COVID19 Update
This week has seen a reduction in COVID 19 cases. On Sunday 27th September 2020 there were no new COVID 19 cases.
While there have been days where no locally acquired cases were recorded, the virus is likely still circulating, and it is imperative anyone displaying mild symptoms gets tested immediately and not delay their test.
Testing numbers have declined in recent weeks. NSW Health is appealing to the community to come forward for testing right away if you have a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, fever or other symptoms that could be COVID-19. Local testing facilities are here.
NSW Health has been and continues to strongly encourage people to wear masks when unable to physically distance, particularly in indoor settings and on public transport, to keep everyone safe. As previously advised, when taking taxis or rideshare, commuters should sit in the back and wear a mask.
COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community, and we must all be vigilant. To help stop the spread of COVID-19:
If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away – don’t delay.
Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
Wear a mask on public transport, rideshare, taxis, shopping, places of worship and other places where you can’t physically distance.
COVID19 Sewerage Testing
Remnants of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in raw sewage across Sydney as part of a new research program undertaken by NSW Health and Sydney Water.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said sewage testing for molecular markers of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, started in July, adding another tool in the fight against the global pandemic.
“This is early days for this research, and we have a lot of work to do analysing our findings, but it’s one more way we can strengthen our fight against COVID-19,” Dr Chant said.
“This is a program that will show us where COVID-19 has been. For instance, we would expect to see viral fragments in Sydney sewage where we have consistently had cases in the community or in hotel quarantine
“However, if we continue to have very few active cases, there is scope for this testing to provide early warning in places without known or recent cases.
There is no evidence COVID-19 is transmitted via wastewater systems.
Sydney Water laboratories commenced testing raw sewage from plants at Bondi, Malabar, North Head, Cronulla, St Marys, Quakers Hill, Rouse Hill, Penrith, Shellharbour and Winmalee in the Blue Mountains about two weeks ago.
The first round of samples found positive results at Bondi, Malabar, and Winmalee. Further sampling and analysis are required to assess the significance of this initial positive result.
Sydney Water’s General Manager Customer, Strategy and Engagement, Maryanne Graham, said the wastewater network can provide data to help the health response to the pandemic.
“The virus is susceptible to current treatment processes which are effective in deactivating the virus and there is no risk to the public or to staff who are trained to complete this testing,” Ms Graham said.
Ms Graham said Sydney Water was also supporting NSW Health by analysing samples from regional areas including the Hunter, the North Coast, Southern and Western NSW.
The Canopy Shared Zone
The Canopy Shared Zone is still a hot topic. The shared zone was meant to be predominately pedestrian. ITC is aware of one accident in the shared zone since it opened. The shared zone is being used by people picking up pizza, dropping people off, and coffee runs. This zone can only work as a shared zone if the amount of traffic is reduced. Last week, more warning signs were erected, and bollards were installed this week (see our cover photo). To find out more about shared zones, read our article here.
Greenwich Hospital Redevelopment
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment has now completed its evaluation of the Greenwich Hospital redevelopment plans and provided it to the Independent Planning Commission NSW for determination. It supports the hospital redevelopment. The Lane Cove Council supports the redevelopment of the hospital but not the construction of senior independent living units on the site. They claim this could restrict the hospital growing in the future. Residents have many concerns about the redevelopment. Read more here.
NBN Upgrade
This week the Federal Government announced that Nine in 10 businesses would be able to order high-speed fibre broadband as NBN Co rolls out 240 Business Fibre Zones nationwide. One of those Business Fibre Zones will be located in Lane Cove.
Australian businesses will be able to access premium-grade NBN business fibre services at no upfront build cost to their retail service providers, boosting economic growth in regional and metropolitan Australia.
NBN Co’s Business Fibre Initiative is part of a $700 million package to transform the accessibility and affordability of business-grade fibre and allow small to medium businesses to embrace opportunities for growth.
The initiative will offer wholesale symmetrical speeds from 10 Mbps up to 1 Gbps on-request to more than 700,000 businesses in 240 Business Fibre Zones, including 85 Business Fibre Zones located in regional areas. It will also reduce wholesale pricing by up to 67 per cent for businesses in Zones outside metropolitan centres.
Businesses in Lane Cove will be eligible to access Enterprise Ethernet, NBN Co’s fastest wholesale product, which provides options for prioritised bandwidth, 24/7 dedicated support through NBN’s business operations centre, and symmetrical wholesale speeds suitable for data-intensive applications such as online collaboration and cloud-based tools.
For the first time, businesses outside capital city centres within these Business Fibre Zones will have access to CBD zone wholesale prices, driving annual cost savings of between $1,200 and $6,000.
NBN Co will allocate $50 million to help expand these Business Fibre Zones by co-investing with Local Councils and State Governments.
More information about the Business Fibre Initiative is available here.
Trolley Dumping
With the opening of The Canopy, there have been fewer trolleys dumped around Lane Cove by Coles and ALDI shoppers. These trolleys have wheel locks that automatically engage if they are removed from The Canopy. This has resulted in more Woolworths Trolleys being dumped. ITC raised this with the Woolworths Lane Cove manager but has not had a response.
Electronic Vehicle Charging Stations at The Canopy
There have been several complaints about non-electric cars being parked in the charging stations at The Canopy. The Lane Cove Council rangers do fine people for parking non-electric vehicles in these spots – so beware.
Business Alert
The new hair salon to open in Lane Cove Market Square will be called Snow Bear, and they are looking for a salon manager. Details here.
School Holiday Activities
School Holidays are fast approaching, and Lane Cove has some great activities for kids, including:
- Fantasy Writing Workshops (for kids who love Harry Potter) and Whodunnit writing workshops⠀
- Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios art workshops with experienced teachers and first-class facilities including kilns⠀
- Tae Kwon Doe
- Multisports Camp, Cricket Camps, Swimming and Tennis Camps⠀
- Learn to Sail and more
More Info here.
Tip of the Week
If you have a tip, please send it to us at [email protected] if we publish your tip (and you are the first one to tell us the specific tip) you will receive a Lane Cove Tea Towel.
The Lane Cove Post Office used to open on Saturday mornings. Due to COVID19 the Lane Cove Post Office is no longer open on Saturday mornings. The Greenwich post office is open on Saturday mornings.
Events
The Huge Plant Sale is back but with a difference. To observe social distancing, you now need to make an appointment to come and see 100’s and 100’s of plants at bargain prices with all proceeds going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Keith and Maureene Smith have held this plant sale for years and have raised nearly $100 000. Their garden will be featured on Gardening Australia on 16th October 2020. More details here.
Crime Report and Accidents
Police are investigating an alleged stabbing that occurred in Mindarie Street on 16 September 2020. More details here.
School Holidays have started, and we have already been told about a house being egged, a BBQ being vandalised in Burns Bay Reserve and Grafitti on Centennial Avenue and a motorbike being taken from outside one house and dumped in front of another house. These incidents were reported this weekend.
Last week we reported about an accident at Figtree/Barwon and Centennial Avenue. The incident was caught on dashcam by another driver who posted it on Facebook – a very bizarre accident where the car was stopped at the red light and then accelerated into traffic.
We also reported last week about an accident at Northwood Road and River Road. The Car had to be lifted by crane from a backyard on Monday morning.
The Alcott
Thank you to The Alcott for being an ITC Business Supporter. Without the support of our sponsors, we would not be able to operate. The Alcott has released a new menu and October is Viva Tequila month with $12 cocktails.
Contact Details
Address: No. 1 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove NSW
Phone: (02) 9428 5155
Website: www.thealcott.com.au
Facebook: @thealcott
Instagram: @thealcott
ITC Business Community Supporter: The Alcott
Licensed: Fully Licensed
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