CANDIDATES’ FORUM, Tuesday 23rd November, 7pm to 8.30pm

Local Government Elections
4th December, 2021

 Additional questions that weren't answered at the Forum have been posted to the TAG Facebook page for candidates to comment

The change of date for the forum was made to accommodate the attendance of incumbent councillors.

The Toronto Action Group and the Rathmines, Toronto and Five Islands Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups have organised a West Ward candidates’ Forum to be held online as a Webinar on Tuesday 23rd November from 7 pm to 8.30 pm.

This Candidates’ Forum will precede the Lake Macquarie Local Government elections being held on 4th December. The Forum will give both Mayoral and West Ward candidates an opportunity to answer a range of questions submitted by members of the community.

Residents are invited to submit issues and questions by:
• Email - toronto.action.group.info@gmail.com
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TorontoActionGroup
• Drop a note in to the CPPA letterbox (197 Skye Point Rd)
• Post it to PO Box 329, Toronto.

One concern already raised is that many Councillors seem reluctant to engage with residents and lack an understanding of what the community needs and wants. At the same time, there is seen to be a lot of ‘spin’ that promotes Council in the media but largely ignores community feedback.

Council’s profit-making operations appear to be interfering with its primary responsibilities to the community at a time when our rapidly expanding population needs more parkland for recreation. The failure to reclassify the ‘Operational’ land at Bath Street on Toronto’s foreshore as ‘Community’ (Park) Land highlights this concern.

Others have questioned whether some Councillors consider that the development controls are only a ‘guideline’ and therefore are too willing to allow extra height and bulk to large developments. The LEP allows Council to grant exemptions under certain conditions when in the ‘public interest’, but are outcomes more in the ‘developer’s interest’?

Other issues relate to lack of car parking and the need for more and better maintained shared pathways.

There is also a general concern over the apparent reluctance of Councillors to direct the Council staff on implementing important decisions.

It is pity that a majority of candidates have failed to complete the optional section (part 2) of the nomination form, which gives the opportunity to provide some detail on the candidate’s beliefs and policies – sadly in most cases we are left in the dark!

Mayoral candidates are:

• Kay Fraser (Labor)
• Rosmairi Dawson (Independent)
• Luke Cubis (Lake Mac Independents)
• Jason Pauling (Liberal)

Councillor Candidates are:

The first two listed candidates for the West Ward Councillors from the nominated parties are:

• Group A: Jason Pauling, Lindsay Paterson (Liberal)
• Group B: Luke Cubis, David Gibson (Lake Mac Independents)
• Group C: Ingrid Schraner, Kim Grierson (The Greens)
• Group D: David Belcher, Madeline Bishop (Labor)

Ungrouped:

• Rosmairi Dawson (Independent)

For the 2021 Local Government elections, you will only be able to vote in person in your council area.

Local Polling Places are:

• Coal Point Public School, Rofe Street, Coal Point.
• Kilaben Bay Community Hall- Kilaben Rd, Kilaben Bay.
• Toronto Multi-Purpose Centre – 9 Thorne Street.
• Biraban, Blackalls Park, Fassifern and Fennell Bay Public Schools.

There will be additional COVID safety measures in place this election

Early voting or pre-poll is available from Monday 22 November to Friday 3 December 2021. Any person enrolled to vote may vote by pre-poll at the Meeting Rooms, Toronto Library, 7 Pemell Street.

• Postal voting is available if you are self-isolating or believe you pose a risk to those around you

Voting on the day at a polling place you’ll be required to

• check-in with QR code
• 1.5m physical distancing at all times
• BYO pen if possible
• Hand sanitise at entry and exit

Another measure mandated under the Local Government Act to reduce the risk of infection from COVID-19 is that handing out ‘How to Vote’ electoral material will not be permitted within 100 metres of a polling place or pre-polling office.

Candidates' Forum

This is a good reason to join us on 23rd November to get to know the candidates before voting to ensure the best prospects for the future of our area.

Register now to attend this online forum in the comfort of your home at https://west-ward-and-mayoral-candidates-online-forum.eventbrite.com.au. You will then be sent a Zoom link the week before the Forum.

The Town Green

Many locals were surprised with the rapidity at which the fence was erected on the Toronto foreshore, and many have been frustrated at not knowing what is happening behind the screens, with the QR code on the fence not providing an informative link.

Below is the extract from the Feb 2021 ’Toronto Foreshore Masterplan’.

The Town Green is a generous civic arrival space, celebrating the termination of The Boulevarde at the foreshore.

The current shared Greenway will be extended along the eastern edge of Victory Parade to improve the pedestrian environment and allowing a generous consistent public edge - forming part of the larger shared-way network connecting to Fassifern and in the future, Coal Point.

It is proposed that the existing bus stop is moved slightly south to better integrate the stop and shelter on gentler topography and closer to the Town Green and upgraded crossing points.

More open than other areas of the foreshore, the Town Green links the activity at the Sailing Club with the attractions of the pool, cafe and playground of the Wharf Road Precinct. It is grassed and broad, allowing flexibility for major cultural events, regattas, ball games or simple every-day occupation.

The Town Green is subtly sculpted to create a shallow amphitheatre which addresses the water with a new stage and shade canopy. This canopy is a keenly located upgrade to the existing rotunda, and makes for a dramatic stage for weddings, performances and social gatherings right on the water’s edge.

Access to the Sailing Club and the quality of the ground plane surrounding it are both enhanced - forming a water square which can accommodate drop off and parking for 12 cars but at key moments can be transformed for markets, performances, or spill-over space for rigging during sailing events.

A more generous and upgraded edge to the water allows clear movement along the foreshore as well as improved relationships between visitors and Sailing Club activities.

The potential expansion of the Sailing Club is considered, with a potential expanded footprint shown dotted.

DA's in Play 9/10/21 to 9/11/21

The CPPA endeavours to provide a summary of active applications in our area as outlined in the table below.

Please consult LMCC’s website for a full listing: 

https://www.lakemac.com.au/Development/Planning-and-development-services/Application-Enquiry.

• DA = Development Application
• BC = Building Information Certificate
• TA = Tree Assessment
• CC = Construction Certificate,
• CDC = Complying Development Certificate,
• REF = Review Environmental Factors
• SC = Subdivision Certificate.
• MU = Mixed use
• RFB = Residential flat Building

Two very different DA's on our doorstep, provides some local commentary on the various styles of development we are seeing. 

On notice for comment is 163-167 Excelsior Pde, a development that is including open space and tree retention.

Progress People Projects

Where have you wandered?

During COVID many of us were able to explore our neighbourhood on foot and by bike and you may have discovered some hidden gems. Perhaps it was a trek on a track that linked to an unexpected place, a sneaky shortcut, or a trot that got the heart rate up and had an inspiring view at the end. Did you tour on your bike somewhere that surprised you?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could share these travelling treasures? Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we can. The CPPA has set up a Strava account where we can share our pedestrian and cycling activity. Strava allows you to generate maps of where you’ve been using a mobile device and upload comments and pictures. You can follow the Coal Point Progress Association to upload your travels. 

If there are any avid Strava users who would like to lend a hand at keeping up the CPPA account get in touch.

Gaming Session for members

The Underground Arcade is a new age Virtual Reality gaming Arcade located in Toronto. (67-73 The Boulevard Toronto). The owners have invited the CPPA to a free 2-hour session at the arcade and share in the experiences it has to offer, such as
• Three full size green screen room scale VR rooms,
• Motion simulators for both racing and flight,
• Squad gaming and internet café area,
• Two Kat Walk VR multidirectional treadmills and
• A high-quality sound system with phone connectivity.

With current restrictions the arcade can accommodate a maximum of 20 people at a time.

If you’re a gamer and a member of the CPPA and would like to come along, get in touch and we can organise a date. Members under 13 will require adult supervision for content control.

Join Up and Join In

If you’d like to join the CPPA here’s a membership form or get in touch with one of the Committee members (see the back page of The Chronicle). If you join now, you get a couple of bonus months as renewals run to the calendar year.

The CPPA members own a hall, and we want to put it to good use in 2022 with social events. If you like the idea of creating fun functions, groovy gatherings, or pleasurable parties we are looking for a gregarious group to lend a hand, choose the talent and assist with the hosting of these community extravaganzas. If you can help with one or several events, get in touch.

One event we would like to host is the Lake Macquarie Winds Concert Band. They have been in touch and are keen to entertain us. They are performing at the Rathmines Theatre, nawayiba (means ‘canoe place’), on 21st November between 4 and 6 pm. This is a free, COVID-safe concert hosted by LMCC.

We’re on the lookout for an assistant hall-coordinator to learn the ropes for keeping the hall in tip-top condition. Our current hall deputy will be leaving the area and we would like to share the knowledge gained of the various processes that have been put in place to make caring for our hall a seamless and satisfying experience. Please get in touch.

More local Muso’s wanted to Muse with.

A group of musically ambitious locals have started to gather at the hall, on the 1st and 4th Thursday of the month, 3-4:30pm, for musical fellowship. So far, the group consists of clarinet, bass, guitar, drum players and one potential voice. It would be great if there were more musos or singers involved. Whilst we are not asking musos to be highly competent, we are a playing group, not a group for learners to be taught a musical instrument. We are currently learning a repertoire of Let it Be, Moonglow, All of Me, What a Wonderful World and Moon River. 

Enquiries to Rob 0408 429 870, rob2roam@bigpond.com

Neighbours Noticing Nature

The Neighbour

"I’ve been creating a backyard habitat for the local wildlife for 30 years, I have quite a jungle now so possums frequent, Brush-tailed and ring-tailed, birds have regular stop overs, the King Parrots were feasting on my Lilly-pilly, the Kookaburra’s that wake me in the morning and announce night-time perch in my trees to cack their chorus. The wild animals are ‘my pets’ frequent visitors that I welcome.

One animal that is not welcome is a neighbour’s cat that now stalks in my yard, climbs on my veranda, and lays in wait. Whilst I have tried to discourage it with hissing and chasing, it erupts from my garden and skitters home…and now it has killed a kookaburra. The sanctuary that I have created has become a killing field for someone else’s ‘pet’."

The Research

Many cat owners don’t believe their cat kills, but research has shown “pet cats kill 30-50 times more animals per km2 around towns than feral cats do in the bush”.

A 2020 article from ‘The Conversation’ - ‘One cat, one year, 110 native animals: lock up your pet, it’s a killing machine’ elaborates on these findings, and what can be done to reduce the cat attack impact and concludes “Keeping your cat securely contained 24 hours a day is the only way to prevent it from killing wildlife.”

The Poem

Killer Kitties by Suzanne Pritchard

I have a killer kitty and it looks so very cute
It likes to kill most anything that moves or tweets or hoots
I saw it with a blue tongue just the other day
It patted and it petted it to try and make it play.

But the Bluey’s lungs were punctured, and its head was kind of mauled,
So off into the compost bin the lifeless lump was hauled.
Then kitty found a lorikeet, a tawny frogmouth too
But the birds no longer twittered, only feathers left, half chewed.

We haven’t lived here very long my killer cat and I,
And I wonder why the birds no longer chirp when I go by?
There used to be such wildlife, it’s why we got this place
But now the eerie silence is my killer cat’s disgrace.

Perhaps I’ll get a bell and keep kitty in at night,
We’ll cuddle up together and stop the murderous blight
It’s such a shame the birds have gone, not just for us, but all
I guess the time has come at last to be cat responsible.

The Christmas COVID cash grab is in full flight!

The number crunchers are expecting a big pre-Christmas spend, followed by a Christmas lavish, then a Boxing Day fork-out, which might roll into Australia Day cough-up, Valentines Day dish-out and Easter expend…so many dollars in circulation but are they also doing good?

Whilst some local businesses have thrived over the pandemic period, many are hanging in there, hoping local pockets and purses will be emptying their contents at their registers.

Many of our local shops offer vouchers for goods or services. These are the gifts that give and keep on giving. What good will your giving generate this year to support a community coming out of COVID?

How about coffee or lunch vouchers, haircut vouchers (we all know how much they were missed), supporting charity op shops, local clothes, shoes, and gift establishments, local online businesses via the Toronto & Westlakes’ Community Notice Board (Facebook). Looking for Australian made? Take the time to have a wander, you’ll find it.

The other issue is with shelves in the big stores looking to empty due to import impediments, finding a local gift on a shelf may turn out to be a relaxing way to spend a daytrip to Toronto.

Is Munibung on your mind?

Have you enjoyed meandering around Munibung Hill over the years? 

There is finally a Management Plan proposal on exhibition for this prominent landmark. However, there are competing ideas about how it should be ‘managed’, some of which include building roads to the top and having structures built. Many people, however, would prefer it to stay much as it is, a pleasant place to go for a quiet walk with quite spectacular views.

The Management and Concept Plans will be on public exhibition from 8 November to 20 December and can be viewed on the Shape Lake Mac page. More information is in the Munibung Musings Newsletter