Nappy Valley = Naremburn

Despite thunder and lightening this evening, more than 120 people arrived at the St Leonards Catholic Church Parish Hall to make it known that Naremburn needs a school. It was good news then to hear from both Deonne Smith (Regional Director,DET) and Brother Tony Whelan (Catholic Education Office)that they were going to talk to each other and also to find out later, that there was "someone from the Property Division " lurking in the audience. We passed a motion which amongst other things :
. committed the Department & the Church to work together, to provide a school within 2 years
. set up a community working party to establish the case for a school and call on Ministers for Education and Transport
. required a 'report back' within 3 months

Thanks to Delia from Probate St who coined "Nappy Valley", to Gladys for her committment to represent us on this and to the Progress Association for organisation & publicity. Most of all, thanks to Karen and Belinda who have worked so hard to get to this point - nice going Naremburn!

And here's beautiful Belinda, with everyone's favourite neighbour John and Geoff, a longstanding resident who cares passionately about this community.

EPA Bill

Sartor ploughs on. The first reading of the EPA Bill 2008 happened yesterday morning – you can read Hansard on line (50 pages worth!) It does not propose any inquiry or review of the impacts.
The second reading will not be until Parliament resumes week of 3rd June however it will be in the Upper House that we have any chance of amending the thing and the advice I have so far is that although several of the cross bench members are supportive, it may be that the 2 Shooters Party members have been "bought off" with a rifle range at Hill Top in the Southern Highlands. Ironically this development was "called in" by Minister Sartor under Labor's Part 3A "State significant" legislation, that which allowed him to take control of the CRI development site in Chatswood (aka the Transport Interchange).
Democracy at work in NSW..

Public Meeting to reinstate Naremburn Public School

Following presentation of your 350+ signatures to our Council, Willoughby Mayor Pat Reilly, has called a Public Meeting to be held at the St Leonards Catholic Parish Hall on Wednesday 28th May at 7pm. Representatives from The Department of Education and the Catholic Education Office are being invited to attend and local MP Gladys Berejiklian, has confirmed her attendance as Parliament is not sitting on that night...

Happy as a pig in mud....

Nice pic from this morning's Herald
Read the story here

Sustainable Sydney 2030 City Talk

Danish Professor Jan Gehl, will speak about Sydney's Public Spaces & Public Life surveys, conducted here last year along with the consultants responsible for the recently launched & controversial Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategy, (developing Central Railway, greentransformers, burying the Western Distributor and removing the Cahill).

City Recital Hall Angel Place,Sydney, Wednesday 16 April 2008 6.30 pm - 8 pm Bookings: Tickets are FREE, but bookings are essential and available by calling Angel Place Box Office on 8256 2222

Keep it local !

Today NSW Local Councils launched a campaign supporting the right of local comunities to have a say in developments that affect them
Key messages are that the State government's pro-Developer laws will mean that communities have fewer services and no say in neighbourhood developments.
Led by the Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) voice for 152 Councils in NSW, everyone is invited to the website www.keepitlocal.org.au where you can read recent press coverage on the new laws and then 'click through' to send a message to your local MP

Medieval Planning Reform

Its full steam ahead for Frank and the robber barons.
Undeterred by over 180 individual citizens and 71 community groups who put pen to paper, objecting to their being removed from local planning processes, NSW Labor continues to shaft the public interest. Subverting and/or supplanting local Councils, we are to have at least two extra layers of (Ministerially appointed) planning authorities (PACs & JRPPs) who may be delegated the less juicy pickings from the Minister's greedy table laden as it is with the lucrative and sleazy spread of the NSW development industry. Have only skimmed the 'Explanatory Note' as I have to go to work tomorrow but here's a bit of what's on the menu for Development Assessment:

S.23N includes provisions requiring councils to provide access to records and use of council staff and facilities to assist the PAC, a JRPP or a planning arbitrator in the exercise of their functions. Offences apply to council staff and general managers in relation to failure to provide such assistance.
S.23O requires councils to pay the costs of the PAC, a JRPP, planning arbitrator or an IHAP where those bodies are exercising functions with respect to development under Part 4 which is located in the relevant council’s area

and, re Complying Development (the matters your Private Certifiers will take care of):

Schedule 2.1 [15] currently section 76A(6) of the principal Act provides that development cannot be complying development if the development is critical habitat, part of a wilderness area, land subject of a interim heritage order or an item of environmental heritage. The proposed amendment will remove these legislative restrictions
Schedule 2.1 [21] removes section 85A(2) so that the public notification requirements are provided for in the EP&A Regulation rather than in the council’s DCP.(i.e. not a Council matter - haven't found the EPA Reg as yet)
Schedule 2.1 [22] amends section 85A of the principal Act to allow a council or an accredited certifier to issue a complying development certificate, even if the proposed development does not comply with the relevant standards and conditions
That one really takes the cake - don't you think?

I've not yet seen reference to participation except where it's being reduced or removed...opportunities for Applicant reviews appear to be generously extended whilst we must wait to find out what they may be in the case of Objectors :
Schedule 2.1 [34] (proposed section 96E) It is proposed to amend the principal Regulation to make provision with respect to the persons who are qualified to apply for an objector review.