Just a few weeks till Christmas and still we need rain. Many of our tanks are dry and water is bring brought in bottles from the mainland. When this drought is over we will all have to consider upping the size of our water tanks. The Rural fire brigade would like us to keep the tanks topped up in case of fire and we need the water for our own use. Put a few dollars aside for this capital expense!

This is the last issue this year. The editor, his family and all the staff at the Pittwater Offshore Newsletter wish you a Happy Christmas and a relaxed 2003.

You can walk the planks at Tennis Pontoon

Several of the planks in the pontoon at Tennis Wharf had disappeared, leaving gaping ankle-traps. It is everybody’s job to maintain it, so nobody did …until a kind Somebody bothered to do it. Thank you to John Travers! And – whoops, now a couple more have gone missing!

New Sandstone Garden Beds and Edging at the end of Tennis Wharf

A garden bed built there by residents about five years ago had gradually been destroyed by stormwater, people, and earlier this year – by a large Council truck which backed over it. Now a much grander one has been built in its place and attractive sandstone edging placed along the edge of the lower part of Pittview St and the beachfront. This is the entry point for so many locals and visitors and we are now greeted by graceful stone, rather than sediment and loose bitumen. More comfy, flat rocks to sit on too. Seedlings have now been planted, and Greg is kindly filling in for the sky until it remembers how to rain.

Thanks are due to:

Sharon Kinnison for gaining and co-ordinating the Stormwater Trust Grant. Some of the sandstone was bought with funds from this grant and some was provided by Council, as part of their contributions to the grant works. Sharon has organised and helped with all aspects of the .project.

Craig Burton for design as well as labouring together with a team of hard workers – Mick Chanel, Hans, Tony Cullen, Nick Marosch, Eamon, Pip, Jennifer Knox, John Travers, Duncan Watt, Colin Haskell and Colin Kinnison.

Better Buses North

Sydney Buses is currently seeking comments from the public on their proposal “Better Buses North”, to change the operations of their existing Bus Services throughout the peninsula.

The deadline for receipt of submissions of comments is 30 November 2002, with all submissions to be forwarded to Sydney Buses, State Transit, Reply Paid 75004, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 (no postage stamp required) or by Fax: 9245 5280. Further information can be obtained by phoning the Sydney Buses Hotline 131 500. The brochure “Better Buses North” is available on website www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au

Vehicle Owners

Please don't drive down into Catherine Park.

The barrier is placed at the top because this road is to used only for emergency access, maintenance and genuine community functions. Over the years, this steep road has eroded badly, dumping sediment into the park and bay and becoming virtually unusable. Just months ago it has again been stabilised.

There was a clear community agreement in the 1999 Roads and Drainage Survey that this road be used only for these purposes, not for private vehicle use. This is also Council's intention. That way the park can be a park for people, not cars, and the road will stay safer for when it is really needed. There is a parking area opposite the Fire Shed.

Tick Information Sessions

These enlightening sessions led by noted tick researcher, Bill Conroy, will be held on Thursday, 21 November from 2 - 4pm and Thursday 5 December from 2-4pm at the Coastal Environment Centre at Lake Park Road, North Narrabeen. Awareness of the tick life-cycle and the employment of preventive practices relating to clothing, pet care and garden management can reduce the likelihood of tick attack. Bookings essential on 9970 6905.

It looks like a dirt road

IT FEELS LIKE A DIRT ROAD …. OR DOES IT?

You may remember reading or hearing about a new method for treating dirt roads or paths by impregnating the natural material with a pine resin. Craig Burton, long-time Island resident and Landscape Architect, informed the Roads and Drainage Workshops about this process in 1998/99. It sounded like it might be an answer to the Islanders’ wish to stabilise road surfaces with something more aesthetically harmonious than bitumen. However Council did not feel it warranted a trial with their tight budgets. When Sharon Kinnison wrote the Stormwater Trust Grant application, she specifically applied for money to enable this surface to be trialled.

Dirt Road comes Clean at Catherine Park

The road that goes around Catherine Park was chosen for the trial, as this is a focal point for the community. In May this year the resin treatment was used on the stretch from the corner below the Fire Shed, down to the gully and up past the halls to the next corner. It takes some months to harden, but now feels quite solid to walk on. Yet it looks pretty much like a dirt road. The water bars have been reinforced with concrete to give them a longer life, and so protect the road from erosion. Have a look next time you’re walking by and over the coming years to see how it survives.

Alcohol and Boats - a Dangerous Cocktail

'Alcohol and water don't mix' that's the message NSW Waterways Authority Boating Service Officers hope to instil with boaters when they conduct an alcohol awareness campaign ahead of the festive season.

Waterways Authority Chief Executive Matthew Taylor said that alcohol was a contributing factor in over a third of all deaths in recreational boating accidents in NSW last year.

"The combination of wind, waves and sun can multiply the effects of alcohol, causing a condition known as 'boater's fatigue' that increases the risk of drowning should a person fall into the water," Mr Taylor said.

"All people aboard a boat need to be wary of 'boater's fatigue' as it can impede your ability to swim. For more information on boating safety call the Waterways Info Line on 13 12 56 or visit the website at www.waterways.nsw.gov.au

Scotland Island Players - Loot!

There's still time to buy a ticket for Loot!

At 8pm on Friday 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December, the Scotland Island Players will be performing Joe Orten's hilarious (and very black) satire in the SI Community Hall. What's in the coffin? You'll never find out if you don't come.

Tickets $12 from Interlace, 9997 5702.

Bush Regeneration in Elizabeth Park

(western side near Fire Brigade water tank) DECEMBER 7TH 1.30 – 3.30 p.m.

Get there before the ticks, the rain and before the champagne’s all gone!

Errata - Pittwater Offshore Directory

A small glitch appears in the latest edition of POD (you do have one don't you!)

Under the Pittwater Council contact details for Cr Vicki Dimond were incorrect. Her current mobile number is 0410 311 209. Also Cr Lynne Czinner is mentioned as Deputy Mayor. Council elections are held in early September and this year Cr Bob Dunbar was elected our Deputy Mayor.

New Community Vehicle:

The much awaited arrival of a brand new Ford Courier Twin Cab utility for Scotland Island is anticipated around the 6th of December. Driving all the way from North Queensland it should be run in by the time it gets here!!!

Please phone the Community Vehicle Phone from the 9th of December for an update. OR contact Harriet Stacey on 9979 2809vehicle

The committee regrets that until the new vehicle is delivered there will be no service due to repairs being undertaken on the old vehicle.

Scotland Island Lodge Vacancies

Scotland Island Lodge still has some vacancies for the weekend of the Scotland Island players production on the 13th,14th & 15th December also for the holiday period.

Visit our website at www.scotlandislandlodge.com.au for further information.

Island Flora Walk

Polly Thompson and Alan Yuille of Elvina Bay did a fantastic job as guides for the Island Flora walk on Saturday 16th November. The group of around 30 locals walked up to Elizabeth Park, winding at first along a path through an asparagus fern-infested hillside that shows the perils of clearing lantana without adequate follow-up. 10 years ago, Polly worked as a full-time horticulturist on the Island and Elvina Bay, and could remember this hillside when it had no asparagus fern, but was covered in lantana. An enthusiastic resident cleared the lantana, but without regular subsequent weeding, the asparagus fern took over and it is unfortunately a much harder weed to remove. At the top of the Island, the weeds have been kept at bay over the years by Council’s funding of professional bush regenerators and the protection offered by being a reserve at the top. Sadly, there has been no funding for such work over the past 18 months and the demon weeds are creeping in. Council has made a small allocation for some work in this financial year, but at a significantly reduced level.

Alan and Polly introduced us to some of the many special plants living in the park and the quite different mix of species found just to the south of the top. Despite the drought, marginal rainforest plants still survive – without anybody watering them!

The group wanted to know when we could do it again – so Alan and Polly have agreed to host us on their home territory in Elvina Bay some time next autumn.

Jenny Cullen

Editorial:

You can walk the planks at Tennis Pontoon

New Sandstone Garden Beds and Edging at the end of Tennis Wharf

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