Draft Minutes of WPCA Annual General
Meeting
20th March, 2011
Elvina Bay Fireshed
Meeting opened at 11.20am.
Apologies: Nick
and Joy Cowdery, Simon Wastell and Penny Gleen, Ric Leplastrier and Karen
Lambert, Mick and Margie Morris, Michael and Lynne Clay, Penny Handelsman, Ryan
Stidwill, Brigitte Mahler-Mills, Roy and Lisa Atkins, Paul and Jane Beaumont,
Ian and Judy James, Roz Noble, Piers
and Suzanne Akerman, Bob and Susan Story,
Bob and Maureen Anderson, Heather and Hilary Macorison, Bill Gye.
Guests: M.
Eriksson, I. White from Pittwater Council.
Correspondence: No correspondence was received in relation to
the AGM – except apologies.
Minutes of previous
AGM: The meeting confirmed the minutes of the AGM of 27th March, 2010. Proposed; M.
Weiner. Seconded; J. Jobson. Accepted.
Matters arising from
the previous AGM.
Jetty Tax: Lesley Stevens reported on meeting held 10 March; at which the current State
Opposition spokesperson stated that their policy sought ‘a fairer system for off-shore residents’. A
flat tax per annum for jetty and pontoon; other waterfront developments will
attract an additional charge.
Pittwater Council
Reference Groups:
Community, Recreation
and Economic Development Reference Group (CRED). P. Purvis reported that
the four meetings in 2010 were primarily concerned with the logistics of bush
regeneration projects and other volunteer-based programs.
Planning an
Integrated Built Environment. Lesley Stevens reported that Sustainability
had been the focus in 2010; with emphasis on ‘aspirational and educational’ policies.
Natural Areas
Reference Group. Alan Yuille
reported that meetings in 2010 tended to focus on issues relevant to the
mainland, where problems are different.
Governance Reference
Group. Graham Earl reported that the focus during 2010 was on visibility of
Council process and operational procedures. How to communicate with residents,
especially young people. How to generate community engagement. A Charter change
for this group was considered in 2010 as meetings tended to disintegrate into
personal ‘gripes’ and/or issues not relevant to Governance.
All four off-shore representatives suggested the
effectiveness of participation could be improved; essential we are there but we
need to be able to contribute more.
Four
meetings per year are too few to achieve real results.
Agenda
is set by Council without input from attendees.
‘Fresh
blood’ from the off-shore community.
Tracks: M.
Doherty summed up a number of historic problems relevant to off-shore track
works. E.g. materials used and methods of application are not erosion
resistant. Letter from WPCA to the RFS
written to 2010 asked for offshore group involvement in track work
needs. RFS has umbrella responsibility for works. Recent meeting involving Mark Beharrel from Council suggested
that a Council representative should
also be involved. The aim being to prioritise needs and ensure best value for
dollars spent on materials and labour. Ian White reported that $2,500 was
earmarked for Lovett bay work and $32,000 was the Elvina Bay
track budget. He endorsed the need for more liaison before infrastructure work
commences. M. Eriksson suggests that I. White contact the General Manager at
Council ‘to pass it down the line’ that more consultation would improve the use
of Council resources. Overriding issue; Council using resident rates on tracks
to service resident (pedestrian) needs vs. RFS need to have truck access to all
areas in an emergency.
Michael Doherty to continue as WPCA point of contact on ‘tracks’. Immediate action: To copy M. Einesson
(Council Engineer) on correspondence. To ask Council to deliver a liaison
person. To encourage a meeting with all interested parties.
Renovation of Public
Wharves in the Pittwater Area: Mark Eriksson addressed the meeting.
Many wharves in the Pittwater area have reached the end of
their ‘lifecycle’. Rebuilding these wharves demand new requirements; in
particular, disability access. The proposed Pittwater rate increase is partly
to fund the upgrade of wharves across the region and improve the boat tie-up
facilities.
Waterways collects all mooring fees for the Pittwater area.
Currently, this money is not used in the Pittwater area. Sydney Harbour
gets priority. Waterways concern is infrastructure for recreational boating;
moorings are linked to recreational boating not commuting. Money is therefore
used for recreational needs in Sydney
Harbour.
The two key transport hubs in Pittwater are Church Point and
Palm Beach; each with different Ferry
company operators. Dept. of Transport operates all major wharves in Sydney Harbour.
Pittwater Council has asked the Dept. of Transport to ‘take over’ the management
of Church Point and Palm
Beach Wharves
as they are relevant to ALL boating needs; commuting, recreation and general
tourism. Palm Beach wharf also has
significant traffic from the Gosford area.
Car and Boat Parking
at Church Point: Mark Eriksson addressed the meeting.
Currently, there are 140 boats on the commuter wharf
‘triple-stacked’. The strategy for the
re-build of the commuter wharf will follow that applied to the carpark, as set
out in the Church Point POM. The cost of the new commuter wharf is $1 million. It
is proposed that the first half of the total area will be built in the next two
years to cater for 70 boats and a boat parking permit with a fee of $275 will
be introduced. These boat permits will not be restricted to off-shore residents
only. M.E. revealed that data analysis of parking permit purchases showed that
‘all but one’ was issued to off-shore residents. M. Weiner suggested that
saving funds for 3-4 years would give better borrowing capability and would
allow for the work to be done as a single project.
Council has spent $120,000 in 2010 on various projects in
the car park; the motorbike area, resurfacing, additional lighting.
Monies collected from the car park comes from a number of
sources; Sale of car permit stickers ($140,000), parking machine tickets
($70-80,000), parking fines and infringements ($20-30,000 minus fees paid to
State Enforcement). A minimum of $200,000 per annum can therefore be predicted
as a deposit, against which Council will be able to borrow money to do the car
park extension.
CPPOM supports a two-deck car parking structure, with one
floor for allocations at a cost of $3,000 per annum. The whole project is
costed at $4 million to cater for 120 cars.
M. Eriksson pointed out that SIRA was not in support of the
two-tier design. On-shore residents also ‘unhappy’. However, a single storey
structure would mean increasing the annual cost to approx. $575 per annum. M.
E. encourages all residents to visit the Council website -> local services
-> parking -> Church Point to revisit details of plans.
P. Purvis pointed out that the new car parking permit is
‘car specific’. M. Eriksson suggested this could change with feedback from
users and an alternative might be multiple car registrations to a single
permit. A. Yuille pointed out that the Manly resident parking permit is not car
specific.
Vote of thanks from Margaret Molloy for the efforts of M.
Eriksson and M. Weiner on behalf of off-shore residents.
Pedestrian Safety:
Paul Purvis explained that WPCA has been in communication with Council on this
issue for many years. The CPPOM recognizes the need for action when the bus
stop renovations are scheduled. Ian White confirmed that RTA refused to approve
the cost of a pedestrian crossing for Church Point. However, 50 kmh signs have
been installed both ways. Paul Purvis to continue to investigate other options.
Treasurer’s Report:
The 2010 account opened with a balance of $5,713.33. We had income
of $1,080.75 from memberships and donations. Total expenses for 2010 were $1,055.30. The current balance stands at $5,738.78. Profit for the period was
$25.45.
2010 Expenses:
Membership of Waterfront Action Group - $150; donations to WAG’s Court Appeal -
$600; Ongoing website costs - $191.40; sundry expenses - $113.90.
These accounts were approved.
New Business:
Terry Mackaness asked that the WPCA support the notion that
ALL non-native animals need to be kept under control on the Western Foreshores;
dogs and cats AND domestic chooks.
Graham Earl announced a meeting on May 14, at the fireshed
at 9.30am; to explain and educate re. the use of the oxy-defrib pack. The pack
will be stored at the fireshed for community use.
Michael Doherty reported that efforts to officially name the
beach next to Hall’s wharf in honour of Espa (Hall) are still underway.
Formation of 2011
Committee:
All positions were declared open and nominations were
invited for the 2011 Committee.
The results of the vote for 2011 Committee members were as
follows;
President: Michael Weiner. Proposed; M. Doherty. Seconded; M.
Vaughan.
Vice-Presidents: Chris McVeigh & Nick Cowdery.Proposed; M. Weiner. Unanimous.
Secretary: Joy Purvis. Proposed;
M. Weiner. Seconded; J. Jobson
Treasurer: Marilyn Vaughan. Proposed; M. Weiner. Seconded; M.
Doherty.
Committee Members:
McCarr’s Creek – Graham
Earl
Elvina South –
Joy Purvis
Elvina North –
Ryan Stidwill
Lovett Bay
– Karin Lambert
Lovett Bay / Frog’s Hollow – Brigitte Mahler-
Mills
Little Lovett –
Edwina Dusseldorp
Morning Bay
– Jane Jobson, Michael Doherty
Proposed; M.
Weiner. Unanimous.
There being no further business; the meeting closed at 1.30
pm.
