6 minute read
Local designer wins Houzz award
A bathroom designed by award winning interior designer Martina Hayes of Greenwich.
Greenwich interior designer wins award
Martina Hayes of Greenwich has recently won ‘Best of Customer Service’ on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The annual Best of Houzz awards recognise home renovation and design professionals who have top ratings and the most popular home designs. Martina runs a boutique studio - Martina Hayes Architectural Interior Design - and was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community. This is the third year in a row that she has taken out the award. Best of Houzz is awarded across three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Customer service honours are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2018. “A big thank you to my clients who made this award happen,” said Martina. “I feel excited and humbled by this badge of honour.”
Domestic Violence Awareness Program
Did you know that financial, psychological and emotional abuse are all forms of domestic violence? Lifeline are committed to raising awareness about domestic and family violence. An upcoming session will discuss the different signs and forms of abuse, the cycle of abuse, about power and control, equality and empowerment, and allow you to reflect on and share what you can do if you know someone who is experiencing domestic and family violence. Reference materials will also be available. Time: 10am - 12 noon. Date: Wed 20 March Venue: Living and Learning Centre, 180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove Council Bookings: Phone Hayley at Lifeline on 8287 1154
GET READY FOR SUMMER SALE
ROLLER BLIND EXPERTS
SPECIALISING IN MOTORISATION
FREE MOTOR & REMOTE Drop Down
Awning
Shutters • Blinds • Awnings • Curtains • Motorisation
9427 9312
4/6 Chaplin Dr Lane Cove West
Are you interested in a French exchange?
The Hunters Hill - Le Vesinet exchange committee has been organising overseas exchanges for high school students studying French for the past 30 years. Last year the committee sent 16 Australian students to France. In return, 16 French students will be hosted to the same Australian families in July this year. Excursions are organised, chaperoned and well run both in Sydney and Paris on two out of five school days, and the students are welcomed as members of their respective families during the six weeks. As the exchange is for six weeks only and it is a reciprocal agreement, the cost is low. Since 1988, a friendship pact has been ongoing between Hunters Hill and Le Vesinet municipalities (located only 20km out of Paris), with the local Mayor being the President of the Friendship agreement and student exchange. An upcoming information evening will discuss the exchange, open to any high school students who are studying French. New committee members are also welcomed.
Date: 7pm, Wednesday 1st May Location: Hunters Hill Town Hall Information: Email info@huntershill-levesinet.org.au or visit www.huntershill-levesinet.org.au/
TOP: 2017/2018 Australian exchange students in Paris BOTTOM: 2017/2018 French exchange students in Sydney.
Nostalgic. Nurturing. Neighbourly.
Northcott Gardens.
From $180,000*
A home in our community, available now.
Set amongst picturesque landscaped gardens, the leafy suburb of Lane Cove is home to Northcott Gardens. This warm over 55’s community of one-bedroom apartments is close to everything, including the Royal North Shore hospital, an enviable choice of shopping and transport, all just 9kms from Sydney’s CBD.
To book a tour call Shane on 0419 255 240.
92 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove
vasey.com.au
Investing in our natural environment
2019 NSW Election policies of key importance
An innovative green ‘Central Park’ Sydney high rise development.
Lane Cove is not exempt from the significant pressures affecting the NSW environment. Pressure from a growing population has seen the ongoing, unprecedented rate of high-rise development reduce urban green space and tree canopy; increased pollution levels with proposed smoke stacks from tunnels located near schools; and out-of-sight, land clearing for high-impact industries such as mining, forestry and agriculture contributing to C0² levels raising the temperatures and threatening species, even the koala. With the NSW elections upon us, the Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society (LCBCS) joins the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) in its call for urban bushland, green spaces and tree canopies to be a priority for the NSW Government. We urgently need leaders that recognise a healthy, functioning environment is essential for the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW. The long and shortterm objectives of governments, such as planning for a growing population, often undermine the long-term need to conserve and enhance wildlife, our natural environment and plan for a sustainable future. Green spaces have intrinsic aesthetic and environmental values that make cities more liveable and provide significant health, economic, and social benefits. Unbalanced planning laws, weak Council tree-preservation orders and the sale or commercialisation of local parks and public land threatens the urban forest that the Society has worked tirelessly to retain and enhance since 1972, often with Council. That’s why the Society recently supported the Council in its objection to the State Government’s proposed changes to the Medium Density Housing Code, which would see the loss of houses and private gardens being replaced by dense ‘complying’ development. The Code’s changes override Council’s planning controls for land use in Lane Cove’s R2 Low Density Residential zones (around 50% of Lane Cove), without Council approval or the ability for a neighbour to object.
In contrast, a new apartment block in Lane Cove. Council exhibited a Planning Proposal to prohibit multi-dwelling housing in R2 zones in Lane Cove, given that it was envisaged and defined by Council as only single-storey villa homes and not townhouses or terraces. We await the Minister’s decision. The NCC joint environment group platform ‘A Cleaner Greener NSW’ calls for the implementation and permanent protection of the ‘Sydney Green Grid’. It also calls on Government to remove the laws and policies that allow for unchecked tree clearing for development and infrastructure (such as the Exempt and Complying Development Code and the 10/50 Bushfire Code), and to legislate to maintain and increase urban trees and tree canopy (40% increase of Sydney’s tree canopy by 2030). Good planning allows for green spaces and trees that improve air quality, reduce the urban ‘heat island effect’, heat stress and the cost of energy for cooling. Trees in deep soil reduce stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitats and filter inflows into waterways. Parks and bushland increase property values but must be provided alongside increases in density for exercise, healthy lifestyles and improved mental health. Once gone, we are all the poorer.
Words by Shauna Forrest
President Lane Cove Bushland & Conservation Society, on behalf of the Executive and Society
SAT 30 MARCH 9AM-12NOON LANE COVE PLAZA IT’S ON AGAIN!
The Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society Autumn Plant Stall will be held in the Lane Cove Plaza on Saturday 30th March from 9am to 12noon. Come along and have a chat with Society members about native plants indigenous to the Sydney region. Buy some plants and receive advice on how you can grow them in Lane Cove. The Society holds a stall every year in Spring and Autumn to raise awareness about native plants and bushland in urban areas and to raise funds for bushland conservation.
