An Affable AGM

The online AGM was attended by 14 locals and saw the stalwart committee re-elected for another year of guiding the good ship Progress. Additionally a fruitful discussion was held post-AGM exploring the potential of a conservancy fund that supports sustainable living.

The four wheels of experience on the finely tuned Progress powerhouse of a machine include:

• Tony Dynon, who will continue to coordinate the delivery of the Chronicle and provide a voice of reason and guidance on community thought, as he has done since 2001 when he first joined the committee.
• Ian Dennison, whose intractable grip on the Treasury will ensure due diligence and well considered actions on all aspects of the organisation; this is his 10th year of spurring on sustainability within our community.
• Harvey Mitchell, who will continue to support where needed, and ensure any risk is well thought through as he has enthusiastically done since joining the committee in 2017.
• Suzanne Pritchard who will continue to contemplate and respond to community needs against the backdrop of respecting our unique bushland environment in a climate changing world, the same driver that saw her join the committee 25 years ago.

Thanks were given to Robyn Garrett for her contributions towards managing the membership and Veronica Lund for auditing our accounts.

The full Annual Report is available online and summarises the activities of the past year including the membership breakdown, hall usage, grants completed, DAs deliberated upon, submissions lodged, communications shared, activities we’ve supported and a summary of landcaring in our reserves.
 

Overall the past year has been one of maintenance. Maintaining the energy levels of the Committee by not taking on too much, maintaining the hall with upgraded energy efficiencies, maintaining the membership by reinforcing membership criteria, maintaining our reserves with regular landcare and maintaining awareness of threats to community spaces and sense of place through advocacy and community communication.

Even though it was supposed to be a slower paced year there was still enough going on to keep the committee active and the community informed and engaged, which was underscored by the local enthusiasm for supporting local ‘My Community’ projects.

The CPPA’s involvement with the Toronto Foreshore Protection Group, awareness of local DAs and active engagement with LMCC’s community consultations has provided an abundance of opportunities to consider what kind of community we value.

The summer bushfires, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic have further highlighted the need to consider what a resilient community looks like. How can connections be maintained, what is a ‘better’ way?

The CPPA is in a unique position in time and space to be able to explore possible solutions. Can we create a precedence that protects and values our bushland for future generations whilst sustainably supporting and strengthening the existing community to function and flourish? Is there a pathway that builds connections that can withstand difficult times?

What is a Conservancy?

The post-AGM conversation provided a starting point for a turning point with a meaningful dialogue occurring on the concept of a conservancy. Five interested folk have agreed to explore the potential of a conservancy fund that would support sustainable and social living whilst protecting remnant bushland and building community. Since the AGM the Conservancy Crew have met online and are in the process of a fact-finding mission to investigate existing models, of which there are many, and meet with local politicians and council officers.