The Weekly Times - 28th March, 2018

4 THE WEEKLY TIMES Wednesday 28 March, 2018
S ah ara m arath o n
f o r G iant S teps
Dear Sir,
Hi, I am emailing you on
behalf of Stefan Briggs
who is a parent at Giant
Steps – a school for children
with autism.
Stefan has a young son
who attends our school,
Giant Steps Sydney, located
in Gladesville, which
operates a school and intervention
services catering
specifically for children
and young people between
the ages of 2 and 29 all
with a diagnosis of Autism
Spectrum Disorder.
Giant Steps Sydney is
open to students from all
walks of life, is nondenominational
and does not
charge fees.
The cost per student at
Giant Steps Sydney is approximately
$95,000 per
annum.
This represents an income
expectation of $9.5
million. Approximately 45
percent of the income is
derived from various government
grants. The remainder
is raised privately
through donations and
fundraising events.
Ninety percent of costs
relate to the direct provision
of education to the
students.
In 15 days Stefan will be
undertaking an enormous
challenge as he undertakes
the Marathon des
Sables in April which is
an ultra-marathon in the
L ET T ER S to th e Ed ito r
Sahara.
Stefan will be doing 250
kilometres over six days
including a 90 km run on
4th day through the desert
in 40 degree plus heat.
See http://www.marathondessables.com/
for
more information.
This is a challenge that
we believe very few Australians
would complete
and is unique in so many
ways.
Living with a young child
who has autism is extremely
challenging and
we would like to ask you to
promote Stefan, especially
with World Autism Week
taking place between
March 26 and April 2 and
what he is doing to support
his son and Giant Steps.
We recognise that you
have many appeals, but
I am confident that if you
hear Stefan’s story you
would want to assist him.
Stefan can be reached 02
8705 5419 or by way of the
email address above. Stefan
has set a goal of raising
$50,000 to support Giant
Steps. To date he has
raised close to $2900.
Please do not hesitate
to contact me if you have
any questions. Feel free
to browse our website
https://giantsteps.net.au/
about-giant-steps/ if you
would like more information
on the school.
MICHELLE JOCUM
National Fundraising Director
Giant Steps, Gladesvlle
H U NT ER’ H I L L C O U NC I L
HU N TE R ’ S HI L L C O U N C I L
N O TI F I C A TI O N O F D E V E L O P ME N T A P P L I C A TI O N
I n accordance with the p rovisions of Part 6.1
Notification Policy of Hunters Hill Consolidated
Development Control Plan 2013, notice is hereby
given that Council is in receipt of the following
Development Application:
D A N o. S i te P rop osal
2018-1016 40 Ryde Road,
Hunters Hill
Demolition of
existing dwelling and
construction of new
2 storey dwelling
including swimming
pool
The plans and supporting documentation may
be inspected at the Customer Service Centre
between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Written submissions will be received up until
4.00pm 2 7 A p ri l 2 0 1 8 and all enquiries may be
directed to Senior Development Officer, Mr
K erry S m i th on 9879 9400.
Barry Smith
GENERAL MANAGER
Kim Toyer-Uttley
For any real estate enquiry you
may have please contact Kim on
0408 439 837 OR 9816 8105
LETTERS
Welcome
TWT welcomes letters
from our readers. Full
name, address and
telephone number
MUST be supplied, even
if not for publication.
Send to: TWT PO Box
123, Ryde 1680 or email:
contactus@weekly
times.com.au
M o re l o cal b ank
b ranch cl o sures
Dear Sir,
In the last year we have
had the St George bank
close down in Gladesville
shopping centre.
Then the NAB closed,
building now being pulled
down. Then I recently received
a letter from the ANZ
saying closing Gladesville,
go to Top Ryde.
This week a letter from
Commonwealth Bank telling
all customers closing down
in April, this being the only
bank branch in Hunters Hill.
What about all the retirees
and pensioners in the area!
Haven’t the banks learnt
anything?
With all the bad publicity
from the Royal Commission,
wouldn’t you think they
would bend over backwards
to be on side with the community?
t no it’s all abot pofits
which equals bigger bonuses
for the bosses.
TONY SAUNDERS
Hunters Hill
G o v t b anned T W T
f ro m m eeting
Dear Sir,
Why did the NSW government
muzzle the Press
over the Contamination
Site in Hunters Hill? Make
no mistake this is what
they did Wednesday 14th
March at Hunters Hill.
The EPA in their management
order required a
meeting of all stakeholders
prior to 16th March 16.
The Press would have
been able to attend such a
meeting.
Property NSW under
the direction of Minister
Dominello MP for Ryde decreed
that they would have
a series of 8 booths that
would provide one on one
updates to stakeholders.
For 600 stakeholder
households?
Property NSW then decreed
that as individuals
would not want the Press
listening to their conversations
all media would be
barred from the supposed
meeting.
Do they have separate
messages for individuals?
At the Public Meeting
February 20 the meeting
of 250 concerned attendees
voted overwhelmingly
for an open public meeting
with Property NSW as
in the EPA management
order.
That’s how to communicate
with 600 stakeholder
households.
Further discussion with
opet onfie
this requirement. It was all
ignored.
No public meeting. More
secrecy Press and all media
barred.
More secrecy. What has
the EPA said about this
fiaso otin oe secrecy
Come on EPA and
Minister Upton this is totally
unacceptable.
IAIN CLARK
Hunters Hill
B uses f ar b etter
th an tram s
Dear Sir,
Buses are better than
light rail in Sydney as
Sydney’s roads are not
wide enough for dedicated
light rail lines.
If trams share the road
with other vehicles, all traffi
oves at te pae of te
slowest vehicle.
Melbourne’s trams average
just 11kmph in the
CBD. About 75 per cent
of their trams share roads
with other vehicles and
there were 104 tram-tovehicle
collisions in March
2017.
Collisions, malfunctions
or derailments hold up all
other trams on that line.
Broken down vehicles
can block a tram line. Vehicles
can hit power poles or
snag overhead power lines.
The planned Parramatta
light rail shares many roads
in and around the CBD with
other vehicles and crosses
many intersections.
This will make the whole
system slow and vulnerable
to stoppages.
Buses are much more
eible e o not nee
tracks to be laid. They do
not need external power.
Buses can use existing
roads. They can divert
around problems.
If you don’t want noise
and pollution, use electric
buses (as are being trialed
in Canberra).
ROBERT DOMONE
Denistone
C o rk & Fo rk o n
again in park
H unters H il l G uest C o l um n
T h e pro f o und m essage b eh ind
th is y ear’ s April Fo o l s D ay East
THIS YEAR Lent
began on Valentine’s
Day and Easter
takes place on April
Fools Day.
It is also the end of
Daylight Saving when
we wind our clocks
back - no joke.
There will be those
who use this occurrence
in time as an
opportunity to suggest
that “Easter is a
joke”.
They would not be
te fist to o so
otl afte te fist
Easter, when Jesus is
raised from the Dead,
there were those
who poked fun at the
Christians and argued
that they were obviously
“joking” about
the resurrection.
Some went further
and called it a blatant
lie.
There were also
elaborate conspiracy
theories put about as
to what “really took
place”.
Some of these continue
to be argued to
this day.
To The POINT
with MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
them, and they often
died for what they
had been a witness to
and believed in.
It was because of
this faith, that they
then shared with others
the good news
that God had come
among them in the
person of Jesus
Christ, his Son, and
that this changed
everything for them.
is often created by
tricking or duping
someone to believe
just how serious God
was in desiring for
them to receive all the
good things he had
promised, willing to
die in order to make
the point. However,
he also came back
to assure them that
they would never be
abandoned, and that
portunity where you
an eet seiosl
on this age-old story,
and I pray not treat it
I pray instead that
the new life that is received
through faith in
something, entrapping
them.
The early
instead
people to
Christians
wished
understand
for
he was with them always.
May this Easter
therefore be an op-
as a joke.
you
to
open
the
your heart
possibilities
that
faith
come
in Jesus,
through
and
him.
Some mocked
them, others persecuted
them, and others
still ignored them,
Dear Sir,
Cork and Fork is on
again this year but according
to Councillor
sharing their mes-
but they persisted in
Trenton Brown at a recent
sage because it was
ouncil rien he ade
a comment that the Cork
through faith in Jesus
and Fork festival at Putney
that they had been
was mainly for the purposes
of people indulging
receiving peace be-
brought to new life,
in alcohol in the park.
If only he came along to
yond understanding,
see what an amazing job the
joy beyond measure,
City of Ryde Events team
hope beyond reason
and love beyond
did working with members
of the community to make
it a successful event showcasing
our beautiful river-
They shared it be-
comprehension.
side location whilst enjoying
cause they wanted
great company, food, wine,
kids rides and music.
others, those that
* * * they loved and cared
The turnout of more than
people in its fist ea
about, to also receive
is proof the community THE ACCOUNTS this incredible gift.
loved the event and supported
it. I look forward to ever demonstrate that
seeing Councillor Brown at
* * * REV MICHAEL
from the bible how-
this year’s Cork and Fork the disciples truly did
ARMSTRONG is
festival.
believe that Jesus THIS IS quite different
Senior Minister of
Clr ROY MAGGIO
City of Ryde
was resurrected.
It was no joke to to April Fool’s
Day, where a “joke”
the Anglican Parish
of Hunters Hill.
We’re not the threat, Gladys is !
feel of Hunters Hill.”
Richard Quinn said the
Gladesville shopping
THE greatest over
development threat to
Hunters Hill will come
from the State Government
- not the heritage
muncipality’s new
planning panel - former
Mayor Richard Quinn
said this week.
Mr Quinn is a community
repsentative on the
new planning panel and
while he shares the current
council’s opposition
to panels usurping councillors
right to determine
development applications
he has no illusions
about where the threat
to Hunters Hill will come
from.
“The planning panel will
not change Hunters Hill’s
Local Environment Plan
and Development Control
Plan, which are there
to protect our natural environment
and our built
environment,” he said.
“But large scale developments
come out of the
protection of the LEP and
DCP because they be-
oe tate sinifiant
“These are the development
applications
we are most concerned
about because they are
the ones which will be
decided by bureaucrats,
who don’t live in Hunters
Hill and will not be concerned
with a greater impact
a large development
will have on the environment
and on the look and
centre proposal is an example
of where councillors
had rejected applications
and the developer
had sought “Gateway
Approval” from the State
Government.
Although Hunters Hill
council recently held a
public meeting to discuss
this proposed development
and will submit
Former Mayor Richard Quinn is on the new
Hunters Hill planning panel. TWT on-the-spot
community comments,
the fate of this proposal
will be decided by the
State Government.
The more large scale
developments, the greater
the risk, he argues.
“I totally agree we are
seeing more high density,
multi-storey developments
and that more
developments will have
more impact.
“It will impact on people’s
lifestyle in all sorts
of ways, particularly on
the natural environment
as our green space will
be used by a much larger
population.”
Small businesses face
a particular risk of being
sandwiched between
larger developments and
small, traditional shops
face the risk of being
undercut by larger neighbouring
competitors.
“As we’ve seen in many
areas where developers
have purchased sur-
PHOTO
rounding sites the small
sop ill fin itself in a
much more competitive
environment, especially
when the development
will have an anchour tenant,
like a supermarket.”
The former Mayor
nonetheless regards
his role on the planning
panel as being an advocate
for what Hunters
Hill people value about
Hunters Hill.
A frequent example he
uses are the Cotswalds
in England where strict
planning controls have
preserved and protected
picturesque villages
to the extent that they
have become major and
lucrative tourist destinations.
“We want Hunters Hill
to be a tourist destination
and our own unique
picturesque, heritage
municipality with beautiful
parks and gardens,”
“I want to help the panel,
the outstanding panel
of experts we have, understand
the jewel we
have here in our natural
and built environments.”