Lane Cove News Week in Review 25th August to 1st September 2021

Welcome to our Lane Cove Local News week in review with up-to-date information on COVID19 as it impacts the Lane Cove Local Government Area.  Lane Cove has now recorded 26 COVID19 cases in the last four weeks.

COVID19 Lane Cove LGA Stats as of 8 pm 31st August 2021

COVID-19 cases and tests by local government area as at 8 pm 31/8/2021- Last 4 Weeks Data

*Includes all locally acquired cases (known and unknown source)

The tables show the location of residence by Local Government Area (LGA) or local health district (LHD) of locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the last four weeks. It is based on the date the person first developed symptoms. When no date of symptom onset is available (it is either under investigation by public health staff or the person tested positive without showing symptoms), the date of the positive test is used. Infections are not always acquired in the place of residence as people often travel outside their area for many reasons (e.g., work, school, and shopping). Cases without an NSW residential address and people who were exposed interstate or overseas are not shown. Case counts may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and case review.

 Source:  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-local.aspx

The data below shows the postcodes where the cases live and includes an overseas acquired case.

2066 Cases 

2065 – Greenwich Cases

Lane Cove and Surrounding Suburbs Exposure Sites

Coles Lane Cove

Coles has been informed that a team member who works at Coles Lane Cove supermarket in Lane Cove has tested positive for COVID-19.

According to NSW Health’s advice, all customers who were at the store between 5:00 pm and 12:00 am on Wednesday 25^th August and between 5:00 pm and 12:00 am on Thursday 26^th August 2021 are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that customers who receive a negative test taken before 31^st August 2021 should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 31^st August 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets, and frequent cleaning and sanitisation and a comprehensive deep clean have occurred in the time since the team member was last on-site.

Coles Crows Nest

Coles has been informed that a team member who works at Coles Crows Nest supermarket in Crows Nest has tested positive for COVID-19.

According to NSW Health’s advice, all customers who were at the store between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm on Tuesday 24^th August and between 4:00 pm and 8:30 pm on Wednesday 25^th August 2021 are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that customers who receive a negative test taken before 30^th August 2021 should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 30^th August 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets, and frequent cleaning and sanitisation and a comprehensive deep clean have occurred in the time since the team member was last on-site.

Woolworths Crows Nest

COVID19 Press Conference 1 September 2021

NSW recorded 1,116 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8 pm last night.

There are currently 917 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 150 people in intensive care, 66 of whom require ventilation. 127 of them were not vaccinated.

Of the 1,116 locally acquired cases reported to 8 pm last night, 22 are from the Northern Sydney Local Health District.

There were 173,913 COVID-19 tests reported at 8 pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 130,027.

Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of four people who had COVID-19.

A woman in her 80s from south-western Sydney died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

A woman in her 60s from western Sydney died at Concord Hospital.

A woman in her 50s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool hospital.

A woman in her 70s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital.

NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 6,977,454, with 2,611,205 doses administered by NSW Health to 8 pm last night and 4,366,249 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59 pm on Monday 30 August 2021.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact with a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact with a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case. Local testing info here.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or traveled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

The official vaccine booking link is here.

There are also various other tools available such as Covid Queue and Covid-19 Near me – which show you vaccinations and testing locations and availability.

Mask Up

We have been asked by some local businesses to remind people to scan in, wear a mask, and don’t pull your mask down when you are using your phone to pay – use your passcode.

Also, be kind to our local frontline workers – they are under heaps of stress as well. Every time they go to work, they are potentially being exposed to COVID19.

New Business Alert

A new modern Mexican restaurant called Sayulita is coming to The Canopy (where Peanut Butter Jelly used to be).

We will let you know when they open.   See our cover photo.

Father’s Day

It’s time to get organised for your Father’s Day feast.  See our dining and foodie guide and book quickly as some restaurants have sold out.  Read more here.

Lane Cove Rotary Fair

We are sad to report that Lane Cove’s biggest and much-loved event, The Lane Cove Village Rotary Fair, has been cancelled for 2021. This is such a shame but the correct call given the COVID19 status. ITC loves the fair as we get to meet so many of our readers. It is also Lane Cove Rotary’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and they use those funds to help local organisations and other important causes. We can’t wait to see it back in 2022.

NSW Rural Fire Service – Hazard Reduction Burning

In the first week of September, more Hazard Reduction Burning will be undertaken in the Northern Beaches Area and St Ives, which may result in smoke lingering around Lane Cove and the North Shore.

Lane Cove Council’s Adverse Audit Findings – DPIE Audit

To ensure local councils exercise a consistent, fair, and transparent procedure in determining variation applications, the Department of Planning conducts periodic audits to check council compliance with the requirements of clause 4.6 and the planning circulars.

In New South Wales, the Standard Instrument – Principal Local Environmental Plan sets out development standards that need to be met when preparing a development application.

Clause 4.6 of the Standard Instrument LEP provides flexibility in the application of development standards by allowing consent authorities, including local councils, to approve a variation to development standards.

Lane Cove Council was audited in 2018, and adverse findings were noted. Below is the extract of the 2020 findings, and it is interesting to note that Lane Cove Council has not complied with reporting requirements.

This does not surprise ITC. We regularly write to them, raising probity issues and lack of compliance for procedures. For example, their GIPA log was out of date, and we had to write to them to update it.

We also have requested that probity documents be available online.

The Lane Cove Council needs to do some serious work on its governance and probity requirements.

This is the same council with adverse audit findings in credit card procedures and accounting procedures.

ITC also pointed out at the last council meeting that the minutes of the Lane Cove Council Extraordinary Meeting held on 2 August 2021 did not note Mayor Pam Palmer had used her casting vote to resolve that the General Manager enter into a contract for the replacement of the natural turf at Bob Campbell Oval and installation of synthetic turf – this will mean the oval will be out of action for a considerable period of time – just when our green spaces are needed even more.