From a member:

Fullers Rd surface is breaking up. There have been two recent patches. There are three or four further areas badly cracked. Breakup will be exacerbated by rain. This surface is relatively new. Strong suspicion breakup is due to the big truck-trailer combinations that are now frequenting the road, presumably carrying spoil from infrastructure work. I’ve seen up to 3 go past in the ten minutes or so it takes to walk up the hill. So far broken up areas have been quickly patched, but it looks like we will soon end up with a significantly patched road. Pics attached.

With the Show buses that will be running over the next couple of weeks, things could get worse. (Ed).

78,000 people live in WCC. 9 of 13 councillors voted to reduce FORTNIGHTLY Monday night meetings to once a month. Generally Meetings close at 10.30PM. I support Cr Saville in opposing this change. It is symptomatic of a dumbing down of Local Government.

By limiting discussion to once a month there will be more to do in less time and quality of work will suffer. I wonder if the decision revolves around money entitlements to councillors. There must be a case for a review of remuneration if that is the case. It is important for all aspects of the City to be properly managed.

From an Association member

Residents in Wood Street, Chatswood are concerned about a Development Application for an attached dual occupancy dwelling. It is proposed that each dwelling will have five bedrooms (10 in total) over three stories.

In today’s world where the average family size is just north or 2 persons it is difficult to understand why so many bedrooms would be required.

Unless?

It appears that there is high demand in Chatswood for large AirBnB style accommodation.

Maybe organisations in the Chatswood area are looking for short term accommodation for employees. Evidently demand for serviced apartments outstrips supply.

For the run of the mill house in Willoughby there are no restrictions on the number of people that can live in the home. However, if the property is used for short-stay accommodation it might be considered to be a boarding house or other style of development that is controlled by legislation. Of course, obtaining evidence of such use could be very difficult.

Another feature of the current application is that it relies on the State Affordable Housing regulations to achieve higher development potential.

By the way,two car parking spaces are proposed. The residents are naturally concerned that quite  number of cars will be parking in the street.

The development replaces a modest single storey home.

Graphic courtesy NST

The hotel proposed at 475-501 Victoria Ave. Chatswood  has been approved. It will have 156 rooms and be 15 storeys high (the surrounding buildings are 14 storey). The planners who recommended and approved the application expressed the view  providing more commercial space near the train station was in the public interest.

The new development will include a 13m lap pool, restaurant and three conference rooms. The underground carpark at the site would be retained but its capacity reduced from 365 spaces to 291. Parking will also be provided for 98 bicycles.

Willoughby Council staff had recommended the plans be approved, subject to some technical conditions.

Eleven 11 submissions from the public had raised concerns about height, view loss and shadowing.

Much loved Australian war widow and Prince Harry’s super fan Daphne Dunne has died  at 99.

Daphne was a former wife of Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Albert Chowne.

Albert & Daphne

Albert Chowne went to Chatswood Boys Intermediate High School and later Naremburn Junior Technical School.

Chowne has been celebrated with the Albert Chowne Walk alongside the railway line between the highway from Albert Avenue to Mowbray Rd as well with a Memorial Hall in East Willoughby and Chowne Place near Eastern Valley Way. There is also a roadside rest area on the Hume Highway dedicated to his heroism.

After a concerted campaign by local residents Willoughby Council has voted to Heritage list the house 9 Centennial Avenue, Chatswood.

However, local residents are worried that the owner might challenge the decision in the NSW Land & Environment Court.

When the Epping to Chatswood line reopens in May it is likely that there will a train every three minutes to the city during the morning peak.

The concern is that Chatswood station will become overcrowded with passengers from Rouse Hill/Epping and from Chatswood looking to transfer to already crowded trains to the City (many of which come from the Central Coast and might be full).

READ AN EXCELLENT STORY ON THIS ISSUE

Council unanimously adopted the following motion moved by Clr. Campbell:

That Council:

1.  In response to community concerns, defer any decision regarding the installation of lights at OH Reid Reserve until the master planning process is completed in February 2020.
2. As part of the consultation process, endorse the formation of a Citizens panel by June 2019 to inform and guide the development of the OH Reid Reserve master plan.
3. Delegate the development of the Terms of Reference, including indicative membership, of the aforementioned Citizens panel to a committee consisting of the three West Ward Councillors, the Mayor, and General Manager.
4. Be provided with terms of reference with a timeline by July 2019.

Commentary

The West Ward Councillors recently nominated the Fullers Road/Greville Street area and the Mowbray Road/Hinkler Crescent area for potential shopping centres. However, this might mean surrounding high rise residential development to support the centres.

On the Have Your Say Willoughby site Council invites you to attend the combined West Chatswood possible new centres Design Roundtable. When: Wednesday 10 April 6.30-8.00pm. Where: Willoughby Council Chambers, Level 6, 31 Victor St, Chatswood

Or CALL INTO A DROP-IN SESSION focusing on the Penshurst St/ Willoughby Sth Local Centre. When: Saturday 6 April, 10.00am -12.00noon. Where: West Chatswood Library 565 Mowbray Rd W, Lane Cove North

Only two of the candidates for the upcoming State Election for the seat of Willoughby fronted a community forum last night organised by the Federation of Willoughby Progress Associations.

The registered candidates are:

Only the Premier and Larissa Penn attended the forum.

There was a good rollup pf local residents who put questions to the candidates.