BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MOVE TO COMPLETION.
The 17-unit Kahana development is now complete and people are now residing in their apartments. The so-called 4-br/3 baths/2 garage “Beach House” was for rent at $2,000 per week, and another 3 br. at $1450. A 2-br apartment sold in March 2017 for $1.5mill.
Nearby, the 26“Freshwater “apartments on the former Harbord Growers Site are due to be completed by year end. Already major concrete pours have been completed and scaffolding systematically removed.
At 5 Pavilion St, the 6-storey cliff-top apartment block is now out of the ground. This should be a welcome improvement on the dog of a building that it replaces.
The First Stage of the Mounties Development is also moving to fit-out, with elegant sandstone facing starting to be unveiled along Carrington Drive. There is evidence provided by Mounties in a recent DA Modification submission on hours of work, that the construction is behind schedule. With the recent spell of outstanding weather, this building backlog may well have been removed.
With the closure of the Harbour Diggers Club in two month’s time, club management is looking to place its long term permanent employees. This will be for the period until the new Club premises is operational
. “CELLARBRATIONS” LIQUOR LICENCE CAMPAIGN UPDATE
We have been closely watching the Liquor and Gaming NSW website for any decision on the Cellarbrations Packaged Liquor Licence application. Apparently such applications can take months to be finalised. We do know that there are very few applications rejected, so we are not holding our breath.
Meanwhile, the major anti-social behaviour hotspot has become the northern end of Freshwater Beach Reserve where a combination of excess alcohol consumption and rival gangs has led to Police intervention on a number of occasions.
FIRST NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL ELECTION ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9.
Everything is unusually subdued in the lead-up to the Council Election with the three political parties mounting tickets along with a bevy of independents, across the five new Wards. What is interesting is the fact that a number of candidates do not even reside within the Wards for which they are seeking election. For example, Freshwater resident and former Warringah Councillor Pat Daley, is standing for the Liberal Party in Manly Ward, former Councillor Bob Giltinan, who is aligned to the Liberal Party and resides in Cromer, is standing as an Independent in Curl Curl Ward and there are other prominent examples.
It is axiomatic, that to properly represent your constituents at local government level, you have to live among them.
Prior to next Saturday, a public forum will be convened on Monday night, 4/9, by Curl Curl Lagoon Friends at North Curl Curl Surf Club. It is a chance to hear from a cross section of the candidates on their policies for our community.
In the meantime, all Council decisions involving future funding have been put on hold until the new Council is formed. In practice, this means that none of the projects that affect Freshwater will progress in 2017.
OPTUS CURL CURL TOWER SITE REJECTED BY INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT PANEL
Telecommunication towers and their location are always problematic. On the one hand we like clear, strong and speedy, signal for our mobiles and data, but we don’t like unsightly towers and their magnetic fields. In July, an Independent Assessment Panel convened at Manly Council Chambers and rejected a DA submitted by Optus for a site in North Curl Curl. The community made 140 submissions, an 800 signature petition and 12 residents spoke to the Panel. The application was rejected by the Panel, which leaves Optus with the unenviable task of finding another site.
PUBLIC ART PROJECT FOR FRESHWATER VILLAGE PLAZA.
Five concrete pods in Freshwater Village Plaza are to be the subject of an ongoing public art project. These pods, that currently have a range of functions including as protection for a major storm water pipeline passing underneath, will be used to depict the various phases of the history of Freshwater. This will extend from the millennial occupation by our first peoples; the arrival of our early settlers in the 19th Century; our surfing and Anzac history, and a pod devoted to the future.
On Saturday, September 30, work will commence on the First Peoples Pod with indigenous artist, Leanne Tobin, installing an painted artwork which depicts Freshwater moving to Saltwater. This is very apt, given that Freshwater Creek snakes its way through our community and down to saltwater at the Beach. There is also a great deal of evidence from local aboriginal middens to suggest that the Cammaraigal clan used both the environs of Freshwater Creek and Beach as regular sources of food, and cave overhangs for sleeping.
This project has the support of Northern Beaches Council as part of its place-making strategy to make Villages and spaces on the Northern Beaches more vibrant.
Friends of Freshwater has been successful in gaining a grant from Council to assist with this project, but for its full realisation it will require further crow-funding.
FRESHWATER CREEK
Freshwater Creek is a major waterway passing through Freshwater. It quietly services Freshwater by carrying our storm water and overflow sewerage. Its tributaries which come together beneath Jacka Park, cross Soldiers Avenue and Albert Street and flow down the northern side of Kooloora Avenue and thence to the northern end of Freshwater Beach. Heritage-listed Norfolk Island Pines at the eastern end of Kooloora avenue flourish because of their proximity to this water source.
During storm events, it is the default system for overflow sewerage. Installation by Sydney Water in 2014 of storage tanks at Wyndora and Soldiers Avenue, has effect reduced this possibility.
At Freshwater Beach Reserve, Freshwater Creek used to form into a lagoon (and regularly flood) but underground pumping equipment ensures that it flows smoothly to the Beach.
The recent completion of an architect designed residence immediately adjacent to this former lagoon, highlights the impact of the Freshwater Creek Storm Water Pipe. It was long thought that no residence could be built on this site, but by clever civil engineering, the builder has created an elevated bridge over the pipe to the house.
POISONOUS PHOENIX PALMS PROLIFERATE IN FRESHWATER BEACH RESERVES.
Phoenix Palms (also known as Canary Island Date Palms have been introduced into Australia and are becoming significant but unwanted plants in our Reserves. In Undercliffe Reserve for example there are now more than twenty examples and they grow rapidly from seed. They are the scourge of the bush regeneration industry as their poisonous barbs have hospitalised employees. Their spines, sometimes as long as 10cm, contain chemicals which cause inflammation and swelling. The spikes also harbour soil bacteria which can cause septic arthritis and subsequent hospitalisation.
The Friends of Freshwater is working with NBC and Greater Sydney Land Care to remove this threat.
VALE BILL SIMPSON
The funeral of the late Bill Simpson was held today, Friday Sept.1, but he passed away last Friday, and sadly, as the first President, and one of the founders of the Warringah Rugby Club, he missed, by a few hours, the triumphant Shute Shield victory of his beloved Warringah Rats.
The Old Duke, when he had a spring in his step, played for Warringah in its fledgling years. Bill Simpson, a longstanding resident of Queenscliff, would often coach players of modest talent, such as myself, in Sunday sessions at Kierle Park. He was passionate about everything associated with Rugby, and the venue, Rat park, is his lasting creation.
THE HARBORD GROWERS MARKET
BEST NSW GREEN GROCER 2017
The Harbord Growers Market traded in Freshwater for 26 years and has now been in Balgowlah for 2 years. It is remembered fondly by the Freshwater community.
After an exhaustive selection process, which included mystery inspections of the shop, it has been awarded this prestigious award. Only Green Grocers that use Sydney Fresh Markets at Flemington are eligible to be considered.
Congratulations to the Gerace family including Bev, Dominic, Amerigo, Anthony and Maurice.
FRESHWATER COASTAL OPEN SPACE AND RESERVES MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
Friends of Freshwater, along with Freshwater SLSC, Harbord Diggers Club and 8 representatives of the local community have met on three occasions over the last two months to develop a draft Master Plan for the upgrading of the Coastal Reserves. These reserves extend from South Curl Curl to Queenscliff. A final project team meeting is envisaged.
With Council in caretaker-mode, the draft Master Plan will not be released for public consultation until it has gone before the new Council
This is a once in a generation opportunity to upgrade our Beach Reserves with funding from the Council amalgamation allocation.
DEMISE OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS
Friends of Freshwater applauds the recent actions of a number of organisations including Northern Beaches Council, Harris Farm, and the major supermarkets to end of phase out single plastic bag usage. Now if only the IGA would follow suit.
OF FRIENDS OF FRESHWATER
CONTINUE TO Strengthen OUR VOICE.
The Friends of Freshwater is one of the biggest apolitical activist community groups on the northern beaches. If you wish to join or renew membership for 2017 then please see the details at the foot of this page.
