Pittwater Life April 2023 Issue

15 Years Ago…
Recognising the rapid growth in
beauty salons and spas plus the
development of new treatments for
both men and women, this month
saw Sue Carroll’s “not-to-be-missed
first column”. The first collection of
stories, paintings, and photographs
by offshore residents Water Access
Only was re-printed due to popular
demand. A meeting called by MP Rob
Stokes drew more than 200 people,
unanimous in their opposition to
the development at Currawong. “Mr
Stokes emphasised that is was important
for the whole site to be heritage
listed and taken into the national
park.” Federal MP Bronwyn Bishop
said: “Minister Peter Garratt had
the power to heritage list the site but
had refused saying the site was not
worthy” and actor Shane Withington
threatened that “Friends of Currawong
would camp on the beach and
prevent the bulldozers from moving
in. We will fight until we win, or the
site lies in rubble at our feet.” Others
sought to get “Aboriginal involvement
to preserve it as a sacred site”. Meanwhile,
the Pittwater Sports Centre
celebrated its first year of operation
at North Narrabeen.
5 Years Ago…
Northern Beaches Council CEO
Mark Ferguson “departed” less
than six months into the role
“the best candidate for the job, out
of the talent pool comprising the
former Pittwater, Warringah and
Manly Councils was effectively
shown the door, resulting in
a confidential terms payout
of more than $400,000”. We
presented the first look at the
preliminary sketches of the
Palliative Care Unit at Mona Vale
Hospital with works scheduled
to begin in 2018. Friends of
Northern Beaches Palliative
Care President Jo-Ann Steeves
thanked Rob Stokes for his
tireless efforts in getting
the project off the ground.
“With his community in his
heart he has, from the outset,
been a major and persistent
advocate for achievement of the
palliative care inpatient unit.”
In other news, NB Council
stepped up its campaign to
compulsorily acquire “… the
rapidly transforming Pasadena
property at Church Point”. Lobbying by
local environmentalists “has seen the State
Government write a cheque for $7.5 million
to fund fauna bridges and underpasses – a
Sydney first – as part of the new Mona
Vale Road upgrade”. Dog owners group
Pittwater Unleashed called on Council
to focus on a new dog swimming option
north of Bilgola as “a key deliverable in
Council’s new $400,000 four-year-plan to
upgrade unleashed dog exercise areas”. They
continued: “It’s the opportunity for the new
Council to make good on an undertaking
by the former Pittwater Council to find a
replacement swimming option following
the closure of Careel Bay in 2003 and they
point to Station Beach on the Pittwater side
of Palm Beach – as being the perfect site,
given it was investigated as a trial site 10
years ago before the plan was shelved on
the back of ‘bureaucratic misinformation’.”
Palm Beach locals remained “unimpressed
at the potential loss of up to 26 car
parking spaces in the village.” Pittwater’s
first Return and Earn vending machine
opened in Warriewood; and the new
Warriewood B-Line commuter carpark was
opened – however the opening of the new
Church Point car park had been delayed
by rain. And we “Heard” that NB Council
had it sights set on Avalon “to test its new
place-planning process… but rather than
basing their plans on the suggestions and
recommendations of the community who
live and breathe the village every day, we
hear the place plan will be formulated from
the top down… it was only three years ago
that the local Chamber of Commerce, Surf
Life Saving Club, residents and community
groups painstakingly compiled and tabled
their recommendations for an Avalon
Place Plan, including the important issue of
pedestrian access around the village”.
The Local Voice Since 1991
APRIL 2023 33