The Weekly Times - TWT - 28 November 2018

4 THE WEEKLY TIMES Wednesday 28 November, 2018
Giant Steps Gingerbread House
Decorating fund raiser
Dear Sir
Hello, my name is Chami and my son attends Giant Steps,
school for children with autism in Gladesville.
Autism is a pervasive development disorder which affects social
and communication skills and, to a greater or lesser degree,
motor and language skills.
We are very fortunate that our nine year old son is able to attend
Giant Steps as it has made a huge difference to his progress
and the quality of life of our entire family.
Giant Steps is a registered charity and was founded to help
educate children and families experiencing autism, to alleviate
associated stress and to guide in the achievement of measurable
results.
Giant Steps charges no fees and parents contribute in whatever
way they can.
Government funding only covers part of Giant Steps’ running
costs so the families of the children who attend Giant Steps
need to raise around $3.85 million each year to keep Giant
Steps operating.
We are hosting a Gingerbread house decorating fundraiser to
raise funds for the school and was hoping you would be able to
put a notice in your local area newspaper promoting the event.
Detail for the event can be found on the link below.
https://giantsteps.net.au/fundraising-event/gingerbreadhouse/
Thanks in advance for your help.
School reopening
is welcomed
Dear Sir,
It is fantastic that Macquarie
Boys High School is
being reopened as a new
co-ed K-12 school.
A new school has been critically
needed for a long time.
This also benefits many
students from the Marsden
relocation.
As a former student of
Marsden I fully back and
support the relocation of
Marsden, however my initial
concern, was that it would
disadvantage families living
in Rydalmere, Parramatta, Ermington,
Dundas, Carlingford
and Telopea as the closest
public high school other than
Marsden is Cumberland High,
15km away from Marsden,
leaving many students without
adequate school accessibility.
By moving to the education
precinct this would make
that trip even longer and
more difficult for students in
the Parramatta Council area.
Thankfully that has now been
rectified.
Letters to the Editor
CHAMI LAM
malieg@hotmail.com
As should be the case,
Marsden and students in
Ryde should not miss out on
a fantastic facility and innovation
from the relocation simply
because other Council’s do
not have the infrastructure to
support them.
It will be a privilege for
Marsden students to learn at
a brand new facility and they
should all be excited for it.
Marsden needed a change,
and this is the perfect change.
Thanks Geoff Leigh, Victor
Dominello and Education
Minister Rob Stokes for pushing
Parramatta and Ryde into
the forefront of education in
NSW.
SAMEER SHAHLA
Sameershala60@gmail.com
Promotion for
David Elliott?
Dear Sir,
What’s the betting on a
promotion for David Elliott if
Gladys is re-elected?
BRIAN TAYLOR
Lane Cove
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:
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times.com.au
Not illegal to
seek refuge
Dear Sir,
Why am I not surprised to
see a letter from Tony Ikonomou
jumping on the band
wagon with his dog-whistle..
He is appalled by the latest
terrorist attack in Melbourne
which is fair enough.
However it didn’t take long
for him to point the finger at
“migrants, so-called asylum
seekers and refugees from
third world countries.”
Mr Ikonomou forgets that
aside from indigenous Australians
we have all come here
from other lands and that those
who come and gain residency
or citizenship do so legally.
And it is not illegal to seek
asylum and to migrate. This is
a normal process and Australia
rightly welcomes peoples from
all over the world.
Unfortunately Mr Ikonomou
is incapable of considered
thought, instead seeking to
spread fear by exaggeration
and a fostering of prejudice.
Some facts might help him.
Since 1972 there have been
18 people killed in Australia in
terror related events and 6 of
those were the perpetrators
themselves.
In that same period 62 people
have died as a result of
shark attacks and more than
14,000 have been murdered,
usually by someone they know
or are related to.
So let’s get this all in proportion
and stop blaming “those
people”.
If we spent more on mental
health along with work opportunities
for the young and disenfranchised
then we’d create
an even safer country than the
one we already live in.
HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL
HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF AN INCREASE TO RATES
EXHIBITION OF COUNCIL’S INTEGRATED PLANNING DOCUMENTS
INCLUDING THE LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN
While Council continues to strive to increase the efficiency of its operations in
order to remain financially viable and provide for effective maintenance and
renewal of its community infrastructure, several external factors have led to costs
increasing beyond Council’s control.
Shortly, all ratepayers will receive a detailed brochure outlining Council’s proposed
rate strategy which has been developed to maintain, further develop and enhance
our community facilities.
Council will be asking the community and property owners for feedback about
the following three options:
• Option 1: Rate peg increase 2.7% (statutory increase that all councils
receive)
• Option 2: Rate peg 2.7% + Community Facilities 4.04% SV (10 year
period)
• Option 3: Rate peg 2.7% + Community Facilities 4.04% SV (10yrs) +
Operational 3% SV (permanent)
MARK NEWMAN
Hunter’s Hill
Please visit the Hunter’s Hill Council website www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au for
detailed information, the rates calculator, and answers to frequently asked
questions (FAQ’s).
Council also has its Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) documents on public
exhibition. This includes Councils Community Strategic Plan and Long Term
Financial Plan (LTFP) which outline Council’s financial position and reasons
why Council will consider a SV. Comments will be received up until Monday 10
December 2018.
Your feedback will be used to make a determination on the proposed variation to
rates and residents can participate by:
• Take part in the IRIS telephone survey if you are called.
• Visit council’s website www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/srv to review all the
information available.
• Email council@huntershill.nsw.gov.au
• Write: PO Box 21 Hunters Hill, NSW 2110.
• Ph: 9879 9400.
Submissions close on Monday 10 December 2018.
Lisa Miscamble
GENERAL MANAGER
Public input in
planning a farce
Dear Sir,
Why can’t the State Government
win public support
for its urban transformation
projects? Why is there so
much outrage about mining,
logging and land clearing?
The Government tends to
dismiss objections as nimbyism
or greenie obstructionism.
This line is supported loudly
by developer groups, mining
lobbyists and others who
benefit financially.
But who pays attention to
the ordinary people whose
homes are demolished for
major infrastructure projects,
whose amenity is destroyed
by high rise apartment towers,
whose farms and villages are
polluted by mines and logging?”
Partly as a result of BPN’s
constant campaign for improved
community consultation,
the government has
mandated community participation
in some aspects of
the planning system and the
Department of Planning and
Environment is currently seeking
feedback on its new Community
Participation Plan.
The problem is as much with
what people cannot comment
on as what they can. Community
consultation has been
removed on “complying development”.
This means people
have no right to object to
development plans that range
from the house next door that
overshadows your solar system
to the medium density
manor house (small block of
flats) that reduces your privacy.
Not only are you denied the
right to comment or negotiate,
but you don’t have to be
notified until the last minute
before work begins.
With big impact projects,
like new mines or power stations,
communities and environmental
groups have had
their right to lodge third-party
merit appeals removed. Yet
developers can still appeal
decisions they do not agree
with.
All power is with the Government
and the developers.
The people are almost entirely
left out.
The Department’s Community
Consultation Plan
includes seminars and community
events, advertising in
social media as well as traditional
outlets and targeted
activities designed to broker
a solution. All this is fine if the
outcome is not determined
before the consultation occurs.
They’re never going to cancel
a road project or halve
the size of a new residential
precinct because the people
object. There might be some
tinkering around the edges
that they’ll trumpet loudly, but
that’s it.
The BPN has always had effective
community participation
at the heart of its mission.
We are pleased that some
of the things we have fought
for are being introduced. The
test for government now is to
ensure that community participation
is more than a boxticking
exercise.
Community voices must be
heard and their views given
genuine weight. The Department’s
feedback must show
that “consideration” means
more than reading submissions
or note taking at seminars.
BPN argues that submissions
should be published
and the Department should
give sound reasons as to why
they accept or reject ideas
proposed in the consultation
process. There must be
the option of real change in
response to the public will.
Communities are not afraid
of change but they want to
have some power and agency
about how it happens. It’s
time for government to show
some trust in the judgement of
the people.
MAIRE SHEEHAN
Better Planning Network
Hunters Hill Guest Column
Encapsulation not the solution
to Nelson Parade contamination
Encapsulation is not
the right solution for the
Nelson Parade contamination
- with all five main
studies on it since 2007
rejecting this option for
reasons that include the
following:
Health risks – there is no
precedent here or overseas
for encapsulation in a residential
street. So, there’s
no experience to evaluate
health risks.
How can we trust safety
promises when neighbours
have suffered radon gas
build up in their home for
years from neighbouring
government land, which
the government has ignored,
while the EPA has
proven powerless to protect
their safety?
Risks associated with
radioactive material may
be expected to attenuate
over thousands of years.
What are the operational
safety arrangements for
radon gas build up, which
is being vented only metres
from homes?
And there’s also the question
of maintenance, monitoring
and rebuilding of the
cell when the concrete decays?
Experts have raised Intergenerational
concerns –
passing the problem to our
children’s children and to
future councils to resolve.
Experts have also said
the cost of encapsulation
would likely exceed that of
excavation and off-site disposal.
A technically complex,
sloping site and narrow
street may potentially
also result in water run-off
problems.
Experts also anticipate
the likelihood of intense
community opposition.
Council zoning - this is
a residential – how can an
industrial, radioactive stor-
Carols in the Park this Sunday
Boronia Park Ovals at Hunters Hill will come alive at 6.00pm this Sunday,
2 December, with Christmas songs, carols and food stalls.
Bring your rugs, and all
your family and friends
to enjoy this wonderful
Christmas celebration.
The evening will feature a
fantastic fireworks display
at around 8.45pm, just after
Santa’s visit.
If you have reusable
water bottles and coffee
mugs, be sure to take
them with you to Carols in
the Park, because Council
and Sydney Water will be
providing portable hydration
stations.
By drinking tap water
instead of bottled water
you are not just saving
money, you’re helping the
environment and that’s
something to be proud of.
Sydney Water will be supporting
our community by
providing access to free,
high quality drinking water
at Carols in the Park!
***
The Hunters Hill
Street Feast was held on
Saturday, 17 November
with around 3,000 patrons
enjoying a “giant dinner”
in great company and a
festive atmosphere. It
was great to see this popular
local event organised
by Discover Hunters Hill
come back this year. The
rain did not deter guests
from enjoying themselves.
We in Hunters Hill are
very proud of our Volunteers.
The morning tea
held at the Hunters Hill
Town Hall was a small
token to show our volunteers
that we appreciate
their efforts and all their
To The POINT
with Philippa Clark
age unit be built in this
zone?
If we don’t accept encapsulation,
what do we want?
There are many options
for both permanent and
temporary disposal sites.
Primarily we - Nelson
Parade Action Group residents
- want permanent
disposal in the federal facility
when it is established.
The first preference of all
experts, residents and the
community is permanent
off-site disposal in a purpose-built,
state-of-theart
facility, which is what
the National Radioactive
Waste Facility will be.
Property NSW told us
that they have accepted
the Nelson Parade contamination
for permanent
storage and it has been
included in their planning.
Therefore, secondly, we
want temporary, off-site
storage until completion of
the permanent site in approximately
ten years.
There are more than 100
temporary storage locations
for radioactive waste
across Australia, all awaiting
completion of the National
Radioactive Waste
Facility. Surely one could
be found for our material.
Temporary storage would
involve removal of all contamination
off site for sorting
and verification and
then storage in ‘bulka’
bags in shipping containers.
Temporary storage has
fewer constraints in geology,
water management and
site selection than permanent
storage.
Community
benefit
HUNTERS HILL HAPPENINGS
with Mayor MARK BENNETT
hard work, work that is important
for any organisation.
Volunteers are the backbone
of organisations and
do a lot without expecting
anything in return and deserve
to be recognised.
We invited the Boronia
Park Primary Choir to help
us celebrate and to thank
the many in our community
who give of their time.
Once you start looking
at who volunteers and the
types of tasks they undertake,
the diversity is truly
remarkable.
These include bush care
groups, aged care services,
Council Committees, emergency
services, special interest
clubs, church groups
and community service
groups.
As a community we need
people from all walks of life
and with a variety of different
experiences, to participate
and share their skills
and knowledge and if you
find that you can manage
some time to volunteer,
we’d love to hear from you.
Hunter’s Hill Council is a
proud supporter of Activate
Inclusion Sports Day.
This event will be held on
December 3 at Hornsby
Ku-ring-gai PCYC 1 Park
Lane, Waitara from 9.30am-
1.30pm.
The program provides
adaptive sport and rec-
schemes which are successfully
used here & in
Europe could facilitate location
of a suitable site.
So why has the govt
chosen the solution of encapsulation
and rejected
all other options and what
criteria have they used for
this decision?
Property NSW ignored its
Minister’s criteria in local
media in March - specifically
“ that the disposal site
had to be geologically stable,
near a major transport
route and not near densely
populated areas.”
Nelson Parade meets
none of these criteria.
Instead, Property NSW
has told us the government
has given then the
criteria to find the solution
with the least political pain
- political criteria, not environmental
criteria.
This is the problem.
Property NSW says it consulted
with the community
and sought residents’
feedback.
In reality they used feedback
from the few who
agreed with them and offered
no evidence they’d
listened to the rest of us.
We need to stand strong
& demand total remediation,
informed by environmental
best practice,
expert advice and policy
and not be persuaded into
accepting an inappropriate
solution, proposed by politicians
for non-scientific
reasons – with ramifications
that will be regretted
long into the future.
Philippa Clark is a Hunters
Hill Environmental Activist
reation programs for kids
aged 5-18 who may have
learning, intellectual, sensory
and or physical difficulties
and who might
otherwise be missing out
on sporting activities.
Council would like to
include any children who
would benefit from the
day, so please share this
information.
This is an all-inclusive environment
where children
can build core skills and
confidence by participating
in sustainable physical
activities with zero cost for
those who attend.
The day is an opportunity
to go out and have lots of
FUN and you will need to
rsvp by Friday November
30, 2018 as limited places
are available.