Hunters Hill Trust Journal

May 2013 ISN 0310-11 Volume 51, Number 1 H dealing with each document in turn, firstly -

FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Report’s goals A more sustainable system of democratic local government. The review states that this is currently hampered by the local government sector that is “weighed down with too many out-of-date ideas, attitudes and unters Hill Trust Journalrelationships. At the heart of the problem we still have too many councils chasing too little revenue.” November 2011 ISN 0310-11 Volume 49, Number 2 Achieving financial sustainability. According to TCorp’s report, “in 3 years time 48% of councils could have a weak or worse financial sustainability rating.”

Stronger regional and metropolitan governance.

Keeping ‘local’ in local government AMALGAMATIONS BACK ON THE DRAWING BOARD Strengthening Far West NSW ACCORDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW PANEL’S REPORT How this might be achieved and the need for amalgamations PLANNING AND LOCAL developers’ lobbies and the general This is set out in the document 20 GOVERNMENT REFORM IN NSW public. Essential Steps, which looks at finance, infrastructure, productivity and The State Government has embarked Proposals for the reform of local improvement, better governance, on two major reform programs at the government are contained in the structural reform, Western NSW and same time. One program is designed document Future Directions for NSW how all this can be implemented. to improve the way local government Local Government. Proposed changes operates and the other is directed to the planning process are set out in Of most interest to the residents of the towards rearranging and “improving” the so-called White Paper, A NEW Metropolitan Area is a section the way planning is carried out in NSW. PLANNING SYSTEM FOR NSW. called the need for amalgamations, The objectives of both programs were Both these documents are now on which makes the case that greater set out in the Green Paper that was exhibition for comment, prior to final efficiencies could be achieved by circulated for public comment in reports being submitted to the reducing the number of councils in November 2012. The reforms outlined government for consideration later on NSW generally and, in the metropolitan in each are supposed to complement this year. area, suggests a reduction from 38 to each other – the reform of local 15 councils. government is designed to facilitate the This has produced an avalanche of implementation of the planning material to digest – 212 pages in the It restates the Liberal government’s reforms, particularly on the regional White Paper and 62 pages in the policy of “no forced amalgamations” level. Future Directions document. A full and as an alternative suggests understanding of all the information pursuing ways to provide incentives for Following a public exhibition period, the also involves a reading of the 109 voluntary mergers. It doesn’t see government has now issued two further pages of the 2013 Local Government much hope for this approach though, papers that purport to have taken into Performance Report and Treasury stating that there is little likelihood of consideration the submissions made Corporation’s April report. Daily press voluntary amalgamations occurring, by various interest groups including reports and commentaries on the especially in the metropolitan area. Local Government, community groups, proposals add to the pile of information. Here is a brief overview Continued on page 2 hhHunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 ISN 0310-11 Volume 51, Number 1

The Panel contends that “arguments about Most people would support the general amalgamations are essentially a distraction thrust of this although there are not many from the core issue, which is how the role specific recommendations as to how and capacity of NSW local government can improvements could be made. best be strengthened in the interests of the communities it is expected to represent. The major impact for Hunters Hill is the That objective will not be achieved by self- proposed amalgamation of the Council. interest or special pleading. It requires a The Panel’s preferred option is for Hunters willingness to take a fresh look at the Hill to merge with Lane Cove, Mosman, system of local government and its North Sydney and Willoughby to create a relationship with the State, and to explore much larger Council to be known as the Preserving ’s new options with an open mind.” Group. Oldest Garden Suburb Keeping the ‘local’ in local government The Panel believes that keeping the “local” Hunters Hill Trust Contacts in local government is possible and notes a President Robyn Christie range of methods including, [email protected] Place management Secretary David Gaunt [email protected] Creating wards within local government areas Journal Tony Coote [email protected] Using new techniques such as online forums to keep communities informed

Address PO Box 85 Hunters Hill 2110 Using modern customer service Community response to amalgamation Website www.huntershilltrust.org.au systems to date

Contact Kate Russell Considering the option of setting up Prior to the release of the Future Directions [email protected] ‘Local Boards’ (mainly in rural areas). Review, the Save Hunters Hill Coalition, kick-started the anti-amalgamation Publications Much of the rest of the Panel’s review is to campaign that had lain dormant since 2003 do with “confronting the financial realities” when Ryde wanted to incorporate part of of maintaining financial sustainability and Heritage of Hunters Hill $15 the municipality into its LGA. produces a map of Councils at Risk. Also The Vision and the Struggle $15 noted are, Members discount 25% The Coalition lobbied councillors and The need to ensure councils’ fiscal politicians, held demonstrations where kids responsibility and MEMBERSHIP held up anti-amalgamation signs in front of

The Trust anyone interested in preserving the Town Hall and got their photos in the The need to bolster the revenue base the unique character of Hunters Hill to local press. At a council meeting, Phil of councils including increasing rates, become a member. Jenkyn made an impassioned speech in reviewing rate pegging and favour of keeping Hunters Hill unchanged development contributions Single membership $20 and councillors, the mayor and state and

Family membership $40 federal Liberal MPs all publicly came out Another large section of the review looks at Contact the secretary to join or download against forced amalgamations. a range of issues including tackling the a form from the website. infrastructure backlog, promoting The Liberal party confirmed its pre-election innovation and productivity, improving promise of ‘no forced amalgamations in its accountability and political leadership first term of office’ (this of course says (including ongoing mandatory professional Amalgamations back on the nothing about what it might do in its second development for councillors, attracting term) and a victory for the maintenance of drawing board – continued from page 1 quality candidates and councillor Hunters Hill as a separate local remuneration), and enhancing the status of government area was declared. It sets out in a series of tables “preferred mayors. options” for council amalgamations. However, within the state government and There is also a section on building strong both political parties, the imperative to Possible backlash regions, which concludes “a more robust amalgamate remains strong. Wholesale Anticipating a community backlash against statutory framework is required at a forced amalgamations have already amalgamations, the Panel notes that, regional level” to allow “the structure and happened in Queensland, Victoria, South “opponents of amalgamation rely heavily functions of a County Council to be tailored Australia and The Northern Territory. In on the argument that local identity will be to the particular needs and circumstances 2004 Sydney and South Sydney were lost in bigger local government units; that of the region concerned.” forced to merge and bits of Leichhardt larger councils will pay less attention to were incorporated into the expanded City specific needs of different suburbs or Much of the review is focused on improving of Sydney Council. neighbourhoods and will fail to take steps governance at the local and regional level. to maintain their character.”

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The Review Panel itself anticipated the facilities, but rather congratulates itself To encourage high architectural and need for forced amalgamations stating, for having saved money by not using aesthetic standards; “there is little likelihood of voluntary professionals to do the job. amalgamations occurring on the scale To maintain a planning committee on required, and in a suitable pattern, to A sense that the western part of council responsible for conservation deliver the strategic outcomes needed to Hunters Hill has recently borne the and policy matters, which includes address future challenges”. brunt of increased development. nominees of the Trust

As well, there is continuing pressure for To maintain the declaration of Hunters amalgamation from influential lobby Hill as a protected area. groups, the State Treasury, the national press and powerful members in the Liberal The objective to maintain Hunters Hill as a party. Clearly the prospect of the separate municipality should be seen in the amalgamation of Hunters Hill into a larger context of what is the best way to preserve local government area has not gone away. Hunters Hill’s unique and historical character. It should not be seen as a debate stopper that locks us into a position Community opposition to amalgamation of having to fight to maintain the status quo then and now no matter what. In 2003 the Hunters Hill Town Hall was packed out at a community meeting that In the debate it is important not to gloss unanimously voted to oppose Ryde No 62 Gladesville Road and the HHH hole over the existing council’s shortcomings Council’s proposal for boundary changes and to consider whether or not a bigger, that would have moved a large chunk of Trust members will no doubt have their better-financed Council could do a better the western part of the municipality into own examples to add to it this list. job in fulfilling The Trust’s charter. Ryde. However, from what I am hearing and for my own part, it seems that since Perhaps, as a result of changes in Hunters None of this is to deny the many cogent 2003, community enthusiasm for the fight Hill’s demographic, newer more wealthy arguments against amalgamation, which, to preserve Hunters Hill as a separate local residents do not share the history of the in support of the case for the retention of government has waned somewhat. area are not necessarily as passionate NSW’s smallest council, are possibly best about the protection of the character of the set out in the book by E.F. Schumacher; Perhaps there is a feeling of municipality. Small is Beautiful: Economics As If People disenchantment with council’s track record Mattered. The press has also been full of as the custodian of Hunters Hill’s public Finally, the Review’s preferred articles pointing to a perceived fallacy that assets and the protector of its heritage and amalgamation option for Hunters Hill with financial benefits flow from amalgamation. character. Residents and Trust members the other north shore councils, which Former treasury official, Professor Percy will be only too aware of a number of seems a more logical and appropriate Allan has argued that “there is a strong examples where the character of Hunters grouping than the 2003 proposition of a case for making councils smaller and run Hill has been damaged. Examples of this merger with Ryde, may also have an more like a building body corporate that would include, impact on the level of enthusiasm for the pays close attention to specific place anti-amalgamation debate. Ironically it is needs and management.” The ugly and badly planned now proposed that the eastern third of development at the overpass shopping Ryde should join this new grouping. The Future Directions paper is centre and along Ryde Rd, encouraging councils to voluntarily Where should the Trust stand in relation consider the preferred amalgamation The failure of council to insist that the to amalgamation? options. However if, or more probably, Hunters Hill Hotel development The aim of the Hunters Hill Trust, as set when Hunters Hill is faced with a forced complied with its 3 storey height out in its constitution, is to maintain the amalgamation, it will be extremely difficult controls unique and historical character of Hunters to convince the state government that this Hill. In pursuing this aim our constitution tiny local government area, which includes The continuing intrusion of large sets out a series of objectives, one of the second wealthiest postcode in NSW inappropriate houses into areas once which is to maintain the integrity of Hunters after Darling Point, should be given special characterised by small, single-storey Hill as a separate municipality. status and excised from the process. cottages The other objectives are, Both The White Paper and Future The failure of Council to maintain its To limit the spread of home units, high Directions have emphasised the role of roads and footpaths and to properly density, industrial and commercial “community consultation” and how it will be look after its public spaces and development; a major driver in the ‘new’ planning bushland. One major example is the process. It is essential that The Trust ongoing disaster of Boronia Park Oval To preserve all features of Hunters Hill maintain its position as a leading No 3 and Council’s abject failure to having beauty, architectural and community group that will continue to be properly oversee its construction. historical value; consulted by local government and that we remain a respected voice for conservation A lack of proper funding to employ To ensure that any planning of and heritage in the community, regardless sufficient fully qualified staff, which Hunters Hill should pay full regard to of whether or not Hunters Hill becomes leads to an attitude that does not look protecting and improving amenities part of a larger local government area. for excellence in the planning of public enjoyed by the residents We need to ensure that Hunters Hill’s places and the construction of public existing planning controls are maintained

The Hunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 3 hhHunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 ISN 0310-11 Volume 51, Number 1 and that the “local” is kept in local for consideration, which is how we get managing the environment and the quality government as promised by The Future Dubai on Darling – Jamie Packer’s casino at of life.” A new approach to strategic Directions Paper. The paper has Barangaroo. planning will develop Regional, Subregional suggested a number of ways the latter and local Plans with more effort directed at could be achieved including “Place In NSW, governments of both parties love to agreeing on the big picture upfront. management” approaches with community muck about with the planning system. Each committees like the neighbourhood service of the major parties approaches this in Development Assessment centres in Glebe, the CBD, Green Square, slightly different ways. Because Labor, According to The White Paper, Kings Cross and Redfern that are all under purports to be the workers’ party, it tends to “development assessment will be the umbrella of the City of Sydney. be a bit shy about its relationships with the transformed though a performance based development industry, which only come to system. This will make greater use of online In our endeavors to remain relevant, The light when ICAC gets involved. tools and remove layers of assessment. Trust can take some heart from the fact 80% of all developments will be complying that community groups like The By contrast the Liberal party makes no or code assessment. However, there will be Paddington Society, The Balmain bones about the fact that it is the greater access to appeal rights through Association and The Glebe Society have developers’ party. Its belief in the “trickle- expanded low cost appeal rights. all survived amalgamations and that these down” theory of economics provides a Independent expert decision-making will be areas have kept the specific planning philosophical base for its open support for promoted through the use of the Planning controls designed to conserve their special developers. Assessment Commission, Regional character. Planning Panels and Independent Hearing Tony Coote With a multi-pronged approach that includes and Assessment panels. the Future Directions review, The White HAVE YOUR SAY Paper, and the TCorp report, the O’Farrell Provision of infrastructure The committee wants to know what you government is proposing to muck about big Planning for infrastructure that supports think about amalgamation and how you time with the planning system. development will occur at the same time as think The Trust should respond to the planning for housing and jobs. Planning will proposals put forward in White Paper and A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE WHITE involve the private sector earlier in process, Future Directions paper. PAPER developers’ contributions will be simplified Write to the Trust at PO Box 85 Hunters The White Paper proposes a “new planning and major projects will be declared Public Hill 2110 or email me at system (that) is simpler, strategic, more Priority. [email protected] certain, focussed on improving outcomes, and places people and their choices at the Building Regulation heart of planning decisions”. It aims to There will be an expanded system of make NSW number one and to promote accountability for building professionals, economic growth and development in NSW additional requirements for certification of by facilitating sustainable development buildings, improved levels of documentation while protecting the environment and and increased support for certifiers through enhancing people’s way of life. peer review and enhanced decision support.

COMMENTS ON THE WHITE PAPER

The White Paper purports to strive for clarity and simplicity in the “new” planning process. However its language and presentation is BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE PLANNING far from clear. Compared to the Future REFORM BEING PROPOSED Directions Review, which is reasonably easy to understand, The White Paper is THE WHITE PAPER – A NEW PLANNING unnecessarily long and difficult to read. It is SYSTEM FOR NSW full of corporate speak, overly complex diagrams and irrelevant photographs and Planning in NSW is mostly not about real graphics. It contains many generalisations planning. State governments these days Kyarra by Cedric Emanuel but few specifics. rarely initiate or invest directly in large infrastructure projects or the making of Community participation A NEW Planning System places. The White Paper makes a big play that all Its claim to be a New Planning system is an decisions will involve “community exaggeration. Most of what it proposes Now both State and local Governments rely participation in the preparation of plans” and already exists under other names and much on the private sector to come up with the that “community participation is at the centre reform has already taken place. Councils money for almost all development and they of the new planning system”. Planning across NSW have spent the last couple of see their role as a facilitator of development authorities will be required to prepare a years working to change their local rather than a player. The means by which Community Participation Plan. Environment Plans to conform to the governments facilitate development is Department of Planning’s Standard mostly through land rezoning, whereby Strategic Planning Instrument. Hunters Hill Council has just private developers are encouraged to invest The White Paper proposes “a major shift to released its draft Development Control Plan in projects by the prospect of windfall profits evidence based, whole of government (DCP) that combines 16 existing DCPs into flowing in the main from the increased value strategic planning” and “is the key tool for a single document that is in line with the of land. They are even encouraged to bring better facilitating housing and jobs (my new local Environment Plan (LEP). their own planning schemes to government emphasis) in the right locations, while

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The White Paper proposes that most of planners and lawyers spend months and Planning has been reluctant to allow for any these existing documents will be folded into reams of paper drafting them. All this from additional conservation areas to be their new local Plans. a government whose idea of community gazetted. consultation thus far can be summed up by Much is made of increasing the use of the the image of a casino-heliport on top of a There is virtually no mention of the word electronic media as though this is a new coalmine with hunters lurking under the ‘conservation’ in The White Paper and you idea but most NSW councils already have poker tables.” have to look very hard to find ‘heritage’. planning information, DA tracking, electronic The proposed new zoning categories will lodgement, customer support and a bunch mean a reduced level of protection of of other information available on their existing heritage items from the impact of websites. inappropriate development next door.

Community Consultation The White Paper’s clear pro-development The White Paper makes much of the bias does not auger well for heritage promise to involve the community in the protection and conservation. Developers do early planning stages. “Plans will be not like heritage. Having to deal with it cuts developed based on a vision shared by a into their bottom line. well informed and properly engaged community, industry and government”. A new Part 3A that includes even more Madeline Street Anyone who has ever endured a butchers development paper, white board and yellow stick-it The dangers of the proposed new zoning Honouring an election pledge, the Liberal session of “community consultation” will not categories Party repealed Part 3A of the EPA Act, necessarily be champing at the bit to The White Paper proposes to simplify which had allowed the minister to take over engage with the process. zoning categories by combining a number of planning powers from local councils (it still applies to a number of projects submitted different zones into one. For example it is Despite the emphasis on the need for before this date). proposed to collapse 6 different categories community consultation, as a result of the of residential zoning (General Residential, changes to neighbour notification, individual However, The White Paper proposes to take Low Density Residential, Medium density property owners won’t know anything about away even more powers from councils by residential, large lot residential, Village, what’s been proposed to be put up next Environmental Living) into one single promoting “expert decision making” through door until it’s built. category to be called Residential. This the use of various appointed panels. This category will also include Character Areas means that local communities will have Currently the Environmental Planning and and areas with special ecological attributes. even less say in what happens in their areas Assessment Act (EPA Act) requires and contradicts the idea of community neighbouring properties be advised about involvement in the process. This seems like a step back to the bad old Development Applications for works in their days of spot rezoning. It means there will vicinity. The White Paper proposes to be an increased level of uncertainty about abandon this in the name of speed and what can be built where and an increased efficiency. It proposes that all community potential for corruption. A block of land is consultation happens at the planning stage worth more as a development site than for a and not again. single dwelling, so who will decide whether

town houses can go up on the next-door This is a deeply flawed and dangerous idea. lot? It makes the following assumptions:

• that the community will be able to Impact on Conservation and Heritage have a meaningful input into the planning process in the first instance, • that the new local plans will have Craigie-Lea Campbell St anticipated all foreseeable problems that might arise from a The old system really isn’t that broke particular new development and The White Paper makes the case that the • that Code or Merit Assessment by assessment of development applications by council officers or certifiers of a councils is too slow. In my experience most proposal will pick up all possible delays in the planning process occur either adverse impacts of that proposal. when proposed developments fail to comply with the planning controls or when The reality is that only a handful of insufficient information has been provided individuals from the community will be for council to properly assess a proposal, or involved in the planning process and the so- both. Coorabel Joubert St called “community consultation”. Generally properly documented proposals

As Alan Miller from Hornsby wrote in a The most recent reforms of the planning recent letter to the Herald, “the government that comply with planning controls get process, which introduced The Standard proposes to strip this right in exchange for approved in a reasonable time. Instrument LEP, have already weakened its assurance that locals will somehow help controls on the protection of heritage by write new strategic planning documents, In the inner suburbs, which have small lots, removing the classification of contributory which are so complicated that specialist higher densities, more mixed development buildings. As well, the NSW Department of

The Hunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 5 hhHunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 ISN 0310-11 Volume 51, Number 1 and areas deemed worthy of conservation, What’s really driving the so-called the Trust was encouraging Hunters Hill a one-size-fits-all set of planning controls is reform? council to consider for the development of impractical. In these circumstances The reform is being driven by a perceived Ryde Road as an answer to increasing councils are given some leeway in the housing shortage of 70,000 homes, density without destroying the existing scale assessment of developments that do not projections of increasing rates of population and pattern of the heritage subdivision. No strictly comply with the controls. growth and the opportunity to use housing doubt there are other positives hidden in the development to kick-start a sluggish thickets of The Paper but I couldn’t find The assessment of non-complying economy. them. developments naturally takes a bit more time. But this needs to be considered in the Because of its total lack of vision about context of the life span of the development. creating wonderful places, because it takes What are a few weeks compared to fifty away the rights of individuals to object to years or more? developments, because it seems indifferent to heritage and conservation, because it Speed and efficiency pays no heed to the idea of creating a truly The White Paper has proposed that within 5 sustainable society and because it is such a years, 80% of all development approvals will developers’ plan, I can only give it half a be by complying development or code star. assessment. It proposes these approvals Tony Coote will be completed within 10 days for straight- 1960s medium density in Woolwich forward complying developments and 25 days for code assessment approvals. This Despite its claims to promote sustainability, represents a massive change. For The White Paper is all about PUBLIC MEETING example, Hunters Hill council has a mean accommodating the ruthless drive for Hunters Hill Council is in the process gross determination time of 106 days for continuing economic growth, which relies on of organizing a public meeting to determining DAs, most of which are single an ever-expanding population of consumers consider the implications of the dwellings. who all need to be housed. It is an insult to proposed changes to planning system

call such policies sustainable. and local government. Watch for the Clearly if these time frames are to be met announcement. then the assessment of development Who likes The White Paper? applications will become cursory and/or The main support for the New Planning more assessment will be done by private System comes from developers and groups Further information certifiers. The latter is the preferred option with a vested interest in more development Further information is available on the of the Liberal Party, which does not see like The Institute of Architects. The main Future Directions paper at many votes coming from the public service developer lobby group is The Urban http://www.localgovernmentreview.nsw.go and has an inbuilt belief that the private Taskforce, whose CEO is a former v.au/documents/LGR/Future%20Direction sector always does it better. government architect. s%20Paper.pdf This also includes instructions about submitting comments Inevitably this will lead to job losses in the Inspirational planning public sector, particularly when coupled with The White Paper emphasises the need to Go to http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/a- the proposed council amalgamations. increase the speed of the development new-planning-system-for-nsw for the

approval process, the need to improve White Paper. More work for private certifiers and efficiency and to encourage development by lawyers removing perceived barriers to it. There is See also It is ironic that The White Paper proposals nothing in the document about making http://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/ will result in so much more work for private beautiful places to facilitate people leading email-the-premier-2/ for the Better certifiers when there has been so much happy, healthy and fulfilling lives and little Planning Network website. negative press about them. It is also ironic about real planning. that The White Paper proposes dramatically increasing the amount of building regulation Real Planning requires inspirational thinking and certification, which will now apply to the and boldness, just ask Napoleon III and entire life cycle of the building and will mean Baron Haussmann about how they more complex documentation of buildings FROM THE PRESIDENT’S replanned Paris, or Austin J. Tobin, the and more complex and expensive contract executive director of the New York Port DESKTOP administration. All this will have a Authority in the post war period about the substantial impact on a developer’s bottom massive infrastructure that was added to the The Hunters Hill Trust held its Annual line. city of New York at that time, or, closer to General Meeting on Thursday 18 April. It

home, ask Joe Cahill and Jorn Utzon about was an apposite choice of day, being the Inevitably when private certifiers are how they got the tram sheds on Bennelong first day of the National Trust’s Heritage involved in the administration of Point demolished and replaced with the Festival and the same day as UNESCO’s development there is less chance for the Opera House. International Day for Monuments and community to have an input into the Sites. process, particularly if something goes A star rating for The White Paper To acknowledge the latter, Elizabeth wrong – just ask anyone who has tried to One positive thing I found in the Paper was Farrelly wrote a piece for the Sydney make a complaint to council about a the proposal to categorise Granny flats as Morning Herald with the suggestive title, construction site, “Oh there’s nothing we complying development when added to an “Time to stop knocking the past”. can do about that – you’ll have to speak to existing house on a small lot. This is what the certifier.”

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interested in joining the Executive and impact of the scale of the new playing a more active role in the development on the heritage items in preservation of our local heritage, we Avenue Road. One becomes cynical as to would love to hear from them. If not now, why we fight so hard to keep our heritage perhaps you will consider it next year. when all hell breaks loose around our treasured icons. As always local campaigns form the major component of the Trust year’s activities. In terms of the campaigns that focussed Developments around Gladesville Road on public reserves this year, the Trust and Ryde Road in the Hunters Hill Village supported the Friends of Riverglade have proceeded at an alarming rate, Reserve (FERR)’s response to Hunter’s creating what can only be described as an Hill Council’s draft Plan of Management eyesore of gaping holes and new, that went to Council in March this year for One of the Bamiyan Buddhas ungainly oversized “teeth”. endorsement. At Boronia Park we await the preparation of a Plan of Management The article parallels the Taliban’s Excavation into the former Hunters Hill by Council. While the Trust supports the destruction of the Buddhas in Afghanistan Hotel carpark goes deeper and deeper, Ryde Hunters Hill Flora & Fauna Society’s with the sinking into the waters of Port while similar preparations are afoot at concerns for the care and maintenance of Hacking of an alabaster reredos by the Mapledoram’s corner. Although saved bushland around the ovals, the area lacks Victorian architect, Gilbert Scott, by an from demolition, Casey’s buildings may a local residents action group, as at Anglican dean. The examples highlight become a token gesture of the traditional Riverglade. different cultural viewpoints and the shop forms in the village, humiliated by an resultant volatility of heritage: while for overbearing, new commercial-come- The two sites raise wider issues. That some these are major works of art of residential structure. Council has its Sport & Recreation international stature, to others they are Strategy still in draft form, suggests that idolatrous icons. the Municipality’s public reserves are being retrospectively, rather than From my perspective, however, it seems strategically, managed. Council should odd that our ostensive Western European consult regularly with the community and based society has to initiate programs of is obliged to keep up to date with its Plans celebration to promote, acknowledge and of Management for public reserves. Once ultimately value our heritage. It is not adopted it must comply with its approved something that we can ever take for documents. Council should ensure that granted. the allocation of active and passive recreation is appropriate to the The AGM was held earlier in the calendar community’s needs and not outside year than usual in an effort to link our interests. And this leads to the question of annual membership subscriptions that are The HHH Hole the privatisation of public land, whereby based on the calendar year with the private money is invested in developments finalisation of the Trust’s yearly accounts. on public land for private interests.

The following President’s Report is a At a wider level, local planning instruments summary of what I presented to the AGM have been the subject of review this year, and a full copy of the report is available on and state planning legislation is request from any of our members. undergoing a potential major overhaul. Council’s new, Standard Local First and, most importantly, I want to thank Environmental Plan was approved by my fellow members of the Executive Council in July 2012 and it is currently Committee who manage to allocate time finalising an accompanying new, single for the work of the Trust, despite very busy Development Control Plan. The intention lives – Tony Coote (Vice President), Chris is to put the state required statutes and Hartley (Treasurer), Peter Stockdale plans in place before undertaking major (Acting Treasurer), David Gaunt strategic revision of the detail in the DCP. (Secretary), Maureen Flowers, Kate Russell, Brigid Dowsett and Alister Sharp. Better Planning Network The White Paper, the State government’s Chris has chosen to step down from the proposed new planning legislation was Committee this year after he returned from released literally two days before the France in February, as a consequence of AGM. We were very fortunate to have further travel plans that will make his Corinne Fisher from Better Planning contribution difficult. Chris has been with Network talk at the AGM. BPN is a the Committee since 2004 and played a New units overlooking an Avenue Rd backyard network of local area groups that was vital role as Treasurer, but also as formed in response to the original Green sommelier extraordinaire at our many Along Ryde Road we have possibly the Paper in mid 2012. Corinne gave us a functions. We extend our sincere thanks - first in a series of multi unit dwellings timely and concise overview of the issues he will be greatly missed. The new replacing the small bungalows that surrounding the latest document. Committee have, as a result, one vacancy punctuated the Joubert subdivision. The It never rains, it pours. and should there be any Trust members most frightening aspect, however, is the

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The other major issue of current concern edited the Green Book and oversaw the them and then when we had our meeting is the proposed amendments to local printing of its fourth edition in 2002. everybody would report as to what government boundaries proposed by the happened, we went off like a lot of ants in State Government. As part of its His lasting contribution to Hunters Hill is other words. constitution, “to maintain the integrity of the Three Patriot’s Walk along the Hunter’s Hill as a separate Municipality”, foreshore of Hunters Hill High. The idea We tried to get the support of the the Hunters Hill Trust supports the historic of creating a public walkway around the Australian Conservation Foundation who boundary of Hunters Hill. The Committee foreshores of Hunters Hill was one of the wrote back saying they didn’t think we does not support forced amalgamation, Trust’s original proposals, which was were of any regional significance, and that and has offered to work with Hunters Hill included in its landmark report of 1969. was the opinion to of the Minister for Local Council and the local community to Gil worked to make the walk happen, Government and Lands and what not. ascertain the best means of preserving the tirelessly threading his way through the historic character of the suburb for the bureaucratic thickets of the various So we wrote to the Duke of Edinburgh future. government departments involved, the who was the Patron of the Conversation High School community and even Foundation and he wrote to them and These issues, together with other material, managed to get funding for the walk from asked them to support these women. So are covered more fully in other areas of Council. It became a bi-centenary project we got their support. So we really got the the Journal. and was officially opened in 2000. support of a tremendous number of people Robyn Christie just by our sheer perseverance and I think, Gil got me involved with the Trust I think that they all thought it was rather committee and I quickly came under the ridiculous this group of women standing spell of his tireless enthusiasm, powerful up against a very large corporation (AV NEWS UPDATE personality, no-bullshit attitude and fine Jennings the would be developer of Kelly’s wines, which he would bring to our Bush), and that was going to be their entry Since December last year 3 Hunters Hill monthly meetings to help deliberations. into from Victoria. Trust stalwarts have died; Gil Wahlquist, Trude Kallir and Kath Lehany. Kath Lehany

Kath Lehany and Trude Kallir are probably photo Tamara Dean best known as members of the Battlers for

Kelly’s Bush and their names have gone Gil Wahlquist into history as a result of the success of Kath with fellow battlers Betty James, Miriam Gil Wahlquist, who died in December 2012 the campaign to save Kelly’s Bush and for Hamilton, Monica Sheehan aged 85 had umpteen different careers in the world’s first Green Ban that the BLF his long life, including seaman, journalist, placed on the proposed development as a There was one [situation] that we radio presenter, music writer, sailor, wine result of the Battlers’ campaign. At the identified with at the stage when the maker, boat builder – the list goes on. As time this campaign split the community as Premier was thinking about us, and it was well he worked ceaselessly for whatever Christine Dawson wrote in The Battlers for a place called Winston Hills where there locality he happened to be living in, quickly Kelly’s Bush, “We found that after we had was a new sub-division, out near becoming the leader of whatever group he enlisted the help of the unions, there were , Carlingford out that way, and happened to join. He sold the Botobolar people in the community who were people who’d bought their homes there, organic winery, which he had founded in horrified at this action. Prince Edward this was probably early 70s, these young 1974 and came to Hunters Hill in 1994. Parade became known as “Red Square.” women, young marrieds who’d mortgaged

themselves up to the hilt to buy a home or His daughter Asa wrote, “Gil said he Kath died in February this year aged 93. a block of land in this area were quite regarded Hunters Hill as a big country She was secretary of Battlers for Kelly’s assured that the central part of it was town.” His numerous activities “included Bush from 1971 to 1983. In an interview going to be a nice public area, and instead recognition of seniors, Probus, The for the NSW Government’s Teaching of that as soon as they had all bought their Hunters Hill Trust, The Hunters Hill Heritage Board of Studies, she said: houses, along came a service station and Historical Society and the local Museum. people and [they] started bulldozing to He was awarded Hunters Hill senior “We were never really a very organised build a big service station there and citizen of the year, he received a group. I get comments on this from my something else, and these young women centenary medal in 2000, and in 2002 was fellow members but we weren’t really, you stood up to fight and it was quite inspiring, Hunters Hill Citizen of the Year. never quite knew what somebody else in they came to see us to see what we’d

the group was doing. I think we just went done, and they were daubing themselves Gil was a member of the Hunters Hill Trust ahead and we’d suddenly get an all over with lipstick and saying ‘Mobil Go executive committee from 1995 to 2003, inspiration to go and see the Jennings’ Home’, and whoever the oil company was president from 1996 to 2000 and editor of representatives or go and see somebody and they were putting sugar in the the journal from 1998 to 2003. Gil re- else and somebody’d hive off and see bulldozers, they were being much more militant than we were, but I felt that’s quite

The Hunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 8 hhHunters Hill Trust Journal May 2013 ISN 0310-11 Volume 51, Number 1 inspiring to me, and they stopped it, improve the lot of her community. It was might have been. Australia was her home, because at that stage it was a matter of the start of a long career of volunteering and she had remained forward thinking the Premier either supporting them or us. and community activism. throughout her life and career there, but it was her upbringing in Vienna that made It was sort of swinging seats and he’d One of her first projects was the nearby her the woman she became. promised us that he’d do his best for us council dump, where burning rubbish and and then our local Liberal member got in smoke wafted over neighbouring houses. Among the pitifully small number of items by a whisker and so the Winston Hills’ Kallir, working with the Ryde-Hunters Hill Trude Weinreb took with her when fleeing women won. I even had a telegram from Flora and Fauna Preservation Society, in 1939, and which she kept with her all the Premier saying ‘hopeful to have successfully fought to have that land her life, were music scores, school concert solution to your problem’ signed Robert converted to a bushland reserve, now the programs and her 1934 membership card Askin, and a couple of days later, or a few Field of Mars Reserve. This brought her of the Friends of Nature. days later, we sent him a telegram saying to the attention of the Battlers for Kelly’s "still awaiting for your solution to our Bush. Until recently Trude, Kath and Gil were problem", signed The Battlers, but we constants at Hunters Hill Trust AGMs and didn’t hear any more. In the late 1940s, she was nursing at Christmas parties. They were from a Narrabri Hospital and she became aware generation of community activists that got Kath was missed at our recent AGM, as of the conditions of Aboriginal Australians up and did things and achieved great she was always such a welcome presence and became part of the struggle to success. These days community activism at HHT events. I remember, years ago, improve those conditions and bring about is more sedentary – done either from the when Gillian was chatting with Kath at one reconciliation. She also campaigned for chair in front of the monitor or from a bus of the Trust's Christmas parties. Kath was nurses' rights and became a founding seat on an iPhone. Whether a click on a talking about the great generosity of member of the NSW College of Nursing. Get-Up or Change.org petition will be as Hunters Hill gardeners, how people effective as the old style remains to be shared information and cuttings, creating a She was involved in many organisations, seen. strong sense of community. often in time-consuming roles as Tony Coote president, secretary or treasurer. Her Gillian asked whether Kath knew her feminist background led her to work with BORONIA PARK No 3 OVAL grandparents, the Barkers, who lived the Women's Electoral Lobby, and later This has turned into a perennial issue and nearby on Woolwich Road. Kath said "Of she held various offices in the Older has been featured in the last two Journals. course! I still have Mrs Barker's flowering Women's Network, helping to fight for It is past time for someone to be held white peach. Why don't I pot up one of its improvements in health, transport and the accountable for this disaster. Alister offspring for you?" "Mrs Barker's white rights of older women. Sharp reports on the stalemate. peach" now grows outside our kitchen and when spring comes and the flowers She was also involved with the Women's bloom, Kath will be there along with the International League for Peace and gardening community of Hunters Hill. Freedom and was a member of the Conservation Foundation and the Sydney Trude Kallir Bush Club. It was for her outstanding work in environmental causes that Kallir was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2011.

Kallir was an attractive, athletic woman who looked as much at home chest-high in a muddy creek as she did at a formal ball, dressed in her mother's jewellery. Music also remained a passion. She held Boronia Park's No. 3 Oval has been out of a subscription with the Sydney Symphony use for two years now, and won't be Orchestra for 63 years, and was usually available until the end of 2013, at the So often it’s only after someone has died seen with a musical score in hand as she earliest. What's happening and why is it that you find out what little you really knew followed the performance. taking so long? about them. Trude Kallir died in December 2012 aged 90. Lynne Her sense of humour was on the wry side. For reasons that are not clear, Hunters Hill Cairncross wrote a wonderful obituary for An old friend recalled a time in the early Rugby Club persuaded Council to let them Trude, parts of which are reproduced 1970s when she approached Trude for convert No. 3 Oval into a full-sized rugby here. some advice. The friend had been invited field. What was a small oval used for to speak to a conservative Anglican junior soccer and cricket is to become the Trude Kallir and her family escaped from mothers club and was wondering what she main field used by the Club, and this, Vienna in 1939 and fled to Sydney. In should talk about. Give them Betty Friedan Council says, will make No. 1 Oval 1948 she married Harry Kallir, also a and Germaine Greer, she was told. Kallir available for other purposes. Viennese refugee, who had been wooing laughed when her friend relayed how that With the shift away from No. 1 Oval, her with dozens of long-stemmed red bombshell was received. Hunters Hill Rugby Club also plans to roses.The young couple moved to a new build itself a clubhouse between No. 2 and housing estate in Boronia Park. It was so Kallir's first visit back to Europe was after No. 3 Ovals. Seed funding for the project new that there were few facilities, and no an absence of 44 years. It was an was provided by the Food & Wine sewerage. Trude, as she was known to emotional experience, thinking of what Festival, and a State Government grant. everybody, immediately set about trying to

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After some initial work by Council, top of the wall. supposedly to level and re-surface the Council is still awaiting an independent oval, major earthworks began in surveyors' report to confirm whether the September 2011 and hundreds of level of fill conforms with that proposed in truckloads of ripped sandstone were used the drawings supplied at the start of the to raise and extend No. 3 Oval. As the project. Certainly, the filled area extends level of fill increased a second sandstone further north than that shown in the retaining wall was added above the initial drawings, creating a batter down to one. Princes St that is too steep to be mowed. Then, the following May, the project Whether the excess fill will be removed, stalled, and since then there's been little and if so at whose expense, is uncertain. activity except for the intermittent arrival of truckloads of contaminated fill and a The Rugby Club will install an irrigation Recent planting undertaken by volunteers on recent attempt to plant dative shrubs along system, to be supplied from the mains (the unprepared ground the high, steep, stony eastern edge. existing bore, which feeds the tank below The work is not scheduled to be No. 1 Oval, can't supply sufficient water As recently as December 2012 the Club completed until November 2013. even to irrigate Nos 1 and 2 Ovals). predicted a completion date of April 2013, Council has stated that after the work on but with little activity in the past year the After the turf is established (approximately No. 3 Oval is completed, the Rugby Club earliest the oval is likely to be usable is the 6 months after laying) Council will install will relinquish use of No. 1 Oval, making it end of 2013, again too late next cricket the drainage system, plant mature trees at available to other users.Alister Sharp season. the northern end of the oval, and rehabilitate the surrounding area. Why has Council allowed No. 3 Oval to be unavailable for sporting use for two years Council will fund the turf for No. 3 Oval and counting? No one seems to know, or, (already budgeted), and is applying to the if they know, they don't say. Department of Lands for a grant to cover a PROMOTING DESIGN EXCELLENCE drainage system for the oval. The details

The Rugby Club is converting No. 3 Oval at Boronia Park from a cricket oval into a full-sized rugby field (with a cricket pitch). The drawing lodged with Council shows the field to be 120m x 73m, but aerial photographs show the levelled area to be substantially larger (approximately 155m x 80m). Council classified the work as 'exempt development' so that it did not require a formal Development Application. Toilet block at Middle Head – Sydney Harbour Consequently there has been no Federation Trust consultation with the community, either before or during this project. One of the Trust’s objectives in its constitution is to encourage high The Rugby Club is managing the project, Argentinian Rugby player architectural and aesthetic standards. and has received grant funding towards its Recently we wrote to the new Council cost. However part of the work is being The Club plans to install a fence, 1.1m high, along the eastern side of the field. about its somewhat cavalier approach to done by Council at ratepayers’ expense. the design of public spaces in the Most of the fill for the project is said to be The Club plans to build a 'Community municipality and the buildings that are 'clean fill' from the widening of the M2 Facility' between Nos 2 and 3 Ovals, the "plonked" into them. motorway, but some of the fill contains site designated in the Plan of fragments of broken brick and concrete, Management for a Community ceramic pipe, steel and sewer pipe, Centre/Hall. Costed at $2.0 million the presumably from building sites. proposal is to include '… toilets, canteen, etc. and lights for the oval incorporating Long heaps of finer material (some storm water and water tanks.' contaminated with demolition rubble) are currently stockpiled on the southern part of Car parking for those using No. 3 Oval will the site. They are due to be spread over be located between Nos 2 and 3 Ovals the fill to provide a base for turf. (reached via the lower part of Princes St which extends through the Park). Access The Rugby Club is said to have provided will also be provided by a footpath running Council with an engineer's certificate from the lower end of Boronia Ave, around verifying the structural adequacy of the the southern end of the field, along the two tiers of stone retaining wall that western edge of the field (above the rock Weil Park shed – designer Charles Elfita supports the eastern boundary of the field. face). It is not proposed to fill the batter to the

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Two examples from a recent edition of Argentina. After the meeting we went on Council's News to Residents clearly to visit Chile, Peru and Bolivia. indicate that Council has no overall South America was colonised in the most approach to design for its public places brutal fashion in the 16th century by Spain. and that design excellence is not Like Australia it has an indigenous history something Council is striving for. Council that stretches back into the unrecorded seems more interested in thriftiness, past and a much more recent colonial writing in the News, "One of Council's history dating from the 16th century. works staff, Charles FIfita, has saved thousands of dollars by designing and The infamous Pizarro brothers, Francisco building the shade structure himself". and Gonzalo conquered the Inca kingdom of Peru in 1532 so that its colonial history

This approach is clearly apparent in the A gaping hole in the green band along the river is more than 250 years older than redevelopment of Boronia Park's No 3 Australia’s. oval. Similarly it would appear that the recognition of the many ecological design of the "urban design works" at the services that trees and vegetation corner of Gladesville Road and Joubert St contribute to our amenity. The relevant will also be going ahead without any Australian Standards should apply to assessment at all from Council’s protect mature trees, particularly those at Conservation Advisory Panel. risk from re-development of a residential site. It is also recommended that notable This lackadaisical attitude to Hunters Hill's trees are placed on the Significant Tree public spaces is in stark contrast to that of Register to give more guarantee of their other councils and authorities with security into the future. responsibility for development around the Sydney Harbour foreshores. Take for example The Sydney Harbour Federation

Trust's work on the places under its Town square in Cusco Peru control. SHFT takes great care in insisting on the highest quality of design in the Throughout Argentina, Chile, Peru and layout of its places and the buildings and Bolivia there are wonderful churches and infrastructure that are placed within them. cathedrals that date from the late 16th century and I was intrigued to know who The Trust hopes that the new Council will designed and supervised the construction take a much more responsible attitude to of these buildings. I’ve since found out its public places and that it might even that the colonial buildings and town consider lobbying Transport Roads and squares were set out in accordance with

Maritime Services to get them to come on Garages replacing front gardens the Laws of the Indies (Leyes de Indias), board with Council to clean up the eyesore which were laws issued by the Spanish of the public land under the Figtree Bridge, However, unfortunately, even with this Crown for its American and Philippine which could be turned into a really commendable list of protections and colonies and covered everything including beautiful park. At present it is so today's emphasis on the 'urban forest', town planning. 500 years later in neglected that people have no pride in it at trees continue to be removed and abused Australia we are not capable of making all and use it as a dumping ground. in our garden suburb and the many such beautiful urban spaces. safeguards are often not implemented or adequately monitored.

THE CONTINUING SAGA OF TREE The Trust encourages members who LOSS IN HUNTERS HILL consider there are trees in their neighbourhood worthy of inclusion on the Hunter's Hill Council has developed policy Significant Tree Register to act, if they in relation to the conservation and haven't already done so. Information is management of existing trees and available from Council's Administration vegetation within the Municipality. Centre or on the website. Brigid Dowset The intention is to protect and enhance the garden suburb character and heritage values that are distinguishing features of the area. Trees and vegetation that MUSINGS contribute to environmental and scenic An occasional column qualities of the natural and cultural landscapes should be particularly valued, South America from magnificent single specimens to It’s not until you visit a place that you those forming important remnant bushland really begin to come to grips with its and providing vital habitat and wildlife geography, history, cuisine etc. I’d never corridors. Council's Tree Preservation been to South America and had never Order provides a level of protection in really thought of going there until this year, as Gilly had a meeting near Cordoba in Machu Picchu

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There is nothing in the Spanish colonial – the seasons are the same, the flora is tree cover is diminished so too is the architecture to compare with the fabulous similar - especially where eucalypts have habitat of all those creatures that Inca ruins of Machu Picchu – the Acropolis become the dominant tree species, the distinguish life in the suburbans from life in of South America and without a doubt one southern cross is there in the night sky the city. of the wonders of the world. and the Pacific Ocean pounds away on Tony Coote the coast. An idiosyncratic house The Chilean Nobel Prize winning poet In praise of suburbia AUSTRALIAN HOUSES NOW BIGGEST Pablo Neruda owned a number of houses IN THE WORLD and three of them in Chile have been restored and are now museums. We In 2009 Peter Martin wrote in the Sydney visited two of them, one in Valparaiso the Morning Herald that Australians are piling other at Isla Negra, which is on the coast on sitting rooms, family rooms, studies 110 km west of Santiago. and extra bedrooms at the fastest rate in the world, with the size of our homes Both houses are wonderfully idiosyncratic overtaking those in the US as the world's and chock-a-block with a great variety of biggest. objects that Neruda collected over his life. I loved these houses particularly because they are the antithesis of the current fad for spare sharp edged minimalism.

Casa del Isla Negra is a rambling Many critics and writers extol the virtues of collection of different building forms having urban living; the excitement of living close the scale and appearance of beach together and within walking distance of the shacks. It is in a wonderful setting just centres of culture, entertainment and above the rocks where the ocean pounds commerce. Except for living in the in. country or the bush, everything else is

classified as sub-urban – beneath, under Provincial Homes’ Latitude and inferior to the urban. The typical size of a new Australian home Writers, usually city folk, write in praise of hit 215 square metres in the past financial life in the bush. Banjo Patterson in The year, up 10 per cent in a decade, Old Australian Ways, writes: according to Bureau of Statistics data.US figures show the size of new American The city folk go to and fro homes shrinking from 212 square metres Behind a prison’s bars, before the financial crisis to 202 square They never feel the breezes blow metres in September. And never see the stars; They never hear in blossomed trees New homes in other parts of the world are The music low and sweet far smaller, with Denmark the biggest in Neruda House Isla Negra Chile Of wild birds making melodies, Europe at 137 square metres and Britain Nor catch the little laughing breeze the smallest at 76 square metres. It embodies many of the principles set out That whispers in the wheat. Australians had so many holiday houses in A Pattern Language – an iconoclastic that the latest census found 8 per cent text by Christopher Alexander et al, which more dwellings than households. Sydney attempts to set out ways of building that houses are by far the nation's biggest with enhance the way people want to live their new free-standing houses typically lives rather than slavishly following the spanning 263 square metres - providing architectural fashion trends. more than 100 square metres of indoor space per person.

''Another way of looking at it is the number of bedrooms,'' said a Commonwealth Securities economist, Craig James. ''Around 20 years ago only one in every six homes had four or more bedrooms. By Tawny frogmouth in the pepper tree 2006 it was one in every 3.5 homes. While the fast pace of population growth points Apart from the laughing breeze in the to the need for more and more homes, we wheat, he could be describing Hunters are living in the biggest homes in the Hill, where not only do wild birds make world. The simple fact is they could be melodies in blossomed trees, but water better utilised.'' Neruda house interior dragons, skinks, snakes and many other wild creatures share the place, all thanks Will the planning reforms have any impact There is something very familiar about to the trees, gardens and bushland that on this galloping consumption? being on the west coast of South America run through the municipality. When the

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