Hawkesbury Post February 2024

February EDITION 2023

Richmond Bridge Project Underway without Flood Study

Hawkesbury sailor Alice Parker is Making Waves

See page 9

See page 3

www.hawkesburypost.com.au

Our Hearts Are Broken

Photo credit: Peter Haynes Perspectives

“They were both beautiful boys, and it’s just a tragic set of circumstances that we now have to deal with and try to make some sense of this nonsensical situation. It’s hard, it really is,” Luke Simpson, the grieving father of 16-year-old Matthew Simpson, shared as he grappled with the devastating loss of his son and his son’s friend, 17-year-old Addison Bhimjiani.

The two young lives were cut short in a horrific accident that unfolded on Windsor Road at McGraths Hill last month.

Since the accident, there has been an outpouring of grief in the Hawkesbury, with family, friends, school mates, and the broader community mourning the untimely deaths of Matthew and Addison. Speaking to the Hawkesbury Post, Luke Simpson spoke of the vibrant spirit and heart of gold that was Matthew Simpson.

“Matty was loved by everybody who he came in contact with. He had plenty of family and friends, and we’re doing okay, as best as can be,” Luke said, the heartbreak palpable in his voice.

“He was the young man who would easily give you the shirt off his back but then he’d take the chewing gum out of your pocket. He was a cheeky, mischievous little larrikin. He had two attitudes. He had his crankiness and then he had his heart of gold, there was no in between. He was always polite and thankful for everything that was ever given to him.”

Luke recalled Matthew’s zest for life, his love for sports, and the large and diverse group of friends he had.

“He had mates across so many different areas of the Hawkesbury. He had moved into a group a little bit older than him, about one year older, and they took him under their wing, and that helped him come out of that standard 15-year-old mentality. He had just finished school and was about to hopefully start a trade this year,” Luke reminisced.

However, the promising future that lay ahead for Matthew was abruptly extinguished on the evening of Monday 15 January when the car he was a passenger

in, along with Addison, collided with a power pole on Windsor Road. Both Addison and Matthew died at the scene.

The enormity of the tragedy has been profound. The lives of two young, happy boys, on the cusp of new and exciting chapters in their lives, ended shortly after working out together at the gym. The 17-year old provisional driver of the vehicle has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and two counts of negligent driving occasion death. A vigil at the crash site drew more than 400 people, all grappling with the harsh reality of young lives lost too soon.

Luke refrained from speculating on the cause of the accident, but underscored the need for a collective shift in driver behaviour. “There were more than 400 people at a vigil at the crash site, and you’ve just got to hope that the impact sinks in for everyone that goes there,” he said.

Expressing concern over reckless driving behaviors he witnessed even while visiting the crash site after the tragedy, Luke emphasised that irrespective of the type of car, it is driver behavior that must change. The grieving father implored the community to learn from the heartbreaking incident, urging a fundamental shift in attitudes towards responsible driving.

“At the end of the day, something has to come of this. It just has to. The behaviors have to change,” Luke insisted. In a plea for safer roads, he pointed out the challenges faced by the youth in the Hawkesbury region with few other options but to drive.

“The only way forward is to change driver behaviour.

The ability for our youth to drive vehicles is a must, however you see everywhere that speed is glorified either in movies or video games - if you go fast it makes you feel better. But tragically, our families now have exclusive membership to a group that no one ever wants to be a part of.”

In support of the Simpson family a Gofundme page has been established. You can contribute at ‘Gofundme Matthew Simpson’.

2

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

EDITORIAL

Urgent Reckoning for Road Safety Crisis www.hawkesburypost.com.au www.facebook.com/hawkesburypost How to get the News The Hawkesbury Post is available at all Hawkesbury newsagents free of charge and 80 other local locations.

Online All stories can be found online.

New stories are added daily.

Contacts Editorial info@hawkesburypost.com.au Advertising advertise@hawkesburypost.com.au Design and production Design2Pro

For some time it has seemed that rising road tolls were a thing of the past. But the Hawkesbury local government area has emerged with a grim distinction as the worst in NSW for road fatalities among young men aged 17 to 20 over the past five years. This sobering reality, which claimed five young lives from 2019 to January 2024, requires immediate and targeted action.

The expansive Hawkesbury electorate, combined with a lack of alternative transport options, leaves our youth with limited choices, predominantly relying on driving. Compounding this challenge are substandard road conditions, with poorly lit, narrow, and inadequately maintained roads creating an unsafe environment for less experienced drivers. At the same time the road statistics show driver behaviour is the main con-

tributing factor to the fatalities.

The forthcoming safety forum initiated by the NSW Government is a commendable step, yet its success hinges on translating discussions into actionable strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by individual communities, including the Hawkesbury. The recent tragic accident involving 17-year-olds Matthew Simpson and Addison Bhimjiani, on a well-maintained road, underscores the critical need for a nuanced approach.

Data from Transport for NSW exposes speeding as a pervasive factor in road fatalities among 17 to 20-year-olds in the Hawkesbury but also, half of all fatalities in the LGA. There needs to be a shift in focus towards behavioral changes, augmented by enhanced awareness and responsible driving practices.

The tragic loss of lives, exemplified by the 70% increase in fatalities in the early part of 2024, underscores the urgency of not just government but collective action.

While infrastructure upgrades are crucial, empowering the Hawkesbury community to foster a culture of responsible driving is equally vital. This is a call to parents, educators, and community leaders to engage in open dialogues about road safety. By fostering awareness and instilling responsible driving practices, we can collectively work towards reducing the toll on our roads and ensuring the well-being of our youth and spare future generations the heartbreak we currently endure.

Take care.

Editor, Samantha Magnusson sam@hawkesburypost.com.au

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Payrise For Hawkesbury Council General Manager

The One to Watch: Alice Parker Making Waves in Sailing In the fast-paced world of sailing, where precision and skill are paramount, 29-year-old Hawkesbury-born sailor Alice Parker is making waves. She may still be considered an “up-and-coming” talent yet her achievements in the sailing world show that she’s already a force to be reckoned with.

Alice’s latest triumph came in her fourth Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race aboard the RP72 URM. As the navigator, she played a crucial role in the success of the campaign, a journey that began a year ago with meticulous planning and numerous coastal races along the southern shores of Sydney and up to Port Stephens.

The URM team, led by skipper Marcus Ashley-Jones and owner Anthony Johnston, secured third place line honours in the 628 nautical mile race. It was a bittersweet result for Parker with URM narrowly missing out on the winner’s handicap trophy, coming second. That was won by the 66-foot Alive navigated

by Adrienne Cahalan, a woman who Parker sees as an inspiration for her own sailing and navigating.

Cahalan for her part had only praise for the 29-year old telling Sail World after the race: “She’ll be taking my job soon.”

The URM crew is a family affair, with all four Johnson brothers contributing their skills to the program, creating a tight-knit and successful crew which Parker relishes. Her journey into the crew was through word of mouth. With years of sailing experience under her belt, she was recommended as a navigator when the team was on the lookout for one. “I gave her a call and asked her a few questions about her navigation and the way she does it. It was just an instant fit. She has a great personality and as soon as we got her onboard we knew she is probably one of the best navigators certainly in Australia, if not the world sailing scene,” Ashley-Jones said.

Her expertise and passion for sailing made her a perfect fit, and over the past year she has become an integral part of the URM sailing program.

“Before you become a navigator you need to be a great sailor. She’s certainly got the tactical nouse, the natural feel of sailing and is across all the latest technology in navigation, she delivers the information in a diligent way. She’s a fantastic communicator, very smart, very intelligent, a great personality,” Ashley-Jones said.

“She’s in charge of telling 20 guys on one of the hottest boats in Australia where to go and she’s made, over the last couple of seasons, some incredible tactical decisions based on her research and the weather, and they’ve all come through which is showing on the results page,” he said.

Previously Parker sailed on the Farr 45 Pretty Woman and has now completed two Sydney to Hobart races on URM. Her sailing roots, remarkably, trace back to her bush upbringing in Bowen Mountain, when her parents bought a 7-metre yacht kindling her love for the sport.

“We used to go out to Pittwater and to have little weekends away on it, which was really, really cool.

And then when I got a little bit older my cousin who lives in Newport was really into sailing and I got thrown in the dingy at a club called Bayview Yacht Racing Association which is just on Pittwater and I had a go at it and just loved it,” Parker recalls.

Continued on page 10

Hawkesbury City Council General Manager, Elizabeth Richardson contract renewal will be discussed by Councillors this week (Jan.30) only a few months after she was handed a pay rise of 5% that will see her salary jump to $372,868.

The pay increase was approved unanimously by all HCC’s 12 councillors despite a cost of living crisis and ahead of an expected re-signing of Richardson’s contract this year. She was employed in April 2021 following the controversial sacking of previous GM Peter Conroy in November 2020 with just three days notice.

Richardson’s three year contract expires on June 1, 2024 and despite her pay hike, the Hawkesbury Post understands that a number of councillors have a range of concerns - about her management of the HCC. Some of these were raised at a council briefing on Jan 23.

While the HCC met some performance measures according to the annual report, it had a number of notable and expensive stumbles this year. This included the unprecedented $32.5 million loan for the mismanagement of Windsor sewer Rising Main C repair, that resulted in a 14% hike in sewerage rates in the LGA this financial year. Other issues mismanaged by council included the Lower Portland Ferry contract and four years on, the collapsed riverbank at Cornwallis has not yet been resolved.

Richardson’s employment agreement including any hurdles for pay increases is confidential, an HCC spokesman said. Other council staff received a 4.5% increase, meaning that the GM received a larger rise in both percentage and total amount than any of her staff.

Richardson began her initial three-year term on June 1 2021. Her previous role was as the Chief Operating Officer, Director of Development and Recreation, at Inner West Council which she had held since 2019.

HCC employs 367 people.

Still, Richardson’s salary is in the mid range of NSW councils. A 2021 report found that the total average remuneration received by a NSW council general manager in 2019-2020 was $328,287 per annum.

“General manager remuneration is highly influenced by population levels and the challenges of managing larger councils such as greater operational complexity, higher staffing levels and higher revenue/expenditure bases, “ the Office of Local Government report found.

There were four senior staff positions employed under contract by Council between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. These positions were General Manager, Director Infrastructure Services, Director City Planning, and Director Corporate Services, according to the HCC Annual Report for 2020-2023.

Continued on page 24

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Urgent Measures Needed as Road Deaths Rise The Hawkesbury local government area has emerged as the worst in NSW for road fatalities among young men aged 17 to 20 over the past five years. There are now calls for an urgent need for increased awareness and targeted measures to address the issue.

Five young lives, all male, have been taken in road accidents in the Hawkesbury from 2019 to January 2024. The tragic trend coincides with a nationwide increase in road fatalities post-COVID, reaching 1,266 deaths in Australia in 2023, a 7.3% rise from the previous year.

In NSW 360 people died on the roads in 2023, a rise of 32%.

Concerned by the road toll, the NSW Government will run a safety forum later this month to address the escalating number of road-related deaths.

Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, said there had been “really significant changes” to driver behaviour since the pandemic and attributed it to an increased road toll nationwide. She said police were reporting an increase in speeding, people driving under the influence and poor decision making. “We don’t know quite what’s going on”.

In early January 17-year-old schoolboys, Matthew Simpson and Addison Bhimjiani, died when the car they were passengers in hit a telegraph pole on Windsor Rd, McGraths Hill. The teenaged driver has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, and two counts of negligent driving occasioning death.

Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary Safety,

The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop 30

19m 27m

40

50

37m

60

56m *Typical stopping distances when driving on a reasonable road surface

Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW, said every death or serious injury on NSW roads is a tragedy and the impact echoes through the community.

“The road toll is not just a number, it is

someone’s loved one – a mother, a father, a son or daughter, or a colleague or friend,” Webb told the Hawkesbury Post.

“The NSW Government continues to deliver a range of road safety measures

to improve safety in NSW including lifesaving infrastructure treatments, road safety education and campaigns, as well as police and automated enforcement.

“The NSW Government is committed to lowering the toll but we can’t do it alone – we need everyone to work together so everyone makes it home safely,” she said.

Data from Transport for NSW showed that prior to the accident, speeding was a factor in all fatalities amongst 17 to 20 year olds in the Hawkesbury. In the Hawkesbury, a total of 17 lives were lost in road accidents over the five-year span, with 745 individuals sustaining injuries.

Of the fatalities, 15 were men, and two were women.

From 2018 to 2022, speeding was a significant factor in 50% of all road fatalities in the Hawkesbury, regardless of age. In 2022, an alarming 67% of fatalities were linked to speeding incidents. This stands in stark contrast to the broader Sydney region, where speeding accounted for 34%, and the rest of New South Wales, where it constituted 40% of road deaths during the same period.

The beginning of 2024 has seen a horrific 70% increase in fatalities compared to the same period last year in NSW. The majority of victims were men, who are three times more likely to die in road accidents than women.

One of the trends emerging from the data is an increase in road fatalities in NSW post-COVID, ending a three-year decline in serious injuries and deaths recorded on the State’s roads.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

SUSAN TEMPLEMAN MP

Federal Member for Macquarie Opinion

Susan Templeman

Sexual violence is an all too common experience for people across Australia including here in the Hawkesbury. While anyone can be the target of sexual violence, the rate of women and girls who are victims and survivors is alarmingly high, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing one in five Australian women have experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 15.

There is no place in our community for sexual violence, and we are all safer when sexual offenders are held accountable for their actions. Sadly 92% of women who were victims of sexual violence did not report the most recent incident to police, according the ABS.

I’ve spoken to victims and survivors over many years, met with, and worked with advocacy groups, and a common theme is that engaging with authorities and seeking help through the justice system has created more trauma and contributed to the feelings of isolation and shame that can follow a sexual assault.

We cannot accept that. My heart goes out to people who have been assaulted, whether or not they feel able to report the violence.

Everyone needs to feel confident in contacting the police and getting the help they need, as well as being able to access support throughout the process.

That’s why Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus along with Minister for Women Senator Katy Gallagher and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth have just announced that the Australian Law Reform Commission will undertake an inquiry into the justice system’s response to sexual violence.

This inquiry is a crucial element of the Albanese Government $14.7m commitment to strengthen the way the criminal justice system responds to sexual assault, to improve the experience of victims and survivors, and to prevent further harm through the justice process.

This review will look at many aspects of the justice system, police responses, different approaches outside the traditional court system, and how we can better offer support for victims and survivors once they report an assault.

While the occurrence of sexual violence is painfully common, the actual experience and views of victims and survivors have far too often been seen as an afterthought or completely ignored by decision makers. We want this inquiry to be thorough and comprehensive, so the Government has established a sexual violence, lived-experience Expert Advisory Group (Advisory Group).

Victims and survivors have a unique understanding of the services and systems available to support others.

They know what is working, what isn’t working and what we can do to best support the people engaging with the system, so more victims and survivors feel confident in seeking help.

The Advisory Group will make sure real life experiences are at the centre of the inquiry by working closely with the ALRC, and following the inquiry, will advise the Government on implementing the recommendations.

Last year over 60 women were violently killed. Our Government knows

that violence against women is a serious challenge and we are taking real action to address it. We’re investing $2.3 billion to end family, domestic and sexual violence with a goal to end it in one generation.

This issue is too important to ignore and while the Law Reform Commission is not due to report for 12 months, I will be following the inquiry’s progress closely.

If you or someone you know is impacted by family, domestic or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732. These services are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

ROBYN PRESTON MP

State Member for Hawkesbury Opinion

Robyn Preston

I have just received a briefing from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) on the new Richmond Bridge project. The $500 million project is 80% funded by the Federal Government and 20% from the NSW Government.

TfNSW has been consulting with the community, continuing design work and undertaking noise and vibration studies along the proposed route. I have been assured that TfNSW will provide on-going opportunities for you to have your say.

TfNSW is aiming to have a Review

of Environmental Factors (REF) released to the public later this year. The REF will have proposed designs of the bridge and associated road changes, including the bypass on the south side of the Richmond Bridge. There will be more details on plans to manage vegetation, noise, vibration and traffic movements. The public will have four weeks to provide submissions to the REF and TfNSW will respond. The community does not have to wait for the REF, to have input.

TfNSW will be getting underway

with early works, such as relocation of utilities, throughout 2024. The project managers hope to start work in 2026 with a construction period of three years.

I am pleased to see this important project proceeding through its preliminary stages, including extensive community engagement.

I am insisting TfNSW keep residents informed. I strongly urge anyone affected by the new bridge and roadworks to visit the website or call 1800 370 778.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Koala Habitat to be Razed for New Kurrajong Development Environmentalist have raised serious concerns about massive clearing of koala habitat in Kurrajong, citing habitat destruction as the biggest threat to the endangered marsupials.

The latest plans, by a developer new to the Hawkesbury, propose to raze more than 95 percent of trees in a koala habitat area as part of plans to build a 29 home residential development on bush acreage.

The developer Monterea Land Holdings Pty Ltd has submitted plans with Hawkesbury City Council to modify an approved development on the 3.2 hectare site.

“The leading reason for the plummeting of Koala numbers in Australia is habitat destruction and the fragmentation of existing Koala habitat,” WIRES Koala expert Morgan Philpot told the Hawkesbury Post.

“Of course there are numerous other contributing factors to the decline in Koala numbers in this country but habitat destruction unequivocally remains the number one cause of their unrelenting march into extinction,” he said In 2017 developer PRJM Pty Ltd was awarded approval by the Land and Environment Court for a 37 lot subdivision at the bush block at 67 Kurrajong Rd, Kurrajong despite significant community and council objections. Part of the conditions imposed by the court included the acquisition of a water license from IPART and approval from Council to gain relevant approvals for sewerage works before any construction begins.

New documents lodged with Hawkesbury Council by the new owners/developers Monterea Land Holdings Pty Ltd show they are seeking to modify the approved plans and build 29 new homes on the site and an alternative method of effluent disposal, for which detailed

A koala sighted near the new development on the 1st of September 2023

plans are not included in the application.

The proposed development of the site has long been a source of controversy due to amongst other things, numerous sightings of koalas on the block. The site is also home to Butcher birds, Bower birds, Shrikes, Magpies, Kookaburras, Crimson Rosellas, Eastern Rosellas, Black Cockatoos.There are also possums, bandicoots and microbats.

Under the new plans just 14 trees would be retained. “In summary, of the one hundred and forty-seven (147) trees identified, one hundred and thirtythree (133) will require removal to

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facilitate the subdivision and associated infrastructure,” Concept Arbor Consulting said in their report for the developer.

Trees on the site are predominantly Cabbage Gum and Parramatta Wattle (which we call Black Wattle) plus Forest Red Gum, Grey, Gum, Southern Mahogany and Silky Oak, according to residents.

Philpot said it is incomprehensible that this development has been granted approval to get to this stage.

“The anticipated loss of 133 of the 147 trees on site is staggering. A significant number of these trees are red gums,

( E. Tereticornis and E. Amplifolia).

These are primary Koala food trees!

One glance at Google Earth shows this area represents a large portion of our Koala corridor and is vital to connecting the already fragmented Koala habitat.

This is critical core Koala habitat within Kurrajong Village,” Philpot said.

“Over the last 5 years we’ve experienced a steady rise in Koala sightings in and around this immediate area. We are seeing more Koalas each year in the Village itself. The potential loss of this area will have a huge negative impact on our local Koalas,” he said.

Residents are also concerned about the storm water which is slated to run into the drain under Kurrajong Road near the Baptist church. The drain is part of a tributary system which runs in Little Wheeny Creek. The tributary system is around 50 metres at most from the stormwater outlet. Platypus have been sighted for years in Little Wheeny Creek near the back of 76 Kurrajong Road, which is one of the two properties opposite 67.

They also say that the development will increase traffic along Kurrajong Road which is old and narrow and will have a negative impact on pedestrians, residents and other road users.

The first development plans for the site were submitted in December 2015, for 52 lots housing 50 homes. Alongside this, developers presented an alternative, less densely populated proposal consisting of eight lots. However, both submissions were rejected by council, leading to the court action by PRJM. The latest development follows previous koala habitat clearing by local developer Matthew Bennett who is currently in the process of building two new developments in Kurrajong.

8

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Fire Chiefs’ Council Slap-Down Looks to have Finally Delivered New RFS HQ

HCC keen to distance itself from the “sod turning” ceremony.

A public rocket put up Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) last December, regarding its failure to find a site for a new $8 million Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters more than two years after funding was announced, appears to be paying dividends. HCC is now claiming that a solution is finally in sight.

“Council is currently undertaking further feasibility investigations on a new preferred site. It is expected that a report will be considered at February’s Ordinary Meeting of Council seeking endorsement for the new location”, General Manager, Elizabeth Richarson, said in response to questions from the Hawkesbury Post.

It is understood that a key site being considered is one that is co-located with State Emergency Services HQ at Wilberforce.

A public spat had erupted between local Hawkesbury RFS chiefs who were frustrated by ongoing delays, council management and its Mayor, Sarah McMahon.

Thirty two Brigade Captains slammed HCC in an open letter to council (and also sent to the Hawkesbury Post), for failing to provide land for the project.

The failure by Council to secure land to replace the aged headquarters brought accusations of delay and inaction. Without a new site an $8 million government grant to build the facility is at risk of being lost.

“At a recent Captains’ briefing provided by Hawkesbury FCO Superintendent, Karen Hodges, we were shocked to learn that there has been no progress in the building of an urgently needed replacement District Fire Control Centre; a project announced in 2021 and scheduled for completion in 2024, and backed by $8 million of funding from the NSW RFS,” East Kurrajong Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Captain, Ian Luck, said in a note to the Hawkesbury Post that contained the letter.

In response to the letter, seen as

unnecessary by several members of Council, HCC issued an aggressive media release, but both HCC and Cr McMahon then recommitted to finding a suitable site.

HCC blamed the delays in establishing a new Fire Control Centre on federal planning laws and the Hawkesbury RFS, which it claims has “vetoed every step of the way.” However, HCC did acknowledge that they had not yet identified a suitable site that it can offer from its “limited property portfolio.”

“It is therefore regrettable that the Hawkesbury District RFS leadership has seemingly failed to explain to the local brigades the many challenges with identifying suitable land for the Centre. Instead, it appears that the Hawkesbury RFS has sought to deflect and apportion blame to Council rather than choosing to work together to get the necessary work done to build the new Fire Control Centre that the Hawkesbury needs and deserves,” HCC said in its statement.

In the ugly spat Cr McMahon - who has used her Mayoral Facebook page to make statements about various matters in her interests - took issue with the concerns of the 32 local fire chiefs.

She described their actions as “regrettable” and “disheartening.”

In December, Mayor McMahon held a Fire Control Centre summit in the wake of the criticism from fire chiefs.

Cr McMahon said the summit had been planned a month earlier in November, but it was not held until five days into summer.

“We welcome the HCC’s commitment to this vital community project that was announced in yesterday’s media release,” the fire chiefs said following the meeting. “This topic has generated obvious community interest and the Brigade Captains are keen to see a constructive approach prevail to achieve a desirable outcome. We understand that further discussions with Council are planned and we look forward to learning more details about the pathway forward in the near future.”

9

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Construction for New Richmond Bridge Underway Without Flood Study

The revised option confirms the route and will see a bridge being built at a 1 in 20 year flood resilience level around 30-70m downstream of the existing structure. The existing bridge will be retained.

The proposed route for the $500 million duplication bridge over the Hawkesbury River at Richmond has been set in stone, with the alternative “Purple Route” now resigned to history despite no Environmental Impact Study (EIS) being completed.

Transport for NSW has confirmed that the new Richmond bridge will be built about 50 metres downstream of the existing bridge offering only 1 in 20 year flood resilience - far lower than most residents want. The decision has been made in the absence of any flood study, which is yet to be completed. January’s rain caused localised flooding in the Hawkesbury, especially in Richmond Lowlands.

Inalls Lane entrance, a key road to the new bridge, was among the first roads to close.

The Minns government has already begun work on Stage 2 of the new Richmond bridge and traffic improvements project. “Route discussions have ended,” Transport for NSW project manager, Tim Webster, told residents at a December meeting.

Webster also confirmed that historic house Durham Bowes would be affected by road widening plans. There are wide-spread concerns about the impact on shops in North Richmond. The polo community in Richmond Lowlands is also anxious the possibility of increased traffic along Old Kurrajong Road will create a risk for riders and horses.

Some residents say they are now only starting to understand what the implications of this final route may be. Others told the Hawkesbury Post that they did not understand that the “preferred option” was now the final route. TfNSW said there would be further opportunities for consultation when the EIS was released mid 2024.

In December, TfNSW representatives held a virtual meeting for Southee Road residents regarding the noise and visual impact of the new infrastructure to support the bridge project. Residents along Southee Road and Inalls Lane will be some of the most impacted by the project with increased noise, inconvenience and loss of views. Mostly those residents will not benefit from it. The new main road which will run parallel to Southee Road and be 35 - 40 metres from residents’ property boundaries and the eastern end of Southee Road will become a cul-desac.

Inalls Lane will not have a parallel road, instead it will be widened to accommodate the new road with an 80km an hour speed limit. At this stage it is unclear how close that road will be to the front boundaries of properties along Inalls Lane but there will be some acquisition of paddocks along Inalls Lane.

One property will be acquired in full.

It is likely that houses at the Castlereagh Road end of Inalls Lane will have turning restrictions in and out of their driveways.

Residents were told that the paddock and Blue Mountain views they have enjoyed will be replaced with either a mound or a wall - both designed to limit noise. It will be between 3.5 and 4.5 metres high. The final design and height will depend on further community consultation and design work, TfNSW said The cherished 100-year-old pecan trees along Southee Road will survive but more trees are likely to be removed in the event of a mound rather than a wall option to mitigate sound. Houses that fall within the gaps of the mound or wall structure will be treated with noise reduction measures such as double glazing. Despite pleas by the owners of Durham Bowes on Inalls Lane to protect the historic house from the changes, it will not be spared. While no land will be acquired, the road will move close to the historic home’s front fence.

There were no details yet about how the changes would affect Hobartville Public School and the surrounding traffic flow. The meeting was also told there would be an additional east bound lane at North Richmond to help traffic through the lights intersection.

The Federal and NSW governments have pledged a combined $500 million for the New Richmond Bridge.

The former Liberal NSW government announced the new “preferred option” for the bridge in December 2022, after community opposition.

Since the April 2022 change in government, work on the project has continued, and as it becomes more visible, community concerns have amplified. The previous Liberal government excluded the southern “Purple Route” as an option because it wanted to protect land designated for future property development on the western side of the river.

“Transport for NSW announced a

revised preferred option for the New Richmond Bridge and traffic improvements project in December 2022 after extensive community and stakeholder consultation. The revised preferred option confirms the route for the project

and will see a bridge being built at a 1 in 20 year flood resilience level around 30-70 metres downstream of the existing structure. The existing bridge will be retained”, a TfNSW spokesperson told the Hawkesbury Post late last year.

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10

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

The One to Watch: Alice Parker Making Waves in Sailing FROM PAGE 3 When she got a bit older, Parker joined the Youth Development Squad at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club at Pittwater. Training was Friday night followed by a day of sailing each Saturday.

“We’d jump in a car and dad would pick me up from school. We had a music playlist that was just about the right length to get us there. I’d do Friday night and sail all day Saturday and dad would go fishing or hang out on the boat. And then we’d drive back on a Saturday night ready to do my homework on a Sunday.

And that was pretty much my high school life.”

Parker’s move into navigation began around four or five years ago when veteran sailor Richard Hudson, the owner of Pretty Woman, offered her the opportunity to learn the skill. Since then, she has dedicated herself to constant improvement, taking courses, practicing rigorously, and enjoying the challenges that navigation presents.

Balancing her love for sailing with a career in physiotherapy, Parker moved from the Hawkesbury to Manly, making the pursuit of her passion more accessible. Currently working for Icare, she spent the previous five years in private practice while sailing three days a week, most weekends, and any spare afternoon she can find.

When asked about the future, Parker expresses her aspirations to sail professionally. She acknowledges the challenges faced by women in the sport, especially in physically demanding roles, but points to the increasing recognition of women’s achievements in sailing, breaking down gender barriers.

“Look, it’s hard when you’re smaller than the boys are because physically it does mean it’s harder to get ropes on

and you’re not going to be the brawn on the boat unless you are a particularly fit person,” Parker says.

“But if you look at where the sport is going and the achievements of women in the sport – the winning boat this year was Alive and they had a female navigator and we came second and we also had a female navigator. And then you look at things like the Sail GP which is a circuit going around the world at the moment and women in that are just as valuable, just as important as the boys onboard. It’s just about finding what your strengths are and playing to them. In the past few years the women have really stepped up in the sport and are the same as the blokes,” she adds.

Ashley-Jone has no doubt Parker’s future lies in professional sailing. “There is a huge amount of effort and research that goes into all her decisions. So when she brings an idea or a move she wants to do while we’re racing to the table, you know myself and all the afterguard on the boat back her 100%.”

“Absolutely, she will be at the top of the sport for many years to come,” he said.

Parker’s sights are set on more ocean and overseas racing, with dreams of participating in the Transpac and the Fastnet Race. As a navigator, she believes her strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, and the ability to simplify complex information make her a valuable asset to any sailing team.

Despite her busy schedule, Parker remains connected to her roots in the Hawkesbury. She got married here last April, and whenever possible she tries to visit her parents and friends. The Hawkesbury, with its scenic beauty and sentimental value, still holds a special place in her heart as she continues to navigate her way through the challenging waters of professional sailing.

NEW MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE HAWKESBURY By the end of this year, the Hawkesbury will have two new free mental health services for people of all ages, funded by the Albanese Government.

Based in Richmond, both Head to Health and Headspace will deliver ready access to support unlike anything the Hawkesbury has previously had.

I believe these services can change and save lives across our community.

Coming soon: Hawkesbury Headspace Located behind Coles at Richmond.

Finally, young people in the Hawkesbury will have a dedicated mental health service.

Now operating: Hawkesbury Head to Health.

This free mental health service for adults is funded by the Federal Government and available 6 days a week.

Phone: 1800 595 212

Susan Templeman with Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride at the launch of Hawkesbury Head to Health.

SUSAN TEMPLEMAN MP Authorised by S. Templeman, Labor, 299 George St Windsor NSW 2756 | T: (02) 4573 8222 | E: susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au

11

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Complaints Against Councillors Remain Behind Closed Doors A shroud of secrecy has been thrown over 23 separate complaints levelled against Hawkesbury City Councils’ 12 councillors or its General Manager under the official “Code of a Conduct” - that have cost ratepayers almost $100,000. Many of the complaints have been brought by councillors against their colleagues and used as political tools.

Yet despite the considerable time and money involved the entire process, including revealing who has been found to have breached the Code, remains secret.

No name or offenses are mentioned in the annual listing of complaints.

Of the 23 complaints in the year to August 31, 2023 six remain ongoing at the time of reporting to the November meeting of HCC. Three are currently under investigation. Of the 23 complaints, 12 were referred to a “conduct reviewer”.

Four complaints were investigated and referred to the OLG. One councilor was formally censured.

“The Model Code of Conduct sets the minimum standards of conduct for council officials. It is prescribed by regulation to assist council officials to: understand and comply with the standards of conduct that are expected of them,” the Office of Local Government States.

In Sept 2022, the previous state government delivered a damning review of the process.

The review found that councilor conduct accountability is not a problem for all councils in NSW, but is a serious problem for a few. It found that the Office of Local Government has very limited capacity under the current framework, structures and resourcing to effectively address the issues identified.

“The current framework, although formulated with good intent, contains structural, strategic and operational deficiencies that act against its effectiveness. Particular areas of concern to the sector include, lack of certainty, lack of consistency, lack of timeliness and a lack of independence. The current framework has operated for more than a decade and has not made any substantial progress in reducing councilor conduct complaints,” the review said.

While in opposition, the state government also crictised the process ,so far

Rates payers have no way of finding out if the Mayor or others have breached the rules

nothing has been initiated to make any changes.

Overall, NSW councils spent more than $1.5 million investigating code of conduct complaints against councillors and staff last year but found fewer than 50 breaches. Figures reported to the Office of Local Government showed 395 code of conduct complaints were received in 2019-20, with the cost of dealing with

them amounting to $1,593 416. However, the number of finalised complaints where a breach was found came to just 48.

The data also shows that 154 more complaints were made in 2019-20 than the previous year, while the amount spent investigating them increased by $635,000.

Yet HCC Mayor Sarah McMahon appears to have less compunction than

council management in wei;ding the facts that councillors have been found to have breached the Code having named Councillors Eddie Dogramaci and Mary Lyons Buckett It is understood that McMahon herself has been the subject of complaints yet Hawkesbury residents and ratepayers have no way of finding if she has been censured during the process - and how.

Go Slow on $50m Sewer Repair Inquiry The expensive and multi year saga of the Windsor “Rising Main C’’ sewer repair will be stretched out even further.

No action has been taken by Hawkesbury City Council management on the appointment of outside experts to audit the disaster which has cost more than $30 million.

At the Nov. 2023 meeting of HCC, Council - in response to a Notice of Motion by Councillor Eddie Dogramaci - voted to appoint a suitably qualified probity investigator, auditor, lawyer or project manager to investigate and prepare a report on both the failure of Rising Main C and the procuring of the contract to repair, replace and reconstruct the Main.

The years’ long repair and associated works blew out from $2 million to over $30 million. First broken in January 2021, the sewer was not repaired until March 2023.

The magnitude of mis-management and costs forced HCC to take out a $32.5 million loan that now weighs down its books. A myriad of questions remain about how the cost escalated to such an extraordinary level have remained unanswered. The state government has given no indication that it will bail the council out of the loan and HCC was spurned in its initial approach to Macquarie St last year.

So far, HCC has paid out more than

$1.5 million in interest fees on the loan, and if the loan remains HCC’s to pay back, it will end up costing ratepayers in the vicinity of $50 million.That is about 30% of its current annual budget. Aware already, sewerage rates were raised this financial year by a staggering 14% to help cover the loan’s costs.

The Hawkesbury Post has learned that no action has yet been taken by council in the past two months towards making known the costs of any such investigator appointment. It is also understood that it will be some months before quotes are received. HCC requested that management present them with costs before proceeding.

When queried on the state of play, a HCCGM Elizabeth Richardson confirmed that the issue was proceeding slowly blaming councillors’ insistence on seeing quotes for the review. She said that councillors would be shown quotes “in coming months”. This is likely to push the final report on the disaster into the next financial year, well beyond the September’s council elections.

In response to the motion passing, HCC noted that “the appointment of an investigator,auditor, lawyer or project manager would cost upwards of $30,000,” noting such expenditure was not in this year’s operational plan and would have to be included in a quarterly budget review.

Questions remain unanswered about sewer disaster.

12

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Heritage Showdown - The Fight To Save Allambie From Demolition

A colourised black and white image from a postwar postcard. Aproximatley 1950’s.

The fate of one of the Hawkesbury’s iconic properties will be determined next month, when the NSW Planning Panel hands down its recommendation on whether to allow the heritage-listed Allambie House in Kurrajong Heights to be demolished.

Transport for NSW, which owns the property, has submitted a development

application (DA) to demolish the property so it has the scope to widen Bells Line of Road, yet at present it has no plans to currently do so. Neither Hawkesbury City Council or local residents support the plans. Some 26 submissions have been received by the Planning Panel objecting to the DA. Both HCC and residents have argued

that the listed property has significant heritage importance and that TfNSW has failed in their duty to maintain the property. They also question TfNSW’s motivation for wanting to retain the land, questioning the likelihood of any future widening of the road.

The heritage value of Allambie, built in 1926 and listed in 1989 and recognised in two separate heritage studies in 1984 and 1987, remains a point of contention. The property has been a central part of Kurrajong Heights’ guest house accommodation, attracting visitors for decades. The committee envisions a return to private ownership and restoration of Allambie to its pre-war state, complete with its iconic 10-foot verandas and picket fencing.

“Overwhelming support in the community up here is to have Allambie returned to us and restored to its original condition as it forms the centrepiece of our village,” Kurrajong Heights Heritage Committee member, Jeremy Braithwaite, said.

“TfNSW needs to get the message that there will never be an expressway through Kurrajong Heights, or Bilpin or Bell.They need to return all the land they have got along Bells Line of Road to the community so we can recreate the community we used to have up here,” he said.

“The proposed development has not adequately demonstrated that the proposed demolition of the heritage item would conserve the environmental heritage of the Hawkesbury, the settings of the surrounding heritage-listed buildings or the heritage significance of the site in accordance with Clause 5.10 of the Hawkesbury LEP 2012. Moreover, it is considered that the issues raised in the submission reaffirm that the proposal would not be in the public interest and consequently, the assessment is concluded that the subject application be recommended for refusal,” HCC said in its submission.

Allambie is the latest heritage-listed property in the Hawkesbury to be affected by planned or future infrastructure projects. Heritage considerations of Durham Bowes at Hobartville were ignored last month when TfNSW confirmed the route for the new bridge crossing at Richmond. This will significantly widen the road onto the boundary of Durham Bowes and cut through the historical area. Likewise, heritage concerns were ignored when the Windsor Bridge was demolished and Australia’s

oldest public square, Thompson Square, was irrevocably altered from its historical state when the new Windsor bridge was built in 2020.

The Kurrajong Heights Heritage Committee said that over the years, the Department has squandered public funds on multiple studies attempting to justify a major upgrade to Bells Line of Road. These have ranged from the Bells Line Expressway in 2006, to the Strategic Corridor Plan in 2010 and the Motorway to the Kurrajong Heights Bowling Club in 2018. Each study has heightened stress for locals fearing property devaluation due to potential road intersection.

However, all these studies fell flat for a consistent reason – traffic volumes on Bells Line have remained static at around 3,500 vehicles daily for over two decades. With a population of fewer than 1,000 people along its route, Bells Line struggles to compete with the Great Western Highway, serving 79,000, making any major upgrade financially unviable.

The Kurrajong Heights Heritage Committee argues that there is no valid reason for TfNSW to retain historic Allambie or other properties along Bells Line of Road. Despite this, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) attempted to submit a demolition application for Allambie in 2006 (DA0956/06), citing the property as beyond restoration and lacking historical value. This application was later withdrawn and replaced by DA0173/22, once again proposing the demolition of the heritage-listed Allambie. The withdrawal of the original DA served to release TfNSW from any commitment to restore Allambie as had been originally proposed to HCC and this was documented in HCC’s submission to the Planning Panel.

Contrary to TfNSW’s claims, the Kurrajong Heights Heritage Committee, and Council’s Heritage Architect, Christo Aitken, have asserted that Allambie is restorable and holds historical significance, as acknowledged by the Heritage Regulation 2012. The committee has also emphasised TfNSW’s consistent failure to maintain the property.

As part of their fight against the demolition, the Kurrajong Heights Heritage Committee has submitted a comprehensive case to the HCC. The submission includes a review of Allambie’s current land value at $498,000 and estimates a potential restored value between $1.6 to $1.8 million, as suggested by local real estate agents.

13

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Firefighter Michael Kidd Farewelled Hawkesbury firefighter, Michael John Kidd, was farewelled by family, friends and colleagues at a funeral where he was given full honours.

In moving scenes, commuters stopped their cars as Michael’s coffin draped in the Australian flag was carried on a firetruck through the streets of Richmond in December, with a police escort. He was followed by colleagues in FRNSW and RFS firetrucks. As they approached St Monica’s Catholic Church in Richmond the FRNSW band joined the guard of honour to lead Michael to the church where servicemen and women, friends and family were waiting outside.

Inside the church, the congregation heard heartfelt tributes to a man described as a loving husband, doting father, wonderful older brother, and a dependable mate for colleagues. Above all, they learned of a man who would be greatly missed.

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremby Fewtrell who knew Kidd said he gave his life to protect the community and said his family have paid the price for his selfless work.

“The incident…at Grose Vale was one of thousands of incidents that Michael has attended over his years of service and each had its own danger and risks.

And while firefighting can be a dangerous activity, that does not make it ok that we have lost Michael. It is not something that we just accept, we say that Michael has made the ultimate sacrifice,” Commissioner Fewtrell said.

“But we need to make sure this is not a cliche or an empty platitude because it is a sacrifice made not just

by Michael, but by his family, his fellow firefighters and friends as we no longer have him.”

Joining Kidd’s family, friends and colleagues in the congregation at St Monica’s Church in Richmond were RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers, NSW Premier Chris Minns and Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib. The 51-year-old on-call FRNSW firefighter and veteran Rural Fire Service volunteer is survived by his wife of 25 years Rebecca and his two adult children Samantha and Lachlan. In a tribute from Rebecca read by FRNSW chaplain Lindsay Smith, Kidd was remembered as a doting and proud father. He was in recent years passionate about fitness and was a keen runner.

“Michael died doing what he loved,

helping others and putting others first,” Smith said.

Kidd’s sisters, Belinda and Elizabeth, spoke emotionally of their childhood with their older brother. He was, they said, “the architect of our most cherished memories.” “As we say farewell to Michael, it’s important we remember the values he cherished: love, family and the importance of staying connected,” Elizabeth said.

Kidd served as an on-call firefighter, attached to Richmond Fire Station, since joining in 2010. He was awarded a National Emergency Medal and a Premier’s Bushfire Citation for protecting his local community during the 2019-20

Black Summer bushfires.In 2020, he was recognised with a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. Michael had also been a volunteer member of the RFS since 1989, for which he received a National Medal and a Long Service Medal in 2013.

Michael died on December 12 when attending to a fire at a luxury holiday home at Grose Vale. At the time of the blaze the house was not being rented.

Police said he collapsed at the scene when he was struck by what appeared to be a falling beam. Despite immediate CPR efforts by emergency personnel, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries on-site.

14

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Yuliia’s Immigration and Entrepreneurial Journey Yuliia Moxon, the owner of The Laser Clinic in Hawkesbury, shares her thoughts on Australia with a pragmatic perspective. “Since I moved to Australia, I have experienced those bushfires, floods, and Covid,” she remarks with a laugh. Yet despite the initial welcome, Yuliia emphasises the importance of staying positive and talks passionately about the unique beauty of her new home.

“There are lots of nice things here.

I am still very surprised when I see a kangaroo in the wild, it always makes my day. People don’t realise how beautiful nature is here. How many beautiful animals and very rare animals,” Yuliia says.

“I saw an echidna one day in my yard.

It is lovely in Australia. When I see a cockatoo, black cockatoo flying around my house sometimes, it’s amazing. It’s like living in paradise. You don’t see this in Europe, never such a variety of animals. You can’t be so close to the nature there.”

Yuliia’s journey from Ukraine to Australia is marked by a quest for personal and professional fulfillment.

Arriving in 2019, she initially grappled with adapting to a new language and environment. Seeking a purpose beyond the confines of her home, Yuliia who had always held an interest in beauty, discovered a passion for skin treatments through conversations with friends.

Despite initial doubts about changing careers at the age of 36, she enrolled at the Australian Academy of Beauty and Laser in Bella Vista.

After completing her studies, Yuliia ventured into the beauty industry, gaining experience at various salons. It was during this time that she began to notice the distinctions between Australian

Yuliia has invested in state of the art equipment to ensure her clients receive the best results.

and European beauty services. Inspired to bring a touch of European personal service to the Hawkesbury, Yuliia envisioned a beauty clinic that combined the best of both worlds.

The journey from concept to reality wasn’t without challenges. Determined to offer premium services, Yuliia invested in state-of-the-art Italian laser equipment, despite the financial considerations. Reflecting on the decision to invest, she notes, “If you’re going to do something, it should be something you’re proud of.” Her commit-

ment to providing quality treatments and a personalised experience led to the establishment of The Laser Clinic in Hawkesbury.

At her clinic, clients benefit from a personal touch, with the same professional handling their treatments for optimal results. She says that way she can follow the progress of the treatment for each client. The response from clients has been fantastic, she says.

“I really like it here. The people are friendly and since my first day I have feelings that everyone is trying to help

me, you know. Since I started at college, the teachers have been trying to, my new friends and all my clients. It’s a really open, supportive and friendly community,” she says.

As Yuliia continues to build her life and business in Australia, she stays connected with her family in Ukraine.

Her parents’ experiences in the midst of global events underscore the challenges faced by many immigrants and the concerns they have for family back home.

Yet, Yuliia remains appreciative of the opportunities Australia has provided.

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15

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Major Racing Boost for Hawkesbury Amid Rosehill Shake-Up Racing NSW has recently purchased two properties near Hawkesbury Race Club as NSW witnesses a generational overhaul of Sydney racetracks, led by the $5 billion possible sale of Rosehill Gardens.

Racing NSW told the Hawkesbury Post, that it plans to build 150 new stables on the edge of the Hawkesbury racecourse that will increase the number of horses stabled at the HRC by almost 30 percent. It has also purchased two properties adjacent to the racetrack which will be leased out to trainers.

Rosehill Gardens Racecourse may be sold off by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) to build 25,000 homes to house up to 100,000 people. The announcement shocked many in the racing industry, including leading trainer ,Gai Waterhouse, who has asked the government and ATC to reconsider the move. Other trainers, such as Wayne Hawkes, have come out in favour of the massive cash injection the deal will give the ATC. Hawkesbury Race Club CEO, James Heddo, told the Hawkesbury Post that HRC was well positioned to take on more horses and is open to discussions about any additional workload as may be required.

“Currently we have about 250 horses use the training facility each morning, that’s only at about 40% capacity of what we could cater for but that depends on increased stabling. Racing NSW have bought land adjacent to the racecourse with a view to building stabling,” Heddo said.

“We have certainly indicated we are very excited with any opportunity to expand our racing and training program and are more than happy to be working with Racing NSW to achieve positive outcomes. The sale of Rosehill is only a

proposal at this stage and may be five to ten years but I do believe Hawkesbury is well positioned to take some of that workload that Rosehill currently have,” he said.

Hawkesbury Race Club is on majority Crown land, about 15 years into a 99year lease. Unlike Randwick, Rosehill, Warwick Farm and Canterbury Racecourses it is not owned by the ATC. Racing NSW is the peak body that oversees the governance and development of all race courses in NSW. The Hawkesbury has long been Australia’s leading equine precinct, catering to a multitude of horse activities from pleasure riding and show horses to polo to the Olympics disciplines of eventing, dressage and show jumping - as well as racing. The industry is a major contributor to the local economy in terms of jobs, supporting local businesses and tourism. However, as is seen in many semi-rural areas, the equine industry is at risk of being squeezed out due to urban sprawl and turning productive farmland into housing estates. But as the Minns state government halts development on the vast western Sydney flood plain, it may have been given a reprieve.

“I’m hopeful that Hawkesbury Council will see the employment and economic benefits that may present themselves with the further development of Hawkesbury Racecourse as a premium racing and training centre,” Heddo said.

“It is a perfect location as an equine destination and any future developments will require Hawkesbury Council to support. I’d like to think they’d see an opportunity here to say it’s going to create employment. It’s going to create economic benefit to the region. Let’s support this as best we can,” he said.

Hawkesbury Race Club CEO James Heddo says the Club is ready to become premium racing and training facility.

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16

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Snowfields on Floodplain Approved as State Significance Project

An artist’s impression of the hotel

The NSW government has greenlighted a new $400 million hotel and commercial development on the Nepean River floodplain, in both a flood storage area and floodway, at Jamisontown. The development was approved as a project of “State Significance”.

Marketed as “Winter Sports World” the hotel will sit adjacent to residential homes just metres from the Nepean River. The imposing structure will transform a 2.4 hectare horse paddock into a 170 room hotel, parking facilities for 600 cars, function centre and restaurants.

Additionally the structure will house a 300 metre artificial ski run, ice rink and ice climbing facility.

Described in marketing documents as a “snow resort” the development will provide a new vista for residents and visitors with lighting and architectural elements to create the appearance of a blizzard and melting glacial ice. The structure will be 54 metres high.

“The more than 300M northern facade to Jamison Road will glow at night with kinetic lighting giving the appearance of a blizzard, while the public area and curved lower-level facade will look like melting ice,” the press release issued by the developer Peter Magnisalis said.

The site at 2 Tench Avenue is located within the local Peach Tree Creek catchment and is adjacent to the Nepean River. It is impacted by local overland flooding and regional riverine flooding.

Jamisontown residents were evacuated during the March 2021 floods.

A Flood Impact Risk Assessment (FIRA), commissioned by the developer, found that the site could experience flood depths of 6.5 metres in the event of a Probable Maximum Flood (PMF).

The SES was particularly critical of the development stating that important flood risks and modelling had not been considered in the flood analysis. How-

Peter Magnisalis pictured onsite at the 2.35ha horse paddock where ‘Winter World’ will be built.

ever the government said it is satisfied that concerns raised by the Penrith City Council, the SES, residents and even the NSW Department of Planning about the “significant flood constraints” of the development site have been addressed by the developer and that the development can proceed subject to conditions.

These include; raising the floor height of the development to “address risk to property”; ensuring there is minimal increase in flood height to neighbours

up to a 0.2 AEP flood event and the inclusion of a swale to mitigate impact of flood storage and floodway up to an 0.5% AEP regional event. The developer must also maintain and have accessible 3 shuttle buses which carry 24 passengers each in the event of evacuation. It is hoped that most of the 1000 guests will be able to exit using their own cars.

An independent expert engaged by the government to review the developer’s flood report found; the site has

“significant flooding and evacuation challenges, but they can be managed with suitable conditions as long as the latest flood information is incorporated into the design. The proposed recreational use of the site makes it easier than most other uses to manage the evacuation risk.”

The independent expert also noted in their report that the, yet to be released; “Hawkesbury-Nepean River Flood Study identified by SES could increase the flood risk to the site.” The development was approved without insight provided by this study.

The FlRA found that flood events of 0.2% AEP and rarer are unlikely to have material adverse effects on the surrounding properties compared to the existing flood behaviour. “It is not anticipated to change the flood behaviour in the vicinity of the NSW site as surrounding residential properties are already inundated and are subject to significant damage by flood depths in the order of 2.0+ metres under existing condition,” the October 2023 report by Wyndham Prince consultants said.

Many locals objected to the plans stating the development will exacerbate flooding in the area, be an eye-sore, will block out natural light in winter to residential homes and will destroy the amenity of the area.

Magnisalis welcomed the decision which came just 12 months after the DA was lodged. “It’s a huge relief,’’ he said.

“For the first time in eight years, WSW is no longer a pie-in-the-sky dream but a real project and on course to bring the snowfields to Sydney.’’

Other projects currently under consideration by the NSW government of “State Significance” include, the Parramatta Light Rail (Stage 1), Sydney Modern - Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Metro and the Inland Rail freight project from Melbourne to Brisbane.

17

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Controversial Media Policy Passed by HCC Sparks Outcry Hawkesbury City Council has approved a contentious new media policy, with some councillors dubbing it as veering towards censorship.

The policy drew sharp objections from independent Councillors Mary-Lyons Buckett, Nathan Zamprogno, Les Sheather, along with Greens Councillor Danielle Wheeler. Despite the vocal opposition, the policy was adopted; however, it will be subjected to further scrutiny in a Councillor workshop scheduled by the end of February to address specific concerns.

In a round of often confusing attempts to make amendments, the policy was eventually passed by the Liberal/Labor bloc that controls the council, together with Cr Eddie Dogramaci. All other councillors voted against the policy.

While the draft policy was released for public comment, few real changes were made before it was finalised. This was despite many submissions that suggested changes.

A major point of contention revolves around the broad discretion granted to Council officials to determine which media outlets they engage with and the ability to make a range of subjective judgements, some of which were described as ludicrous. The policy also places onerous and expensive demands on small media outlets and does not cater for freelance journalists.

The meeting was chaired by Mayor Sarah McMahon who regularly attacks journalists and media outlets. She often uses the HCC-run Mayor’s page for those attacks and has used the police to try to silence her critics by threatening to take out AVOs. Cr Wheeler, a vocal opponent of the policy, said that certain aspects of the policy encroach upon the territory of cen-

sorship. She expressed concern over the subjectivity inherent in the policy, particularly the requirement for a Council official to assess whether a media response aligns with the “community interest” when addressing media inquiries.

Cr Wheeler explained, “Clause 7.12 requires a Council officer to make a value judgment about a media organisation seeking information, considering

factors such as accuracy, clarity, fairness, balance, privacy, avoidance of harm, integrity, and transparency. While these may seem easy to determine on the surface, my experience over seven years on this council tells a different story.”

Wheeler recounted instances where she felt misrepresented by various media outlets, including the Hawkesbury Gazette, leading to threats of violence

against her. She questioned the sudden emphasis on accuracy, given past experiences, and emphasised the need for a more comprehensive discussion in the workshop. “We paid money to that publication (The Hawkesbury Gazette) every week to put council notices up. Clearly no one cared about the accuracy of it then, why all of a sudden are we making value judgements about accuracy now.

I can’t support this in its current form,” she said.

Cr Wheeler said her issues arose with the deviation of the media policy from the model policy. “There are some excellent inclusions, but contradictory statements and problematic sections create confusion. For instance, the constraints placed on Council officials, if applied to elected representatives, could constitute a gag order, contradicting the policy’s assertion that councillors are free to discuss their votes on resolutions.”

Wheeler also expressed reservations about a specific clause (7.4) directing media inquiries to corporate communications, arguing that it should not be applicable to councillors. She deemed it ludicrous for elected representatives to seek permission before making comments to the media.

The councillor also urged her colleagues to scrutinise their social media activities, especially concerning minors, and questioned whether those posting pictures of minors during their end of year presentations had obtained parental consent for such posts.

Council has committed to take another look at the policy by the end of February but there is no process for this to occur at present, and councillors who voted against the policy believed that first passing a policy, then immediately reviewing it, was poor process

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18

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Calls to Tackle Heat in Western Sydney

An aerial view of the estate of Elara in Marsden Park NSW Sydney Australia

New homes that are both energy inefficient and thermally unsafe continue to be built because the NSW Building Sustainability Index (BASIX ) is relying upon outdated climate data. To date the Index is regarded as one of the strongest sustainable planning measures in Australia and aims to reduce the environmental impact of new homes.

The revelations came in a recent study by Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) in collaboration with environmental consulting firm WSP and the University of New South Wales.

The study found that BASIX-compliant homes designed for a historical climate become thermally unsafe when

tested in 2030 and 2050 climate conditions. Current standards prioritise heating over cooling, resulting in homes that will neither be energy-efficient nor heat-resilient, increasing energy demand, bills, emissions, and health impacts.

In a submission to the government’s inquiry into the planning system and climate change impacts WSROC said that outdated planning data is placing lives at risk. Heat-related deaths surpass those caused by fires, floods and storms combined, with over half occurring within residential buildings between 2001-2018, according to WSROC’s submission.

“In a 2020 survey, the community

expressed equal concern about heat compared to bushfires, citing its effects on physical and mental health, quality of life, cost of living, and disruptions to work, transport, and energy,” it said.

The organisation has called on the Minns government for comprehensive changes to the existing planning system to combat the severe impacts of rising temperatures in the region.

To address this, WSROC recommends a thorough review and update of BASIX and the Sustainable Building SEPP, incorporating more representative climate files. The aim is to encourage the construction of buildings designed for future climates, minimising cooling energy consumption and enhancing

heat resilience. Additionally, WSROC is calling for a focus on thermal safety to ensure dwellings can maintain an acceptable indoor environment during extreme weather events without relying solely on mechanical heating and cooling systems.

The submission said that despite progress in integrating heat resilience into Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and Development Control Plans (DCPs) by some local councils, approximately half of new housing development in high-risk areas of Western Sydney bypasses council planning pathways.

In December Hawkesbury Cr Barry Calvert was reelected as President of WSROC for his fourth term.

Hawkesbury to Hold Youth Summit After Year 7 Gap

“People aged 5-24 are over a quarter of our population, and have opinions worth listening to”, said Councillor Zamprogno

The Hawkesbury will be home to a Council-sponsored Youth Summit in 2024, the first for the region in seven years, after the Council voted in favor of the event at its last meeting of the year in December.

Formerly held every two years, it was not held in 2019 and then appears to have fallen by the wayside during the disruption of COVID ( 2020-2022). The summit will be held in second half of 2024, and funding for the holding of the summit will factored into the 2024-2025 budget. It was proposed by school teacher and independent councillor, Nathan Zamprogno.

He noted in his successful motion to Council that: “The 2017 summit report is still regularly referenced for current purposes, such as the Assessment Criteria Matrix used in processing applications for various Community Sponsorship programs (three references this year alone).

“While I’ve been working as a local high school teacher, I’ve been amazed at how eager young people are to give their opinions about the world they are growing up in, and charge the generations above them very directly with responsibility for things they think need chang-

ing. It’s wonderful to engage them,” Cr Zamprogno told the Hawkesbury Post “People aged five to 24 are over a quarter of our population and have opinions worth listening to. When I realised that Council had neglected their commitment to hold a Youth Summit every two years, I was motivated to ensure they were resurrected.”

The official readout from the 2017 Summit found that it was designed to be an opportunity ‘for young people to raise with Councillors and Council staff issues of importance to them and to begin to offer ideas and solutions to these issues” It found that the main issues for youth in the region were: • A lack of public transport.

• Mental health and a lack of mental health services.

• A lack of youth activities & facilities.

• Alcohol and drugs.

• A desire to maintain the Hawkesbury’s natural heritage.

• Competitiveness in friendships.

• Youth employment options.

• Bullying.

• A desire for more inter-school events Unfortunately, many of these concerns remain seven years on.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Man Arrested Over Drug Lord Murder with Kurrajong Links Three men have been charged for their alleged involvement in the criminal enterprise responsible for the fatal shooting of Alen Moradian, including the man who allegedly pulled the trigger.

Moradian, 48 was shot dead on 27 June 2023, in an underground carpark in Spring Street Bondi Junction just days after registering a gemstone business, Brilliant Gems Australia Pty Ltd, located at his wife’s property in Kurrajong.

Earlier this month task force detectives, with assistance from Tactical Operations Unit, arrested a 24-year-old man at Fairfield Heights.

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with five offenses including murder, drug and firearm-related offenses, and participating in a criminal group.

Police alleged in court that the 24-year-old man was the principal offender – or gunman – in the murder of drug lord Moradian, who had links to the Comanchero bikie gang.

He was refused bail.

Previously Task Force Magnus detectives also arrested two other men, aged 27 and 28, at Macquarie Park. They seized 1.5kg of cocaine, 844 grams of methamphetamine, three DECCDs, and a pistol with 23 rounds of ammunition.

The men were taken to Gladesville Police Station, where the younger man was charged with eight firearm and drug-related offenses, and participating in a criminal group.

The 28-year-old man was charged with drug-related offenses, and participating in a criminal group.

Both men were refused bail.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Warragamba Dam Considered for Flood Mitigation The Minns government has confirmed that using Warragamba dam as a flood mitigation dam remains a possibility as it looks to reduce the risk for flood prone communities in Western Sydney.

Almost four years after the first of the recent major floods, tens of thousands of people living on the Hawkesbury floodplain face the same risk that they did in March 2020 when the first of five successive major floods swamped the Hawkesbury-Nepean floodplain. To date no measures have been undertaken to reduce the risk to lives and property.

The reprieve bought by the El Nino weather system appears to have taken the focus of the issue however that could be shortlived with weather forecasters discussing the increasing possibility of a return to La Nina later this year. La Nina events often result in more than average rainfall from northwestern Australia to the south east.

Many in the Hawkesbury Community have been advocating to reduce the Full Supply Level (FSL) of the dam ahead of a major rain event to protect downstream communities, much like the Wivenhoe dam is used in Brisbane. The former Liberal state government ruled out the idea of lowering the FSL, instead elevating the proposal to raise the Warragamba dam wall by 14 metres to Critical State Significant Infrastructure in 2022, despite not allocating any funding.

Critics of that plan said there was no guarantee it would reduce flood risk, would exacerbate erosion downstream and increased the flood risk in the short term for the World Heritage Greater Blue Mountains and Aboriginal Heritage Area.

Flooding after the 2019 bush fires also created major water quality issues highlighting experts concerns on the costs and ability to treat the water appropri-

ately if the wall was raised by 14 metres.

During this time the Sydney desalination plant was used at full capacity in order to provide water security.

State Water Minister Rose Jackson said there is no single solution to the problem and a range of measures were being assessed including using Warragamba dam as a flood mitigation dam.

“The NSW Reconstruction Authority is prioritising a Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) for the region, one of the first of

its kind in NSW. The DAP will investigate a range of options that will either reduce the risk exposure and/or the vulnerability of our communities in Western Sydney,” Jackson said.

“Options being investigated include mitigation infrastructure such as levees and improvements to evacuation roads and reducing the full supply level of Warragamba dam to create airspace for flood mitigation,” she said.

Jackson said that the DAP will also

consider impacts on water security and the priorities of the Greater Sydney Water Strategy.

The Greater Sydney Water Strategy includes expansion of the desalination plant.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River March and July 2022 Floods Review, found that for the August 2022 flood, lowering the full supply level of the dam provided equal mitigation to the raising of the dam wall.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Land Values Shift in Sydney’s North West

Industrial land saw significant increases in land value while rural property lost ground.

Land values in Sydney’s North West region have experienced a noticeable shift over the past year, with residential land values taking a dip while commercial and industrial sectors flourish. The NSW Valuer General, who sets land values for rates and taxes, has released data revealing a complex interplay of factors affecting the real estate landscape.

The total land value for the Sydney North West region, encompassing local government areas of the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, and The Hills Shire, saw a decline of 2.4% from $186 billion to $182 billion in the year leading up to July 1, 2023. This decrease was primarily driven by a 2.8% drop in residential land values. Factors contributing to this downturn included interest

rate hikes, inflation, and escalating construction costs, collectively slowing down the residential property market.

Contrastingly, commercial land values in the same region experienced a 4.2% increase, attributed to sustained consumer confidence in the commercial property sector. Well-located commercial properties in key hubs like Castle Hill, Norwest Business Park, and Hornsby witnessed heightened demand, with a particular focus on development potential and leased properties boasting secure income streams.

Industrial land values in the Sydney North West region witnessed a robust growth of 21.3%, fueled by the ongoing surge in e-commerce, logistics, and improved road infrastructure. This

demand-supply imbalance had a positive impact on industrial land values, signaling a very strong industrial sector in the area. However, rural land values experienced a slight dip of 4.0%, attributed to the market settling after years of strong demand for rural residential lifestyle properties.

Beyond Sydney’s North West, New South Wales as a whole witnessed a 1.6% decrease in land values, from $2.85 trillion to $2.80 trillion, within the same period. Residential land values across the state registered a 3.8% decline, dropping from $2.2 trillion to $2.1 trillion, based on the analysis of 48,001 residential property sales. Commercial land values, on the other hand, surged by 6.4% to $163.5 billion, driven by continued de-

velopment and infrastructure upgrades across various regions, excluding a minor reduction of -0.2% in Sydney City.

Industrial land values in NSW experienced a substantial increase of 9.6%, reaching $125.5 billion, highlighting the growth and investment in this sector.

This trend was based on the analysis of 1,339 industrial property sales across the state.

The newly published land values for the Sydney North West region by the NSW Valuer General are used to help determine land tax for the 2024 tax year. Property owners and investors can access the latest land values and related information for all properties in NSW on the Valuer General NSW website at www.valuergeneral.nsw.gov.au.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Windsor Office of Federal MP Susan Templeman Vandalised Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman has referred the spraying of her office in Windsor with pro-Palestine graffiti to the Australian Federal Police, but has reasserted her long-standing support for the Palestinian people.

Templeman’s is the latest in a string of Federal Labor MPs’ offices targeted with graffiti, as well as others which have had fake dead bodies dumped on their doorsteps.

“I understand Australian communities are in pain, felt most acutely in Jewish and Palestinian communities. There is a long, complex and disputed history – unfathomable trauma – deeply felt and close to the heart of many,” Templeman told the Hawkesbury Post after her office was vandalised in December.

Templeman has long stated her advocacy for the for recognition of Palestine and she travelled there and discussed peace with the Palestinian leadership in 2017 “The conflict in Gaza is having a devastating impact on Palestinian people.

It is impossible to absorb the harrowing images from the conflict with anything less than distress and horror. I too feel profoundly saddened by what continues to unfold.

“I know Australia has a role in ending this conflict and I believe we are doing all we can. Australia has five core priorities in this crisis: to keep our country unified and to assist Australians abroad; to work with countries that have influence in the region to help protect and support civilians, to help prevent conflict from spreading, and to reinforce the need for a durable peace that all of us want,” she said.

Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, reinforced this week that the Albanese government supports international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire.

Assistant Foreign Minister, Tim Watts, is travelling to the Middle East this week, to Qatar, Egypt, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“We have from the start and we will continue to, so that this conflict ends,” Templeman said.

The Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group chairs, Labor MP’s Maria Vamvakinou and Fatima Payman, Nationals MP Mark Coulton and Greens

members, made a statement calling for an end to the violence in November. ”As a member of that group, I endorsed that statement on the day it was released. The temporary ceasefire that has occurred allowed for support to be provided and for hostages and prisoners on both sides to be released, but it was not enough and, sadly, ended too soon,” Templeman said.

“Having been to Palestine, I could list serious rules and actions that profoundly impact the rights of Palestinians, including the unequal legal system and the illegal settlements on the West Bank. In 2018, and again in 2022, at our National Conference, we committed a

Labor government to support the right of Palestine and Israel to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders. Labor remains committed to that course and I spoke about this, and the reasons why it was so important, at our most recent national conference earlier this year.

“We have consistently called for Hamas to release all remaining hostages. Some 1,200 Israelis were killed

by Hamas on 7 October, the biggest loss of Jewish life on any day since the Holocaust. More than 200 Israelis and foreign nationals were taken hostage.

We condemn these terrorist attacks unequivocally: they cannot and should

not be justified.”

In Israel’s response to those attacks, more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed, as reported by the United Nations. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens by the day.

“I will continue to do all I can to support Australia’s active engagement in international forums trying to bring an end to both the conflict and the situation for Palestinians in both Gaza and the Occupied Territories. As Australians who treasure our peaceful community and aspire to ever greater unity as a nation, we mourn every innocent life which has been lost in this conflict,” Templeman said.

Payrise For Hawkesbury Council General Manager FROM PAGE 3

Liz Richardson, HCC General Manager’s contract renewal will be discussed by Councillors this week

“All senior staff follow the standard contract formats issued by the Office of Local Government (OLG) and are subject to performance agreements. Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, the General Manager’s Total Remuneration Package (TRP) was $355,113 and the TRP’s of the three Directors referred to above, totalled $769,915,” the report stated.

During the 2023 financial year, the council spent $24 million on infrastructure services with major contracts going to P&M Galea ($6m), Bernipave Pty ltd ($5.5m), Azbuild Pty Ltd ($2.1m), Slaney Excavations ($1.6m), L J Follington Construction P/L ($1m) and Kerway Asphalting ($0.7m).

It also spent $3.2 million on external professional services including Civic Risk Mutual Insurance Contributions $2,165,460 Marsdens Law Group Legal Services $210,924, Pikes & Verekers Lawyers Legal Services $853,900, Complete Staff Solutions Employment Agency $236,133 Randstad Employment Agency $771,719.

HCC spent $20 million on waste water management, $3.8 million on parks and recreation, $11.3 million on waste services, $6.1 million on project delivery, $6 million on facility operations, $9.8 million on general utilities, fuel, IT and civil works and $30 million on infrastructure recovery.

HCC spent almost $1 million on dozens of legal cases mainly regarding Development and Building applications and misuse of land.

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Varroa Mite Has Been Brusing But For Some It’s Not The End

Canoelands Orchard farmer John Christie was fearing the worst. In 2022 the deadly bee parasite, varroa mite, had penetrated Australia’s borders at Newcastle on the NSW central coast. Just months later, in July 2023 at Canoelands, Christie’s beloved bees had been doused in petrol and killed by government officials - without even testing for the presence of the mite. It was part of a rash NSW government eradication program, to eliminate the deadly mite from Australia, something no other country had ever achieved once it had arrived.

As the mite spread across NSW, tens of millions of bees were destroyed and businesses were lost until eventually, the government conceded the plan was a failure. In Australia, as in every other country infested with the mite, it became abundantly clear the mite needed to be managed.

Like so many other farmers, Chris-

tie credited the success of his beautiful 100-year-old family farm at Canoelands to the presence of his bees - with ten beehives, diligently pollinating until the end of each spring each year. But as the government and industry bodies steadfastly stuck to the eradication strategy, pleas for an alternate strategy by Christie and other farmers and beekeepers to manage the infestation fell on deaf ears.

For generations, Christie’s Canoelands Orchards has been a cornerstone of the Hawkesbury region, supplying Sydney with fresh stone fruit, citrus fruit, apples and berries. With encroaching development, many city fringe farmers haven’t survived. Christie’s family farm is one of the last in the north west rim.

Part of the key to the success of his operation has been the presence of his beehives. However, on that Monday night in July, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) left Christie devastat-

ed. His daughter-in-law Christie told the Hawkesbury Post at the time “Our bees are being killed. Our hearts are broken!! There is no sign of the mite in our hives…Although we understand the threat and the requirement for drastic action, if more was done to ensure that this didn’t spread in the first place we would not be in this position. This is just so sad,” she said.

Spring has now come and gone. It’s been an unusual season Christie says.

The high temperatures and dry early season. “It’s been a very different season.

It’s been a very early fruit picking season.

Fruit that we would not have picked until next year we are picking now,” he says.

All up, he reckons the crop is 30% down. Whether that is the reduction in bees or seasonal conditions, most likely a mix of both - it’s hard to tell. The outcome has been better than he expected. “There were quite a lot of bees they didn’t kill.

They killed all the bees from people that were registered and that had hives, but not all the hives were registered, and there were quite a lot, they didn’t bait the stations.

“There are bees around, we know there are bees around, it’s surprising,” Christie said.

For a man who has given his life to his orchard and bees, the experience has been bruising. With a weariness in his voice, Christie is however still looking to the future.

“I pretty much haven’t got over it yet.

I haven’t got any more bees back. I’ll get myself into gear one day but right now I’m cracking on. I’ve lost a bit of heart over it. So I think I’ve got to toughen up and go and get some more bees,” he said.

“As far as the future goes, yeah, I don’t know. There are a lot of other pollinators out there aside from bees. It’s not the end all, here.”

27

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Veggie Bartering or Bust

You know you’re connected with your land when you can eat what you’ve grown from it. Even better, you know you’re connected to your community when you can trade cucumbers for tomatoes, or eggplants for eggs, or garlic for you-name-it-our-neighbours-in-the-Hawkesbury-grow-it!

This past spring, I finally built some raised garden beds for a veggie garden I had coveted for years and years. It was a contentious project in our house, especially since the area I chose was earmarked for a swimming pool. Oops! But to truly hop onto the “regenerative farming bandwagon” I couldn’t not join this age-old trend.

The family weren’t too keen and were certain we would regret not putting the pool in. By late October my spring seedlings had taken off and we’ve been enjoying homegrown meals ever since.

We’ve had a good run so far with lettuces, cabbage, spinach, zucchini, onions, capsicums, eggplants, beetroot, and leeks. And yes, on those super-hot days the idea of a pool has been very enticing, but truly, the joy this garden has brought to our kitchen has been contagious. I love it.

Everyone knows you grow way too much food for your own household to eat,

no matter how hard you plan, pickle, bottle, can or freeze your way around it. So, instead of having “cabbage surprise” every other night or endless zucchini bakes, slices and stir fries, I have been delighted to tap into a little treasure in our hood called Hawkesbury Veggie Barter.

With over 2,000 members, I guess it’s not so little. Founded around 2015 by Kirsty Bertè, the group’s aim has always been to “grow a community of self-sufficient, sustainable [and] nourished households.”

Using Facebook, they have made it easy to connect with and arrange a veggie swap with other locals who are growing food. So if I’ve grown too many zucchini or too much silverbeet, I can put up a post in search of other homegrown goods like tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic…even eggs. I absolutely love it. I love meeting like-minded gardeners, I love the recipe inspo people share, but most of all I love eating freshly grown local produce. What a thrill.

In a time where we are more connected online, but seriously detached from our community and the land we live on, I think veggie bartering is a real golden goose.

So going back to the word I mentioned before - “regenerative”. I haven’t gotten sick of this word yet, even though it has been thrown around a bit in the past few years. Some might even say it’s a trigger word considering the very mention of it has been known to make people’s eyes roll, or worse. It has the potential to divide certain farming communities, but the word still resonates with me because at its core “to regenerate” means to heal or make something better. And when it comes to farming, growing food or even connecting our community, I couldn’t think of a better

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Riverside Gardens Crossword QUICK CROSSWORD

NO. 037

QUIZ

ACROSS

What is the main ingredient in the Scandinavian dish gravlax?

2 What was the name of the man who assassinated U.S. president Abraham Lincoln?

3 Who was the first female premier of an Australian state?

4 Which US city is famous for a 1947 purported UFO incident?

5 Which country was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia?

6 In which state is the oldest university in Australia?

7 Who played Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III? 8 Black Forest cake is named after a wooded mountain range in which European country?

9 Which opera singer received the Australian of the Year Award in 1961?

10 What was the only film directed by Alfred Hitchcock (pictured) to win an Academy Award for Best Picture?

1

1 Waiflike (4) 3 Helpers (10) 10 Premise (11) 11 Slash (3) 12 On the seashore (7) 13 Hurricane (7) 14 Compelled (7) 15 Compress (7) 17 Denial (7) 20 Hang (7) 22 Ocean creature (3,4) 24 Maybe (7) 26 Greeted (3) 27 Chaos (11) 28 Shades (10) 29 Prefix meaning million (4)

DOWN 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Issue (5) Detach (7) Adept (7) Nutty (7) Piano professional (5) Transcendent state (7) Propped up (9) Gets in touch with (8)

14 16 18 19

Christian holiday (9) Fungus (8) Level (7) Myths (7)

20 Most excellent (7) 21 Scrutinise (7) 23 Part of a jacket (5) 25 Dance (5)

WORD FIND

NO. 037 The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

4X4 ACROSS 1 5 6 7

Appendage (4) A continent (4) Lease (4) Ivories (4)

4

Small bird (4) To understand (1,3) Counting rhyme: Eeny, Meeny, —, Mo (4) Flying mammal (4)

OFFICER

COPS

DETECTIVE

HOMICIDE

SERGEANT

CRIME

FORENSIC

NARCOTICS

STATION

SUDOKU

NO. 037

9-LETTER WORD

NO. 037

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list?

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Sport

29

Nick Taliana Bags the Money In a surprising turn of events, self-proclaimed “professional amateur” showjumper and builder, Nick Taliana, emerged victorious at the prestigious $1.45 million Majestic Million Showjumping extravaganza.

Initially selected as a reserve for the International Airfreight team, Wilberforce local, Taliana had made plans to attend the event with his family as spectators after accepting the fact that he didn’t make the cut.

However, a few weeks prior to the competition, his fortunes changed when teammate Mel Blair withdrew, opening the door for Taliana to join the team.

As the fourth member of the team, alongside Robert Palm, professional jump jockey Jess Pateman, and professional showjumper Rhys Stone, Taliana felt the weight of expectations. He admitted, “I put a lot of pressure on myself because that team won last year, and I was just the reserve rider. I didn’t want to come out of the ring with people saying, ‘That’s why he was the reserve.’”

To rise to the occasion, Taliana underwent an intense preparation, cramming three lessons in eight days with former Olympian Greg McDermott. His determination paid off, and he noted, “I was on a mission to do as best as I can. I think the atmosphere worked for him and me. It was like the day was put on for my horse.”

Taliana said the event does throw up some surprises with the atmosphere better suited to some horses and riders than others. But he welcomed the enthusiastics crowd particularly as he completed the course. “It felt like I was at the Formula 1. It was a bit insane but pretty cool.”.

The victory held special significance for Taliana, who received his 10-year-old gelding “Des” as a wedding present from friends and fellow showjumpers, Andrew Inglis and Jenny Sheppard.

Almost ten years prior, Inglis and Sheppard were heading away for the night and approached Taliana with an unusual request. They asked him to keep an eye on an expectant mare, despite Taliana’s admission that he had never been involved in foaling down a mare before and was clueless about the process. Nevertheless,

Photo credit: Flash Pony Photography

he agreed to assist as the mare was two weeks away from her due date.

In the early hours of the next morning, the mare went into labor, and Taliana found himself assisting in a difficult foaling process. The result was a foal named Nick. In a show of gratitude, three years later, Inglis and Sheppard decided to gift Taliana a foal. However, the choice wasn’t the “too” well-bred Nick but rather from two other options. Taliana ultimately selected Des. Reflecting on the journey with Des, who has overcome

challenges such as surviving two colic surgeries and a serious brush with a tree branch, Taliana expressed his satisfaction with the choice. “I’m pretty happy with that choice. He’s turned out to be a fantastic horse for me.”

While his $25,000 share of the prize money was undoubtedly appreciated, Taliana said that, for him, the win transcended monetary value. “It wasn’t even about the money. It was the fact that I was a reserve, and I went in, and there were only 5 clean rounds and under time out of the 50 odd riders, and I was one of them.”

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Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

Riding with the Best: Eddie Salas Inspires Local Cyclists If you happen to join the cycling enthusiasts at Bicycle Centre Hawkesbury for a group ride, don’t be surprised to find some of the nation’s top young cyclists pedaling alongside. Their motivation? A deep admiration for the legendary Eddie Salas.

Salas, a personable, down-to-earth individual, boasts an extraordinary cycling career. In the 80s and 90s he earned accolades as one of the world’s best cyclists, including an Australian road race title, a 6th-place finish in the Seoul Olympics, and two stage wins in the Herald Sun Tour (now the Tour Down Under). Notably, he rode for the Italian professional team Amore e Vita and contested the 1991 Giro d’Italia, Italy’s premier cycling race and one of the world’s three Grand Tours.

Born in Uruguay, Salas moved to Australia at the age of 4 in 1970. A resident of the Hawkesbury region for most of his life, he possesses an intimate knowledge of the local roads. Often, he’s joined by fellow locals who pull up alongside his cycling group for a friendly chat while on the move. “I pretty much ride my bike around these roads five to seven days a week, usually covering between 250 to 450 kms a week. Even before I moved into this beautiful part of the world after mainly growing up in Blacktown and the Rooty Hill area I would always cycle up towards the Hawkesbury,” he told the Hawkesbury Post.

During his time as a professional cyclist in Italy, Salas resided in Lucca, Tuscany, where he trained in the picturesque hillsides between Lucca, Pisa, Sienna, and Florence. Salas remains a

fondly remembered figure in Lucca, with his pictures adorning the walls of his former team’s base. In Italy, where cycling is a close second to soccer in popularity, Salas enjoyed a celebrity status.

Today, Salas continues his daily cycling routine and actively participates in Masters categories. A well-known personality in Richmond, he often leads sizable groups of cyclists to local cafes for coffee and breakfast. Salas’ association with a café translates into a significant boost for their business. In his role as a ride leader, Salas has played a pivotal role in the physical and mental well-being of locals transitioning from roles in the RAAF, ADF, contact sports, or running, finding solace in cycling as a means of staying fit and shedding calories.

“I have raced and travelled all over the world with my cycling and certainly find the Hawkesbury area one of the nicest places to ride my bike. It’s a great sport and a good way to stay fit and healthy, and unwind both before and after work” Salas said. “A few of my favourite rides include riding towards Bilpin and also riding towards the ferries at Sackville and Lower Portland via River Road, which has some beautiful scenic places along the river, as well as Wisemans Ferry. I also do loops around Kurrajong, Bowen Mountain and the Hawkesbury Lookout as well,” he said.

Off the bike, Eddie serves as the Chief Mechanic at Bicycle Centre Hawkesbury on West Market Street in Richmond.

Heading a team of specialised bike mechanics, Eddie can either craft a new bike or breathe new life into an old one,

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all while providing expert advice on every aspect of cycling. The privilege of having someone of Eddie’s caliber is not lost on those who seek his guidance.

So, the next time you spot a group of cyclists out early on a Saturday morning

or in the Wednesday twilight, chances are it’s Eddie’s gang. Roll down your window, offer a friendly greeting, and ponder whether you might prefer sitting on a cycle rather than behind the wheel of your car.

Hawkesbury Local Battles Line Honours In Sydney to Hobart The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has ended in heartbreak for Ebenezer’s Jamie Winning Kermond and Andoo Comanche this morning as she battled for line honours in one of the most exciting finishes to the race in its history.

Slow conditions saw a neck and neck battle to the finish line between the two super maxis, Andoo Comanche and Law Connect who at times were just metres apart heading down the Derwent River.

But in the final seconds Law Connect inched ahead to take out 2023 line honours in the blue water classic.

Competing in her first Sydney to Hobart, Jamie was aboard Andoo Comanche with her brother and skipper John Winning Jnr - who won the race last year aboard Andoo Comanche - and father, veteran sailor and former Australian 18 Ft Skiff world champion John “Woody” Winning.

Unlike her family Jamie is not a seasoned sailor so convincing her brother to allow her on board for one of the toughest ocean races in the world was no easy feat. He told her she couldn’t just be a “passenger” and had to earn her spot on the crew. Jamie, a businesswoman and mother of two young boys, spent the last year training and competing in the big offshore races, learning to be a valuable member of a professional crew upskilling from delivering snacks to the crew to tendering the furling line.

In the early hours of this morning it looked like line honours were theirs for the taking but it wasn’t to be. Congratulations Jamie, the Hawkesbury is proud of you.

Jamie Winning Kermond aboard Andoo Comanche

Hawkesbury Post / February, 2024

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Magic Beans Emerges Victorious At Godolphin Dachsund Dash On the first day of summer, the annual Godolphin Dachshund Dash took center stage with 36 spirited dachshunds vying for this year’s title. We caught up with Craig Nolan, Godolphin’s National Operations Manager, to uncover the roots of this charming event.

Three years ago, the Dachshund Dash had humble beginnings as an impromptu gathering for Godolphin staff and their beloved dachshunds. Led by Godolphin staff, Renee Charles and her colleague Georgie Whittaker, the event quickly morphed into a race. What began as a lighthearted competition among colleagues soon evolved into a charitable affair.

Godolphin, one of the biggest names in the horse racing world, decided to infuse purpose into the event. Nolan shares, “We thought, why not make it worthwhile and involve some charities”. The Dachshund Dash soon transformed into a charity event and today they support Pink Finss, a local cancer patient support organisation.

This year’s event welcomed 36 adorable dachshunds, turning the race into a highlight of the community calendar.

The format featured six heats of six dogs each, with the winners advancing to the final.

The races were expertly called by veteran greyhound racing commentator, Paul Ambrosoli.

Arlo, the crowd favorite and two-time reigning champion, entered the arena with a wave of support for a potential three-peat. However, the Dachshund Dash proved that on this particular sunny afternoon, the gods of canine racing had a different script in mind. Arlo, usually swift off the mark, found himself trailing and a bit wayward down the straight, ending his bid for glory.

“There is always one in the pack that will come out and shine but this year just wasn’t his day. Whether it was his training, or whatever I don’t know but it just didn’t work out from him this year,” Nolan mused.

With Arlo out of contention, the final race became a wide-open contest, with the six heat winners vying for the title.

In a surprising turn of events, it was the sleek black and tan dachshund named Magic Beans who crossed the finish line first, claiming the 2023 Godolphin Dachshund Dash title.

Magic Beans, pictured proudly alongside owner Emma Matthews, showcased agility and speed, leaving onlookers

Magic Beans was named “Top Dog” after taking out the 2023 Godolphin Dachshund Dash

in awe of the unexpected victory. Pure Blonde, owned by Lauren Smith, delivered a commendable effort, securing second place in the final. Elroy, under the ownership of Millie Thompson, rounded out the top three with a respectable third-place finish.

Despite Arlo’s setback, the atmosphere remained festive, and the crowd reveled in the unpredictable nature of the Dachshund Dash. Emma Matthews, the delighted owner of Magic Beans, was thrilled. “Beans is a 3 year old I’ve had from a pup, a happy, fast little sausage that we love endlessly. We’re so proud of her.”

Nolan was delighted at the overwhelming success of the event. “It’s grown each year,” he said.

With a picturesque setting and meticulous event planning by the Godolphin team, the Dachshund Dash has become a highlight not only for dachshund

enthusiasts but for the broader community. Despite its growth, Nolan emphasises the importance of maintaining the

event’s charm and ensuring everyone, including participants and spectators, has an enjoyable time.

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