Lane Cove News Week in Review 12th to 19th July 2023

Welcome to our week in review.

Bus Cancellations Continue

Lane Cove locals are still impacted by Busways failure to deliver a reliable service to Region 7 bus commuters.

The NSW State Government is aware that Region 7 is the region with the highest number of bus driver vacancies.   Last week Jo Heylan, the Minister for Transport, launched a bus recruitment drive at the Ryde Depot.

The bus recruitment drive includes referral bonuses and waived license fees in an effort to address the driver shortage – completing the final of four urgent recommendations designed to improve driver recruitment.

The NSW Government has made the following claim:

“In just over four weeks, the NSW government has:

• acted to slash red tape to make it cheaper and easier to get a Driver’s Authority
• held a Bus Industry Summit with more than 100 industry leaders
• commenced work with bus companies to make temporary adjustments to improve the reliability of timetables.

Region 7, which includes Ryde and Lane Cove, is the worst impacted by the driver shortage, with 99 vacancies.

New bus drivers are being urged to jump on board in the most targeted bus driver recruitment campaign to date, focusing on areas hardest hit by the driver shortage, including:

• Ryde/Lane Cove, Region 7 – 99 vacancies
• Inner West, Region 6 – 89 vacancies
• Northern Beaches, Region 8 – 58 vacancies
• Eastern Suburbs, Region 9 – 36 vacancies
• North Shore, Region 14 – 33 vacancies
• South-West Sydney, Region 13  – 13 vacancies
• Hills District, Region 4 – 12 vacancies.

The campaign will run until September and aims to attract new drivers to the profession, filling the 370 vacant roles across the city.

Real bus drivers are at the heart of the campaign that will appear on websites, digital media, social media, and radio. The campaign will encourage job seekers to find jobs in their area launch.

The Government has already made it quicker, easier, and cheaper for drivers to get their bus driver authority by:

The campaign is in conjunction with what bus operators are already doing to incentivise more people to the role, such as referral bonuses of up to $6,000 for experienced drivers and up to $5,000 for new drivers. There are also employee referral bonuses and operators assisting with driver onboarding costs – such as the cost of Driver Authority training and licence upgrades.

Bus Passenger Forums will continue later this month in Newcastle after the first forum kicked off in the Northern Beaches as the Government puts passengers first in delivering better bus services for the state.  At this stage, a bus passenger forum has not been planned for Region 7 – the area with the highest number of bus driver vacancies.

NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We are seeing a solid increase in bus driver applications since the beginning of the year, and we need to ramp this up to deliver a better service for our communities.”

“We will be targeting areas that are experiencing the worst shortages like Sydney’s northwest, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs and the Inner West to get more people into the role.”

“This campaign is just one more step the Minns Labor Government is taking to be able to deliver reliable bus services across the State.”

“We are getting great feedback from industry and passengers through the Bus Industry Taskforce and Bus Passenger Forums that will shape recommendations for the Taskforce to present to the Government.”

Find out more about becoming a bus driver launch.

Lane Cove Locals in the News

Lisa Brinks, who works for Stone Real Estate Greenwich, is a mad keen soccer player with the Greenwich Soccer Club and also a Matilda’s fan.  She was featured on the front page of the Sun Herald on Sunday 16 July 2023.

Lisa has tickets to numerous Matilda games, but if you are not lucky enough to have tickets, then all the Matilda’s Games will be shown on the big screen at The Canopy.  Grab some low chairs, a picnic blanket, and food from your favourite Lane Cove eatery and have a ball.

Apartment Strata Levies Increase

Over 50% of Lane Cove residents live in an apartment complex.  An article in the Sydney Morning Herald on 19 July 2023 notes:

“Strata levies paid by apartment owners are up by 15 to 20 per cent on average over the past year as the costs of insurance, utilities and repairs and maintenance outstrip even the rapid rise in general inflation.

Apartment owners are facing an increase in strata fees on top of rises in mortgage repayments.

Without any official source of strata levies, the evidence for rising levies is anecdotal, but Karen Stiles, executive director of the Owners Corporation Network, which represents residential strata owners, says increases of 20 per cent would have been typical for apartment owners over the past 12 months.

“What we are seeing is levies rising and sometimes going up 70 per cent or more in the second year of new buildings as developers do set levies low to entice people to buy,” Stiles says.

Insurance costs are rising because of the increase in replacement values, due to higher costs of skilled labour and building materials, as well as increasing risks from natural disasters, she says.

Read full article:> HERE“

NSW Fire and Rescue Appeals to Households to Take Extra Precautions Amid Concerning Winter Fire Stats

Senior firefighters have expressed concern over a sharp rise in residential fires in New South Wales this winter, urging the public to end the complacency over household smoke alarms.

There were 337 residential fires in the first month of winter this year, an increase of 24 fires (8%) over June 2022.

There’s been a 28% rise in kitchen/cooking area fires over the same period, from 117 to 150, while fires in bedrooms/sleeping areas have risen 19% from 26 to 31.

Fires in loungerooms have risen from 17 to 19, a 12% increase.

The number of fatalities this winter stands at six following the deaths of an elderly couple last week at Wetherill Park, in Sydney’s south-west.

That compares to nine fatalities this time last year.

A record 16 people died as a result of fires in NSW last winter.

FRNSW Acting Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations, Trent Curtin, said fire crews are still turning up to house fires where either smoke alarms aren’t in working order or they don’t exist at all.

“That’s true in 44% of home fires so far this winter…this time last year, it was 45%…people are still not heeding our warning…smoke alarms save lives,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Curtin said.

“An affordable smoke alarm, purchased at a hardware store, can provide you with peace of mind that you and your loved ones are protected.

“Test your smoke alarms regularly and if you are worried about fire safety, book a home safety visit with FRNSW through our website and a crew will inspect your residence and even install a free alarm if necessary: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9316

“If your loved ones or neighbours are elderly, give them a helping hand and ensure they’re protected.

“The kitchen fire numbers are worrying,” he added, “We urge the public to keep looking when cooking and invest in a fire extinguisher and fire blanket to store near the kitchen.

“Throwing water over a stove fire will only make it worse, use a fire blanket to smother the flames if you can.

“Don’t try to put out a kitchen fire if it becomes overwhelming, escape the home and ring Triple Zero (000).

“Don’t go back inside a burning home.”

Business Alerts

Kosuke Ramen

In mid-August, there will be a place in Lane Cove to get your Ramen fix.

Kosuke Ramen will be located under Via Napoli on Austin Street.

Look how excited our roving reporter was!!!

Mushi Sushi

The Sushi shop in Lane Cove Market Square has reopened after renovations. It is now called Mushi – but ITC has been assured the owners are the same.

Carbon Monoxide Warning from NSW Health

Stringybark Creek Community Garden

The organisers of the Stringybark Community Garden would love you to get involved.  They posted the following on ITC Lane Cove Chat:

“LC community and fellow gardening enthusiasts.

Some of you would know that a new community garden is coming up at the Stringybark Creek Reserve. The garden bed installation is almost complete, and we are on track for a springtime start.

There’s been a lot of interest from the community who want to join our little gardening group. So this Saturday, a few of us community garden members are meeting at the Stringybark site to kick things off with our little garden.

If you would like to join us, Pls see the meeting details below:

Date – 22 July 2023

Time- 10:30 am

Location – Near the garden beds installed at Stringybark Creek Reserve Park.

If you have any questions, please DM me or Janet Yee and Grishma Shah. Alternatively, you can also email us at [email protected]

We are looking forward to welcoming new members to our group!”

Lane Cove Sport

Lane Cove Council has been successfully awarded a $30,000 grant from Cricket NSW to upgrade the nets at Kingsford Smith Oval.

Lane Cove Cricket Club on their Facebook site said:

“After 12 years, the initial contribution of $45,000, with the remainder from Lane Cove Council has seen the nets used all year round.

We look forward to the upgrade being completed this season at a cost of $80,00.

Thank you Lane Cove Council for assisting with local sport.”

Lane Cove Events

Lane Cove Rotary Fair – Save the Date

Do you want to be involved as a stallholder at the Lane Cove Rotary Fair? It’s a great day for local businesses, community groups and charities to showcase what they do. You can now book a stall.

A message from the Fair Committee:

“Bookings are now OPEN: www.lanecoverotaryfair.org

Visit our site for regular updates and exciting news.

Burns Bay Road will remain open this year to ensure access to the Canopy Car Park for shoppers and Fair visitors.

Street stalls, rides and live entertainment will be on Longueville Road and the Plaza (closed to traffic).

Sustainability Lane stalls will be at The Canopy.

For stallholder booking enquiries please go to the Lane Cove Rotary website

See you there!

Rotary Lane Cove

2023 Fair Committee volunteer”

Indian Cooking Classes at Masala Kitchen

We have previously mentioned that Masala Kitchen is now holding Indian Cooking Classes.

On Sunday 6th August 2023, join a Masala Kitchen Cooking Class and unlock the secrets of Indian cuisine! Limited seats are available, so grab your spot now!

🗓️ Date: Sunday, August 6th
📍 Locations: Dee Why and Lane Cove

Led by renowned Indian food connoisseur, Bhavna Kalra, this hands-on class is perfect for beginners and food enthusiasts alike. Learn essential spices, cooking techniques, and create mouthwatering Indian dishes.

Great for team building or family outings! Bond with your colleagues or loved ones as you embark on this culinary journey together.

Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your culinary skills! For more information, click here.

Car Boot Sale 30 July 2023 – Only a Few Spots Left

Last year ITC spoke to Councillor Kathy Bryla about ways to encourage locals to reduce the number of items in the Lane Cove Council curbside collection pile (which goes straight to the landfill).

ITC mentioned that years and years ago, ITC sold heaps of items at a Car Boot Sale at Lane Cove West Public School, and it was a great way to sell your unwanted items – mainly if you live in an apartment where it is too hard to hold a garage sale.

Councillor Kathy Bryla raised the idea at a Lane Cove Council Meeting.

Forward to 2023, and Lane Cove Council has asked Lane Cove Rotary to run a community car boot sale. The car boot sale is a fundraiser for Lane Cove Rotary, which will use those funds to support local and international charities. The first car boot sale will be on 30 July 2023.

If you would like to book a stall – the link is here

If you enjoy shopping at car boot sales where one person’s unwanted items are another person’s treasure – put 30 July 2023 in your diary.

Lane Cove Jobs

Carlile Swimming Lane Cove West is hiring!

Are you looking for casual employment that is fun and filled with purpose?

Have you ever thought about teaching swimming?

If you are aged 16 years or over, and are energetic, active and ambitious, or
perhaps interested in early education or a teaching career and looking for a
job, they would love to hear from you!

Come join Carlile and help save lives, all whilst being part of a
great team!