Welcome to our week in review. What a big week it has been!!
Since our last week in review:
- No Liberal Party-endorsed candidates are standing for election in Lane Cove at the September 2024 local council elections.
- Two men have been sentenced to prison for their role in the 62 Cliff Road Northwood heritage home in Northwood.
- The Chatswood to Sydenham Metro Line has opened.
M1 – Metro Line is Open
As many readers know, In the Cove has been reporting on Lane Cove’s Public Transport options for at least ten years.
On 19th August 2024, ITC’s founder Jacky Barker took 254 Bus from River Road West to the Crows Nest Metro Station and documented the trip to Martin Place via Facebook Live. She then held another Facebook Live when she returned from Martin Place to the Crows Nest Metro to show viewers where to catch the Lane Cove buses from the Crows Nest Metro.
The Metro is super impressive, and the stations are world-class. A great family outing is to take the Metro to the city and let your kids sit at the front and watch the tracks appear before them as the trains are driverless, and you have
There was plenty of help at the Metro stations to show people how to use it and where to go, but the information was limited when it came to asking staff where to catch the bus from the station. Our cover photo shows the Pacific Highway exit from the Crows Nest Metro Station.
ITC has reported that Lane Cove residents want reliable buses to travel to the Metro Stations. This means less cancellations and more frequent services on some routes.
Watch our Facebook live below – skip to about five minutes to see ITC arrive at the Crows Nest Metro Station. W
NSW Liberals in Local Council Election Nomination Debacle
As previously reported, a disastrous administrative error has left Lane Cove Council and seven other NSW local council areas without any Liberal candidates and another eight councils with only some of the Liberal Party pre-selected candidates.
Numerous Liberal party insiders have described the error as “a major stuff up.”
The date and cut-off time to submit nomination forms for election in the NSW local government elections was noon on 14 August 2024. This information has been on the NSW Electoral Commission since at least 1 July 2024 under their Key Dates Timeline – click here to see the timeline.
Read our article here to see how the failure to nominate candidates unfolded in Lane Cove.
Councillor Andrew Zbik Is Not Standing For Re-election
The Liberal’s nomination failure overshadowed the other big news that former Mayor and two-term Councillor Andrew Zbik will not be standing for re-election.
In a statement on his website, Andrew Zbik said:
“It has been my absolute honour to serve the Lane Cove community for the last seven years as a Councillor and nearly two years as Mayor.
After consulting with my family and our Labor team, I have decided not to run in next month’s local elections. At this stage of my life, I have chosen to prioritise spending time with my wife and three young children, aged 9, 7, and 4.”
Read Andrew Zbik’s full statement here.
Meet the Candidates
In the Cove will be holding a Zoom Meet the Candidates for West and Central Ward in the first week of September – details to be provided soon. The Greenwich Community Association will be holding a meet the candidates session for East Ward on 3rd September 2024.
Sentencing for Northwood Historic Home Arsonists
In September 2022, Lane Cove locals were shocked when they heard the news that a historic house at 62 Cliff Road Northwood was the possible target of an arson attack. The police charged two people in connection with the fire, and last week, they were both sentenced to jail time.
The Rossi Family purchased the property back in 1961 for £16,000 on the recommendation of artist friend Lloyd Rees.
In November 2009, Lane Cove Council commissioned a heritage report of homes in the Lane Cove Council Area. The report recommended that 62 Cliff Road be included in the Lane Cove LEP as a heritage item. The report stated:
“62 Cliff Road – Federation dwelling Number 62 is historically significant as one of the earliest built on the Northwood Estate auctioned in 1904. The dwelling has been sympathetically altered to include garages and the addition of stone wall to Cliff Rd. It has landmark qualities and contributes to the streetscape of Cliff Rd.”
In the Cove has put together a timeline from the night of the fire (3 September 2022) until Steve Nassiff and Adam Kipkosgei Bett were sentenced to jail time last week (16 August 2024). Read more here.
Local Council Election Information – Postal Votes
Postal vote packs for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections were sent out on Monday, August 19, to those who had applied for them. Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips said 185,092 people had already applied to vote by post.
“If you’ve applied for a postal voting pack, start looking out for it in your letterbox and return it to the Electoral Commission as soon as possible,” he said.
Dr Phillips said information is available on the Electoral Commission website about how to fill in your postal vote pack correctly and how to fill in your ballot papers. Information is also available in 24 community languages.
“For your vote to be counted, you must complete your postal vote pack correctly before 6 pm on election day, Saturday, 14 September and return it to the Electoral Commission by 6 pm on Friday, 27 September 2024.
“Any postal vote packs received later than this cannot be included in the vote count.”
Applications are still open to vote by post, but voters should apply sooner rather than later to ensure they get their postal pack before election day.
Postal vote applications close at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 9 2024. The most efficient way to apply for a postal voting pack is online through the NSW Electoral Commission website. Apply now at opva.elections.nsw.gov.au.
In addition to postal voting, people who can’t vote in person on election day can also vote before 14 September by voting at a pre-poll venue. Eligible voters can vote in person on Saturday, 7 September 2024 and then from Monday, 9 September to Friday, 13 September.
“Voters can use the easy address look-up at elections.nsw.gov.au for information on pre-poll locations, candidates, accessibility and opening times for their local council area or ward.”
If you cannot vote in the Lane Cove Council area on 14 September 2024, apply for a postal vote or pre-poll, or you will need to find a multi-voting booth. Not all booths will have the option to vote in other council areas.
Lane Cove Council Presents Community Assistance Grants
Earlier this month, Lane Cove Council presented funding to local community organisations through the Community Assistance Grants program.
This year, $564,075 has been allocated to 18 local community organisations.
The List of recipients includes:
- Sydney Community Services
- Longueville Sporting Club
- Lane Cove Swimming Club
- Lane Cove Theatre Company
- The Lane Cove Toy Library
- Birrahlee Kindergarten
- Lane Cove Choristers
- Lane Cove Community Bands
- Lane Cove District Music Club
- Lane Cove Men’s Shed
- Lane Cove Youth Orchestra
- St George Community Housing
- StreetWork Australia
- Taldumande
- Centrehouse Inc (Gallery)
- Centrehouse Inc.
- Women and Children First
- Cultural Venue Performance Hire Program
- Lane Cove Concert Band
- Lane Cove Youth Orchestra
- ANZAC Ceremony
- Lane Cove Art Award
- Lane Cove Bowling and Recreation Club
- Pottery Gardens Aged Homes
The Lane Cove Council’s May 2024 business papers noted:
“To ensure a range of services and programs are supported by the grants program, Council limited the maximum amount of funding available to groups to $10,000, unless prior approval by Council has been granted. The average amount of funding requested in 2024/2025 was $7,075.”
New Dates for Piling Night Work – Greenwich Point Wharf
Due to the recent wet and windy weather, the night works at Greenwich Point Wharf, initially scheduled between Sunday, 4 August, and Thursday, 22 August 2024, were postponed.
The piles, gangway, and floating pontoon installation are now expected to take place over up to 16-night shifts between Sunday, 25 August 2024, and Thursday, 19 September 2024, from 10 pm to 5 am, weather and maritime conditions permitting.
All other construction activities will continue during standard work hours, which are 7 am. to 5 pm.
Gladesville Bridge Maintenance
Transport for NSW will upgrade the barrier screens on both sides of Gladesville Bridge later this year to improve pedestrian and motorist safety.
In preparation for the barrier upgrades, concrete testing will be carried out over four nights between Sunday, 25 August, and Sunday, 29 September 2024, weather permitting.
The work will be carried out at night to limit disruption to drivers and ensure the safety of workers, pedestrians, and drivers.
Work hours will be between 8 pm and 5 am, Monday to Thursday.
Temporary traffic changes will ensure the work zone’s safety. This includes partial lane closures and a reduced speed limit, which may affect travel times. Pedestrians should follow the directions of onsite traffic controllers, keep to speed limits, and follow the direction of traffic controllers and signs.
Lane Cove Council Bushcare Group Wins Volunteer Award
The Volunteer Bushcare Groups in Lane Cove Council’s Bushcare program have won the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award—North Shore.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards celebrate the incredible dedication, effort, and community service of our state’s volunteers, leaders, and teams.
The Lane Cove Cove Council published the following on their website:
“Lane Cove’s 23 volunteer bushcare groups work tirelessly every month to restore and conserve urban bushland reserves across Lane Cove. With 96 passionate members, the Bushcare program is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!
In just the last five years, the volunteers have contributed 7,250 hours of labour at 864 bush care sessions.
Visit lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcare for more information about the program and to register your interest in volunteering.”
Lane Cove Council’s General Manager, Craig Wrightson, said:
“We are very fortunate that so many wonderful people continue to invest their time, and indeed their skills, in bushcare in Lane Cove. This Award is a terrific way to recognise the collective effort that has been made over the past 30 years – together our volunteers are leaving a significant legacy well beyond their individual means. Congratulations to all involved, Lane Cove thanks you for your dedication to the future of our bushland”
Have Your Say
Lane Cove Council is seeking feedback on upgrading Leemon Reserve in Greenwich. The particular focus is on updating the play equipment.
Complete the 5-minute survey here.
Alternatively, you can lodge a written submission to the General Manager by quoting SU10099 by:-
Email: [email protected] OR Post: Lane Cove Council, PO BOX 20, LANE COVE, NSW, 1595
The consultation closes at midnight on 16 September 2024. More information here.
Please read our article here on Leemon Reserve.
Business Alerts
Johnny Gio’s Pizza opened on Tuesday, 20 August 2024. They are located in the Harris Farm Markets building.
Lane Cove Fun Run Almost Here
There is no reason to feel like you cannot be a part of the Lane Cove Fun Run.
It’s an event for the entire community.
Don’t miss out! Register now! www.lanecovefunrun.com.au.
The event is on Sunday, 8 September 2024, at Kingsford Smith Oval.
Read more here.
Big Family Fun Ride Sunday, 15 September 2024
The Big Family Fun Ride is back in 2024. This popular family event will start at Blackman Park this year.
Make sure you’re wearing your dancing and cycling shoes as you groove along with local DJ Nacho Pop, who is bringing a disco on a bike!
Join the party as you cycle around Blackman Park, singing and dancing from 11:00 a.m.
Revolve Recycling will check your bike from 10:00 a.m. At the Revolve Recycling collection point, you can even donate your pre-loved bike to someone else to love.
Kids can test their cycling skills on the obstacle course, hunt for clues on the cycle scavenger hunt, and unleash some creativity by decorating their helmet and bike with Pedal Set Go from 10:00 a.m. Everyone can also tuck into a sausage sandwich.
Free event, tickets and more details here.
Lane Cove Old Ignatians’ Rugby Club Colts through to the Grand Final!
After a thrilling match on Sunday, 18th August 2024, in which the Colts closed a 12-point deficit in the 74th minute to draw 29 all, they have advanced to the Grand Final.
The Club is calling on all friends, family, and supporters to attend the Grand Final Game on Saturday, August 24th, 2024, at 11:40 a.m.
The TG Milner field address is 146/150 Vimiera Rd, Marsfield.
The Club is thrilled to make the grand final in its first year as a combined club.
Lane Cove Sports Teams
It’s finals time for many Lane Cove sports teams, and ITC’s inbox has been flooded with great stories of teams making it to the grand final. This has inspired us to capture all the information in one article (so look out for that soon). However, we could not resist highlighting the team below, as their happy faces say it all.
Well done to the Lane Cove FC U8 Milan team, which came from behind to secure a 4-3 win against a tough Northbridge team in the mud at Burns Bay Reserve over the weekend.
Week In Review – Sponsor Eden Gardens
Our week-in-review sponsor is Eden Gardens.
Join Eden Gardens for their annual spring festival, full of events and workshops that will inspire and educate while providing fun experiences for garden lovers, creatives, foodies, and kids.
Face painting, popcorn, storytelling, kids workshops, petting zoo, and more on the 12th of October. 2024.
Floral workshops, sip and paint, Kokedama and Terrarium,
Make your own perfume workshop, cooking demonstration and more on the 13th of October!
You can’t miss it! More details here
Address: 307 Lane Cove Road (Cnr Fontenoy Road), Macquarie Park
Website: www.edengardens.com.au
Facebook: @edenmacquariepark
Instagram: @eden_macquariepark
