Pittwater Life April 2017 Issue

our hands
LEFT: The boundaries of the Narrabeen (pink) and Pittwater (pale blue)
wards; ABOVE: Much-maligned multi-storey development in Mona Vale.
control over local planning to
the specific ward councillors.”
He added that the government
would require updates
to LEPs every five years, to
facilitate gradual change rather
than extraordinary change.
“Again, that change will be
determined by ward councillors
specific to their ward,” he said.
Palm Beach Whale Beach
Residents Association President
Richard West welcomed the
government’s announcement.
“As far as Pittwater is
concerned it has its advantages,”
Dr West said. “There
was general concern that as
we were quite different from
other regions of the northern
beaches we would be affected,
but this is a positive move by
the government.
“The only caveat is that the
present LEPs be retained for
Pittwater,” he said.
Pittwater Forever Chairman
Craig Boaden welcomed the
government’s decision “as a
gesture to allow local input
on local planning matters” but
added “we expect and hope
the government will follow
through on this commitment”.
“We’re not quite sure how
it will pan out – DAs will be
processed by one team, not
three – but it does allay fears…
we have to be glad about it,”
he said.
President of the Mona Vale
Chamber of Commerce Simon
Dunn commented: “I think it’s
encouraging that some element
of local government is
being restored from what has
been regional government, and
that LEPs will be governed by
the people who treasure their
area.” – Nigel Wall
Locals’ keen eye shaping
Church Point aesthetics
The new look and feel of the
Church Point waterfront
is being driven by a group
of local design professionals
who have been collaborating
on the all-important scope of
works with
the Northern
Beaches Council
for almost
a year.
The Church
Point Project
Aesthetic Advisory
Group,
along with
the offshore
and onshore communities,
have been working diligently
to find the best possible outcomes
for the area.
One of the tasks of the
volunteer group, comprising
Cathy Kubany, Roberta
Conroy, Lizzie Hazelwood,
Michael Wiener and Scotland
Island Residents Association
President, Bill Gye, has been to
work with Council to modify
the new Church Point carpark
design to be more recessive
and fit in with the surrounding
local environment.
Northern Beaches Deputy
General Manager Ben Taylor
said the collaborative approach
would provide a better visual
outcome for the community.
The CPPAAG has met eight
times and provided Council
with technical and aesthetic
advice since May 2016 following
the release of the Project
concept plans.
The first phase of the
Church Point Upgrade will be
delivered by August 2017 and
includes the already completed
200-metre
long seawall,
new boardwalk
and
realigned
roadway.
The second
phase of the
Church Point
Upgrade will
be completed
by February 2018 with the
new carpark.
In addition to the seawall
and carpark, other aspects of
the $10 million project include
a new boardwalk that blends
in with the existing character
of the area, heritage upgrades
around the café and wharf, realignment
of the bus stop and
improved pedestrian access.
“The Committee have already
provided valuable ideas
during the project and I look
forward to continuing this
work as we progress building
the carpark to ensure the final
aesthetics works with the
general amenity and safety of
the Church Point Precinct,” Mr
Taylor said.
More info search Church
Point Upgrade at northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
– Nigel Wall
News
Celebrating 25 Years
APRIL 2017 15