NEWS

We gratefully reproduce many articles from the South Coast Register newspaper. The link to the online SCR is: http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/news See also our Related Links page.

Community announcement from the General Manager, Shoalhaven City Council: Dear Councillors and community, you may wish to forward this website link on the need to upgrade the Princes Highway to all of your contacts and encourage continued lobbying please: http://princeshwyupgrade.com.au/ Regards, Russ Pigg, General Manager, Shoalhaven City Council.

28 July 2010

SUSPICIOUS BLAZE - Firefighters find several ignition points in Husky fire

Story: AMY FINDLAY Photo: BOB FINDLAY - South Coast Register

A BLAZE that destroyed the former Burnside Presbyterian Holiday House in Huskisson on Sunday is being treated as suspicious.

Several firefighters underwent rigorous decontamination after they were exposed to asbestos during the blaze.

HOSE DOWN: Firefighters are decontaminated after the blaze in Huskisson on Sunday.

Investigations into the blaze are under way after firefighters discovered several ignition points throughout the building.

The building, once used by Burnside as a holiday home for troubled and orphaned children, was sold by the church for $2.6 million in 2003.

A development application to demolish the building and replace it with a three-storey residential complex was lodged with Shoalhaven City Council in March.

Firefighters identified asbestos on arrival and immediately set up exclusion zones.

According to Mr Carroll, no firefighters face any health risks from the incident.

“We set up exclusion zones where no one was allowed to go unless they had to, and those who did were wearing breathing apparatus and protective equipment so there wasn’t any chance of them breathing in any asbestos fibres,” he said.

“They were also decontaminated after their work was completed – they were washed down and their protective equipment will be sent away to be laundered in a special facility.” From the South Coast Register, article and SCR link

here

14 July 2010

Compromise offered to [Jerberra] estate dwellers

All people owning land in the Jerberra Estate may be able to have land rezoned and build houses – provided they are all prepared to sacrifice a bit. After the paper estate’s residents and officials from Shoalhaven City Council held separate meetings with NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly this week, community title has emerged as a possible way forward.

UNSURE: Kerrie Lees from Jerberra Estate said the Planning Minister was accommodating but she would not comment further until she had spoken to other residents.

UNSURE: Kerrie Lees from Jerberra Estate said the Planning Minister was accommodating but she would not comment further until she had spoken to other residents. Full article and SCR link here

12 July 2010

Men questioned over lobsters

Two young men were apprehended by Jervis Bay Marine Park staff after allegedly taking lobsters from a sanctuary zone.

SHELLFISH: Two men were questioned on Friday after Jervis Bay Marine Park staff found a bag containing lobsters at a sanctuary zone.

7 July 2010

Gash supports cash for trash trial: Bottle collecting could soon become a popular pastime in the Shoalhaven if a proposal to introduce refunds on cans and bottles is passed this week.

RECYCLE: Gilmore MP Joanna Gash has thrown her support behind a proposal to introduce refunds on cans and plastic bottles. Full article and SCR link here

5 July 2010

Message from ShUT (background about ShUT - see Current Projects page):

ShUT is calling for urgent help from members and supporters. See below.

The fight intensifies:

Your submissions to council have been a great help in the campaign against this tip. We are now taking the fight to a new level. ShUT is now calling on all members and supporters to:

1) Write to the 3 State members listed below to communicate their opposition to the tip,

and

2) Join the Sydney rally on: Wednesday 21 July.

Why? The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) have given General Terms of Approval for this development to proceed. The Joint Regional Planning Panel (also appointed by State Government) will now make the final determination on whether the Tip gets approval or not. It is now a State Government issue. We need to make the relevant Ministers aware of our objections.

Text Box: So please… Write/fax/email (we suggest you do all 3!) to: 1. Premier: Kristina Keneally Level 39 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone 9228 5239 Fax 9228 3934 Email: premier@nsw.gov.au Text Box: 2. Minister for Planning: Tony Kelly Level 34 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone 9228 3999 Fax 9228 3988 Email: Sharon.Armstrong@lands.nsw.gov.au Text Box: 3. Minister for the Environment: Frank Sartor Level 35 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone 9228 5811 Fax 9228 5499 Email: office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au

Send your original submission or consider including some of the following points:

· We believe that the supporting documentation from the applicant is flawed, and it is not a sustainable development.

· This development application is NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. It is for a privately run, privately managed facility which will only benefit the proponents. The Shoalhaven will have to put up with all the pitfalls (increased heavy vehicle traffic, noise, air, water pollution).

· To place a tip of this size in proximity to a major NSW tourist destination is incomprehensible. The tourist destination is at risk of becoming the trash destination.

· Six million litres of concentrated industrial waste leachate sitting in a dam, in the headwaters of Jervis Bay and St Georges Basin catchments cannot possibly be considered SAFE. BP thought their oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was safe too! Is gambling the future of our Bay and Basin justified?

The ‘Precautionary Principle’ MUST apply.

· Only 4.5% of the waste planned to go into this tip will come from the Shoalhaven. The rest will be trucked in over long distances via the Princes Highway (11,500 additional truck movement per year) This proposal is completely contrary to the Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development and the State Government’s plans to reduce carbon emissions.

A rally to State Parliament is being organised for Wednesday 21st July. Buses are being organised. Tickets $15, are available from Franca Neville at Aloha Caravan Park Ph: 4443 4211 Mobile 0400 888 434, from the Tomerong General Store and from Shoal Bus, Concorde Way, Bomaderry.

Keep up to date by visiting: www.shutip.com WE CAN WIN THIS BUT WE NEED TO ACT NOW. ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES TO email: contact@shutip.com Tom Donohue -President, John Levett -Vice President, Jill Lord -Secretary, Ev Pettigrew -Treasurer, Marg Blair -Membership Secretary

30 June 2010

LIFE OR DEATH

Jerberra Estate residents given just days to leave

Residents in the controversial Jerberra Estate have threatened to give up their lives rather than give up their homes of around 20 years, after Shoalhaven City Council started action to evict people from 15 illegally built houses.

UNDER THREAT: Bev Okonski looks though documents while Jerberra Estate landowners meet with former South Coast MP John Hatton and former Shoalhaven Mayor Greg Watson on her front lawn.

Jerberra Estate hot potato just got hotter - Editorial, South Coast Register

30 Jun, 2010

THE actions of people who own homes within the controversial Jerberra Estate are making waves within the state government.…..It goes back to the 1980s when many of the blocks were sold, and the state government and council missed the opportunity to take decisive action to either rezone the land or send a clear message that development was banned. Some of the homes have been there for 20 years or longer, with the blind eye turned by planning authorities providing some form of approval for their continued existence, encouraging others to flout the law and build.

Meanwhile council and the state government have been in “discussions” on and off for nearly 20 years about rezoning the estate. The state government’s role in not finalising the situation cannot be denied, contributing to the widespread heartache being felt by the estate’s residents. From the South Coast Register, full editorial and SCR link here

25 June 2010

Callala Bay included in marina review

BY: AMY FINDLAY (South Coast Register)

Shoalhaven City Council has moved to include Callala Bay in a review of possible marina sites in the Shoalhaven. In March 2010, council voted to consider Huskisson, Ulladulla and Greenwell Point, and at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting Cr Bohdan Brumerskyj moved to include Callala Bay in the review. [The motion was seconded by Cr John Fergusson].

DISASTROUS: When conditions in Jervis Bay get rough those in exposed moorings often pay a heavy penalty.

From the South Coast Register, full article and SCR link here

Dramatic raid in Huskisson

BY: ADAM WRIGHT AND GLENN ELLARD (South Coast Register)

Six people were taken into custody after a dramatic raid in Huskisson on Wednesday morning. As dawn broke over the normally quiet seaside town, heavily-armed police pointed weapons at a house in Tomerong Street, demanding the inhabitants emerge with their hands raised.

WEAPONS READY: A Tactical Operations Unit officer levels his rifle outside a house in Huskisson on Wednesday morning. WEAPONS READY: A Tactical Operations Unit officer levels his rifle outside a house in Huskisson on Wednesday morning. From the South Coast Register, full article and SCR link here

21 June 2010

Unit burnt in Husky fire: A block of units in Huskisson was virtually destroyed yesterday morning following a massive fire. The two-storey unit block in Currambene Street, Huskisson suffered extensive damage in the fire and was deemed unsafe for occupation. Two units were destroyed and three suffered water damage - all on the top storey. The bottom level was unharmed but the structure was deemed unsafe. Residents were forced to find other accommodation.

NOT SAFE: The damage to a unit block in Huskisson is massive.

NOT SAFE: The damage to a unit block in Huskisson is massive. From the South Coast Register, full article and SCR link here

10 June 2010

WARD PUTS A FOCUS ON CCTV CAMERA COSTS: Shoalhaven City Acting Mayor Gareth Ward has released the costs associated with legal action brought by former Shoalhaven resident Adam Bonner against Shoalhaven City Council in relation to the installation of CCTV cameras in the Nowra CBD

“At a recent Council meeting, I placed a Question on Notice to the General Manager with respect to the total costs to ratepayers of the legal action brought by former Shoalhaven resident, Adam Bonner. “I am advised by the General Manager that, to date, Council has spent $14,000 on legal costs, $11,000 on staff time and we’ve forecast an extra $10,000 to deal with the pending action in the Administrative Decisions Tribunal,” Cr Ward said. “We are expecting the total cost to ratepayers to be around $35,000”. Copy of the press release is here

8 June 2010

A light-hearted satire from The Onion (US) website. The HWCV supports composting.

Source: The Onion: http://www.theonion.com/articles/what-are-we-composting,17421/

7 June 2010

Disclaimer: the following article is presented for info only, and should not necessarily be considered policy of the HWCV.

No I don't want doggy breath with my capuccino!

Dogs do not belong anywhere near cafes.

Dogs do not belong anywhere near cafes. Photo: Ryan Osland

According to Liberal MP Chris Hartcher, who introduced the amendment to NSW Parliament in March, "The purpose of the bill is to amend the Companion Animals Act 1998 to allow dogs in outside eating areas, such as among cafe tables on footpaths". The Companion Animals Amendment (Dogs in Outside Eating Areas) Bill 2010 NSW will, according to the documentation, "not prohibit a dog from being in an outside eating area as long as the dog is under the effective control of a competent person, is kept on the ground and is restrained by a chain, cord or leash that is not more than one metre in length.” From the Sydney Morning Herald, full article and SMH link here

1 June 2010

Draft zoning plan for Jervis Bay Marine Park...While the review found that in general the zoning plan was appropriate for meeting the objects of the Act, it identified opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the zoning plan. A map...and supporting documents are available from www.mpa.nsw.gov.au, following the links to Jervis Bay Marine Park. The draft zoning plan will be on public exhibition...All submissions received before the closing date of 5:00pm 17 September 2010 will be considered...Copies of the draft zoning plan and submission forms can also be obtained:-

· By contacting the Environment Line on 1300 361 967

· From the Jervis Bay Marine Park office at 4 Woollamia Road, Huskisson NSW 2540

· From the National Parks regional office at 55 Graham Street, Nowra, NSW 2541

If you require any further information please do not hesitate the Jervis Bay Marine Park office on (02) 4428 3000 or email jervis.bay@mpa.nsw.gov.au. Links: FAQs doc; JBMP Overview doc; JBMP News release doc

23 April 2010

BIG PLAN FOR [Husky] PUB: Award-winning architect draws up new proposal for Huskisson

BY ADAM WRIGHT, South Coast Register.

It’s a dream that so many believed he would never be able to bring to reality. Paul McGroder’s plan to transform the Husky Pub into a four-star hotel with dining and convention centre facilities has moved one step closer to fruition, with a fresh Part 3A proposal lodged with the Department of Planning.

Artists impression of the proposed Husky Pub redevelopment. Image courtesy of the South Coast Register.

People interested in design will want to come just to stay in one of their groovy interiors.”...“The other thing is they treat old buildings just as well if not better than they do contemporary,” she said. From the South Coast Register, full article, picture and SCR link here

22 April 2010

Husky Pub redevelopment: plans are on exhibition on the NSW Department of Planning website, but also at Sanctuary Point library and in at Council. The intention appears to be to keep the original pub, including porticos and all - but doing a nifty 'adaptive reuse' to its insides. The new building appears intended to be mostly glass and would be well separated from original pub, which is intended to be restored externally. The building would be 4-storey facing Owen St. The beer garden is intended to be shifted from the back to the front SE corner adjacent the existing car park. There appears to be a shortfall of supplied car parking spaces of between 6 to 20 spaces, depending upon negotiations between Council and the developer.
Deadline for submissions of 20th May, 2010. Details: Major Project Assessments, NSW Department of Planning, identifier: 07_0004 Owen St, Huskisson: 07_0004 Huskisson Hotel. Website link (scroll down the page): http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=search&status_id=6 Plans and elevations are in Chapter 3 of the Environmental Assessment.

7 April 2010

Council stops work on Husky [airstrip and subdivision] development

Shoalhaven City Council has placed a stop-work notice on a block of land bounded by Huskisson and Jervis Bay roads. An old development application for a subdivision of 12 40-hectare lots on the site was activated last year.