Lane Cove News Week in Review 1st to 8th May 2024

Welcome to our week in review and another wet week in Lane Cove.

Lane Cove in the Top 10 LGAs In the Wellness Index

According to a report released this week by public policy adviser SGS Economics and Planning, the Northern beaches rank as the highest in the nation for wellbeing.  You can read the report here. Unlike other reports, the researchers reviewed all 518 local government areas (LGAs), assessing them on seven indicators:

• economy
• income and wealth
• employment, knowledge and skills
• housing
• health
• equality, community and work-life balance
• environment

The Lane Cove Council area was number seven on the list.

Traffic Delays on Longueville Road and Rosenthal Avenue near The Canopy entrance

This week, In the Cove has observed traffic congestion on Rosenthal Avenue at peak times and during off-peak times.  It might be time for the Lane Cove Council to review traffic feeding into Longueville Road.  See our cover photo – this photo was taken on Tuesday morning this week.

Staying Home Leaving Violence Programme Expanded to Lane Cove Council Area

For the period April 2022 to March 2023, there were 63 Domestic Violence-Related Offences in the Lane Cove Council Area. Despite this, a major Domestic Violence programme was unavailable to the Lane Cove LGA or eight other LGAs on the north shore and northern beaches.

This week, the NSW Government announced they would pledge $230 million to enhance support for domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.

This included $48m in funding for the statewide rollout of NSW’s Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program.

Kylie Tink has been calling for the programme to be expanded to the north shore, and she released the following statement:

“This is something I have been calling for on behalf of the North Sydney community, as while the program has proven to be effective it has previously, and inexplicably, not been funded in any of the 9 LGAs on the North Shore or Northern Beaches, at a time when it is needed most.

Women and children across NSW including right here in North Sydney deserve all the help and support we can provide when they are facing family and domestic violence as, as far too many are having to decide between violence and poverty.

Empowering them to stay in the family home, while removing the perpetrator and offering appropriate intervention in the perpetrator’s life makes sense as does listening to our overstretched frontline services.

Ultimately, while we throw money at a system that is geared to women running, we will never make progress. It’s time we flip the system and put dealing with the perpetrators at the centre of our actions. There is a way forward, but we need our governments to be brave and willing to work collaboratively to reset the system.

As Dr Gabrielle Morrisey, CEO of Women and Children First (North Sydney and Northern Beaches – who runs Delvena Women’s Refuge in Lane Cove, said:

“We are delighted with today’s announcement. The NSW Government is now listening to what frontline services are saying, and these commitments reflect that. We have been long calling for statewide rollout of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, with the help of voices like Kylea’s, and while it will take more money than has been committed, this is the right step to be taking right now. The next step would be nationwide rollout. We will be eagerly awaiting the details of the funding and look forward to working improving the safety and lives of women and children experiencing domestic violence in the Northern regions of Sydney.”

Mobile Phone Cameras To Be Used to Detect Seat Belt Offences

Mobile phone camera detectors will soon be used to ascertain if you are wearing your seat belt and also wearing it correctly. The following was announced this week:

“Wearing a seatbelt will be enforced by existing mobile phone detection cameras from July 1 as the NSW Government bolsters efforts to counter the rising number of road fatalities across the state.

The simple act of correctly wearing a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle has been a legal requirement in NSW for more than 50 years, but data shows 150 people died while not wearing one in the five years between 2019 and 2023.

On average, 15 per cent of deaths on NSW roads every year still involve seatbelt non-usage, with 36 people tragically lost last year.

The NSW government confirms today that the enhancement of the state’s world-first mobile phone detection camera network will allow for a July 1 start date for the cameras, which will also enforce the seatbelt laws for the first time.

Unlike when new enforcement technologies have come into effect, there will be no grace period of warning letters after the NSW Parliament voted against starting seatbelt detection cameras in warning mode when enabling legislation was passed last year.

Photos released from testing of the cameras show a small but persistent percentage of drivers and some passengers continue to flout the law and wear their seatbelt incorrectly, including with the sash below the arm.”

Earn Some Money Working at Polling Booths During the Council Elections

Here is an excellent way for a uni student or a retiree to earn extra cash during the council elections.

More than 20,000 paid roles on offer to deliver local council elections

A state-wide recruitment drive is underway to support the the 2024 NSW Local Government elections delivery in September this year.

Matthew Philips, Acting Commissioner, said there are thousands of opportunities for people across NSW to earn extra money on election day, Saturday, 14 September.

“We are recruiting right across NSW, and no experience is needed. You just need to be enrolled to vote and available to work on election day.”

“We will train you. You’ll join a huge team working on one of the biggest events in this state. It’s a great day’s work in your local community, and we have many staff who return again and again.”

“Expressions of interest can be submitted via our website – elections.nsw.gov.au.”

• Election staff perform a range of tasks on election day, including:
• providing information and assistance to voters
• managing the smooth running of polling places
• sorting and counting ballot papers.

Mr Philips said the Electoral Commission was committed to creating a workforce that reflects the population of New South Wales.

“If you speak a language in addition to English, if you are a person with disability or if you are a First Nations person, I strongly encourage you to apply.”

“Even if you have no experience working at elections, this is a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet people, while you also play a valuable part in contributing to democracy,” he said.

Interested applicants can find out more and submit an expression of interest now by visiting elections.nsw.gov.au

Business Alert

A new gym is coming to Lane Cove. It will be at the old Chemist Warehouse (opposite The Alcott). Say hi to Georgia & Kallen from BFT Lane Cove.

They describe their gym as “DIFFERENT. BETTER. BFT Lane Cove is a scientific high-intensity group strength and conditioning studio.”

Click on the link below for pre-launch offers before they open the doors to BFT LC!

Get The Site Right

Get the Site Right is a joint program between the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG), Cooks River Alliance, Georges Riverkeeper, Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Lake Macquarie Council, NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and local councils. It has been operating for eight years, and nearby councils like Hunters Hill and Ryde Council have been part of the programme.

The Get the Site Right campaign raises awareness of the impacts of water and sediment pollution from building sites on the aquatic environment and aims to increase compliance amongst developers and builders.

Why is the campaign focusing on Sediment Spills?

Sediment spills affect our environment and waterways by:

• Destroying aquatic habitats and smothering native plants and animals in our waterways.
• Directly polluting creeks, rivers, and harbours by filling them with dirt, soil, sand, and mud. This leads to poorer water quality, which affects swimming or leisure activities in and around our waterways.
• Blocking stormwater drains leads to flooding and overflows.
• It is an eroding creek and riverbanks.

Lane Cove Council to Participate in Get The Site Right

Lane Cove Council has not always participated in Get The Site Right.  They will be participating in May this year and posted the following on their website:

“Builders and developers are being urged to safeguard their construction materials from high wind and other intense weather events to prevent pollution of local waterways as this year’s Get the Site Right campaign kicks off on Wednesday, 1 May.

As part of the month-long campaign, officers from the NSW EPA, DPHI, and more than 20 councils will conduct inspections for a one-day compliance blitz on Thursday, 16 May.  It is hoped that Lane Cove Council will release the results and let local know who is complying with the law.

How Can Your Report Issues

Members of the public are encouraged to report pollution incidents, including poor sediment control, to their local council or the EPA’s 24/7 Environment Line on 131 555.   Read our ultimate guide to reporting issues here.

Lane Cove Draft Landscaping, Street Trees and Tree Preservation Policy

Have your say on Lane Cove’s draft landscaping, street trees and tree preservation policy.

This policy is designed to preserve and enhance the amenity and environmental sustainability of the local area through the establishment and maintenance of street tree plantings that are sympathetic to the local environment and meet functional requirements, landscaping practices that provide a unifying element which emphasise the landscape character of Lane Cove and prioritise indigenous and native plantings; the preservation of trees and other vegetation, particularly trees of significance; planting and preservation practices that enhance the environmental sustainability of the area including the protection of existing indigenous bushland areas and the provision of wildlife corridors and habitats.

Have Your Say

Have your say by providing a submission that can be made by using the Submissions button.

Lane Cove Sport

Lane Cove Swimming Club

Congratulations to Josh Baker, president of the Lane Cove Swim Club, for his massive haul of medals at the National Masters Swim Meet.

Don’t send your wanted goods to a landfill… sell them at the Lane Cove Rotary Car Boot Sale at Council’s CivCouncil’s Car Park between Pheonix Street and Little Street, Lane Cove.

This popular event is an excellent way for residents to sell their pre-loved household goods, providing the community with an alternative to buying new ones.

This Car Boot Sale focuses on residents selling unwanted household goods such as clothes, toys, household items, sporting equipment, etc.

The goods may be sold from the boot of a vehicle, a table, or racks within the allocated site. This event is not for business/commercial traders. Items being sold must be secondhand.

Date: Sunday, 9 June 2024, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (UTC+11)

Location:  Lane Cove Council Civic Car Park
Between Pheonix Street & Little Street, Lane Cove

Bookings:  Bookings are now open – click on this link.

Lane Cove Crime, Accident and Incident Report

Pay Machine at The Canopy Taken Out

On Friday, 3 May 2024, at about 7.30 pm, a car took out the pay machine and yellow bollard at the pay exit at the Canopy.  That does not mean parking was free. If you were in the Canopy parking station at that time and you were over three hours, check your number plate at www.lanecoveparking.com.au

Attempted Break In Lane Cove North Saturday 4 May 2024

A roving reporter told ITC that at about 3 am on Saturday, 4 May 2024, a man tried to break into their house – they have CCTV footage.