Summer is winding down, but that did not stop a huge thunderstorm this week.
Art Installations
This week the Lane Cove Council installed art installations at The Canopy and the Lane Cove Plaza.
The Lane Cove Council are inviting residents to head to the Plaza and The Canopy to immerse themselves in ‘Love Birds’ and ‘Plasma’.
‘Love Birds’ by Pineapple Design Studio in the Plaza is an immersive, naturally kinetic lighting installation. Gliding above the audience, the birds flutter with colour and light in the wind. Inspired by the unique movement and effortless motion of soaring birds, the work mimics their angles and movement through the relationship between wing and body while also helping to spread a message about reducing waste.
Constructed from 100% carbon neutral Megara Polypropylene, the birds spread a message about reducing single-use plastic in our day to day lives.
One bird in the sky is sometimes hard to see; however, a flock of birds has the power to create beautiful shapes across the sky. As a community, we have the power to make a difference if we too come together as one to reduce our use of single-use plastic.
Head to The Canopy to see ‘Plasma’ by Chimera Atelier in action from 6:00 pm each night! Constructed from strong and durable Polyethylene spheres, the sculpture’s spherical forms merge into a continuous line of atom-like elements of light that change colour as people immerse themselves throughout the sculpture.
Plasma is one of the fourth states of matter that conducts electricity. This sculpture is a conceptual representation of atoms’ conductive properties located within a plasma reaction and how highly electrical reactions disperse light and energy when disturbed.
These special works will be in place until 16 March thanks to funding from the NSW Government and Council as part of the Festival of Place program.
Vandalism at The Canopy
Speaking of the Canopy, several residents have remarked to In The Cove that they are disappointed with the amount of vandalism that has been taking place at The Canopy. The Canopy does have extensive CCTV, so perpetrators run the risk of being found out. Here are some examples of vandalism this week.
Women Rescued from Bob Campbell Oval Canal
A woman fell down into the canal at the entrance of Bob Campbell Oval this week. Emergency Services attended, and she was taken to Royal North Shore with head injuries. More details here.
Outrage over the Sale of New Approved DA Boarding House Property in Mindarie Street
Late last year, the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled Staldone Rosedale Pty Ltd (the Developer) could build six-storey boarding houses on land located at 47 and 51 Mindarie Street Lane Cove North. A free-standing house at 49 Mindarie Street will remain between the two boarding houses. The owners of 49 Mindarie Street refused to sell their property to the Developer.
The Developer was to build a “new generation boarding houses”.
Developers are keen to build new generation boarding houses as space bonus allow increased floor space, usually around 20%, over what is otherwise permitted for residential flat/unit developments.
The Developer was given the green light despite numerous submissions objecting to the boarding houses from residents and the Stringybark Creek Resident’s Association.
Residents were concerned about the height of the buildings and traffic and parking congestion. They were also concerned the proposed boarding houses were out of character with the rest of the neighbourhood.
The SEPP that permits new generation boarding houses provides the following:
The aims of this Policy are as follows—
(a) to provide a consistent planning regime for the provision of affordable rental housing,
(b) to facilitate the effective delivery of new affordable rental housing by providing incentives by way of expanded zoning permissibility, floor space ratio bonuses and non-discretionary development standards,
(c) to facilitate the retention and mitigate the loss of existing affordable rental housing,
(d) to employ a balanced approach between obligations for retaining and mitigating the loss of existing affordable rental housing, and incentives for the development of new affordable rental housing,
(e) to facilitate an expanded role for not-for-profit-providers of affordable rental housing,
(f) to support local business centres by providing affordable rental housing for workers close to places of work,
(g) to facilitate the development of housing for the homeless and other disadvantaged people who may require support services, including group homes and supportive accommodation.
Residents argue that the For Sale sign specifically notes it is a premium boarding house development and has strong rental potential. They argue that this wording does not seem compatible with affordable housing.
In September 2020, NSW Planning released a paper, for public comment, on proposed changes to boarding house rules that addressed the issues above. The public comment period has closed, and NSW Planning is reviewing public submissions. The discussion paper noted:
“Since the introduction of the ARHSEPP, councils and communities have raised concerns about the boarding house provisions in the ARHSEPP. Key community and council concerns have centred around the lack of affordability of boarding house rooms; the use of the boarding house provisions to develop student housing; the excessive scale and bulk of some boarding house developments; the compatibility of boarding house development with low-density residential areas; and the clustering of boarding house development in certain areas.
In response to on-going concerns regarding boarding house developments, the Department worked with a group of councils during July and August 2019 to prepare advice to the Minister on issues associated with the boarding house provisions of the ARHSEPP. The report prepared by the Council Boarding House Working Group made 14 recommendations. The report is now available on the Department’s website. The key recommendation of the Working Group was that the definition of ‘boarding house’ should be amended to include a requirement that boarding house rooms are affordable.”
Clean Up Australia Day
On Clean Up Australia Day each year, around 70 volunteers clean up Batten Reserve Bushland and the surrounding streets. The event is hosted by The Stringybark Creek Residents Association and supported by the Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group; it brings young and old together to join forces in a massive clean up as part of Clean Up Australia.
Families and residents of all ages are welcome.
Lane Cove Podcast
Our latest Lane Cove Podcast is out now.
Crime and Incident Report
Police were called to a location in Northwood on Sunday, 21 February, when they observed two males acting suspiciously. When Police approached, one of the males quickly left and attempted to evade the Police but was located a short time later in a nearby laneway. The man was searched and found to be in possession of Cannabis and MDMA. The man was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and is due to appear at Hornsby Court in March.
Police arrested two men following an assault and malicious damage incident in Parramatta. On the 7th January 2021, Police were called to a car dealership located on Church Street, Parramatta, after reports that the two men (one of them from Lane Cove) were throwing items from a balcony at a nearby apartment building. It is alleged the items they were thrown hit both moving and stationary vehicles, causing damage with other items being thrown at Police. The two men were conveyed back to Parramatta Police Station, where they were charged for numerous offences, including Assault, Malicious Damage and other offences. They appeared this week in Parramatta Local Court.
This week in review is sponsored by Lane Cove Orthodontics.
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