December 1 - 31, 2024: Issue 637

 

Summer in pittwater

View south-east over Turimetta Beach. Photo: Joe Mills

Week Three - December 2024, Issue 637

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby: End of Year Recap 2024

New Emergency Response Beacons Now Active at North Palm Beach, Turimetta, Narrabeen + South Curl Curl, Fishermans, Shelly Beaches

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers ready for 2024-2025 holiday season after busy November - New report

From the Council Chamber, December 10, 2024 By Pittwater Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy

Draft Plan of Management for Dogs offleash On South Mona Vale Beach Open for feedback: remember a PoM is not just about our dogs

Consultation over Allied Health services at Mona Vale Hospital a ‘big win for the community’ says Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby

Ruining Palm Beach - Council support of Fish & Chip site DA approved in Court: Community has sought advice with the Intention to Appeal Decision

Retirement Villages owner Aveo to Develop Manly Hospital site - New report

Jacqui Scruby calls for local exemption from new NSW planning HDA proposals

Bushfire risk - Loss of Biodiversity remains an issue for Lizard Rock/Patyegarang development proposal: Post December 2024 Public Meeting Decision

Avalon Beach Surf Lifesaving Club turns 100 in 2025! - First Celebratory Events revealed 

Turimetta Moods: December 2024 by Joe Mills + Links to all Joe's Turimetta Moods + National Parks Hikes for 2024 - Summer Break Bliss!

Pictures: Pictures of the Year: 2024

Aquatics: Pittwater Swim Series 2025: 5 great opportunities to dive on in - dates and details of each beach and swim courses

Park Bench Philosophers: Australian Government ensures future of Royal Flying Doctor Service + George Repin's 'Pedal Radio and the Royal Flying Doctor Service'

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Week Two - December 2024, Issue 637

Aquatics Layne Beachley AO Receives Surfing Australia Life Membership + 2024 Australian Surfing Awards Finalists - Winners

Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club post-fire Clubhouse Replacement Option Proposed

Warriewood Community Centre Build: December 2024 Update

North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club Extension: Update + only One NSW WSL Event in 2025

Safe Speed Program for Safer Neighbourhoods Being applied across local roads: new surface for Bilgola Bends + Speed humps on Tasman road + Upgrades for Mona Vale pedestrian Crossings

Pictures: Clareville from on high: views over Pittwater

Zali Steggall Welcomes Funding for Upgraded Warringah Sporting Facilities

Liberal Candidate for Warringah in 2025 Election announced: Mr Dutton Visits Dee Why

Marine Rescue NSW boosts Sydney Harbour rescue capability for peak boating period: Marine Rescue Middle Harbour + Marine Rescue Port Jackson will provide 7-days-a-week duty across December-January

DIY Ideas Christmas-New Years Checklist: Preparing the Garden & Home For Visitors + Entertaining + Gift Ideas For Every Budget

Park Bench Philosophers: Social media platforms are throttling access to real and genuine independent news – with far-reaching implications for democracy

Education News: Freshwater campus to be expanded - Forest High School revised boundaries - New Sports High School in 2025 - How to Best Support Students with disability accessing HSC exams: Review underway

Food Christmas Sweet Treats You Can Make As Gifts + Hogmanay (New Years) Dinner Australian Style + Summer Picnic Ideas

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Week One - December 2024, Issue 637

Rates Variations Options 1 to 4 Prompt ‘Option 5’: Reinstate Pittwater Council 

Pittwater MP shows NSW Premier unfinished Mona Vale Road West Construction site

Local surfers help NSW win the Australian Junior Surfing Titles - Milla Brown is the 2024 Australian Junior Champion!

Aquatics National Water Safety Day 2024: A Timely Reminder to Stay Safe Around Water This Summer

Park Bench Philosophers Liberal-Labor collaboration on Electoral Reform to lockout all others – lock in just themselves collapses: Update

Bayview Public Wharf Gone; Bayview Public Baths still not netted - Salt Pan Public Wharf Going

Bayview Pollution runoff persists: Resident states raw sewerage is being washed into the estuary

Pictures Bayview's new walkway, current state of the Bayview public Wharf & Baths + Maybanke Cove

Women’s Resilience Centre Launches “The Resilience Circle” Retail Outlet – A Place to Recycle, Renew, Rebuild Lives

Building Homes for NSW program Lists more sites: developers invited to register interest - Double Lot Site at Frenchs Forest + 7 Bush Lots at Seaforth

NSW to have A State-wide approach to Bullying In Schools: December 2024 Meeting of the School Advisory Council 

Consumers urged to choose quality batteries this sale season after record number of fires + Nation-first Information Standard for lithium-ion e-bikes and e-skateboards: feedback open to December 6

Mackerel Beach Wharf Upgrade Design Open for Feedback:  Submissions close Sunday December 4

Scotland Island Dieback Accelerating: IPART Review of increases In Sydney Water's Pricing Proposals An Opportunity to ask: 'what happened to the 'Priority Sewerage Scheme' for our Island? - Submissions Close December 9

Council Consultation on Special Variation to Rates  Submissions close Sunday January 12, 2025

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November 2024 Week Four of Issue 636: Articles reported by Readers to have broken links to be resent to subscribers 

A Host of Local Athletes among Finalists Announced for the 2024 Australian Surfing Awards

Paradise Beach Baths renewal Complete - Taylor's Point Public Wharf Rebuild Underway

30th Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship 2024 on Pittwater: RPAYC's Daniel Kemp, Louis Tilly, Lachlan Wallace, Charlie Verity, Isabella Holdsworth WIN!

Salt Pan Public Wharf, Regatta Reserve, Florence Park, Salt Pan Cove Reserve, Refuge Cove Reserve - Pictorial

2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Has A Diverse Fleet: 5 RPAYC Entries

What's dodgy about the Australian political donations reforms?; the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024

DIY Ideas Christmas Cheer 2024: Time to Deck Your Home With Rows Of Jolly! + Keeping Mozzies away - Ticks at Bay This Summer

Profile of the Week Profiles of the Year 2024 
The people, organisations and groups celebrated and honoured this year, while sharing some insights into their work for the community of Pittwater.
    History David Hazlewood: Photographer of Avalon Beach SLSC Founders meeting

    Avalon Beach SLSC is celebrating its centenary in 2025 and is currently running a call-out to get in touch with all past members so they may be a part of the year-long celebrations.

    Initially, so that their records are up to date, they invite all past members of the Club to email the Club at  100years@avalonbeachslsc.com.au  with your updated details so they can keep you informed of what will be happening for members.

    If you know of others that may be interested in the 100th Anniversary celebrations please pass the message on. 

    The gentleman who photographed the club's founders on the front steps at that initial meeting in the house named 'Avalon', in Bellevue Avenue, Avalon Beach, the weekender and Summer house of Arthur Jabez Small and his family, would have had to wander a whole 100 yards around the corner from his own Pittwater Summer home/camp in Avalon Beach, at today's No. 1 Elouera Avenue, albeit purchased, officially, a few months after that Sunday March 8 1925 meeting.

    He also photographed other areas in and around Pittwater during this time.

    This Issue a small look into how this place looked then - 100 years ago.

    Community News Spanish Moss killing critically endangered local trees, A doggy perspective on Christmas, Summer Break, Christmas Lights Map, Avalon Boomerang Bags: Festive Bags, Church Point Ferry Service: Christmas Day timetable + 2025 Fares, The Council is Unfit for the Future, Zonta's International Womens Day Breakfast 2025, Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week: Bobby + Micha, Avalon Beach SLSC turns 100 in 2025!, Marine Rescue Cottage Point Update, The Elephants of Avalon Beach, NSW residents urged to take care this mosquito season, North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club Extension: Update, No Manly to Barrenjoey WSL event in 2025, Changes to Public transport Timetables, Taylors Point Wharf: Update December 2024 - Now Open, Council Culls Manly's Hop, Skip and Jump bus service, $4.25 million In grants for community-led programs to prevent domestic violence, Homes for NSW discussion paper: submissions close December 20, Council invites EOI for Pittwater Golf Centre, Community Building Partnership grants available soon, New virtual care service launching in Sydney in December, Consumers urged to choose quality batteries this sale season after record number of fires, Marine Rescue Broken Bay: Christmas Raffle 2024, Pittwater Offshore Newsletter, Whale Beach SLSC: Members Needed, Pittwater Organisations, Sports, Social, Environment and Groups

    Environment The Good, Bad and Ugly: Environment 2024, Spanish Moss killing critically endangered local trees, NSW Forestry Corporation Cost NSW Taxpayers $29 Million in 2023-2024, much more in loss of Habitat and Wildlife - 'State Government can’t see the forest for the trees': Greens, Developer-State Government Koala slaughter continuing in western Sydney, NSW Government should deliver Koala National Park by end of 2024 says New Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby, Draft Plan of Management for Dogs offleash On South Mona Vale Beach Open for feedback: remember a PoM is not just about Our dogs, Cowal gold mine granted extension-expansion by Minns Labor Government, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Closed areas: Barrenjoey Access trail (weekdays) - Towlers Bay fire trail - Salvation Loop and Wallaroo trails, Garigal National Park: ‘1080 pest management’, Science To Revive Our Oceans: SIM's has a PHD Opportunity - operation Crayweed, Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs, Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed, Stay Safe From Mosquitoes, Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land: Survey, Report fox sightings, marine wildlife rescue group on the Central Coast, Watch out - shorebirds about, Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing, Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed, Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when, Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities, Gardens and Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater, Ringtail Posses, Around 9,000 species have already gone extinct in Australia and we’ll likely lose another this week – new study, Grattan on Friday: Dutton’s nuclear policy would have coal-fired power stations operating for a lot longer, ‘Unseen world’: researchers capture fascinating footage of the world’s smallest penguins in a bid to save them, As Australia’s giant trees succumb to fire or drought, we’re racing to preserve their vital genetic data, The hidden benefits of birdsong, Surging global tourism emissions are driven by just 20 countries – major new study, Ravaged jungle: just 25% of the world’s surviving tropical rainforests are in good condition, Plans to stabilise Earth’s climate rely on emerging carbon removal technology – we need to get moving, After 65,000 years caring for this land, First Nations peoples are now key to Australia’s clean energy revolution, Australians’ cars are typically larger, heavier and less efficient than in Europe – here’s why, Fully fenced dog parks alongside nature reserves could help protect wildlife, From grieving orcas to opposums playing dead: how animals respond to death – podcast, Bhopal: after 40 years, ongoing effects of world’s worst industrial disaster show environmental racism is alive and well, Unveiling the Antarctic ‘plastisphere’, a unique and potentially hazardous new ecosystem – new research, Rising desertification shows we can’t keep farming with fossil fuels, Delhi’s annual air pollution has become a human-made calamity, Polluting shipwrecks are the ticking time-bomb at the bottom of our oceans, Greenland is getting greener – helped by a mining company and a group of tree enthusiasts, Pittwater Reserves: histories + Notes + Pictorial Walks,  Pittwater's Birds, + more

    Aquatics Pittwater Swim Series 2025: 5 great opportunities to dive on in - details of each beach and swim courses


    Children  Sunday Cartoons This Issue: The Story of Hamlin the Birdherd by David M Bird, The Elephants of Avalon Beach, Australia boasts some of the world’s most stunning beetles; Look out for these 5 beauties this summer, Decorating your Christmas tree? Try these crafts inspired by Aussie plants and animals, Seven Victorian paper craft projects that could cut your Christmas consumption, The beach is an amazing place to teach kids about science; Here are 3 things to try this summer, What’s the difference between gelato and ice cream?; One contains more air, Airservices tracks Santa in 2024, Stories this Issue: Interrupting Chicken + So Much Slime,+ more

    Youth Summer Break, Applications to join the DOVES Council are open for 2025, Hottest 100 Voting now open, School’s out for 2024 as record 70,000 students celebrate completing their HSC, Interstate Glory up for grabs, TAFE Fee-free* courses - semester 1 2025 enrol now, Word Of The Week: Summer, Santa Claus was inspired by a real figure who fought against miscarriages of justice, Hello Kitty at 50: a Japanese success story of simplicity and cuteness, Obsessing over the ‘true’ meaning of lyrics misses the point of songwriting, We’ve found an answer to the puzzle of how the largest galaxies formed, Hippos have been neglected by scientists – that’s why we’re building Africa’s first hippo database, ‘Pressure makes diamonds’: how Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout can get even faster, Human settlement of Mars isn’t as far off as you might think, Victorian Christmases were both thrifty and indulgent – try these DIY projects and yours could be too, Australia boasts some of the world’s most stunning beetles. Look out for these 5 beauties this Summer, The human right to science is 76 years old; It’s a reminder for us all to be more curious,  + local services for you

    Seniors Support at Home: price caps to be introduced by 1 July 2026 - COTA,  Dick van Dyke still dancing at 99, Liz Hefren-Webb appointed as Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, National Seniors Australia Welcomes Kathryn Greiner AO to the NSA Board, Commonwealth Bank – over-the-counter withdrawal fees: COTA Australia, Exercise boosts memory for up to 24 hours after a workout – new research, ‘Is this all there is?’ Retirement can be a painful transition if we don’t adjust our thinking, Avalon Beach SLSC turns 100 in 2025!, Celebrating 10 years in Seniors’ Stories: Congratulations!, Intergenerational Playgroup Program, ‘A virtual seat at the family table’: why older people are among the biggest users of social media, Retiring with debt?; Experts explain downsizing, using super for your mortgage, and pension eligibility, How much do you need to retire? It’s probably a lot less than you think, The human right to science is 76 years old; It’s a reminder for us all to be more curious, Local events, services, groups for you + more

    DIY Ideas Christmas-New Years Checklist: Preparing the Garden & Home For Visitors + Entertaining + Gift Ideas For Every Budget

    Preparing for Christmas and that long relax that commences Boxing Day is a great way to relieve stress and take the hassle out of 'getting it all done'. We prepare a few lists each year and just tick everything off as it gets done; the jobs around the house, the jobs around the garden, the food list, the guests list and of course, the gifts list - with an emphasis on getting it all locally so time isn't wasted sitting in traffic. This Issue a few tips to ensure you enjoy your holidays and keep the youngsters busy. 

    Food Christmas Sweet Treats You Can Make As Gifts + Hogmanay (New Years) Dinner Australian Style + Summer Picnic Ideas

    Do you get better food at home than you can eat elsewhere? Do you want to give something this Christmas that will be remembered and bring some sweetness – a gift worth giving? Also - it's Summer Salad Season! A few of the favourites for your picnic season

    Inbox News 11 new magistrates appointed for NSW Local Court, NSW residents urged to take care this mosquito season, One in four NSW ED patients say they wouldn’t be there if they could find a GP: NSW Nurses state  NSW patients deserve better from our public health system,   Technology upgrade improving care for people with cancer on the Central Coast, New research reveals a key evolutionary benefit of sleeping for a season – or for centuries, Cheaper housing and better transport? What you need to know about Australia’s new National Urban Policy, Up to 40% of bushfires in parts of Australia are deliberately lit. But we’re not doing enough to prevent them, Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home – here’s how to get accurate readings, Does menopause hormone therapy increase or decrease your risk of dementia? Here’s the science, Five ways to make your daily walks even more beneficial, Bovaer is added to cow feed to reduce methane emissions. Does it get into milk and meat? And is it harmful for humans?, Why a musical instrument is the perfect gift this Christmas (and some suggestions for which to get), Albanese announces antisemitism taskforce, as synagogue firebombing investigation upgraded
    Events Carols, Christmas Panto at MV for Littlies - get in quick, RPAYC and RMYC events, Regattas, Schools Hols sailing options, Music, Markets, NYE options, Social Groups, + more.


    View south from North Mona Vale Headland. Photo: Kevin Murray
    View north from Maybanke Cove, Bayview on Pittwater. Photo: AJG
    View north over Clareville to Palm Beach and Lion Island from Bilgola Plateau. Photo: AJG

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