Street Meeting 27 July, 2013

Street Meeting 

Gregory Street 

North Richmond 

27 July 2013.

Motion

This meeting expresses its disgust with the massive increase in the residential rate that Councillors Ford, Tree, McKay,  Porter, Reardon ,Conolly and Creed have imposed on those who are least able to pay in the HLGA.   

All but Councillor Porter are members of the Liberal Party. All those Councillors collectively have put their political allegiance ahead of the residents and ratepayers with their action.

Increases of $600 per annum have been reported. This has imposed extreme stress on thousands in our Community.

Residents and Ratepayers feel betrayed by the above Councillors and call on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to resign their leadership’s position immediately.

This meeting also notes that the Mayor used his casting vote to impose this huge rate hike in April. He could have prevented the massive increase but choose otherwise.

Councillor Porter was the mastermind behind this huge increase. He should also review his position in view that he personally benefitted from the decision. Further, his neglect to lodge a Development Application for a shed reflects poor governance for a person in his position.

Councillor Conolly also needs to review his behaviour and allegiances.

At the April Council meeting he did not support the increase.  He used the Gazette in December2012 to express his opposition because of the hardship the increase would impose on a pensioner from South Windsor and others.  Further Councillor Conolly said ‘I don’t think it’s fair for people of North Richmond, McGraths Hill and other residential areas to be subsidising the provision of services for people who choose that life-style’.

In June 2013 Councillor Conolly no longer had concerns for the pensioner’s position or the fair test he applied to the people of North Richmond, McGraths Hill and other residential areas. Councillor Conolly said one thing publicly and in the theatre of Council maintained his firm commitment to his Liberal colleagues. He abandoned the residents and ratepayers without a blink.

His action do not fit with the high office he holds to represent the interest of residents and ratepayers. He should also resign.

We also note the same Councillors, Ford, Tree, McKay, Porter Reardon Conolly and Creed also voted to reduced rural residential rates. Decreases of over $900.00 have been reported.

Should the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor Conolly not resign their positions, these meeting calls on the State Government to sack this incompetent Council and appoint an Administrator forthwith?

Submissions for Rebank Planning Proposal due 14 August, 2013

SUBMISSIONS DUE 14 AUGUST, 2013

Following the public meeting on 18/7/13 we were asked to give information about the best way to

make a submission to Council about the Redbank project.

Your submission goes to:-

LEP11-002/11
Hawkesbury City Council

PO Box 146

Windsor 2756

or email council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

IT MUST REACH COUNCIL BY 14TH AUGUST

Head the letter:-

SUBMISSION ON REDBANK PROJECT - LEP11-002/11

Say who you are and which area you live in:-

e.g I am a mother with 2 children 7 and 4. I live in _________Rd. N.R. and work part

time in Richmond.

Then tell them how and why it affects you:-

e.g. The vastly increased traffic will prevent my eldest child going safely to school

independently. It will be dangerous to walk along the road and no footpaths are provided or

planned My journey time to work and later to pickup children will be increased. etc.

Be specific.

Then comment on the plan as you heard it at the public meeting on 18/7.

Points to consider- put in those that concern you or any you may like to add.

- The site is unsuitable. Rezoning from farmland so that you can build houses on lots as

small as 180sq. m makes no sense. The block sizes are much smaller than existing

ones in the area therefore out of character.

- There are inadequate emergency services . No ambulance or police station or

professional fire service this side of the River.

- The planning agreement is all in the favour of the developer not the Council and

ratepayers.

- There is no guarantee that the facilities promised will be provided.

- The interests of the existing residents have not been considered.

- The destruction of Navua and Yarramundi reserves to build a bridge which will not be

flood free is senseless.

Ask that the rezoning not proceed in the community interest unless infrastructure be

provided first.

This is just a suggestion but feel free to use. Iʼm sure you can think of much more.

It is imperative that as many submissions as possible are sent. The community

organisations will be sending detailed submissions but unless these are supported by a

large number of individual ones we are wasting our time.

Rebank Planning Proposal - Public Meeting 18 July 2013

Rezoning, 1400 dwellings, over 2000 more cars for North Richmond! 

There will be a public meeting on Thursday 18th of July 7.30pm to discuss the Redbank Planning Proposal at Panthers North Richmond. Speakers will concentrate on the block sizes, timing of transport infrastructure, second river crossing at Navua, Services and the Environment. A Council Officer will also be in attendance to answer questions on the process and rezoning/development details. 

The Public meeting is being organised by the NRDCAA and The Grose Valley Positive Planning Group. If you are concerned by this proposal this meeting is a must. 

Report on activities February 2012 to January 2013

Download the report to members of the North Richmond & Districts Community Action Association (NRDCAA) and others in accordance with Part 4 clause 24 (2) (b) February 2012- January 2013 here

2013 Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

Monday 18^th March 2013  

North Richmond Community Centre, William Street, North Richmond

commencing at 7:15pm

There will be a report on the activities of your association and all positions on the Committee of Management will be declared vacant and open for nomination from the members. Please consider your willingness and availability to join the committee, the work load and commitment from your committee has been incredible and as there is more and more pressure from developers this will only increase. The old saying ”Many hands make light work” is true in this case too!!

Please download a Membership Renewal Form and return it via mail or bring it to the Annual General Meeting.  If you cannot attend please complete a Proxy Form  You will notice that the fee has been increased by the Committee of Management to $15 and Concession $10. If this increase causes hardship then please contact me by any means, telephone if you prefer 4572-1160 so that arrangements can be made, your support is valued and appreciated. If you prefer to pay by Electronic Transfer please ensure that you give your name so that the money can be correctly credited.  The bank details are – Bendigo Bank BSB: 633-000 Acct: 142-719-749.

Even though we are financial our limited funds restrict what we can do publicly, as an example, the advertisement in the  “Gazette” before the last Hawkesbury City Council elections cost $627, that was all that we could afford to do, as a result with limited success, it was  a cost we thought necessary to try and have community representation on Council not Party Political bias.

I look forward to seeing you there. Please encourage your family, friends and neighbours to become involved in their community, it is only by community involvement that we have a chance of having the community that we want and not just having to accept what is forced upon us.

Colleen Turnbull

Secretary NRDCAA

Community Planning Forum in Parramatta on 7 March, 2013

Better Planning Network and ParraCAN are hosting a Community Planning Forum

Overdevelopment in YOUR street

Have your say !!!

Important forum for all residents of Western Sydney

Before the 2011 election Barry O'Farrell promised to replace the notorious Part 3A planning law. What he didn't tell us was he was going to replace it with something far worse, including:

▪  The proposal to remove the right of residents and communities to comment and appeal against specific developments in their neighbourhood

▪    The proposal to establish ‘enterprise zones’ across entire Local Government Areas with few, if any planning controls

▪   The removal of Ecological Sustainable Development as the overall driver of the NSW Planning System

▪     Downgrading the importance of good building design, open space, parks and urban bushland

▪     The removal of legal protection  for many environmental policies

▪     The omission of any reference to heritage protection

▪     Prioritising fast-track development ahead of community wellbeing.

Public meeting 7.30 PM Thursday 7th March

Parramatta Town Hall, Church St Mall

Speakers:   Corinne Fisher (Better Planning Network)

                    Ron Hoenig (ALP Shadow Minister for Energy and Shadow Minister for Ports)

                    David Shoebridge (Greens MP)

No booking is necessary but RSVP preferred on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ParraCAN/135084779898034

Parramatta Climate Action Network is a grassroots not-for-profit organisation acting in the community to raise awareness on climate change and renewable energy solutions.

Better Planning Network Petition

The Better Planning Network have started a petition as they  are concerned about  the NSW Government Green Paper to replace the existing planning laws in NSW with a system that will: 

• Remove the right of communities to have a say in development proposals and planning matters directly affecting their lives 
• Diminish the role of elected Councillors 
• Permit ‘Enterprise Zones’ with no planning controls to be imposed over entire suburbs or Local Government Areas 
• Not protect the environment or the heritage of the State 

The Better Planning Network are requesting the Parliament of NSW to: 
• Urgently establish a multi-party Parliamentary Committee to fairly assess the proposals to amend the planning system and ensure the community’s rights of participation, consultation and appeal are not reduced 
• Ensure that the community consultation period on the Government’s final proposal (White Paper) is at least 6 months long 

To sign the petition go to http://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/petition-state-parliament/