20thDecember 2017 Edition One. In this edition:
Presidents Message, Hornsby Library launches Recollect,
Hornsby Council Meeting 13th Dec.
Disability and Age Friendly area the Hazlewood Rose Park.
Message from the President I managed to spend some time at the Twilight Christmas festivities at Beecroft shops on Thursday 30th
November before I went to the Community Forum at North Epping. I
believe everyone who was there would have been pleasantly surprised by
the size of the turnout, with the whole shopping centre alive with
activities. Well done Beecroft.
Also on Thursday night was a talk hosted by the Total Environment
Centre, about the new biodiversity legislation and the community forum
hosted by Hornsby Councillors at North Epping Bowling Club; which I
attended.
The Wednesday night before was the launch of Georgia Cameron’s second
book on Mikey the Powerful Owl at the Children’s bookshop. If you
haven’t purchased the book yet, it is available at the Capella
Bookshop. It makes an ideal Christmas present. Details about the
book and its launch can be found with this link. CLICK HERE
The North Epping community forum was well attended and, not
surprisingly, focused on local issues like access, bushfires,
infrastructure and high rise. However eventually the amalgamation
issue came up. Our State Member for Epping Mr Damien Tudehope, who
attended the forum, spoke in favour of the current amalgamation
arrangement, stating that Epping is better off now under one council and
implied the financial position that Hornsby Council is currently in, is
not the State Government’s fault. Naturally the Mayor of Hornsby Philip
Ruddock reacted to Damien’s statement and replied in no uncertain terms
that it is the State Government’s doing that has left Hornsby Council
worse off.
The following week I had one of my regular meetings with Damien to
discuss local issues. He has no news on the train station lift at
Beecroft, but he will make enquiries and get back to me. Following
on from the amalgamation debate at the North Epping community forum,
Damien indicated to me he has no interest in changing the current
amalgamation arrangements, adhering to the State Government’s current
reluctance to change.
I know I keep harping on this issue but I am attempting to provide the
facts so I can provide the reader with an unbiased commentary on behalf
of the Trust. I see this amalgamation process as an unresolved issue
that is likely to have serious repercussions on the residents of
Beecroft and Cheltenham who live in the Hornsby Shire.
Parramatta Council has no doubt benefited from obtaining the whole of
Epping and residents south of the M2 have not complained about the
service they are receiving. However, my Hornsby Council contacts have
indicated that, if matters do not change, then Hornsby Council’s capital
works program will dry up. This means large projects, like the Hornsby
Quarry and the Westleigh playing fields, not to mention smaller
projects, will not proceed. And unless Hornsby Council is able to obtain
regular annual funds from the State Government, Hornsby residents
will be worse off. Perhaps I’m missing something but I struggle to see
how this is all Hornsby Council’s fault when the State Government has
legislative control over all aspects of local government. Finally,
looking at the Electoral Commission website, I notice that about two
thirds of the Epping Electorate falls in Hornsby Council LGA.
This is the last eNews for this year, so on behalf of the Trust
Committee, I wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas
break.
Narrow chimneys were once a delivery hazard. Times have changed.
Ross Walker
President. president@bcct2119.com.au
Hornsby Library launched Hornsby Recollect in November. Hornsby
Shire Recollects is the interactive database for the Hornsby Shire
Library Local History Collection, historical material belonging to
community organisations such as the Dural and District Historical
Society and local history enthusiasts. It provides easy online access to
a rich store of heritage material relating to Hornsby Shire, its
people, and events.
Please note that the names and images of deceased Indigenous people are contained within this collection.
By registering as a member (all that's required is an email address or
Facebook account) you are also able to contribute your own knowledge and
memories about the holdings, as well as create personal collections of
your own. If you are interested please visit: http://www.hornsbyshirerecollects.com.au
Thornleigh Community Recycling Centre Good
news for all residents including those of Beecroft and Cheltenham.
Hornsby Council, in partnership with the EPA, has opened a new state of
the art recycling centre at 29 Sefton Road Thornleigh. It’s one of few
centres currently in operation in Sydney. The Thornleigh centre is open
to the public from Tuesday to Friday 8.30am to 4pm and Saturdays from
8.30am to 12 noon. The centre accepts all those items you have trouble
disposing of, including gas bottles and fire extinguishers, paint and
aerosols, motor and other oils, fluorescent globes and tubes, smoke
detectors and ink cartridges, household and car batteries, soft plastics
and cardboard, and electronic waste and mobile phones. So there is no
excuse now. The website is:http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/community-recycling-centres
Hornsby Council Meeting last Wednesday night 13th December At
this month's Wednesday night Council meeting our Councillors resolved,
six for the motion and four against, to proceed with the construction of
a car park for the Community Centre together with the landscaping of
the Beecroft Gardens next to the railway line.
For details of Council’s minutes please click on the link http://businesspapers.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/
Scroll down to the 13/12/2017 General Meeting line and click on confirmed minutes.
The relevant item is No 14.
New Disability and Age Friendly Area in the Hazlewood Rose Park, off Plympton Road. Those
who know Dorothy Doolan of the Ray Park Heritage Group will not be
surprised that she has been instrumental in working with Parramatta
Council in getting this latest project completed. Dorothy has a way of
generating community support and has asked the Trust to acknowledge
Strath Clarke for drawing and building the tables and chairs, and the
Lees, Finch and Stanley pioneer families for sponsoring the
chairs. Sensory garden beds are included in the design.
The disability and age friendly area in the Hazlewood Rose Park located off Plympton Rd.
Northwest Rapid Transit - Cheltenham Service Facility Newsletter Some
of you receive the NRT newsletter by email or in the letterbox. If you
don’t and wish to be kept informed, contact them on 1800 019 989 or by
emailing trains@metronorthwest.com.au
Beecroft Lions Club Residents
may be aware that the Beecroft Lions Club has ceased to operate. The
Lions Club of Hornsby Inc has asked the Trust to advertise their
Christmas cakes and puddings. Please contact Ted using the details
below. Cake Chairperson: Ted Henebery m: 0414 806 840 h: 9940 3889 e: ted@henebery.com.au
Project assistant: Barry Thompson h: 9477 3295
Secretary:
Pauline Henebery m: 0416 226
781 e: pauline@henebery.com.au
Trust Membership Subscriptions and eNews...
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. Currently we have over 1040 email addresses, up from 900 two
months ago. We encourage residents who receive the eNews to tell
their neighbours and friends. 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.
At this stage, the Trust will continue to distribute the printed bulletin as not everyone uses the internet. We
are continuing to looking for volunteers who like walking and who may
be able to distribute approximately 100 Bulletins a couple of times per
year, as this is all done by kind members of our community. If you are
able to help out, even as an occasional fill in person, please contact trish@bcct2119.com.au.
The Trust has always had an unwritten policy to assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
