New Season for Little A’s

Given the track and field focus of the London Olympics, and the resurgence in the sport, it’s just about time for all aspiring athletes (and maybe some potential Olympians) to register for the coming Little Athletics season.

Registrations take place on Saturday, September 1 at Hensley Athletics Field, Pagewood. Randwick Botany Little Athletics President Tony Vecellio has already had a lot of enquiries about the coming season – our Little A’s 45th. Training is held Monday to Thursday at Hensley between 5.00pm and 7.00 pm with competition on Saturdays.

It’s open for those aged up to 17 and there are as many track and field events to train for or compete in as there were at the Olympics – hurdles, sprint races, long jump, shot put, walking and some more.

In recent years, many winter sports competitors have been part of the local Little A’s as a means to keep up fitness, and for some, athletics has become as important as football. If you’re interested, you can register online at: randwickbotanylac.com.au or call 9349 4862. Tony and his team of great volunteers do a tremendous job with the Little A’s and the training and competition has been growing year by year.

Garden Competition underway

Garden Competition entry forms were letterboxed last week to all residents, so I am hoping as we celebrate our 25th year that we have many new participants. As I say in the brochure we are not looking for creative masterpieces, just well kept gardens that contribute to how our city looks. Walking the streets these past weeks I have seen many attractive gardens all worthy of entering our competition. Our entries do not reflect these numbers. So don’t be bashful. Enter your garden or enter your neighbour’s garden. Yes, you can nominate someone else’s garden if they are too shy. There is over $25,000 worth of prizes to be won - cash, gift vouchers, lunch at a café or a mobile!

Eastakes Shopping Centre - Scandalous Application

I have been advised that we have been successful in getting an extension of time for objections to this outrageous development proposal. Submissions must be with the Department of Planning & Infrastructure by the end of September.

Residents in Eastlakes and the surrounding suburbs should have received a letter from me seeking their support to join with Council in voicing concern about the impact it will have on the local community.

Again, I stress Council and residents do want to see this shopping centre upgraded, just not at our expense. We don’t believe residents should suffer just because a developer wants to subsidise the upgrade with an excessive number of residential towers and no plans to upgrade the current road system to and from the shopping centre. If you have not got your letter in the mail call my office and I will forward one to you. Make sure that your voice is heard.

State Treasurer’s announcement of removal of Port Botany cap: Unlawful

The O’Farrell Government has announced the effective sale of Port Botany to the private sector by putting it on the block as a 99 year lease. Whilst privatisation of public facilities may not be in accordance with my political philosophy, the decision is one for the government of the day and not Botany Bay City Council. 

In announcing the government’s intention to sell Port Botany several weeks ago, the Treasurer indicated that the government would remove the 3.2 million cap on containers. According to newspaper reports of the Treasurer’s statement, the removal of the cap would mean that the government would receive more than one billion dollars extra. 

The cap on containers, or Twenty foot Equivalent Units (or TEU’s) is not an arbitrary figure. It was stated on the 13 October, 2005 as one of the Conditions of Consent when the then Minister for Planning, the Hon Frank Sartor, determined a development application for State significant and designated development under Section 80 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979. 

Clause A1.4 of that consent provided as follows:

Port Throughput Capacity Limits

A1.4    Port throughput capacity generated by operations in accordance with this consent shall be consistent with the limits specified in the EIS, that is, a maximum throughput capacity at the terminal of 1.6 million TEU’s per annum and a total throughput at Port Botany of 3.2 million TEU’s. These limits may not be exceeded by the development without further environmental assessment and approval. Sydney Ports Corporation shall prepare, or have prepared on its behalf, such further environmental assessment for the determination of the Minister.

The expanded part of the Port is not yet completed. The total throughput capacity limits were designed because the transportation system could not, and cannot, cope with the movement of containers to and from the Port. The road system is currently in gridlock and that is without even the 3.2 million TEU throughput being reached. 

It beggars belief that a State Treasurer, with no credible knowledge or understanding of the Port, the environment or the capacity of the road and rail system, just wishes to arbitrarily remove throughput capacity limits because he thinks he will get another billion dollars in a sale of a public asset. 

The damage to existing infrastructure that the removal of the cap would lead to would, in reality, be a ten times what the Treasurer may receive. It is a frightening prospect that the Treasurer of the State does not seem to either understand this or just sees dollar signs in front of his eyes. Good governance of this state is no where in his equation. 

I am sorry to have to advise the Treasurer that he does not even have the lawful authority to do what he says he wishes to do. 

He seems to forget, or ignore, that the law binds the government of the day as it binds all citizens and the law requires the NSW Government to make an application under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. 

To do what he says he wants to do, and stay within the law, requires the government undertake an environmental assessment and seek approval of a variation to the existing consent. 

I would be surprised if it was even possible to obtain an environmental assessment that could cater and make provision for the movement of freight with the cap being removed. In any event, the Treasurer and the NSW Government is bound by the law. 

Botany Bay City Council has decided to seek an undertaking from the NSW Government that it will act in accordance with the law and, if such undertaking is not received, then Council will institute proceedings against the NSW Government, seeking orders restraining the Government from proceeding in accordance with the Treasurer’s announcement other than by law.

Communicating with Teenagers

The teenage years can be the treasured years for both teenagers and their parents – but better two-way communication can make the years even better for both. To assist parents in engaging with and understanding their teenagers, our Community Services section has organised a free two hour workshop. It will be held on Thursday September 20 (so you’ve got plenty of notice). It will be at the Central Library, in Westfield Eastgardens and will begin at 5.00pm. As spots in the workshop are limited you’ll need to book, which you can do by calling our Community Services people on 9366 3889.

Eastlakes Shopping Centre: An outrageous overdevelopment

I have had for several years very great concerns of the actions of the developer of the Eastlakes Shopping Centre in their approach to the former State Government. Those approaches were to seek the development application being assessed under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, were totally inappropriate and designed purely to avoid proper and local scrutiny of any development application.

Council has indicated publicly and clearly, and repeatedly, to the developers that it has no objection to the redevelopment of a modern shopping centre for Eastlakes. To say that the existing shopping centre is tired and in urgent need of revitalisation is stating the obvious. 

However, the developers see their pot of gold not in the redevelopment of the shopping centre. No, far from it. The rainbow leading to the pot of gold is found in the high rise, residential flat buildings over the shopping centre. 

Council has repeatedly said that the Eastlakes Shopping Centre development and the surrounding residential flat buildings are a disgraceful example of overdevelopment. Probably, the worst in our City. The existing structures are classic examples of what occurred in the 1960’s. They are also classic examples of what happed when this State was run by the Liberal Party under Barry O’Farrell’s predecessor Sir Robert Askin – a man not noted for turning his hand away from an ill-gotten gain. 

What all of us know all too well – there is little open space and amenity for residents and this area cannot tolerate any further residential density. 

What Council did do was that it indicated it would support a Master Planning Proposal, involving a shopping centre and residential development. But there was a proviso. Council strongly advocated the acquisition of the residential flat buildings at the corner of Racecourse Place, Gardeners Road and Evans Avenue as well as a detailed environmental master planning process. 

These were not prohibitive provisos – they would have enhanced any proposed development and given a focus for further redevelopment in the surrounding area. 

The approach to the former Government and the designation that the application would be determined under Part 3A were two strikes against sensible redevelopment. I had thought we had a glimmer of success with the change of government in 2011. I thought the people of Eastlakes would be protected by the mandate given to Premier O’Farrell to abolish the Part 3A provision. 

Premier O’Farrell after scrapping the Part 3A Provisions on 3 April, 2011, announced he had given increased planning powers back to local councils. There was, as I’ve said, that glimmer of hope. But, tragically, Premier O’Farrell has shown he is another opportune-seeking politician and his promise to devolve planning powers to local government, have been borne out to be a broken promise. 

I had written to the previous ministers of planning on a number of occasions to express my and Council’s concerns about the developer’s activities. Our entreaties fell on deaf ears. The developer made no genuine attempts to acquire the buildings Council identified to improve the quality and amenity of the proposed development. 

Rather, he directly and indirectly approached a number of previous Premiers and Planning Ministers in the former government. Personally, I had a bad feeling that something underhanded was happening in relation to these usual and totally inappropriate approaches. It was unreasonable and in stark contrast to Council’s reasonable approach. 

In my view, there was always something shifty about the communication with the Department of Planning at the very least. 

I have previously written to the Former Minister of Planning about a private meeting his Director General sought with the Council’s former General Manager about this application. I indicated in that letter that it was grossly improper for there to be private discussions with Council’s General Manager and the Director-General of the Department of Planning. 

The development application was referred to the State Government’s Planning and Assessment Commission and, in my view, the Commission deliberately listed the hearing of the matter on Jewish New Year. They knew full well I would not be able to attend. The conduct between the proponents and the former government in my view left me a very uneasy feeling – then and now. 

I was much relieved when the O’Farrell Government made the announcement on Part 3A assessment and the return of planning powers to local government. When it made the announcement, I wrote to the Planning Minister seeking for the application to be returned to Council for determination. 

However, for some bizarre reason the Minister for Planning, the Hon Brad Hazzard, refused to return this application to local government, namely to our Council in accordance with Barry O’Farrell’s promises and the mandate he received to keep those promises. I urged the Minister for Planning to examine the correspondence I have had with his predecessors. 

I advised the Minister that the developer seemed to have manipulated the government processes to this point and urged the Minister that any such application under Part 3A should not be retained for determination. I requested removing his department as the Consent Authority and send the application back to this Council in accordance with the stated O’Farrell Government’s policy. 

I advised the Minister that as the Eastlakes Shopping Centre was full of three storey walk-ups it was a planning disaster of the sixties and, as such, was very difficult to address. In addition, the population densities were far too great and any application had the opportunity not only to rectify the previous planning disasters but to generate some economic investment in this area. I urged the Minister for his personal intervention. 

Despite the Minister’s stated planning objectives and his Government’s policy, he refused to remove the application from the Provisions of Part 3A and said:

“I have asked the Department to further explore with a proponent to Council the option of acquiring the adjacent flat buildings as to integrate them into the development proposal. Failing this, it will be necessary for the project to show how redevelopment of the site can occur without isolating or compromising the ability to redevelop adjacent sites.”

Despite this assurance, there has been no discussion with Council whatsoever. All we’ve seen, or been given, is a Development Application received by the Department and which is to be placed on exhibition. The application, which is currently on exhibition, is the worst and most disgraceful overdevelopment of a site I have seen in all my 31 years as Mayor of this Council. 

The application contains 12 five to eight storey residential flat buildings with many containing room sizes that do not even match the State Environmental Planning Policy. Tragically, the designs suggest the buildings are smaller than the disgraceful developments of the sixties and seventies, which dot the adjoining streets. Worse still, the high rise buildings stand straight, right next to Eastlakes Reserve and provide, in effect no open space. 

Council’s Planning Officers are currently assessing the application and obtaining independent experts in an effort to deal with it on a merit basis. However, Council needs the support of the people of Eastlakes and the surrounding streets in opposing this application. 

Very often, in respect of dreadful attempts to redevelop parts of this area the public has trusted its Mayor and Councillors to represent their interests. This is an occasion where we urgently need the peoples’ support. 

I can’t help feeling it is too coincidental that the timing of this application being placed on exhibition is at a time when I am to leave the Office of Mayor. This could have been a deliberate action in the same way it was to refer the matter to the Planning and Assessment Commission. 

So bad is this application, and the stage it has reached, that I cannot but genuinely suspect there has been some gross impropriety not only for many years but also now. And that feelings flow from the former government to the present government. 

Council has also decided to refer the application to the Independent Commission Against Corruption with all the correspondence exchanged between the Mayor and the Council and the Department and Ministers with a view of the Commission using its powers to ascertain whether or not there has been any corrupt activity involved in the way in which this application has proceeded. 

I do not make this assertion lightly, and I have no evidence of it other than the fact that the nature of the application and the conduct of various participants is so bizarre and contrary to proper principles. As well, the costs of making the application in a manner in which it is made could not have occurred without aid and comfort being provided to the applicant. 

DIY Injury Care

The public health information sessions undertaken by the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation in association with the Rotary Club of Botany Bay have to date proved successful and popular with our local residents. The sessions have ranged over a wide range of topics and health issues and the next one will continue in the same vein.

The one scheduled for August 23 is part 2 of a two part series on what to do to treat injuries – hence Do it yourself injuries – Part 2. Questions we all have: Should I put cold water or heat on an injury? Do I put my head back or forward when my nose is bleeding? What do I do if someone is having a seizure? These and other questions will be answered by Dr Michael Golding, Director of Emergency at the Prince of Wales Hospital will take up when he left off with Part 1.

The forthcoming session will give advice and skills on how to treat common household burns, bites, sprains, loss of consciousness, loss of blood and more serious episodes. Dr Golding’s Part 1 was informative and helpful and Part 2 will be more of the same in giving confidence to help other who might be injured.

The session will commence at 6.00pm on August 23 at the Edmund Blacket Function Room in the Prince of Wales Hospital. Access is via Avoca Street. Please reserve your place at Dr Golding’s session by calling Elizabeth on 9382 4263 or via email: elizabeth.thomas@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au If you RSVP to Elizabeth you’ll be in the running for a lucky door prize – and on the night coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches are free. These are really great sessions and the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation and Rotary Club of Botany Bay are to be congratulated for partnering in presenting them.

Laycock Street Mascot has become Laycock Walk

At the end of last week Laycock Street became Laycock Walk and the Mascot Station Precinct has a new landmark. The street is gone, transformed into a pedestrian mall with decorative pavers interspersed with a combination of ground level gardens, raised planter beds, low sitting walls and attractive street lighting. 

It will prove to be a much needed pedestrian link from Mascot Station to the surrounding residential and commercial buildings. Laycock Walk is just one part of the transformation of an old industrial area into a stylish and modern residential/commercial place that is breathing new life into that part of our City.

City's Garden Competition Turns 25!

This year our annual garden competition turns 25! Many of our regular entrants were only youngsters when it was first held and now they are home owners and keen gardeners. 

Our annual garden competition is a great way to celebrate what our City has become “a vibrant attract place where people want to live and raise their family.” 

Whilst it was always mine dream for our City to become a “Garden Suburb” I am always grateful that our gardening community has embraced the vision and contributed to helping it become a reality. Driving around I sometimes wish the former editor of the Messenger Newspaper could see our city today. When I first became Mayor she told me I would never “make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” I think even she would agree she was wrong. 

The private gardens in our residential streets are the ones that make our City look good, well kept and vibrant. 

As we celebrate our 25th year I urge all residents to spruce up their front gardens and enter. You don’t have to have a landscaped masterpiece to enter, just a well kept garden. 

There are great prizes to be won with sponsorship totalling more than $25,000. This year we also welcome celebrity gardener Brendan Moar to our judging panel. Brendan will help judge the overall winner. 

Let’s make this our best gardening competition ever. Get your gardening skills sharpened, your gardens spruced up and your entry form in.

Thank you Botany Bay residents you have touched me deeply with your gracious and kind remarks

I have been really touched by so many letters and emails received recently about my decision to seek the support of fellow residents for election as the State Member for Heffron on the Saturday, August 25.

That decision meant I could no longer continue in the office of Mayor of the City of Botany Bay. All those letters and emails are kind and gracious, each expressing disappointment. I will write back to everyone who so kindly wrote to me. I thought, however, I will publish one of those letters without the name and address of the author.

"Dear Mr Hoenig, 

Re: You’re Resignation, 

Mr Hoenig, let me start by saying I am not happy with the news of your resignation. 

I first moved to Botany in 1967 as a 12 year old with my parents. My father’s work had him transferred to Botany, we were living in Drummoyne before that. 

You can imagine how I felt at the time, living in a bare unattractive and polluted suburb. I hated it. 

Then you came along. Well need I say more, for all you have done for this unbelievable little suburb and time has proven it. I am married with a family. My husband wanted us to move to Kensington when we married, but I fought to stay here for the way you transformed Botany . Thank you for the support you have given all us residents and let’s not forget that ‘Hail Storm’ when Botany Council was by our side helping us all as usual. When our rates are not paid on time, no threatening letters, when the elderly are unable to mow their lawns you are there I could go on and on. One of the best things you have accomplished is that the Council is not in debt and you have always put money back into the community. 

Now let’s see how our new Mayor stands up to you. We all know this will not happen so you can understand why I am not happy in you going. I have always felt safe, secure and justified with you leading the helm. 

One more bit of information, I have always voted Liberal, all my life. I have only ever voted Labour for you and you only. So I guess those days are now over. I do not think the Labour Party is worthy of you and your ethics. You will always be the only time I have voted Labour. 

With all the above aside, I can only wish you every bit of success and happiness in your future as you so deserve it. I hope they treat you as good as you have treated myself and all the residents in Botany. 

Yours faithfully,"

To all our residents as I said a couple of weeks ago when the Labor Party announced my decision to seek election to state parliament I said that I’ve been Mayor of the City of Botany Bay for over three decades, during which much has changed for the better. I said that it had been a privilege to serve as Mayor, our suburbs and our streets have undergone massive change. The successive Councils on which I represented our residents, worked relentlessly to transform what was a polluted industrial area into a modern and vibrant city, where the quality of life for residents is paramount. In this, I feel, without being immodest, I’ve had some success. 

I reminded our residents that many of the issues that impact on our every day lives are State Government issues. The cars and trucks that clog our main roads are now filtering through our residential streets. There’s aircraft noise, which can only be reduced by a second airport for Sydney and the need for proper and efficient public transport for all residents of Heffron. 

There’s also the vital issue of planning. The State Government is moving to bring in a planning system that will let bureaucrats and outsiders with no local knowledge decide what will be built in our neighbourhoods and next to our homes. We have to stop this and State Parliament is the place to stop it. 

The only way I can make our local voice heard is for me to represent you and all of of Heffron residents in State Parliament. For a better way of life for all our residents, State Parliament is where I can work on you behalf. 

Residents should understand that if I am elected as the State Member for Heffron I will still be here fighting for your interests and quality of life as I always have.

I am certain that the people of this City will make a wise choice as to who will replace me as Mayor, and I will not shrink from making a recommendation to our residents to continue the journey we all began together 30 years ago.

A great idea if you have a little time

I had a lovely letter from the President of the Randwick Botany Little Athletics, Mr Tony Vecellio, who has put forward what I believe is a really good idea. Tony is looking for local seniors who have some time on their hands to become involved in his club.

He has a number of positions, such as time keepers, place judges or general helpers, which are not too difficult, and not to strenuous, but might interest some of our seniors who would like to be a little more active and involve. As well as helping the club you would also have the wonderful experience of mixing with and mentoring our many young athletes. If you are interested give Tony a call on 93494862.

No experience is necessary, Tony will provide any training necessary to ensure that you are well equipped for the task when Little A’s get back into full swing in September. Tony wrote: "Mr Mayor we would be happy to welcome them and encourage them and show them how valuable they are … " so don’t be shy he is waiting for your calls.