Pittwater Life March 2023 Issue

The Way We Were
Every month we pore over three decades of Pittwater Life, providing a snapshot
of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change, t
he more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord
25 Years Ago…
The Way We Were
Pittwater Council’s General Manager
Angus Gordon had been approached by
several Councillors from Warringah to
apply for the position of General Manager
there: “… a more highly paid job offering
a package of $160,000 to $170,000 a year
against Mr Gordon’s current $138,000…
It will be ironic if Mr Gordon applies, gets
the job and then finds he has perhaps
to oversee a merger of Warringah with
Pittwater and Manly”. An exclusive report
revealed Pittwater Council was looking
at options for development of its assets
in Avalon and Newport and seeking
expressions of interest from developers.
“The recurring theme [in a report from the
Department of Public Works] is that Old
Barrenjoey Road should be closed to traffic
at the Northern end, a proposal which the
Chamber of Commerce and local shopkeepers
have long opposed. Its recommended option is
to take the Avalon Parade car park and
seek expressions of interest from a developer to provide
a library, 8 shops, 20 residential units above the shops and
15 Years Ago…
library, 64 car parking spaces for the
development and 136 parking spaces
for the public in a decked car park.
Another unfavoured option included
more home units and fewer car parking
spaces. Other options were to do as little as
possible.” Concepts for Newport included
selling the site at 17 and 19 Foamcrest
Avenue and using funds to develop
another site “taking in properties on
Robertson Road to create a new retail and
public square in Robertson Road”. In other
news, the 1998 Pittwater Festival was to
be held from March 21-29 with around
100 events ranging from readings of
plays to a “lively debate between Tom
Keneally and Bob Ellis”, music, art, a
film festival, a display by local
architects of their work under the
theme of living with the environment
and walks led by local historians. “The week ends
at Barrenjoey Lighthouse with poetry readings in the lighthouse
keeper’s cottage – limited to 50 people, bookings essential, no
dogs please.”
5 Years Ago…
Marking his first year as MP for Pittwater, we must keep up the pressure to have
The proposal
Rob Stokes wrote an opinion piece
Currawong bought by the government and to build a
entitled ‘Pittwater’s Coastline Under
returned to the people as part of a National seniors living
Threat’. He wrote: “Government must plan Park. My job is to see this is done.” Friends development
how to manage our coast and determine of Currawong Convenor Shane Withington comprising
proposals for coastal development, in light said the development “was just another 95 retirement
of the most recent evidence on climate example of a State Government on decay units on a
change. Otherwise, our precious waterfront with Labor looking after its mates.” In
parcel of
may be headed for a watery grave.”
other news, businesses in Avalon were
Bayview Golf
Meanwhile, the future of Currawong considering reviving the ‘Don’t Go Round Club land
was looking bleak as the controversial The Bends’ campaign of the early 1990s to sparked
plans for its development were due
persuade people to shop locally; Residents some debate
to be lodged with the
were encouraged to pack about the best environmental
NSW Planning Minister
a picnic and head to
outcome; residents were
Frank Sartor “… and
Avalon Beach for Earth concerned an off-leash dog
the Federal Environment
Hour on March 29; the park trial at Avalon Beach
Minister Peter Garrett is
Northern Beaches Youth reserve “was set up to fail”; there
refusing to agree with
Orchestra was taking
were more parking dramas
local MP Bronwyn Bishop
shape thanks to good
on the horizon at Palm Beach
that he should use his
financial support to
with “residents requesting NB
emergency powers to
the tune of $42,184
Council revise their landscaping
enter the property in the
from Manly, Warringah masterplan for the “Kiddies
National Heritage List.
and Pittwater Councils; Corner” area including a
Mrs Bishop accused Mr
and Pittwater Council
proposal for a boardwalk, after
Garrett of giving in to
said it was sticking with learning up to 20 much-needed
Mr Sartor saying his
its proposal to have
beachside parking spots would
action proved that the
Norfolk Pines planted
be lost”; and we went behind the
Labor Government was
down the centre strip
scenes of a gruelling pre-season
never serious about
of the Newport Beach
training session with Shute
environmental issues”…
Shopping Centre on
Shield premiers, The Warringah
Rob Stokes said: “…
Barrenjoey Rd.
Rats.
26 MARCH 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991