BCCT now has a blogThe Beecroft Cheltenham Civic trust now has a very active blog, you can access it at www.bcct2119.blogspot.com DA 1305 - 7-11 Hannah St and 129-131 Copeland Rd, BeecroftThe Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has lodged an objection to the above development application. The DA proposes the construction of 51 units across three buildings in the Beecroft Heritage Area. The DA is to be assessed by the JRPP under State Environmental Planning Policy (ARH SEPP) under recommendations provided by Hornsby Shire Council. DA1305 attempts to use the recent gazettal of the Beecroft Shopping Village precinct for 5 storey mixed commercial and residential development to support this new application. In fact the rezoning clearly defined the shopping precinct as the only area where five storey development is permissible. In doing this it can be seen as Council's and the State Government's clear desire and intent to restrict all multi storey development to within the shopping village precinct, prohibiting any similar scale development elsewhere, so as to avoid compromising the character of the area covered by the zoning. We will publish our letter to the council shortly on this site. Got a gripe or suggestion?????Do you have a suggestion to make on issues in Beecroft and Cheltenham that you wish the Civic Trust to look at? Please email comment@2119.org.au with your comments. Flange Noise (Wheel Squeal) from Freight Trains The BCCT have received a significant volume of community feedback regarding the significant high pitched flange noise emanating from freight trains rounding the curves in the Cheltenham/Beecroft section of track. Michael Stove and David White have met with representatives from Railcorp with our local member Greg Smith. As a result of this meeting Railcorp have now installed rail sound dampers. However, the resulting noise reduction was not noticeable. The next step is to install gauge face lubricators (GFL) and TORFMA units to lubricate the tracks. We wait with interest on the installation and hope that they will contribute to a marked reduction in flange noise. The attached link shows the schedule of the trials (Click here) Please contact Michael Stove mstove@optusnet.com.au if you would like to provide further feedback on this issue. Non Compliance of Development Consent The Trust has been successful in bringing to Council's attention a breach of a condition that was part of a Development Consent issued by Council. A local resident was concerned that there was a breach by the builder and he contacted Council. As the development was being managed by a private certifier and not by Council staff, the resident was told by council to contact the private certifier. When the resident couldn't obtain any assistance from the private certifier the resident contacted the Trust. The builder has now been fined and has been requested to attend to the breach. It is quite common for developments, such as new houses and extensions, to be supervised by a private certifier and not directly by Council. Even so council remains the consent authority and is ultimately responsible for the final construction certificate that legally certifies that the development has been correctly built. Thanks go to our C Ward Councillor Michael Hutchence who facilitated the help of Council staff. BCCT Objects to M2 Upgrade Project The BCCT has been very active in informing the 2119 residents about the current M2 upgrade. We have informed people via our newsletter and we have also targeted letters to all residents living adjacent to the M2. The BCCT formally objected to the project due to a number of issues. Please follow this link to view of full submission. Proposed Changes to the BCCT Constitution The Associations Incorporation Act 1984 and its supporting regulations have recently been repealed and replaced with a new Act and regulationwhich impose slightly different requirements. All organisations in NSW affected by this Act must make similar appropriate changes. As a result it has been necessary to revise and ammend the Trust's Constitution so that it complies with NSW law. The opportunity has been taken to bring forward several other amendments so as to provide more flexibility in our operation and ensure that, as far as it is possible, a Rule covers the whole of a subject to which it is directed. The revised document is available by following this link Draft Constitution. | |
Spring Walk - September 18th The annual Spring Walk was held on Sunday afternoon 18 September in Lane Cove National Park Thornleigh. Starting and ending at Thornleigh Oval at the end of Handley Street the weather was a warm 25 degrees with clear blue skies. Perfect weather for a easy walk along Lorna Pass and then Conscript Pass. Bill Woods gave a short but very informative talk on the history of the Conscript Pass, how it was constructed by sustenance relief workers during the dark days of the 1930's Depression. J Stevens who was the NSW Premier at the time following the dismissal of Jack Lang, had his name carved into the sandstone rock. This rock pass is part of a network of tracks that were constructed in the surrounding bushland. Lorna Pass, also built during the Depression, was named after Lorna Brand who organised the labour for its construction. The group of 30 walkers, plus children, also detoured to the south of the oval out along the ridgeline to a lovely rocky pinnacle where there were excellent views over Lane Cove National Park with the Sydney CBD 30 Km in the distance. As is the custom on completion an excellent afternoon tea was provided. A warm thank you to the ladies who provided the afternoon tea which complemented the enjoyable walk. Ross Walker . Walk organiser. Please click on the link to view some photos of our recent Autumn walk. A Men's Shed in Beecroft/Cheltenham As you may be aware, men and women sometimes find it quite difficult to retire. Apparently, men in particular are renowned for losing their socialising skills on retirement; many men spend too much time at home, missing out on social interaction with others. (See www.mensheds.org.au) Jim Vandore is part of a small group, including a representative from Beecroft Rotary, which would like to help establish a men's shed in our area. The group has made an initial examination of potentially suitable premises and is waiting on confirmation of availability. The next step is to establish:
If you want to be part of this, please email jim@vandore.net | |
December 2011 Bulletin out now Our June Bulletin has beeen delivered to every letter box in Beecroft and Cheltenham. To view an electronic version please click here. Hornsby Shire Council Resident Survey The week before last, Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust reps and a range of other interested residents from the southern part of our Shire (C Ward) exchanged ideas & perspectives at a Workshop, on Council's construction priorities andneeds for additional rate revenue. Council has agreed to have our members' give email survey feedback on the questions put to residents at that workshop. We are following up on what the results were and we will provide the results or a link shortly. Development Control Plan Please find attached on the following link the BCCT trust submission to council. Please click here. We anticipate the Council will finalise the DCP shortly. Tree and Vegetation Preservation New state legislation states that tree and vegetation protection (and all development controls) must be combined in a single Development Control Plan. There are three options which Hornsby Council is considering: Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
SUBMISSIONS FROM RESIDENTS WERE ACCEPTED AND CLOSED ON FRIDAY 17th DECEMBER. WE WILL PUBLISH THE RESULTS WHEN KNOWN. | |