Join us on September 8 for Bushcare’s National Day

Join us to celebrate Bushcare’s National Major Day Out with the Stringybark Creek Bushcare Group on Saturday 8 September from 9am-12noon.

Enjoy a short guided bushwalk and see highlights of the Batten Reserve and Stringybark Creek.  Then spend some time planting native shurbs and trees.

Meet at the entrance to Batten Reserve adjacent to 16 Merinda St, Lane Cove North.

Wear sturdy shoes, bring a hat, gloves and water.

Bring your friends and family.

RSVP and more infromation contact: 9911 3583 or email bushcare@lanecove.nsw.gov.au

As 8 September is also Council Election day join us before or after you have voted and meet some of your neighbours and local residents in this beautiful bushland of ours.

150 Epping Rd Development Concept Approved

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) has approved a development concept consisting of 400 residential apartments, retail, commerical and community space, in a combination of six buildings including a 20 storey tower block at 150 Epping Rd.

The development is on the site of the Shell Petrol station on Epping Rd in the Lane Cove West Industrial Precinct.

Local residents groups, environmental groups and Lane Cove Council objected to the development due to the building height and design being out of character with Lane Cove, impacts on bushland and native flora and fauna, traffic issues, bushfire risks, and the lack of assessment of the local infrastructure to support a development of this size. Representatives from these groups spoke at a public hearing in June 2012.

Following this public meeting the PAC followed up some of the issues raised at the public meeting and sought input from the Rural Fire Service.  Subsequent amendments were made to the building designs to meet required Asset Protection Zones to minimise bushfire risk and impacts on the the local environment including flora and fauna.

The PAC has released at report date 14 August 2012, noting it is satsifed the Concept Plan for the 150 Epping Rd development should be approved subject to strict compliance with State Environmental Policy – Design Quality of Residential Flat Development (SEP  65) and subject to further assessment requirements for each project or DA submitted under the Concept Plan.

To read the full PAC’s report click here http://www.pac.nsw.gov.au/tabid/60/ctl/viewreview/mid/376/pac/221/view/readonly/myctl/rev/Default.aspx

Council Elections – West Ward meeting the candidates session

Lane Cove Council elections are scheduled for Saturday 8th September 2012.

The Lane Cove West Residents Association is organising a forum to meet the West Ward Candidates on Tuesday 21 August at 7.30pm, Blackman Park Scout Hall, Lane Cove West.

Candidates will present their policies followed by a Q&A session.

All local residents are welcome.

Voting is compulsary. For further informatoion on Council elections and polling booth information go to http://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ and click on 2012 Council elections.

Have your say NSW Government Planning Review

The NSW Government has released its Green Paper on 14 July outlining its position and proposed approach to the overhaul of NSW planning laws and processes.

This important to everyone as it will guide how planning will be governed in the future, how development applications will be asssessed and reviewed and our rights as individuals and a community to ‘have a say’ in development in our area.

We don’t want a repeat of what happened with the planning process in the Mowbray Precinct – planning studies being conducted AFTER the area was re-zoned for high density and forced zoning onto the Council by the State Government.

The SBCRA is currently preparing our response to this Green Paper, you can too.

Have your say by sending a response to the government on the proposed planning changes. You can down load the Green Paper by going to http://haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/newplanningsystem

This document is open for public comment until Friday 14 September 2012.

Read more about the SBCRA’s involvement in the NSW Planning Review

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you heard the Powerful Owl?

The SBCRA is participating again in Birdlife Australia’s Powerful Owl breeding study.

We know that the Batten Reserve had evidence of roosting of the Powerful Owl last year.  We want to know if the owls are back again this year, and ideally if they are breeding in our area.

Breeding for the owls generally takes place from May-October.

The Powerful Owl is Australia’s largest species of owl which are also listed as vulnerable in NSW. It is about 55cm tall and characterised by its large yellow eyes, massive talons, white and grey-brown plumage and its distinctive deep ‘whoo-hoo’ call.

For more information and an image of the Powerful Owl check out: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/powerful-owl-wbc.html

If you have recently  heard the Powerful Owl, please contact us on contact@sbcra.org.au and let us know the location.

Trees wrongly removed from development site

Two mature gums trees that were marked for retention have been removed from one of the development sites in the Mowbray Precinct.

Residents had alerted Council staff about the issue, however by the time the Council staff member inspected the site the following the day the trees were already gone.

The trees had contained birds nest and were an important food source and habitat for wildlife in the area.

The North Shore Times reported on the incident and invites residents to comment on their response to this matter http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/trees-wrongly-cut-down-in-mowbray-rd-precinct/

Excavation time reduced but not working hours

Lane Cove Councillors considered a report by Council staff on Saturday building and construction hours in the Mowbray Precinct at their May Council meeting.

This report was produced as a request by some Councillors concerned about the the extensive development potential of the Precinct, and the impact of demolition and excavation works to date.

Even though surrounding Councils have reduced working hours on a Saturday and many residents spoke at the Council meeting highlighting the impact of the noise from the development sites, Lane Cove Councillors voted to retain the extended Saturday working hours in the Mowbray Precinct, but restrict excavation, haulage truck movements, rock picking, jack-hammering and pile driving.

The North Shore Times 2 June edition includes a report on resident pleas and concerns regarding this issue  http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hyecorp-property-group-lane-cove-council-mowbray-rd-gordon-crescent-megan-agnew/

It also invites residents to comment on the article outlining their experiences.

JRPP refuses $47m development

The Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) assessed and refused Hyecorp’s $47 million development application for Centennial Ave and Gordon Crescent properties at  Lane Cove Council Chambers on Thursday 17 May based on

• Non compliance with the LEP height standard
• Excavation of the site below the existing ground leve resulting in reduced amenity to a substantial number of units
• Inadequate building separations

The Panel was mindful of difficulties in developing the site due to its topography. Development is possible on this site, however it may need to be at a reduced density then what was proposed in Hyecorp’s development application.

This has been the largest development application to be submitted in the Mowbray Precinct to date.  Hyecorp’s unsuccessful development application included the demolition of 11 houses and the construction of three residential flat buildings incorporating 186 dwellings, a shop and basement car park for 295 cars. Full details can be read in the minutes of the meeting on the JRPP website http://www.jrpp.nsw.gov.au/DevelopmentRegister/tabid/62/ctl/view/mid/424/JRPP_ID/940/language/en-AU/Default.aspx

Say high to Lane Cove Council’s backflip

The North Shore Times has reported on Lane Cove Council’s 16 April Council meeting where the majority of the Councillors voted to endorse the zoning of the Mowbray Precinct as high density, with a few minor exceptions.

Read more. http://north-shore-times.whereilive.com.au/news/comments/say-high-to-lane-cove-councils-backflip/

High density zoning to remain in Mowbray Precinct

Lane Cove Councillors in their meeting of 16 April endorsed the proposed amendments to the 2009 Local Environment Plan (LEP) for the Mowbray Precinct with only a few minor amendments.

The majority of the Councillors voted to retain the R4 high denisty zoning in the Mowbray Precinct. The only exception Council has made from high denisty zoning in the Precinct are:

1. A small area of the bushland streets of Kullah Pde, Pinaroo and Merinda Streets.  Council has zoned this area E4 Environment Living, due to large Asset Protection Zones (the set back required due to the bushfire prone area) precluding high density developments on these sites.
2. A small section of Mindarie St directly above Kullah Pde. Council has zoned this area as E4 Enviromental Living to keep a dedicated ‘precinct’ of E4 zoning and alleviate the impacts of amenity loss on the single dwellings of Kullah Pde. Read the rest of this entry »