11th July 2026. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
What the Civic Trust did in June / July 2026,
Beecroft Cycleway, M2RAG Update, Beecroft Bush Dance,
Ray Park Heritage Group, Cheltenham Recreation Club,
Civic Trust Spring Walk, Local Justice of the Peace,
Civic Trust Facebook page, Julian Leeser News Letter,
Monica Tudehope Newsletter,
Hornsby Shire Council's News Bulletin,
Parramatta Council's News Bulletin, Recent Development Applications.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Sunday July 19, Ray Park Heritage Group, Girl Guides Hall Plympton Rd Beecroft.
Saturday July 25,Christmas in July, Cheltenham Recreation Club.
Saturday August 1, Beecroft Bush Dance. Beecroft Community Centre, 111 Beecroft Rd.
Sunday August 23, Civic Trust Spring Walk, Beecroft and Cheltenham.
President's Report Winter
has finally arrived and with it shorter hours of sunlight. I’ve noticed
the increased installation of solar panels on rooftops. Over the past
four weeks my solar panels and battery have struggled, not just from
shorter daylight hours and rainy days but the sun low in the sky by the
gradual increased shading from surrounding trees that have grown since I
had my panels installed. A tricky environmental balance. I’m still glad
I have them though.
I recently attended the Beecroft Rotary Changeover dinner.
Congratulations to the new president Paul Young. We are fortunate to
have such a vibrant Rotary club within our community and the Trust will
continue support their activities.
You will find in the eNews an article from Dorothy Doolan from the Ray
Park Heritage Group. Again, our community is lucky to have Dorothy who
has served our community for many years. Hopefully her services will
eventually be formally recognised.
Hornsby Council has placed on exhibition its heritage study. Heritage is
an integral part of our built and cultural environment and this study
is very significant with noticeable changes. I understand it’s the first
major review of heritage across the Shire since the original study was
completed around the time when Steve Pringle was Mayor. Yes, quite some
time ago! If you get a chance please have a look at the report and
pass on your thoughts to Council. More details are below in the
eNews.
With the colder weather comes an increase in illnesses, so please take care and keep warm.
CONSULTATION ABOUT PROPOSED CHANGES ARISING FROM THE DRAFT HORNSBY COUNCIL HERITAGE STUDIES.
The Trust wishes to draw readers' attention to the draft proposed changes detailed here; https://yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/draft-hornsby-heritage-studies The report has four parameters – archaeology, landscape, buildings, and conservation areas.
Council is seeking feedback and further information from the community
and property owners on the findings and recommendations of the heritage
studies. Council has sent letters to property owners where a change to
the heritage status of a property has been recommended. A number
of properties in Beecroft and Cheltenham are affected (yellow and purple
sites in this screen shot).
New heritage sites in Beecroft and Cheltenham are listed for the following streets:
Burns Bay Rd Sth (4,6)
Chapman Ave (58,68)
Copeland Rd (80,87,149)
Fiona Rd (27)
Hannah St (54,57,61,70,73,74,79)
Hull Rd (5,37,49)
Kedron Ave (5,9)
Kirkham Rd (12)
Malton Rd (3).
A consolidation listing is proposed for street trees in the Castle Howard Reserve. Amended listings are proposed for:
Beecroft Rd (45, 116)
Hannah St (28)
The Promenade (28).
A
de-listing is proposed for 149 Copeland Rd. The northern triangle
precinct of the Beecroft Cheltenham Conservation Area HCA (C2) is
proposed to be removed because of its physical separation form the
remainder of the HCA.
The Heritage Studies are on exhibition until August 31 2026. A
number of drop-in sessions for residents to speak to Council staff and
provision for submissions to be made before 31 August 2026 are listed
here - https://yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/draft-hornsby-heritage-studies
Two drop-in sessions will be held at Beecroft Community Centre, 111 Beecroft Rd Beecroft on: Friday 31 July 2026 4.00pm - 7.00pm. Saturday 1 August 2026 9.00am – 12.00pm.
CHELTENHAM RD DEVELOPMENT
The president, Ross Walker, has been attending meetings with the
residents of four households in Cheltenham Road to support them as they
seek to have their concerns addressed during the assessment process for a
recent DA that is being progressed.
TURPENTINES IN DECLINE IN BORONIA AVENUE
The president Ross Walker alerted Council to concerns about the
turpentines at 67 Boronia Avenue Cheltenham. Council officers
subsequently assessed the trees and noted that there was disturbed soil
on the high side of the trees and that the trees were in “heavy
decline”. However Council noted that, given the number of works on
the site by different parties, it was not possible to attribute the
decline to any one activity and so no enforcement action was
possible.
WORKS AT CORNER OF CHAPMAN AVENUE AND CARDINAL RD
On 24 June 2026, the president Ross Walker wrote to Hornsby Council to
express concerns raised by local residents in Chapman Avenue about the
delays in completing works. There has been no work on site for
more than 4 months for a project that commenced 20 months ago. The
works pose a serious road safety issue as evidenced by the photo below –
can you spot the oncoming white car?
The long delays are also contributing to erosion and deterioration of the physical state of the road itself.
Council responded promptly on 26 June 2026 with advice that a Notice of
intention to issue an Order under the Local Government Act
1993 in relation to the unsafe excavations on the nature strip and
road. Representations to the Notice were required to be provided
by 10 July 2026. Further updates will be provided when
available.
BORONIA PLACE, CHELTENHAM – BORONIA AVENUE TO LYNE ROAD
Hornsby Council recently requested feedback via its YOURSAY site on
works planned for Boronia Place, Cheltenham – Boronia Avenue to Lyne
Road. The works are planned under its current Local Road
Improvement Program for construction in the 2026/2027 financial
year. The works propose to build new kerb and guttering, upgrade
drainage, and renew the road surface to improve street safety and
drainage and reduce the need for ongoing maintenance. The Trust provided
a submission in broad support of the proposed works on 23 June 2026 but
noted that local residents consider the existing roadway to be
hazardous due to its narrow width exacerbated by parked vehicles and the
lack of a footpath. To address these issues, the Trust suggested
implementing:
A speed limit of 20 kph and
Physical speed controls such as painted pavement or ripple/hump placed at both ends of the hazardous section;
Shared roadway signs at both ends of Boronia Place;
“No parking” in the section where there is restricted width and sight distance.
GRANT APPLICATION OUTCOME
The Trust has been advised that its Expression of Interest application
for a grant under the Community Building Partnership Program for
Councils and Not for Profit Organisations was unsuccessful. The
trust had applied for an additional undercover picnic table setting for
the Village Green.
Beecroft Cycleway A GOOD OUTCOME - WILL YOU TAKE THE HIGH ROAD OR THE LOW ROAD?
The Trust has long advocated for the extension of the walkway / cycleway in the Crescent.
The Trust had suggested the use of some State Rail land behind the
tennis courts for the proposed cycleway rather than along busy Beecroft
Rd. The suggestion was not approved by State Rail. The works
on Beecroft Rd proceeded and are now complete. There is now a
very wide pathway extending from the Crescent walkway alongside and in
front of the tennis courts along Beecroft Rd and from there curving
inwards to join the wide path through the Village Green – ‘the high
road”.
There is now a normal width pathway that is nearly completed that
extends from near the Scout Hall on the Crescent along the narrow strip
behind the tennis courts which likewise joins the path through the
Village Green – "the low road". Whichever way you choose to
go, it is a great walk or cycleway!
M2RAG April 2026 Update(M2 Residents Action Group) By Ray Gerke
Coordinator M2 Resident Action Group
I continue to research if the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has information or policies that would support the mission of the M2RAG.
I also am attempting to work out how we can gain proper access to
Transurban through their "National community engagement
framework".
Lastly, the recent announcement by Transurban of night work on the M2
for the next year means that a new surface should be placed on the
section of the M2 through Beecroft and Cheltenham during the next 12
months.
At this stage I am assuming they will remove the current surface and
replace it with a quieter surface which hopefully will reduce some
of the noise problems that we are currently experiencing.
I will attempt to confirm details from Transurban over the next couple of months.
The Bush Music Club (BMC) Beecroft Bush Dance The
Bush Music Club (BMC) was formed in 1954 to collect and promote
Australian folk music, songs, and dance. We are Australia’s oldest
continuously operating folk club. The musicians are all members
of the BMC and take pleasure in playing for an audience and in providing
enjoyment for the dancers. It is all voluntary and the
musicians are not paid. We welcome everyone, both young and
old, to come along to this dance. It is not required that you know
these dances. All dances are taught on the day and then
called during the actual dance, so beginners can quickly become
involved. It is all about having a fun time and doing
something different. Even if you don’t wish to dance, why
not come along anyway to watch the dancers and listen to live Australian
folk music being played.
Naidoc Week
Readers are warmly invited to participate in NAIDOC week events at
Parramatta Park and to join the Ray Park Heritage group for afternoon
tea and a presentation about the history of Epping at the Girl Guides
Hall, Plympton Rd, on Sunday 19 July CLICK HERE for more information.
Ray Park Heritage Group More information for this event, CLICK HERE
Cheltenham Recreation Club
Civic Trust Spring Walk A
reminder that the Trust's Spring walk will be held on Sunday 23rd
August. The walk will be led by former President of the Civic
Trust, Rod Best, and will once again focus on the history of Beecroft
and Cheltenham.
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.
It is only because we have the strength of numbers that we are able to influence change. Annual membership for 2026 is only $20.
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, can be contacted on 0417 662 405
Dr. Penelope Crossley, 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 and items of
interest for residents in the Hornsby Shire and Parramatta area.
Julian Leeser MP. July Newsletter. The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE for Newsletter.
Monica Tudehope MP. June / July Newsletter. The Trust's policy is that we will publish submitted newsletters from any of our elected representatives. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's July News Bulletin Can be viewed CLICK HERE
City of Parramatta's July 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
Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust eNews.
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 CLICK HERE. To subscribe to the eNews: CLICK HERE.
There is an active Civic Trust Facebook page; to view it CLICK HERE.
The Trust will assist any resident regardless of their membership status.
