12thJune 2018 Edition One. In this edition:
Presidents Report,
Liquidambars in Mawson Avenue, Beecroft,
Hornsby Council General Meeting and the Church Funds, Cheltenham Oval and the Northwest Rapid Transport (NRT) update,
Beecroft Gardens update,
Update on 6-8 Malton Road in Beecroft,
Plympton Road car park North Carlingford update, Picnic for Trees - Sunday 29th July.
President's Report It’s nice that we have finally received some rain! Hopefully we will get some more over winter.
Thank you those who responded to our invitation seeking your views on
how to use the Church funds. Hornsby Council’s response is explained
below. I have also provided updates on the Beecroft Gardens landscaping
and the Cheltenham Oval sports pavilion. If there is an article that I
am not aware of and is worthy of informing the wider community, please
contact the Trust through our web site or facebook. Finally,
Hornsby Council will be holding their next General Meeting this coming
Wednesday night. I am likely to speak on three agenda items; Council’s
2018/19 Operational Plan, Affordable Housing and the proposed review of
the planning controls. I will keep you posted.
And for those interested our new and improved Facebook page is now up and running. Click here
Liquidambars in Mawson Avenue, Beecroft Residents
rallied last week to save their iconic liquidambar street trees from
Ausgrid. Some residents in the street received a notice from a
tree removal company that certain liquidambars located in the street
would be removed. Parramatta Councillor Donna Davis was approached
and by the following day the proposed tree removals were stopped.
There will be further discussions between residents, Parramatta Council
and Ausgrid as to why the trees need to be completely removed and not,
say, pruned. This exercise highlights the importance of having
ready access to our elected councillors.
Hornsby Council General Meeting and the Church Funds In
the last eNews the Trust sought views from residents about how the
church funds should be spent . The invitation was a response to
Hornsby Council’s resolution in their May General meeting to consider
releasing the funds held to restricted accounts to pay for this year’s
budget deficit.
The good news is that at Council’s next General Meeting, this coming Wednesday 13th
June , there is a staff recommendation that the funds should not be
released. The full details can be read under item 4 of the
Council’s Business Papers. Click here for the papers. http://businesspapers.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Open/2018/06/GM_13062018_AGN_WEB.htm
Contained within item 4 of the report is row 10a in table 1A, that states the following staff recommendation: Council resolved on 11 April 2018 that details of options that may
be used to fund the $1.951 million deficit for 2018/19 be considered by
Council, and that these options should include, but not be limited to,
restricted asset funding, loan borrowings, capital works reductions and
service level reductions. Having reviewed the options Council has concluded that the deficit
is best dealt with by deferring some capital projects where there are no
safety concerns and where the projects can be recommenced
immediately funds become available.
Interested residents are always welcome to attend these monthly General
Meetings. As stated above, the next meeting is Wednesday night 13th June 2018 , commencing at 6.30 pm, upstairs in Council Chambers.
Cheltenham Oval and the Northwest Rapid Transport
(NRT) update The
construction of the new sports building has started. The site has been
excavated and fenced off, with most of the Epacris (pronounced
e-pack-ris ) remaining on site safe behind protective barriers.
Some translocation has occurred with the Epacris planted elsewhere in
the surrounding bushland. The actual NRT service facility will be
completed next year so the project team are starting to plan the
installation of the netball courts and children’s playground.
Planning is also underway for the removal of the temporary haulage road
that comes in off Kirkham Street. The NRT project team is
consulting with Hornsby Council, but also with the local community
groups.
Beecroft Gardens update The
landscaping of the Beecroft Gardens is progressing. The
refurbished Boer War Memorial was positioned on its concrete pad this
week. The sandstone rock with the 50th anniversary of
WW2 plaque has already been positioned and the footpaths are also taking
shape. Once completed the gardens will return some much needed open
space to Beecroft Village.
Update on 6-8 Malton Road in Beecroft The Land and Environment Court (LEC) approved this Seniors Housing development on 5th June 2018. The judgement will be published online on https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/
. The residents of Beecroft, with assistance from the Trust, were
strong in arguing against this development going ahead, believing that
access to shops and public transport was inadequate. So even
though the development has been approved, our efforts are expected to
assist Hornsby Council in determining other Seniors Housing
developments.
Plympton Road car park North Carlingford update The
car park off Plympton Road is nearing completion. The work has been
quite disruptive in recent days but the major works, concreting and
asphalting, have been completed. What is left to do is paving,
landscaping and line-marking. This should be completed within two weeks.
The Plympton Road entrance is now closed and entry to the car park is
via Coverdale Street.
Picnic for Trees - Sunday 29th July 2018 at the
Beecroft Village Green – 11.30am to 1.30pm Just
a reminder that the Picnic for Trees is on again this year. We
are still finalising the agenda and list of speakers but it should be a
good event, like previous Picnics. Hornsby Council is supplying
more Lilly Pillies plus another advanced native tree. They are also
digging the holes for us. All we have to do is fill them back in!
We propose to extend the existing row of Lilly Pillies further
along Beecroft Road, eventually creating a screening for the Village
Green. We want to make it a relaxing day; the focus will be on
greening our environment but with children in mind. We’ll fire up
the BBQ and provide a sausage sizzle. More details in our next
eNews.
Annual Memberships for 2018 are now Due... 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. 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.
