Pittwater Life November 2023 Issue

News
SEEN…
Around a year ago Pittwater Life reached out to Northern
Beaches Council about Council conducting an audit of its
COVID-19 signage. We thought it timely to move on from the
pandemic, and surely removal of ‘reminder’ and ‘warning’
signage should have been on the agenda. Council told us they
had attended to their COVID signage. Yet here we are, nudging
2024, and stark reminders are common. Like this one at Palm
Beach Wharf. Readers with other examples are urged to let us
know at readers@pittwaterlife.com.au. We’ll forward them on
to Council. Also seen (briefly): a tweet from Mackellar MP Dr
Sophie Scamps linking the electorate’s Voice referendum result
with community opposition
to the Local Metropolitan
Aboriginal Land Council’s
plan to build 450 homes on
land it owns at Belrose – formerly
known as Lizard Rock,
now the Patyegarang (grey
kangaroo) development.
Dr Scamps’ tweet came six
days after the vote, with the
result in Mackellar barely
50.3 per cent in favour of
the Voice. Dr Scamps’ office
said the tweet was deleted
to respect Indigenous Yes23
campaigners who had
called for a week of silence
after the referendum
result was known, Channel
9 Media reported. Dr
Scamps has been publicly
critical of the planned development, campaigning alongside
former Northern Beaches Mayor, now Wakehurst Independent
State MP Michael Regan. Mr Regan countered: “The people of
Wakehurst can distinguish between local planning issues and
constitutional recognition.”
HEARD…
Secret ballot voting introduced for September’s election
of Deputy Mayor was well received, according to Pittwater
Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy, who called for the private
votes after Sue Heins was re-elected Mayor. “I believe this
Council has been characterised by block voting since its
inception, and the votes for Mayor and Deputy have been
no exception,” said Cr Korzy, referring to the majority Your
Northern Beaches Independent-aligned councillors plus
Liberal Councillors, outweighing the two Greens in the
15-strong contingent. “That’s why I called for a secret ballot
for the election of Deputy Mayor – and was pleased the majority
of councillors supported it.” Cr Korzy maintained the
secret ballot enabled councillors to vote for the candidate
they believed was best for the role, without the risk of repercussions
from their political grouping. “Councillors know
each other’s strengths and weaknesses as well as political
outlook… with the rejection of popular elections for Mayor
and Deputy, I believe secret ballots can provide the best possible
outcome when choosing the Mayor and Deputy.” Manly
Ward Liberal Councillor Georgia Ryburn was elected Deputy
Mayor on the secret ballot. Cr Korzy added she did not think
the outcome for Mayor would have been different with a
secret ballot… Out-of-area commercial and residential agent
Upstate (Dee Why-based) has been appointed by Council to
negotiate the lease on the Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club
café and restaurant space. We’ll let you know when (or if)
they put pen to paper with a new operator… Last, North
Avalon residents are livid that Des Creagh Reserve has
again been ripped up by hoon drivers, barely 12 months
after the last incident (above). They are calling for Council
to install CCTV cameras to deter future vandalism.
ABSURD…
At Council’s September meeting, Curl Curl Ward Councillor
David Walton was expected to push his plan to reduce the
Northern Beaches Local Government area from five wards and
15 elected representatives to two wards with six councillors
each. However, Cr Walton revised his motion, instead pushing
three wards with a total of 12 councillors. The motion
was defeated. Cr Walton had argued the carve-up would lead
to better and more timely decision-making. It was a pushback
against the stifling debate that results when councillors
pursue issues and agendas relevant to their wards. But… isn’t
that the whole point of electing people to represent our area?
Pittwater Council used to have nine councillors; now we have
six spread from Narrabeen to Palm Beach. Can you imagine
just two wards covering 35km of coastline? Sounds like a
whole different Council… hey, wait a minute…
32 NOVEMBER 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991