Welcome to our week in review.
Australians of the Year Lane Cove Connection
Congratulations to Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, who were jointly named Australians of the Year for their pioneering work at Melanoma Institute Australia in Wollstonecraft. Professor Long and her family were once Lane Cove residents, and her children attended Lane Cove Public School.
Congratulations to the seven Lane Cove residents who received an Australia Day Honour.
Our locals were honoured for their work in the arts, sports, emergency services, and medical fields and in our local community. Read about these inspiring locals here.
Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony
On Australia Day, it was wonderful to see 110 Lane Cove locals become Australian Citizens (including one of ITC’s neighbours).
Many of our new citizens had their family with them, including Alexandre (pictured below), whose mum had flown over from France for the occasion.
The ceremony started with a special smoking ceremony, followed by official remarks from:
- Scott Bennison (Lane Cove Mayor)
- Australia Day Ambassador Jason Sotiris, founder of Super Tee. (find out more about Jason here)
- Federal Member for North Sydney, Kylea Tink
- State Member for Lane Cove Anthony Roberts
- Australian actor and comedian Paul Fenech
- Tania Mace from Lane Cove Rotary
- Chief Inspector Craig Thorp from the North Shore Police Command
Deputy Mayor David Roenfeldt had the honour of reading the names of the locals becoming Australian citizens.
ITC was also spotted in the crowd: Councillors Mort, Southwood, and Andrew Zbik.
The Lane Cove Council staff made sure the new citizens took home a native seedling from the Lane Cove Community Nursery, a native strawberry gum cupcake, a lemon myrtle cookie, and a pair of thongs (ITC understands this was an initiative of the Lane Cove Mayor).
Music was provided by members of the Lane Cove Community Band’s small brass ensemble.
The brass ensemble players were Gary Clark, Sarah Hobson, Matthew Impellizzeri, Richard Palmer and Simone Katz.
After the ceremony, Lane Cove Rotary took over the Lane Cove Plaza and provided snags (for a gold coin donation), face painting, raffles, and music provided by Lane Cove Council.
Balaclava Wearing Group of Men Board Train at Artarmon Station on Australia Day
On 26 January 2024, NSW police released information about the Balaclava-wearing group of men who boarded the North Shore Line today at Artarmon Train Station on Australia Day.
“Six were arrested, and 57 infringements were issued during police operation – North Sydney.
At about 11.30 a.m. today (Friday, 26 January 2023), police were alerted to a group of heavily disguised people boarding a train at Artarmon.
Officers from North Sydney Police Area Command, the Public Order Riot Squad, and the Police Transport Command attended North Sydney railway station to wait for the train to arrive.
On arrival, public members were directed to leave the train while officers boarded and contained the group of approximately 61 to a few carriages.
The group had their faces concealed and carried several items, including shields and a flag.
Police seized the items.
During the operation, police removed group members individually to collect their details and issue a move-on order.
Six people were arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station, where they are assisting police with inquiries.
A further 55 men were issued Rail Infringement Notices for offensive behaviour.
Two men have since been released and issued infringement notices for offensive behaviour.
While the police operation has concluded, police continue investigating the incident.”
The Premier Chris Minnis issued a statement which said:
“normal people don’t celebrate Australia Day with a balaclava on”.
“Due to great police work, millions of Aussies were able to celebrate and come together without a potentially ugly confrontation,” he said.
Victorian Thomas Sewell, the self-appointed leader of the National Socialist Network, was one of the group’s members.
Photo: Transport for NSW
On 28 January 2024, about thirty men were spotted wearing the same black outfits at Artarmon Reserve.
The police issued the following statement to In the Cove:
At about 8:30 a.m. (Sunday, 28 January 2024), police were called to a reserve in Artarmon after reports that a group had gathered there. Officers from North Shore Police Area Command, Raptor Squad, and the Public Order & Riot Squad (PORS) attended. The group – consisting of approximately 30 men – was verbally served an updated Public Safety Order prohibiting them from entering further Sydney local government areas. The group dispersed, and there were no arrests.
NSW Planning Reforms
In December last year, NSW Planning announced major reforms to increase the housing supply. In particular, they were looking for ways of increasing the supply of the “missing middle, ” such as townhouses, duplexes, and manor houses. The reforms were announced by press release, and it took Planning NSW several days before they issued a fact sheet. ITC has been asking NSW Planning to provide further information on the planning reforms so we can update our readers.
A factsheet was produced in late December 2023
Lane Cove Council emailed residents outlining the proposal this week and updated their website. ITC asked them for some more details, and a Lane Cove Council spokesperson noted:
“Council is equally concerned about the lack of detail on how some of the proposed changes will work. Councils have not received briefings or any information beyond what is publicly available on the department’s website.”
The NSW Government is seeking public feedback on the proposed reforms to the housing policy. You must submit your comments by Friday, 23 February, 2024. To learn how to have your say, visit the NSW Planning’s website.
Lane Cove Council has noted it will submit a submission to the NSW Government on the reforms. A draft submission will be presented to Councillors on 22 February 2024 at the Lane Cove Council’s February Meeting (the first one of the year).
In some areas, developers have approached landowners to discuss selling their properties. The Sydney Morning Herald published an article on 29 January 2024 noting:
“Developers have started approaching north shore residents seeking to buy their homes just weeks after the state government announced it would change planning rules to allow higher-density housing near train stations.
The Herald spoke to half a dozen property owners in one block near Roseville station. All said they had been approached about selling their houses, either in person or by mail, by developers and real estate agents. Some had been contacted by four or more parties.” You can read the article here (note it is paywalled).
There is also another planning proposal, which is called The Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program.
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure told ITC:
“The Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program will deliver much-needed housing around 39 transport hubs. Housing at these locations will benefit from an assessment pathway to create faster approvals.
The program will deliver state-led rezonings within 1,200 metres of 8 priority transport hubs.
In December last year, Crows Nest was nominated as one of the 8 priority high growth areas near transport hubs in greater Sydney for accelerated rezoning.
Further information about the Transport Oriented Development program can be found here:https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/transport-oriented-development-program”
When ITC asked the Lane Cove Council if they were going to provide further information on the TOD as it would impact St Leonards South and Greenwich, a Lane Cove spokesperson told ITC:
“The TOD reforms relate to the Crows Nest Metro. Councils that were impacted by the proposed TOD planning work were contacted by the department, Lane Cove was not. As you are aware Lane Cove has already delivered increased density in the adjacent St Leonards South precinct which accords with the TOD principle. Based on the information currently available Council does not believe the Crows Nest work will include areas in the Lane Cove LGA.”
Oils Ain’t Oils at The Canopy
On Saturday, 27 January 2024, the Midnight Oil tribute band Oils Ain’t Oils rocked the Canopy. The feedback from people who attended the event was positive, and the band had the crowd up and dancing. It was the smallest crowd In The Cove had seen at one of The Canopy tribute concerts. There could be two reasons for this. One is that as it was a long weekend, numerous locals were still away, or Lane Cove residents are not huge Midnight Oil fans.
Lane Cove Events
Taylor and The Besties
Taylor and the Besties are sold out. Tickets are more challenging to get than the real Taylor Swift concert. If you can’t make it on the night, please email us at [email protected]. Several people would like to attend but were not quick enough to grab tickets.
Business Alert
The @sharekayak self-service kayak rental at Burns Bay Reserve is now in operation. ITC was there for the launch, and we were lucky enough to see the very first use of the Kayak by locals Thomas Shanahan and his daughter Charlotte.
View this post on Instagram
La Provence Closes
One of Lane Cove’s oldest cafes closed on Monday, 28 January, 2023. La Provence has been located on Burns Bay Road for over twenty years, and before that, it was located in the Figtree Shops at Lane Cove West (near Hummerstons).
They had to close several times after rain damage in the last few years. Let’s hope they do pop up elsewhere.
Lane Cove Local Government Area in the News
A Daily Telegraph article published on 30 January 2024 has listed St Ignatius College Riverview as second on a list of the most valuable landholdings by private schools in Sydney. A property value commissioned by the paper has listed the estimated value of SIC’s land at approximately $1,300,000,000
The Daily Telegraph noted:
“Sydney’s richest private schools have banked prime real estate estimated to be worth almost $6 billion, with one school alone valued at nearly $2 billion, courtesy of its vast Western Sydney landholding.”
Read the full article here (note it is paywalled).
Lane Cove Sport
Lane Cove Netball Club
Lane Cove Netball registrations are now open. You can register your child here.
Lane Cove Netball is also looking for players who were born in the 90s and would like to be involved in a fun but competitive social team (B Grade, no training, just games). Games are played on Saturday afternoons at Willoughby between March and September.
If you are interested, please contact [email protected]
Lane Cove AFL 9’s
Lane Cove Cats are looking for players in the AFL9’s Summer Competition
Lane Cove Cats are looking for players, Males or Females, Adults or Kids 15 years and older.
It’s non-contact, social, mixed and FUN 9 a side with at least three females a side.
The game is only 40 minutes long, with two 20-minute halves and a quarter-length field, and no experience is required.
The Competition starts Season dates: 5 February 2024 – 18 March 2024. Click here to register.
Lane Cove Term 1 Activities
Also, it is about time to think about term-time activities. It’s never too early to start booking your term-time activities. We have compiled a list of local activities for babies, pre-schoolers, primary school students, tweens, teenagers, and secondary school kids – in other words, something for everyone. Read our article here.
Crime, Incident and Accident Report
Accident Zone Warning
You will have noticed several reports of accidents on River Road between Barina Road and Warraroon Road Lane Cove. Accidents have increased lately (in both wet and dry weather).
Lane Cove Council has installed warning signs on both sides of the road advising drivers that the area is a high accident zone and to slow down.
Mowbray Road Accident
On 25 January 2024, there was a three-car accident on Mowbray Road. Mowbray Road was blocked off in each direction, diverting traffic via Hart And Farran Streets.
Ambulance, fire and police crews were in attendance. There were no reports of serious injury.
Week in Review Sponsor – Subaru North Shore
In 2023, we welcomed Subaru North Shore as an ITC sponsor.
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Subaru North Shore Contact Details
Help Support Local and Independent News
You can support us in three ways:
- Become an ITC reader sponsor – If you have enjoyed our local news coverage, please consider becoming an ITC reader sponsor. You can sponsor us with a monthly sponsorship fee. We have reader sponsors who support us for $5.00 a month and some who invest $100 a year – no amount is too small or too big. Thank you so much to those who supported us via our press Patreon account. Help Us Here.
- Buy the ITC team a coffee – We now have a team, and they need to be paid – by the ITC team a coffee (or two) that will help us pay their wages. Buy a Coffee here.
- If you own a Lane Cove Business or a Lane Cove resident who owns a business, you can advertise with ITC. Please email us here for our rates card.
