Pittwater LIfe December 2019 Issue

Pittwater News
News
Paving our streets
with recyclables
Northern Beaches Council
will trial using asphalt
containing plastics and other
recycled materials on a select
number of roads throughout
the region. Science shows
that reducing the heat in
traditional black asphalt roads
could help the environment
by potentially reducing the
ambient temperature in areas
adjoining the roads. This
reduces the ‘heat island effect’
where city areas are hotter
than surrounding country
areas. Council says ‘heat
islands’ result in increased
peak energy demand
and higher consequent
greenhouse emissions, high
air conditioning costs and
increased heat-related illness
and mortality. The trial
involves the use of Plastiphalt,
which uses a combination of
soft plastics, glass and waste
toner from toner cartridges.
The first trial using Plastiphalt
was completed 18 months ago
in Victoria; several councils
which have trialled it so far
are satisfied with the product
and report the new asphalt
looks no different to any new
standard asphalt pavement.
Mayor Michael Regan told us:
“We will be monitoring the
cost and performance of using
Plastiphalt and any associated
issues, such as micro plastics
entering the environment.”
Wakehurst Parkway
hospital bus starts
The new bus service between
Pittwater and Northern Beaches
Hospital commenced operation
in mid-November. Local MP
Rob Stokes announced the
existing 155 bus service from
Bayview Garden Village to
Narrabeen has been extended
hourly to Northern Beaches
Hospital. It marks the first
time the Wakehurst Parkway
has been used as a scheduled
public transport route.
Passengers can take the 155
from Mona Vale, opposite
Village Park, to Frenchs Forest
Road West, next to the main
entrance of Northern Beaches
Hospital. “The new service
also provides a convenient,
direct link between Mona
Vale Hospital and Northern
Beaches Hospital,” Mr Stokes
said. Passengers continuing
to Chatswood can transfer at
Northern Beaches Hospital to
the 136 service which travels
past the same bus stop every
15 minutes. Full timetable
transportnsw.info
Narrabeen Lagoon
stocked with prawns
They might not quite be
ready for Christmas, but
here’s something for seafood
lovers to look forward to – the
NSW Department of Primary
Industries has revealed that
half a million juvenile eastern
king prawns were stocked
into Narrabeen Lagoon last
month. These prawns will
reach catchable size over
the summer holidays and
into 2020. A Department
spokesperson said the latest
stocking would hopefully
result in great prawning
opportunities in the Lagoon
over coming months. “As
locals no doubt know, the
Lagoon is currently closed,
a situation which tends to
Continued on page 24
22 DECEMBER 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991