The Coal Point Chronicle: TASNG Talk - 29/11/19 Picnic and AGM outcomes

Saturday, 2 November 2019

TASNG Talk - 29/11/19 Picnic and AGM outcomes

Toronto Picnic in the Park

FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER

5.30 - 7:30PM

TORONTO FORESHORE

Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy and evening of music and games by the Lake with family and friends.

There will also be free African drumming workshop, free meditation session, Chinese dancing, performance from Connor Wink, face painting, big games and kids planting activities.

Sustainable Neighbourhoods Celebration

Saturday 9 November, 2-4pm

Lake Room, The Swansea Centre, 228 Pacific Highway, Swansea

Catch up with Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers from around Lake Macquarie for an end of year celebration.

Learn about Council’s Tree Replacement Program

Enjoy a yummy afternoon tea

Share the year’s highlights and challenges with other Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers

Check out the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition, 1.30-2pm, upstairs in the Swansea Centre at SEEN@Swansea and Launchpad exhibition spaces.

All welcome. RSVPs essential to 4921 0117 or admin@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.auby Wednesday 6 November.

For more information visit the Facebook event or sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au.

TASNG AGM Outcomes- Nico Marcar

It’s been another fruitful TASNG year. Thanks to committee members and regular supporters for your efforts. Our broad focus remains with Recycling & Waste Management, Cycling & Pedestrian needs and Landcare. Our strong association with the Coal Point Progress Association (CPPA) continues and thanks again to CPPA for boosting TASNG membership again as part of its subscription process. Special thanks to the management of the HUB for allowing us to meet monthly at no cost.

We maintain association with Five Bays SNG through Robyn Charlton’s projects: appreciating the value of street/urban trees and pamper care (assisting the homeless/people in need).

With support from Rathmines SNG, we continue to promote a shared path concept between Kilaben Bay and Rathmines. Tom Boyle, Council’s senior transport strategist, provided an overview of cycling issues that Council was seeking to address at our April meeting. My involvement in Active Transport Advisory Group (ATAG) will now allow me to pursue opportunities for improved cycling & walking connections for our area and beyond.

With our project collaborators (the Toronto District Garden, Toronto Lions, Toronto Lionesses and Rotary Sunrise Toronto clubs) we have now almost completed the Awaba Road garden project which aims to beautify the entry into western Toronto. This entailed establishing about 400 native plants, installation of edging, regular watering and signage to be installed soon. Special thanks to Lois Simpson (project leader) and John Sharples.

With the Alliance through Steve Dewar’s efforts, we continue to be a strong voice for the abolition of single-use plastic bags locally, engaging with businesses and supermarket chains in Toronto and other Lake Macquarie towns. In addition, a survey of Lake Macquarie cafes was undertaken by Steve to assess options for more sustainable use of coffee cups.

This year we have continued our strong involvement with the Toronto Foreshore Protection Group (TFPG), which aims to galvanise community opposition to Council’s plans for a multi-storey residential/tourist/commercial development on Toronto’s foreshore at the Bath Street site, next to the RMYC. This has been a frustrating and time consuming exercise. John O’Callaghan from JOC consulting provided an update on the foreshore upgrade and the Bath Street at our August meeting. Thankfully, after almost 17 months Council has admitted their errors in judgement. In September Council passed a resolution to defer any work on this development and consider all options for the Bath Street site within the foreshore master planning process. This was a huge win for the community.

With Five Bays SNG and others in the Community Harmony Initiative we again organised two, well attended community picnics on the Toronto Foreshore (Nov ‘18 and Feb ‘19) and a conversation cafe at the Toronto Library.

This will be my final year as Chair of TASNG, a position I have held since October 2012. I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve, for your wonderful support and to have overseen several exciting projects and increased involvement within the community. The challenge is now to keep promoting the TASNG in the local area. I wish the new Chair every success.