Immunisation

In the past week on two occasions the cost of non immunisation has been brought graphically home to me – once on TV and once personally.  The death of a baby in Melbourne from whooping cough was covered extensively on the TV news and the heartache those parents must have felt is something I cannot comprehend.  I’ve seen sickness in my boys but never something that could have been averted.

The second incident was a friend of mine who had to cancel a visit because she thought her son might have the same affliction.  Whooping cough and a myriad of other disease have been dramatically reduced by immunisation.  But they are on the rise because speculation, rumour and misguided beliefs have led some parents not to immunise their children.  Such action can cause illness and even death in other children.

Council holds monthly free immunisation clinics on the first Thursday of each month in three locations – Mascot early Childhood Centre, 51 Coward Street, Mascot between 9.00am and 10.00am; the Central Library, Ground Floor Eastgardens Shopping Centre between 2.00pm and 3.0pm and again between 6.00pm and 7.00pm.  If you need any more details on the next clinics or any other information, contact Council’s health services staff on 9366 3666. Do it for your children and other children.

Metrobus Route extension

Congratulations to the State Government, our local member Michael Daley for the extension of State Transit Authority the Metrobus Route 20 from Mascot to the Botany shops. This was something that the community not only wanted but had worked to achieve.  It means extra capacity for passengers travelling between the City of Sydney and Botany. It will also allow Route 20 to have a common stop with Route 400 at the shops in Mascot.  There are a few things Council will do to assist (change some signs and extend bus zones) but these are not really difficult and we’ll work with State Transit to improve local services. The better the bus service the more people will leave cars at home and use public transport – and good win for all of us.
 

National Freight Strategy

Several weeks ago the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, released the long awaited National Freight Strategy – and for us it has real ramifications.  The strategy is allied to the previously released National Ports Strategy and combined they aim to be principal drivers for our national economy. A similar freight strategy for NSW is due to be released in the very near future – and the state and national strategies should complement each other and can get our national freight networks fully efficient and operational.

It is sobering to understand that containers crossing our wharves (and Port Botany is second to the Port of Melbourne in import/export throughput) will rise by 150 per cent between now and 2030 and that air freight will increase by 110 per cent in the same period.  The new terminal at Port Botany is nearing completion and the number of containers handled by the expanded port will increase to 3.2 million a year. We need the freight networks and we need to get Port Botany’s containers on to rail and off our roads.  If we don’t we’ll see more than 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 more container trucks on our roads and clogging up the M5East.  

One thing that did concern me in the National Freight Strategy was the suggestion that B-Triples will me allowed on more roads, including those connected to ports.  For Sydney this means the M5East, Southern Cross Drive and the Eastern Distributor.  Put B-Triples on these roads and the congestion we currently have will seem like nothing.  The Australian Government must link both rail and road upgrades with any implementation of its freight and port strategies.  If not then we’re facing a congestion disaster. Knowing Anthony Albanese, and with my involvement in the NSW Freight Advisory Council, I know action on increasing rail as a freight transport mode is a given.  It’s action on roads, like the M5East that must come as well.

Update of Council Park Improvements

There has been a fair bit of work on some of our parks over summer and new equipment and facilities are either finished or just about ready.  I though it worth an update as I know how popular our playgrounds are with locals, especially the young.

The new playground in Bridget Tight Reserve in Eastlakes is finished with a circular swing and the spider man climbing added to this popular venue.  The circular swing allows a number of young children to enjoy themselves as a group while the spider man climbing allows for individual fun and there are special facilities for parent and carer supervision.

At the Botany Aquatic Centre, the new playground equipment under the trees is increasing the attraction of one of our City’s popular recreational venues.  This is for the younger children with “bouncies”, climbing and the swing.  Again we’re matching equipment with demand.

The new playground at Sir Joseph Banks Park is aimed at the under 6’s and if the numbers now going there are any indication of success then we have a winner.  There are climbing bits, ropes, ladders, swings, “bouncies” and more along with a shaded area where parents and carers can keep an eye on the kids.  The special feature here is the water trickle that allows a few mud pies and fun with splashes of water.  This is one feature I think the kids like more than the parents and carers but to hear the squeals and laughter makes a bit of cleaning up more than worth while.

Slight change to garbage/recycling this week

If your garbage and recycling is collected on a Friday, there won’t be any collection this week.  We’ll pick up the garbage and the recycling the following day, Saturday March 12.

Getting rid of things unwanted

I’ve had a few calls following my comments on rubbish dumping.  I’ve had one good suggestion in that rather than dump unwanted stuff in the street (where Council has to pick it up and dispose of it), the unwanted stuff – as long as it’s in good order – can be advertised on-line using e-Cycled.com.  You never know you might be able to get a few dollars for what you thought was junk.  Of course, there will still be some inconsiderate people who just dump their stuff in the street and expect someone else (like Council) to clean up after them.  I’m happy to push this internet site as it might reduce some of the unwanted household items currently being dumped off the streets.

Open Day at Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales Hospital, which plays a vital role in our community, has planned a series of sessions at the hospital so that the community can have a better understanding of how this community health asset works. The hospital has chosen a number of medical specialists, leaders in their field, to showcase the work and the research being performed at the hospital. At each session there is a question and answer session where you can ask questions or make comments on what you’ve just heard.  

Under the banner of “Your Health Your Hospital” the presentations and discussions sessions have been organised by the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Botany Bay – and we thank them for their support. The next session is “Age Care, Delirium vs. Dementia and will be presented by Professor Gideon Caplan.  It will be held on April 28 at the hospital in the Edmund Blacket Function Room and you can let them know you’d like to attend by calling Tanya on 9382 4263.  The sessions begin at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start and light refreshments will be served. The next session is scheduled for June and I’ll let everyone know well in advance.