18thMay 2018 Edition Two. In this edition:
Presidents Message, Hornsby Council’s Resolution to access funds in restricted access accounts,
Latest news from the Trust committee,
Update on proposed Seniors Housing at 6 – 8 Malton Road Beecroft,
Development approval procedures at Hornsby Council under the new (IHAP), Mother’s Day Promotion at Beecroft Shopping Centre on 6th May.
Regular news from our Member for Epping, Mr Damien Tudehope,
Picnic for Trees in the Beecroft Village Green .
Message from the President It has been a rewarding week for the
community in its dealings in the Land and Environment Court (LEC).
The Seniors Living development at 6-8 Malton Road has been adjourned,
subject to further studies required. This was a big achievement for the
community who managed to persuade the Commissioner that certain reports
submitted were not of sufficient accuracy. I have provided more details
below. The second success relates to a subdivision in Cheltenham that
Hornsby Council had refused. After the conciliation hearing on site the
applicant withdrew their appeal.
I want to draw everyone’s attention to the future of the Cheltenham
church funds. Last month Council resolved to access funds in
restricted access accounts, including the $2million church funds, due to
budget constraints. Below is an article where the Trust is
seeking comments from you about the use of the funds.
Hornsby Council’s Resolution to access funds in restricted access accounts Proceeds
from the sale of the former Congregational Church in Cheltenham in 2015
were set aside by a Hornsby Council resolution in a restricted asset
account to be spent specifically on community services for Beecroft
Cheltenham residents. To date the Beecroft Station gardens has
received $600,000 of the funds, with $2.181million remaining. The
Trust understands that Hornsby Council is now considering the release
of funds held in various restricted access accounts, including the
church funds, to meet the Hornsby Shire Council budget deficit.
To quote from Council’s minutes of April 11, "a deficit balance of $1.951 million remained at the end of the
2018/19 budget development exercise. As Council is in a position to meet
this deficit from restricted asset funds, it is prudent that $1.951
million be released from the restricted assets which are currently set
aside in cash and investment balances to fund the capital shortfall.
This release will ensure that the 2018/19 budget is balanced".
The Trust has requested a meeting with Council to emphasise that the
community still wishes the funds to be spent on a notable community
facility in the Beecroft-Cheltenham area, rather than being frittered
away on routine maintenance or minor capital works.
At the Trust’s 2017 AGM the following projects were suggested from the floor of the meeting. Click here for AGM minutes
Hornsby Council conducted their own survey in 2015 and have been using
these results to justify releasing the $600,000 from the funds to date.
Click here for Council letter.
The current Trust committee has also suggested the following additional projects:
Development
of a large public open space for more active enjoyment by the
community, including play area for older children, walking tracks,
barbeque and picnic area with seating etc"
Acquisition
of 28 Hannah St, Beecroft (the former medical practice) at the corner
with Beecroft Road (currently on the market) for a multi-use community
centre and garden area
Acquisition of a property in Cheltenham for a community centre
We are seeking your opinions and suggestions on how you prefer the funds to be spent.Click here to comment.
Latest news from the Trust committee For
the people who like using Facebook, Clarissa Luxford, with support from
Deirdree Wallwork, has volunteered to manage the Trust’s Facebook group
and create a separate page. Both are experienced in managing Facebook
and have increased the readership already. So, thank you ladies.
View the Facebook page at:https://fb.me/2119civictrust
Update on proposed Seniors Housing at 6 – 8 Malton Road Beecroft The
Trust and some local residents have been assisting Hornsby Council’s
senior planners in interpreting the intention of clause 26 of the
Seniors Living State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) that relates
to access to shops and transport. We have had two constructive meetings
followed by numerous supporting emails to the planners explaining our
concerns.
The Seniors Housing SEPP can be viewed at https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/EPI/2004/143/historical2006-11-29/full
In brief, we are challenging the conclusions reached in the consultants’
access reports. We have argued that the footpath route to public
transport and facilities should not exceed the maximum grades allowed in
the subclauses in cl 26. We have questioned a number of other access
issues as well, such as the existing non- compliant pedestrian refuge in
Sutherland Rd.
We believe both proposed routes do not comply with the subclauses in Cl
26. We have also sought comment from staff at the Department of
Planning, who agree with our interpretation and make reference to their
own guidelines. Of course legal advice is required and we
understand Council is obtaining that advice, in the process also
providing senior counsel with our contributory emails.
We believe it is important that this access issue is properly
resolved. The fact that the court adjourned last week has
vindicated our initial concerns. We are prepared to continue to provide
assistance to Council.
Development approval procedures at Hornsby Council under the new Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP) From the 1st
March this year the IHAP regime commenced. Next week the first
development application in C Ward will be determined. In general
terms, any development application valued over $3 million, or any that
had more than 10 independent objections, must be determined by the IHAP.
Mother’s Day Promotion at Beecroft Shopping Centre on 6th May. The
Mother’s Day promotion was well attended. Various stalls were set
up throughout the shopping centre and many lucky ladies received pretty
bouquets of flowers.
There were balloons, garden stalls, music, guessing competitions, and
the perfect weather made it all a very pleasant experience for everyone
who came along.
The Trust had a stand in the lower arcade to encourage more subscribers to our eNews bulletins.
Autumn Walk Sunday 6th May Walkers
enjoyed a beautiful day for the autumn walk. We met up with the
Ray Park Heritage group at the new park facilities off Plympton
Road. Emma Heyde, our Hornsby C Ward Councillor, came along.
We also met up with Donna Davis, one of our Parramatta Council Epping
Ward Councillors, at Ray Park. We didn’t get many takers for the walk,
probably due to the Mother’s Day activities at Beecroft shops in the
morning.
Expect another walk in spring.
Regular news from our Member for Epping, Mr Damien Tudehope Damien
Tudehope, our Member for Epping, has been providing residents on his
mailing list with regular newsletters. The Trust has now created a link
in our eNews to where these newsletters can be viewed. Click here for the latest newsletter.
Sew Much Less Waste Bag Display It’s amazing how Emma Heyde’s initial idea
of setting up sewing groups to make shopping bags to replace plastic
shopping bags has expanded across Hornsby Shire. On Monday night
the 8th May there was a thank you presentation at Hornsby
Library where numerous sewing groups from Berowra to Cheltenham gathered
to show off their products and talked about how socially rewarding the
sewing groups can be.
If you are interested in getting involved contact Emma Heyde at eheyde@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
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.
