Are you prepared for fires and floods?

On Saturday 11 February there’s an opportunity to see how your property will stand up to a natural hazard using a ‘Simtable’, a sophisticated “digital sand table” that displays high quality models of natural hazards such as bushfires and floods.

The Simtable will be the conversation starter at the members morning tea sign-up being co-hosted by the Coal Point Progress Association (CPPA) and Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group (TASNG) at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd Coal Point, 10am-noon.

The Simtable works by showing a simulation of how a hazard moves across and impacts a landscape. Because it uses local maps and data, the Simtable provides a highly realistic demonstration of how individual properties and the broader community may be affected, improving our community’s awareness of these hazards and how best to prepare and respond, in this climate changing world we’re in. If you want to do a deep dive into your property an RSVP is essential.

The event is also an opportunity to join your local community organisations CPPA and TASNG. Membership forms will be available and morning tea will be provided.

Please RSVP for catering purposes using the link or you can register by phone/SMS 0438 596 741 or email cppasecretary@gmail.com.

RSVP 

https://hub.givar.com/connect/org/coalpointprogress/campaigns/simtable-simulations-for-fire-and-flood-preparedness-members-morning-tea

The festival of Friendship – October 22nd at Toronto library

The Festival of Friendship is part of range of activities designed to promote inclusion, access, tolerance and respect in the Toronto local community area. Toronto Library is part of the Community Harmony Initiative.

10-11.30am 'Travel Sketching - it's easier than youthink!' Join local artist Hugh Cross to hear about travel sketching, get some tips and have a go!

11:30-1pm conversation café: Join others to develop understanding of different people, cultures, religions and beliefs over a light lunch.

1-2pm Laughter yoga : Laugh and the world laughs with you! Laughter is a fun form of exercise - it makes you feel good and brings happy thoughts.

Bookings are through Eventbrite (links above) or ring/visit the Toronto library and they’ll book you in 4921 0641.

Planning our future LakeMac 2050 Strategy

Lake Mac 2050 will inform the development of all of Council’s strategies, policies, projects and proposals affecting the City, as well as its operational decisions. 

At the September Chamber meeting a question was put to council staff seeking clarification if the outcomes could be changed given the coucnil's support for multi-storey development proposals on the foreshore, the response was that if there was community input it could be changed...so please provide feedback to council.

The Lake Mac 2050 Strategy is open for community comment until 2/10/18. The following excerpt from p64 describes the TORONTO TOWN CENTRE PRECINCT.

• The relationship between the waterfront and The Boulevard is improved 
• The foreshore is rejuvenated, consistent with the cultural and heritage values of the foreshore area and the waterway, including appropriate small-scale commercial opportunities 
• A town park provides a formal community focus and a place for workers, visitors and residents to gather or relax along The Boulevard, west of Pemell Street 
• Walking and cycling in the centre and surroundings is safe and convenient, with connections to the Fassifern Greenway and recreational areas along Stony Creek 
• The centre provides an interchange point for local buses to high-frequency, high-capacity ’spine’ services to major destinations and interchange points, such as Glendale, Belmont the University of Newcastle, Newcastle City Centre and John Hunter Hospital, as well as to the Fassifern train station

Comments can be made on forms or by surveys the website.

A letter has been drafted by CPPA supporting the recommendations and can be downloaded here

DA UpDAte

151 Brighton Ave - DA 1835/2016

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.

Recreational Land Plan for Toronto open for comments

The long awaited Recreation Land Plan for Toronto was released on 30th July and there are proposals for upgrades, acquisitions and extensions of recreational land in our local area.

This plan aims to identify the recreational facilities needed to serve the increase in population till 2025, so please consider dropping Council a line or two about what they are proposing by 5pm Monday 12th Sept.

The following information has been summarised from some of the documents available on LMCC’s website.

The priority system for new works

• High priority- short term upto 2020 
• Medium priority - mid term up to 2025 
• Low priority - long term 2025 and beyond 

There are new ideas for the ‘Pony Club land’ at Carey Bay- Hampton St Reserve

The land is categorised as sportsground but not used as such and so better use of the space is being proposed to include;

• Dog exercise area upgraded to a fenced dog park. Dog exercise areas can have disposal bins, water supply, seating, shade and fencing- High priority 
• Multi-purpose half court. These facilities contain a basketball hoop, netball ring and/or tennis hit up wall - Medium priority 
• A new community garden, ‘a plot where herbs, fruits, flowers or vegetables are cultivated. They provide a range of social, physical and psychological benefits and a mechanism for people to interact with others- Medium priority 
• A new BMX (Bicycle Motocross) track at Hampton St or Cooks St Toronto. The need for BMX is demonstrated by the number of unauthorised informal BMX tracks constructed in bushland areas and by the number of community requests for these facilities- Medium priority. 

Coal Point Ridgeline

Tracks and Trails upgrade 1260m of track once all the land has been acquired. ‘Develop signposted and interpretative walking trails though the ridge line reserve accessible from Lorron Close, Coal Point- Low priority

Toronto Foreshore Park

Expansion and major upgrade of the park and playground equipment with new outdoor gym equipment. The upgrade of the Toronto Foreshore Park is one of the key recommendations of this plan and is High priority.

Components of the plan include;

• A promenade from Wharf Rd to the land acquisition area with exercise stations, seating, feature trees, solar lighting, al fresco dining 
• A major playground with a sailing theme 
• A public domain area extension along the foreshore 
• A shared pathway from the Greenway along the entire length of the park to wharf Rd-High priority 
• A park entry feature that connects the town centre to the park 
• Large open areas for festivals, markets, bands and civic events 
• Current car parks would be relocated back from the foreshore 
• Toronto Lions Park- Upgrade. Relocate boat ramp and car park. -High priority 
• Goffet Park upgrade -Medium priority

A bit of background…

To fund the delivery of public community infrastructure, local government is able to levy development contributions to fund new, or extend facilities that are required as a result of new development.

The development contributions plan for the Toronto area is now on public exhibition until Sept 11th.  As a community we are being invited to input into the plan, written submissions can be posted to General Manager , LMCC Box 1906, HRMC, NSW 2310  or emailed by 5pm Monday 12th Sept.

The Development Contributions Plan for the Toronto Catchment 2015-2030, covers 22 suburbs from Teralba to Wangi Wangi/Myuna Bay and out to Freemans Waterhole.

In 2015 it was estimated that there were 31,487 people (15% of the City’s population) in this area which is expected to reach 36,899 by 2030. Most of the projected growth of 5,412 people will be located in and around the Toronto area which extends to Ambrose St.

Some of the local demographics that are shaping the plan include

• Carey Bay, Coal Point and Toronto having a higher than the City average of people aged 65 and over,
• Coal Point has a higher proportion of couples without children than the city average.
• Carey Bay and Toronto areas have a higher proportion of single person households which is indicative of the large number of seniors living complexes.
• Coal Point has 99.2% of it’s dwellings as separate houses, whilst Carey Bay has a higher proportion (19.3%) of semi-detached house than the catchment average of 6.9%, and Toronto is the only suburb that has a higher proportion (10.5%) of apartments than the City average of 5.3%.
• New residents are expected to be concentrated in 6 suburbs with Toronto expecting a 24% increase in total population, an additional 1,398 people.

Estimated Residential population by suburb

Suburb	Existing dwellings	Existing persons	Projected extra  dwellings 2030	Projected extra persons	Total dwellings 2030	Total persons 2030	Growth %
Carey Bay	471	931	21	36	492	967	3.9
Coal Point	773	1736	44	91	817	1827	5.3
Kilaben Bay	551	1340	26	51	577	1391	3.8
Toronto	2764	5825	766	1398	3530	7223	24

The projected changing demographic will see the population age with people over 65 increasing from 20.7 to 23.7% and the population of people under 19 declining from 23.7 to 21.9%.

Each suburb is expected to follow these trends with  “The infill development in Toronto’s town centre likely to attract a range of different lifecycle groups including young couples, couples starting families, singles and older couples.

Toronto’s Traffic Troubles

In August a community meeting to discuss the traffic situation through Toronto came up with two resolutions to progress the immediate issues of congestion.

To investigate dedicated turning/merging lanes and 40km zone between the Boulevard and Bay street and do a thorough plan of that stretch of road.

The broader issue of long term traffic management was discussed as well.Some items of note were that Lake Macquarie will be receiving the largest share of population growth over the next 20 years with 60-70,000 more people, many of whom will be living south of Toronto in Rathmines, Wangi, Morisset and Wyee. Add to this the fact that the Lake Macquarie local government area has the highest car ownership/household in the state, and you can see a serious problem is on the horizon.

RTA planning is underway though, an upgrade of the Fennell Bay to Booragul stretch of road to accommodate two lanes either way has just closed for public comment with the intent of getting the land recognised on the local planning instruments.

Additionally an enquiry by a local to RTA about a road from Fennell Bay bridge through to Toronto via the wetlands was told it was almost a certainty in the next 10 years.