Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

News
Beaches climate initiative
The impact of climate change on coastal infrastructure
across the Northern Beaches will be addressed in an
Australia-first initiative, with Northern Beaches Council
receiving a grant of $80,000 from Local Government NSW to
ensure that public infrastructure is resilient and adaptable.
Experts predict an increase in the impact of climate change
on coastal communities, including rising sea levels and extreme
weather events like the April 2015 and June 2016 storms.
The funding will be used to produce options for making
infrastructure last longer, with two pilot projects to be tested.
Northern Beaches Council is partnering with the Institute
of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), which will
author a Climate Change Impacts on Assets update to their
Useful Life of Infrastructure Assets Practice Note.
“That Practice Note will be developed in conjunction with
Northern Beaches Council so its useability is tested,” said
Council Administrator Dick Persson. “The final Practice Note
will feature Northern Beaches Council case studies and form
part of national industry guidance.
“It will propose alternative designs in response to sea level
rise and increased extreme weather events for things like
community facilities, wharves, roads and stormwater outlets
to make them last longer and therefore provide greater
community and financial benefit.
“NB Council is almost unique in Australia as it is a peninsula
that is three-quarters surrounded by water and dominated by
bushland. That has very obvious impacts on our environment.
“The Northern Beaches has 21 surf life saving clubs, the most
of any local area in Australia. With many club buildings ageing,
it is important any renovations or rebuilds are done sustainably
so they are resilient to sea level rise and storm events.”
Deborah’s award a
victory for vets help
Pittwater’s newly crowned
Woman Of The Year
for 2017 Deborah Carter
hopes the award will help
shed light on the work of
volunteers and the support
and care available for
veterans and their families.
“We are blessed living on
the Northern Beaches as
there is a strong community
spirit and a strong ethos
of volunteering,” Ms Carter
(pictured) said.
The first woman to be
elected President of the
Pittwater RSL Sub-Branch,
Deborah said she developed
a respect and need to
assist with our military
community following 39
years of nursing and with
a background as a Nursing
Officer in the RAAF.
Leaving her career as a
clinical nurse specialist
in cardiac rehab to follow
her passion, Deborah has
volunteered full-time since
2012, also serving in a
key advisory role in the
successful establishment
of the Veterans Centre at
Dee Why RSL. She is also
the Vice-President of the
RSL District Council which
supports veterans and their
families across the northern
beaches.
“It’s important for
veterans to know – whether
they are a member of an RSL
or not – we are always there
to help our mates,” she said.
Member for Pittwater Rob
Stokes said Deborah had an
extraordinary passion for
community service and set
an outstanding example for
others.
“Deborah is continuing
to use her professional
experience to train others,
whilst also donating her
time to assist and advocate
for some of the most
vulnerable and deserving
members of our community.
“Importantly, Deborah’s
focus is not only on older
veterans in our community,
but also the newest
generation of veterans
returning from conflicts
in places like East Timor,
Afghanistan and Iraq,” Mr
Stokes said.
The Pittwater Woman
Of The Year Award was
announced at the annual
Zonta International Women’s
Day Breakfast at the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club in
March.
– Lisa Offord
12 APRIL 2017
Celebrating 25 Years