Dates for the July Diary

• Monthly Meeting of the Coal Point Progress Association Committee
  Monday 4th July 7-9pm Progress Hall
• Landcaring with the LRO Green Team at South Laycock St
  Thursday 7th July 9am-2pm
• VegeTTable Garden tour & talk
  Saturday 9th July 2-3pm, 62 Kilaben Rd
• Feedback on Public Toilets in Coal Point -Carey Bay to CPPA
  Wednesday 13th July
• Sustainable Neighborhoods Workshop2
  to be held at Toronto Diggers early August
• National Tree Day at Threlkeld Reserve
  Sunday 31st July 10am-noon
  

Thank you Toronto Diggers

In May the CPPA requested financial assistance from the Toronto Diggers to assist in replacing the Association's heavy tables and a trolley to aid moving them. A generous donation of $500 towards the costs of the equipment was presented to CPPA 's Tony Dynon at a Board Meeting. Sincerest thanks to the Toronto Diggers for their support. 

Sincere thanks to the Toronto Diggers

 

Are you a member of the Progress Association?

In this Chronicle you can get a fair flavour for the variety of undertakings the Progress Association pursues.

We provide comment to LMCC on behalf of the community, take an active interest in maintaining the community land assets, fundraise for good causes, consider what resources the community made need in the future and put processes and projects in to place to work for the betterment of the community. Additionally CPPA owns and maintains a Progress Hall, one of the last community owned halls in the City.

The strength of the Association lies in its membership. The more members the more representative clout we can offer.

If you would like to become a member or renew, now is a great time. The cost is $6 per person or $10/family. Contact the Treasurer for a membership form.

Toronto, Kilaben Bay, Carey Bay Coal Point Sustainable Neighbourhoods

There was a 13% return rate on the recent Sustainable Neighbourhoods survey, the results of which will be used to inform the discussions, directions and actions the newly formed group will undertake.

Workshop 2 will be held at the Diggers Club in August. If you are interested in attending check with Kelly Wood, the Senior Sustainability Engagement Officer on 4921 0104 for the timing and details.

The event will be put on this blog too...another good reason to come back.

Well Done Toronto Tidy Towns

Toronto Tidy Towns have been successful in receiving funding from the NSW Government Community Partnerships to install bike racks in The Boulevarde and Regatta Walk Park. Also in partnership with Hunter Water Corporation and LMCC the water station was installed in Regatta Walk Park.

We are all getting older for longer...what will we need in our communities?

Some interesting information summarised from Australian Social Trends fromABS

Australian life expectancy is ranked among the highest in the world with only citizens of Iceland, Hong Kong (SAR of China),Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain living longer.

Since the late 1800s, life expectancy for Australian boys and girls has increased by over 30 years.

Over the past 125 years there have been changes in what Australians have died of, and the age at which they have died. Up until 1932, infectious and parasitic diseases caused at least 10% of all deaths each year, with death rates from these diseases highest among the very young and very old. Improvements in living conditions in the early 20th century, such as better water supplies, sewerage systems, food quality and health education, led to overall lower death rates and longer life expectancy at all ages.

During the 20th century, degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer replaced infectious and parasitic diseases as the main cause of death of older people. Not only had infection control measures improved in medical facilities, but public awareness of the value of preventative actions such as hand washing had grown. Increases in life expectancy at all ages in the second half of the 20th century have been attributed to improving social conditions and advances in medical technology such as mass immunisation and antibiotics.

The past two decades have seen further increases in life expectancy. These increases have been partly due to lower infant mortality, fewer young people dying in motor vehicle accidents, and fewer older men dying from heart disease. The reduction in deaths from heart disease has been linked to medical advances and behavioural changes such as improvements in diet and less smoking.

The follow on from this is how will society as a whole adapt to the older generation's needs for mobility assistance, recreation and support? What role could a local Progress Association play?

Do you want a Community Garden at Carey Bay?

This year the VegeTTable group formed with two main aims

1. To support and encourage locals to grow vegetables in their backyard.
2. To determine if there was community support for a Community Garden on the site of the Carey Bay Pony Club.

A community garden is a public space where people gather and work cooperatively to produce fresh food. There are different styles of gardens ranging from communal to individual plots and everything in between.

As the density of housing and food prices increases, having somewhere to grow vegetables and share knowledge may be a good community project.

We'll be collecting comments and interest during the rest of the year so post a comment on the blog, email cppa.communitygarden@gmail.com, put your name on the register of interest at the Hall or phone Geoff Woods on 4959 3470.

Two Loos to Lose?

LMCC has been reviewing their Public Toilet Strategy of late.

The recommendations for our local facilities include:

close and demolish the toilet located at the Pony Club, Carey Bay-no evidence of usage and not on the cleaning schedule,

close and demolish the the brick toilet at Wombal Reserve, Rofe Street-limited use and cleaned three times a week.

A full Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment will be done on the facilities at Gurranba and Birriban Reserves and then the facilities reviewed. The strategy states that these toilets have low usage and are cleaned three times a week.

The CPPA lodged a submission for reconsideration of the close and demolish recommendations and a reprieve on the Pony Club decision was granted to allow for community feedback.

The Pony Club facility was of particular interest to the CPPA. The VegeTTable group had considered the toilet an asset if a community garden was to go ahead, as the only flat land this side of Toronto, the Pony Club site may develop potential as an outdoor exercise area as the population ages and housing density increases. The removal of a public toilet in this area was considered a retrograde step.

The CPPA has given an undertaking to LMCC to promote the proposed closures and collate community feedback by mid July. If you have some thoughts about the locations, usage and future of the public toilet facilities in our community please forward your comments to CPPA by 13/7/11 either by email coalpointprogress@gmail.com.au, the blog, a short postal note or phone call.

Mt Waring Flood Plain Committee

The recent June long weekend revived memories of the 2007 storms which saw Puntei Creek and the floodplain at Carey Bay under water, along with several properties. In 2007 a residents Committee formed to address the flooding issues.

The 2007 aftermath saw LMCC pledge to undertake a flood study to identify the future management that was going to be required. Four years later as the memories fade, the commitments have diminished and obligations entered into don’t seem to be getting fulfilled.

A member of the resident's committee received 'almost' binding commitments from LMCC in 2007 with the Mt Waring catchment ranked 10 in the priority listing. Further correspondence stated investigations were to commence in April 2008 and “council (was) progressing towards a solution”. A change of Asset Manager saw a change in priorities and now correspondence from May 20, 2011 Council's Principal engineer advised that the outcomes of drainage investigation will be available in 2011.

If not for the persistence of a local to pursue an outcome would it still be honored by LMCC commitments of the day?

Ongoing questions about how storm water is managed into Puntei Creek is of great concern as the catchment continues to be developed and the downstream implications on a privately owned waterway remain unaddressed and without guidance until a flood study can direct development.

Pedestrian Possibilities

It's that time of year when the demand for community comment seems to be running high. As mentioned in previous Chronicles footpathing requests have been sought and this is the list that has been gathered and will be forwarded to LMCC.

It is appreciated that in the dream world there would be pedestrian possibilities around the whole area however LMCC had requested specific sections to focus on and the following is this year's suggestions.

• Skye Point Road from Gurranba Reserve to Progress Hall
• Excelsior Parade from Laycock St to Pemell Street
• Brighton Avenue from Jarrett Street into town
• Laycock St to Rofe St along Coal Point Road
• Robey Road from 12,14 on towards Skye Point Rd.
• Brighton Ave between Pemell and Cary streets

Draft Plan of Management for Community Land - How lucky are we!

The Coal Point-Carey Bay area has at least 110 parcels of community land, the majority of which are categorised as bushland, with a few parks and drainage watercourses thrown in for good measure. It is what makes our area so special.

Recently Progress Association representatives attended the public hearing held by LMCC to discuss the Draft Plan of Management for Community Land and any categorisation issues. The Pony Club land came up for discussion as it is currently identified as a sports field which precludes other activities. CPPA suggested that a shared use may be preferable with sportsground on one side of the drainage line and parkland on the other. This would allow for a community garden if there was interest for such a community facility.

Progress people are currently reviewing the community land in our area, and attending to a request to provide some 'common names' for local land.

Some names are needed to identify some local areas such as the Pony Club, Carey Bay Wetlands, the ridge reserves off Whitelock St, land at the end of Killara Close and the reserve at the southern end of Laycock Street.

If you would like to provide any comments, send them forth through any one of the communication channels on offer or come along to the monthly meeting, July 4^th at the Hall 7-9pm, where options will be discussed.

Premier's Flood Relief Appeal

It seems like a long time since the The Queensland Floods fundraiser but the memories are lingering and can be revived by viewing the slideshow. It was a very successful event raising $893.10. Sincerest thanks to all the participants who made the evening so memorable. There was laughter, merry making, music and much more.

Thank you to Baker's Delight for providing the intermission munchies, Ross Browne for his puppeteering, the beautiful Bay Boot Scooters for their lively stepping, Bill Carney and Warren Sinclair for their poetry, the Carey Bay Naval Band for their bravery, Sharon Ellam for hokey poking, Russ Redford for his amazing harmonica skills and all the locals for being there. 

The Grand finale- a fun Hokey Pokey

The Carey Bay Navel band

 

VegeTTable club- by Jean Austen

As a member of the VegeTTable group supporting growing your own backyard vegetables I was fortunate enough to have Geoff Woods, our teacher and advisor, visit me and my garden to see where the best possible place was to start my project.

We learned in our lectures that vegetables need approximately seven hours of sunshine daily to grow successfully and some of soils in our area is not suitable, my challenge was trying to address these two issues. Geoff agreed that growing seedlings in two old wheelbarrows where they could get maximum sunshine should work. I have trialled this idea and am getting great results.

During Geoff’s visit I had many questions to ask and was readily given answers and advice.If you haven’t already joined I would encourage you to do so as Geoff has a wealth of knowledge which he is happy to share with members.

The next garden to be visited is at Michelle's place 62 Kilaben Rd Kilaben Bay on Saturday 9^th July 2-3pm. Most of the garden is raised beds but unfortunately the potato bed is somewhere down the hill due to the recent rain.There is plenty of parking so drive in.

Say Yes

At the June Progress meeting a decision was made to support the 'Say Yes' campaign for a price on pollution. A letter is included with this Chronicle as grassroots advocacy to present information to the local community.

If you want the science behind why reducing carbon emissions is important, the CSIRO has recently made available online a book, Climate Change: Science and Solutions, www.csiro.au/Climate-Change-book. This book answers the questions how does today's climate change differ from similar events in the past, what does the best science tell us about where we're heading and how does research suggest we should respond to the challenges?

There are a host of actions you can take from signing petitions to reading about what the science says. The Nature Conservation Council has a petition for signing to the Multi Party Climate Change Committee which calls for a strong price on pollution and the funding for new renewable energy projects click here to Sign this petition

Local Ladcaring

There continues to be regular landcaring action along the Coal Point peninsula with recent working bees happening along the Ridge-West, off Whitelock Street. The bushland in this area is in great condition with little weed and a true reminder of how beautiful our local bushland is and what a great asset we have in our communal backyard.

Before the biodiversity was boosted

Local native plant border

Another recent achievement was the weed removal and planting of a new area at Yural reserve, thanks to Hunter Water's Landcare Assistance Fund. A team of volunteers from the Landcare Office helped the locals to achieve a great outcome for increasing biodiversity. There is still mulch to move so if you feel like a little exercise moving mulch from the mulch pile on to the new garden bed in the reserve feel free to lend a hand. BYO mulch moving materials.

Landcare happens each week, usually on a Thursday under the coordination of Robyn. Each month the LRO Green Team volunteers lend additional hands. These days provide opportunities to learn a little more and meet some new landcarers. Each month there is a focus reserve for activities.

• July 7th - Laycock St Sth.
• August 11th - Yarul and Ambrose St
• Sept. 1st - Hampton St

National Tree Day- Sunday 31st July

National Tree Day will be celebrated throughout the community this year with a planting at Threlkeld Reserve on National Tree Day, Sunday 31^st July from 10-noon. The planting location will be off the Grant Road entrance. After the planting there will be a guided tour throughout the reserve to give an appreciation of the reasons why this reserve has high conservation status. A BBQ lunch will finish off the session.

Carey Bay Preschool will also be celebrating National Tree Day with their grounds having their biodiversity boosted with border beds, frog ponds and butterfly gardens, the plants being provided by the Landcare4Youth project.