Pittwater Life June 2022 Issue

News
NOT SEEN…
Were you letterbox-dropped by the Sophie Scamps camp asking
to contribute to final-week federal election campaign initiatives
(“We need something different to grab people’s attention!”)
and were wondering what happened to the five-metre blimp
the team planned to have fly the teal independent message
in the countdown to the polls? Seems Council grounded the
idea. “There are rules on where and how political candidates
can advertise on public land,” Council CEO Ray Brownlee told
us. “This request went beyond what the controls allow and,
under the legislation, would have required Council consent via
a development application.” True – a DA! Council further told
us it received requests to place an advertising balloon with
branding for Dr Sophie Scamps at Boondah Reserve in Warriewood
from 16-21 May and Village Park in Mona Vale on 21 May.
“Based on the location and size of the balloon it was determined
that development consent would be required under the
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. The proponent
was advised they would need a DA for Boondah Reserve, but no
DA was received. In regards to Village Park, the proponent was
advised that requests to use Council’s open spaces should be
aligned with the community recreational purpose and zoning
of the land – and at this location, political advertising was not
aligned to this purpose.” Lesson learned? Submit the DA early
for 2025! (PS was going to be zero emissions.)
SEEN…
Local artist Helen Proctor has revealed her latest mural and
new addition to Council’s Street Art collection, ‘Narrabeen
Lagoon 2022’. The mural (below), an abstract depiction of the
waterways and bushland around Narrabeen, wraps around the
Narrabeen Tramshed Community Centre. The artist says her
interpretation of the landscape pulls our focus towards the
unique colours and shapes of the area, and complements “the
natural vibrancy of a place that we all know so well”.
HEARD…
A group of locals have banded to
recognise Midget Farrelly as our
own first male world surfing champion
(and local hero) by commencing
a fundraising campaign to design
and install a life-sized statue
of Midget at his spiritual home,
Palm Beach (concept pictured).
Co-Chair of the Midget Farrelly
Recognition Committee, Gordon
Lang, said Northern Beaches Council had approved the
concept and were actively supporting the project, along with patron
Beverlie Farrelly. More info MidgetRecognition@gmail.com
ABSURD...
Many readers have asked us how it is that the condition and upkeep
of Pittwater’s roads appears to have deteriorated under the
watch of new contractor Connect Sydney. Certainly we reached
out to Council recently to ask if they were happy with the deliverables
in their contract, and were told everything was peachy
keen (not their words). One reader, who asked they not be named,
took the matter up with Connect Sydney. Their response was
forwarded to us. Here’s an edited version: “Thank you for your
correspondence… I note your request and appreciate your concerns
about the condition of some roads… Transport for NSW is confident
that Connect Sydney is meeting its contractual obligations since
operationalising them on 1 July 2021. This view is derived from
monthly reports detailing Connect Sydney’s performance against
detailed and comprehensive key performance indicators. In addition,
Transport for NSW has an experienced and professional team
managing the Connect Sydney contract and overseeing Connect
Sydney’s operational responsibilities.” There you have it – we
don’t have a problem. Apparently. Maybe they should be called
‘Disconnect Pittwater’ instead?
26 JUNE 2022
The Local Voice Since 1991