Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc.

Minutes

Minutes of the General Meeting for Hardys Bay Residents Group Inc. held at 7.30 pm Tuesday 24 February, 2009 at Hardys Bay Church Hall.

Welcome to Members and Guest:  President Adrian Williams welcomed new and existing members and guest speakers Steve Farrell and volunteers from Rural Fire Brigade Killcare.  Two key issues this evening will be the very relevant RFS and Development update.

Apologies:  Jim Macfadyen, Bill & Janet Egan, Sandie Broadhead, Tin & Terrence Cole, Carolyn Shrimpton, Kel Gulliver, Angus Kell, Brent & Jan Walker, Mike Chittey, Susan Johnson, Elizabeth Butler and Jill Baxter.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:  Minutes accepted as true and accurate record. Moved Elizabeth Williams, seconded Fiona Atkinson.

A reminder these are posted on our website www.hardysbay.com.

Our webmaster Bill Egan has advised we are currently getting between 8,000 -10,000 hits per month which is around 2,500 people going into the website and taking out information.

Financial Report:  Bank account balance is $4,155.01.  Income of $543.34 from mid October.  Expenditure of $1,344.00 included newsletter and doggie bags.

Balance of accumulated funds is $4,155.01.

Memberships – for those who haven’t joined, or if existing members who have not paid, we are offering memberships running through until 30 June, 2010.

General Business:

Stephen Black, Regional Manager – Hawkesbury Broken Bay Team, NSW Maritime spoke at our last meeting about dredging the channel and a waitlist for moorings in the bay.  Seven moorings have since been handed in and Adrian has received calls of thanks from boat owners now able to secure a mooring.

There has also been media coverage about dredging, especially around Little Box where it is getting narrower, and also Kent Sheppard of Hardys Bay Yacht Charters recent incident.

Grant for Phase 3 Oyster clean up from Extension Wharf to Cnr of Hardys Bay Parade.  Federal Govt Community Coastcare – over 900 applicants and 400 were granted and we received a $13,000 grant for this.  Last time over 700 tons of debris was taken out and used as road fill for future Council works.

More news on this in our next issue of Bay News and on the website.

Graeme Smith elected on Gosford City Council’s Environmental Committee and Coastal & Estuary Management Committee.  Congratulations.

Steve Farrell, Brigade Captain of Killcare Fire Brigade.  22 Brigades in the district – all volunteers.  Steve gave an account of last month with the regular cake stall; power lines at Bensville; car fire; 2 days at Peats Ridge fire day and night; training and last week 3 of 18 were sent to Victoria for 5 days including Steve.

Steve introduced his team. Michelle Biddulph, Deputy Captain – Training & Community Education. Michelle was recently named Volunteer of the Year at Gosford City Council’s awards.

Michelle outlined the tried and tested RFS policy in how you can protect yourselves.  We have all been impacted by the Victorian fires and the RFS is committed to working with the community to bring about a self sufficient fire safe community.

• THE AIM IS TO BECOME A FIRE WISE COMMUNITY. 
• Fire wise communities experience fewer fires, fewer fire related deaths, fewer fire related injuries and fewer fire related property losses.
• Fire wise activities include: cake stalls – community meetings like tonight – schools, pre-schools – street meetings and walks - open days along the waterfront in Hardys Bay and Wednesday nights at the Fire Brigade.  Come along to any of these and talk to RFS. Property hazard and assessments – RFS are happy to come out and talk with you.  SWS (Static Water Supply System) signs can be erected if you have a pool or source of water fire fighters can use from your property.
• GET AN ACTION PLAN - You can download a RFS Bush Fire Wise Action Plan http://www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/. Everyone should have one. Decide if you stay or go – who is in the house – the ages – can they defend and are you able to for up to 10 hours after the attack.
• Victoria was extraordinary circumstances – the safest place is a well prepared home.  People at risk when fleeing.  Ongoing maintenance should be all year.  Consider a sprinkler system, maybe get a tank.  Have a bush fire survival kit handy with protective clothing and drinking water – bring hoses indoors – secure pets.  Ember attack comes first – fire brigade can be streets away.  Remove curtains, door mats, soak towels, fill bath up – stay calm.
• Once the truck arrives it’s too late to go. Stay inside until it passes with plenty of water. When front goes through hose outside ember spot fires – it’s physically very demanding.
• Leave very early especially in our area with Wards Hill Rd and Scenic Hwy – could always go to the waterfront.  Woy Woy fires people left by boat.
• If you drive through fire – park in a cleared out area with hazard lights on – get down below window level and cover with blanket for protection from radiant heat.  Are there alternate routes? Take phone numbers.
• It is important to understand the risks of bushfires and make preparations.  Make sure you watch the weather and monitor the radio for news – be well prepared in advance – know what to do when bushfire threatens and understand safety in a bushfire situation.
• Appreciating risk – ultimately it comes down to you and the protection of your property.  A well prepared property is likely to survive a bushfire - can’t always guarantee a fire truck will arrive.  EVERY HOUSE NEEDS AN ACTION PLAN.

Steve advised with the rapid advancement of technology the fire phone tree is really obsolete. Other ways of communication -

• RFS website has constant updates and we will link this to the www.hardysbay.com website.
• SMS – Govt. in emergencies will notify and give warnings -   Local ABC is tremendous – NSWFS blogs, SMS and emails to communicate regularly.

Adrian thanked RFS on behalf of HBRG for the work they do and all the volunteers. 

A year ago HBRG purchased a barge for the oyster clean up.  We now have an agreement that they can have total access of “Rocky” in the bay at all times – RFS will maintain and pay costs and it can be used if the roads are blocked and also serve for fires on boats – for any water emergency.

Development Application – Araluen Drive.  Adrian has kept in touch with a couple of Councillors – Jim Macfadyen has been fantastic.  Last week had a meeting with Fred Dobbs at Council.  The DA has gone through a number of meetings and reviewed within Council.  Following this they have made some amendments and these were deemed significant it will come out for public exhibition similar to last time.  Email sent out last week to HBRG members.

Adrian read the key changes and highlighted the three most significant relating to height, floor space ratio and character statement.  Access impact is huge on such a large development.

• 600 letters received by Council – that’s close to 50% of residents.   Because of the large number it will again go before a review committee and Council.  If Council refuse it goes to the Land and Environment Court.
• Up to individuals to make comment back to Council again. Submissions close 18 March.

Q & A: Lengthy discussion on several points - further parking issues – the need to hold firm on size and scale of the development when writing to Council – not meeting the character of the bay – this application if very professional and clever approach, more so than the marina – concern over time in submitting objections - D633 is hard to clarify should have a legal submission – lots of lawyers in the group have offered their support – cost of legal services questioned – fundraising would be looked at separately if necessary.  Individuals to again lodge objections with Council plus the following:

Motion: 1. HBRG through the Executive Committee draft a response to Council objecting on points raised.  Unanimously carried.

             2. HBRG through the Executive Committee seek legal advice.  Unanimously carried.

Pretty Beach Pool – advised dredging has been finished.  Thanks to Graeme Anderson and the Progress Assn. for working towards this as well.

Clean Up Australia – Sun 1^st March – register to help out in front of the church.  Again we will be using “Rocky” on the water.

Road widening and roundabout & safety issues – Adrian advised the process is still going through Council through us pursuing these safety issues.

Submarine cable – Richard advised a large barge is test drilling in the bay for cables upgrading power supply through Daleys Point.

Wards Hill mirrors and Armco fencing – Adrian to talk to Council.

Correspondence

Letter from Council re development.

Letter from Federal Govt. re Oyster Grant.

Various emails re RFS loan of “Rocky”

Various emails re development

Next meeting:  TBA

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.15 pm.