WATT's MAKING KIDS SMILE
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SPRING 2016 NORTHSYDNEYNEWS Three-year-old Emilia (pictured above) and two-year old Tayah (right) were among the first to test out our newly WATT’s MAKING KIDS SMILE refurbished playground at Watt Park in Lavender Bay. Getting to grips with the climbing frame, slides and roundabout, the girls enjoyed a fun day out at the playground with their grandmothers just days after it reopened in July. They also tried out the new swings, boat and spring rockers at the playground, which has plenty of space for family picnics. There’s also lots of shaded areas created by the numerous trees in the park. The playground won a design award from Kidsafe Australia in 1997 when it was first constructed. For this upgrade, Council opted to retain the original design and character, but replace the ageing equipment with new state-of-the-art play apparatus. More information about the playground and others in the North Sydney area is available on Council’s website: northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ Recreation_Facilities/Playgrounds 2 | NORTHSYDNEYNEWS FROM THE MAYOR If you live in Lavender Bay you probably There will be good things about the weren’t surprised to learn that the growth – big cities have an energy that suburb topped the list as Sydney’s most is very appealing. But it’s important to liveable suburb. The area scored well understand the things that contribute on almost every indicator, including to quality of life, because if we don’t access to employment, shops, transport, understand them, we won’t know to cultural facilities and schools. It also protect them. I was encouraged that blitzed topographic variation, views, so many Crows Nest, St Leonards and telecommunications, open space, tree Wollstonecraft residents took the time cover and traffic congestion. to tell us what they appreciated about as iconic parks or landmark buildings, Crows Nest before the new metro station Tract Consultants didn’t include which bring us pleasure. People tell us is planned. community spirit as an indicator, but Lavender Bay has that in spades too! they also love the unique and quirky I urge you to spend some time thinking Overall, the North Sydney Council area things about their neighbourhood, like the about what you value about life here on cleaned up in the annual liveability study, stone retaining wall or slot view between the lower north shore and make sure your taking the first seven places. Ten of our 14 buildings that they pass on their morning voice is heard by your councillors and suburbs ranked in the top 20 of Sydney’s walk. State and Federal representatives. 555 suburbs. You can probably think of your own list On the topic of cultural life, this newsletter Over the years the lower north shore has - the beauty of McDougall St in Spring contains a sneak preview of our new art taken its fair share of criticism for being when the Jacarandas bloom, the giant trail. The app will be launched shortly; in boring. The best most reporters can find Fig shading the playground in Brennan the meantime, we’ve highlighted some of to say about us is to put the word leafy in Park, the magic of emerging from the Coal the amazing public art along the trail to front of the suburb name. But the people Loader tunnel into bushland, the serenity whet your appetite. What better way to spend a few hours in Spring? who live here have always known better. of the Cremorne point walkway or the joy Council has asked the community on of Peter Kingston’s cheeky statues that This is a busy time of year in North Sydney. several occasions to tell us what they peep out of the shrubbery as you walk We have something for everyone in our events calendar including a funky two- think makes North Sydney such a great around Lavender Bay. day street festival, a 10-day sculpture place to live. Not surprisingly, some of the Sydney is on the move. Whether we like exhibition, a live music festival and a Tract indicators come up in our research – it or not, the State Government has an children’s festival. You can also take part our community likes being close to work, agenda for growth that is changing the in Spring Cycle, the Sydney Running they love the village feel of our shopping nature of our city. We can see it here in Festival and a myriad of other events. All centres and they are passionate about our North Sydney, with nine current building the events are a celebration of life in the parks and reserves. projects in the North Sydney CBD and two most desirable local government area in But it is not only the obvious things, such new metro stations being planned. Sydney! Enjoy…. MAYOR Jilly Gibson m: 0437 454 523 [email protected] CREMORNE WARD Stephen Barbour m: 0411 105 760 [email protected] MaryAnn Beregi m: 0411 829 995 [email protected] TUNKS WARD Véronique Marchandeau m: 0414 683 185 [email protected] Virginia Bevan m: 0416 221 484 [email protected] VICTORIA WARD Tony Carr m: 0451 182 180 [email protected] Michel Reymond h: 9955 4330 [email protected] Zoë Baker m: 0438 857 547 [email protected] WOLLSTONECRAFT Melissa Clare m: 0414 335 328 [email protected] WARD Jeff Morris [email protected] NORTHSYDNEYNEWS | 3 A WINDFALL FOR ALL Koalas at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo have been enjoying a new perch after Council donated a lemon-scented gum tree which came down in Tunks Park during the June storms. Staff at the zoo transformed the fallen tree into a perch in the koala enclosure so the furry marsupials would have a new place to rest and eat. The koalas, which sleep for up to 18 hours each day, have taken full advantage of their new perch. Making sure none of the tree went to waste, zoo staff fed the roots to their wombats. Council’s Tree Management Team gives plant waste to the Wild Life Sydney and Taronga zoos instead of taking it to a green waste facility. This is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of tree waste and provides the animals with fresh foliage to eat. Teddy bear mischief The teddy bears of local children got up young owners exactly what the teddies to mischief when they were left to sleep had been up to the night before. overnight at Stanton Library recently. The Teddy Bear Sleepover is part of a series Following an evening of story-telling, of interactive and creative activities run by Stanton librarians left a detective bear the Children and Youth services team at to spy on the teddies’ sleepover and Stanton Library throughout the year. secured photo evidence of the toys’ hijinks throughout the night. While Elmo was caught partying at a disco, others were seen sliding down the banisters, answering the phones, tucking into High Tea or catching up on current events by reading the newspapers. Some even played 10-pin bowling in the library aisles and one cheeky bear raided the librarians’ lolly jar! Two photos were left attached to each toy the following morning, showing their You may have spotted some new PLASTIC FREE DOG BAGS ON TRIAL colourful pavement stickers dotted You may notice something different about around North Sydney recently. These the dog tidy bags in your local park over the green, blue, purple and pink footpath coming months. Mircoplastics are harmful stickers mark walking routes students to marine life, so to help do our bit, we’re can follow in the morning to North Sydney trialling new sturdy biodegradable bags Demonstration School. made from waste corn starch. Council’s first active travel initiative gives children the opportunity As biodegradable bags are more expensive, to walk to school in an adult-supervised group and encourages Council would like to hear if you think we them to be more active on a day-to-day basis. We hope the should switch to them permanently to help Demonstration School will be the first of many to take part in keep our parks and waterways plastic free? the scheme which brings people together, boosts community Tell us what you think at www.northsydney. spirit and makes the area a better place for everyone to live. nsw.au/haveyoursay 4 | NORTHSYDNEYNEWS 12 11 11 9 8 9 5 5 6 Two new sculptures were commissioned in 2015 for the North The second sculpture, Angles Sydney CBD. At the time of writing, the first was ready to be of Incidence by Sydney-based installed on the corner of Pacific Highway, Blue and Walker artists Warren Langley and Streets. Titled Missing Corners, the timber and steel sculpture Julia Davis, will be installed by Brisbane-based artist Daniel Templeman is a new entrance later this year at the Victoria statement for North Sydney that provides a safe place for Cross intersection, on the pedestrians at this busy intersection. The artist’s work 8 corner of Pacific Highway and references the Methodist Miller Street. Made of deep Church that once stood blue digital glass, the 24-hour there and capitalises on the work will respond to light levels myriad of ways in which and environmental conditions, viewers can approach the appearing quite different from site. morning to night. As an ever- changing and reflective object, the sculpture will become an active part of the landscape.