Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc.

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting for Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc. held at 7.30 pm Tuesday 28 August, 2007, Hardys Bay Church Hall.

Welcome:  President Adrian Williams welcomed members and our guests. Unfortunately numbers were down tonight probably due to the lunar eclipse!

Special Guests - Vicki Redrup, students and parents from Pretty Beach Public School.

Apologies:  Alan Bennet, Bill Egan, Treveen Brown and Jan Walker.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:  Minutes accepted as true and accurate record. Moved by Kel Gulliver and seconded by Fiona Atkinson.

Financial Report:  $5,987.62 cash balance.  Outgoings were Church hall hire and Mooring Service for removal of poles with the oyster clean up.  Don’t forecast a great deal to come out – only safety gloves etc for the clean up.

• Memberships now due 01Jul 07 – 30 Jun 2008.  If you have not paid, appreciate payment.
• Newsletter – August edition has been distributed thanks to the hard work of our esteemed editor and publisher Allan Wilson.  This is fully self funded by advertisers. 

Business Arising from Minutes –

Guest Speakers – Vicki Redrup and students from Pretty Beach Public School.

Adrian conveyed HBRG’s congratulations for the school’s excellent results in English be conveyed in assembly.  166 pupils in 7 straight classes with the right number next year to keep all of the teachers.  HBRG recently supported demountables for the school with petitions and submissions.

• Vicki introduced the students to share their experiences.
• Naomi spoke about BEAR – “be excited and read” for K, 1 and 2^nd years. Every 2 years year 6 have a MUSICAL.  Proverbs commonly used – singing and dancing. This year will be WEBS and you will have to come along to see what it is about!    Next Tuesday 4 September matinee at 10.30 am and 7pm
• Kean covered the ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS.  A recycling grant and Gosford City Council grant received.  Two new worm farms and bins – water saving initiatives – aboriginal art – 10 bat boxes installed. The school has adopted a whale and aptly named TURO.  Keep your eye out for Turo cruising off Killcare beach!
• Katie discussed VALUES EDUCATION PROGRAM.  Values and virtues – codes of life.  Years 5 & 6 designed T-shirts and flags where you see values in and out of the school.  There is an ACT OF KINDNESS BOOK for people who are kind and stand up for others.
• Nathan spoke of LEADERSHIP ROLES.  Years 5 & 6 Trivia.  Spending time with KINDY START PROGRAM – year 6 in term 4 with pre-schoolers starting the following year.  Sports trips for years 5 & 6 to Bathurst and Canberra.  Captains and Vice-Captains running assemblies and presentations.
• Bella talked about MY SCHOOL MY COMMUNITY. Lots of cultures make us who we are.  Lots of friends from different backgrounds living together as one. Home is where the heart is and my home is here!
• Tom had just competed in REGIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION.  Sport is breaking down the barriers. Sport and recreation are a major priority for migrant backgrounds.  Pride and dignity.  So many tools bring people together.  Sport has a positive social effect.
• Katie’s topic was LIVING THROUGH WAR taking us on a journey from WWII in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland through to Afghanistan in 2001.
• Vicki is very proud of the great ambassadors they are for the school.  New at the school – a new logo, newsletter, signs, brochure and website with the P & C instrumental in development.  $3 million to demountables over the next 4 years and then library and office.  The pre-school on the old Principal’s residence by the end of 2008.  Very exciting time and happy place to be.  Theme days – book parades – hippy and pirate days – French – music and drumming – public speaking – working with local pre-school – Kincumber is the local high school – environmental activities with a water passport to monitor usage.  Grass is the only unsuccessful thing with Army Grub – would be great to have a sports field.
• Adrian thanked all and said it was inspirational to hear intelligent articulate speakers on a range of subjects.  Instead of criticising young people it’s great to hear what they have to say. Parents were invited to come along to our HBRG meetings and that a lot more bat boxes are needed to combat our mozzies!

New/General Business Updates: Special thanks to Jim Macfadyen for attending tonight. Prior to each meeting Adrian makes a number of follow up calls.

Marina – no further progress.  Michael will get back to us when he has another set of drawings further down the track.

Mozzies – NP&W still stonewalling. Want lots more research on impact to food chain even though we have provided this information.  We have had tremendous support from Mike Muller.  Queensland is having one of the worst ever years and this impacts in many ways – tourism etc.  Using Mike as the expert we have requested NP&W to tell us where they are – haven’t replied as yet. 

• Jim Macfadyen got this issue up at Council but can’t do anything until NP&W report is received even though lower Hunter recommended Bti treatment.  Jim suggested writing to Minister Coperberg – millions of $ spent to protect residents and tourists in Qld and use Della Bosca to move things along.
• Seems if they do it in Gosford will all areas want to do it for saltmarsh mosquitos and State Govt. will have to give grants to all councils?  Trial in this area will not create domino effect.  Map clearly shows if they are treated in this area it arrests this problem.  Pre-emptive work will save $$.
• Dept Lands, Waterways and NP&W all involved and that’s why it was referred by Gosford City Council to State Govt.
• John Singleton invested in Bells and Headlands – could get him on board.
• Motion: To seek support from Della Bosca with Jim’s support.  Research has already been done.  Use the Govt. to get it going.  Proposed Brent Walker seconded Fiona Atkinson.  Carried.

Oyster Foreshore Clean Up Roster – Sept. tides are not good.  Only 3 out of 5 weekend for loads. The Hardys Bay Parade people have been terrific.  If we could get more support for midweek could do extra loads.  Only around 12 loads at 10 tons each to go before it gets too hot.  Already moved over 170 tons and it’s starting to take its toll on Terry who has been there for every load plus moving it in and out and cleaning the gear.  Dates are on the website.  If you can help out, especially mid-week please ring Terry or Kay on 4360 1633.

Siltation – Graeme Smith does a fantastic job representing HBRG on committees.   Long term process with Council - at long last making headway as they are finally going to do core samples to where the siltation has come from.

• Brent Walker advised Chris Holstein looked at what Council had done and was horrified at the mosquito trap created. Report recommends dredging creek but need to go further into the bay.  Delta getting bigger and bigger.  Some silt is not from this area – Hawkesbury River deposits here – if this can be proved can get Federal and State help.  Painful steps take years.  Graeme, Brent, Alan and Rob chiselling away.  To submit photo evidence.
• As with Turo Creek – get it on the Maintenance Program with Council.  It sets a precedence and then can look at RSL Creek etc.
• Go forward with solutions as a group.  Sub committee working on this.

Gosford City Council’s Infrastructure Plan for the next 10 years – to talk about what we get from this.  Jim advised nothing for Killcare/Hardys Bay only broad issues. We need to find funds through State and Federal Govt. and work through this and Council do not have any funds.  Suggested we contact Nick Pastinesti and Terry Firwell who put the grants together.  Adrian and Jim to discuss further – topic for next meeting.

Maintenance – Good support in Council.  Cyclical Maintenance Program.  Everything we have done to them with they have attended to.    Helen Robinson raised issue of bark at the base of the Yum Yum trees.  Needs an edge to stop the bark from spilling out onto the concrete paths.

Crime Prevention – Snr Constable Jo Plummer advised nothing has been reported for the area – despite Adrian reporting stolen plumbing items from his job.

Must call 131444 Call Centre and get a report number.  Ringing Woy Woy and Gosford Police – not getting reported into statistics.  Better coverage of our area with statistics.

Central Coast Ferries “Cudock II” special for the Put Put Regatta on 28 October.  Ferry leaves Hardys Bay 9.10 am and back at 1.30 pm.  Can take 40 people.

Lack of Sporting Facilities – Kel Gulliver spoke to Jim Macfadyen – 6A zoning recreational purposes may cover sports ground.

Jim advised of the possibility of a mobile skate park – waiting on a meeting date.

Motion: Write to Colleen Worthy Jennings, Director Environment Planning GCC to find out what areas and suggestions they have. Moved by Kel Gulliver, Seconded by John Brown.  Carried.

Bouddi Society – Ingmar Berman’s Wild Strawberries on the 4^th September at Wagstaffe Hall.  A recital by CC Conservatorium students showcase prior to their NZ tour.  $15 on the 9^th September at 2.30 pm.

Killcare Surf Club – DA passed at last Council meting.  Expressions of interest for 4 companies to tender for Killcare and Wamberal clubs late Nov/Dec.  Work to commence in February.

Foreshore Development Plan – 14 months ago HBRG submitted a wish list for short term issues – line marking, signage etc and long term issues.

Misleading information given out using all group’s approval incorrectly re the sea wall. Most people at the meeting did not want change – only a few individuals pushing.  

• John Cragg came to last meeting and advised plans due out end of July – nothing has progressed even though told it would be available for comment.

Safety issues are a concern – especially bus stop that could be moved around the corner.

• Jim could ask question at next Council meeting without notice.  Have to give a written response to his question.

Motion: Jim Macfadyen to put this as his question without notice.  Adrian to email question to Jim. Moved by Kel Gulliver, Seconded Brent Walker.  Carried.

Australia Day Awards –  Jim advised anyone who meets the criteria HBRG can nominate.

Water Restrictions Gosford – Jim advised to remain on level 4 until review in November.

Correspondence:  Still receiving emails about foreshore development – minimalist approach.

Next meeting:  Last week in October - Gosford City Council’s Infrastructure Management Plan.  Would have to change meeting to either Mon or Wed night as Council meets on a Tue night. TBA.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.