The Weekly Times - TWT - 13th February 2019

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6 THE WEEKLY TIMES Wednesday 13 February, 2019 Eastwood Commuter Car Park Hijacked! Dear Sir, As a regular visitor to Eastwood for business and leisure, I’m appalled that Ryde Council is attempting to hi-jack the government’s proposal for a commuter car park and instead for political reasons insist that it be built at West Ryde. This was the government’s commitment for the Eastwood community and not West Ryde, which no doubt also warrants such a facility, but that’s an entirely separate issue which should also be considered in future planning. Having a commuter car park at West Ryde is of no value whatsoever for the Eastwood community. A commuter car park at Eastwood would benefit local residents who are beyond walking distance from the station or not close to a convenient feeder bus route. It would also free up street parking close to the station for residents and their visitors. It’s a further example of Ryde Council’s disregard for Eastwood, by seemingly knocking back a gift from the government. What does that say about its commitment to promoting the development of Eastwood, which is bad enough already through its failure to upgrade the Town Centre Master Plan? I’m sure if it was in Macquarie Park, they’d have a completely different attitude. This brings us to the question of where a commuter car park in Eastwood should be located? In my view, the redevelopment of the Glen Street car park, or the Rowe Street East car park for that matter, should never have been considered as an option. Whatever development ultimately takes place there, it should be strictly reserved for short term shoppers and residents and businesses, if included as part of the development. I still believe that the original proposal for a multi-storey car park over the West Parade bus interchange is the best option. It was the most supported Letters to the Editor option in the original consultation process, although not by a majority overall. When the options are narrowed down, I believe that it would receive majority support. It provides for direct under cover access to the station platforms, reduces the pedestrian flow across West Parade and also allows for an upgrade to the bus interchange, which had previously been promised, but never delivered. It’s already owned by the government. It ticks all the boxes. I acknowledge that there are potential traffic congestion issues associated with this proposal, as there would be anywhere else, but it deserves further investigation to see if this can be resolved. Abandoning a commuter car park for Eastwood should not be an option. RAY LAVERACK Epping Impossible parking In central Epping Dear Sir, Trying to park in or around Oxford Street Epping is nigh impossible. With high rise apartments going up all over the place, parking priority is given to builders and their vehicles: concrete mixers, cranes, trucks and the like. No thought has been given to the residents of this area who want to go to the shops, Post Office or railway station. The old parking restrictions still apply and the police enforce the rules with vigour. A further complication is the Station Link buses and their need for road space. In all fairness, if the builders can have special parking rights, why can’t we, the people who live here, have our parking adjusted to meet the new situation we find ourselves in. I should also point out that this parking problem is not just one week or one month, but years. Please have a look at the parking and remove the restrictions for those not in the building trade. BRIAN SWAN Epping 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 West Ryde traffic aready bad enough Dear Sir, I, unlike Karl Stewart (TWT 30/1/19), I’m not enthused about the commuter car park at West Ryde station. Although I’ve only lived in West Ryde for 18 years, I feel that the traffic in the area is bad enough without encouraging more cars on the eastern side of the railway. We already have Orchard Road being used as a rabbit run to avoid Victoria Road, Goodwin Street is turning into a lethal narrow roller coaster street with cars accelerating from the roundabout Anzac Street to Terry Street intersection, avoiding Blaxland Road and Victoria Road. Ryedale Road itself is a joke as it’s full of bad bumps and pot holes, I would hope that some local traffic plans and road repairs should be done before the carpark is thought of and don’t get me started on the disgrace of the Woolworths side of West Ryde! Eastwood’s win is West Ryde’s debacle. I also know to protest is useless but I don’t have to like it either! SIMON HIRST West Ryde In or out of Paris Agreement? Dear Sir, Viv Forbes argues for leaving the Paris Climate Agreement. What have we got to lose if thescience, as he states, “is not settled?” If we expand the use of solar and wind and hydro in producing electricity, won’t we end up with a cleaner environment as the use of coal decreases? Surely, it’s win, win? Coal is not renewable – HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL EXPRESSION OF INTEREST REVIEW BORONIA PARK AND RIVERGLADE RESERVE PLANS OF MANAGEMENT Council invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from suitably qualified consultants to undertake a review of the Boronia Park and Riverglade Reserve Plans of Management. Consultants can respond to one or both EOIs. Copies of the two Consultation Briefs may be obtained by contacting Council’s Customer Service Centre on 98799400 or accessing Council’s website www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au . Proposals in writing must be lodged in accordance with the requirements set out in the Briefs and must be received no later than 4.00pm Friday 8 March 2018. For further details please contact Council on 02 9879 9439 or by email vollmerj@huntershill.nsw.gov.au Lisa Miscamble GENERAL MANAGER once dug up, it’s gone. As to scientific consensus – between 91 and 97 percent of reputable scientists agree that we humans are causing the increases in temperature through pumping increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (A simple check on Google will confirm this.) Yes, this gas is essential for the growth of plants. But it traps heat which would, under other circumstances, dissipate. Ask the good folk of Tuvalu what this is going to mean for them right now and in the immediate future. As to so-called computer predictions. Let me quote from an international report: “Every one of the past 40 years has been warmer than the 20th century average. 2016 was the hottest year on record. The 12 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998. Over the past 130 years, the global average temperature has increased 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, with more than half of that increase occurring over only the past 35 years. Detailed measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have been taken continuously since the late 1950s. The data show that CO2 levels have steadily increased every year. In 2017, they were28 percent higher than in 1959, the year CO2 measurements began at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. These are measurements, not predictions! Another questionable statistic, Mr Forbes: contribution of renewables to world energy is, you say, about 3 percent. But if you look at significant markets you see a different picture: the USA at 16.9 percent; last year, Scotland produced 98 percent of its energy needs from wind power; in the first half of 2018, Germany produced enough energy through renewables to power every household in the country. It has set a target for its 80 million people of 65 percent by 2030; Uruguay has almost reached 100 percent (up from 40 percent in 2012.) The list goes on. Source: www.climatecouncil.org. au/11-countries-leading-thecharge-on-renewable-energy/ Mr Forbes’ second last paragraph is just so much unproven guff. Unless we take active steps now, our grandchildren may have lots of green foliage to admire assuming the floods and fires haven’t destroyed them first and the lower parts of our cities haven’t disappeared under the waves. BOB SELINGER Eastwood Hypocrtical Density Housing Code Dear Sir, I find it perplexing that the Labor Candidate for Ryde Jerome Laxale is continuing with his public opposition to the Medium Density Housing Code. It’s fair that he has his opinions on it but if he wants to stop it all he has to do is update his Council’s LEP and no longer allow for as much Medium Density Housing as they permit now. Furthermore, the NSW Labor Party did not oppose the Medium Density Housing Code when it was debated in Parliament, claiming that it was “largely inoffensive” because Councils including Ryde could voluntarily opt out of it. In fact Bankstown Council did opt out of the Code and updated their LEP to reduce the amount of Medium Density Housing permitted. If it was so easy for them, than how come it’s so hard for Ryde Council? If Jerome is serious about getting into Parliament it might be useful if he actually knew what his Labor colleagues policies on the Medium Density Housing Code were. JAY WHITE Denistone West Hunters Hill Guest Column Soundings Federal Election Forum in All Saints Church ANGLICAN PARISH of Hunters Hill will host a forum between candidates for the Federal seat of North Sydney on Sunday February 24 in All Saints Church hall, Ambrose Street, Hunters Hill from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. The Parish often hosts such forums as part of its regular series of seminars called ‘Soundings.’ Soundings has a long history within the Parish, seeking to link contemporary issues of the day with the teachings of Jesus. Soundings is therefore an appropriate place for the people of Hunters Hill to meet with those who would seek to represent us and hear their views on a range of issues and ask questions about the way they intend to represent us if elected. * * * CANDIDATES FROM the Liberal Party (Trent Zimmerman MP), the Labor To The POINT with Rev MICHAEL ARMSTRONG Party (Brett Stone) and the Greens (candidate yet to be announced) have committed to come and participate in the forum. Mrs Alice Oppen OAM, who has convened many of these forums, says that the opportunity to participate in our democracy and to ask questions of those who seek to represent us, is crucial if we desire for candidates to truly reflect our views and to offer real leadership on issues that matter. * * * MRS OPPEN further reflected that previous forums have been wonderful opportunities to raise local, national and international issues with candidates and to cut through some of the rhetoric that we often hear in media grabs and to see and hear for ourselves how well the candidate may share our views and therefore represent us in the parliament. I was asked about this forum being hosted with the Church and said Jesus never backed away from raising political issues with those in power and as the Church we too are concerned for those who are especially poor, marginalised or unable to speak. I believe these forums are a great gift to our local community and we seek to host them in a manner that is respectful to all, which we know therefore allows the candidates to speak with further freedom and passion than what they may do in other forums. REV MICHAEL ARMSTRONG of the Anglican is Parish Rector of Hunters Hill. Hunters Hill group accuses our local MPs of broken promises OUR local politicians have been accused of broken promises and a failure to remove the stigma on Hunters Hill as a municipality blighted by radio active contamination. Hunters Hill’s Nelson Parade Action Group made the accusation against Ryde MP Victor Dominello and Lane Cove MP Anthony Roberts on Friday in response to a new $30 million proposal - put to a meeting of residents last week by Property NSW - to concentrate high and low levels of radio active waste in residential Nelson Parade and bury the concentrated waste under concrete. Although the bureaucrats regard the concrete option as a safe alternative on a contaminated site owned by Property NSW, the Action Group says the latest plan fails to meet resident demands to have the waste removed and thereby remove the stigma of Hunters Hill being a contaminated suburb. “Under the new plan, contamination would be permanently encapsulated in the street because the (combined) level would be higher than any radioactive material permanently stored in New South Wales ,” Nelson Parade Action Group spokesperson Philippa Clark said on Friday. “Nelson Parade residents are desperate for the state government to remove the radioactive material after years of being trapped in un-saleable homes, suffering anxiety from the stigma and ongoing stress from the government’s endless hollow promises and failure to resolve the issue. “Even children are not allowed to come and play here because their parents are worried the street is unsafe while residents suffer mocking, teasing and embarrassment.” Mr Dominello is the Minister responsible for Property New South Wales and Mr Roberts is the Minister for Planning and both bear the brunt of the Action Group’s anger. “Minister Dominello wrote to residents stating that they are committed to remediating the entire site by removing the contaminated soil down to bedrock,” Ms Clark said. “Within a month, they broke this promise and began planning encapsulation on the site. “This government has even failed in its promise to the people and parliament because in 2009 following a Parliamentary Inquiry, it promised to remove all contamination Hunters Hill Emeritus Mayor and Independent candidate for Lane Cove Richard Quinn joined local environmental activist Philippa Clark at Nelson Parade on Friday where he spoke out against what he said was a state government failure to remove radioactive waste from the street’s contaminated site. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO. but has chosen to do nothing for 10 years.” Mr Roberts has expressed genuine concerns about the issue during exclusive interviews with The Weekly Times but has not escaped criticism. “Anthony Roberts has been our local member for 15 years and his plan has been to do nothing on a Nelson Parade clean up for all those years,” Ms Clark said. “Under pressure of a looming election, he has sought to sweep the issue under the carpet with a poorly conceived plan to kick the issue to the next generations.” Hunters Hill Emeritus Mayor Richard Quinn is an Independent candidate for Lane Cove at the March election and has alleged the government will not move the waste to a treatment site in Western Sydney for political reasons. He said it fears a backlash against the Liberal vote in the Western Sydney marginal seat of Mulgoa if the socalled “silvertails” of Hunters Hill were to have their waste moved west. “The waste site at Mulgoa is handling more toxic contaminated waste on a daily basis including waste from overseas,” he said. “So burying the waste in Hunters Hill is a political decision by a government driven by politics,” he said. “This is a short term political fix, not a solution and I strongly believe you will not remove the stigma on Hunters Hill until you remove this hazardous waste.” Property NSW bureaucrats have previously stressed that their actions have been driven by a desire to find the best and safest outcomes but Philippa Clarke agrees with Mr Quinn. “Their plan to encapsulate under concrete is driven by political considerations and the brief to Property NSW was to find the solution with the least political pain.” “There was no expert informed decision making, no solution driven by environmental priorities, no meaningful community consultation but only a plan that politicians thought would get them through this election without media attention.” Hunters Hill Council’s position is that the radio active material must be removed and Ms Clark said the Council has been snubbed. “The government showed no evidence of listening to the majority of residents who disagreed with them and ignored Hunters Hill Council’s unanimous rejection of the plan of encapsulation. “The government has shown complete disregard for Hunters Hill Council whose Zoning Regulations clearly do not allow industrial structures to be constructed in a residential street.” “Their plan is a very costly option allocating $30 million of taxpayer money to build the encapsulation cell, an option estimated by experts to be much more expensive than off site disposal in an appropriately licensed facility.”
Wednesday 13 February, 2019 THE WEEKLY TIMES 7 Millions for Healthy Harold so youth can make healthier choices LIFE Education and its recognisable ambassador ‘Healthy Harold’ will continue delivering its healthy lifestyle message locally, courtesy of a recent funding boost by the NSW Government. Chairman of Life Education Ryde, Hunters Hill and Canada Bay, Vic Tagg, said the renewed funding would allow Life Education’s programs to be delivered using cutting edge technology. “It will also allow the programs to evolve with the changing times to focus on the most critical areas in terms of educating our youth,” Mr Tagg told The Weekly Times. “We appreciate the strong support shown by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Ryde MP Victor Dominello and Drummoyne MP John Sidoti. “It’s good news because we can continue our work educating local children to empower them to make better lifestyle decisions.” The NSW Liberals & Nationals have committed a record $2 million in funding for Life Education NSW and its 31 mobile education vans, guaranteeing the not-for-profit organisation, which turns 40 this year, will continue to educate the next generation of young students. Premier Berejiklian said Healthy Harold and the Life Education experience has become a rite of passage in many primary schools and this funding would allow them to modernise their program by providing students access to cutting-edge augmented reality and 3D systems. “Life Education is as important now as it has ever been. With boundless entertainment options in the digital age it is essential that important life lessons for children are delivered in an engaging and captivating way,” Ms Berejiklian said. “It is so important that there is a platform like Life Education that reaches students on their level and helps educate them about the choices they will face.” The new funding will assist with teaching young primary school students about issues including sun safety, road safety, and healthy eating. For older students in Year 6, it will help them begin to tackle the complex issues they will face in high school, such as cyber safety and the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Education Minister Rob Stokes said Life Education was a priceless asset to teachers delivering important lessons on sometimes sensitive issues. “Life Education consults with local schools to ensure they cover the topics that may impact that particular school community. The fact that this service is run in conjunction with schools means the lessons have a greater chance of really reaching students,” he said. The funding, over four years, is in addition to nearly $19 million committed by the NSW Liberals & Nationals to Life Education since 2011. Hi girls and boys, This week the life education van continues delivering our programs at Eastwood Heights Public school. Next week we travel to Meadowbank public school. One of the many interesting programs we will be delivering at your schools “ Decisions” year 5-6, We talk about: • What is drug and how drugs are classified • Effects of drugs on the body • Analysing health messages about drugs in the media. • Messages around non – use- normative data- dispelling myths • Influences on decision making – family, peers, media, culture, financial, legal • Strategies and skills to be safe. See you in class. VIC TAGG from, Happy HealthyHarold Best regards Vic Tagg Chairman, Ryde Hunters Hill and Canada Bay Life Education North Ryde Public School students with Ryde MP Victor Dominello, North Ryde PS principal Angela Churchland, Ryde/ Hunters Hill/Canada Bay Life Education chairman Vic Tagg, treasurer Stephen Beckhaus and educators Susan Bailey and Kristy De Groot outside the Life Education van. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE ? BUT NEED A NEW HOME ! CALL NOW FOR A FREE QUOTE DISPLAY HOMES 14 & 16 Kingscott Place Castle Hill Inspect Wed & Fri 2pm - 5pm Sat & Sun 11am - 4pm www.binethomes.com.au 9868 3222 BUILDERS & ARCHITECTS Custom Homes Specialists Knock Down Rebuild Experts 50 + Years Experience Est. 1965
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The Weekly Times - TWT - 13th February 2019

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