Australians are predicted to spend $48.1 billion over the Christmas period according to the Australian Retailers Association. That’s a lot of gift giving, decorations and feasting.
But what happens to the products of our festivities? Councils experience a 30% increase in waste over the Christmas period. To lighten the planetary load Planet Ark has The 12 Do’s of Christmas that can make the festive season linger longer in the memory of your nearest and dearest.
Buy quality decorations that can be reused, or make some
Check your work Christmas party has recycling stations, warm and fuzzy feelings are good at this time of year
Find out what your gift recipient really wants or choose an experience (e.g movie cards, event, museum membership) or charity gift
Choose reusable or recyclable wrapping, like paper, cloth or children’s artwork
Lake Mac Council has on offer an amazing ‘Explore Our Great Outdoor’ program over summer from 9-21 January. Activities include rockpool rambles, kayaking, seashore saunters, sea creature show n tell, fossils, cycling, sand sculptures and more. Bookings are essential via eventbrite or ring LMCC 4921 0333
Lake Mac Grows
Lake Mac Grows is a community of gardeners committed to growing, sharing and eating fresh local produce. This Facebook group has been launched by Council as a place for you to share your story, your skills and your harvest and eat better for less.
With mixed messages still coming out of the mouths of our leaders sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe. But all levels of government have information about climate change readily available.
Did you know that there is a dedicated state government climate change website AdaptNSW? The site has a wealth of knowledge and resources that explain what climate change is, the impact, and how to adapt.
If you don’t believe the scientists there is a website dedicated to getting skeptical about global warming skepticism, Skeptical Science. Its purpose it to explain climate change science and rebut the global warming misinformation that gets circulated.
Lake Macquarie Council has a raft of programs and polices in place to help our coastal community prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change for example The Sustainable Neighbourhood program, Landcare and the local adaptation planning process.
The end of the calendar year is also the end of the Progress Association’s financial year and with that comes the annual CPPA membership renewal notice, hand delivered to your letterbox in the coming month.
As with the previous few years the membership fees are $8/single, $13/family and $2/person for Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) membership. Membership forms can be downloaded from the CPPA website (in the footer of the page) or requested from any of the Committee.
Renewal fees can be paid by direct deposit to the Coal Point Progress Association’s account BSB 032 514 Account # 217270 – with your family name as the reference.
Thank you to all those members who regularly donate a little extra to CPPA with their membership. These gifts are truly appreciated and greatly assist in covering the costs of the CPPA which include maintaining our community owned hall. The CPPA is a registered charity.
Are numbers your thing?
Do you enjoy the happy high of a reconciled end of month bank statement? Have you ever wanted to do something for the community but unsure how to contribute? Would you like to be the CPPA’s Trusty Treasurer?
John Gill, the CPPA’s Treasurer since 2011 is putting down the ledgers at the AGM in 2017 and having a well deserved break from the books of the Association. This rather important role on the Committee will have to be filled. Currently the accounts are ledgers but electronic options can be considered.
If you have an interest in accounts, would like to gain some highly transferable work skills or share your existing expertise please talk to one of the committee about the joys of the job.
Have you been wondering about the yellow patches in your lawn? Don’t blame the dog for excessive leakage it could be the annual return of the Christmas Beetle.
The Backyard Buddies website explains…Christmas Beetles emerge from the ground to feast on your Eucalyptus trees and lay their eggs in your soil. These large shiny buddies can be different colours depending on the species and where they live – from pale brown with spots to bright green. The larvae have been living underground for the last year, and you might know they are there if you have yellow patches on your lawn – they feed on the grass roots.
They only live a few months so are pretty enthusiastic feeders. They are unlikely to do any real damage, so why not get into the Christmas spirit and let them enjoy their short lives. They are already a food source for possums, currawongs, magpies and predatory wasps.
Christmas Beetles make great little buddies for kids. They are harmless and during the day are a bit tired after their antics of the night before – they go crazy when they see lights at night. They won’t run away or bite and kids can watch them crawl over their hands for ages. What great babysitters!
The 19 dwelling proposal spanning 2 Brighton Avenue to 133 Excelsior Parade has been amended and resubmitted.
The significant concerns about scenic and visual impact, engineering design, and loss of wildlife corridor remain unchanged.
As this is the same DA 1243/2016 that was submitted in August the 130 or so submissions already lodged will remain as part of the council’s considerations.
An extension on the period to comment on the amended DA has been granted until 30/12/16. If you have time to send a quick follow up email to council@lakemac.nsw.gov.au confirming your original submission or expanding on it, this would all help in consolidating the community’s concerns about the local impacts.
Local resident Paul Kelly will be making an address to the Councillors on 13/2/16 at 5:30pm in the Council Chambers. Your support at this Council meeting would be most welcome.
LMCC Council Officers’ responses to the amendments of DA1243/2016 are available on the Application Tracking website and have been summarised below to assist the community with access to the information.
Flora and Fauna: Approximately 218 trees occur on the subject site, 35 of which (or 16%) have now been proposed to be retained. Proposed tree retention still differs to previous discussions held with Councils Arborist and Landscape Architect in this regard.
Scenic values: initial concerns regarding the scenic impact statement have not been resolved.
Preservation of Trees: The additional tree retention across the eastern boundary is compromised by stormwater infrastructure along this boundary and does not adequately compensate for the loss of vegetation across the site and subsequent visual impacts. The amended landscape plan does not address the broader issues regarding site planning, topography and loss of scenic values of the peninsula vegetation.
Landscape Design: The loss of the large tree atop the knoll to carparking is not supported. The landscape design to western private open space relies on turf and hedge planting with minimal canopy tree planting and not of a scale proportional to two storey dwellings. The landscape area along the eastern boundary adjoining R2 land is further compromised by vehicle parking.
Tree retention: Additional tree retention is not consistent with recommendations of arboriculture report, additional information and detailed tree protection plan is required to address engineering impacts such as excavation/ retaining wall construction and other substantial ground disturbances.
Recycling/Waste: additional comments do not meet waste management requirements fully. If a private contractor is engaged residents will be paying twice for the waste service.
Stormwater discharge: additional onsite storage required to meet acceptable discharge flows. A revised Stormwater Management is required.
Cut and fill
Retaining wall heights exceed those allowed in the DCP
A lot of the levels provided do not correlate with pit levels in stormwater management plan
Many of the levels shown do not work…the plans are to be revised
Traffic and Transport
Certification from a qualified engineer is required to state that sight distances are acceptable on Brighton Ave
Shared Brighton Ave access with neighbours still an issue
Internal road to be redesigned so all entry and exits can be made from Excelsior Pde- not addressed
Driveway widths not provided- internal driveway and carparking grades appear not to conform to DCP 2014
An outpouring of community concern over the Toronto foreshore was recently expressed with over 200 submissions being lodged on DA 1835/2016-151 Brighton Ave (Hirecraft Marina site) which is proposing a 44 residential units over 4 storeys.
This is an inspiring outcome, which will hopefully be taken into consideration by the local elected representatives in their decision-making.
