Vol. 11 No 3 NEWS SHEET November 2008
KURNELL HISTORIC DRIVE CAMPAIGN
To develop a community based program to beautify
and maintain Captain Cook Drive as a scenic tourist
drive to the “Birthplace of Modern Australia”
Captain Cook’s Landing Place at Kurnell.
Published Feb. May. August. Nov.
Correspondence Address:
K. Boes
150 Prince Charles Parade, Kurnell 2231
Ph/fax: 9668 9962
Hello again
Don't the months go quickly? It is only three month ago since we celebrated our 10th anniversary on the 15th August. Reflecting on this, it was celebrated in good company and with fine weather. The fact that we have the continued support from the Sutherland Shire Council and our stake holders, makes it all the more important to keep up the work we are doing. This News Sheet gives me the opportunity to, on behalf of the Keith and my self, to congratulate the newly elected and re-elected Councilors and the election of Cr Lorraine Kelly to Mayor and Cr Phil Blight as deputy Mayor. I would like to meet the new A ward Councilors soon and hope they will go out of their way to support us in our Campaign.
Much needs to be done to enhance the image of the Kurnell peninsula since it has and to a large degree still is, the Cinderella of the shire and seems to be good only for those industries not wanted elsewhere.
Captain Cook drive needs to be given the status of a “Memorial drive”, which would draw attention to it and enhance its appearance. Assistance from our three tiers of Government could be asked for. So much can be done, mainly to the section of 8 km from the Cronulla H.S up to the Kurnell village.
Some eight years ago, the Kurnell Progress Ass. and I submitted a plan and model for a “Welcomesign” to be erected near the H 1 site where we now have the new roundabout, but the hight cost of the associated roadworks stopped this dead in its tracks.
Things have changed since then and I urge our newly elected Councilors to have a new look at this project and consider the benefits this would have for the shire as a whole. The Kurnell Peninsula will be in the spotlight in the next eleven years as different Government bodies are working on the 2020 project for the 250th Anniversary of the landing of Lt James Cook on this shore .
We have the Botany Bay Nat.Park, Towra point wetlands, the Charlotte Breen reserve and lookout. A walking track is planned from there to Wanda beach, also improvements along the Lucas reserve to mention some.
Time does not wait, the biodiversity corridor and walking tracks planned on the Peninsula will all play a part and will be of importance to the whole Peninsula. This and the numerous developments carried out at the moment and those being planned, are making for a good argument to have this “Welcome/Information” sign in place as soon as possible.
There is still the problem of weed eradication on the peninsula in particular at the western side of the drive opposite the Cronulla Sewer treatment plant on state owned land. Over the last three years, applications for government grands to tackle this weed problem have been put in, but to no avail. This area has three threatened plant communities and are protected by NSW law, however so far we have had no luck with this. If grands were given, Council could do this job as it has done at the Council reserve at the Elouera roundabout some two to three years ago.
In the six weeks of my holiday, and traveling along the high and byways of NSW and Qld, it was pleasing to see the increase in local participation in looking after roadside reserves. I had the opportunity to see volunteers adopting sections of local and some main roads in their area, with signs up along the road. However there are still many roads littered with all kind of rubbish and it shows the attitude of some people in our community and the disregard they shown for our environment.
Reports
We have negotiated the assistance of Sydney Water, who have adopted the ocean side section of the road along the Cronulla Sewer treatment plant. At the moment they are finalizing the arrangements with the contractor in regard the safety along this dangerous section. As soon as this is sorted-out they will clean-up on a six weekly cycle to suit the company's work schedule.
More planting of native trees is being carried out as a follow up from the sewer plant up-grade some six years ago.
The Besmaw Comp. Is still involved with their landscaping on both side of the road and it starts to look good.
With the resignation of Skip Fernandes we lost the valuable liaison with Caltex, he was of great help to us and always willing to listen and assist us where he could. He will be missed by many and we wish him good luck.
We welcome the new public relations person to fill his place, her name is Holly Bathgate and she will be working in a part time position. No doubt she will be of the same value to us as was Skip.
I will be looking forward of meeting her at the Caltex function.
Clean up results over the last three month
4 Clean ups were held by our volunteers 50 bags of litter were collected and many other items such as tires, wooden pellets, oil drums, wood and cardboard beer and soft drink bottles.
14 Clean ups were held by the Besmaw company, 20 bags of litter were collected and varying other items. Lindum road especially keeps being a favored place to dump truckloads of building material.
3 Clean ups were held by the Caltex, 8 bags of litter were collected and varying other items.
Regular cleanups were held by Landfill in October and 10 bags of litter were collected.
Sydney water held several cleanups in the last few month along the treatment plant side of the road, no information to date what is collected.
Clean up dates for the year 2009
31th Jan. 14th March. 25th April. 6th June. 18h July. 29th Aug. 10th Oct. 21th Nov. and
19th Dec.’09
Clean up dates for the remainder of 2008
6th Dec and 20th Dec.’08
The next stakeholders workshop is set for Wednesday the 4th February 2009 at the
Kurnell Sports and Recreation Club for 9.30 am
Next clean up is on the 6th Dec 2008
Meeting as usual at the corner of Capt Cook Dr. and Prince Charles Pde. at 8 am.
On behalf of the committee I wish our volunteers and stakeholders a happy and healthy New Year.
Nick Boes