As a resident of Roseville, East Lindfield and Killara for the last 35 years I understand Ku-ring-gai and the Roseville Ward.
If you have any issues with council-related matters, feel free to reach out to us.
And for news on what’s happening at council follow me on Facebook or Instagram or see the articles below.
News
- Happi Burger Lindfieldby SamIt’s International Burger Day so I visited Happi Burger Lindfield for their lunch special. Even at 11am it had good patronage from the Coles construction workers across the road. The burger was quite intense! Worth checking out if that’s your kind of thing, though I’d also say take it in moderation along with regular diet…
- St Ives Agricultural Show 2024by SamEarlier this month I attended the St Ives Agricultural Show with Councillor Martin Smith and Councillor Kim Wheatley . We looked at the winning entries for this year’s competition. In particular we enjoyed Ethan’s junior entry for novelty cake. It was a well attended event with plenty of rides and food stalls. The St Ives…
- Walangari Sand Paintingby SamAs part of the annual Gai-mariagal Festival, we had Aboriginal elder and artist Walangari Karntawarra create a traditional sand painting at the Lindfield Village Green. He shared about his culture and local kids got involved with creating the artwork, which continues to be on display and apparently lasts until it rains. I was joined by…
- Meet Dylan from Lendeconby SamMeet Dylan from Lendecon. He has identified a problem where we tend to buy equipment and use it once or twice while it sits inactive over 99% of the time. How good would it be if instead of owning the equipment (and committing to the embodied energy / resource used), we can search a directory…
- eBike Adventuresby SamSun May 26, 2024 07:07 AM
- Chemical Cleanupby SamChemical CleanOut is on again tomorrow at the St Ives Showgrounds. For more information, visit. https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Community/Waste-and-recycling/Hazardous-and-problem-waste/Chemical-CleanOut
- Event at Bancroft Parkby SamFree sausages and coffee at Bancroft Park Roseville til 12pm. Sorry I should have promoted this earlier but it has been a busy week.
- Visiting 2nd/3rd Lindfield Cub Scoutsby SamEarlier this week I visited the 2nd/3rd Lindfield Cub Scouts where they asked about Local Government, my role as Mayor, and about my own time as a Cub Scout in the 90’s. Some questions include: – What does Council do? – Which day does the garbage get collected? – Favourite part as Mayor? – Least…
- ANZAC Day at St Martins Killaraby SamYesterday, Councillor Simon Lennon and I presented wreaths on behalf of the community at Living Hope Anglican (St Martin’s Killara). It was also good to see the memorial created for Killara residents who gave their lives for our freedom, and hear from the personal experience of residents who had been affected by war. This morning…
- Thank You Volunteersby SamThis week, Council held a free movie screening of Fall Guy at the Roseville Cinemas for all of our volunteers who give up their time to support the community, whether it be to respond to extreme weather events, provide care for our elderly and youth, look after our financially or domestically vulnerable, or care for…
- Meet the Mayor – Psycho Chicken Rosevilleby SamI’m at my favourite chicken store for the next 2 hours if anyone wants to talk to me. If there’s extra customers over lunchtime then I’ll move to a nearby bench.
- Wear it Orange Wednesdayby SamYesterday was Wear It Orange Wednesday, a national day to thank the tens of thousands of volunteers who serve the community through storms, floods, road crashes, and other first responder incidents. These guys are the true heroes as they freely do it out of genuine care for the community.
- Transport Oriented Development Parliamentary Inquiryby SamYesterday I was invited to visit Parliament House to deliver an opening statement then answer questions at the Transport Oriented Development Parliamentary Inquiry. Although it was not a perfect process, it was encouraging to see this aspect of democracy at work and Iโm glad that we had the opportunity to share our experience of recent…
- Lindfield Fun Runby SamGreat weather and an enjoyable run with over 2,000 participating in the Lindfield Fun Run this year, raising funds for KYDS Youth Development Service and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter.
- 888 Korean Fried Chicken, Gordonby SamDinner time pickup at 888 Korean Fried Chicken, Gordon.
- Roseville Tree Planting Initiativeby Sam๐ณ๐ณ๐ณ At Council we recognise the role that trees play in keeping our suburbs cool and fresh while also providing a home for our wildlife. On my way to work, I met these sub-contractors who have been planting trees the last few days. They said that the trees were generally well received by the majority…
- New Footpath – West Pymbleby SamWed May 15, 2024 07:09 AM
- Men’s Kitchen Turramurraby SamLast week I visited the Menโs Kitchen, where their aim is to teach men how to cook. A typical session involves 10 men and 3 instructors. The men choose what they want to cook from a recipe book and purchase the ingredients beforehand. The instructors provide guidance on the day and then they sit together…
- Heritage Conservation Areas – A thing of the pastby SamI want to make it clear that I have no problem with 6 storey buildings. People gotta live somewhere and I welcome them. But what I have a problem with is the state government claiming that heritage controls will be respected, because in practice they cannot. In the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program documentation it…
- Mothers Day 2024by SamHappy Mothers Day! Check out our Mothers Day portraits from students at Lindfield Public, Holy Family Primary, and Reddam. The competition is organised by the Lindfield Chamber of Commerce and the portraits hosted by… Cafรฉ Lyon Lindfield Chem Pro Chemist Ciao Down DiJones Lindfield Gelatiamo Jeeves Dry Cleaners Lindfield Print @lindfield_specialty_butcher My Sewing Supplies Ogalo…
- Community Grantsby Sam๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป? Ku-ring-gaiโs annual grants program is open for applications. Categories include: ๐กHeritage (closing 13 May) ๐Net Zero (closing 17 May) ๐ณEnvironmental Conservation (closing 17 May) ๐ Events and festivals (closing 13 May) ๐ญArts and Culture (closing 7 June) ๐ฉโ๐ซCommunity Development (closing 7 June) ๐Small Equipment (closing 7 June) For more info…
- Media Dayby SamI had four radio, two newspaper, and two television interviews yesterday. The way it usually works is they ask a bunch of questions and then you only get quoted for a few seconds (TV) or a few sentences (print). So the full message never goes out unless there’s a really smart pre-prepared soundbite. The media…
- eBike Trial – Initial Thoughtsby SamMy first thoughts on this eight week eBike trial. 1. It makes the hills easy to climb. I would struggle with Tryon, Nelson and Culworth on my push bike but the e-bike makes it effortless. 2. I wish it had indicator signals. Using arms to signal left and right turn is a pain. 3. Still…
- 345 Pacific Highway scheduled for KLPPby SamThe Planning Proposal for 345 Pacific Highway will be decided by the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel on Monday 20 May, 12:30pm. I havenโt had time to read through the reports but on page 35 the recommendation appears to suggest a reduced height of 12 storeys and FSR of 3.5:1. My own concern regarding Pacific Highway…
- Density Scenarios and Legal Actionby SamSo council just met and voted unanimously to proceed with legal action as well as to explore different density scenarios for our four Transport Oriented Development precincts. I understand that there are some residents concerned about the cost of legal action but let me assure you, the benefits far outweigh the cost. In the last…
- Matt Cross MPby SamWishing my good friend a speedy recovery. He has been a great representative for our people, and before his time in parliament I have enjoyed my chats with him at the blood donation clinic. In the interim, any State queries are covered by other MPs who are familiar with our local area.
- Flu Vaccinationsby SamMeet Zac from the team at West Pymble Pharmacy and Pymble Pharmacy . They provide walk-in flu vaccinations on most weekdays, just call up in advance to confirm his availability. It cost me $25 but for residents over 65 it is free.
- The Trolley Problemby SamFor those familiar with ‘The Trolley Problem’ then this is my summary of the dilemma that faces all councillors tomorrow night. We do it one way and get criticised. We do it another way and also get criticised. Critics from both sides don’t understand the complexity of the situation. As for how the trolley got…
- Thoughts on eBikesby Sam๐ก๐ผ ๐โ๐บ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐จ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ. Iโve been researching electric cargo bikes with the intention of taking my kids on school runs and doing other fun stuff. Bikes give you some exercise, take up a lot less space than a car, and are cheaper to run. But theyโre not THAT cheap.…
- Marian Street Theatreby SamOf the Killara residents I met yesterday, NSW Housing Policy was the main topic but Marian Street Theatre was mentioned as well. Council currently has an approved Development Application to renew and expand the theatre. The 2018 community-led price estimate was $10m, but an experienced quantity sureyor has priced it at $24m. This is for…
- Meet the Mayor – Marian Street Killaraby SamI’m at the Marian Street Cafe for the next two hours if anyone wants to talk to me.
- Second Meeting with the Planning Ministerby SamI first wrote to the Planning Minister in November requesting a meeting to discuss housing. This he arranged for mid-February and later postponed to end-February. It took over three months to get the meeting, but at least he’s more responsive than the Transport Minister (crickets). At the February meeting I asked for 12 months to…
- NSW Labor is Building the Plane while Flying Itby Sam๐ก๐ฆ๐ช ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ You may have read in the papers that ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐. This is not a decision that should be taken lightly, however, I believe that it is necessary in the interest of future and current residents. The…
- Meeting the Korean Communityby SamYesterday we were joined by a group of Korean residents who came to learn about Australia’s three levels of government, Ku-ring-gai’s specific responsbilities and services, as well as the ways they can contribute to Ku-ring-gai’s policies and decision making. Glad to meet so many engaged residents.
- New General Manager – David Marshallby SamIโm pleased to announce that Council has appointed our Acting General Manager David Marshall as Ku-ring-gaiโs next General Manager. During his seven months in the acting role, he has led a range of process improvements. We conducted a customer service audit which led to improvements to our training, procedures and systems that will lead to…
- Welcoming our Newest Citizensby Sam๐ฆ๐บWelcoming our newest citizens๐
- SILK Dining, St Ivesby SamTo celebrate the end of uni, the kids wanted Deep Fried Ice Cream so we went to SILK Dining at St Ives Shopping Village. The food is pretty amazing and generously portioned – much better than what you could get in Chatswood – and it was quite a peaceful experience on an early Monday night.…
- General Manager Recruitment Updateby SamMorning all! We have had some queries about the General Manager recruitment process so I can say the following. A. We had the help of an independent, experienced and well-priced external recruitment firm. B. We had a large number of job applications, including several strong candidates. C. We had a first round of interviews last…
- TOD SEPP Draft Maps are outby SamTOD SEPP draft maps are out. Shades of blue indicate where the Transport Oriented provisions seem to apply. Individually listed heritage items are out. Heritage Conservation Areas are in. Credit to Support Lindfield for providing instructions on how to access the map.
- Thoughts on Transport Oriented Development Part 2 Provisionsby SamInitial thoughts on yesterdayโs Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Part 2 provisions. Please note that Iโm talking about whatโs in the legislation itself, not whatโs in a media release (which is not legally binding). https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/epi-2024-135 The 400m radius remains the same. Some would question whether it is realistic when TOD Part 1 uses a 1,200m distance.…
- Updated TOD Parametersby SamI’m aware that the Department of Planning’s website has been updated with slightly watered down TOD parameters. But the SEPP has not yet been gazetted and I don’t have access to the final words. I won’t be making any comment until I see the legislation.
- ANZAC Day at St Johns Gordonby SamEncouraged to see the schoolchildren’s participation and handmade memorials to the fallen at the ANZAC service on Sunday. Lest we forget.
- Lemonade Stand – West Lindfieldby SamCome get your lemonade and herbs. 1 Edmund Street West Lindfield. All proceeds go to our entrepreneurial kids. Person who spends the most gets a Pokรฉmon card.
- Final Uni Assignmentby SamIt’s over! Final assignment handed in for my final course at uni (Development and Planning Law). In the last few days, our baby has started to cry whenever anyone other than mum picks her up. I know I’ve been away a while, but I need to somehow get her used to me again.
- Pottery Green Bakers Turramurraby SamTried the Chicken and Veg pie at Pottery Green Bakers Turramurra. For anyone interested, they had a sign saying that theyโre hiring.
- Uni Student Interview Requestsby SamThis month I’ve had six uni students approach me with interview requests regarding the Transport Oriented Development Program. They are aspiring journalists or legal practitioners, and I wish them all the best with their assignments and future careers. I’ve got an assignment due this Sunday as well, and fortunately it’s on the same topic. There’s…
- Another Day of Work (in Canberra)by SamAnother day of work while the kids are having school holiday fun. Enjoying the fresh air though! The ACT is a really beautiful place and since 2020 their electricity has come from 100% renewable sources. Having said that their ecological footprint was estimated at 9x their land size, in other words, thereโs much further to…
- Australian War Memorialby SamVisiting the Australian War Memorial and explaining to the kids the role that their great grandparents played in protecting our way of life.
- Stuck in Canberraby SamIt’s the school holidays and while the kids are having fun at Questacon, I’m stuck at the hotel doing work. It’s not too bad a place for an office.
- Early Morning Rideby SamEarly morning bike ride. Great to see others up and early as well.. I notice so much more about a suburb when travelling by foot or bike (rather than car).
- Thoughts on Sydney Light Railby SamFor years I thought the light rail project was a waste of money because buses had more flexibility in taking people from Point A to Point B, and Iโm sure the project was hugely disruptive to local businesses. But now that itโs all done, I think the outcome isnโt too bad either. The footpaths have…
- The Big Issue – Bluey Editionby SamMeet Jack. He is a street vendor for The Big Issue Australia and I was particularly drawn to the Bluey edition, which narrates the rise of Australia’s favourite kids show. This week’s edition also covers the challenges of Youth Homelessness, with over 28,000 young people aged 12 to 24 who do not have a home…
- Follow-up with Planning Ministerby SamI have my follow-up meeting with the Planning Minister on 2nd May ๐ I need to move a few things around, but keen for it to happen.
- 345 Pacific Highway Planning Proposalby SamEarlier this week the North Shore Times reported a Planning Proposal for a 15 storey development at 345 Pacific Highway Lindfield which caused a stir. If approved, it will have implications for increasing housing supply, setting a new precedent of heights in the suburb, and also traffic implications. The developer has rejected Council’s suggestion of…
- Cameron Park, Turramurraby SamI caught the train to work from Turramurra yesterday and had a quick walk through Cameron Park. Cameron Park was formed by acquiring four adjacent residential blocks to expand an existing council park. Its size is now over 5,400 sqm and it provides a range of recreation options for current and future residents who live…
- April 2024 Ordinary Meeting of Councilby SamLast night council resolved towards ๐โโ๏ธ Community uses for former lawn bowling land ๐ฅฐ Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan ๐ Preparing an Affordable Housing Policy ๐ฐ Publishing an open letter in national, metropolitan and local news publications to address Councilโs concerns about the impacts of State Housing Policies
- Equipment Grant for St Swithuns Pymbleby SamEach year Council runs a community grants program for equipment, outreach services and cultural activities. One of last yearโs recipients was St Swithun’s Anglican Church Pymble who used the funds to purchase gym / exercise equipment. It was good to see it put to good use and freely available to the public.
- Turramurra Trotters 50th Anniversaryby SamOn Saturday I was invited to join the Turramurra Trotters as they celebrated their 50th Anniversary. This group was initially setup by residents to train for the City2Surf and it remains a key objective, but it has also been a great channel for community connection. On their records have been 1,970 participants and over 71,000…
- Sat Apr 13, 2024 05:36 PMby SamThoughts and prayers from the people of Ku-ring-gai regarding what’s unfolding at Bondi today.
- Nailed It!by SamWhat’s your favourite TV show? I like to watch ‘Nailed It!’ on Netflix with the kids. In this show, amateur bakers are asked to replicate masterpieces in a compressed period of time, and with the promise of winning $10,000. It’s a great example of what happens when something is rushed, poorly planned, and without the…
- TOD Updateby SamWhat the minister said vs. what the mayor said. In short, the minister says that 6 months is a reasonable timeframe to conduct studies, bypass community consultation, establish a plan without a target for the LMRH SEPP, and get an LEP approved. The mayor said that 12-18 months is a more realistic timeframe to consult…
- Climate Litigation and Personal Responsibilityby SamThis week a European Court ruled that the Swiss Government had failed to take enough climate action, thus putting senior citizens at risk of dying during heatwaves. This sounds hectic but Climate Litigation doesnโt happen in Europe alone. Last decade a court blocked a coal mine near Newcastle due to climate change impacts not being…
- Scouts in the 90’sby SamToday’s theme has been the Scouts movement and its influence on leaders in formative years. Here’s pictures of when I first became a Cub Scout. For many migrant families, academic achievement is perceived as a means of success in a new country and that was the focus of my life, however, the Scout movement was…
- Tony Balthasar Awardby SamLast week I learnt that Dick Smith was a former Roseville Chase resident and member of 1st East Roseville Scouts. During his formative years a Rover Adviser Tony Balthasar created opportunities for Dick and left a real impression, contributing to the person he is today. After Tonyโs passing, Dick setup a fund for the Balthasar…
- Pothole fixed within a dayby SamWhen I want a pothole fixed, I usually email council staff and it’s done within days. But this time I tried reporting via the council website to see if ordinary requests get the same treatment, and I was pleasantly surprised by the result! I reported two holes (Killara and Roseville) on the weekend and both…
- Gordon Creekby SamGordon Creek is usually just a trickle but on Saturday midday, a few hours after the rain stopped, I joined my reptilian friend in watching a robust stream pass through. The stream was fed by runoff from stormwater systems, overland flow, and underground seepage as it made its way downhill. With the State Government’s future…
- Vertical Espresso, South Turramurraby SamYesterday I was keen to check out Vertical Espresso in South Turramurra. Table order was via QR code and online payment. The food was fantastic and the place was packed. I suspect part of the busyness was due to the power outage which affected most of South Turramurra. People gotta eat.
- KNA Opening Dayby Sam๐ Visited Canoon Road on the opening day of Netball. Usually I turn up and have tea, but this time was more hands on. โก๏ธ Because of the local power outage, the electronic locks to the toilets and change rooms were not functioning and I had to ask council staff to come with a key,…
- Power Outagesby SamThere are over 3,000 households in Ku-ring-gai without power right now. If you want to know the estimated time for power restoration, visit the Ausgrid website. https://www.ausgrid.com.au/Outages/Current-Outages
- Thu Apr 4, 2024 07:07 AMby SamYesterday I visited the Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney Lindfield Book Depot where residents drop off their books and a team of volunteers sorts through them for resale. The work of these volunteers goes towards funding crisis support, suicide prevention, support groups, counselling and emergency relief. By giving these books a second (or fifth) life,…
- Long Weekend Breakfastby SamLong weekend breakfast at The Fox Cafe, Wahroonga.
- Easter Servicesby Sam“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” – 1 Peter 3:18 This Easter I was invited to an 8am service at Corpus Christi Catholic Church followed by 11am at my own church St Barnabas Anglican Church East Roseville. Both churches celebrated Jesusโ death and resurrection,…
- 162 New Citizens!by Sam๐ฆ๐บThis month we welcomed 162 new citizens from 29 countries to our LGA. It’s always good to see the smile on their faces! Special thanks go to: – the Ku-ring-gai Ranger Guides for their involvement – guest speaker Kevin Hao (Youth Citizen of the Year) for encouraging our residents to participate in volunteering – Matt…
- Ride2School Dayby SamLast week I visited St Ives Park Public School for National Ride2School Day. Families were encouraged to ride to school instead of drive, and the kids were keen to show off their bikes and scooters. The event aims to demonstrate that active transport is fun, healthy, and good for the environment.
- Bobbin Head Cycle Classicby SamThis morning we had the Bobbin Head Cycle Classic with 2,500 riders, organised by local Rotary clubs and raising funds for Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney , KYDS Youth Development Service , Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter , Mentoring Men, Hornsby Connect and other local charities. Events like this could not be organised without the help…
- Letter to the Premierby SamThis week I wrote a letter to the Premier in response to his invitation to councils, and I hope to hear from him soon. In the letter I outline why Ku-ring-gai is particularly impacted by the housing changes proposed. Key themes are: 1๏ธโฃ The loss of enabling infrastructure and homes due to a recent state…
- Feedback on NSW Housing Policyby Sam๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ฃ Your Feedback Appreciated๐๐๐ We mentioned last month that the State Government is making significant changes to housing policy across all of NSW (with limited opportunity for resident and council input). Iโm frustrated that their plans have been leaked or released in snippets rather than all at once. By incrementally providing the news over the…
- Strange Road Markingsby Sam๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ Our council is generally quite good with potholes. If you report a pothole, it will be patched up within two weeks (usually a few days). Last month I started seeing these strange road markings pop up all over the place. At first I just assumed it was some new council protocol but…
- Hangul Dayby Sam๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ Earlier today, we joined the Korean Community in celebrating Hangul Day. Hangul is the ‘Alphabet’ of the Korean Language invented almost 600 years ago by King Sejong the Great. We had singing, dancing, drums, and talks celebrating the Korean culture and the opportunities we have together here for a multicultural life here in…
- Twenty74 North Turramurraby SamWe were checking out some of the issues across Ku-ring-gai on Monday and stopped by at Twenty74 at the North Turramurra shops for lunch. They have friendly service and a good range of food.
- Recreation Needs Studyby Sam๐ช๐ฒ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ on the Recreation Needs Study which will inform how council develops facilities and services for community recreation. For more information visit https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Council/Your-say/Draft-Ku-ring-gai-Recreation-Needs-Study
- Outcome of Extraordinary Meeting of Council – Norman Griffiths Ovalby Samโฝ๏ธ ๐ข๐๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น – ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐น – ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ In short, Norman Griffiths Oval to proceed but with minimal further consultation. In the corporate world, decisions are usually made in a careful and considered manner. If there are four options on the table, then all four options are considered…
- Dukes Green Playground Upgradeby Sam๐๐๐๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ The construction fencing is up. East Lindfield residents and patrons should soon have a larger and more accessible playground. After this we expect the upgrade of Ibbitson Park (Lindfield Town Centre) to commence in 2023.
- Seeking YOUR Feedback on Roseville Upgradesby Sam๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฝ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ In 2023-24, Council plans to upgrade the streets in the Roseville Town Centre. Key changes proposed by council staff include visual revamp, ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐, addition of ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ and floral arrangements where itโs currently no parking, a ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป/๐ฐ๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด in laneways,…
- April’s Bush Tele: KYDS & EVsby SamSpecial thanks to The Bush Tele for promoting the work of KYDS Youth Development Service. KYDS is a unique mental health service for our young people and its continued success depends on your support. To make a tax-deductible donation please visit https://bit.ly/kyds-kindful-buy-a-counselling-session And to read the April edition of The Bush Tele (including my short…
- Food Organics in Green Bin (coming in the distant future)by SamAt the moment many Ku-ring-gai households are just chucking their food scraps in the red bin and believe it or not, thatโs actually a good thing. Red bin waste is sent to Woodlawn where this mix of organic and non-organic material is used to generate electricity and re-habilitate an old mining site. And back in…
- Lindfield Village Hub Confidentiality and Communicationby SamEarlier this week the councillors were given an update on the Village Hub and I am satisfied with recent progress. Having said that I want to talk about confidentiality and communication as they both affect the way that the public perceives the project. At the moment much of the project remains confidential because it is…
- Net Zero Championsby SamKu-ring-gai Council is searching for residents to become Net Zero Champions, people who are willing to promote good practice in the community. In a recent webinar it was mentioned that: Perhaps the most effective way for each of us to make an impact is to ensure that our superannuation is invested in ethical options. In…
- Tree Canopyby SamThereโs been a lot of talk this month about the role of trees and the value that they provide to our residents. Trees provide us with fresh air, shelter from the sun, and a home for our wildlife. During major storms, trees also play a role in mitigating the impacts of flooding as they reduce…
- Thoughts on Racism, Conflict and Warby SamIn the coming months there will be further talk about economic sanctions, boycotts, lethal aid, armed conflict, and war. And I canโt help but notice that in both our printed and social media there appears to be people out there who are (consciously or subconsciously) promoting a universal hatred of anything and anyone Russian. While…
- Local Government NSW Special Conferenceby SamThis week we had councillors across NSW meet to exchange ideas, discuss policy, and agree on State and Federal advocacy matters. Key themes were financial sustainability, climate change and resilience, housing stress, domestic violence, reconciliation, and the impact of recent economic developments to the delivery of council services. I was encouraged to see eight Ku-ring-gai…
- Summary of February Council Meetingby SamKey decisions included: Roseville Chase Bowling Site – Council voted to ask the Department of Planning to undertake the final steps of rezoning the entirety of this public land to Low Density Residential (with the next obvious step to sell the entire site). The vote was close, 5 vs 5 plus the mayorโs casting vote…
- Help us find a new homeby SamLarry and Leo are both domestic and extremely affectionate cats that have been looking for a new home since December. I visited the Ku-ring-gai Pound today where Kristy, our Veterinary Nurse, showed me around and shared about Ku-ring-gaiโs process of rehoming dogs and cats. Council drops off lost animals and do their best to contact…
- New Commuter Parkingby SamIโm working in the city today so tried out the 105 commuter parking spots at the new Lindfield Village Green. Arrived at 8am and only three parking spots were in use, I think this is in part due to Covid and also the fact that not many are presently aware of this option. It was…
- What do YOU think council’s priorities should be these next 10+ years?by SamThe Community Strategic Plan sets our priorities for the council term and covers traffic, footpaths, playgrounds, etc. but there may be gaps which you believe deserve greater attention. Climate change adaptation? Better community consultation? Affordable Housing? These are themes that other councils emphasise but they don’t get as much (direct) coverage at Ku-ring-gai. There’s an…
- Composting Trialby SamKu-ring-gai Council is looking for up to 20 apartment buildings to take part in a composting trial. If you are interested, visit the link below. https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Council/News-and-media/Latest-news/Unit-dwellers-invited-to-take-part-in-food-waste-composting-trial
- Checking out The Canopyby SamAs councillors we can learn a lot from what other councils do well. This evening we visited The Canopy at Lane Cove Council and it seems to have it all. 500 parking spaces Green space with performance area / screen (currently playing Nadal vs Medvedev) Childrenโs playground, sandpit, and shade Street Dining Two major supermarkets…
- How Reliable are your RATs?by SamWith the increased availability of RATs and the return to school, I found this ABC article helpful in explaining false negatives (sensitivity) and false positives (specificity). The TGA also recently published a list that suggests that some RATs are not as good at picking up Delta and/or Omicron than others. It leads to confusing situations…
- Citizenship Ceremony and Awardsby SamIt was great to see 135 residents from 27 countries become Australian Citizens today. This is a great nation to be part of. Council also presented Citizen of the year awards to five of our residents / groups. Easy Care Gardening was recognised for their outstanding contribution to the community bay assisting housebound, elderly and…
- Holiday Photos & EV Infrastructureby SamSharing some photos from our recent break in Country NSW (and ACT). It was good to have some time off with family; as a councillor itโs very rare to be able to focus 100% on them. Also went to check out some of the regional EV chargers. As a general trend the Tesla ones are…