Lane Cove News Week in Review 7th to 14th February 2024

Welcome to our week in review.

Update on 62 Cliff Road Northwood 2022 Fire

News.com.au has reported that Adams Kipkosgei Bett, a Kenyan National, has pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly damaging property. He will be sentenced on March 26 and faces a maximum of 10 years in jail. Mr Bett had only been in the country for five months and the police facts are that he was told he must light the fire.

Link to article here (paywalled).

Background article here.

Lane Cove Celebrates the Lunar New Year

On Friday, February 9th 2024, Lane Cove celebrated the Lunar New Year with activities in the Lane Cove Plaza and the Lion Dance.

Pak Hok Kung Fu International performed the Lion Dance.

Pak Hok Kung Fu International is a Sydney martial arts and lion dance school (see our cover photo and photo below).

Kylea Tink came to see the dancers and handed out cute little red dragons.

Lane Cove Measles Alert

NSW Health advises people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case in Sydney.

The case is an adult who recently returned from Southeast Asia, where there have been ongoing measles outbreaks in several countries. This case is not linked to another case reported in Northern NSW earlier this week.

Saturday, February 10th 2024

• Bus Route 288 from Sussex St at Erskine St to Lane Cove Interchange Stand C from 9:30 am to 10:00 am
• Thai Chiva Therapeutic Massage, Lane Cove, between 10:00 am and 7 pm
• Satang Thai Take Away Restaurant, Haymarket, between 9:00 and 11 pm.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Director of Public Health, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, said while these locations pose no ongoing risk, if you, or someone you know, visited the above locations at those times, it is important to be on the lookout for symptoms.

“Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body,” Dr Sheppeard said.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs or sneezes.

“Symptoms may appear between 7 and 18 days after an exposure, so it’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients,” Dr Sheppeard said.

“This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is very infectious.

“Anyone born during or after 1966 needs to ensure they have received two doses of measles vaccine, this is particularly important prior to overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.”

People who may have been exposed to the virus in the following locations should monitor for symptoms:

For more information on measles, view the measles factsheet here

If you or someone you know is experiencing measles symptoms or has questions about measles, please call your GP or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

NSW Health Cryptosporidiosis Cases Increase Alert

After a steep recent increase in cryptosporidiosis cases across the state, NSW Health advises the community not to swim for at least two weeks after diarrhoea.

Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrhoeal disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium. It infects the intestine and is a common cause of acute diarrhoea in young children.

Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and loss of appetite.

People who have had diarrhoea should:

• avoid swimming for at least two weeks after your symptoms resolve
• avoid sharing towels for at least two weeks after your symptoms resolve
• avoid handling food for at least 48 hours after your symptoms resolve
• Children with diarrhoea should be kept home from preschool, childcare or playgroup until 24 hours after the diarrhoea has completely stopped.

More information on cryptosporidiosis is available on the NSW Health website here.

Lane Cove In the News

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph reported this week on the Longueville Tennis Club’s development application seeking permission to install lights at the Longuevelle Tennis Club on two courts.   The development application will be heard by the Lane Cove Planning Panel on 21 February 2024.

Residents have raised objection to the lights being installed due to their impact on local wildlife, increased noise and increased traffic.  The Longueville Tennis Club wants to install lights due to the River Road Tennis Club being demolished.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald article here – This north shore tennis club wants lights. One resident wrote a 28-page objection.

Read the Daily Telegraph article here – Longueville Tennis Club members defend plans for new night games after resident backlash

Lane Cove To Impound Watercraft

Lane Cove Council rangers have been busy at waterside locations labelling dinghies and other watercraft not registered with the Lane Cove Council.

Dinghies, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes stored along the Council’s public foreshore areas must be registered. Registration is free.

If your watercraft has a GREEN registration tag, it is out of date and needs to be replaced as soon as possible with a RED registration tag.

If your watercraft has a RED registration tag, it is registered until the end of 2024, and you are not required to do anything. More information is here.

Lane Cove Playgrounds

The Canopy Playground is partially closed while some upgrades are being made. After reports of a slippery surface, more climbing holds have been added to make it safer. After the holds have been set, the playground will reopen on Thursday, February 15th, 2024.

Some of Lane Cove’s parents have asked how they can request Lane Cove Council to install a fence around The Canopy Playground.   There are two ways to raise this directly with the council:

1. Speak at the public forum before the Lane Cove Council monthly meeting.  You can attend either via Zoom or in person.  The next Lane Cove Council meeting is on February 22nd 2024.   Register to speak here (registration opens the Thursday before the meeting) or
2. Send an email to the council.

Coxs Lane Playground Upgrade

Work on the Coxs Lane Playground Upgrade has commenced.

Lane Cove Theatre 

On Saturday, February 10th 2024, In the Cove was invited by the Lane Cove Theatre Company to see their latest production – The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Murder Mystery. It was a great way to spend a Saturday night, and we did not have to go far at all – only to Longueville.

It is a laugh-out-loud comedy with brilliant performances by the actors. If you like The Vicar of Dibley or The Thursday Murder Club Series, this play is for you (even a bit of Benny Hill is thrown in).

The production is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for two more weeks.

The Lane Cove Theatre Company currently has the following offer:

Come and celebrate all things LOVE with the sensational ladies at Farndale! Share your love for theatre this Valentine’s Day and enjoy two tickets to the show, two drinks and 1 x cheese plate to share for $75. What’s not to love?⁠

Use the code “LOVE THEATRE” at the checkout to redeem your special Valentine’s Day offer.  Read more here.

Lane Cove Events

Join the Stringybark Creek Residents Association on February 25th 2024, for a Clean Up Australia Day event to help keep our local bushland beautiful and enjoy a BBQ courtesy of Lane Cove Council.

Meet opposite 66 Johnston Crescent, Lane Cove North.

Registration is from 8 am to midday.

What to Bring:

Gloves, hats, sunglasses, sun protection, enclosed shoes, and lots of energy and enthusiasm!

Please bring water in a refillable container – top-ups will be provided.

 

Celebrate Pride

Celebrate Pride and hear from a panel of diverse speakers to celebrate the Mardi Gras Festival 2024.

Meet local LGBTQIA+ community members and allies, network with other attendees, and hear from a panel of speakers covering social cohesion, resilience, and unity topics.

Share light refreshments and connect with new and old friends.

Tickets are free, but bookings are essential.

It is hosted by Lane Cove Council, Good for the Hood and Sydney North Health Network, and in collaboration with The Alcott, Lane Cove, and KNC (Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre).

Booking details here:

Lane Cove Volunteering

Thank you to Darren and Evan from Multistyle Painting & Decorating for donating their time to paint a room at Delvena Women’s Refuge.

Delvena contacted ITC to see if we could find a painter to help them. ITC said, ” We’ve got the team for you!!”

Delvena was thrilled to have Darren and Evan repaint the room, which had been out of action for clients.

Whenever we call for help with a charity or community group, Lane Cove never lets us down!

We called Anthony Robert’s office and asked if their staff members could help dismantle some furniture and put together some flat-pack furniture for the newly painted room. The answer was yes, and our local member and their team turned up to assist.  The staff had previously told ITC that they would like to assist Delvena Women’s Refuge in any way they could.

Are you looking for a rewarding volunteering opportunity? Lane Cove Public School needs Ethics Volunteers!

Ethics teachers receive full training from Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation approved to design curriculum and training for the ethics program. Training consists of a two-day workshop and short online modules. Lesson materials are provided. Suitable volunteers are interested in children’s education and developing critical thinking skills. They must be available for a 40-minute class at 9 am, 9:40 am or 10:20 am on Wednesday each week during term.

In ethics classes, children learn to think logically, disagree respectfully and support their arguments with evidence rather than act according to blind habits or peer pressure.

Children discuss topics such as:

• Imagining how others feel
• How do we treat living things?
• What is laziness?
• How do we disagree respectfully?
• fairness

If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, please visit www.primaryethics.com.au or contact Emma at 0418 119 142 or [email protected].

 

Crime, Incident and Accident Report

Warning About Security Doors and Garages

A roving reporter contacted us and told us the following:

“Hello ITC! In the spirit of keeping our community safe and aware, we’re in one of the big apartment blocks on Finlayson St near the Canopy and over the past week, we have been subject to a few attempts at gaining access to the car park and building by non-residents acting suspiciously. They’ll ask people coming/going to let them in or buzz random units. We’ll be reporting to the police, but we figure they’ll be doing the rounds to see where they can get into. One of our lower floors did have a side door open, so they managed to enter the car park this afternoon. Pretty unnerving but important for people to remain vigilant x.”

Another roving reporter posted this photo of three men walking along Dunois Street, Longueville, on Friday, February 9th, at 12.30 am. They were concealing their faces and possibly putting on gloves.

The North Shore Police Area Command has advised ITC of the following incidents around Lane Cove and the lower north shore.

Northwood Break and Enter 

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested and charged after Northwood Break and Enter on February 7, 2024.

North Shore Police Area Command has asked residents to help prevent break-ins in our area by securing their houses and cars (including keys) at night. Locking all windows and doors is a simple but highly effective crime prevention tool.

A 16-year-old boy from Rozelle and a 16-year-old boy from Glebe have been arrested and charged after several break-and-enters in the Northwood area.

Between 2:0 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday,y February 7t,h 202,4, three properties, two on Kelly’s Esplanade and one on Cliff Road, Northwood,d were entered,d and two of the houses were broken into.

During the break-in at the property on Cliff Road, police allege that a black BMW and the homeowner’s wallet were stolen. A short time later, the homeowner’s debit card was allegedly used at a service station in Artarmon and a fast-food store in Stanmore.

At 1:00 pm the same day, the black BMW was located by police in Glebe, and as police approached the vehicle, the two 16-year-old boys allegedly ran from the vehicle, however, were arrested a short distance away.

Both boys were conveyed to Newtown Police Station. The Rozelle boy was charged with “Be carried in Conveyance taken without consent of owner”. He is due to face Surry Hills Children’s Court on February 26th.

The Glebe boy was charged with “Aggravated break and enter”, “Steal motor vehicle”, “Dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception”, “Learner driver not display ‘L’ plates” and “Drive conveyance taken without consent of owner”.

His bail was refused, and he attended Surry Hills Children’s Court.

Police are still investigating the matter and are urging anyone with information to contact Chatswood Police Station on 94148499 or Crimestoppers on 1800 33 000.

Positive Drug Swipe – St Leonards – 07/02/2024

A 24-year-old Seven Hills man was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition notice after police stopped his vehicle.

At 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7th, police stopped a silver Toyota Corolla on the Pacific Highway in Greenwich for random testing. Police spoke with the Seven Hills man who was allegedly driving the vehicle. The male was subjected to a breath test, which resulted in a negative result.

The man was then subjected to a drug test which returned a positive result for cannabis. The male was arrested and conveyed to North Sydney Police Station for the purpose of a secondary drug test.

The male undertook a second drug test at North Sydney Police Station, which allegedly returned another positive result for cannabis. The male was issued with a 24-hour prohibition notice from driving. The drug test sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis and pending the results, charges relating to driving whilst under the influence of a drug will be laid.

Shoplifting – North Sydney – 28/11/2023

North Shore Police have issued a Court Attendance Notice to a 47-year-old Waterloo woman after investigating alleged shoplifting incidents from a North Sydney chemist in November 2023.

Police will allege that at 6:50 p.m. on November 27th, 2023, the woman entered the chemist, where she selected twelve perfume bottles and placed them on a different shelf within the store. The woman then walked around the store for a period before returning to the shelf, where she placed the twelve bottles, totalling $599, into a backpack she was carrying.

Police will allege in court that the woman then left the store without attempting to pay for the perfume bottles.

The following day, staff noticed the bottles missing and contacted the police. The police attended and commenced an investigation, which allegedly identified the Waterloo woman as the individual stealing the products.

On February 5th 2024, the woman was issued a court attendance notice and will appear at Manly Local Court on March 21st.

Mid-Range Drink Driving – Willoughby – 01/02/2024

A 60-year-old Willoughby man has been charged with mid-range drink driving.

Police will allege that at 8:45 pm on February 1st, the man drove a white Isuzu along Penkivil Street, Willoughby and allegedly crashed into two parked vehicles. This was witnessed by members of the public who contacted the police.

Police arrived a short time later and spoke with the male. Checks on his driver’s licence revealed that it had been suspended from August 2023 until June 2024. He was subjected to a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result.

The Willoughby man was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis. The breath analysis allegedly returned a result of 0.083 grams of alcohol in 210 litres of breath.

The 60-year-old man was charged with “Drive whilst suspended” and “Mid-Range Drink Driving. “He will appear in Hornsby Local Court in March.

Offensive Behaviour – Chatswood – 02/02/2024

A 48-year-old Wahroonga man has been charged after an alleged incident at Chatswood Train Station.

At 8:00 pm, police received reports that the 48-year-old was acting in an offensive manner and threatening members of the public on a train that was due to arrive at Chatswood Interchange shortly after 8:00 pm. Police attended and met the male on the platform.

Police will allege that the male was immediately hostile towards police and refused to produce an Opal Card.  Due to the male’s escalating behaviour, he was escorted by police away from the platform.  While interacting with the police, it will be alleged in court that the male threatened to assault and kill the officers several times.  As a result of his behaviour, the male was issued with a move-on direction. However, he allegedly failed to comply with the direction.

The male was arrested and conveyed to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with “Intimidate police officer in execution of duty”, “Behave in offensive manner in/near public place”, “Travel or attempt travel without valid ticket” and “Continue intoxicated behaviour after move on direction”.

The male was given conditional bail and will face Hornsby Local Court on February 28th.

Accidents

Another week and another accident on River Road between Barina Road and Warraroon Road.