Lane Cove News Week in Review 16th to 23rd February 2022

It’s been a wet week with intense rainfall and very loud thunder. Rain will continue for the rest of the week, so drive safely.

Lane Cove has, so far, been lucky to escape flash flooding; however, the torrential rain is causing problems with a huge sinkhole near the Dog Park area at Blackman Park. (see our cover photo – thank you to Roving Reporter Andrew for this)

is still resulting in trees and tree branches toppling over. The tree below came down on Belcote Road in Longueville, and we had reports of a tree down on Lawn Avenue near Centennial Avenue in Lane Cove West.

The rain cleared for about two hours on Friday, 18 February 2022, which meant the very popular Lion Dance could proceed. It was postponed due to rain on 5 February 2012.

Our photo was taken by Will from Sunrises of Sydney; check out his Instagram site here.

Shark Caught at Greenwich

For those who have been following ITC for a while, you will know that from time to time, we report about bull sharks being spotted around the Lane Cove River and in our bays (like Woodford Bay and Tambourine Bay).

Our friends at Mosman Collective reported on Monday that a 2.8m Bull Shark was caught and tagged in Middle Harbour over the weekend – read more here (by the way, if you have friends in Mosman, they should follow Mosman Collective as it is like ITC – local news for locals by locals)

Channel 7 News reported that a shark had been caught and tagged at Greenwich over the weekend (see below).

138th Annual Gold Cup Regatta

On the same weekend as the shark sighting, the Lane Cove River was packed with rowers competing in the 138th Annual Gold Cup Regatta on Saturday.

Rowers from schools and local rowing clubs like the North Shore Rowing Club (located near Aquatic Park) compete in the Regatta. St Ignatius Riverview hosts the rowing regatta. The Riverview 1st and 2nd VIII won their heat and finished second in their respective finals.

A special congratulations to Sydney Rowing Club, who again placed first in both the Men’s and Women’s Gold Cup Eight.

Lane Cove Council Meeting Open to the Public Again

The Lane Cove Council is finally meeting again in person. It’s also the first time many of our new councillors have had the chance to be at a council meeting in the chamber. It was great to see all nine councillors in the chamber.

The public forum was packed in the first hour. Some of the issues raised at the public forum were parking changes around Lane Cove West Public school, Canberra Avenue St Leonards closure, and the sport and recreation facility business case. Several members of the public commended councillors for the proposed initiatives around renewable energy.

ITC has summarised the agenda and the outcomes here.

The Lane Cove Council has also proposed meeting date changes.  Instead of their meetings being on the third Monday of the month (except for January) they will now be on the third  Thursday.  The agenda and meeting papers will be released on the Thursday prior to the meeting.  This will give both Councillors and the public a full week to review the agenda and meetings papers.  This is another good step towards a more transparent council process.  It is very difficult to read the papers that come out late on a Thursday and prepare a submission on a Monday.

Note Councillor Bennison has a medical exemption concerning wearing a mask.

Election Time Again

Did somebody say Federal Election???

One might not have been called yet, but Lane Cove is buzzing with candidates.

On the Weekend, Kylea Tink launched her campaign at The Diddy (and what a great place for a big outdoor event). See pictures below.

During the week, Victor Kline – New Liberals was in the plaza (thank you to a roving reporter for telling us that), and Labor’s Professor Catherine Renshaw has been visiting Lane Cove quite a bit.

Our local federal member is Trent Zimmerman, but he has not yet been officially pre-selected by the Liberal Party. According to the New Daily, Trent Zimmerman and ministers Alex Hawke and Sussan Ley face the possibility of fighting to be pre-selected. Read the article here.

New Business Alert

Red Fort Indian Restaurant is now open in Lane Cove. They are located where Delhi Hut used to be above NiBu Cafe at The Village Shopping Centre. Bookings are by phone only 8054 5660.

They are open seven days a week. Dine-in or takeaway (pickup only). Their menu is on their Facebook page. Open from 12 to 9 pm Mon to Thurs and Sun and from 12.00 to 9.30 Fri to Sat.

COVID19 Rule Changes Announced on 17 February 2022

Friday 18 February 2022

• QR check-ins are no longer needed apart from nightclubs and music festivals of more than 1,000 people. Hospitals to continue to use their existing systems.
• 2sqm density limits for hospitality venues removed
• Singing and dancing permitted at all venues except musical festivals
• The recommendation to work from home will change and be returned to the employer’s discretion

Monday 21 February 2022

Hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travellers will be reduced from 14 days to 7 days.

Friday 25 February 2022

• Masks are only mandatory on public transport, planes and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, corrections facilities and indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
• You are still encouraged to wear a mask indoors where you cannot safely distance yourself from others and customer-facing retail staff.
• Singing and dancing is permitted at music festivals
• The 20,000 person cap on music festivals will be removed
• Attendees of music festivals of more than 1,000 people must have at least two doses of the Covid19 vaccine (but not mandatory to have booster)
• Police Report

Police Report/Incidents and Accidents

Attempted Kidnapping Lane Cove

Police have charged a 43-year-old Lane Cove North man with allegedly attempting to kidnap a child from a Lane Cove child care centre on Monday 14 February 2022. The police praised the child care centre for its professional approach in dealing with the man. Read more here.

Assault/Intimidation – Chatswood

Police have charged a 14-year-old Artarmon boy with a range of offences after an incident occurred in Chatswood last week where the boy chased several other teenagers while wielding a knife.

Around 3:00 pm, three local teens were at Chatswood Interchange eating a meal when they observed the Artarmon boy riding his bike nearby. The Artarmon boy has allegedly approached the three friends, produced a knife, and threatened the group, causing them to flee the area.

The three friends made their way to Chatswood mall, where a short time later, they observed the boy pedalling furiously towards them while holding the knife.

The friends again fled with one seeking refuge in a nearby shopping centre. The boy allegedly pursued the victim into the centre and threatened to stab the teen.

Witnesses alerted police, who arrived a short time later and arrested the boy who police will allege was also in possession of a toy gun at the time of the incident. The boy was charged with assault, two counts of intimidation and possession of a knife. He will face court next month.

High Range Drinking – Mowbray Road Chatswood

Police have charged a Lane Cove North man with high range drink driving after spotting his vehicle travelling well below the speed limit earlier this week.

Shortly after midnight Monday 21^st February police were patrolling Mowbray Road, Chatswood when they observed a silver Subaru Liberty travelling about 20km/h and swerving dangerously across the roadway.

Police stopped the vehicle and conducted a roadside breath test. The driver returned a positive result, as such they were arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station.

At the station the driver allegedly told police that he had consumed 8 schooners throughout the evening before attempting to drive home. The driver returned a breath analysis reading of 0.189 grams of alcohol in his breath. His licence was suspended on the spot, he will face Hornsby Local Court next month.

Break Enter Steal/Stolen Motor Vehicle – Wollstonecraft 

A grey Porsche Macan was stolen from the garage of a home in Bridge End, Wollstonecraft over the weekend after offenders entered the home and stole keys to the vehicle.

Sometime between Friday 11^th and Monday 21^st February unknown offenders have forced their way into the home and stolen the vehicle’s keys.

Police are asking for anyone that may have noticed any suspicious activity at the stated location during the given times and dates to please contact North Shore Police on 9414 8499 or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au).

Mail Theft – Mosman

Police have charged a 40 year old Narraweena man with being in possession of stolen goods after he was found last week, in a Mosman Street with a large amount of mail.

Around 3:30am Friday 18^th January police were conducting patrols along Military Road, Mosman when they spotted the man. The man attempted to flee down Belmont Street however he was stopped by police a short time later. Police searched the man and will allege they located 87 pieces of mail addressed to residents throughout Neutral Bay and Cremorne along with two universal master keys typically used to access mailboxes.

The Narraweena man was arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station. He was charged with being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of identity info to commit an indictable offence and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. He was granted conditional bail and will next face court in March.

Week in Review Sponsor Lane Cove Orthodontics

Our week in review is sponsored by Lane Cove Orthodontics – LCO has supported In the Cove since we launched and each year they renew sponsorship and tell us that they see In the Cove as a vital community resource.  Thank you to the team at LCO and if you have gappy teeth you are in good hands.