MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
DOVER HEIGHTS PRECINCT
Monday 9th February 2009 at Magnolia Centre
Rose Bay – 7:45pm
Apologies: Mayor: Cr Betts (attending other precinct meeting), Cr Coburn
Attendance: Cr Miriam Guttman-Jones, Cr Prue Cancian and as per attendance sheet.
John Lewis: Meeting Chairman
Michael Lewis: Secretary
Meeting commenced at 7:45m.
Welcomed attendees
NYE Review – Bobbi McIlwraith from WMC and Julie from Mixed Industries – presented 2 documents summarising NYE “campaign” incl Dudley page function
Felt that event was aimed at local families – almost a sell-out. Extra traffic police attended to manage local and nearby flow-on effects. – managed very well this year. Many families with children. Limit of 2,500 – reservoir weight aspects. Still in negotiation – why low limits?
Children weigh less than adults – restrictions on weight of equipment. Sydney Water is checking numbers. Julie was on site this year – change in demographics to families with children – far fewer “independent travellers”. Ticketing favoured families.
John Lewis: Were there any issues – not under Dudley Page control. Julie – no major issues at Caffyn Park.
Bobbi McIlwraith: Toilet removal at Caffyn Park was a glitch which won’t happen next time.
JL: Christison Park bottleneck flowed on to other areas – not a problem with DP etc.
BM: meeting with police on 20th Feb to debrief. Police are very grateful with efforts invested by Council in Dover Heights and Bondi.
Paul Wilmot: A lot less traffic in the area. DP did not get a mention – positive.
BM: Prefer it as a local “hidden gem”.
Cr Prue Cancian: Went to DP. Families tend to leave at 9:30pm. Are numbers kept to allow correct number of replacements? Family cheaper than 2 individuals – but families do leave earlier.
Julie. Yes – Good value for visitors. Entertainment, facilities etc very well managed.
BM: Family cheaper than 2 individuals – but families do leave earlier.
Julie: 500 tickets sold locally – believe 80% are locals. Most walk or go to a car nearby – implying locals.
Bondi Beach NYE
BM: Whole strategy, education campaign, security set up, function management was very successful. Far less people outside event than previous years. Even those outside event were family oriented.
JL: Doof doof from Bondi
BM: Reduced at Bondi function – New source of noise is coming from Swiss Grand rooftop parties. Whole area is “decibel mapped”. No complaints except for a separate house party.
PW: Less noise than previous years.
JL: NYE is a quantum leap from those of previous years.
JL: Still local issue of keeping lights at Dudley Page after NYE.
BM: Please pass on any ideas, problems etc – for next year.
JL: Is there some sort of capitalising on other “fireworks” days?
BM: NYE is the main day!
DF: Very impressed with every aspect of the conduct of the function.
BM: Gave out plastic refillable bottles which are given to people on beach.
PW: Cleaning Issue at Bondi Beach on Australia Day – one section rubbish full. “Day trippers section” hardest to police.
Arising from Minutes of November 08 Meeting
JL: Money from new Federal Grants for rebuilding of Waverley Pavilion.
Cr PC: Council has applied for $2m (out of the bucket of $50m) for the upgrade of the Waverley Pavilion. To date we have not been advised on the status of our application and we have no idea whether it will be successful. Estimated approx. Approx. Cost $4-5 million is current estimate.
See note at bottom of minutes
JL: Parking: Move On policy still applies. Don’t seem to look at trucks in Military Rd. Very dangerous. Heavy trucks are parked there with impunity. Brought up Woollahra “anti boat – trailer measures”.
Michael Lewis: Don’t invite parking police into un-metered areas. Move on policy applies when driver is in the car.
Cr Miriam Guttman-Jones bringing up motion re Portland at Council next week
ML: RTA about to lease “free” commuting areas at Bondi Junction – not Council owned.
PC: Council owns the parking station under “Hollywood Ave”
JL: Are there unfilled positions with parking officers group? Yes currently.
Jl: Streams of motor bicycles moving through DH several times each week. - Still occurring.
Jackie Lewis: Now have weekend groups of non-single file groups of bicycles.
Richard Morris: Increasing frequency of 4 wheel drives passing stopped buses, crossing double lines.
RM: Backpackers at 29 Napier St – RM: ongoing matter.
JL: Call the Council EVERY day.
JL: Still no camping signs erected in Loombah Rd or at entrances of Waverley LGA.
Also tent pitched in Hugh Bamford Reserve.
Jl: Need a statute or sign to stop camping in street.
Bondi Road Clearway – has been done by RTA/STA.
Sydney Buses are sending more buses by alternative routes, but still heavy use of Bondi roads.
JL: Blair St Planting – variety being tried.
Cr PC: Mentioned about “civic-pride” groups or “adopt a tree” – planted by Council, looked after by resident.
Motion: Minutes approved: Vicki Saffer
Moved: Dov Fraser.
Accepted
New Valuations and Land Tax Issues
JL: Property in Loombah Rd rose by 26% last year. Less in other parts of LGA. If state govt, decides to go for extreme ways of raising taxes, must watch land tax.
Precinct Boundaries Review
Jl and ML :The council needs to reconfigure the precincts because of boundary changes and the resultant reduction of Hunter Ward’s 4 precincts to 3 and maintenance of the principle that precincts do not cross ward boundaries. The Council’s officers asked for advice about rearrangements and then produced proposed boundaries which seem to reflect population numbers and NOT geography and demographic relationships.
Existing Hunter precincts were largely happy with boundaries between them and only changes needed were at southern end to adjust for Ward changes. However the original suggested boundaries map produced by Council staff, was still showing the large scale changes they proposed which disregarded the wishes of the existing precincts.
At the last Combined Precincts meeting, this had been pointed out – with many explaining notes – which appear to have been ignored by the Council staff.
There was general discussion, but the consensus was that the existing Hunter inter-precinct boundaries remain unchanged – the only changes being the absorption of the old southern precinct remnants into Dover Heights and Rose Bay.
See note at bottom of minutes
Priorities for Councils attention in Hunter ward.
Dov Fraser: Doing footpaths, but patching bad sections and leaving unbroken but now ugly sections – resulting in an ugly patchwork. People doing work said that it is more expensive doing bits than whole area. Contract is only for “dangerous” patches. Patching not necessarily cheaper and is ugly.
JL: Section 94 monies should be spent in local areas.
Cr PC: Usages are being further restricted.
Infrastructure Subcommittee – Dov Fraser
Met with Miriam G-J about beautification of Military Rd / Blake St “concrete corner”. Only commercial corner in Dover Heights precinct area. Presented map of area. Wants area to look nice but still maintain safety. Called Council Customer Service about bad bump in road there – fixed and also about “jungle” in Blake St – and they fixed it.
What is rationale for street repaving program. E.g. rebuilding Gilbert St
ML: Ask customer service for program.
JL: Asked DF to get council to provide their capital works program for DH.
Meeting Closed at 9:37pm.
Information Received after meeting – Information for next meeting
Money from new Federal Grants
Council will receive (confirmed but not received yet) $340,000 which will be put towards upgrades of some local parks - including installation of playground equipment at Caffyn Park and installation of shade structure in Kimberley Reserve. Also some upgrade of Rodney Reserve at the end of Weonga Rd.
Precinct Boundaries Review
The new maps that were distributed to Council in February showed Dover Heights precinct boundaries as Murriverie – Hardy – Portland – Lancaster.
Schedule 2009
Mon 18th May
Mon 7th September
Mon 16th November
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