26th January 2026. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
Arden School Development Application,
What the Civic Trust did in December 2025 and January 2026,
M2 noise issue December 2025 eNews,
Parramatta Council Street Tree Tree Planting Program,
Civic Trust Membership Subscription,
Local Justice of the Peace, Civic Trust Facebook page,
Monica Tudehope Newsletter, Hornsby Shire Council's News Bulletin,
Parramatta Council's News Bulletin, Recent Development Applications.
Message from the President Dear fellow residents,
I hope everyone had an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
With so much happening in Australia and overseas over the past month I
feel it's important to reflect on how resilient and united our local
community can be.
In this first enews for 2026 you will notice that our local Arden school
has lodged a development application for additional students, staff and
buildings. I encourage you to have a look at what is proposed because
like many significant developments, if approved, a number of residents
are likely to be affected in some way. The details are below.
I have also registered the Beecroft Village Green for Clean Up Australia
Day. It's always held on the first Sunday in March. Again details
are below.
You may have noticed that we are working hard to increase our
membership. Completing the membership form has been streamlined
and credit card payments as well as bank transfers are now
possible. I thank all of you who support your local Civic Trust by
becoming members.
With
fresh members on the committee bringing fresh ideas the new system for
paying subscriptions is gradually increasing the number of residents
signing up. Please fill out all the details when you pay as it helps the
Trust understand the diversity of our local community. Thank-you
to those who have volunteered to offer their expertise to the Trust.
Arden Anglican School Development Application Arden
School on Wongala Crescent and Beecroft Rd. has recently submitted a
Development Application (DA). The application proposes the
construction of two new school buildings with the provision of basement
car parking and a play area. Additions and alterations to
existing school buildings are also proposed. The DA proposes an increase
of 14 staff to cater for an additional 220 students (185 primary school
students and 35 preschool places). The additional 28 car
parking spaces will have access from Chapman Avenue.
Existing plan
Arden School
Wongala Crescent
71 Beecroft Rd
16B Chapman Avenue
To allow these change Arden School
proposes the demolition of two existing houses on the corner of Beecroft
Rd. (71 Beecroft Rd.) and Chapman Avenue (No 16B. The student
drop off/pick up will be split between the existing zone on
Wongala Crescent and a proposed off-street facility on Chapman
Avenue. Access to the facility would require a widened two-way
driveway for 16B Chapman Avenue.
To find out more about the proposed development CLICK HERE which will take you to Hornsby Council's Online Services Portal.
Then click on "All Applications"
then click on the middle line "Application Number"
then in the box labelled "Formatted Number" type DA/1417/2025 and then click search.
Then click the revealed DA number for a full list of the documents.
Some key documents are:
the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) gives an overview;
the existing site plan;
the proposed site plan;
the Traffic Report; and the
the Heritage Impact Statement.
Other relevant documents include landscaping, storm-water drainage and architectural plans.
The Trust feels that the significance of this proposed development will
have the potential to broadly impact many Beecroft residents and is
worthy of your attention. If you wish
to make a submission, scroll above the list of documents and there is a
blue coloured sentence 'Click here to make a submission to Council.
Alternatively you may email Council at <DevMail@hornsby.nsw.gov.au>
Quote the DA number DA/1417/2025 , the description 43 Wongala Cres
Beecroft, Demolition Existing Structures - Construction - 2 School
Buildings - Basement Car Park - Change of Use.In the body of the
submission state your name and set out, preferably in dot form for ease
of reading, your support for, or objection to, the proposed development
. The Trust understands the closure date has been extended to
Wednesday 11th February. If you require additional time the Trust
suggests that you email Council stating your support or objection and
state that additional information will be forthcoming. That way you are
registered in Council's system.
What the Civic Trust did in December 2025 and January 2026
Responded
to concerns about the destruction of the road surface on Cardinal Ave
by severe undercutting caused by the lack of trench shoring. After
reporting the issue to Hornsby Council, Council officers visited and
escalated the matter to the compliance department. Remediation is
now underway.
Registered
the Trust as an event organiser for the community to support the annual
Clean Up Australia campaign by signing volunteers to clean up the
Village Green on Sunday 1 March 2026.To volunteer CLICK HERE
The
President, Ross Walker attended a recent meeting of the Friends of
Ahimsa with Debbie Mills, the CEO of the National Trust. The
meeting was held on site for the purpose of discussing property
management matters. Ahimsa is the historic home of Marie
Byles in Cheltenham and a number of Trust members are actively engaged
in its conservation. To learn more CLICK HERE
Responded
to individual residents concerned about the recent notification of an
Arden Development Application.The Trust’s submission to Hornsby Council
is being prepared by the Trust, noting the imminent due date is now 11th February 2026.
Emailed
residents to request payment of annual membership dues for 2026 to
support our endeavours to benefit our community.If you did not receive
an email, please CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to become a member of the Trust in 2026.
Trust
volunteers (coordinated by Sandra Ross) continued to hand water the
planter boxes in Hannah St each week. There is always an
open invitation if you want to volunteer. Email secretary@bcct2119.com.au
M2RAG December 2025 eNews (By Ray Gerke
Coordinator
M2 Resident Action Group)
M2RAG January 2026 eNews
I hope you’ve all had a pleasant and refreshing holiday time with family and friends.
Our membership has now risen to over 110 people. Thanks again to those of you who have been on the job encouraging others to swell our ranks!
But our members so far represent only about 85 households which is
still well below our target. There are pockets we consider very poorly
represented given their level of noise there from the M2. I will be contacting the registered residents soon regarding our postponed workshop. So while we are pleased to have so many members on board, more would be better!
So please take any opportunity to chat to neighbours about the M2RAG. If they would like to join then they can follow this link https://bcct2119.com.au/M2RAG.htm or scan this QR code.
We plan to get rolling in 2026 with a members’ meeting to gather more
information about the noise impact on your lives and sort out details
with the planned approach for the M2RAG. Input at this
meeting will be welcomed. The meeting is planned for late February (date
TBA) and it will be followed by my meeting with Hornsby Shire and our
state and federal political representatives, and then a meeting with
Transurban.
You can contact me directly by using the email m2rag.coordinator@gmail.com and I will answer any questions you might have as quickly as I can.
Parramatta Council Street Tree Planting Program City
of Parramatta is starting to plan their popular program where residents
can request a street tree to be planted on the nature strip outside
their home.
If you would like to request a Council-funded street tree, please apply before 28 February 2026. CLICK HERE to apply and for more information.
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!
It is only because we have the strength of numbers that we are able to influence change. Annual membership for 2026 is only $20 per household.
To join the Trust. CLICK HERE.
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.
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.
The Facebook page also highlights weekly happenings in the Hornsby Shire
and Parramatta area, with areas of interest for our residents.
The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's January News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's December 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.
