A planning meeting to discuss the Housing Strategy Development Control Plan will be held on 2nd March at First Floor 296 Pacific Highway at 6:30pm. Public participation is invited but those wishing to speak must register in advance.
Relevant documents can be found from 11 days before the meeting at the Shire offices or any council library, or on line at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au, under Business Papers. Select "from 2008".
Friday, February 18, 2011
M2 Access to Chilworth Reserve - Hot Word
Hills M2 Upgrade Community Relations responded to an enquiry as follows:
"Thank you for your enquiry. As stated in the notification, access to the Devlins Creek compound will be from the M2 only - both eastbound and westbound carriageways. At this stage, it is planned that no access roads will be constructed from Allerton or Redgrove Avenue to this compound.
"For further information regarding the M2 Upgrade Project please visit the project website www.hillsm2upgrade.com.au or contact the project team on 1800 192 266."
I am sure we will all be relieved by that statement, although it is not clear what they mean by access from the westbound carriageway. Is this why they are opening the noise barrier on the south side of that carriageway? We know they have approval to clear a strip along the south side of that carriageway to take the extension for the extra lane, it appears that they will be allowing trucks to use that cleared path to get from the carriageway down into the construction camp. It just would be nice if they explained this in simple words!
"Thank you for your enquiry. As stated in the notification, access to the Devlins Creek compound will be from the M2 only - both eastbound and westbound carriageways. At this stage, it is planned that no access roads will be constructed from Allerton or Redgrove Avenue to this compound.
"For further information regarding the M2 Upgrade Project please visit the project website www.hillsm2upgrade.com.au or contact the project team on 1800 192 266."
I am sure we will all be relieved by that statement, although it is not clear what they mean by access from the westbound carriageway. Is this why they are opening the noise barrier on the south side of that carriageway? We know they have approval to clear a strip along the south side of that carriageway to take the extension for the extra lane, it appears that they will be allowing trucks to use that cleared path to get from the carriageway down into the construction camp. It just would be nice if they explained this in simple words!
M2 Access to Chilworth Reserve
I have been asked numerous times about access to the reserve. Many concerned people don't seem to know about the original access path between the M2 and the golf course. This photograph, looking west under the viaducts, may clarify the issue.
Regarding the Orchard Road access that might be used for vehicles leaving the site, this used to be a pleasant walking track, wide enough for 4WD work vehicles but seldom used. However over the last six months repeated M2 project use has turned it into this:
One wonders what two years use will do!
M2 Vegetation Clearing, Chilworth Reserve
I received this missive relating to a meeting held recently by the M2 Widening Project:
"When I went to the meeting last Friday about vegetation clearing it appeared that they are still making up their mind about what they will do for access. While it seems definite that they will use the original access by the golf course for incoming vehicles there now seems doubt that they will come in or leave at Allerton Road.
"They may try to build a ramp for vehicles to leave the site on the southern side of the M2 back onto Orchard Road where the detention ponds are and not on the footpath they use now.
Mark Hood from Hornsby Council has said that Council is not happy for them to use the footpath and there is also Council land involved if they came in from Allerton Road.
"The Allerton Road option would be a real loss because it would involve the clearing of a swathe of bushland which is in good condition just for a temporary access. It seems very unsatisfactory to me that consent has been given for this project without actually looking at conditions on the ground despite concerns expressed in submissions.
"Also Council are saying they are unaware that the M2 currently use the footpath off Orchard Road as access, something I am somewhat incredulous about as I know it has been a problem that trucks use that track for other bushcarers and residents in that area as well as myself since the M2 opened. It has been the only access available for anyone doing work in that area be it Council, the Water or Electricity authorities or the M2.
"I am hopeful that the Allerton Road option will not go ahead but will have to wait and see."
I am unable to name the author of the note, but I post the missive here because it certainly sums up numerous issues that are very strong community concerns.
"When I went to the meeting last Friday about vegetation clearing it appeared that they are still making up their mind about what they will do for access. While it seems definite that they will use the original access by the golf course for incoming vehicles there now seems doubt that they will come in or leave at Allerton Road.
"They may try to build a ramp for vehicles to leave the site on the southern side of the M2 back onto Orchard Road where the detention ponds are and not on the footpath they use now.
Mark Hood from Hornsby Council has said that Council is not happy for them to use the footpath and there is also Council land involved if they came in from Allerton Road.
"The Allerton Road option would be a real loss because it would involve the clearing of a swathe of bushland which is in good condition just for a temporary access. It seems very unsatisfactory to me that consent has been given for this project without actually looking at conditions on the ground despite concerns expressed in submissions.
"Also Council are saying they are unaware that the M2 currently use the footpath off Orchard Road as access, something I am somewhat incredulous about as I know it has been a problem that trucks use that track for other bushcarers and residents in that area as well as myself since the M2 opened. It has been the only access available for anyone doing work in that area be it Council, the Water or Electricity authorities or the M2.
"I am hopeful that the Allerton Road option will not go ahead but will have to wait and see."
I am unable to name the author of the note, but I post the missive here because it certainly sums up numerous issues that are very strong community concerns.
BCCT AGM - M2 Rep Present
The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust AGM will be held at 7:30pm Monday 7 March at the Cheltenham Recreational Club, Lyne Road.
As well as normal business including election of Committee members, a representative of Transurban will be there to answer questions on the M2 widening, including the Murray Farm Rd Bridge over the M2.
As well as normal business including election of Committee members, a representative of Transurban will be there to answer questions on the M2 widening, including the Murray Farm Rd Bridge over the M2.
Neighbourhood Watch Meeting
Next meeting of Neighbourhood Watch is Wednesday 23 Feb at 7:30pm, in the committee room at the southern end of the Roselea Community Centre underneath the stage.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
M2 Kirkham Bridge Project Intentions
The RTA has clarified the 3 tonne load limit restrictions on the Murray Farm Road bridge over the motorway and how this will affect buses like the 553 service. Although the span widening activity will commence late Feb 2011, only in one phase of that activity will this restriction need to be enforced, and this is currently projected to be from April 2012 until October 2012.
So at least for the next year, kids will be able to get to and from school by bus!
The RTA also state in their latest bulletin that, when one-lane operation is imposed on the bridge, traffic over the bridge will be controlled in alternating directions using signalised traffic control. This matches the opinion of local residents as shown in the recent Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust survey.
So at least for the next year, kids will be able to get to and from school by bus!
The RTA also state in their latest bulletin that, when one-lane operation is imposed on the bridge, traffic over the bridge will be controlled in alternating directions using signalised traffic control. This matches the opinion of local residents as shown in the recent Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust survey.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sale By Tender
We are offering for sale a beautiful property in Beecroft, but instead of selling at auction, Douglas Macarthur and the owners have agreed to sell by tender. It is worth explaining why they are taking this option.
The problem with bidding at auction is that you have no opportunity to vary the terms of the contract, and in particular the contract settlement date. We have a number of people who really want to buy the property, but have to sell their existing property first, so they want a delayed settlement. This means they daren't bid at a regular auction.
A tender sale process allows each prospective buyer to submit an offer which is a mix of price and settlement date, and the owner is free to choose the most attractive offer out of all those received. The owner is not bound to accept the highest offer, or indeed any offer, but has the opportunity to consider bids from people who just are not in a position to bid at auction.
The problem with bidding at auction is that you have no opportunity to vary the terms of the contract, and in particular the contract settlement date. We have a number of people who really want to buy the property, but have to sell their existing property first, so they want a delayed settlement. This means they daren't bid at a regular auction.
A tender sale process allows each prospective buyer to submit an offer which is a mix of price and settlement date, and the owner is free to choose the most attractive offer out of all those received. The owner is not bound to accept the highest offer, or indeed any offer, but has the opportunity to consider bids from people who just are not in a position to bid at auction.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Buses won't be able to use M2 Kirkham Bridge!
The latest bulletin of the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust states that heavy vehicles including buses will not be able to use the bridge over the M2 between Murray Farm Road and Kirkham Street during the work to widen the spans. Therefore school children living west of the bridge will not be able to travel to their schools by bus! Also presumably fire engines from Beecroft will not be able to attack fires west of the bridge.
Transurban claim the work on widening the spans of the bridge will take 22 months to complete, a strange coincidence because this is also the proposed duration of the whole M2 widening project. Pressure needs to be applied to the project team to actively plan this work as a fast-track activity which will assist the M2 widening project as well as minimising disruption for local residents and businesses.
Transurban claim the work on widening the spans of the bridge will take 22 months to complete, a strange coincidence because this is also the proposed duration of the whole M2 widening project. Pressure needs to be applied to the project team to actively plan this work as a fast-track activity which will assist the M2 widening project as well as minimising disruption for local residents and businesses.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Complexities of Property Management
One of the joys of property management is the variety! One of the shops we manage lost power, and to fix it we needed to take power off the shop next door, a beauty shop. I went in to negotiate with them, and was given a gap in their schedule late that afternoon, but meanwhile my shop would be without air conditioning. A bit of negotiation and a box of luxury candles allowed the work to start immediately, with the beauty shop clients enjoying wax facials by scented candle-light. A few minutes later air conditioning was restored to our shop and everyone was happy. Including the owner who didn't have to pay for a second visit by the electrician.
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