Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc.

Minutes

Minutes of the General Meeting for Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc. held at 7.30 pm Tuesday 24 June, 2008, Hardys Bay Church Hall.

Welcome:  President Adrian Williams welcomed new and existing members together with guest speakers from Walsingham Pre School – Angus Kell and Killcare Surf Club – Jeremy Linton-Mann, Karen Burke and Jim Macfadyen.  Committee members introduced.

Apologies: Carolyn Shrimpton, Rob & Robyn Hill, Geoff Steel, Ian & Gay Bull, John & Treveen Brown, Christine Cave, Kaye & Richard Warren, Ruth Dunlop and Helen Robinson.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:  Minutes accepted as true and accurate record. Moved by Alan Bennett and seconded by Bill Egan.

Financial Report:  Bank account balance is $2,226.50. Income was $280.00 for memberships.  Outgoings were $15.95 postage and stationery; $149.85 outboard trolley and part; $44.00 Dep Fair Trading for the annual statement and $440.00 for Peninsula Design & Print for the newsletter.

Memberships are now due for 2008-09.  44 renewals have already been paid.  Support is appreciated as this, along with the website advertising is the only source of income.

From 01 July we will run a new advertising program on the web page www.hardysbay.com .  Bill advised we have received over 10,000 hits to date this month. This peaks when we have major issues such as foreshore and marina when we get an even greater response. There is definitely an advertising opportunity here.  $250.00 for the year.  If you know of anyone interested please let us know.  Website is self sufficient and is updated monthly.

Business Arising from Minutes:

Notice of Meeting Distribution - Thanks to our eight new volunteers Lance Dover, Adam Klasterka, Frances Bradfield, Michael & Linda Crehan, Geoff Steel and Elizabeth & David Butler who helped out. 

Guest Speakers:  

Walsingham Pre School – Angus Kell, President Walsingham Management Committee.

Walsingham Pre-School commenced operation some 20 years ago in the current location at Pretty Beach Catholic Church. Operates from Monday to Friday, and the Catholic Church functions on the weekends.  The Pre-School has funding from the Department of Community Services (DOCS) of approximately $85,000 pa, with the balance of operating funds from fees and fundraising. The Pre-School operates from 8.30am – 3.30pm to the same timetable of NSW State Schools and has approximately 50% local children and 50% from outside of the area.

• Relocation to Pretty Beach Public School – Old Principal’s Residence site behind the school.
• Original grant of $300,000 in 2002 – due to delays this has now increased to $650,000.  Estimated building cost is $750,000.  Additional amount possibly through a bank loan. A grant was recently withdrawn by Govt.  We pay and build ourselves and it is re-leased to us – owned by DOCS.
• To guarantee the future of the Pre-School in a permanent location and purpose built building.  Licensed for 39.
• Build a cost effective, energy efficient building that touches the ground lightly with minimal impact on the environment.
• Offer adaptable spaces for community use and build by re-using as much of the existing building fabric as economically viable. 
• Obtain sponsorship from material suppliers and manufacturers.

Where to From Here....

• Ensure co-operation with other community initiatives and ensure the development of the Pre-School is in line with community expectations
• Develop initiatives to ensure the long term sustainability of the Pre-School within the community.  
• Seek advice and support from the broader community.  Should have the lease this week and need a solicitor to have a look at it.
• Parking issues were raised – to manage this at a community level.  Only for 39 children – 3-4 teachers.
• Will be re-branding it and look at how to market it on completion, probably term 2 in 2009.  It is a pre-school, no licence for child care.

Contact…Walsingham Community Pre-School, Phone: 02-4360 1355.  Email: walsingp@bigpond.net.au or  call Angus Kell on 0412-565 023.

Killcare Surf Club – Jeremy Linton-Mann, Karen Burke and Jim Macfadyen.

The club was demolished in April/May and a lot of material put aside for recycling.  All drainage work has been completed and concrete foundations should be poured within the next few weeks.  The new level of the club is approximately ½ meter above ground level because of the issue with erosion line. Outside should be erected fairly quickly as it’s a tilt slab construction.  Builders are Mitchell Brothers – also built Avoca Surf Club.

• Inside the Club on ground floor will be gear and storage area (3 times larger), first aid room, kiosk, cool room, showers/toilets and entry foyer to upstairs.  Lift will be installed.  Toilets and showers are not out of Surf Club funds.
• Upper level will be restaurant - members meeting rooms, bar area, kitchen and 150 – 200 people auditorium for functions with dance floor. 5 meter deck outside.
• Solar hot water – looking at grants for this.  Initially going to have grey water recycling as in other SLSC’s but it is expensive for chemicals and maintenance.  Council to install 100,000 litre water tanks to flush motors and use for toilets (non-drinking). No air conditioning or heating – naturally ventilated with fans.
• The club to pay Gosford Council an annual lease of $3,000 + CPI / year – currently not paying anything to Council.
• Income will be from rent of Kiosk, restaurant, weddings and functions for long term financial viability of the club as the Council will not be responsible for ongoing maintenance.  Will need to be self funding for running of the club.
• Under new licensing laws have applied to get a restricted licence through the restaurant.  Restaurant to be tendered out.
• Completion end of Jan 2009 and opened in Feb.

Current Issue Updates:

Marina – Very little to report. Dep of Planning is looking at universal zoning throughout NSW. Keeping an eye on this.  Currently 6a zoning is for recreational use and as is it is difficult for them to do anything.  Re-zonings go on public viewing in Oct-Nov.  Jim Macfadyen advised the Boating Industry Assn. is complaining about the rezoning.  When the draft LEP is released to Council submissions can be made – can’t make direct to Dep of Planning.

• Alan Bennet advised Land & Environment Court denied Ruschutters Bay’s application – to get information on this

Mosquitos – The $185,000 grant with Australian Catholic Universities has appointed a PhD to evaluate if any impact on the food chain from the effects of Bti.

Siltation – Graham Smith advised The Floodplain Risk Management Report has been on display for one month..

Graham has worked tirelessly for many years on the sedimentation issue and attends all committee meetings involved in this.

Two Councillors have advised Graham to make another submission to revisit core sampling in the bay.  There has been a lot more focus on the problem in the media.  Please refer to our website www.hardysbay.com for siltation updates.

Foreshore – Bill advised Council have finished the summary and it will go to Council the first week in August. Received over 300 submissions.

Due to the amount of things on Council’s plate they are only looking at funded issues and the foreshore doesn’t have funding at this stage.

General Business:

Council Election Issues – To send letter to each candidate asking their position of certain issues – Marina, Mosquitos, Sedimentation and Foreshore.

To collate responses for September meeting and where the candidates position themselves.

Theft – New residents in Heath Road reported theft of 2 large 7ft tall pots, chest, bike and fishing rods only a couple of days after moving into the house.

Adrian stressed the need to report such incidents – need to have the statistics for crime prevention and police coverage in the area.

Correspondence –

Emails re marina and foreshore.

Email to Mitch Murphy – thanks for the work carried out on Hardys Bay Extension Wharf when the road collapsed.

Final Foreshore Restoration Reports Stage 2 to Dep of Primary Industries (Fisheries) and Lands Dep.  We are currently thinking about stage 3.

Next meeting:  Tuesday 26 August, 2008, 7.30 pm Hardys Bay Church Hall.

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