MANLY COMMUNITY FORUM

Transcription

1 MANLY COMMUNITY FORUM Formerly the Combined Precinct Community Forum Incorporating Little Manly Precinct, Fairy Bower Precinct, the Corso Precinct 1 MEETING OPENING MEETING MINUTES 18 th April 2017 Time: 7.00pm Attendees. 36 Apologies: C & J Bingham, Kellie Marks, Cathy Griffin 2 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES March 2017 Meeting Minutes were presented at the meeting and approved. Proposed: Don Walker Seconded Ian Lang Chairman again asked for volunteers for newsletter distribution and residents to nominate for various Committee positions. POSITIVE OUTCOMES SINCE LAST MEETING. A huge thank you to Candy Bingham and her team for raising $58,000 for the iconic sculpture replacement at Fairy Bower Pool. A very impressive effort!. Bouquet to Manly Council for their responsive pickup service after receiving an in regards rubbish dumping.. Development application for the Marine Parade ( Fairy Bower Pool) Change sheds and toilet approved. Full plans and architectural drawings available on Council website.. Senior Traffic Engineer ( South) has written to the Forum and advised that our three current traffic concerns ( Timing lights at the wharf and Corso intersection: inadequate lighting of the pedestrian crossing at Victoria Av and the pedestrian crossing at Darley and Ashburner ) have been passed on to another group for consideration as part of an Action Plan, called a PAMP ( Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan) FORUM COMMENT We think that this is a positive move and it does show that someone is listening to the Forum, however, how long does it take to determine 1

2 that these issues, particularly the Wharf to Corso crossing is a disaster waiting to happen..?. View Lines at Little Manly Point Park. Along with the other issues resolved or underway via the Council Tree Management Management, the council has marked the various self-sown She Oaks for removal to improve the iconic view lines from the park. This action is in no way related to any view lines from adjoining properties. The Community Forum s street tree experts have inspected the marked trees and confirmed with Council s staff our agreement to the proposed action. Thank you Council. Also, under the agreed Street Tree Management Program Council has agreed to select alternative replacement trees for those previously lost in the various streets from available sources, given that some of the preferred trees have not been available. Council will advise before replanting.. Gocher Court, Cove Avenue. Council and to a certain extent Manly Police don t seem to be able to manage the residents, or the issues emanating from this public housing block. MCF has made contact with the new Client Services Officer responsible for Gocher Court. We have had an immediate improvement in the appearance of the property from the footpath, with tree trimming ( some by Council) and a full trim organised by the Client Services Officer. There is a commitment by the CSO to improve the maintenance and consider what can be done about on-site management. The recent issue with the Council suspending garbage collection within the property left the street strewn with garbage bins, many overflowing and, many not taken in for many days. This change in process was due to a tenant s aggressive abuse of the waste collection staff. The matter is being addressed and Police have taken a stance with the offender. Nearby neighbours continue to pick up waste from the street. An on-site management committee would encourage better habits from the tenants. There are many wonderful long term tenants in these buildings who are community minded but are reluctant to get involved due to the bullying nature of a few other tenants. Things are improving, but it is a slow process. Thank you also to Minister Pru Goward for passing on our ed concerns and encouraging the dialogue. ACTION.. All nearby residents and tenants of Gocher Court are encouraged to continue the dialogue with the MCF and we will keep in contact with the NSW Dept. of Family and 2

3 Community Services (Public Housing) CS Officer, who has been so responsive. Also, we have a copy of the Witness Incident which should be completed by neighbours or tenants wishing to report an incident that should be investigated. Phone number can be used 24/7 for assistance. Form is available from the Manly Community Forum.. Contamination at Little Manly Point Park ( Old Gas Works site) Although we still await a response from Council as to whether the groundwater collection drain is operating as it should the plans obtained by Council ( Coastal Management area) clearly show the collection drain and the link to what we believe is the sewerage pipes to North Head STP. We now have hope that the collection drain is operating and the cocktail of contaminants are being collected before entering the water in Little Manly Cove. It also suggests that there is already a line to the Stuart St sewerage line and possibly another connection on the southern side where the Northside Storage Tunnel is connected to the NHSTP.. Maybe one of these connections could be utilised for a Little Manly Point toilet. ACTION We are now getting good responses from the Water Cycle Management area of Northern Beaches Council and we await their confirmation of findings. East Esplanade Reserve Although we have not received a formal confirmation of the budgeted funds to be allocated to improvements in the reserve, we know that the Council is concerned about the state of this heavily utilised reserve area and they are committed to allocate funds in the new financial year. We understand that over $200K has been agreed and some remedial work will be completed this week. At the time of this meeting Council staff are grading the area, removing rubble and dead grass areas and installing replacement turf. Replacing the turf without installing a holding barrier at the path is only a short term fix and could create more pollution in the Cove if we have heavy downpours. Council staff have advised that they will be rebuilding the stone guttering edge and this should alleviate much of the roadway runoff that creates the erosion and the contamination in Manly Cove. We are also pushing for a full Plan of Management for the whole Manly Cove area. This would include all foreshore and reserve infrastructure and the wharf and West Esplanade Reserve area 3

4 Stormwater Debris in Manly Cove & East Esplanade Reserve) and Cabbage Tree Bay ( Marine Parade) Resident Bill d Anthes wrote directly to Deputy General Manager Environment & Infrastructure with his concerns with the dreadful stormwater runoff at East Esplanade and the damaged pipes at Marine Parade and near the Fairy Bower Pool. The Council response promised action in both areas, although we are not sure that the stormwater runoff onto the beach at East Esplanade is directly related to roadway runoff and the inadequate curbing. The damaged pipes at Marine Parade are now being addressed and the pipes at the Fairy Bower Pool will be addressed with the remedial work on the pool in the May/June period. Matter Still Awaiting Council Action Review of Shelley Beach Parking and Traffic Management We understand that Council is conducting a public review and a workshop and we have requested that they include representatives from the Manly Community Forum and other interested residents.. Warning signage along Marine Parade/Fairy Bower about the fines applying for those catching and stealing protected Water Dragons. Council has committed to replace the signs removed from the Marine Parade, to stop the theft of Water Dragons from this area. Visitors and some locals do not understand that they are protected and cannot be taken. The commitment was made by Council but we still await the signage. Sydney Water s North Head Wastewater Treatment Plant (STP) Our resident Beverley Trevenan has recently had a request for FOI ( Freedom of Information) on odour management reports, refused without a proper explanation or acceptable reason. Odours from the NHSTP are common and spread from the North Head plant to many residential areas of Manly, as well as the adjacent North Head Sanctuary Foundation base, SHFT offices, rented cottages and a school at the Artillery School, and St.Paul s college. Also Manly Hospital and the new developments at Cerutti Estate and Spring Cove are impacted. BUT ODOUR MANAGEMENT REPORTS CANNOT BE MADE AVAILABLE..! 4

5 Our real issue is that Sydney Water still operate this plant that processes nearly 40% of Sydney s sewage, with primary treatment only..a simple mix and screening that then dumps the rest into the ocean just three kilometres off our beaches. They can do more, like Full Primary and Secondary Treatment and they could have a plan to not continue to dump into the ocean with the heavy content of microplastics they are known carcinogenic finding their way to our seafood supplies, but is there a plan? No! Is the State Government willing to reduce their yearly dividend from Sydney Water? NO! Disappointedly the Council representative on the new Sydney Water/North Head STP Community Consultative Committee did not attend the first meeting. It is hoped that the Northern Beaches Council understand their obligations with the proper control over the North Head plant, especially odours, smelly truck movements, and the contamination of our ocean. ACTION.. Residents are asked to report all odour concerns. Also, when you experience the heavy odour from the sludge trucks trundling through our streets, report it to EPA and Sydney Water.. CAR PARKING IN MANLY Residents accepted that there were too many concerns and issues with the proposed oval car park and accepted that the Administrator had no option but to close the project down. It does appear that the project was very badly managed by the previous Council, but it stands to reason that we cannot simply forget about why the parking issue was foremost in the mind of the previous administration. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PARK IN MANLY! Residents cannot park in their street; visitors cannot find a park in the street or often within the car parks; commuters have trouble getting a regular spot in any area, without illegally acquiring resident stickers or travelling long distances from their vehicle. Alternative public transport is not convenient or regular enough to rely upon. MOTION Given that we now appear to be walking away from this parking solution we need our Council to form a review group, containing resident representatives, to again discuss options and ideas for a future parking plan. Proposed Don Walker Seconded Doug Carruthers Unanimous 5

6 .The Future of the Manly Hospital Site post 2018 The planned Manly Hospital site Future Options Study/Health & Well Being Workshop has been cancelled for now, possibly by the direct intervention of the new Minister, Brad Hazzard. Your Chairman was to attend that workshop in March. We are concerned that the Minister is publicly stating that all options are now open. This could suggest that the commitment from the previous Local member and Premier and the confirmation from the new Premier Gladys Belajiklian that the site will not be sold for housing ( aged or otherwise) and retained for public use and health and education services is under threat. We have a local team of professionals who have completed studies on how the current buildings and site could be utilised for the suggested services and they are struggling to get a hearing or any support from NSW Health. MOTION Manly Community Forum and their Manly Hospital site Future Option team need Council and the new Member, James Griffin to seek a commitment to further consultation and a workshop on the site future use. We also need NSW Health to allow further full inspections of the current site for further assessment of future potential. Total demolition and the resultant Greenfield site may not be in the public interest, financially and for our future amenity. Proposed Ray Mathieson Seconded Darryl Dobe Unanimous.. Manly Cinema We still await comment from the new Council as to their suggested actions in support of a resolution to the foreign owner s stand-off on use of the current cinema site. It remains unused and Manly, a major visitor and resident entertainment area, continues to operate without a cinema. The building has been shut since 2013, mainly due to a rental dispute. The heavy hand of the new Council and the State Government should intervene. Options have been proposed, with one very solid interest from Roy Mustaca, United Cinemas ( Collaroy and Warriewood), who was willing to invest over $1M in new projectors. Other Matters and New Business Pedestrian Crossing at Ashburner and East Esplanade. 6

7 The proposal for another crossing at Ashburner St corner has perceived danger issues and the meeting put forward other suggestions to keep pedestrians safe and traffic flowing. E.g. pedestrian refuge & speed humps. Other Traffic Matters. The Darley Road crossing possibly needs flashing lights to further alert speeding drivers. A supporting suggestion was proposed that Manly Ferry makes an announcement to tourists, alerting them to Australian road laws e.g. look right; pedestrians do not have right of way on a road. Possible Tree Poisoning at Shelly Beach A resident spoke of a valued shade tree at Shelly Beach, immediately adjacent to the steps to Bower Street, having been poisoned and then regularly sabotaged when new growth occurs.. Western Harbour Tunnel & Beaches Link ( Community Feedback Sessions) Chairman encouraged all residents to attend the feedback sessions planned over the April / May period. Sessions are planned for various areas including Mosman, McMahons Point, Chatswood, Balmain and Northbridge and two sessions at Manly Warringah Leagues Club Thursday 25 th May 2-6pm and Saturday 27 th May 10am to 2pm. There is no point in having a strong opinion or concerns and saying nothing. The Premier has made a commitment and allocated budget and some work has begun. Have your say SRG Waste and Recovery Committee Ian and Cathie are working hard to gain clear goals to present to the in coming council members. E.g. Can we use innovative technology and practices to make our sewerage issues a leading advanced environmental process? Ian then led the meeting through the seven areas identified under the umbrella of Burning issues we ll vote for in Manly Manly Community Forum s April 18 th meeting identified at least seven critical issues affecting our daily quality of life. 7

8 We ll prioritise them and then vote for them at our fast-approaching Northern Beaches council election. Waste End grossly inadequate sewage treatment at North Head. Demand EPA update their soft 1976 conditions on Sydney Water s treatment plant and regular raw-sewage overflows. Stop trucking solid human waste through our streets. Introduce a combined bi-annual hard waste pick-up with one individually booked pick-up per household per year. Make our new Northern Beaches council Australia s leader in recycling, with no plastic bags an immediate target. Build public-private-partnerships to trial in-building waste recycling and energy recovery with rate-incentives. Community services Expand study areas at the Manly Library. Ensure Telstra and NBN actually meet their local service commitments. Increase funding and facilities to our Art Gallery. Repurpose Manly Hospital for genuine community benefit. Traffic and parking Introduce resident-only parking zones in our streets. Expand Manly village s car-free walkways. Eliminate the black-market in parking permits for all-day commuter parking. Actively police illegal overnight campers abusing public car-parks at Shelly Beach, East Esplanade and Little Manly Point. Residential and heritage Ensure developers don t skirt local planning laws by endless Section 96 amendments or immediate escalation to the Land and Environment Court. 8

9 Restore organised community assessment of DA impacts. Ensure owner s corporations of strata scheme have the right to decide on short-term holiday lets like Airbnb in their own buildings. No more high-rise in Eastern Hill. Enact an historic-area master plan for Manly s public and commercial spaces. East Esplanade Allow reasonable alcohol consumption until a dusk cut-off rather than the current unobserved 4PM limit. Increase and improve toilets to encourage user and resident pride. Provide hard edging and landscaping to stop water erosion of grass banks. Gateway Quickly implement a Manly Wharf Master plan quickly to harmonise RMS and Northern Beaches Council. Rebuild historic boardwalk from ferry to former aquarium, paid for by business concessions on-site and RMS with more courtesy moorings to encourage on-shore dining. Start public announcements on arriving week-end slow ferries welcoming visitors to Manly, and urging people to keep it special. Natural environment Maintain current balance between marine sanctuary and fishing zones. Empty storm water Gross Pollutant Traps more frequently to keep harbour clean. Protect our scarce open public spaces from private encroachment. Activate former Manly Council s well considered tree-management plan. Increase culling of invasive non-native bird and fauna species especially at North Head and Little Manly park. Dr Ian Lang, Publicity, , iwlang111@gmail.com 9

10 The above issues will be readdressed at a future meeting to determine suitability and priority and any variations. Once confirmed they will form part of our approach to the suggested nominees for Councillors within Manly Ward and discussion with the candidates at meetings prior to the September election. Manly Resident Card.. A final matter was briefly discussed immediately after the meeting. Residents and Ex Councillors who are part of various committees and work groups have become aware of the new Council s intention to review and probably close down the currently available additional parking privileges for Manly residents. Residents who purchased the card are allowed up to three hours free parking on one occasion per day. These cards were issued to local residents to encourage greater use of the local amenities ( restaurants, shopping and the day to day essential care facilities such as Doctors, hair and chemist) without falling foul of the restricted time limit and the license plate recognition. It was also regarded as a special benefit for the residents who pay for the services provided and as a sweetener for those residents who remember that the sale of the Council owned Wentworth St open car park resulted in a promise that residents would be provided special local privileges over visitors. This matter is expected to be announced by Council in late April or May. Motion prepared by the Forum Committee. Before Council removes one of the few local resident privileges available to the residents who fund all services can they workshop the issue with local residents and resident groups such as ours. Proposed.. Ray Mathieson Unanimous. Seconded by Linda Williamson Committee Meeting Closed: 9PM Next Meeting: 16 th May,