Welcome to our week in review. Another busy week in Lane Cove – grab your cuppa and catch up on all the news with ITC.
Windy Conditions
On Monday, September 2nd, 2024, damaging winds swept throughout Sydney, Illawarra, the Central Tablelands, the Blue Mountains, and the Hunter region.
We are leafy Lane Cove; some trees and high winds don’t go well together.
ITC received reports of a large tree coming down in Riverview Street Riverview, a car being hit by a large branch on Burns Bay Road and powerlines down on Willandra Road near the corner of Mowbray Rd near Springbok Deli
Storm season will be upon us soon and State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
* Trees damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
* Report fallen power lines to Ausgrid 131 388
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500
Burns Bay Road Paving Upgrade
As part of Lane Cove Council’s streetscape improvement programme in the Lane Cove Village, Lane Cove Council will upgrade the brick-paved footpath on Burns Bay Road between Rosenthal Avenue and Tambourine Bay Road with new granite pavers on both sides of the road (the same pavers used in the Longueville Road upgrade).
The works are expected to commence in October 2024.
Lane Cove Council has stated that the upgrade aims to remove pedestrian trip hazards while improving the area’s overall streetscape. ITC spoke to one local Burns Bay Road business owner who said they regularly see elderly people trip over along Burns Bay Road due to uneven paving.
In addition to the paving works, Lane Cove Council will:
- Install new kerbs and gutters to address minor flooding issues
- Install pram ramps and levelling of the footpath to comply with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) legislation – The DDA makes it unlawful for public places to be inaccessible to people with a disability
- Install new garden beds
- Install additional seating
Lane Cove Council will also be removing some existing trees and undertaking replanting along Burns Bay Road.
Signs were installed on the trees to be removed. The sign notification procedure ensures that residents know a tree is to be legally removed. (see below and our cover photo)
However, the sign originally only referred to the trees being removed due to new paving.
This information caused concern among locals, who queried whether this was sufficient justification to remove trees. Since the signs went up, the Lane Cove Council has now provided further information on why the trees are being removed and the type of trees that will be planted to replace them.
Lithium Battery Safety Warning
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) are reiterating previous warnings about lithium battery storage and charging following an incident in Roseville last week.
Two people were treated for burns and smoke inhalation after a lithium-ion battery from an e-skateboard exploded in a Roseville home in the early hours of Wednesday 28 August.
Two FRNSW trucks and 8 firefighters responded to calls for assistance at 2:20am.
A sleeping 26-year-old male woke to the sound of popping and crackling, finding the room full of smoke and the e-skateboard battery starting to flame.
He and another occupant removed the device from the house, sustaining burns to their hands and suffering smoke inhalation in the process. Both were transported to hospital for treatment.
In the wake of multiple e-device incidents over the last week, FRNSW is reminding people to ensure safe practices are adhered to when charging lithium-ion batteries including:
✅ Always charge larger devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters and power tools, away from living spaces and exits.
✅ Never sleep or leave home with your lithium-ion battery devices charging.
✅ Once a device has recharged fully, disconnect it from the charger.
✅ Beware of cheap, substandard lithium-ion battery devices.
✅ Never leave devices charging on beds, sofas or around combustible materials.
✅ Do not touch a device or lithium-ion battery that is emitting vapour or gas, or is on fire. Immediately evacuate the area and call Triple Zero (000).
Most importantly, a working smoke alarm should be installed in any room, garage, or structure where lithium-ion batteries are regularly charged or stored.
Further information on the safe use and storage of lithium batteries can be found in our article.
Local Council Elections – A Bit of Trivia
Did you know that since 2011, it has been legal in NSW for private contractors to facilitate local elections? Councils do not need to use the NSW Electoral Commission on polling day.
Lane Cove Council was one of fourteen to do so in 2012. Fast-forward to 2024, and only two councils in NSW are utilising a private contractor rather than the NSW Electoral Commission.
Pre Polling Start on Saturday 7 September 2024
In Lane Cove, you can pre-poll at the Lane Cove Council Chambers/Civic Centre. Pre Polling starts 7 September 2024.
Lane Cove Council, The Cove Room – 48 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Sat 07 Sep – Fri 13 Sep 2024
Mon – Wed: 8:30am – 5:30pm
Thu: 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Fri: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Postal Votes Applications
Postal Vote applications close at 5 pm on 9th September 2024. More information here.
Bus Taskforce Report Released
In May 2023, the NSW Government announced the creation of a Taskforce to make recommendations to improve the reliability, quality and effectiveness of bus services across NSW. Read about the final report here.
The final Bus Taskforce report has been released, and it noted that buses as a public transport option were “neglected, underfunded and largely misunderstood.”
The report noted that buses were the most affordable public transport option because of their cost. However, their quality and reliability were “not meeting community needs and expectations.”
A statistic that will not surprise Lane Cove commuters is that 60 percent of all public transport complaints come from bus passengers.
The Taskforce’s final report, dated May 2024, is called The Forgotten Mode: A Call to Action on Buses.
As Lane Cove commuters know all too well, Sydney buses (operated by different private operators) have been unreliable, with cancellations and timetable changes since the buses were “franchised”. Lane Cove buses are part of Region 7 and are operated by Busways.
The Taskforce had 12 months to review the “franchised/privatised” system.
NSW Police Launch Operation RAID Targeting Reckless Driver Behaviour
NSW Police have launched Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) in a bid to reduce the growing number of fatalities on NSW roads, following concerning road trauma trends across the state.
Operation RAID will also see an increase in officers on NSW roads targeting drink driving, drug driving and fatigue – three major contributors to the state’s annual road toll.
The high visibility state-wide road policing operation will be conducted from 12.01am tonight (Thursday 5 September 2024) to 4am on Sunday (8 September 2024) and aims to stamp out road-related trauma through a whole-of-community approach.
NSW Police will undertake high volume stationary and mobile random breath and drug testing in addition to speaking with motorists regarding their fatigue levels. The operation compliments existing policing strategies that target speeding, unauthorised drivers, the use of restraints and distraction offences.
During September 2023, 32 people lost their lives – one less than the September the previous year – on NSW Roads in both regional and metropolitan areas of the state.
Of those 32 fatalities in 2023, 22 people died within a 14-day period.
NSW Police and Counter-terrorism Minister, the Honourable Yasmin Catley MP, said the Government supports the work of the NSW Police Force, including high-visibility operations such as RAID, to address road trauma.
“Drivers will see plenty of officers on the roads, enforcing the law and helping to ensure we all reach our destination safely,” Minister Catley said.
“The message is clear – slow down, put your phone away and have a Plan B if you are consuming alcohol – otherwise, you’ll meet with one of our officers who will take the appropriate action.
“Too many people have lost their lives on our roads this year. Police are doing everything they can to address the increased trauma, including operations such as RAID, but we all have a role to play in getting ourselves, our passengers and other road users home alive,” she said.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said with the weather warming up in early September, it is likely more people will be out on the roads and it is up to all road users to take responsibility.
“It is concerning that during the month of September over the last two years we saw an increased number of lives lost,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“We don’t want a repeat of last September’s road toll, where in a two-week period we saw almost two people die per day on NSW roads.
“Reducing the amount of trauma and fatalities on NSW roads is not the sole responsibility of police; while police will continue to be out in force stopping those who choose to risk lives, a zero-fatality goal requires ongoing whole of community action.
“So, we are launching this high-visibility road operation to remind road users that enough is enough – every community member needs to take responsibility for their behaviour. If everyone works together and thinks of others, we can prevent the significant harm that road trauma causes our community,” he said.
To date, there have been 205 fatal crashes on NSW roads, resulting in 226 deaths. At this time last year there were 195 fatal crashes which had resulted in 221 deaths.
Members of the public are urged to report motorists engaged in dangerous driving to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Lane Cove Festival Launch Party
The 2024 Lane Cove Festival was launched Friday 30 August. It was a fun-filled afternoon with music from DJ Nacho, roving entertainment from hula hoop artist Spinjoy and stilt walkers Topazio.
Festival goers, young and old, got creative with face painting by Fantasy Art, Henna by Hura, and flower crown making with Messy Makers.
Synergy Youth Centre was on hand to share information about its programs and invited attendees to try some mindfulness with its stacking stones or some healthy competition with its cup-stacking games. More information on SYC is here.
The Festival committee stand was full of sustainable giveaways from colourful tote bags made from recycled banners, to reusable coffee cups, and sustainably sourced toilet paper that is creating social change through supporting Indigenous education.
The festival runs throughout September. More information in our article here.
Thanks To Our Early Childhood Educators
Today (Wednesday 4th September 2024) is Early Childhood Educators Day. Early childhood teachers and educators are celebrated for their vital role in nurturing the next generation for success.
Lane Cove is fortunate to have many amazing daycare centres and preschools that provide excellent early childhood education to local children.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar paid tribute to the contribution of this workforce ahead of Early Childhood Educators’ Day.
“You are the beating heart of our sector, and we appreciate your dedication and determination to make a difference for our youngest learners,” Mr Dizdar said.
“We see the meaningful impact you make in the lives of our children, families and communities and we say thank you.”
Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain development happens by the age of 5 and that this period affects a child’s long-term education, health and social outcomes. High quality early childhood education and care is instrumental in helping children build the physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills they need before school and in laying the foundations for lifelong wellbeing and success.
Deputy Secretary for Early Childhood Outcomes Mark Barraket said the NSW Department of Education wanted educators and teachers to have rewarding careers in early learning.
“A strong, skilled, sustainable and valued workforce is crucial to be able to deliver high quality early childhood education and care right across the state,” Mr Barraket said.
There are a number of Initiatives within the NSW Budget 2024-2025 to support the early childhood education and care sector:
- More than $17 million to deliver scholarships and professional learning
- $5.3 million Business Capability Development Program to help small providers to thrive and support their local communities with high quality services
- $10 million partnership with TAFE NSW to support early childhood educators and teachers to access professional learning, launching in Spring 2024.
Early Childhood Educators’ Day was started in 2011 by the Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland branch.
Thank you to all the wonderful Early Childhood Educators in Lane Cove!
Return and Earn Reaches Major Milestone
The NSW Government’s Return and Earn scheme recently reached a huge milestone, celebrating 12 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the network since the scheme began in 2017, resulting in $1.2 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets.
“Return and Earn is a NSW circular economy success story. Almost seven years after launching, it has become one of the most successful and trusted recycling initiatives in the state,” said James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator for Return and Earn.
“It has also resulted in more than 1 million tonnes in materials recycled, contributing to a 54 per cent reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels.”
New research shows support and trust in the container deposit scheme is at an all-time high, respectively 93 per cent and 78 per cent of NSW adults. Participation has also reached a new peak at 84 per cent of NSW adults having participated.
Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, the scheme coordinator for Return and Earn said today’s achievement and the research findings highlight we have seen amazing cultural change over the last years with taking drink containers to your local Return and Earn return point becoming a way of life throughout all corners of NSW.
The scheme has also become a popular fundraising channel for hundreds of charities and community groups. The Return and Earn app features more than 300 charities, enabling anyone returning containers to donate their refund to their favourite cause.
Return and Earn is delivered in partnership between the NSW Environment Protection Authority, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway. For more information visit www.returnandearn.org.au.
Did you know Return and Earn Depot at 67 Mars Road Lane Cove West is an automated depot? Staff can assist in processing your eligible containers in bulk rather than feeding them one by one into a self-service return point. More information, including opening hours, is here.
Scam Awareness Week
Last week was Scam Awareness Week, a reminder to be vigilant with our online activities. Here are three key steps that we should all apply to protect ourselves:
Stop – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure.
Check – Research to verify if the business or person is legitimate.
Report – If you suspect a scam, report it.
Lane Cove Library Introduces ClearView Magnifier with Speech Option
Are you or someone you know experiencing difficulty reading or viewing pictures? The ClearView Magnifier with Speech option is now available at the Lane Cove Library.
This easy-to-use electronic magnifier is perfect for those with low vision. It offers a simple solution for reading text and viewing photos in newspapers, magazines, leaflets, or mail.
With just the press of a button, you can convert text to speech and even save it onto your USB for later.
The ClearView Magnifier is located at Lane Cove Library near the Public computers.
More information about Lane Cove Library’s Assistive Technology is here.
HomeCycle Service Now Accepting Blister Packs
Lane Cove Council has announced that you can recycle empty blister packs through the HomeCycle program.
Blister packs, commonly used for medications, often end up in landfills. Simply add them to your HomeCycle collection.
In 2024, HomeCycle replaced RecycleSmart as Lane Cove Council’s doorstep recycling provider. Lane Cove Council selected HomeCycle as the preferred supplier for the Council-funded doorstep recycling service because they believed HomeCycle would provide quality services with greater cost efficiency for the long-term sustainability of a doorstep recyling service.
The HomeCycle programme is so popular in Lane Cove that there is now a significant delay between the booking date and the collection date. ITC booked a collection on Thursday, 29 August 2024; the earliest we could secure a collection was 1 November 2024.
You can also drop off blister packs for recycling at The Sydney Library of Things/The Lane Cove Toy Library on 47 Burns Bay Road and at the Council Chambers
Saving Water With The Wiggles
As the temperature begins to rise, it’s a great time to remind ourselves how we can limit water wastage in our homes.
Sydney Water has teamed up with The Wiggles to encourage water users of all ages to be water-saving superheroes. They’ve released some tips—and a new song—to help conserve water year-round.
Some tips include;
✅ Keep showers to under 4 minutes
✅ Turn off taps while brushing teeth
✅ Use a watering can instead of a hose in the garden
There’s also a chance to win your way to a Wiggles show!
For all the tips, the Water Saving Superhero song, and competition details, see Sydney Water’s website.
Did you know that even though no elevated water restrictions are in place at the moment, there are rules that apply year round to preserve the supply of drinking water in Greater Sydney? See the Waterwise Guidelines here.
RSL NSW Call for nominations: Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Program 2025
Call for nominations: Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Program 2025
The Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Program, which commenced in 1994 as the Hand of Friendship project, is an initiative of RSL Australia that aims to foster mutual understanding of the peoples of Japan and Australia by inviting descendants of Australian Prisoners of War (POWs) to Japan through the RSL network.
The Japanese Government has offered two places for descendants of POWs to participate in the 2025 Grassroots Exchange Program. Participants will have an opportunity to promote post-war reconciliation, understanding, and goodwill between both countries.
Tour Information:
- Scheduled tentatively for February/ March 2025, the tour duration will be approximately 7 nights and 8 days in Japan.
- The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will cover flights, shared accommodation, domestic travel within Japan, meal allowance for lunches and dinners, and travel insurance.
- Participants are responsible for their travel expenses to and from the nearest airport to their residence, passport costs, expenses incurred above room charges, and meals exceeding the allowance, souvenirs, and personal incidentals.
- An interpreter and tour guide will accompany the participants. Activities will include meetings with various Government representatives and students, a dinner hosted by the Foreign Ministry, a visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery, and sightseeing ventures.
- Final details will be available closer to the tour’s commencement upon announcement of participants.
Nomination information:
If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating in the Program, please email [email protected] (with ‘Grassroots Exchange Program’ in the subject line) before 5pm (AEST) Wednesday 17 September 2024, and attach the following:
- A completed nomination form
- A passport size photo
- Supporting documents that briefly explain your connection to a POW, your interest in the Program, your place of residence, and your employment history.
Nominations will be reviewed and shortlisted by the RSL NSW Selections Committee and referred to RSL Australia for consideration. The NSW nominee and back-up nominee will be informed via email.
For enquiries, please contact your Member Support Team at [email protected] or 1300 679 775.
Lane Cove Fun Run This Sunday
This Sunday, Kingsford Smith Oval will be full of community spirit with the 7th annual Lane Cove Fun Run.
But it’s so much more than a Fun Run! There will be face painting, games, the SUPER POPULAR Lane Cove Cats AFL Club sausage sizzle (sausages from Hummerston’s Gourmet Meats) and most importantly…. COFFEE!
There are best-dressed competitions for families, individuals and even dogs!
Prizes for the fastest runners in various age categories!
In the Cove will be there as always – pop over to our tent and say hello.
For Registration / Volunteer Signup / Event Details click here.
Lane Cove Community Bands Open Rehearsals
Lane Cove Junior Rugby Union Club Bring Home Two Premiership Cups
LCJRUC are celebrating two premierships after their U12 Gold Team and U13 Gold/KWP Rugby won their grand finals over the weekend. Both teams have been applauded by coaching staff and parents for their determination and teamwork.
Lane Cove Gold defeated Harbord Goldmatch 33–19. Special mention goes to Felix Wiseman, who scored an extraordinary five tries during the match!
In the U13 match, Lane Cove/KWP Gold triumphed over Balmain 36–22. They had five different try scorers, including Joseph Duffy, who went over twice.
Congratulations to all the players.
Crime, Accidents and Incidents
An ITC reader sent us the following photo and information:
“Hi, we had another uninvited intruder at Penrose St LCW last night. He entered the property at 8:30 p.m. last night. He snuck around the car and tried to peer in windows until our dog barked, and he casually let himself out the gate! I just want the community to be aware of him.”
Week in Review Sponsor – Apple Dental
Apple Dental is now a collection point for the Colgate and Oral Care Recycling program.
Colgate and TerraCycle have partnered together to give a second life to your used oral care packaging.
Rather than endangering the environment, the used oral care packaging is melted and remoldled to make new recycled products.
Pop into Apple Dental and drop off your used oral care packaging, and we can all make a difference together….
Teeth Whitening With Apple Dental
Zoom! Whitening is available at Apple Dental. Call to make an appointment or pop in, and Apple Dental can provide you with a free health fund quote.
