- March 2002 -

Newsletter of the Scotland Island Residents Association   Volume 3, Issue 26; March 2002

Editorial:

Please read the information about the repair of island roads in this edition of the newsletter. Your cooperation would be much appreciated by council.

One of our many overseas readers as asked me to use phone numbers in international format. So as not to confuse our real audience I have decided not to do this. However if you are reading this at an international destination, remember to dial your local international exit number (in Australia it would be 0011), then the country code 61 and then the local number. Remember to also drop the first digit of the area code in Australia. If calling a mobile from overseas you may or may not have to drop the first '0'. Here endeth the lesson.

In this Issue:

• Storm Water Grant - Exciting News
• Be Wise - Immunise!
• Found at Church Point
• The Second Coming - a review
• Volunteers Needed
• The Dog Race - a request
• White Tipped Spider - Beware!
• End of Daylight Saving - Police watching
• Archived Newsletters
• Great Internet Sites to Visit
• Your Subscription Information

Stormwater Grant & Council Road/Path Rehabilitation 

The Association in cooperation with Pittwater Council has just won a very important Stormwater Grant. Your Association has also negotiated successfully with Council for some urgent Road/Path Rehabilitation. The work will focus on the Catherine Park Catchment area and include the extremely degraded section of Thompson Road above and below the Fire Station.

Stormwater Grant

A team, led by Sharon Kinnison and comprising Geoff Page, Jennifer Knox and Shirley Page, researched, developed and submitted a Grant in cooperation with Pittwater Council to the NSW Stormwater Trust titled Keeping the Soil on the Land: Cooperative Catchment Management for Sediment Erosion Control on Scotland Island with the aim of initiating solutions to identified stormwater problems.The main features of the grant are :

• To implement the drainage works detailed in the Rooney report
• To form a “demonstration model” which can be used for management of stormwater in future works
• To instigate a framework for cooperative management which will involve/assist residents in the care of their road/drain property interface  and the Council in a regular program of  road and pit maintenance and additional capitals works

A critical aspect is to involve all the residents adjacent to the area, and Annette has joined the team to assist in the implementation  in the process of improving the drainage in the Catherine Park catchment, and importantly, gaining their ongoing support in monitoring and maintaining the drains adjacent to their homes – keeping them clear of leaves, branches and silt etc.

In addition, where native bushes are planted alongside the road/path to bind the soil and improve the visual quality of the catchment, the cooperation of the residents will be sought to water and look after them. In this way, we will have the beginnings of a road/path system that meets our needs, requires minimum maintenance, and does not suffer from serious erosion.  It will be an excellent ‘pilot’ program. 

Council Road/Path Rehabilitation

The Council team, under the supervision of Col Mathison and Leon Hansen, will tie in closely with the Catherine Park Stormwater Grant program. 

It will focus on the section of Thompson Road above and below the Fire Station.  As Col says, “the dirt roads on the Island need some sort of structural integrity to hold together and not be potholed/eroded from the effects of water flows and traffic.  To this end, Council will be rehabilitating Thompson Road from above to below the Fire Station as a critical part of an all weather Island circuit in the coming months.  It will tie in with the CPSG program.

 “In simple terms, where the existing road requires treatment, the surface will be graded to provide an appropriate vertical alignment.  Following this, a pavement of recycled roadbase will be placed and then topped with a layer of profiled asphalt.  The vertical alignment will incorporate a number of oblique speed humps which will also act as guides for directing the water to the side drains to prevent central carriageway erosion.  Attention will be given to the stormwater runoff and in particular locations where high flows concentrate.  “It is planned that this rehabilitation will provide a good guide to any future stage by stage rehabilitation of the Island’s road system” 

Result

The net result of all of this work will be to create the first successful example of an area of SI that is well designed, where the road/paths are good and safe and meet the 3 metre wide standard that the Island agreed on, where the road edges are clearly defined with posts etc and well planted with natives, and where the plants and drains are looked after by residents who are interested and concerned .

If you have any questions on the above, please make contact with any member of the team – Sharon (home 99976017 wk 99706905), or Geoff (9997 1875)

Be Wise - Immunise!

Is your child immunised? Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting children against certain diseases, whose risks are far greater than the very small risks of immunisation.  It uses the body's natural defence mechanism - the immune response - to build resistance to specific infections.  Nine diseases which can cause serious complications and sometimes death can be prevented by routine childhood immunisation - diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B.  Immunisation is given as an injection or, in the case of polio vaccine, taken as drops by mouth. Visit your local GP or immunisation clinics provided by the following medical practices, which provide free clinics on a regular basis. Parents are requested to ring the medical practice in advance to indicate your likely attendance. Please remember to take your Medicare card and your child’s blue book

Found at Church Point

Found at Church Point 10P.M. Friday 15th Feb -1 Set of keys
Phone 02-9999-0136

The Second Coming - a review

Rachel Carter and a talented cast presented The Second Coming, a brand new play especially for us all - the privileged residents of our beautiful corner of the world. Dinner and a play for $20! In a rare treat, The Second Coming was beautifully crafted and with a well timed and mature direction. The cast included Adam Nearly, Claudia Tory, Kate Freeman, Robert Invasion, Monika Anita-Mezei, Colin Kinnison, Julia Frankie, Olivia Carter and the star of it all - Rachel Carter.

This young woman has a BIG future in the theatre, mark my words! The dinner was excellent and for my money, the best value entertainment in Sydney on the night. Very well done.

Volunteers Needed!

Mona Vale Library needs volunteers for Housebound Deliveries, to deliver library items once every three weeks to people who are unable to access the library. For more information please contact Joanne Hibburt or Sally Turansky at Mona Vale Library on 9997 5422.

The Dog Race - a request

I am studying at Sthn X Uni and writing a little story about the annual Scotland Island to Church Point Dog Race. I would really appreciate it if you could put an ad in your local Scotland Island paper, or better still a little article about how I am looking for stories about the race. How did it get started? How long has it been going for? Does anyone have any video footage? Stuff like that, as well as any past controversies that may have happened, to help me with the background and flesh out a good story. I can be contacted by email at dsharp@byrononline.net

Thanks! Debbie Sharp

White tipped Spider - beware!

This Spider which is around on the Island, in fact it is found all across Australia it is considered dangerous to man although no deaths have been recorded, there are several cases of severe illness from its bite. Island resident Mike Malloy, amongst others, has recently been bitter with this little monster, requiring ambulance attendance. Please approach with great caution, particularly when shoeless!

End of Daylight Saving - Police Watching

Brian Cross (Neighbour Marine Watch) reports that the water police will be watching for unlit boats during the first weeks of the non-daylight saving period. Is your battery charged? Checked the nav lights recently. Better than the embarrassment of a visit from the BBWP

There's no chef in my kitchen!

Are you interested in cooking classes, using good cheap and easy recipes for busy people ?
Classes will be held on the island
One weekend a month.
For details, please contact Nathalie
On: 99 99 44 49

 

Spread the Word:

The future of this newsletter is in your hands. More than 500 residents and friends read this electronic newsletter monthly. Please tell your friends and neighbours to subscribe. If you are particularly literate in matters computing, you might like to help them follow the very simple path to subscription. It is easy to join. Simply click here to join (or leave) or go to following address: http://www.scotlandisland.org.au/newsletters

Great Internet Sites to Visit:

Are you angry with your neighbour/boss/customers/anybody? Here is a wonderful website that lets you vent your displeasure in a big way! The owners of the site claim that they will forward lodged complaints to the appropriate body. Might be worth a go!

Some of us, not this writer of course, have the occasional beer at the pub at the Point. Some of us attend the Newport Arms for our refreshment. But if you are unsure as to the location of the best beer in Sydney, this site may help.

If you or your spouse/friend/partner are thinking about the miracle of childbirth, this new Australian website has much to offer. There is even a forum entitled "ask the midwife" where you may ask questions while online.

Finally:

If you would like to contribute to this newsletter it's easy!. Send an e-mail to the editor by clicking here. Type your short contribution (100 words would be fine) and assuming it is of general interest to the community, does not include matter of a political nature and is not offensive to your neighbours, it will appear next month.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:

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The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Scotland Island Residents Association Committee.