Lane Cove News Week in Review 22nd November to 28th November 2020

This week finished with a hot blast and strong winds.  Earlier in the week, the weather was much cooler hovering around 20 to 21 degrees celsius.

Christmas Comes to Lane Cove

The Lane Cove Christmas Tree went up this week.  Unfortunately due to COVID19 one of the highlights on the Lane Cove event calendar, the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree, will not be held in 2020.

The Canopy Celebrations

This week Lane Cove residents waited with bated breath to see if they were lucky enough to score tickets to the free concerts in The Canopy today (Sunday 29th November 2020).  Many were disappointed to miss out on the first round, but a second-round ballot was held.  A roving reporter told ITC they received an Email on Sunday morning advising some tickets had been returned.  It appears that the hot weather may have put some people off going to the concerts.  However by the time DIESEL hit the stage, the weather was much cooler (see our Cover Photo)

Canopy Playground

A roving reporter sent us a picture of The Canopy playground fake grass/soft play and mentioned it is bunching up and a trip hazard.  Be careful around the equipment below.  The issue has been reported to Lane Cove Council.

Sydney Water Prosecuted

The EPA prosecuted Sydney Water for discharging raw sewage into the Lane Cove National Park and Lane Cove River.

They were required to release the following statement:

“Sydney Water Corporation was prosecuted by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and pleaded guilty to one offence of water pollution and one offence of contravening its environment protection licence relating to its failure to adequately clean up an overflow of 64,000 litres of raw sewage into Lane Cove National Park and Lane Cove River.

In July 2018 a blockage in a sewer pipeline resulted in raw sewage spilling out of a Sydney Water maintenance hole in Lane Cove National Park, flowing through bushland, down a creek and into the Lane Cove River.

Sydney Water employees were assigned to clean up the overflowed sewage. Instead of removing the raw sewage remaining on the bushland and creek, Sydney Water washed the raw sewage into the Lane Cove River. Due to failures in Sydney Water’s instructions and communication, the clean-up of the raw sewage in Lane Cove National Park was not completed for more than three weeks.

The impacts of the raw sewage reached more than 2.4 km down Lane Cove River. The raw sewage created a potential risk to the health of anyone exposed to the water in Lane Cove River and harmed the aquatic environment of the Lane Cove River through polluting the aquatic environment and degrading the water quality.

On 11 November 2020, the Land and Environment Court convicted Sydney Water of the offences and ordered Sydney Water to:

1. pay $145,000 including $127,000 to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for the Lane Cove National Park Bush Regeneration Project,
2. pay $24,369 to the EPA for the EPA’s investigation costs,
3. pay the EPA’s legal costs as agreed or as assessed, and
4. to cause this notice to be published.

New Business Alert

Masala Kitchen is now open in The Canopy and they are now taking bookings. The initial feedback has been great and people can’t wait to try out the gin bar. The fit-out looks FAB and the chairs out the front look very comfortable for a gin on a hot summer’s night. Book via this link https://bit.ly/3o0JFKO.

We are loving The Canopy but remember to spread your love around – just meeting friends for a cuppa at a different cafe each time will spread the love around. A vibrant Lane Cove is a good Lane Cove.

The Woolworths Metro has opened at the “Caltex” service station on the corner of Penrose Street and Burns Bay Road Lane Cove West.  Caltex is in the process of rebranding its sites back to AMPOL.   Everything old is new again.

Photo Credits Thomas Shanahan

Lane Cove Locals in the News

Bridget Kennedy is the 2019 Lane Cove Citizen of the Year. She also is a huge sustainability advocate with her work on the Sydney Edible Garden Trail and Repair Cafe Sydney North.  Bridget was featured in the Ethical Metalsmiths website. You can read the article here and will be inspired when you read the article below about Bridget and her work at Bridget Kennedy Contemporary Jewellery and Object Gallery – a talented jeweller she gives new life to jewellery pieces.

Santa Claus Given Quarantine Exemption

It’s been a tough year so far, and it is nice to see that the NSW Minister for Health and NSW Health has a sense of humour after their hard work in contract tracing and keeping on top of COVID19.  They released the following statement this week:

NSW Health has just released the following press release – make sure you show this to your kids!!

“Santa Claus is coming to town (no quarantine required)

The global COVID-19 pandemic will not impede Santa or his helpers’ entry into NSW on 24 and 25 December, thanks to an extra-special “essential workers” exemption granted by the NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard.

Mr Hazzard has written to Mr Claus’s North Pole address to say he and his elves and nine reindeers are not required to complete 14-day isolation in hotel quarantine after their sleigh crosses the NSW border.

This exemption has been shared with NSW Police to ensure Santa is able to travel freely and safely across Australia’s most populous state.

“Mr Claus, I understand you have significant magical powers which allow you to travel the world safely without transmitting COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard writes in the letter.

“I am aware you have safely delivered presents to children in Australia during previous pandemics, and as a result, I am confident you will take the necessary precautions to keep our community safe.

“Accordingly, this exemption will include the following precautions:
All presents will be delivered after bedtime to minimise contact;
You and your elves maintain 1.5 metres physical distancing should you encounter others;
If you are unwell, you get a COVID-19 test and isolate right away;
You and your elves must wash your hands regularly and carry hand sanitiser;
Wear a mask if you or your elves are ever unable to maintain physical distancing.”

A spokeswoman for Santa Claus confirmed receipt of the special exemption and said Santa and his helpers were only too happy to comply, having secured a jumbo supply of hand and hoof sanitiser to last their journey.

“After a challenging year, Mr Claus wants this Christmas to be the best yet,” she said.

“Santa’s advice to the NSW community is to stay safe and look after each other as you reflect on how blessed NSW has been in keeping COVID-19 at bay.”

 

NSW Health Warns Parents About Gastroenteritis in Childcare Centres

NSW Health is urging parents and carers to keep young children at home if they are sick amid a rise in viral gastroenteritis cases in childcare centres.

NSW Health’s Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr Richard Broome, said gastroenteritis is highly infectious and may spread rapidly in childcare centres.

“Nearly 60 childcare centres reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis in October, which is significantly higher than usual. More than 480 children and 120 staff have been affected. Levels have remained high throughout November,” Dr Broome said.

“The best defence is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 10 seconds before handling and eating food, and always wash your hands after using the toilet, changing nappies or assisting someone who has diarrhoea or vomiting.

“Infants or children in childcare or school who develop vomiting or diarrhoea should stay at home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped, as should staff members and anyone whose work involves handling food or looking after children, the elderly or patients.”

Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches. They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, sometimes longer.

The main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Most people recover without complications, but gastroenteritis can be serious for infants, people with suppressed immune systems and the elderly.

Anyone recovering from gastroenteritis should avoid visiting hospitals and aged care facilities to avoid spreading the infection to those most vulnerable. Any person living in a household affected by gastroenteritis should refrain from visiting these high-risk areas until at least 48 hours after the last person in the household has recovered.

NSW Health is reminding childcare centres to reinforce basic hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing (paying particular attention to hand washing after attending to nappy changes), cleaning all hard surfaces and providing education to help prevent the spread of infections. Staff should also wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up bodily fluids, including vomit, when symptoms commence at the centre. Disinfect surfaces with a freshly made sodium hypochlorite solution.

Army Helicopter Training

The Australian Army posted the following on their Facebook page last week – as yet we have not seen or heard the Helicopter training.

Heads Up
Get ready for helicopters over Lane Cove (and Sydney) again. The Australian Army has advised that training exercises will be taking place in late November. The Australian Army advised as follow.

“Shout out to the residents of Sydney! Some of our troops will be conducting training over the next week in your area.

There will be helicopters flying at night and early in the morning, at a low altitude.
Please ensure you let your family, friends and any neighbours know that this training will be occurring.

This training is part of #AusArmy‘s regular training schedule and is designed to ensure #OurPeople are operating at the highest level of capability to respond where required, to support Australia’s national interests.

We acknowledge that these activities may result in disturbances to local residents. This disruption will be minimised wherever possible.

You should not be alarmed if you see low-flying helicopters or hear the associated noise. We appreciate the support of the local community during this important training period.
The training is being conducted in a manner that accounts for COVID-19 restrictions and good health management processes.

Individuals with concerns should contact Defence via: 1300 333 362.”

World AIDS Day – Red Ribbon Luncheon

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year to raise awareness across the world and in the community about HIV and AIDS.

To show your support why not pop on a red outfit, cook up a red-themed meal and join us on Tuesday 1 December, 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm for an online Red Ribbon luncheon with Paul Caleo from Positive Life NSW.  More Details Here.

Lane Cove Sport

Lane Cove Rugby

The Lane Cove Rugby Club has named their clubman of the year, and it is the one and only Graeme Priddy. ITC can tell you he is a top bloke as last year we spent time with him in his UTE as we cruised the streets of Lane Cove picking up dead Christmas Trees and taking them to be woodchipped at the Lane Cove Council Depot (during 42 degrees heat). All money raised went to the Red Cross Bush Fire Fund. Well done Graeme you are a legend. If anyone wants to recreate their schoolboy rugby days and pull on the boots, Lane Cove Rugby will be recruiting again in February next year. You can follow their Facebook page to keep up to date.

Lane Cove Cricket

Girl’s Cricket is booming in Lane Cove, and this weekend all four Under 11’s Girls Lane Cove Cricket teams played at Blackman Park. If you have a girl (or boy) who is thinking about playing cricket, they should contact  Lane Cove Cricket Club.

Police Reports, Incidents and Accidents

Mailbox Theft Arrest

If you see someone suspicious lurking around mailboxes, give the Chatswood Police a call on 9414 8499. It might result in an arrest and reduce mailbox theft.  Chatswood Police reported the following arrest in neighbouring suburb Wollstonecraft.

Police were called to King Street Wollstonecraft around 4.00 am on Saturday 21 November 2020 regarding a man behaving suspiciously around mailboxes. The man was located by Police a short time later attempting to hide in some bushes. Police will allege that several items of mail were located on the man that were addressed to other people.

The man was arrested and taken to Chatswood Police where he was charged with Larceny, Goods in custody suspected being stolen and Armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The 33-year-old Woolloomooloo man was refused bail and will face Downing Centre local court this month.

Another Accident at the Infamous Diddy Intersection

The picture below says it all.  We also heard from another roving reporter that a few hours later they saw a large truck with a crane turn right from River Road West (near The Diddy) into Longueville Road when the arrow was red, but the light was green.  As we have previously said before, it is usually a driver who is not used to driving through this intersection that gets confused by the arrows.  Lane Cove Council did announce there would be upgrades to this intersection and work were to commence, but slow progress is being made.  Read more here about the number of accidents at this intersection.

House Egging Longueville

A house in Longueville has been the target of repeated egging attacks on Saturday nights around 10.30. pm CCTV vision has been delivered to the police (however the police believe the 4 boys involved in the attack are under 18 so we cannot show the CCTV vision).

If your house has been egged recently or you have seen anyone acting suspiciously around Longueville on Saturday nights, please contact Chatswood Police on 9414 8499. The owners of the house are also now considering their options about private security firms.

Bus Broken Down Mowbray Road

This week there were delays on Mowbray Road when a bus broke down.  The traffic was even heavier than usual.

Confusing Sign Intersection of Mowbray Road/Centennial Avenue

A roving reporter told us the following:

“Anyone else noticed the No Right Turn sign from Centennial Ave onto Mowbray Rd?

It should be No Right Turn from Mowbray Road into Greenlands Street but has swung around somehow.”

Willoughby City Council manages this side of the road.

The Beautician

Our week in review is sponsored by one of ITC’s foundation sponsors The Beautician.  During November every person who received a treatment went into the draw to win a Sothys Advent Calendar.  Check out the winner below, and The Beautician’s founder Zena White also gives some tips on what to buy your partner this Christmas.

The Beautician is located at the Figtree Shops in Lane Cove West.

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