Hardys Bay Residents Group

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held at 7.30 pm Tuesday 18 July 2006 at Hardys Bay Community Hall.

President Adrian Williams welcomed all and advised tonight’s meeting would be a review of the first 6 months and further issues over the next 6 – 12 months.

Apologies:  Bill & Janet Egan, Elizabeth Williams, Jim Macfadyen, Ian & Gay Bull, Bill & Dianne Dagger, Vic Boutmy, Helen & Paul Robinson, Robert Hill, Noel & Gaye Gurney. Allan & Fiona Lambell, Catherine Christie.

Minutes:  Minutes of the previous meeting held were read and accepted as true and accurate record. Moved by Kel Gulliver seconded Terry Feltham.

Financial Report:  Bank balance of $543.72 plus new memberships.

Membership:  Now due for new financial year 01Jul 06 – 30 Jun 07. $10.00 per person, $5.00 pensioner, $15.00 family or $7.50 pensioner family.  Membership fees paid from January – June 2006 will include the extended period and go through until 30 June 2007. Email reminders will be sent out.

· Funds are needed pay for Community Hall, website address and a number of projects being funded during the year and a new quarterly four page newsletter expected by end of July.

· Advertising revenue from website with five local rotating ads on the web page @ $150.00 each and in the newsletter $50.00 per ad per quarter.  Bill Egan and Kel Gulliver preparing a presentation pack for local business and trades people.

Business Arising from Minutes:

Traffic Issues –  Bill Egan

• The executive committee met and Bill gave a rundown on all issues raised at 30 May meeting.
• Bill has been liaising with Martin Dale and Linda Muller from Gosford City Council and State Govt.  Council to get back to clarify points.
• Hardys Bay has been moved up on Council’s agenda.  Survey of the area being done and will take approximately one month for results.
• Council prepare a brief for Consultant’s design.
• Council meet and discuss views and 3-way meeting with Consultants.       
• Review of Consultant’s design – long and short term issue.  Funding is allocated.
• Some short term can be done quickly.  Long term goes on public exhibition and we will advise when this is available.
• Line marking and signage at least a month away. 
• Refer to minutes and website www.hardysbay.com for the Traffic Issues Wish List.

Sewerage Odour – John & Treveen Brown.  Araluen, Heath and Frazer Roads – encourage everyone to call the Sewerage Line via Gosford Council’s Customer Service Line 4325-8222 or the EPA on 131555.  If you don’t phone it isn’t registered as an issue in the area. The more calls the more action for the area.

Dog Waste Bags -  Adrian Williams.  Four dispensers and biodegradable bags are now in place.  Araluen Drive near pump station and opposite Community Church Hall and at each end of the dog walking track.  Council were to move existing bins closer and have made this a priority.  Janet Egan has been replenishing bags Thanks to Janet.  Adrian and Janet have keys and around 6 months supply of bags.

• When walking past can everyone please make sure bags are visibly showing and encourage usage.
• Some critical comments have been received.

Mosquito Issue –Sandy Robinson & Adrian Williams have had weekly meetings for the past five months.

• For the Bti trial to go ahead it must be prior to summer, by November at latest.
• 1. Council don’t have any money.  2. Not a health risk.  3. Environmental issues
• Funding - In May Council passed a resolution to apply for Environmental Trust Grant and HBRG have lodged two applications. One for a Seeding Grant with the Environmental Trust and Central Coast Area Consultative Committee.
• Always asked  “Why aren’t Council paying for the trial?”
• Health – Central Coast Health have figures on their website.  Dept of Health which shows a 400% increase from 22 cases in 2005 to 80 cases in 2006 in Gosford Area.
• As the local area increases in virus Killcare is a higher risk area.  After breeding in the salt marshes they like the cooler bush area of Killcare escarpment.
• Environmental issues – Prof. Cameron Webb, Dept of Medical Entomology Westmead, and Brisbane City Council’s Medical Entomologist Mike Muller – how Qld Institute of Medical Research  benchmark other areas.  Study in New Zealand using Bti, NZ Ministry of Health has well documented safety in the use of Bti and also World Health Organisation.  Bti is not harmful to anyone, only salt marsh mosquitoes.
•  Brisbane Council approached re this information and we have asked Mike Muller to speak to Gosford Council and HBRG.  Letter sent to Mayor Laurie Maher and Councillor Jim Macfadyen requesting Mike Muller and Professor Cameron Webb to talk to Gosford Council, hopefully in August.
• We can’t wait for Gosford Council to procrastinate.  If no response from Gosford Council HBRG will bring Mike Muller down and Professor Cameron Webb.  Will hire a large hall for the meeting with plenty of press coverage.  HBRG committed to moving this along.  Business groups supporting the trial Bti, Chamber of Commerce and other residents groups. 
• Two other local groups have not offered any solutions.  Hopefully we can resolve and gain their support.  PBW Progress Assn – no position as yet and KWT are not satisfied in the eco system.
• Positive response from Maher and Macfadyen and other Councillors now know the importance of the spraying.
• Can’t expect visitors to come to our area and go home with Ross River Fever.
• Allan Wilson has been getting great press and Sue’s ( Resident) Peninsular News letter.
• Next HBRG meeting date is dependent on whether Council bringing Mike Muller down.

Sedimentation – Graeme Smith is our nominated representative for Mudflat Creek Killcare Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.

• HBRG is about working for a balance of environment and lifestyle.
• Frazer Road Flood Study completed from Floodplain Risk Management.  To re-survey residents on what’s been done so far.  Community involvement sought - draft at this stage.  Council and Consultants will have an idea when Questionnaires are back what can be done in modifications to mitigate flooding – buy-back of properties etc.
• Turo Creek in the planning stage.  Flood situation stuck on option 1 – get water from High View Rd redirected down Venice Rd and under existing BBQ’s.  Option 2 – widening creek in certain parts.  Flood management by building alignments in Venice Rd.  Consultants to get back.  Very slow process.  The Drainage Study 7 years ago has just received funding.
• Como Rd silt trap culverts to protect sediment build up on foreshore.
• Govt. funding for Wagstaffe works now underway and will be messy for a while in the area.
• Brisbane Water Flood Study to determine water levels and flow of water in Brisbane Waters. Worst possible scenarios – seawalls etc. 

Oyster Leases  - Terry Feltham started over 2 years ago to obtain a permit for the cleaning of abandoned derelict oyster leases along Hardys Bay Parade.  Over a 4 month period with a handful of local residents they removed over 35 tons of debris and rocks and relocated this to widen the cul-de-sac area near the extension wharf in stage 1 of the cleanup.  Earlier this month Woy Woy Rotary awarded Terry with a Community Service Award for the work done.

• Oyster farmers have now removed the bags and lines from the lease between the extension wharf and the northern private wharf.  This lease has been surrendered to Fisheries and the posts will be removed over the next few months.
• HBRG have requested that Fisheries designate this area to the ‘orange zone’ so that it can no longer be reworked by oyster farmers.
• A grant application has been lodged for stage 2 clean-up with the Environment Trust supported by Coastal Management Authority and Minister for Central Coast, Grant McBride.  This will allow for hire of barges, equipment, insurance and protective clothing.  We will be advised in December if successful.

Increased Police Activity – Adrian contacts Jo Plummer monthly and she advised the number of calls received from Hardys Bay had increased.

· Please contact Woy Woy or Gosford police or 000.  The more incidences reported the more police presence in the area.   If you make a report and nothing happens please let Adrian know.

· One break-in at Killcare Heights and five reported over the school holiday period at Wagstaffe.

· As Neighbourhood Watch no longer exists it’s up to everyone to keep an eye on each others property.

Lights from Booker Bay – Sandy Broadhead approached Andersons Boatshed and they have now adjusted this.  There is still another light that they are trying to locate that is shining very bright over the bay.

Adrian Williams advised HBRG are about finding solutions.  It’s about trying to find a way to get things done.

Correspondence:

• Environmental Trust acknowledging applications received. 
• Letter sent to Gosford City Council re mosquitoes.
• Local Ferry Company contacted Adrian after reading traffic issues in Peninsular News and came to HBRG as the local group. They are considering a local ferry service on Brisbane Water once every 2 or 3 months.  Opportunity for the RSL to work in with.

New/General Business:

Publicity – Allan Wilson has done a fantastic job with publicity on all issues and we are very fortunate to have him.  He has a very good relationship with local media.  Either the Peninsular News or the local paper something is usually there.

• HBRG sign to be erected at Wards Hill Rd and Beach Rd intersections for next and subsequent meetings.

Newsletter – Currently printing a quarterly four page newsletter for distribution by the end of July. Will include:

· Major issues to date.           *Future issues to investigate.

· Advertising and Letters.       * Next Meeting details.

· Highlights of achievements.

· Ready Reference Directory as on the web page www.hardysbay.com

Next Meeting:  Dependent on Gosford City Council bringing Mike Muller down from Brisbane and Professor Cameron Webb to meet with Council and HBRG.  Date to be advised hopefully the end of August or early September.

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