Important Notice about Garbage

I have an important reminder for residents about what NOT to put in your domestic waste bin - that is your green wheelie bin.  The list is really common sense and includes:  Asbestos and fibro sheeting, paint and paint related products, empty paint tins, floor sanding saw dust (a common one), pesticides and herbicides, pool chemicals, solvents and household cleaners, motor oils, car batteries, acids and alkalis, gas bottles, fire extinguishes and hazardous waste chemicals.

There have been a few incidents recently where some of these items have found their way into our garbage trucks.  When this occurs it becomes extremely dangerous for our workers.  When crushed these items can explode or spray hazardous fluids.  So please for the safety of all be careful of what you put in your bin.  There are a number of safe ways to dispose of these items and Council is currently preparing a leaflet which will be letterboxed to all residents providing these details.  In the meantime if you have any such items that you wish to get rid of please ring Council on 93663666 for advice on where you can take these items to be disposed of safely. Random checks do occur, and if these items are found in a bin that bin will not be collected and a sticker will be placed on the lid asking the owner to contact council.

Work begins on L’Estrange Park playground

The beginning of the school year also marked the commencement of work on the City’s fourth district playground at L’Estrange Park.  As the park was popular during the school holidays, we held off beginning the playground work until the schools were back.

The construction fence is now up and the first task will be to remove the old equipment and get ready for the first delivery of landscape soil. Like all major projects, earthmoving is always the first step and once that is done the rest will be underway.  We need a fair bit of fill to totally bury some tree roots and build the mound for the large slide that we’re putting in.

During this month, the pathways, the landscaping, the kids’ cycle track, seats and other furniture and, most importantly, the playground equipment will begin to be installed along with all the landscaping. Apart from the mound slide, there will be a large climbing dome, water-play features (popular in our other playgrounds), 3-D rubber animals and other equipment guaranteed to keep children occupied and happy.

55 Plus Events

Our local community group, 55 Plus (where the name tells the age group of members) organises a lot of events for members – and prospective members – from walks and tours to talks and get togethers – has an interesting event coming up next months that I thought might be of interest.  On Wednesday March 14 the group is off to the Henry Kendall Cottage in Gosford, which is not only the home of the renowned 19^th Century Australian poet but also a museum of his life and work. Pick-ups for the bus tour will be 8:15am at Eastgardens and 8:30am at Eastlakes.  There is a charge of $3 to entry to the cottage, which you’ll need to pay when you book.

An Evening @ the Museum

February 29 only comes around every four years but our Museum staff have organised a special event that is a one off event. “Made in Botany”, the current exhibition at the George Hanna Memorial Museum is coming to a close and council has organised a special one-off evening for February 29, beginning at 6:30.  From wool scourers and tanneries to Kellogg’s, the “Made in Botany” exhibition covers the history of manufacturing in our City.  While the exhibition runs through to March 2, the evening talk should not be missed.  You will need to book, which you can do by calling 9366 3888. If you can’t make the evening tour, the exhibition is open Monday and Friday between 12.00pm and 5.00pm, Wednesday 12.00pm to 8.00pm and on Tuesday and Thursday between 9.00am and 2.00pm at Mascot Library, 2 Hatfield Street, Mascot.

A Low Act

Council recently donated a substantial number of plants to St Michael’s Daceyville to help beautify the entrance way.  Father Jerzy and the St Michael’s congregation were very proud of the finished look, so you can imagine the distress when they came to church this week and found that someone had helped themselves to the lot!!  

I get frustrated when people do it to Council (as has happened on numerous occasions), but I get really angry when they do to it to a church.  It’s a low act.  Council will replace the plants but I am beginning to think that we need to take a tip from the retailers and put tracking devices on all our stock.  If anyone has any information on the missing plants please let me know, after all these people are not only stealing from a Church, they are stealing from our residents.

City of Botany Bay Community Report

Council's 2011 report to the community is available for download at http://tinyurl.com/7wleh8p 

You can either read it online or download a copy. Residents should have received their copy last week. If extra printed copies are required, please contact me on 9366 3600 or mayor@botanybay.nsw.gov.au.

Pain Forum

We all have it at times – and none of us likes it.  I’m referring to pain and those who live with pain day to day know life is very difficult indeed. A partnership between the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation and the Rotary Club of Botany Bay has put together a free information session on treating and dealing with pain.  The session is part of an ongoing information initiative of the Foundation and the Club and, based on those run last year, the information sessions are both informative and useful. 

At this week’s session, pain specialists Dr K E Khor and Dr Chimene Bhar along with Nurse Consultant Grazyna Jastrzab, Psychologist Cate Courtney and Physiotherapist Stephanie Mossman pain is definitely on the agenda – and what you can do about it. There are many ways to treat pain whether it is acute or persistent and the specialists at the session will give advice. 

The February 23 session, which begins at 6.00pm, is held at the Edmund Blacket Function Rooms at Prince of Wales Hospital, with access via Avoca Street.  You’ll need to let the hospital know you’re coming to the session and you can do that by calling Elizabeth on 9382 4263 or www.powhf.org.au or by email to: elizabeth.thomas@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

The information is the first of five the Rotary Club or Botany Bay and the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation have organised for this year and as the others approach I’ll give everyone details of topics and dates for what are extremely valuable information sessions.