13 August 2021

Hi from my locked-down family to yours 

It was my birthday this week so family was on my mind. My parents live in the Southern Highlands, as does my sister. Normally we get together a few times during August & September because it's birthday season for us. It's my nephew's special day; mine; my husband's, my daughter's and my son's. 

This year it's different - but the love felt the same. 

I hope you and your family are managing to connect and share special times, despite everything. 

And if you know someone feeling the effects of covid restrictions, a heads up that Council is running a series on resilience for older people 

Experts from The Resilience Centre are running a free webinar series for older people on managing the effects of Covid-19 and navigating through another lockdown in August.

Tue 17 August · Coping with Uncertainty
Mon 23 August · Caring for Someone without the Usual Support
Tue 31 August · Reframing COVID-19 – Try a New Perspective

Find out more at https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/events

SunSpot: curious to see if panels could save you money? 

Council has partnered with SunSpot, an independent tool that can help you assess where solar panels would sit on your roof, how many you could fit, and how much money you might save.

I started asking Council to make this service free for residents back in 2018. I'm really delighted you can now access this sort of data without having to get a quote from a solar company. SunSpot does not store and share your details with solar installation companies.

Information here: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/environment/sustainability/Thinking-of-Going-Solar

August Council meeting: what was decided? 

An exciting decision this month to have new policy on dual naming for Council sites. The policy outlines how Council will deal with requests to have a dual-naming or new name for a place or facility, including getting the advice of local Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee before determining a name or dual name. 

This policy is on exhibition. Find it here and have your say. 

Your council also decided to: 
Support the nomination of a Ku-ring-gai Geo-Region as a Global GeoPark recognised by UNESCO - an initiative from the Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment
Put the policy for dual naming or renaming of Council facilities on public exhibition (so that if Aboriginal or other names are suggested, they can be assessed with input from Traditional Owners and Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee)
Put the Planning Study for Byles Creek (Pennant Hills - Beecroft area) on exhibition for 60 days
Do some more consultation on the on-site sewage management policy before it goes on public exhibition
Push back against a state government decision to make Councils do their compliance work with even less money
Decide on dates for meetings and briefings between September and the start of the new Council in late December
Note Councillors’ expenses for the last financial year
Note investments and borrowings
Note the minutes from Council’s advisory committees, including the Environment Committee, Bushland Committee, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee and Heritage committee?
Report variations from development standards (which are generally extremely low)

Imam Saleh Gahit of The Hills District Muslim Society and Pastor Reverend James McFarlane from Hornsby Presbyterian Church were in attendance and helped open the meeting.

Thanks to residents who spoke on a variety of matters including the Epping-Pennant Hills shared cycleway, the issue of second-hand tobacco smoke and heritage homes.

Please refer to the Council website for the official Minutes. You can find them here. 

Fagan Park community planting: before and after 

Congratulations Floating Landcare! 

Floating Landcare made up of volunteers who want to protect and restore our Hawkesbury River Estuary. They visit locations that are only accessible by boat and carry out bush regeneration activities. Floating Landcare has just been awarded the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award.

You can see what it's all about in this video. 

This year volunteers have cleaned you weeds and rubbish at Gentleman's Halt, Bar Island and Peats Bight - all in the Hawkesbury Estuary.

Register your interest in participating after lockdown lifts here: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/environment/flora-and-fauna/bushland-management/floating-landcare

Onsite sewage policy 

If you're like me and live in a suburb you probably don't think too much about sewage. But there are about 2800 properties in our area with on-site wastewater treatment systems.

If this is you, you'll be pleased to know that the new policy will be going through more discussion with the community before it's put out on public exhibition. Groups like the Berowra Waters Progress Association and the Arcadia and Galston Residents' Association have been very active on the issue of inspections and licensing and it's going to be great to have their further input. 

As I often say, the more people who know what's being discussed at Council and have a say, the better the outcomes for everyone. 

Stay safe, well & warm!

Emma  🌞