17 minute read
Government
What’s On:
Lane Cove
AUGUST
Lane Cove Festival Launch - Plaza Party:
Friday 11 August, 3:30pm - 6:00pm Expect an afternoon of family fun in the Plaza featuring an energetic live performance by Lolo Lovina on her Gypsy Caravan stage, circus skills, a petting zoo, face painting and loads of exciting kids activities! After the launch, head over to Gallery Lane Cove from 6:00pm for the Lane Cove Art Award Exhibition opening night and judging announcements.
LANE COVE LIBRARY
All events are free. Call 9911 3634 to book. Social Media Workshops @ Lane Cove Library: Thursday 10 August, 10:00am – 12:00pm or Tuesday 15 August, 6:00pm - 8:00pm. In this second of this three part sessions, continue to learn the basics of Facebook, Twitter and Flickr as part of Tech Savvy Seniors program. Movies @ Lane Cove Library – Hidden Figures (2016): Tuesday 29 August, 2:00pm – 4:30pm. Based on a true story, this Oscar nominated film centres round the African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space race. The film stars Tarija P Henson, Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst.
Author Talk @ Lane Cove Library – Cooking with Yoshiko
Takeuchi: Tuesday 29 August, 6:15pm – 7:30pm. With nearly 20 years experience, Yoshiko Takeuchi will discuss her latest book Japanese Superfoods. You will learn about the ancient Japanese secret to staying healthy, ageing well and staying slim through the ancient art of Japanese superfoods.
Thursday Tunes @ Lane Cove Library – A Celebration
of the Musical: Thursday 31 August, 10:30am – 12:00pm. Local musician Graham Ball will discuss the mainstream musical stages of the western world, from the 18th Century to the present day.
BUSHCARE
Native Plant Identification: Saturday 5 August, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Get to know some of the more common native plants found in our bushland and how to identify them. Phone 9911 3583 for bookings. Venue provided on registration Living with Brush-turkeys: Thursday 17 August, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Terrace Function Room, 1 Pottery Lane. Join expert Ann Goeth, author of Mound Builders, for a closer look at the unique life of the Australian Brush-turkey. Discover fascinating facts about their foraging habits, breeding and why they build such large mounds! Get tips on how to live harmoniously with this fascinating bird. Phone 9911 3583 for bookings.
ROAD SAFETY
Free Workshop: Supervising Learner Driver:s Thursday 31 August, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Regis Hall, Junior Campus, St Ignatius’ College Riverview. Learn some of the simple steps to supervise a learner driver at this free 2 hour workshop. Bookings: Council’s Road Safety Officer on 9911 3576
COFFEE CARNEVALE
On Saturday 2 September, Lane Cove Plaza will be alive with the flair and flavour of Coffee Carnevale, a celebration of the local coffee culture in Lane Cove. Now in its fourth year, the 2017 event will be Venetian Carnevale themed featuring a jam-packed program of roving performers, free local samples, live art, face painting and children’s craft, including a Local Barista competition and the launch of the updated Lane Cove Coffee Guide. Local cafés will be at the forefront of the celebrations, enticing locals to take advantage of a range of specials available for one day only. A full list of in-store specials will be updated on Council’s website in the days leading up to the event. This year there will also be a focus on sustainable coffee practices. For full details visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/ carnevale
For more details on these events visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au or call Lane Cove Council on 9911 3555.
A Message from the Mayor of Lane Cove Councillor Deborah Hutchens
While we have been fortunate enough to enjoy unseasonably warmer weather these past few weeks, local residents are being reminded of the importance of staying fire-safe in their homes in the cooler months. Indoor heaters should be carefully monitored to make sure that the risk of fire and injury is reduced for you and your family.
For some families, the anticipated increase of heating bills is also a concern. Lane Cove Library has free Save Power Kits available to borrow. These kits can assist you to find out where the heat is escaping in your home and help you take some simple steps to passively heat your home. Ask the Customer Service Desk at the Library for more information.
Entries now open - Garden Competition 2017
Green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts are now able to enter Lane Cove’s brand new Garden Competition, with entries opening this month. Judging will take place in September across several categories including formal garden, community garden, native/edible/sustainable garden, balcony/small garden and an open category. First Place and Runner Up Prizes will be awarded in each category. Full details can be viewed at www. lanecove.nsw.gov.au/gardencomp or drop by Council’s Civic Centre and Lane Cove Library for hard-copy forms.
Rosenthal Project
Work is scheduled to commence on the highly anticipated Rosenthal Project on 12 September. 65 parking spaces will still remain open on a 2 hour, once per day arrangement until after the Christmas shopping season. Maps, wayfinding and other communication materials will be available to update the community during the construction period.
Later this month, a dedicated project website and hotline will also be available to provide the latest information in the lead up to the project commencing. In the meantime, visit www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/rp to find
out more.
Local Government Elections 2017
held on 9 September 2017. To check if you are registered to vote in the Lane Cove local area, visit
www.votensw.info. Plastic bags on their way out
Council welcomed news by the larger supermarkets that they were removing plastic bags from their stores in 2018. The local Sustainability Action Group has actively sought to reduce the community’s reliance on single-use plastic bags with a variety of campaigns including the BagShare program which received grant-funding from Council. The latest community campaign supported by Council is the Boomerang Bag group, which aims to make reusable bags at monthly catch ups. The first of these is taking place on 10 August. Those handy with a sewing machine are encouraged to attend, or make contact to receive templates to make in your own time.
For more details, call 9911 3507.
Solar mapping
Council has been invited to partner with the Australian Photo Voltaic Institute (APVI) in the Smart Cities and Suburbs Program - Solar Mapping Project. This will provide Council and the community with online data on solar mapping, helping to take the guess work out of investing in solar energy. As a result, Council will be able to provide access to a web-based tool to allow the community to zoom into rooftops and assess the potential solar energy that would be generated at a specific location. This will be a valuable tool for the whole community.
M: 0422 174 730 E: dhutchens@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Share memories of the Plaza
Later this year the Plaza will be celebrating 40 years since it was officially opened. Council is seeking stories and photographs that help capture the rich history of the Plaza area. Did you live in the area at the time? Do you recall life before and after the Plaza opened, or perhaps have photographs of the Plaza before it looks like we know it today? You can call the Local Studies section of the Library on 9911 3637 to share your story or
email library@lanecove.nsw.gov.au
Lane Cove Festival
There are more than 60 events taking place across Lane Cove this September as part of Lane Cove Festival. The official launch of the program takes place on Friday 11 August in the Plaza from 3:30pm. Copies of the program will be available for collection at Lane Cove Library, Lane Cove Council and online at www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/festivals. Congratulations to the community groups and Council staff who have organised a tremendous range of events for the community to enjoy – there certainly is something for everyone this September!
Lane Cove Art Award Opening
The annual Lane Cove Art Award will officially open at Gallery Lane Cove on Friday 11 August. Entry is from 6:00pm and involves a donation to the Rotary Club of Lane Cove. This annual award includes a Council-sponsored Acquisitive Prize which helps to grow the Municipal Art Collection. For more details visit
www.gallerylanecove.com.au
Save the Date – Big Family Fun Ride
On Sunday 17 September, the Big Family Fun Ride will be taking place from 11:00am – 2:00pm. All routes will be on shared user paths, off-the-road where possible, and away from busy streets. There will be beginner, intermediate and accomplished riders’ routes to choose from. For more information visit
www.facebook.com/bigfamilyfunride
P: 9817 4757 E: lanecove@parliament.nsw.gov.au
It is a great honour for me to represent the residents of Lane Cove and to advocate on your behalf. The Premier, my colleagues and I in the NSW State Government continue to implement strategies and programs to improve the lives of Lane Cove residents and other residents across NSW.
A number of these programs may be of benefit to you as one of my valued constituents in Lane Cove.
New app and website for hospital parking - Patients and carers who frequently visit a public hospital will benefit from significantly reduced car parking fees under expanded concessions that came into effect from July 1.
A website (www.parking.health.nsw.gov.au) and smartphone app - the first of its kind in Australia - will provide information on how to access the discounted rates. Under the new policy, a three-day discounted ticket will cost a maximum of $10.90 and a seven-day ticket $21.70. Both allow multiple entries and exits. $10 Million to expand community preschools - I urge community preschools and mobile preschools in Lane Cove to apply for a grant to expand the number of places as part of the NSW Government’s $10 million Start Strong Capital Works Grants program.
These grants are vital to ensuring services in Lane Cove can invest in the right infrastructure to support more children in having access to early childhood education.
Applications are now open and can be submitted online up until Friday 18 August. For more information, visit www.
dec.nsw.gov.au/what-we-offer/regulation-and-accreditation/ early-childhood-education-care/funding/start-strong/capitalworks-grants-program
Serving up a strategy for small business - Small businesses in Lane Cove are set to benefit from a share of a $30 million state-wide skills fund to give local small businesses better access to education and training.
The skills fund is at the heart of a new NSW Government Small Business Strategy announced in June and will help to ensure that NSW remains the easiest and best place in Australia to establish, run and grow a small business. Life saving defibrillators for sports clubs - Community sports clubs in Lane Cove will be among those across the state eligible to apply for a 50 percent co-funding contribution for a lifesaving defibrillator.
As part of the 2017-2018 Budget, $4 million will be allocated over four years to assist sporting clubs across NSW purchase and maintain Automatic External Defibrillators.
Applications will be invited from October through the Office of Sport website: http://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/
grants/defibrillator
Active kids rebate - From 1 January 2018, parents in Lane Cove will be able to claim up to $100 per school child, per calendar year, as a voucher to reduce the cost of sport registration or membership fees for after-school, weekend and structured fitness or physical activity.
These activities could include traditional sport such as netball, football or basketball; swimming classes or lessons; as well as other fitness or physical activities such as gymnastics or athletics.
Further information is available at http://sport.nsw.gov.au/ sectordevelopment/activekids
P: 9929 9822 E: trent.zimmerman.mp@aph.gov.au
Recent visit by the Prime Minister
Supporting small businesses is a priority for the Federal Government. I was therefore pleased that the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash, recently joined me to meet local business owners to discuss their needs and our Youth Jobs PaTH program.
The government has been providing additional support to small businesses through our tax cuts for small and medium businesses and by extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off for another 12 months. We also discussed the government’s program to encourage businesses to take on interns to help young unemployed people gain valuable workplace experience and a job.
Energy assistance payments
Higher energy costs is an issue that is increasingly being raised with me by residents and local businesses. The government is working with the States to put downward pressure on prices, alongside our goals of providing greater energy security and meeting our Paris Agreement emissions targets.
The federal government has also provided a one-off energy payment to all pensioners. Over 11,000 pensioners in our electorate have received a one-off payment of up to $75 to help pay their electricity bills. This will help alleviate some of the rising cost-of-living pressures that pensioners’ face every day.
Stronger communities program - round 3 now open
Expressions of Interest have now opened for round 3 of the Turnbull government’s Stronger Communities Program. The program offers grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 to support local projects in our community. Please contact my office on 9929 9822 for more information.
Nominate a local hero!
To recognise the work of our local volunteers, I am organising the 2017 North Sydney Community Awards which will be held in mid-September. If you would like to nominate a local volunteer for the Awards, nomination forms can be provided by my office. Just call 9929 9822 or email trent. zimmerman.mp@aph.gov.au. Nominees should live or work in the North Sydney electorate.
Sydney Community Services hits the ground running
I have been a strong supporter of Lane Cove & North Side Community Services, which provides invaluable support to people in our community, particularly seniors and those living with a disability.
LCNSCS has recently merged with its sister organisation in Hunters Hill and they have rebranded as Sydney Community Services. I joined the Mayor of Lane Cove, Cr Deborah Hutchens, to discuss the new service and to meet some of their clients. The merged body will be strengthened by the merger and I am sure will continue to provide its excellent services to local residents.
Mayor of Hunters Hill P: 9817 7599 E: richardquinn@huntershill.nsw.gov.au
Moocooboola Festival
One of the highlights of the year in Hunters Hill is our annual Moocooboola Festival. This will be held on Sunday 6th August from 9.30am to 4.00pm featuring music, comedy, dance, rides, dog show, food and wine, a market bazaar, community information stalls, 9D cinema, rock climbing wall, circus playground, walk-in animal farm and much more.
There are many highlights, including the Dog Show that will be held at 11.00am at the ring on oval 2. Bring your amazing dog (on a lead) and enter one of the super serious competitions – including Best Owner Look–a–like, Cutest Dog, Best Trick and Hunters Hill Dog of the Year. Register for the dog show from 10am.
Make sure you keep the date free for a day of fun filled family entertainment.
Keep Looking When Cooking
Fire & Rescue NSW have asked Council to promote their campaign “Keep Looking When Cooking”. Did you know almost half of all house fires in Australia start in the kitchen – all because cooking was left unattended.
To help prevent kitchen fires, Fire & Rescue NSW has released the Keep Looking When Cooking mini mag which is available in cafes, bars, community centres and from Council. It features a great collection of recipes from firefighters that will give you the answer to that perennial question – “what’s for dinner tonight?”. You can also visit the Fire & Rescue website www.fire.nsw.gov.au to download the mini mag recipes.
Local Council Elections
Local Council elections will be held for Hunter’s Hill Council on Saturday 9th September 2017. Voting is compulsory. It’s a good time to check that your enrolment details are up-to-date and sign up for an election reminder so that you never miss an election: www.votensw.info . You can also call 1300 135 736. Registration of candidates, groups and third-party campaigners has already begun.
There are important laws and steps for people who wish to: ● run as a candidate, group, or party ● campaign to promote or oppose a candidate, group or party ● make or accept political donations (donation caps were updated on July 1).
Read about these important rules, and find out how to register and nominate for election at
www.votensw.info/political_participants.
Nominations for the election opened on Monday
31st July and close at 12 noon on Wednesday 9th August. For more information on becoming a candidate, please visit the NSW Electoral Commission’s website for Local Council elections www.votensw.info/political_participants/
forcandidates .
FREE workshop for parents and supervisors of learner drivers
The latest report from the Centre for Road Safety
shows that younger age groups account for the highest number of drivers involved in fatal crashes.
To help get younger drivers off to a better start, the Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers workshop is designed to support parents, relatives and friends in the supervision of a learner driver.
Parents and supervisors are invited to attend the free two-hour session on Thursday 31st August (see ad below for details) to learn tips and information on how to provide effective and safe practice sessions for learner drivers, including: ● Supervising learner drivers ● Completing the Learner driver log book ● Understanding the benefits and safety aspects of supervised on-road driving practice ● Understanding the licence conditions for learners and provisional licence holders
Learner drivers aged under 25 must complete 120 hours of supervised driving with a minimum of 20 hours night driving. New learner drivers under 25 years of age must have their L plates for a minimum of one year before they can apply for a provisional (P1) licence.
Teaching someone to drive can be a happy experience.
You can learn all the simple steps on how to teach a learner driver at a FREE two hour workshop.
The next workshop in your area will be held:
TIME & DATE: VENUE: BOOK NOW: 6.30pm – 8.30pm,
Thursday 31 August 2017 Regis Hall, Regis Campus
(Junior Site), St Ignatius’ College, Riverview Street, Riverview Council’s Road Safety Officer on 9911 3576
Helping learner drivers become safe drivers
Family Dispute Resolution
After separation or divorce, most people want a quick and dignified means of resolving their disputes. Most people don’t want to go to court. So for most, the best way of doing this is through Family Dispute Resolution.
As the name suggests, this is a form of mediation, set up under the Family Law Act, which couples affected by separation and divorce can use to sort out their family law issues.
Family Relationship Centres and other government-funded dispute resolution organizations use and recommend it. It is conducted by trained Family Dispute Resolution practitioners who may be lawyers, but can also be psychologists and social workers. They’re required to have postgraduate training and experience and are accredited with the Attorney General’s Department.
These practitioners are impartial during the mediation and don’t give legal advice, although can give guidance from their experience as to the likely outcome if the matter were before the court. Participants are encouraged to obtain their own legal advice before starting, and the parties’ own lawyers can be involved if this is agreed upon.
Before starting Family Dispute Resolution, couples are screened to make sure they are suitable and they must first attend special intake sessions to prepare them. Before they begin, sometimes they are referred for counselling or domestic violence support as an alternative option.
Participants are encouraged to raise their issues in a safe and positive environment and are then helped to work out acceptable solutions. This is done in joint sessions and individual sessions. Everything that happens is confidential and cannot be used in any subsequent court proceedings. Children often participate, not directly, but through their own counsellor, who provides feedback to the parents. The idea is that the practitioners assist and support the couple to move towards acceptable solutions.
These days, for those people who do wish to go to court to sort out their differences, Family Dispute Resolution is compulsory for parenting matters and they must produce a certificate to show that they have first attempted it. There are some exceptions, such as where there has been violence in the relationship. For property proceedings, Family Dispute Resolution isn’t compulsory prior to starting court proceedings, although this may change in future.
Family Dispute Resolution will not resolve all family law disputes. But it is particularly useful for those with complex issues relating to parenting, property settlement and income support. It is a different and better way of helping separated and divorcing couples to sort out their differences.
In my view, it’s much better than the old adversarial approach that involves litigation and court action. It’s quicker, more private and dignified, and generally leads to a better and more successful resolution at a fraction of the cost. It’s far more positive and pleasant for everyone, including lawyers.
FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST Andrew Corish. Corish & Co Specialist Family Lawyers, North Sydney.
SUSTAINABILITY SMALL
GRANTS
Small Group with Big Ideas?
Grants of up to $5000 up for grabs for projects with positive sustainability outcomes for the Lane Cove community. Get in quick, the next round closes 30 September 2017.
