Anticipating an awesome AGM

It is that time of year when the CPPA celebrates the achievements of the past year and ponders the projects for the year ahead. It’s also a time to thank the Committee and hopefully recruit some new members to share the joy.

On Wednesday 26th April the Annual General Meeting will be held from 5-6pm. All positions will be declared vacant and a new Committee elected.

If you would like to nominate there is a nomination form available on the website.

Following the AGM will be a chance for socialising with CPPA committee and members and some fine dining with a BYO plate of food to share. If you’d like to pop in on the way home from work, drop by and join up or renew your membership or just say hi and thanks for doing what you do, you would be most welcome.

What issues would you like us to explore in the coming year?

Send us an email or snail mail (PO Box 329, Toronto) so that we may be able to raise your issues with the appropriate authorities e.g. potholes, bus shelters, footpaths, street lighting, bushland, trees, weeds, dinghy storage etc.

DA UpDAte

2 Brighton Ave- 133 Excelsior Pde

Land and Environment Court Commissioner coming to Carey Bay

A community meeting to discuss LMCC’s Statement of Facts and Contention (SoFC) was recently held at Progress Hall. The SoFC is a comprehensive document that covers all of the concerns that have been raised by the community about the proposed 19 two-storey units on the two into one lot consolidation that spans from 2 Brighton Ave to 133 Excelsior Pde.

The SoFC will be put before the Land and Environment Court at a conciliation conference on the proposed development site on 15th May at 10:30am.

Members of the community are invited to attend this meeting and it is important to show that there is community concern about the overdevelopment of the site. Please make an effort to be there.

The SoFC comprehensively dealt with the following issues regarding the development proposal.

• Unsuitable for the site
• Unacceptable harm to natural environment
• Inadequate landscape response
• Unsatisfactory stormwater drainage services
• Adverse impact on scenic value and community character
• Isolated medium density zoned site adjacent to development 
• Unacceptable harm to residential amenity
• Solar Access inadequate in 3 units
• Visual privacy between units and to adjacent neighbours compromised by non-compliant setbacks
• Acoustic privacy to counter traffic for 131 Excelsior Pde not detailed
• Adverse visual impacts compromising outlook and views due to building bulk and poor architectural design
• Unsatisfactory traffic arrangements to ensure the safe and efficient movement of vehicles within, entering and exiting the site
• Adequate information not provided on multiple aspects of the development
• Harm to public interest raised in the public submissions

The SoFC document can be viewed on the CPPA website

What Can You Do?

• Assist the Residents for Responsible Lakeside Development group to prepare for the on site meeting.
• Attend the poster making workshop being held at Progress Hall on Saturday 6th May at 2pm. Bring along any old paint or materials you think may be useful. There is lots of large cardboard and paper at the Hall.
• Talk to your neighbours
• Make time to attend the on site meeting 

Say NO to OVER development on site
on the 15/5/17 at 10:30am

Would you like to like us?

The CPPA’s Facebook page has 91 likes, a small but growing following. The Facebook page is one way to keep in touch with the CPPA activities between Chronicles and getting to 100 likes for the AGM somehow seems like a memorable milestone.
https://www.facebook.com/CoalPointProgressAssociation/ 

Lest We Forget

Burnage Reserve was named in honour of local resident Lt Granville Burnage, who donated the reserve to Council and lived at 1 Excelsior Pde. He commanded the ‘fighting 13th’ at Gallipoli and was instrumental in the formation of the Toronto R.S.L.

Landcarers have been caring for the reserve since the Clean Up Australia Day event in 2000 and have transformed a very weedy area into a remnant rainforest gully, loved by birds and an important refuge for mature gum trees and home to Kookaburras.

If you haven't had a chance to peruse the sign in the reserve now is the time.Click on the image to get a bigger picture.

Science serves all of us

Earth Day this year, 22/4/17 is being marked with a March for Science, a global event bringing together people from all walks of life who believe we need more evidence and reason in our political process.

Science protects our air and water, preserves our planet, saves lives with medical treatments, creates new industries, puts food on our tables, educates the next generation, and safeguards our future, for all theses reasons and more the CPPA and TASNG are marching towards a science week event in August.

Planning is underway with all schools in Lake Macquarie having been contacted by post and email thanks to the silver sponsorship of John & Janet Johnson.

Platinum sponsorship has been gratefully received from the Toronto General Practice and this will support the hosting of the Earth Quest Travelling Exhibition.

The exhibition will be open to the community and general public over the weekends of 12-13 & 19-20 August.

Updates of the event can be viewed on the CPPA website at http://coalpointprogress.blogspot.com.au/p/science-week-2017.html 

Community Garden coming to a Scout Hall near you!

You may have noticed the major upgrade of the Toronto Scout Hall on Excelsior Parade over the past year but did you know it now also includes a community garden?

Chris Murphy, the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group’s Community Garden coordinator has visited the site and spoken to the project manager Jeff from The Skills Generator, a Work for the Dole organization, who undertook the project. Chris provided the following report at the recent TASNG meeting.

The grounds have been securely fenced with lockable gates and plumbed water. Several raised garden beds have been built and a garden shed, citrus row, seating and shade structures are planned.

The project funding will finish this year and The Skills Generator crew would like the local community to become involved and, in due course, take “ownership” of the Community Garden.

If you are interested in any of the benefits of community gardening such as meeting like minded people, growing and sharing fresh produce, expanding your physical fitness, learning about plant propagation, composting and recycling, or calming your mind by connecting with soil and being near beautiful bushland with abundant birdlife then get in touch.

You can contact Chris Murphy from TASNG on 0438 504 039 or visit the Scout Hall 8am-4pm on week days and talk to Jeff from the Skills Generator

Hampton Street Link Landcare

Diversity is the spice of life.

The Hampton Street Link (HSL) is a rather special piece of greenery. It is the only public land that links the vegetated corridor that runs along the Coal Point peninsula to the east with the bushland remnants to the west including the Carey Bay Wetlands, an Endangered Ecological Community.

This 20m wide road reserve has one of the greatest varieties of plants in any of the 12 reserves the local landcare crew look after, with 95 different species having been recorded over 5 years of flora surveys.

The canopy contains eight varieties of gum trees, some hundreds of years old, there’s a dozen different vines, a legacy of the rainforest-like features in the lower section, there’s a healthy mid sized shrub layer, but it is the native grasses and herbs that are the highlight of this area.

There are 42 different ground covers along the 200m length of the Hampton St Link.

There are ferns, native grasses, little lomandras, pastel flowers, native geraniums, scrambling lilies and blue flax lilies. Often overlooked in the understory these plants are the beauties in the bush that are battling for survival against the beasts of exotic grasses and mowers.

A brochure was recently made and distributed to the neighbours of this reserve, you can get your own copy here. 

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Coal Point-Carey Bay Autumn Bird Survey by Tom Clarke

Striated Heron at Carey Bay Wetlands

Autumn 2017 bird surveys at Coal Point have been completed for all of the 7 bird monitoring sites established in the area.

A new addition to the Coal Point list was made when a juvenile Striated Heron was encountered at Carey Bay Wetlands. These birds are notoriously secretive yet still get reported moderately often around the tidal zones of Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Estuary and Port Stephens. Mostly they skulk about the shadows of mangroves and venture out at low tide to hunt over the exposed mud flats. The situation at Carey Bay does not completely fit this requirement with hardly any regular tidal influence to speak of. There are a few scattered Grey Mangroves however and this bird was most likely just exploring new ground after being kicked out by it parents. This sighting may well prove to be a once-off chance. 


A late sighting of 2 White-throated Needletails hawking low over the canopy of West Ridge provided some excitement. Firstly that their presence indicated a new weather system approaching (chasing aerial insects forced down in disturbed air) and secondly, that usually these summer migrants have all left by the end of March. The last time we encountered this species on a survey was in January 2014. This is the typical month that great numbers may be seen around here as they turn up with each approaching summer storm. 


Mixed foraging flocks of small bush-birds are forming as the cooler weather sets in. A flock consisting of Brown Thornbills, Yellow Thornbills, Brown Honeyeater, Grey Fantail and Willie Wagtails was working the casuarina fringe along the creek at Carey Bay. Up along West Ridge, great numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Scarlet Honeyeaters (surprisingly, another species new to the list) plus some Silvereyes and Spotted Pardalotes were moving through the canopy. Mostly the focus appeared to be the blossom of the Bloodwoods that still persists as well as the first flowers of the Spotted Gum. These autumn flocks of honeyeaters are in preparation of the great autumn movement (some call it migration) generally from south to north. Signs of this movement are just being detected along the Sugarloaf Range. 


The full report can be viewed online.

Do you feed or provide water for the local birds?

You’re not the only one. The Summer Report from the Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study has just been released by Dr Gráinne Cleary who made some interesting observations:

• Providing food for birds is a very common activity in Australia with the data showing commercial seed is the main food type provided. 
• A significant reason why people provide food is because it brings them joy and happiness which comes from interacting our the amazing birds 
• The most common bird group visiting feeding areas are granivores (seed-eating birds). 
• The favourite birds to feed are magpies, parrots (especially king parrots) and cockatoos along with pigeons and doves, mainly crested pigeons. 
• Large nectivores (e.g.rainbow lorikeets and noisy miners) were
present when commercial nectar or home-made nectar was available, while small nectivores (e.g. new Holland honeyeaters) seem to prefer home-made nectar. 
• Insectivores were attracted to the presence of cheese (over meat!!) 
• omnivores were visiting feeding areas where bread was provided. 
• Both granivores and fruit-eating birds displayed a marked preference for commercial seeds over other food. 

You can download a copy at www.feedingbirds.org.au.

DAs In Play 12/3/17 to 13/4/17

You can keep up to date with developments in the area through Council’s online tracking system. The list below has been abridged from Lake Macquarie City Council’s Application Tracking system. It has been compiled to support community understanding of developments in our area. Please consult LMCC’s website for details and a complete listing. New Listings below are from 12/3/17 to 13/4/17.

• 9 Amelia Street: Dwelling House & Retaining Walls: Approved 
• 17 Amelia Street: Enclose Deck: Awaiting DA Determination 
• 40 Amelia Street: DWELLING AND POOL - Amendment: Approved 
• 2 Angela Close: Alterations and Additions - Approved 
• 47A Brighton Avenue: Dwelling House and Demolition of Existing Dwelling: Under Assessment 
• 23 Coal Point Road: Demolition of Dwelling House: Check New Application 
• 77 Coal Point Rd: Dwelling House and Ancillary detached Garage/Shed - Amendment: Under Assessment 
• 128 Coal Point Rd: Dwelling House Alterations & Additions: Awaiting information requested 
• 236 Coal Point Rd: Dwelling House and Demolition of Existing Structure: Approved 
• 108 Excelsior Parade: Alterations and Additions to Dwelling Including New Garage and Driveway - Convert Existing Shed: Awaiting information requested 
• 151 Excelsior Parade: Footpath works for Multi dwelling housing: Under Assessment 
• 57 Jarrett Street: Attached Side Carport to Footings. Under Assessment 
• 14 Jonquil Close: Dwelling House: Under Assessment 
• 1/17 Laycock St: Child Care Centre: Awaiting Information Requested 
• 7 Robey Crescent :Dwelling Alterations & Additions & Attached Secondary Dwelling: Scanning of Application Documents 
• 23 Robey Road Dwelling Alterations and Additions and Garden Wall: Approved 
• 4 Rofe Street: Cabana: Awaiting DA Determination 
• 78 Skye Point Road: Dwelling House - Alterations & Additions, Boat Shed, Water Recreation Structure: Awaiting information requested 
• 184 Skye Point Road: Dwelling Alterations and Additions Carport and Deck Extension: Approved 
• 202 Skye Point Road: Garage: Under Assessment 
• 228 Skye Point Road: Dwelling House, Swimming Pool with Associated Safety Barriers and Demolition of Existing Dwelling: Under Assessment 
• 241 Skye Point Road Remove 2 trees: Approved 
• 254 Coal Point Road New Garage: On Notification/Advertising 
• 380 Skye Point Road Removal 2 Trees: Under Assessment 
• 25 Whitelocke Street: Carport: Withdrawn 
• 151-155 Brighton Av (Hirecrafft Marina) Awaiting Information Requested