The Weekly Times - TWT - 15th May 2019

4 THE WEEKLY TIMES Wednesday 15 May, 2019
Overhead footbridge
a better solution
Dear Sir,
I refer to the article
about wanting a pedestrian
crossing on Constitution
Road West outside
the new Meadowbank
skate park (The Weekly
Times May 8, 2019).
I travel past this park four
times a day, every day, all
year.
I have seen the dangers
for myself and am convinced
that a pedestrian
crossing is not the best solution.
I believe the better outcome
would be an overhead
footbridge together
with fencing along the Victoria
Road side of the street
to discourage road crosses.
This would prevent risk
to a child or elderly person.
This could also lessen cars
double parked to drop off.
I have had a grandchild hit
by a car three years ago by
the careless action of a parent
and the impact that has
had on the child, his sister
who witnessed it, the driver
involved.
I don’t wish this on anyone
so please consider this option
and not put children’s
crossing on a major road
before acknowledging
costs to rectif
I call on the Council to
consider the proposal as a
matter of urgency.
PS I believe bridges are
unsightly but in this case,
now needed.
GLENDA BROWNLIE
Concord West
New adventure
playground
Dear Sir,
I am inclined to the
view that councils get
things wrong far more
often than they get
things right however
the new adventure playground
in the park off
Constitution Road is a
clear exception.
It warms my heart whenever
I drive past it to see
a lot of children playing
outdoors who seem to
be having a really, electronic
device free, good
time.
So congratulations to all
who were involved in making
it happen.
You have brought much
pleasure to the children
using it and to the adults
looking after them and
HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL
HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING – 20 MAY 2019
Notice is hereby given that an Extraordinary Meeting of
Council will be held in the Council Chamber on Monday
20 May 2019, commencing at 6.00pm.
The purpose of the meeting is to consider the revised
draft 2019/20 Budget and Fees and Charges.
In accordance with the Council Code of Meeting
Practice, ‘Clause 13.2 Addressing Council or
Committees’, members of the public may be granted
leave to address a meeting of the Council or
Committee where the General Manager receives a
request no later than 12 noon on the nominated day of
the meeting.
Application forms to address Council are available on
Councils website www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au, or at
the Customer Service Centre, 22 Alexandra Street,
and Hunters Hill.
Letters to the Editor
even those like me just
driving by.
ROB HERRON
Melrose Park
Investment differs
from ownership
Dear Sir,
Bob Selinger amuses
me. He claims to be
a school teacher yet
he appears to me to
struggle differentiating
between foreign investment
and foreign ownership.
A report released by
Credit Suisse in 2017
showed that 25 percent
of all new housing sold in
NSW was bought by the
Chinese.
Victoria was nearly 20
percent.
That is an enormous
amount of housing being
bought by the Chinese
keeping prices high
and making it difficult for
many locals to attain the
Australian dream of owning
their own property.
Do our politicians care?
I certainly don’t think so.
When the Chinese buy
our housing Bob where
do you think the rents received
and capital gains
made go to.
I will tell you Bob, they
go back to China.
Same with the developments
they undertake,
the mines and farms and
infrastructure projects
they control.
They are not buying
our assets because they
want to make us rich
they buy them because
they want to make themselves
richer.
Is that any clearer Bob
or do you want me to
simplify further for you.
TONY IKONOMOU
Hunters Hill
Convenience of
bottled water
Lisa Miscamble
GENERAL MANAGER
LETTERS
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times.com.au
Dear Sir,
Liberals don’t support
a ban on water
sold in plastic bottles
because people will
buy soft drink instead.
There is a big difference
– water comes freely
out of a tap and is easily
available.
People can plan to take
water in reused bottles to
events.
The problem these
days is people want convenience
and not have to
plan.
But this selfishness is
wrecking our environment
which will cost
every economy dearly in
future years.
This shows the problem
with the Liberal way
of thinking.
In 1970 Prince Charles
warned of this situation
– now there is a real conservative!
Water is undoubtedly
the best drink – but remember
always to take
some with you.
IAN JOYNER
Macquarie Park
Mayors demand
climate action
Dear Sir,
As members of the
Cities Power Partnership
local government
climate alliance, we
demand national action
and call upon the Federal
Government to join
us in making tackling
climate change the top
priority.
At the local level we’re
working with our communities
and with each
other to develop a strong
climate response, and to
support Australia’s shift
to clean energy.
All tiers of government
have a role to play in
driving down Australia’s
greenhouse gas pollution,
and we need swift
action at the Federal level
to address our escalating
national emissions.
We demand three major
actions from our Federal
leaders:
Strong national climate
policy aligned to the science
and a national commitment
to rapidly transitioning
to 100 percent
clean energy
Support the rapid
phase out of fossil fuel
subsidies which contribute
to climate change
Provide long-term finance
to support implementation
of clean
energy and sustainable
transport, such as rooftop
solar, battery storage,
electric vehicle charging
stations, public and active
transport infrastructure
in council and community
areas
MAYOR JEROME LAX-
ALE Ryde, Clr CLOVER
MOORE City of Sydney
and Mayors of Byron
Shire, Douglas Shire,
Bellingen, Strathbogie,
Noosa, Parkes, Inner
West, Randwick, Margaret
River, Mornington
Peninsula, Bassendean
and Mount Barker.
Hydro-carbons
Beat Biofuels
on all counts
Dear Sir,
Coal and oil are made
from plants and animals
that died millions of years
ago when the atmosphere
contained abundant carbon
dioxide plant food.
They are now very concentrated
forms of energy
which can be extracted
from very small areas of
land.
Burning these natural
hydro-carbons returns CO2
and fresh water to the atmosphere
thus greatly assisting
global plant growth.
If we are lucky these extra
gases in the atmosphere
may also slightly delay the
start of Earth’s next cooling
cycle, but this looks
unlikely.
Ethanol and biodiesel are
made from plants growing
now - sugar cane, beets,
palm oil and grains. Growing
these crops requires
large areas of land and
valuable fresh water for irrigation.
Growing bio-fuel crops
extracts CO2 from the atmosphere
but burning them
quickly puts it back. This is
a zero-sum game that does
nothing positive for the environment
or the climate.
Coal and oil are thus more
enviro-friendly than biofuels.
Locking the gate on coal,
oil and gas while supporting
policies that waste land,
food crops and water for
motor fuels is environmental
desecration.
Speculators should be
free to make biofuels but
these should not be subsidised
or mandated.
VIV FORBES
Washpool
Help endangered
species to return
Dear Sir,
I’m writing to at this late
stage in a nearly endless
Federal Election campaign
hoping that you will
pass on to your readers
some news that other
papers and TV are mostly
ignoring, being focussed
on this year’s election as
merely a choice between
the lesser of two evils,
“Unaffordable” Bill Vs
“Salvation” Scomo.
The news is, that just like
with the celebrated Lord
Howe Island Stick Insect
(Dryococelus Australis),
through a great deal of effort,
the Australian Democrats
(Chippus Democratus
Australis) are also back
from their near extinction,
with the Party being re-registered
in time to field Senate
teams in NSW, South
Australia and Victoria this
year.
On May 18, voters will
find Pete Mailer (from
Parkes / Boggabilla) and
Chris Buckman (from Tamworth)
at group AH, as the
NSW Australian Democrats,
on this year’s chaff
bag sized Senate paper.
Of course, the Democrats
are a step back from the far
Right, towards the Centre
of the field.
Pete and Chris are committed
to carrying on the
work of previous Australian
Democrat Senators like
Vicki Bourne, Don Chipp,
Paul McLean, Colin Mason,
Aiden Ridgeway and Karen
Sowada.
It would mean a lot to a lot
of election weary and middle
of the road Australians
if you could print this letter,
or some of its points, and
like many other Democrats,
I have never lost faith in the
kindness of strangers.
GARRY P DALRYMPLE
Earlwood
Hunters Hill Guest Column
Using technology to
connect family and friends
TECHNOLOGY BRINGS
generations together like
never before offering instant
communication regardless
of distance.
No longer are we
confined to landlines or
“snail mail”.
Families today use
social media tools
like WhatsApp and
Messenger to keep in
contact.
Children
can
FaceTime or Skype with
grandparents who live
across the country or
anywhere in the world.
Staying in touch has
never been easier or so
they say.
For those who have not
grown up with technology,
using these gadgets can
be daunting.
But with a little patience,
a willingness to learn and
guided instruction, you
can master these devices
and change your world.
* * *
IT 4 RETIREES is a
local business providing
tailored computer training
and support for over 55s.
Our mission is to
empower people
to confidently use
technology to connect
with family, friends and
the wider community.
Through a personalised
service and easy to
understand language,
Christine and her team
help people use devices
such as smartphones,
tablets, computers and
the internet to connect
To The POINT
with CHRISTINE DAVID
with the wider world.
We aim our services at
those who may have the
time but perhaps not had
the opportunity to learn to
use current technology.
* * *
I AM a certified Trainer
and Assessor who has
worked in thecomputer
industry for over 38 years
installing, implementing,
training and supporting
computer systems so has
a wealth of knowledge
and experience helping
people to learn to use
their devices effectively.
My team use easy to
understand language and
are very patient as each
person learns how to
usetheir devices at a pace
that suits them.
As each person’s
learning needs differ,
IT 4 Retirees provide
classroom training,
private one-on-one
lessons in the comfort
of your home, telephone
support, printed manuals
with larger print and
pictures, speaking
engagements for local
community groups, a
buyer advocacy service
to help choose and
purchase the right device
as well as hints and tips
that are emailed and
distributed through social
media.
To meet your particular
needs, we provide
a buyer advisory service
(choosing the right device)
as well as hints and tips
emailed and distributed
week Apple iPad &/or
iPhone course is being
at 93 Pittwater Road
Gladesville at 10am for an
Classes are capped at
ten people per session,
To book into our courses
or have a chat about how
IT 4 Retirees can help you,
or check website: www.
You will be surprised at
how easy it is and how
classroom
one-on-one
training,
lessons in
your home, telephone
support, customised
manuals,
speaking
community
engagements,
through social media.
* * *
COMMENCING
15, a brand new
MAY
eight-
run
the
Park
each Wednesdayat
Gladesville-Boronia
Uniting Church hall
hour each week.
so each attendee
one-on-one
receives
attention
throughout the course.
your
their
contact
family or friends
particular
myself (Christine
with
needs,
David) on 0401-017-
459;
chris@it4retirees.com.au
send an email to
it4retirees.com.au
much fun you can have.
CHRISTINE DAVID
is the owner of IT 4
Retirees
From a place of prayer
to a restaurant of flair
PLANS to turn The Priory into a restaurant through adaptive
reuse are underway.
A meeting was held
last Wednesday (May
8) with The Priory Consortium
architect and
heritage advisor and
Council’s key planning
and heritage staff.
The meeting was requested
by the Priory
Consortium to gain an
understanding of any
heritage issues and
impacts and discuss
DA timelines relating to
concept plans that were
tabled for discussion.
The key areas of discussion
were; heritage
impacts, inclusive access,
landscaping and
entrance points.
The Priory Consortium
will take any advice received
and amend their
design plans before
meeting with Council’s
Conservation Advisory
Panel (CAP) in June
2019.
The Priory Consortium
expect to lodge a DA in
July 2019.
* * *
THE 65th Hunters Hill
Art Exhibition Opening
night was packed with
artists and art lovers
appreciating the works
on display in the Town
Hall, which has been
beautifully transformed
into an Art Gallery.
This year over 280
HUNTERS HILL HAPPENINGS
with Mayor MARK BENNETT
finalists were selected
from more than 720
entries. Please go to
Council’s website www.
huntershill.nsw.gov.au
to find all the winners
and sponsors.
The catalogue can also
be downloaded, listing
all the artworks and artists.
Thank you to all the
sponsors for their support
and the volunteers
& staff for their contribution
to this wonderful
exhibition.
* * *
THE 96th Combined
ANZAC Eve Memorial
Service was a fitting
tribute to past, present
and future generations
of service men and
women.
Following the March to
the Town Hall with the
sound of boots and bagpipes
drifting through
the night sky, a memorable
commemorative
address was given by
Lieutenant Colonel Riccardo
Bosi (retired) former
National Commander
of Special air Services
forces in Kuwait.
Lt Col Bosi held the attention
of the 150 strong
crowd setting the scene
that he felt “soldiers
were present in the Town
Hall standing against
the walls watching….
can you feel their presence?”
His final words
were that “the decisions
you made yesterday are
who you are today and
the decisions made today
is who you will be
tomorrow” resonating
with young and old alike.
* * *
THE Hunters Hill
Food & Wine Festival
celebrated its 20th year
on May 5 bringing fine
wines, gourmet foods,
produce and live entertainment
to the large and
enthusiastic crowd of
locals and visitors who
flocked to Boronia Park.
This fabulous charity
event run by volunteers
has raised thousands of
dollars in aid of community
groups and charities
since 1999. This year
there were 57 stalls and
the total amount raised
was $30,000. Congratulations
to all.