Page 10 MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Tanya Taylor provides an update on Naremburn goings-on. What an exciting time it is for the Naremburn Community and for the local businesses as the Naremburn Village Upgrade nears completion. I can’t wait to see the enhanced amenities in action which will provide easier and improved access for pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers. None of this would have been possible without a $750,000 Commonwealth government grant toward the streetscape enhancement project and, importantly, the input of the local businesses and community, which we are grateful for. Thank you for your support! At last month’s council meeting, we heard from several passionate Naremburn residents and parishioners of St Leonard’s Church who presented their well-thought-out views – both for and against - the proposal to extend the heritage listing to include the presbytery and the former school building. Council voted in favour of the independent report which found that the buildings have heritage value. I’d like to thank the speakers who addressed Council with such enthusiasm and respect. And, for all the book lovers – and I count myself as an avid reader – I’m delighted that a draft Library strategy has been endorsed for public exhibition. Our libraries are much loved and valued and we want to ensure that we keep meeting the needs of our diverse community. Check out the details on Have You Say and please share your ideas. The hot topic of e-bikes has been a muchtalked about issue in our community, and I am glad to see Council’s support to increase advocacy for e-bikes and e-bike delivery drivers. We’ll be hosting a forum in 2024/25 to understand the challenges facing the e-bike industry, but also engage with stakeholders to recognise the opportunities. Making Chatswood CBD safer for pedestrians and riders is a priority, and Council is developing educational materials for e-bike delivery drivers which will provide information on what riders must do to keep themselves and the community safe. MAYOR TANYA TAYLOR WILLOUGHBY CITY COUNCIL COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS Councillor Georgie Roussac At its most recent meeting, Council approved local heritage listing for the St Leonards Church, Presbytery and School Buildings and grounds. This is a wonderful outcome for our community. Council commissioned independent expert advice to assess the buildings against the NSW Heritage criteria and it was found the site meets multiple criteria for local heritage listing. Community support for the listing was strong, with 70 of 102 submissions in favour. The NSW Government is expected to invite public feedback on the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) planning reforms in July. The Government has stated (but not yet published) that the Crows Nest TOD will focus on fast tracking the development of areas in St Leonards and Crows Nest already earmarked under the 2036 Plan. Areas outside of the 2036 Plan are not anticipated to be the subject of rezoning under the TOD Program and Council will continue to advocate strongly for this outcome. The State Government’s housing reforms need to deliver for our communities and more housing, and more diverse housing, are urgently needed. Local heritage is crucial for vibrant communities – affordable housing does not have to damage our community’s unique heritage. Likewise, we need to see much greater commitment to local infrastructure, and strategies to address the potential loss of trees and overall canopy provided by private gardens. GEORGIE ROUSSAC P | M 0459 879 379 E: Georgie.Roussac@willoughby.nsw.gov.au Councillor Nic Wright I know many in the community are anxious about the proposed planning reforms and how they will impact Naremburn. While many details are still emerging, I am closely monitoring the situation to ensure our community’s interests are represented. Balancing development, heritage protection, and ensuring appropriate infrastructure is available is central to our advocacy. Willoughby City Council has a proud history of delivering appropriate development in consultation with our community. Council staff assure us they are communicating our priorities to the Department of Planning. I’m also proud to report two recent successes in heritage preservation from motions I brought to Council. The Catholic Church precinct on Donnelly Road has received heritage protection, preserving its historical significance and ensuring any development is sympathetic to this history. Additionally, Council has recommended that Henry Lawson’s Cave in Flat Rock Gully be protected, safeguarding this important natural heritage site. Finally, thanks to a Notice of Motion I brought forward at our February meeting, residents can now find the street sweeping schedule on our Council website. This information, along with regular and bulk waste collection dates, may help residents move their cars in advance so our trucks can clean the kerbs and gutters effectively. Search “Waste and street sweeping services” on Council’s website for more details. NIC WRIGHT P | M 0481 033 442 E: nic.wright@willoughby.nsw.gov.au Councillor Anna Greco The proposed planning reforms have raised substantial concern among Naremburn residents. My focus has been on the Crows Nest Metro Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program. The area around the Metro Station is an accelerated precinct under the State Governments proposed density reforms. These reforms have the potential to impact on Naremburn and the St Leonards Hospital Area. At the last Statutory Traffic Committee meeting, I submitted a request on behalf of the Naremburn Progress Association for a Traffic, Parking, and Active Transport Study to address significant issues in these areas. The matter will be considered, and a progress report will be provided at the November 2024 Traffic Committee meeting. The Willoughby City Parks Generic Plan of Management is currently on exhibition. The plan includes the reclassification of various parks, which will determine how they are used and managed going forward. I was delighted to participate in a recent workshop supported by Willoughby City Council on taking small steps to tackle soft plastics pollution in our city. I learned that even the smallest step can have an enormous impact on improving our environment. I’m excited to be participating in Plastic Free July. Here is the link if you would like to join me. https://www. plasticfreejuly.org/ If you have any questions or would like to have a chat about living in Naremburn, I would love to hear from you. ANNA GRECO P | M 0459 866 064 E Anna.Greco@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au
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