West Pittwater Community Association

Representing the communities of McCarrs Creek, Elvina Bay, Lovett Bay, and Morning Bay

PO Box 289   Church Point   NSW   2105

President: Michael Wiener; Tel: 9997 2772; Email: m2wiener@bigpond.net.au

Minutes of Annual General Meeting

Sunday 25 February 2007  

Elvina Bay South

M Wiener, President, opened the meeting at 10.15am

1. Apologies: T & S Stranack, C Macorison, A Yuille, A Hill, R Leplastrier, M & A Kitching, D Maclay, P Akerman, G & D Shirling, P Pryke, L Wilkinson, S Andrews, C & A Adams, C Van Dyke, J Milam, A & D Lloyd, K & M Cardiff, A Perkins, Samara, A & R Mountstephens, J Rich

2. Correspondence

No correspondence received in relation to the AGM

3. Minutes of previous AGM

The meeting confirmed the minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Sunday 26 February 2006 (proposer: D Long, seconder: N Cowdery)

4. President’s Report

M Wiener gave a summary of events related to the Church Point Plan of Management and his activities in relation to the masterplan. This issue to be discussed in more detail under item 6. The meeting accepted the President’s report (proposer: K Lambert, seconder: M Doherty)

5. Treasurer’s Report

The WPCA ran at an overall loss of $923.11 for 2006. This was largely due to three donations. $750 was donated to SIRA towards expenses incurred in the formulation of the Western Foreshores submission to the Church Point Plan of Management, specifically for the issue of car parking. $200 was donated to offset expenses incurred in the running of the Scotland Island Fair and $750 was donated to the Scotland Island Kindergarten to provide seed funding to allow the kindergarten to continue operating. The WPCA website is now up and running, with many thanks to Martin Didsbury for his assistance. There is a monthly charge of $29.95 for the site although community groups get a small discount.

A concern was raised that such a small organisation should not necessarily be handing out donations if this would result in an overall loss of revenue. The concern was noted.

As of 23 January 2006 the balance was $5853.07.

The meeting accepted the Treasurer’s report (proposer K Lambert, seconder: D Long)

6. Church Point Masterplan

The options paper relating to the masterplan is available on the Pittwater Council website. All residents were urged to comment on the options paper, as silence will be taken for agreement.

The Department of Lands had originally stated that in July 2007 the car park at Church Point would be closed. Although they had since agreed verbally that this would not happen, nothing had been received in writing to this effect.

The fact that the Pasadena had received approval to their DA without any further car parking requirements could work in our favour as the Land and Environment Court had recognised that there is an existing car park at Church Point.

It was suggested that, along with the individual submissions, the WPCA would also prepare a general submission. L Eastwood noted that the Church Point Masterplan produced by SIRA & the WPCA had been largely accepted by the community with the exception of car parking and any submission should be an amendment to the existing paper.

Action: WPCA to prepare a submission and send main points to all members so individual submissions can be co-ordinated.

There was some discussion on the possibility of limiting car spaces to one or two per household but no consensus was reached.

The point was made that, if lines were marked on the car park, it would make better use of the space. Also, bicycle and motorbike parking was needed as well as a possible car-share system.

The submission by Holmeport Marina for 13 extra berths would also impact on parking. These extra berths are taking the place of some sunken moorings so the total numbers of berths are not increasing but, with the berths being more accessible, it could still create extra parking demand. Any submissions to this DA application could note this concern.

There was a wide-ranging discussion on the possibility of obtaining legal advice to clarify the rights of the community in relation to car parking at Church Point.

D Long moved the following motion: The WPCA in conjunction with SIRA would agree to a voluntary levy of $100 per household to obtain quality legal advice with regard to our situation with the car park to be called the Car Park Legal Fund. The motion was accepted by the meeting with one dissenter.

Action: WPCA to co-ordinate collection of the levy. Pittwater Council to be asked to contribute and Coaster’s Retreat residents to be asked if they wish to be involved.

The meeting unanimously agreed on the following amendments to the existing draft Church Point Masterplan:

• the foreshore be infilled by approx 4 meters to increase the reserve
• 80 car places be created along McCarrs Creek
• the loss of 30-40 spaces from Bennets Beach end
• a cliff-face structure at Holmeport be constructed for parking in the long term.

These amendments would be contingent on legal advice.

Action: M Wiener to consult with SIRA on incorporating these amendments into the masterplan.

A suggestion was made that a fundraising function be held to raise money for the legal fund.

Action: WPCA to organise a fundraising event

The issue of exclusive use of the car park if the Council imposes a $150 levy was discussed. This money would give residents a car and tinny sticker with the money going into a fund for upkeep and maintenance of the area. Exclusive use would be tied to the legal issues.

The meeting agreed that a ranger operating 24 hours a day 365 days of the year was neither necessary nor desirable.

There was some discussion about the suggested removal of cargo wharf to Bayview. It was agreed that it was important for Cargo Wharf to remain at its present location and that residents should include this issue in their response to the options paper. A suggested interim safety measure could be the installation of a reversing mirror.

Action – WPCA to contact the RTA to discuss the installation of a reversing mirror at Cargo Wharf.

M Wiener informed the meeting that a Portfolio Community Meeting would be taking place on Thursday 1 March to discuss Careel Bay and DCP 21.

7. Pasadena DA

The Pasadena DA has been approved by the Land & Environment Court with some minor amendments – the building is to be lowered by one metre and the western apartment removed. It was felt that it was important to retain the spirit and character of Church Point regardless of this approval.

8. Submissions for Geographical Names Board

B Anderson moved a motion that the eastern side of Halls Wharf be named Espa’s Beach, which was the name of Halls daughter. The meeting approved this motion.

Action: M Doherty to contact the Geographical Names Board with this suggestion

9. Survey

The survey has been completed and will be distributed to every household on the western foreshores to give details of car and boat movements in the area. This is to be used by Council. The following volunteers offered to help distribute the surveys:

Elvina Bay – L Atkins, J James & T Gill

Towlers Bay – M Anderson

Little Lovett Bay – M Adler

Lovett Bay – J Leonard & J Bell

Action: a covering letter to be prepared to explain the reasons for the survey and the confidentiality measures in place.

10 Other Business

Home Owners Association (HAA)

L Stevens gave the committee an update on the issue of jetty tax. Consultation with the State Government has not produced any results however Peter Debnam has stated that, if elected, he will abolish jetty tax and will provide an easement on property titles which will involve a small compliance fee. This will mean that the jetty will be on the title and attached to the land. The next step is to approach the independent candidates as they may end up holding the balance of power after the next election.

The meeting congratulated L Stevens on her great work for the HAA.

Excessive Run-off

The issue of the proper maintenance of tracks to reduce run-off into the Bays was raised.

Action: This issue to be investigated by the WPCA.

 

Car Movements

The increase of car movements in the western foreshores was discussed. DCP-21 states that it is a desired character of the area that this is a pedestrian environment however, this does not state that cars cannot be used.

Action: K Lambert to investigate the draft DCP-21 and ensure that car use provisions are clear.

 

Funds from AGM Breakfast

The meeting agreed that the funds raised from the breakfast could be donated to the WPCA rather than to the Rural Fire Service as advertised.

Recycling

Concern was expressed that recycling was regularly being dumped in the rubbish bin rather than separately recycled.

Action: WPCA to investigate this concern

 

Marine Issues

The issue of unsafe boating practices (such as excessive speeding and travelling at night time without lights) was raised. The Water Police have requested that they be notified of any infringements. All members were asked to let T Gill know of any water issues so the representative of the Pittwater Users Group could be notified.

 

It was felt that the representative on the Pittwater Users Group should ideally be a member of the WPCA Committee.

 

Envirofund

The Australian Government is offering a fund of up to $50,000 for small projects aimed at conserving biodiversity & promoting sustainable resource use. Anyone interested in applying for this fund should contact T Gill for the application form and details. Applications close Friday 27 April 2007

Voting Booth on Scotland Island

There has traditionally been a voting booth set up on Scotland Island on election day and all residents were encouraged to use that booth to vote. Low numbers will result in the loss of the booth in future, with the nearest voting booth then being at Locquat Valley School.

11. Formation of 2007 Committee

M Wiener declared all positions open and invited nominations for the 2007 committee. He took the opportunity to formally thank all members of the committee for their work, M Didsbury for all his work on the website and T Mottl for her work on Bayswatch.

The results of the vote for committee members were as follows:

President                   M Wiener (proposer K Lambert, seconder M Didsbury)

Vice President          K Lambert (proposer R Baxendale, seconder N Cowdery)

Treasurer                   B Anderson (proposer M Anderson, seconder M Wiener)

Secretary                   T Gill (proposer M Wiener, seconder K Lambert)

Members                    M Adler – Little Lovett (proposer B Mahler-Mills, seconder M Wiener)

                                    M Doherty – Morning Bay (proposer M Anderson, seconder M Wiener)

                                    N Cowdery – McCarrs Creek (proposer M Didsbury, seconder M Wiener)

Bec Robinson – McCarrs Creek (proposer K Lambert, seconder, M Anderson

                                    M Vaughan – North Elvina (proposer B Mahler-Mills, seconder T Gill)

                                    J Bell – South Lovett (proposer B Mahler-Mills, seconder K Lambert)

B Mahler-Mills – Nth Lovett/Frog Hollow (proposer K Lambert, seconder M Wiener)

There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 12.20pm