For some time Council has been working through possibilities for an additional off-leash area for dogs in our City. We already have an area at Astrolabe Park in Daceyville so that dogs can run free and I’ve had quite a few requests from other residents for an additional area in Botany. One of the problems with our City is the density of living and making sure we have enough greens space for residents as well as dogs.
The most obvious place has been Sir Joseph Banks Park but fitting in an off-leash area with the existing playgrounds, walking tracks, bike paths and the natural bushland areas has not been easy. We’ve got native wildlife in the bushland and waterways at Sir Joseph Banks Park and to allow dogs to run free just wouldn’t be compatible. So, after a lot of thought and study, we’ve picked the western side of Hayden Place Reserve in Sir Joseph Banks Park as the most appropriate place. The Hayden Place Reserve is largely open grassland with established trees on the fringes. It’s about 4,000 square metres in size and that’s sufficient for dogs to get their exercise.
The area would be fenced off so that the recreational spaces on the eastern part of the reserve could continue to be used as they are presently and exercising dogs won’t intrude. Along with the fence we’ll also have water for the dogs and bins where dog droppings can be discarded. We’ll also add to the trees and shrubs around the outside of the area. There are some nearby houses and in the weeks ahead we’re going to let them know what we plan and gauge reactions. If all goes well during the consultation, we will move quickly to get this off-leash area ready for our local canines to get their exercise. The rest of Sir Joseph Banks Park will remain unchanged for dogs – they have to be on leashes and we ask owners to clean up after their dogs. I would welcome resident’s comments on this location and any feed back they might wish to provide.
Aug 31, 2010
$4.5m facelift to go long distance at Hensley
Southern Courier - 17 August 2010 - by Leesa Smith and Photos by Alan Pace. See story and more photos at
http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/45m-facelift-to-go-long-distance/
http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/45m-facelift-to-go-long-distance/
Botany benefits from Orica clean-up
Botany benefits from Orica clean-up - Southern Courier - 30 August 2010 by Leesa Smith
"Botany Bay Council will pump more money into local playgrounds after finally accepting $100,000 from Orica, a chemical plant in Botany.
Botany Mayor Ron Hoenig announced at the council meeting last Wednesday that Orica, as part of its community programs, had proposed to donate $100,000 for playgrounds or other infrastructure.
Mr Hoenig said council had always rejected any financial offers from Orica in the past but accepted this offer because the company had cleaned up its act.
'In recent years Orica has been cooperative in the clean up of the polluted ground water and working for the removal of the stored HCB’s,' he said. 'The changed attitude and approach by Orica should be encouraged by the community and Council is prepared to accept the company’s offer.'
Council will decide which of the proposed playgrounds should be allocated the funds.
Work has started on the area’s second regional playground, Sir Joseph Banks Park, which is expected to be finished by the end of November.
Also a design brief will be conducted for a district playground at Mascot Park." http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/botany-benefits-from-orica-clean-up/
"Botany Bay Council will pump more money into local playgrounds after finally accepting $100,000 from Orica, a chemical plant in Botany.
Botany Mayor Ron Hoenig announced at the council meeting last Wednesday that Orica, as part of its community programs, had proposed to donate $100,000 for playgrounds or other infrastructure.
Mr Hoenig said council had always rejected any financial offers from Orica in the past but accepted this offer because the company had cleaned up its act.
'In recent years Orica has been cooperative in the clean up of the polluted ground water and working for the removal of the stored HCB’s,' he said. 'The changed attitude and approach by Orica should be encouraged by the community and Council is prepared to accept the company’s offer.'
Council will decide which of the proposed playgrounds should be allocated the funds.
Work has started on the area’s second regional playground, Sir Joseph Banks Park, which is expected to be finished by the end of November.
Also a design brief will be conducted for a district playground at Mascot Park." http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/botany-benefits-from-orica-clean-up/
Aug 30, 2010
District Playground Mascot Park
As we’ve got the playground in Booralee and we’re working in Sir Joseph Banks Park, I don’t want anyone to think we’ve forgotten other parts of the City in the provision of playgrounds for our youngest residents.
Last week we approved the commencement of a design brief for a district playground at Mascot Park.
Whereas a regional playground is designed to cater for the widest possible age ranges in children, a district playground is more specific and for Mascot Park we can cater for the younger age groups.
Again, we’re matching facilities with demographics. In the past five to 10 years we’ve seen increases in residential development in this area, boosted by our Mascot Station precinct development and the Airport Rail Link.
The latest census statistics we have shows that the area around Mascot Park – Gardeners Road to the north, Botany Road to the east, King Street to the south and Alexandria Canal to the west – show that 22% of the population are children aged 0 to 19. A significantly larger proportion of children are in the 0-4 year age group – those for whom a playground is important.
There are a lot of residential flat and unit buildings in this area, which makes the provision of playgrounds even more important.
Mascot Park and the adjoining Mascot Oval are approximately 3.8 hectares in size and the Mascot Park section is largely undeveloped, with scattered trees, gardens beds, seat and older style playground equipment at the southern end.
What we’re looking at is a large scale district playground at the Coward Street end, which our research shows is the most appropriate location to cater for existing and future residents.
We also intend to further embellish the playground with a cycle/walking/jogging path in a north-south direction that will, again, cater for local residents. There will also be picnic areas, covered seating, security lighting, bins, drinking fountains and Council’s landscape team will ensure that this area will look great and inviting.
Last week we approved the commencement of a design brief for a district playground at Mascot Park.
Whereas a regional playground is designed to cater for the widest possible age ranges in children, a district playground is more specific and for Mascot Park we can cater for the younger age groups.
Again, we’re matching facilities with demographics. In the past five to 10 years we’ve seen increases in residential development in this area, boosted by our Mascot Station precinct development and the Airport Rail Link.
The latest census statistics we have shows that the area around Mascot Park – Gardeners Road to the north, Botany Road to the east, King Street to the south and Alexandria Canal to the west – show that 22% of the population are children aged 0 to 19. A significantly larger proportion of children are in the 0-4 year age group – those for whom a playground is important.
There are a lot of residential flat and unit buildings in this area, which makes the provision of playgrounds even more important.
Mascot Park and the adjoining Mascot Oval are approximately 3.8 hectares in size and the Mascot Park section is largely undeveloped, with scattered trees, gardens beds, seat and older style playground equipment at the southern end.
What we’re looking at is a large scale district playground at the Coward Street end, which our research shows is the most appropriate location to cater for existing and future residents.
We also intend to further embellish the playground with a cycle/walking/jogging path in a north-south direction that will, again, cater for local residents. There will also be picnic areas, covered seating, security lighting, bins, drinking fountains and Council’s landscape team will ensure that this area will look great and inviting.
Aug 29, 2010
Hensley Athletics Field
Two Saturdays ago I had the privilege to preside over the first day of competition at the upgraded Hensley Athletics Field. It was a great day and a day that ushered in a new era for sport in our City.
To witness the display of skills from Randwick-Botany Little Athletics and Pagewood Soccer was, to me, the best way to set the scene for the future of Hensley. The exuberance, the passion for their sport and the skills they showed auger well for the future of sport in this part of Sydney.
After the display of skills by the Little A’s and Pagewood, It was the curtain raiser for the first match on the new centre pitch – between the under 13s of Sydney University and Central Coast. A strong local team and their visitors from the outside of Sydney illustrated the reach of the new Hensley Athletic Field.
The only thing that didn’t go well on the day was the inability of the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, to attend. Mr Albanese was otherwise occupied on electoral matters.
The upgrade and expansion of the Hensley into a multi-sport facility was only possible by the actions of this Minister and the Australian Government. It was because of the Australian Government’s decision to deal directly with local government in economic stimulus projects that we got any action on Hensley. We had knocked on so many doors in so many government departments and offices in the past, seeking support for Hensley. We got nowhere. We got to the stage where we seriously considered closing Hensley down.
Anthony Albanese and the Australian Government listened and acted. They did it for Hensley, they did it for the new pedestrian/cycle link between Mascot and Eastgardens and they did it for the Mascot Library.
Each of these projects will benefit the people of our City now and for the future. Council could have done none of them by itself. We needed help and we got it. For those reasons, I want to place on the public record our appreciation of Anthony Albanese and the Australian Government.
At this stage we don’t know the outcome of last Saturday’s federal election but we do know the assistance and the support this City received from Mr Albanese and the Government of which he is a senior member.
To witness the display of skills from Randwick-Botany Little Athletics and Pagewood Soccer was, to me, the best way to set the scene for the future of Hensley. The exuberance, the passion for their sport and the skills they showed auger well for the future of sport in this part of Sydney.
After the display of skills by the Little A’s and Pagewood, It was the curtain raiser for the first match on the new centre pitch – between the under 13s of Sydney University and Central Coast. A strong local team and their visitors from the outside of Sydney illustrated the reach of the new Hensley Athletic Field.
The only thing that didn’t go well on the day was the inability of the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, to attend. Mr Albanese was otherwise occupied on electoral matters.
The upgrade and expansion of the Hensley into a multi-sport facility was only possible by the actions of this Minister and the Australian Government. It was because of the Australian Government’s decision to deal directly with local government in economic stimulus projects that we got any action on Hensley. We had knocked on so many doors in so many government departments and offices in the past, seeking support for Hensley. We got nowhere. We got to the stage where we seriously considered closing Hensley down.
Anthony Albanese and the Australian Government listened and acted. They did it for Hensley, they did it for the new pedestrian/cycle link between Mascot and Eastgardens and they did it for the Mascot Library.
Each of these projects will benefit the people of our City now and for the future. Council could have done none of them by itself. We needed help and we got it. For those reasons, I want to place on the public record our appreciation of Anthony Albanese and the Australian Government.
At this stage we don’t know the outcome of last Saturday’s federal election but we do know the assistance and the support this City received from Mr Albanese and the Government of which he is a senior member.
Aug 28, 2010
Answers for some school projects
In the last week or so I’ve had a number of emails from some of our local primary school students asking questions for school projects. It seems our local students have been assigned projects on local government – which I think is great. To better understand local government, the tier of government closest to and most reflective of the people, is to better understand civics. And, in the days following the Federal Election with the inherent national focus, means these projects can bring students closer to government.
I was asked to explain Council wards. These are the areas that a local government area is split into so that the councillors elected from a ward more closely represent that ward. Our City is split into wards with roughly equal numbers of resident/electors. This means more effective and equal representation. Each councillor represents a ward. To answer another question, the six councillor who represents our wards are: Councillor George Glinatsis, Councillor Brian Troy, Councillor Anne Slattery, Councillor Stan Kondilios, Councillor Greg Mitchell and Councillor Mark Castle. As Mayor I do not represent any particular ward but am elected by all the resident/electors of the City. I applaud the interest in local government being shown by these school projects and I hope my answers to questions I’ve received will help. Civics is a great subject to study.
I was asked to explain Council wards. These are the areas that a local government area is split into so that the councillors elected from a ward more closely represent that ward. Our City is split into wards with roughly equal numbers of resident/electors. This means more effective and equal representation. Each councillor represents a ward. To answer another question, the six councillor who represents our wards are: Councillor George Glinatsis, Councillor Brian Troy, Councillor Anne Slattery, Councillor Stan Kondilios, Councillor Greg Mitchell and Councillor Mark Castle. As Mayor I do not represent any particular ward but am elected by all the resident/electors of the City. I applaud the interest in local government being shown by these school projects and I hope my answers to questions I’ve received will help. Civics is a great subject to study.
Remembering forever VP Day
On the August 15 we recognized VP Day which coincides with the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day (VP Day). Keep 45 Alive Committee is assisting the Australian War Memorial and the National Library of Australia in creating a living memory of VP Day in 1945.
On August 15, 1945 the then Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced: “Fellow citizens, the War is over.” Australia reacted to the news with wild celebrations – right across the nation. Via the RSL, a group of volunteers is working to record memories of that momentous day. While the numbers of people who celebrated VP Day is dwindling, we need to collect and keep their individual stories – their whereabouts, their emotions and their activities of that day in August so long ago. A website has been established (www.keep45alive.org.au <http://www.keep45alive.org.au/> ) as the gateway for the collection of the stories and I’d urge those who remember that day to participate in the preservation of an important day in our nation’s history. VP Day in Australia was the day when, perhaps, the greatest celebration this nation has ever witnessed took place. Let’s not let it be forgotten.
On August 15, 1945 the then Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced: “Fellow citizens, the War is over.” Australia reacted to the news with wild celebrations – right across the nation. Via the RSL, a group of volunteers is working to record memories of that momentous day. While the numbers of people who celebrated VP Day is dwindling, we need to collect and keep their individual stories – their whereabouts, their emotions and their activities of that day in August so long ago. A website has been established (www.keep45alive.org.au <http://www.keep45alive.org.au/> ) as the gateway for the collection of the stories and I’d urge those who remember that day to participate in the preservation of an important day in our nation’s history. VP Day in Australia was the day when, perhaps, the greatest celebration this nation has ever witnessed took place. Let’s not let it be forgotten.
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