16th November 2024. Edition One. In this edition:
President's Report,
Public Meeting on the new State Government Housing Strategy
Hannah St planter boxes, Epping Civic Trust,
Wongala Crescent demolition,
Beecroft in the 50s and 60s, Ahimsa and Marie Byles,
Beecroft Rotary, Beecroft Bush Dance,
Beecroft Orchestra, Local JP, HSC Newsletter, Recent Development Applications.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Thursday November 21Public Meeting on the State Government Housing Strategy.
Thursday November 28 RotaryTwilight Christmas in Beecroft Village
Saturday December 7Beecroft Bush Dance
Sunday December 8 Beecroft Orchestra
Sunday December 15 Rotary Beecroft Community Christmas Party
Message from the President Dear Fellow Residents,
I have now returned from my trip to Morocco, Tunisia and southern Spain.
Apart from my bag deciding to spend an extra 7 nights in Casablanca, the
trip went really well and a good time was had by all. While I had
previously been to Spain, Morocco and Tunisia were new and very
interesting places to visit and learn about. Fortunately I was in
southern Spain and so missed the flooding rains, that did not stay on
the plains, and that caused so much havoc and loss of life around
Valencia up to Barcelona. You could not but feel the pain - especially
for the many who lost loved ones.
I returned for the demolition of Wongala Plaza, the clearance of blocks
at the bottom end of Malton Road, much more obvious work on the Real
Tennis complex at Cheltenham Recreation Club and news items about
proposed changes being sought to proposed developments on Beecroft Road
in Epping.
Thanks to Ross Walker for contributing to the excellent article on Beecroft in the Domain magazine.
The proposed developments in Epping stay in the forefront of our minds
when considering the impact of the State housing policy on our villages
and especially on the heritage conservation areas. It seems that
Ku-ring-gai Council continues to litigate the impact on its local
government areas. To gain a better understanding of how these policies
affect our villages, the Civic Trust is pleased to have speakers from
both Parramatta City Council and Hornsby Shire Council to address a
public meeting at 7.30 pm on Thursday 21 November at the Beecroft Presbyterian Church Hall, Welham St. Beecroft, 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.
Further details are elsewhere in this eNews. To read the broad policy
is one thing but to appreciate how it is being implemented by local
government is another. Just which government is responsible for which
part is also an important aspect to appreciate. There is nothing surer
than that each of us will be affected in one way or another. All are
welcome to come, hear and to ask questions.
As we approach Christmas there will be an increasing number of end of
calendar year events. These will range from school activities, sporting
clubs awards, Rotary events, carol services, and the year end concert of
the Beecroft Orchestra.
IMPORTANT Public Meeting on the new State Government Housing Strategy that includes Dual Occupancy. Thursday 21st November.
The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust (BCCT) is holding a meeting to discuss dual occupancies and semi-detached
homes which, from 1 July 2024, are allowed (subject to certain
exceptions) in all R2 Low-Density Residential Zones across New South
Wales as follows: Time: 7:30 pm Date: Thursday, 21 November 2024 Venue: Beecroft Presbyterian Church Hall
Welham Street, Beecroft
The background to the reforms is that the State Government expects to
deliver 112,000 additional homes over the next five years. This is
seen as a significant step towards achieving the Housing Accord target
of 377,000 new homes by July 2029.
These changes are seen as supporting metropolitan councils achieve their housing targets, and regional councils reach their overarching regional NSW housing target. What are dual occupancies?
Dual occupancies are a common form of housing in Sydney. They comprise 2 houses on a single lot,
usually with a front and back yard. Though often known as
duplexes or side-by side semis, they offer most of the benefits of a
traditional freestanding house at a more affordable cost.
Dual occupancies can help fix the housing crisis by replacing one existing home with two homes to double the potential housing capacity. What are semi-detached homes?
A semi-detached home is a side-by-side dual occupancy that has been
subdivided down the middle so each house sits on its own lot, though
often they are referred to as duplexes or semis. Why are dual occupancies and semi-detached homes important?
These types of homes are seen as important to help NSW deliver community needs.
The first stage of changes will provide more opportunity for families
who might live on larger lots in suburbs across Sydney, and the regions,
to deliver an additional home or split their property in half to
provide a new home for their children or older family members.
Dual occupancies and semi-detached homes are seen to be popular types of home for young families and downsizers alike.
The changes will not apply to:
Land with a high risk from natural hazards like bushfire and floods
Land located close to dangerous goods, pipelines and hazardous aircraft noise
Land that includes a heritage item
The Bathurst, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Wollondilly areas due to bushfires, flooding and evacuation risks.
At the meeting this coming Thursday, there will be senior planners from both Hornsby and Parramatta Councils speaking on the changes to the law as to dual occupancies and semi-detached homes.
The
Trust considers these planning changes have the potential to have an
enormous impact on housing in the whole of Beecroft and Cheltenham
Please attend this meeting to support the Trust's ongoing concerns.
Hannah Street Planter Boxes
Residents will notice how attractive the pear trees and planter boxes
are in Hannah Street. The planter boxes, donated by Hornsby Council and
maintained by Sandra Ross require some ongoing care. The Beecroft
Cheltenham Civic Trust is calling for additional volunteers to assist
with watering the planter boxes in our Hannah Street village. Currently
we have a roster assisting Sandra Ross on Sunday mornings at 7.30 am.
With summer coming we need to establish a second mid week roster on a
Wednesday morning. We find 7.30am ideal to avoid shoppers and to avoid
the heat of the day.
Ideally with 3 volunteers on the roster the watering takes no longer than half an hour. .
We meet at 7.30am on Sundays and Wednesdays in the village, collect
watering cans from The Garden Clinic and then water the Planter Boxes.
The more volunteers we get the lighter the workload.
If you can participate, please join the group by visitingCLICK HERE
Epping
Civic Trust is holding a General Meeting on Tuesday 19 November 2024 at
7.30pm in the hall of the Church of Christ, Bridge St, Epping. The proposed high rise development on Beecroft Road will be on the agenda..
Light supper will be served from 7pm before the meeting.
Their newsletter and further details can be found at CLICK HERE
Demolition for the new residential and commercial Development at Wongals Crescent Beecroft has begun.
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.
Beecroft in the 50s and 60s The
trust has been granted permission to publish a collection of
photographs from the 50s and 60s. The photographer was the late
Ted Richards, a former Beecroft resident and founder of the Beecroft
Cheltenham Civic Trust. Ted also served as the Trust's President
for many years.
Beecroft Road
Hannah Street looking East to Wongala Crescent
Ahimsa and Marie Byles
Tucked away at the end of Day Rd Cheltenham is the NSW National Trust
(NT) Known as Ahimsa, the former home of Marie Byles who besides being
the first woman solicitor to practice law in NSW, was also involved in
the formation of the Civic Trust. Many long term residents will
remember Marie. The NT is assisted by a team of local volunteers known
as the Friends of Ahimsa who liaise closely with NT staff to assist in
the ongoing maintenance of the property, such as monthly weeding
sessions. The Civic Trust is represented in the Friends.
The NT is planning a mobile exhibition of Marie Byles in April next
year, in conjunction with the NSW Law Society. In preparation for the
exhibition the NT staff has uncovered additional undocumented
information about Marie. The NT staff are also reaching out to our local
residents who had an association with Marie. If you do have any
information relating to Marie and would like to share it with the NT
please contact the Civic Trust Secretary at secretary@bcct2119.com.au
BEECROFT ROTARY Beecroft Rotary is organising a Christmas Party
They hope to see you at Twilight Christmas in Beecroft Village on Thursday 28 November! There will be children's activities, musical performances, and a special guest dressed in red.
Also please join them for the Beecroft Community Christmas Party on Sunday 15 December to celebrate the success of the year gone by and look ahead to 2025. To register CLICK HERE
Beecroft Bush Dance Tickets are available at the door.
The Beecroft Orchestra
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
The Trust’s Facebook Page has every now and then interviews with interesting people in 2119.
The latest of these is an interview with Michael Bianchino, a name synonymous with the protection of The Powerful Owl. CLICK HERE
Hornsby Shire Council's November 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.
Other objections and 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.
