Welcome to our week in review.
Australia Day 26th January 2023
Australia Day is this Thursday. We have put together a list of things for you to do on Australia Day in Lane Cove – read our article here. It’s going to be hot on Australia Day so have a swim at Lane Cove Aquatic and then a picnic at Pottery Green (see our cover photo).
See what is open on Australia Day here.
Double Demerit Points Now Apply
NSW Police are urging motorists to drive safe this Australia Day period, as a high visibility road safety operation runs throughout the long weekend.
Operation Australia Day will commence at 12.01am on Wednesday (25 January 2023) and conclude at 11.59pm on Sunday (29 January 2023).
Double demerit points will apply for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
Traffic and Highway Patrol officers, with assistance from Police Area Commands and Police Districts, will be deployed across all metropolitan and regional areas in NSW, to keep the community safe over the busy period.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King, said with Australia Day falling on a Thursday, police expect a lot of people on the roads from Wednesday and across the weekend.
“With double demerits in place over five days we urge everyone to remember the consequences if you do the wrong thing behind the wheel,” Acting Assistant Commissioner King said.
“While police will be doing everything in their power to work with the community to keep our roads safe, we also want to advise motorists that everyone has a role to play.
“Inside each and every vehicle you pass on the road is a loved one: a mate, a mother, a father, child or a sibling – and we can all take steps to keep them out of harm’s way,” Acting Assistant Commissioner King said.
Head of Safety at Transport for NSW Peter Dunphy said although the road toll currently stands at 13, which is seven less than for the same time last year, it is important motorists don’t become complacent.
“Keeping safe on the roads is everyone’s responsibility, so please make sure you’re well rested before you set off, stick to the speed limit and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, put the phone away and never ever drive if you’re affected by drugs or alcohol,” Mr Dunphy said.
“Motorists should also remember that school zones are back in force from Friday 27 January, and it is especially important to slow down and take care in school zones at school times – even if you cannot see children near the road.”
Lunar New Year
The Lane Cove Plaza has been decorated for Lunar New Year.
Get ready for the famous Lion Dance on 3 Feb 2023. More details here.
E-Waste is Being Accepted Again at the Community Recycling Centre
The Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in Artarmon is now able to accept e-waste for disposal. They are closed on the Australia Day public holiday.
Reward for Good Drivers
From April 2023 good drivers will Have Some Fines Waived.
Safe drivers are to have their fines waived on a range of minor driving offences in a new road safety bid to encourage positive behaviour change.
Announced by the Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Natalie Ward, drivers will be allowed to apply to have fines waived for low level offences – including speeding offences under 10km/hr or driving in a bus or transit lane – from 3 April.
Ms Ward said school zone, heavy vehicle, red light, mobile phone and speeding offences above 10km per hour would not be eligible under the scheme in view of the serious safety risks involved.
She said enhancing road safety was at the core of the policy.
“To be eligible, motorists have to have a clean driving record for three years,” Ms Ward said.
“This policy rewards good drivers and provides a real incentive to put safety first.”
Minister for Finance, Damien Tudehope said greater awareness of the scheme would encourage positive behaviour change.
“Receiving a fine can come as an unwelcome shock but under this policy, motorists will have cause to reflect on how an extended clean driving record can bring relief,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The average NSW licence holder drives 12,000km per annum and maintaining a clean driving record over three years should be recognised and rewarded.”
He said that in 2021 there were 227,500 fines issued for low level offences to motorists with a three-year clean driving record, totalling $39.2 million in fines
Pre School Subsidised Fees
For the first time, parents whose children attend preschool programs at Long Day Care settings will enjoy subsidised fees.
Parents across NSW are set to receive cost relief on their preschool fees with savings of up to $4,220 a year, thanks to a landmark investment from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Liberal and Nationals Government will ease the cost-of-living pressure for families and ensure more children receive high quality early education.
“Research has shown that preschool is where the building blocks for lifelong success are established. It is vital that we can support families in accessing quality early childhood education,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This investment shows that the Liberal and Nationals in Government are committed to ensuring families across the state have brighter futures and less pressure on wallets.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said investing in our youngest learners makes economic sense.
“Every $1 invested in early childhood education delivers a $2 boost to the NSW economy,” Mr Kean said.
“We’re reducing stress for families across NSW by providing fee relief on this important part of their child’s growth and development.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said families can now save up to $4,220 per year depending on where their child attends preschool.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has been providing significant fee relief for families attending community and mobile preschools for the last two years, and from this year fee relief will be available for more families than ever before,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This government is investing in the futures of our children at a level never seen before and in a way that also helps parents with the household budget.”
From this month, all NSW families will be eligible for:
up to $4,220 per year in fee relief for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds attending a community or mobile preschool,
up to $2,110 per year in fee relief for 4 and 5-year-olds attending preschool in a long day care setting on top of their Child Care Subsidy payment, and
the equivalent of 5 days a fortnight of affordable preschool fee relief for all children in Department of Education preschools.
To access the Start Strong 2023 preschool fee relief, parents are encouraged to speak to their service today. Families enrolled in a community preschool or long day care service must complete a declaration form and nominate one service from which they would like to receive the fee relief.
The NSW Government is investing more than $15.9 billion in early childhood commitments announced as part of the 2022-23 budget to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW.
Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiatives, a workforce package for early childhood educators and the Affordable Preschool fee relief, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
Lane Cove Concert Band
The Lane Cove Concert Band is holding an info session next Tuesday evening from 6.15 pm at Waterview Community Centre for anyone that might be interested in joining up this year.
They welcome beginners, returning and experienced musicians and already have over 200 members and six ensembles. Come and join them this year as they celebrate 60 years as an organisation.
If you’d like to come along you can register your attendance here:
RSVP: https://forms.gle/7FHv5eBX25tf7h9Z6
Lane Cove Sport
Rugby Union
Lane Cove Rugby Union Club would like you to know about the opportunities in 2023. They have Senior Rugby, Colts U/21 and Women’s 7’s.
Colts Rugby
The club is rebuilding its colts group with the assistance of The Diddy, playing as the Diddy Colts and benefitting from associated Diddy sponsorship, membership and support.
Women’s Rugby
This season introduces two new programs to encourage new players into rugby and better support the more experienced and those already in rugby. The season commences with the SportsFit program, the free 5-week pre-season fitness program being run by Fitrev on the bottom green of the Diddy for Lan Cove Rugby that also caters for all sports-minded women 17+ probably living on the lower north shore of Sydney simply keen to build their fitness in preparation for their 2023 sporting season.
The season then moves into the special Try Rugby Program catering for both those new to Rugby who may be interested or those with rugby experience SportsFit spots are limited.
Colts and Seniors
The club plans to engage Sam Wykes of Waratah and Sunwolves fame to run his special “ Rugby reconnect “ program of skills based training for all current and former rugby players particularly those not progressing much beyond school or district junior rugby.
FREE preseason fitness Program in February 2023
Sports-playing women 17+ of the Lane Cove district are invited to join a free pe-season fitness program being run by Lane Cove Rugby on the greens of the Diddy through February 2023.
It would interest those keen to build their fitness in preparation for their 2023 sporting season.
The Program consists of 5 weekly Tuesday evening sessions from 6.30 to 7.30 commencing on Tuesday 31st January 2023 and finishing on Tuesday 28th February 2023 and run by Fitrev at The Diddy Cnr River Road West & Kenneth Streety Longueville Sydney.
Fitness Revelation is a well-known fitness studio located at the Diddy, and the program is free due to the sponsorship of the Lane Cove Rugby Union women’s rugby group.
Places are limited to the first 30 applicants.
Contact: Bella.: 0466 111 165. Email: [email protected].
Info: www.lanecoverugby.com
Crime and Incident Report
Remember to lock your cars and doors before going to bed.
There was an attempted break-in at Riverview last night – they were not successful as doors and cars locked.
Attempt Steal from Motor Vehicle – Chatswood – 17/01/2023
A 33-year-old Forestville male has been charged by police and subsequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment after an incident in Chatswood on Tuesday 17th January 2023.
At 2:20pm police observed the Forestville man attempting to use an implement to enter a locked vehicle on Darling Street, Chatswood via the front passenger side window. Police continued to watch the man for a period, however he was ultimately unsuccessful in gaining entry to the vehicle.
Police stopped the male a short time later where he and the vehicle he was driving were searched. During the search of the vehicle police located several items of interest within the vehicle, including the implement the male was using. He was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station.
At the station the male was charged with Possess implements to enter/drive conveyance, Found with intent to commit indictable offence previous conviction and Breach Bail.
The male was bail refused by police and at a subsequent court date was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
Shoplifting – Chatswood – 13/01/2023
A 36-year-old Woy Woy woman will face Hornsby Local Court in March after allegedly being caught shoplifting.
At 11:00am on 13th of January 2023, the female entered a grocery store in Chatswood CBD and allegedly removed multiple items from the shelves and secreted them within bags in her possession. These actions were witnessed by plain clothes police.
Police will allege that the female then exited the store without making any attempt to pay for the items she had selected. Police stopped the female and subsequently searched her, allegedly locating 14 stolen items from the grocery store totalling $91.90 and a mobile phone police suspected was also stolen.
Police conducted checks which also revealed that the woman had previously been issued with a banning notice from the store until May 2023.
The female was issued with a court attendance notice for the offences of Shoplifting, Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and Enter enclosed land without lawful excuse.
Never Licensed/Breach Bail – Cammeray – 22/01/2023
A 21-year-old Blacktown man will face Downing Centre Local Court in February after police stopped a vehicle in Cammeray on Sunday night.
At 11:40pm on 22nd of January, police stopped a silver Holden sedan on Ernest Street, Cammeray. Police spoke with the 21-year-old male driver, and it was established that he had allegedly never held a license.
Further checks conducted by police discovered that the male was in breach of his current bail conditions.
The male was issued a court attendance notice for the offences of Never licensed person drive vehicle on road and Breach Bail.
Week in Review Sponsor – The Alcott
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