Pittwater Life February 2017 Issue

Editorial
Bees are the latest buzzword
Pittwater is breaking out in
hives! And no, it’s not an
allergic reaction to council
amalgamations. Rather it’s the
result of a bunch of ecologically
aware locals turning their hand
to beekeeping and harvesting
the sweet byproduct that is
natural honey.
Read about this growing
band of artisan producers and
find out how you too can get
involved through seminars on
the peninsula this month (see
p20).
Also this month we get
Northern Beaches Council’s
briefing on the current
algae blooms and also some
residents’ concern over
perceived increased seagrass
volumes in Narrabeen Lagoon.
Plus, Council unveils its
plans for new secure boat
storage racks around the
Lagoon – necessary to stamp
out the practice of boats being
dumped on sensitive riparian
vegetation which is responsible
for stabilising the bank of the
lagoon.
Plenty of ratepayers will
scoff at the new permit-only
arrangement ($75 annually) but
before anyone jumps on the
“this is a cash grab” wagon it
should be pointed out a similar
boat storage system is already
in place around Pittwater’s
foreshore. Fair enough.
Thanks to Shane Withington
for agreeing to be our ‘Life
Stories’ subject this month – his
is one of the best yarns we’ve
run to date (p26).
Resident surfing guru Nick
Carroll ponders the future
of the sport at a professional
level (p34); and Lisa Offord
has compiled a comprehensive
guide to women’s health (p38).
Last, with Valentine’s Day on
February 14, we give one lucky
reader the chance to win an
overnight Romantic Escape for
two to the beautiful Jonah’s
boutique hotel and restaurant,
with breakfast and an a la carte
dinner thrown in (see p31).
– Nigel Wall
FEBRUARY 2017 3