Lane Cove News Week in Review 30th August to 6 September 2023

Welcome to our week in review.

Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Facility

Marking a milestone in the building of Lane Cove’s much needed Sport and Recreation Centre, Councillors, Council staff, NSW Government representatives and sporting group gathered to celebrate turning the first sod on construction.

Held on the River Road site adjacent to Lane Cove Golf Course, guests gathered with staff from head construction contractor ADCO Constructions, civil works contractor Rainbow Group and AJC Architects to mark the occasion.

Mayor Andrew Zbik said “It is immensely satisfying to reach this point, given the years of planning, consultation and investigation, which began in 2008 with the need identified in Council’s Recreation Action Plan.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming the community here to enjoy the diverse recreation opportunities and amenity that this Centre will offer in late 2025.

“This will be a great Centre where local residents of all ages and abilities will be able to come and play – whether that be dancing, sport or enjoying some social and recreational activities.

 

Willoughby City Council Launches Investigation into Tree Vandalism

Willoughby City Council has decided to launch a comprehensive investigation into a large scale tree vandalism event along Willowie Road under the Environmental Planning and Asssessment Act 1979.

Under this authority where a person is found guilty of an offence involving the destruction of or damage to a tree or vegetation, the court dealing with the offence may, in addition to the recording of a conviction and imposing a substantial financial fine also direct that person to plant new trees and vegetation and maintain those trees and vegetation to a mature growth.

Council rangers are actively pursuing leads and currently conducting a thorough investigation in an effort to gather vital evidence and engage with the community for information.

As part of an awareness campaign, banners will be erected in strategic locations to raise awareness about the severity of the tree loss and its impact on precious wildlife.

Willoughby Council urges anyone with information related to this incident to assist with our investigations.

Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor said that the community’s commitment to safeguarding our environment has always been solid.

“The Council bushland staff, members of our community and I are saddened to see the destruction caused by this blatant act of vandalism.”

“We will continue to work together to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity that makes Castle Cove such a cherished place for all,” Cr Taylor said.

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for any information leading to a successful prosecution of those responsible.

To report and incident or if you have any information please contact Willoughby City Council on 02 9777 1000 or email us [email protected]

An article in The Conversation claims that this is not only vandalism but theft on a large scale – read more here.

Lane Cove has also seen some tree destruction, with trees killed in Austin Street Lane Cove (read more here) and around Tambourine Bay Reserve.

in December 2022 a notice of motion by Councillors Bryla and Kennedy noted:

“Since 2019 there has been an escalation in the number and severity of bushland trees being killed by those other than our official arborist approved council means. The impact is leaving large gaps in our natural bushland in certain locations.

One such location is the bushland at Tambourine Bay Reserve. The trees killed by unknown persons since 2019 are: 30 – 40 Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum), 7 Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum), 2 Ceratopetalum gummiferum (Christmas Bush), 2 Ficus sp. (Fig Tree).

In the past there have also been poisonings in Manns Point, Woodford Bay Reserve, Holloway Reserve and Shell Park. These actions of tree killing are not only destructive and illegal but rob our next generations of the benefits of the nature bushland. Our council team are working hard and tirelessly to try to stop this form of vandalism but are fighting a tough battle. This motion recognises the council teams passionate and dedicated efforts to protect and save the bushland trees.”

Class Action by Round – Up Users – Lane Cove Council Still Uses Round – Up

A class action trial against the manufacturers of one of the world’s biggest selling weed killers, Roundup has begun in Melbourne. Over 800 Australians who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma are involved in the action.

The trial is expected to take nine weeks and the jugde will hear from expert witnesses about whether glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide which is the key ingredient in Roundup, is carcinogenic to humans and can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Lane Cove Council has discussed the use of Glyphosate numerous times and council resolved to keep using it. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this trial.  Read more here about Lane Cove Council’s discussion on the use of Round-Up.

Have Your Say – Proposed Extension of Newlands Park with Partial Closure of Canberra Avenue

Lane Cove Council has stated that proposed expansion of Newlands Park will result in more than 4,000m2 of open space, increasing the current area of Newlands Park from 10,120m2 to over 14,120m2, creating the largest passive open space park in the Local Government Area.

Residents dispute this calculation saying, more than half of the 4,400m2 is either:

  • existing space already within Newland Park’s fences and currently planted with trees
  • existing Canberra Ave footpaths
  • existing grass verges alongside Newland Park’s fence.

The concept plan showing the extent of the expansion of Newlands Park is below and the other photo has been compiled by residents.

Lane Cove Council is now seeking your comments on this proposal.

A site inspection was held with Councillors and interested residents to observe morning and afternoon peak hour traffic on Wednesday, 6 September at 8am. Another one was scheduled for 5pm at the River Road/Dunroon Avenue intersection. If you ar considering having a say on this issue then you might want to attend the site inspections.

Have Your Say

Provide your feedback by participating in the survey below.

Alternatively, you can lodge a written submission to the General Manager by quoting SU1326 by:-

email: [email protected] or,

post: Lane Cove Council, PO BOX 20, LANE COVE, NSW, 1595

The consultation closes on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

Survey link here.

Longueville Wharf Closed

Last week we reported Captain Cook Cruises had advised that Longueville Wharf is CLOSED.  We asked Transport for NSW for more details including why no notice was given of the closure.  Their response is below (but it does not provide any further clarification on the issues.)
A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said:

“Longueville Wharf has been closed by Transport for NSW Maritime until further notice due to emergency maintenance work that needs to be carried out to the structure, including maintenance work on piles and girders.

At this stage, work is being carried out and we will update the community on next steps as soon as we can.

Transport for NSW Maritime is carrying out maintenance across its ferry wharves over the coming months to ensure we can continue to deliver safe, reliable infrastructure and services to passengers.

For most types of work, we will distribute a ‘notice of work’ flyer directly to nearby residents one or two weeks in advance. For emergency works, we may be unable to distribute a notice before undertaking the work.

We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience and ask that they catch bus route 261 for City services.

Plan your trip at transportnsw.info”

Big Cup Needs a Home

 

The Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group needs your help. Their big coffee cup which they use to promote reusable coffee cups needs a home. It was in a storage facility with free rent but that has changed and they can’t afford storage facilities. Do you know a storage place where they can store thier Big Cup? Contact them at [email protected].

Total height – 2m

Width at the top – 1.8m

Business Alert

The Butcher shop located in the Woolworths Market Square is for sale – details here.

Lane Cove Sport

Lane Cove Cricket Club

Registration is now open for Girl’s Cricket.

Lane Cove Smartest Street Trivia

One of the highlights of the Festival will be the Smartest Street/Apartment Trivia Night hosted by ITC at The Alcott.  This event sold out last year so book asap.

BOOK NOW

Invite your neighbours to a trivia night at The Alcott.

Book your trivia team using your street/apartment name and let’s see who the smartest street/apartment in Lane Cove is! It would be great to see as many streets/apartments in Lane Cove as possible represented.

$10 Entry, 100% of Proceeds go directly to The Sydney Library of Things.

 

Week in Review Sponsor – Figtree Greengrocer

 

Did you know Figtree Greengrocer makes fruit platters to order? You will know its always going to be the freshest fruit!!!

Servicing the Lane Cove Community for over 40 years!

They pride themselves on quality with the finest produce full of flavour.

“Don’t waste your money on fruit and veg that after 2 days it ends up in the bin!

Forget about the Rest and come back to Figtree for the best!”

Figtree Greengrocer – Lane Cove West – Phone 9420 2111

Rear of 229 Burns Bay Road (Cnr. Beatrice Street), Lane Cove West 2066

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