SL67 February
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Great Expectations forShire 2003Life Local Edition – February 2003 #67 9 Expecting the best for the Shire’s year ahead Study of Kurnell and Botany Bay. We Against the doom and gloom of a worried world, urge the Premier to announce the Sutherland Shire is bent on being constructive – it has rapid winding down of present min- ing.” AH, Cronulla a right to expect A GOOD YEAR! Here are the Save the Last Dune. “Only one positive thoughts of Shire residents, sampled by major sand dune remains – at the Bob Walshe, Sutherland Shire Environment Centre. North Cronulla end of Kurnell Peninsula – and its integrity is threat- Overdevelopment Restrained. embark on restoration work, with ened by a developer’s proposal to “Putting the brakes on the overdevel- assistance from local bushcare build 500 dwellings in the area. The opment that went crazy under the groups. Let’s start seeing Ewey as the Government, late last year, commit- previous Council (1995-99) was the Shire’s Thames River – and just as ted itself to ensuring that develop- task the present Council set itself. It capable of salvation.” GB, Miranda ment would not be allowed to ‘harm has worked hard and at last produced the environmental values’ of Kurnell its new planning development control, the User-friendly F6 Corridor. Peninsula. So this year it must ‘People’s Local Environment Plan “Because cancellation of the F6 announce the Heritage listing of our (LEP)’, in December 2002. Features motorway has ended fears of a precious surviving dune.” IR, of its big changes include: severely mighty highway that would have Cronulla limited medium density (villas, town- split the Shire in two, residents are houses) in residential zones and only coming up with creative ideas for Turn the Tide for Port Hacking. two sites recommended for rezoning uses of tracts of reserved land. Light “We expect action at last to save our to allow residential flats. Waterfront rail (trams) is a favourite, and beautiful port. It has suffered development too is subject to strict improved bus-to-rail services, also decades of neglect: loss of over 50% environmental conditions. The new cycleways and walkways. Locality of its seagrasses; invasion by damag- LEP first needs the Minister’s con- groups are especially full of sugges- ing exotic (sea) weed; appalling fore- sent; then it will go to public exhibi- tions. Government and Councils shore degradation; and careless mis- tion, and every caring citizen should must listen and act.” JC, Miranda use by some boat-owners. We expect look at it. If there is general approval, to see this reversed by a binding Council will then vote it into opera- More Bushcare, please. “While It’s Time to Inform. “Regarding Bay’s struggling ecology. And the Integrated Management plan, formu- tion.” JS, Oyster Bay. the Shire has about 150 tracts of the 750 hectares granted to the already congested road traffic from lated by the Catchment Management ‘urban bushland’ that are cared for by Gandangara Land Council, it’s time Botany all the way to Enfield- Board, Sutherland Council, and State local bushcare groups, there’s a need this huge area that stretches along Strathfield would be a nightmare. Government’s Department of Land for still more groups. I hope that in Heathcote Road from Lucas Heights Both Port Kembla and Newcastle and Water Conservation.” PM, 2003 the example will spread: keen Tip to Sandy Point becomes the sub- have under-utilised wharves that cry Bundeena individuals will start new groups, ject of public discussion. When the out for a share of the State’s contain- weeds will be eradicated, and native grant was made a few years ago – sur- er imports-exports, and their regional Look After the Woronora. growth will be encouraged. A knowl- prising many observers – most people economies would benefit. Carr must “Council has shown some interest, edgeable Council bushcare officer thought this precious bushland tell the developer, Sydney Ports and we expect much more interest in attends each monthly group (and, would be preserved by the Land Corporation, to drop this mad 2003. After all, the Government’s incidentally, offers informative bush- Council, with an Aboriginal Cultural scheme.” JT, Miranda Healthy Rivers Commissioner, Dr walks and workshops).” Centre on it. Now there are reports Peter Crawford, has made two key that a section of the Land Council Start a Ferry Service. “I want the points which are Council responsi- Spread the Greenweb. “I reckon wants to build thousands of houses NSW Government to launch a serious bilities: all of Woronora Valley’s sur- the Greenweb is the best thing our on it along with an inevitably inquiry into the feasibility of a Botany viving natural vegetation must be Council has ever done. It creates ‘cor- destructive 4WD trail. Can this be Bay ferry service. Ferries did operate preserved; and all stormwater enter- ridors’ to link up the struggling green true? The issue is critical for the between 1898 and 1974. They should ing the River must be filtered areas that would otherwise be cut off Shire’s west and must be publicly be revived. They could circle the Bay, through pollution traps and con- as sterile islands by urban encroach- aired in 2003.” with stops at La Perouse, Kurnell, structed wetlands. I would add a ment. Living things – insects, plants, Como and Brighton Le Sands. The responsibility of residents : to join birds, animals – are given room to Botany Bay Management at huge growth of population in Sydney bushcare groups that keep local move. The Shire’s volunteer bush- Last. “2003 could be the best year in will guarantee commercial success.” green areas weed-free and pollution- care groups are keen carers. But the Bay’s post-1788 history. The NSW JC, Woronora free.” ND, Woronora every other householder can help by Government has embarked on a planting native shrubs, removing major Study of the sorry state of the Watch the Whales. “Sydney is invasive weeds, and preferring mulch Bay, Georges River and Kurnell. From crazy about whales, and the single Better Shire Transport. “Our and natives to water-thirsty lawns.” this must emerge a single Bay best point from which to observe absurdly car-dependent Shire is DH, Jannali Management able to control all uses their antics is Solander Drive on demanding major improvements in and abuses and to scrutinise all Kurnell’s coastline because the public transport – a doubled Cronulla Great Walks Ahead. “You’ll hear ‘development’ proposals. Early in the migrating creatures turn in there, branch line and increased frequency heaps in 2003 about the Great year, the Government should first set coming close to the shore. This year on the Illawarra line to Waterfall and Kai’mia Way, the trail that will link up a representative Task Force to should see a major viewing platform beyond. So we need to see soon the existing bush tracks along the oversee the Study – and this would be built, attracting thousands of enthu- mooted Transport Forum which will Georges and Woronora rivers. It’s a the forerunner of the overdue siasts at the height of the season (29 bring together the five councils – world-class Nature Trail, proposed by Management structure… Every lover May-31 July, when nearly a thousand Rockdale, Kogarah, Hurstville, Sutherland Shire Environment of the Bay will cheer!” BW, Jannali whales appeared last year).” GR, Sutherland, Wollongong – to coordi- Centre, and it’s already taking shape. Kurnell nate the efforts of State and Local Bushwalkers and cyclists may expect Call Off Botany Port Expansion. governments and bus operators. That to find – for example, in the 20 km “Surely to heaven the proposal to View Kurnell’s Attractions. should bring real easing of current from Como to Waterfall – good sign- double the size of the Botany con- “Always things to see and do here! congestion.” RZ, Bangor posting together with information on tainer port will be quashed by Bob And 2003 will add to our offering. As Aboriginal culture and native flora Carr. The sand-dredging it would well as the April 25-27 events – Relieve Menai Traffic Mess. “We and fauna.” NB, Como entail would ruin what’s left of the Cook’s Landing, Meeting of Two expect extremely energetic efforts by Cultures, Festival of the Sails – State Government to relieve Menai’s there’s the Silver Beach Master Plan. dreadful traffic congestion. A chance to save Botany Bay? Council and community have Construction of the Bangor Bypass, embarked on imaginative beach land- duplication of Alfords Point Bridge, scaping which will see an eventual and improvements to the Menai to boardwalk linking the 15 rock Lucas Heights road are as urgently groynes. Two trial platforms (with needed as relief for any other conges- seats) are already in place, splendid tion point in Sydney. Yes, we expect points for viewing Botany Bay. Oh, real progress in 2003 so we can see the and 2003 should see a ‘Code of upgrades operating before the end of Conduct for Truck Drivers’ which will 2004.” DP, Woronora make Captain Cook Drive safer.” NB, Ways to Tell the Shire Story. Kurnell “2003 should see a great leap for- Safeguard Ewey Creek. “Council ward. First, towards establishing a must announce a no-further-develop- Stop the Sandmining. “Ask any major Shire Museum. Second, ment policy for the catchment of Shire residents – the destruction of towards a Cronulla Surf Museum. Ewey Creek. Sadly, most Shire resi- the Cronulla-Kurnell sandhills was Third, the appointment of a profes- dents don’t know the significance of an outrage! This year should see an sional historian to write a real history this much-built-over creek, which order for the cessation of continuing – not a mere chronology of events – to has been reduced to a drainage ease- sandmining.