Hardys Bay Residents Group

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held at 7.30 pm Thursday 30^th May 2006 at Hardys Bay Community Hall.

President Adrian Williams welcomed all members and guests.

Apologies:  Graeme Smith, Sandy Robinson, Jim Macfadyen, Keith & Betty Wardell, Ian Bull, Pam Mainsbridge, Robert Hill, Bill Dagger.

Minutes:  Minutes of the previous meeting held were read and accepted as true and accurate record. Moved by John McGregor seconded Sandie Broadhead.

Financial Report: Nil expenditure last month. Income $58.00. Balance: $473.72

Business Arising from Minutes:

Traffic Issues - Guests from Gosford City Council. John Cragg from engineering services and traffic education & Martin Dale from road safety and project development..

• Community to identify problems in Hardys Bay.
• Single road into the area. A combination of retail and restaurants has increased traffic and  subsidiary problems as a result.
• Araluen Drive - parking issues; no centre line marking; speed of traffic; speed signs required; no through road sign; trees obstructing vision at bridge intersection;

U-turns; pedestrians crossing all these ideas were voiced.

• Bill Egan asked if there was any plan in place for Hardys Bay and John Cragg advised Gosford Council is reactive to such issues as traffic. A detailed survey at Spencer had been undertaken, similar traffic issues to Hardys Bay. They take comments for a master plan and funding is sourced from different areas.
• Volume of traffic, speed, time of day/year can be monitored by Council. The excecutive to work with Council to have this done at the appropriate time.
• Topographical study of area to identify what the community see as best options for parking and the ambiance of the bay.  Concept plans or a base plan with sketch concepts would take approximately one month to prepare. It’s about a balance of people and the environment.
• Council have immediate money available for road lining and speed zones and safety issues.
• Longer term design to help slow traffic down eg roundabouts, pedestrian refuges, raised roadway areas, angle parking requires wide community consultation and Council’s budgeting process.
• Community to submit ideas to the Executive Committee via the website www.hardysbay.com or correspondence to HBRG Inc PO Box 4123 Wagstaffe 2257.

Motion: Executive Committee to discuss further with John Cragg and Martin Dale the quick fix issues and the more costly solutions and how it fits with the foreshore program.

Seconded: Kel Gulliver.  Carried.

Sewerage Odour - John & Treveen Brown advised the number on website is no longer valid.

Make sure the EPA know about it by phoning 131555. The council customer service number 4325 8222 should also be called. If you don’t phone it isn’t registered as an issue in the area.

Dog Waste Bags - Adrian. Four dispensers and biodegradable bags have been purchased by Council.  To be located at the shops, corner of Araluen Drive and each end of the dog walking track.  Bins moved to be closer to the end of the track.  Our responsibility to replenish the bags.

Master Plan - Adrian has been talking to Council.  Brisbane Water Estuary Study Plan headed by Dr Peter Freewater, is currently in around stage 2 of an 8-9 stage program. Will keep trying to find out what the foreshore plan is.

Mosquito Issue - Adrian and Sandy Robinson met with Gosford City Council’s Mayor, Laurie Mayer, and councillor  Jim Macfadyen, this meeting was prior to a full Council meeting and kindly arranged by Councillor McFadyen

A Resolution was passed at the meeting which included items such as

• Officers to do benchmarking with other Councils that have used B.t.i.
• Council should seek funding and apply for funding from state government.

Other activity included

• Grant McBride advised that grants may be available through the Environmental Trust and that Council should apply for a grant for the treatment of mosquitoes.
• HBRG has also applied for a Seeding Grant and also through Area Consultive Committee.
• Meeting was held with Councillor Chris Holstien and he was appraised of the situation
• Business support and private pledges of funds have been received.
• It is difficult when council has 2 groups with opposing views , however we have certainly put the mosquito issue on Council’s agenda.
• Individuals can independently write to Council.  For further information contact Sandy Robinson.

Oyster Leases - Terry & Kay Feltham.  Lodging Environmental Grant application for Rehabilitation Program. Grant McBride’s letter of support pledged for the Hardys Bay Parade oyster clean-up.

Increased Police Activity - Jo Plummer advised the number of calls received from Hardys Bay had increased.

· Police had been called and came out in regard to unregistered trail bikes on roads.

· Lots of unregistered bikes on roads – make sure they are reported.

· Police have 2 trail bikes in the area and will use these assit in stopping the trail bikes on the streets.

· 1 boat stolen, car broken into and robbery at RSL

Please keep calling either Woy Woy or Gosford police on these issues.

Correspondence:

Grant Application - Environmental Trust.  Grant McBride’s letter grant applications and seeding committee.

KWT Walking Path - Letter in regard to campaign for walking track Wagstaffe - Lobster Beach, as emailed out by Adrian.  Individuals to write.

Police - Thank you letter sent to Jo Plummer.

Gosford City Council - Thank you letter sent for Yum Yum tree and Dog Waste bags.

New/General Business:

Boat Ramp - John Cragg, Gosford City Council, advised tenders called for the ramp construction. These should be accepted at the Council meeting and work commence in one month. Copy of plan made available.

Hardys Bay RSL - Bill Egan.  Directors advised the club was out of administration.  Creditors had given them 12 months, however bank wants the money in 6 months.

· Monday meetings to keep RSL going

· The more patronage from community the more chance it will stay afloat.

Anderson’s Boatshed Security Light - Very bright intrusive light 7.30 pm - 5.00 am shines into several homes.  Committee to follow up.

RSL Creek - Bill Egan and Graeme Smith to meet with Council engineers and do a walk- around.  Drains blocked by mangroves; flood issues and smell.  Management plan will allow Council to address the mangrove issue.

Meetings: Frequency of HBRG meetings to be every six weeks. Executive Committee to meet twice within this period.

Next Meeting 7.30 pm Tuesday 11 July, 2006 at Hardys Bay Community Hall.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.00 pm.