16th August 2025. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
Update on the M2 Noise Issue
The 50 Year Battle to save Byles Creek Valley,
Epping Master Plan, Ryde Police Area Command,
AHIMSA, Civic Trust Membership Subscription,
STEP activities in August, Construction at Wongala Crescent,
The Epping Civic Trust August Newsletter, Local Justice of the Peace,
Civic Trust Facebook page, Julian Leeser MP. August Newsletter,
Hornsby Shire Council's August News Bulletin, Recent Development Applications
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Saturday August 16at 2.30PM STEP talk on Orchids St Andrews Uniting Church. Saturday September 13 at 10:30 AHIMSA Upper Lane Cove Valley heritage bushwalk
Saturday September13 11AM to 4PM Beecroft Public School Multicultural Fair
Saturday September13Beecroft in Bloom
Message from the President Dear fellow residents,
Every month brings something different. On Wednesday night I spoke on
behalf of the Trust supporting Hornsby Shire Council’s motion to request
the State Government acquire the bushland at 79-87 Malton Road.
The Trust's submission can be read in the article on Byles Creek below.
Also on the night was Item 10a) Mayoral Minute MM6/25 "Celebrating
Significant Community Anniversaries". Apparently many
organisations across the Shire such as schools and community
associations are celebrating significant anniversaries this year. CLICK HERE
for the Council business paper (page 4). It was nice to see
the Civic Trust was also listed in this minute. Council did say
that if there are any other organisations having significant
anniversaries this year please let council staff know. If you believe
your group should be included you can email the General Manager at
Hornsby Shire Council at hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au. Council is
planning a suitable event to be held at Hornsby Wallarobba Arts and
Cultural Centre during the period of the Hornsby Art Prize Exhibition,
(12 – 28 September 2025).
Below are references to two ongoing but very significant issues, the M2
noise and Byles Creek issue. These issues have been around for many
years and are expected to take some time to resolve. Both issues
have an impact on the health and amenity of our special suburbs. In both
cases I wish to personally thank our State Member for Epping, Monica
Tudehope MP. Who has been very active behind the scenes in
supporting the local community in fighting these two issues
Update on the M2 Noise Issue We
have an update on the serious and health related M2 noise issue. Last
week our local State MP Monica Tudehope provided the Trust with latest
reply from the State Government. The Trust committee is currently
examining the reply and will report to the community in the next
eNews.
The Civic Trust will not give up on this issue as it affects the health of so many of our residents.
The 50 Year Battle to save Bushland in the Byles Creek Valley. Byles Creek protest circa 2016
The ongoing fight to prevent development on a 2ha bushland lot fronting
Malton Road reached another step last Wednesday night at Hornsby Shire
Council’s August General Meeting. The 2ha lot zoned residential at the
front and reserved for open space at the rear, (under the power lines),
received development approval some time ago before COVID hit. Currently
the bushland is on the market. The conservation group Byles Creek Valley
Union (BCVU) has been lobbying continuously to have a public authority,
be it Council or the State Government, to acquire the whole of the land
for open space.
The land is an integral part of the wildlife corridor that links Byles
Creek valley and has been identified in a number of studies as worthy of
preservation. The BCVU under the Presidency of Trish Brown and the
committee, has achieved a great deal to date, including correspondence
from various members of parliament supporting such a preservation.
Monica Tudehope MP, Byles Creek Valley Union and Civic Trust, on site, August 2025
The Member for Epping Monica Tudehope MP has been very supportive of the
cause, delivering a speech in Parliament earlier in August. CLICK HERE to read the speech in Hansard.
On Wednesday night Hornsby Council unanimously passed a Mayoral Minute
requesting that the State Government’s consider purchasing 79-87 Malton
Road Beecroft. CLICK HERE for the business paper (page 43). CLICK HERE for the speech by the Civic Trust President.
In our current economic environment the question will always be money of
course. But we as a community should not give up but continue fighting.
The protection of our bushland is enshrined in the Trust’s constitution
and the Trust supports the unstinting efforts by the BCVU to save this
significant bushland.
City of Parramatta Council, Epping Master Plan Parramatta
Council has been seeking comments on their proposed Master Plan for
Rawson Street Epping. The exhibition of the Master Plan closes this
weekend.
The key issues are obvious for anyone who has visited the Rawson St
precinct recently, namely traffic congestion, linkage to the train
network over Beecroft Road using the arcades, and community open space.
The Master Plan is quite detailed with good ideas such as the ‘Coles’
carpark (Council owned) going below ground with open space on the
surface. But it is at the same time limited by major physical
constraints such as Carlingford and Beecroft Roads.
While the recommendation is to change the traffic flow in Rawson St the
Master Plan it is mainly a short term improvement and hopefully a longer
term solution with State Government input will resolve the regional
traffic congestion. CLICK HERE for the Trust’s submission. CLICK HERE for the master plan.
Ryde Police Area Command (by Bill Rankine)
The Civic Trust’s Secretary Bill Rankine attended the Ryde Police Area Command on Tuesday and Bill made the following report.
"Today I attended the Ryde Police Area Command(PAC) precinct meeting.
The 90 minute meeting was very well attended. The attendees
included Monica Tudehope and several Council representatives.
The meeting discussed policing and crime in the area. The Ryde Police
Area Command, as in all of NSW, is suffering from short staffing. The
Ryde PAC is currently 30% below its proper staffing level.
The main crime issues are DV (Domestic Violence), sexual violence and
mental health. Youth crime is also a major issue and the Police
are somewhat restricted on how they can handle youth offenders.
The largest number of crime incidents were: fraud, malicious damage, DV
assault and assault. DV has become an extremely serious
community crime issue. The Police have implemented an app called
'Empower You' to assist victims of DV. A disturbing fact is that
on average, victims of DV don’t reach out for help until after they have
been assaulted 26 times!!!!
I have arranged for us to receive the crime incident data for Beecroft
and Cheltenham which we can publish in our eNews and website.
For interest, the busiest suburb for crime was Ryde and quietest was Henley."
Marie Byles and AHIMSA Beecroft
and Cheltenham is fortunate to have a State Heritage listed National
Trust property in our suburb. When Marie Byles died in 1979 she
bequeathed Ahimsa to the NSW National Trust.
Like any property Ahimsa requires regular maintenance and recently the
National Trust endorsed the establishment of Friends of Ahimsa, an
informally self appointed group of local residents who assist in the
management of the property. This involvement involves providing advice,
organising activities and weeding the bushland onsite.
Martin Fallding, who grew up next door to Ahimsa with Marie Byles as a
close neighbour, is the chair of the ‘Friends’. A keen
environmentalist Martin has organised a short walk and a lunch at Ahimsa
on Saturday 13th September.
Everyone is welcome. Details below.
Upper Lane Cove Valley heritage bushwalk. Details can be viewed CLICK HERE
Beecroft Public School Multicultural Fair Saturday 13th September 11AM to 4PM
Join the community for International Food, Market Stalls and Rides.
Gold coin entry.
Civic Trust Membership Subscriptions If
you have lived in Beecroft Cheltenham for any length of time, you would
have seen many changes. While change is inevitable, the Trust will
continue to be the voice of our local community. Please, join the Trust
so you can vote and let your voice be heard!
To join the trust.CLICK HERE.
Or if paying by EFT:
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust
BSB: 062 113
Account Number: 1006 8238
For our membership records, please email a copy of your payment receipt to membership@bcct2119.com.au
with your full name and address.
STEP Talk on Orchids Saturday 16 August 2:30 pm St Andrews Uniting Church, corner of Vernon Street and Chisholm Street, Turramurra All welcome, no need to book.
STEP activities in August CLICK HERE for the STEP August newsletter
Construction of the New Residential and Commercial Development at Wongala Crescent Continues.
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust eNews The
Trust publishes this monthly eNews newsletter. If you would like
to receive this newsletter on a regular basis, please CLICK HERE to subscribe to the eNews.
The Epping Civic Trust August Newsletter can be viewed CLICK HERE.
Local Justice of the Peace Timothy
Abrams, a Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust committee member, has
generously offered his services as a Justice of the Peace for any
residents requiring this service.
Tim can be contacted on Mob 0417 662 405
Dr. Penelope Crossley has also generously offered her services.
Penelope is a practising solicitor and is happy to witness documents pro
bono for 2119 residents. Penelope can be contacted on 0449 232 474.
Civic Trust Facebook page
Every now and then the Trust’s Facebook Page includes interviews with interesting people who live in the area of postcode 2119. CLICK HERE for the Civic Trust's Facebook page.
Julian Leeser MP. August Newsletter. The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE Our Federal member Julian Leeser is now the Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for the Arts.
Hornsby Shire Council's August News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
Recent Development Applications The
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust's web site now has links to recently
submitted Development Applications in the 2119 postcode area for both
Hornsby and Parramatta Shire Councils. This page will be updated
with every eNews publication. CLICK HERE To access them.
Objections to Development Applications and other correspondence with council can be viewed CLICK HERE
Keep our two suburbs strong and informed by being a member!
To support or join the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust, please visit our website. CLICK HERE.The
eNews has become our main method for disseminating information to the
community. We already send the eNews to many of our residents. We
encourage residents who receive the eNews to tell their neighbours and
friends and suggest they too subscribe. The eNews letter is
available to all who subscribe. Trust Membership is not a
requirement.
The eNews archives are available HERE. To subscribe to the eNews: CLICK HERE.
There is an active Civic Trust Facebook group; to view the Facebook CLICK HERE.
The Trust will assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
