social distancing including within work vehicles
• Medical and some food supplies (past/rice) difficult to source. Toilet paper stolen from public toilets
• Business relief package of $1.6M for Council tenants
• Changes to legislation to allow working from home, virtual Council meetings, live webcasting
• Volunteers replaced with Council staff for services such as Meals on Wheels, Linen, shopping/delivery
• Participates in Hospmarket in the Interchange where local food outlets (including Dougherty) use for delivery at lower cost
• New online engagement with gym members, youth, library (plus more mobile library)
• Lights on from 5-7pm at Beauchamp Park, Willoughby and Artarmon ovals
• Free parking at TNSH in Council carparks for hospital workers
• Das still being processed
• Programs to reduce fixed costs
• State government’s financial support package may yield $80,000
• State government’s Emergency Services Levy waived
• Mayor and CEO have used their delegations when appropriate
• Current operations will be extended or wound-back as necessary
• lt for community to respond appropriately to DA due to no change to exhibition times (Federation will seek extensions)
• DAs no longer published in print. This may continue post-COVID. What alternatives could be used?

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

A recent analysis of the quantum of open space across Sydney Local Government Areas (LGAs) found a wide variation from 10.1 square metres/per person (sqm/pp) in Burwood to 117.3 sqm/pp in Kuringai.

The average across Sydney. The Sydney average is 75 sqm/pp. The median is 45.4 sqm/pp.

So how did Willoughby rate? With 45.1 sqm/pp (the median figure) Willoughby sits square in the centre of Sydney LGAs. However, this is well below the city wide average of 75 sqm/pp.

The relative amount of open space across the city is generally as would be expected.

• Low/very low (10-20 sqm/pp) in the City, North Sydney, Inner West and the eastern suburbs
• Medium (20-100 sqm/pp) across most of the city. This comprises suburbs with 20-55 sqm/pp generally along the Parramatta Rive basin (and includes Willoughby) and suburbs to the nort and southwest with 55-100 sqm/pp).
• High (100-850 sqm/pp in the Blue Mountains, Sutherland and Kuringai

Is this enough open space?

Traditionally, planning guidelines provided for a far greater amount of open space per person. Back in the 1920/30s the guidelines were for around 25-30 sqm/pp. By the 1940s, this had reduced to 15 sqm/pp. The current World Health Organisation guideline is for 9 sqm/pp in urban area. With the increasing pace of urbanization we may soon see the recommendation drop to 5 sqm/pp.

At 45 sqm/pp, Willoughby is relatively well provided with open space. However, with increased urban densities we are likely to see that figure fall. It is very difficult and costly to provide more open space in a growing city.  Apart from a small amount of open space that might be achieved by the creation of roof top gardens, the only other way is to bulldoze the traditional homes and replace them with high-rise buildings with generous setback. The more open space sought, the higher the buildings must be.

Even by creating more open space by re-architecting the city we may not create high quality spaces. A lot of the open space that could be created ends up being small, passive open spaces (sometimes called pocket parks). The opportunity in high density areas is to create active, connected spaces. This can be done with the creation of walking and cycle tracks, both on existing pavements, or by the creative linking of green spaces. This process is often referred to a creating a ‘green web’ throughout the city.

Source: O’Sullivan M. & Singhal P, 2020, Rush outside reveals green divide, Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 23 May p.18

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.

The Chatswood community has been complaining about the condition of its public schools for decades. The Primary school is grossly overcrowded. Much of the High school is in disrepair. In response, after an energetic campaign by the Chatswood Primary school P&C the government finally decided to try and address the issue. In doing so, residents are concerned that the traffic impacts of so many additional pupils being dropped off will be chaotic.

Chatswood Primary School

The current pupil enrolment (which is well over the normal size for a primary school) will be accommodated by the addition of new buildings. This begs the question: Where will new enrolments generated by the high-rise residential development in Chatswood be catered for? It is suggested that the school can retain its ‘Bush Campus’ at Chatswood High School and evidently the Department of Education is seeking a site for a new primary school – the soon to be vacated ‘Dive Site’ on the corner of Mowbray Rd and the Pacific Highway has been suggested as a likely candidate.

There will be two multi-storey high-rise buildings (P1 & P2) and the school hall will be relocated to provide more useable open space. There will also be an on-site staff carpark with a sports court above.

Residents in Jenkins St have expressed the following concerns about the plans:

• A huge change to the low-density landscape of our beautiful residential area!
• Major concerns about the process undertaken and the plans presented.
• Lack of appropriate consultation of key stakeholders.
• Lack of consideration of significant changes to the landscape and living conditions of residents on the western side of the Highway including disregard of a significant heritage site, major changes to zoning regulations and increased noise and traffic.
• Failure to explore and/or plan for reasonable alternatives including redistributing student numbers.
• Failure to acknowledge that the size of CPS site and its location is not appropriate for 1600 children.
• Building P1 will be 6 stories but surrounding residents fear that there may be a roof-top play space (effectively making this a 7 storey building overlooking residences). There is also concern of the traffic impact in Jenkins St from the staff carpark.

Chatswood High School

There will be four new buildings (Q – 4 storey, R- – 4 storey, S – 5 storey and T – 2 storey). Building T will used as a new hall (the existing hall will be retained. Vehicluar access for staff parking will not change. Apart from the traffic implications, there is concern about the impact on a heritage house on the corner of Centennial Ave and Dardenelles Rd.

___________________________________________________

To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.