Dates for the Diary August & beyond a bit

• WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST, 6PM WORKERS CLUB.TRAFFIC TRAUMA IN TORONTO
• SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER-9.30-5PM LIVING SMART FESTIVAL, SPEERS POINT PARK
• 18 & 19 SEPTEMBER AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE AIRSHOW AT WILLIAMTOWN
• 26TH -28TH NOVEMBER- ART & CRAFT SHOW AT PROGRESS HALL

LANDCARE

• EVERY THURSDAY SOMEWHERE AROUND THE POINT CONTACT ROBYN 49591507
• WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER-TRACK WORK AT THRELKELD BEGINS
• THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2ND - STANSFIELD RIDGE
• THURSDAY OCTOBER 15TH - YARUL/ AMBROSE ST
• THURSDAY DECEMBER 9TH - GURRANBA

BUSINESS SKILLS BOOTCAMP
7.30-9.30AM AT HYPE

• TUESDAY 17TH AUGUST IT & COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
• TUESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER SALES, GOALS & YOU
• TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER FOLLOW UP AND MOVING FORWARD

Centennial Coal Myuna Extension Application

Centennial Coal is applying under Part3A to extend its mining operations under the Lake and under some residential areas of Buttaba, Morisset Peninsula and  the tip of Coal Point.

A Centennial Update in The Lakes Mail newspaper, alerted the eagle eyed however the article didn’t seem to cover what was actually proposed, so here’s a snippet from the Preliminary Environmental Assessment which can be found at http://www.centennialcoal.com.au/images/stories/pdfs/content/operations/Myuna_Colliery_Preliminary_Environmental_Assessment.pdf
 
The Executive Summary states the proposed Project seeks approval for:

• An extension of mining at Myuna Colliery using bord and pillar methods
• A life mine of 21 years
• An increase in Run Of Mine coal production up to 2 million tonnes /yr

The proposed Project will continue to utilise bord and pillar methods (incorporating partial pillar extraction) from up to three seams within two identified zones:

• Zone A – Long term stable mining systems generating < 20 mm surface subsidence (i.e. no noticeable surface impacts) on sensitive surface features including land and seagrass beds; and
• Zone B – Mining systems generating up to a maximum of 650 mm surface subsidence (under Lake Macquarie).

For a chat contact the Environment and Community Coordinator:
Email: catherine.whatson@centennialcoal.com.au 
Myuna community information and complaints line: (02) 4970 0263

Landcare’s Loss

A huge loss to the local Landcare movement happened last weekend with the sudden passing of Graham Whitelaw. 

Graham was been instrumental in forming the Kilaben Landcare group, that went onto construct an amazing public walkway through the wetlands of Kilaben Bay (the old golf course) up to the Fire Station. 

Graham also gave extensively of his financial skills, being the Treasurer of both Lake Macquarie Landcare and the Hunter Region Landcare Networks. He secured Deductible Gift Recipient status for both the groups to assist their future financial security and gave countless hours of exceptional financial wisdom. 

Our thoughts go out to Margaret, his soulmate and their children.

Heart foundation helpers

The Heart Foundation is running its annual Doorknock appeal during September and they are looking for locals to knock on the doors of about 20 houses in your immediate area.

You can go knocking anytime during September. You can register to volunteer by calling 1800 5522 55 or visit www.heartfoundation.org.au/doorknock

Tours of Catalina Seaplane base

Just across the waters of Kilaben Bay is an amazing bit of history. The heritage listed Rathmines RAAF World War II Seaplane Base, the largest Seaplane base in the Southern Hemisphere at the time where the Catalinas flew. 

The Rathmines Bowling Club is conducting 3 hour group bus tours around the 50.8ha Seaplane base. 

Groups provide their own bus and are guaranteed a great day out. 

Tours run each Thursday and bookings are essential ph 4975 1711 or 4975 1955. rathminesbc@bigpond.com or visit

Transition Film postponed

The Hall can get pretty cold in Winter so in the interests of warm feet and fingers the movie session has been postponed to Spring. 

The Transition Town group is looking for people who have an interest in localism. Local food and how to share it, local fun and how to have it or local transport and where to run it.  

If you would like to meet up with some like minded folk and be a part of the Transition movement get in touch. Email cppatransition@gmail.com or phone Ian 4959 7517 or Suzanne 4959 6741

The Why, Who & How of the Coal Point Chronicle?

Since 1980 a regular newsletter has been circulated throughout the community by the Progress Association.

A dozen members hand deliver 30-170 newsletters each,11 times a year.

Since 1995, Suzanne Pritchard, who has also been CPPA President takes about 14 hours a month to put fingers to keypad and produce a Chronicle, sourcing information from Committee input, local groups and regional networks.

Since 2009 this information has also been made available online.

If you have items of local interest worth sharing there is always space to fill email coalpointprogress@gmail.com.au

Sponsors make printing of the newsletter possible.

Welcome Rishi & Gunjan

It’s great to have a corner store in the community again. It’s been a while but recently Lucky7 Convenience has opened up 7 days a week at Carey Bay.

Rishi and Gunjan, the owners, are very determined to support the local community and provide a personal experience to their customers, including free delivery to Seniors for orders over $10.

The Lucky7 franchise offers low prices and in-store specials on popular brands.
There’s an impressive array of items on the shelves, and in the fridge including fruit & vegetables, and everything you would expect at the local corner store.
 

Sincerest thanks Geoff

Geoff Teague has been a regular Chronicle deliverer and Progress person for many-a-year and is forgoing his monthly delivering walks for less mobile activities. 
 
Sincerest thanks Geoff for your commitment to delivering and for also keeping an eye on the Carey Bay Wetlands, keeping it litter-free. 
 
The regular contributions members make is what keeps the Progress Association ticking along.

How do you keep your fire burning?

It’s that time of year when the warm glow of a log fire warms the heart and the hearth, and often it’s the local bush that is the provider of the generous log bounty, a seemingly never ending supply. But if you’ve been out scavenging recently you might have noticed you needed to go further a field because the logs are getting far and few between.

In the local bush a log is so much more than a hearth warmer. For 20% of birds and 30% of mammals a hollow tree is home, a home that can take upto 120 years to build. For ground feeding birds, frogs, lizards and 20% of mammals fallen trees i.e laying around logs are home and habitat.

In our bushland suburb we are very fortunate to still have possums, gliders and bats as well as an impressive variety of bids, and ground dwelling lizards and snakes. The fallen timber, logs branches and sticks provide valuable shelter for the local wildlife.
There are other reasons too, to leave a fallen log lay.

The Florabank website explains “Logs provide both habitat and nutrients. As they gradually break down due to the actions of weather, fungi, and termites, they release nutrients into the soil. They also act as mulch, conserving niches of damp soil, which allows soil invertebrates to thrive and even assists plants to germinate and grow. At ground level, logs can act as mini-windbreaks, providing shelter from extreme weather for ground-dwelling fauna. Logs and sticks also trap soil and nutrients that are washed or blown across a site, and are particularly valuable in degraded sites to build up pockets of soil and organic matter for plant germination.”

Along the Coal Point peninsula we have a lot of bush that is worthy of considering and caring about. We also have one place that has the highest environmental zoning possible, Threlkeld Reserve.

Threlkeld’s exceptional environmental status is because it’s a bushland foreshore reserve. The reserve’s purpose is to protect the plants and wildlife, this means removing rocks, logs, sticks or other bits that the wildlife need to survive is not permitted because it compromises the intent of the zoning on the  land.

The History of Progress Hall -Part 2

6/3/1949 Quote of £1100 provision of a Hall would be postponed indefinitely. Bank Balance £125.17.7

5/4/1949 Write to agent re: Mr A Long selling the building on his land separately. No attempt to carry out clearing of lantana on Grant Road.

3/5/1949 Council referred to repair roads £500 £2100 in rates collected from area.  Nothing spent in our area. Letter written to minister of local Government. 

3/7/1949 Coal Board asked for assistance re: Hall-25% of residents must be connected with the mining industry must be vested in Shire Council.

7/8/1949 Water Conveniences at Birraban Reserve.

9/8/1949 First Flower Show.

6/11/1949 Letter to Mr Crook-Minister for Building Construction  asking for permission to purchase building material for construction of a community hall required for accommodation for social functions, church services, Sunday school 24 pupils, establish a kindergarten and have a visiting baby clinic as soon as hall available.

4/12/1949 Danger of straying stock. Room on the block painted. Connected electricity .Urn purchased.5 Dozen cups, saucers & plates purchased. Reimbursing of council rates refused.

5/3/1950 Building Committee Formed.

7/5/1950 Coal Point included in the Mobile Library Service.

4/6/1950 Bank Balance £324.10.10 Hall foundation performed by voluntary labour. Plans of proposed hall are now in the hands of council and deposit paid-these are being considered by the Building Control in Sydney.

6/8/1950 Mr Davis of Carey Bay had surveyed the Association land free.

1/10/1950 Bank Balance £481.3.11

5/11/1950 Visit to Council to speed up building of hall. Secretary to write to Northumberland County Council to get in writing approval for building hall as this is now required by council.

4/1/1951 One tender for erection of hall be accepted dependant on permission of trustees and satisfactory Bank settlement.

21/2/1951 Above rescinded. Election of Trustees be waived until the responsibilities are clear. Bank to be interviewed re: Trustees liability….To be continued.

A Bonus for the International Year of Biodiversity

Five years ago a revegetation project started at Carey Bay Wetlands courtesy of an Envirofund grant.

The goal was to replace the extensive Blackberry Briar with a Swamp Mahogany -Paperbark forest as close as possible in make up to the remnant that was next to it.

This National Tree Day was a mini-momentous occasion which saw the final 180 trees planted. The Blackberry is all gone, there are a few other tenacious weeds still to tackle and of course there are the other layers of the system such as shrubs and ground covers yet to be planted, but all the trees are in.

The canopy is important to get growing, it helps shade out many of the weedy species, especially the grasses, it also allows any existing weed problems to be dealt with.

Over the past five years, 1000 or so trees have been planted on National Tree Day. Not all have survived, the rabbits are certainly healthy, but enough have grown to make a difference and provide much needed habitat, expand the remnant ecosystem and add local variety to the plants which are part of the wetlands of Carey Bay around Puntei Creek.

Protecting Biodiversity is more than the individual elements it is the sum of all the parts.

National Tree Day 2010

National Tree Day 2005