June 4 - 10, 2017: Issue 315

Huge Response To Pittwater Crowd-Funding Campaign to reinstate pittwater council

David Wenden, Bob Grace, Sue Young, Pip Rey, Miranda Korzy and Lynne Czinner toast community's determination to Protect Pittwater this week.

Huge Response to Pittwater Crowd-Funding Campaign 

Supporters campaigning for the return of Pittwater Council are delighted to have already raised over three-quarters of their $10,000 target in a crowd-funding campaign aiming to take legal action for a demerger.   

Protect Pittwater president Bob Grace said the campaign by Saturday morning had raised $8,510 within a week of launching, and still had more than three weeks to run. 

“Can you believe it? We’re already over three-quarters of the way there and we have only been going since Tuesday,” Mr Grace said. 

“How exciting is that? The people really believe in a separate Pittwater. 

“But we can do better. Make sure you tell all your friends and everyone else to please contribute.” 

The Protect Pittwater Association was established after a community forum last month voted for a two-pronged approach to restoring Pittwater Council. The group is also circulating a petition calling on the state government to reconstitute the council. On Tuesday May 30th the crowdfunding page was launched with instant results.

Mr Grace said the state government's plan to strip powers of control over development applications from councils, mooted this week in various media publications, was another blow to local democracy.

"The state government thinks it can turn local government into one of its administrative arms," Mr Grace said on Tuesday.

"Council amalgamations were just the beginning of this destruction of democracy by stealth.

"Pittwater is unique and we must have our own planning powers. We will not become a subsidiary of the state government. 

"We will fight for Pittwater to regain our council and retain its planning powers.

"If you want to fight for local democracy, please help us and donate to the crowd funding campaign."

The campaign, run by the community association Protect Pittwater, aims to raise money for legal action to restore Pittwater Council.

The groups's initial goal is to raise $10,000, which Mr Grace says is enough for legal advice and a statement of claim to go to court.

Any money not used for legal costs will be put towards an ongoing campaign to protect the environment and character of the Pittwater area.

The crowd-funding campaign can be found at: https://www.chuffed.org/project/protect-pittwater

Mr Grace encouraged those who were happy with the new Northern Beaches Council to remember the circumstances surrounding the construction of the Delmege building at Mona Vale in 1985. 

The multi-story building on the corner of Mona Vale Road and Bungan Street, was out of scale with the rest of the village, and sparked protests and support for a demerger from Warringah Council, which had approved it.

“We have to control our destiny,” Mr Grace said. 

“We don’t want high-rises and what happened with the Delmege building because that’s the reason we separated in the first place.”

Mr Grace said he spent three years on Warringah Council before the separation, which had 12 councillors - three from A-riding (which was almost the same area as Pittwater).

“We lost everything because the dominant force was always Warringah,” he said.

“With this new council, we’ll be three votes out of 15, so what’s going to happen?

“Naturally, Warringah’ll call the shots again.”

Former and also sacked Pittwater Councillor Sue Young spoke to us this week and explained she is working on gathering signatures for the petition - a copy of which is below - simply click on the file, 'save as' on your own devices and PC's, print out, gather signatures and forward to the address on the petition, or contact Sue!

Protect Pittwater contacts:
Miranda Korzy 0416 192 602
Pip Rey 0439 788 867

Report by Miranda Korzy
Petition to bring back pittwater.pdf Petition to bring back pittwater.pdf
Size : 131.964 Kb
Type : pdf
Update - Sunday June 4th - late afternoon - 
Previously 

(NB: some Notices listed in Community News archived pages):

Pittwater Council Community Forum on Amalgamation and Planning - May 2013

Pittwater - To Be Or Not To Be?

Hands Off Pittwater !! - Media Releases on the Dee Why Community Consultation on the Future Directions for Local Government proposals 

Transcription of Speakers at Independent Local Government Review - Dee Why, 4th of June, 2013

Front Page Issue 115 - Amalgamation and Transcription of Community Consultation by ILG

NSW Government's White Paper - Issue 116

Hon Rob Stokes Hosts Roundtable Discussion On Council Mergers from Hon. Rob Stokes and People for Pittwater

Pittwater Council submissions on the White Paper – A new planning system for NSW and the Draft Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney and Future Directions for NSW Local Government – Twenty Essential Steps 

Presentation by Better Planning Network at Mona Vale Memorial Hall on the NSW Government's White Paper

Bigger is Better Theory on Council Amalgamations De-bunked by Mayors Townsend and Hay of Pittwater and Manly (New Report: AN ASSESSMENT OF SGS REPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURAL CHANGE: OPTIONS ANALYSIS) - published 6 September 2013 - Professor Brian Dollery

ONE NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL OUT OF THE QUESTION: At its 13 October, 2014 meeting, Pittwater’s councillors reviewed the NSW Government’s local government reform package ‘Fit for the Future’ (FFTF), which was released in September 2014.  The proposal, reconfirming the Independent Local Government Review Panel’s recommendations that Pittwater be merged with Manly and Warringah to form one council, was rejected. 

Front Page Issue 185

One ‘mega council’ Would Be A Disaster for Pittwater - Pittwater residents are satisfied with Council - NSW government's Fit for the Future package includes amendments that make it harder for councils to prove they are financially viable, write Professor Brian Dollery and Joseph Drew - Front Page Issue 189

Artspot 2015 Opened with Aplomb

Pittwater Council to Purchase Avalon Beach Bowling & Recreation Club’s Green 3 - Keeping our Community’s Future 'Fitting' + Front Page Issue 211

Pittwater Uprising Again by ‘Pittwater Scout’ + Front Page Issue 212

Community News Issue 212  - May 2015: Local Government Reform - Have your say

NSW Government's "Fit For The Future" process erodes democracy and local lifestyle by 'Pittwater Scout'

Public Meeting on Proposed Local Government Reforms Indicates Forthcoming Backlash Against NSW State Government - Community Votes 'No' Amalgamation Again

SHOROC Shenanigans - Amalgamation Ploy to Undermine 'Scale and Capacity'? + Community News Issue 216

New Data Proves Overwhelming Support for Pittwater to Stay As We Are + Fit for the Future timeline makes mockery of fair process from Pittwater Council and LGNSW

Save Our Councils Coalition Launched – State MP’s Join their the Ranks Against Forced Amalgamations from SOCC 

Front Page Issue 218 

Community News Archives - June 2015

Pittwater Declares Autonomy: FFTF IPART Required Documents Lodged

NO Amalgamation Chant Becomes Louder in Pittwater: Rally at Local MP's Office + Front Page Issue 234

Pittwater Residents attend NO Amalgamation Rally in Hunters Hill - Front Page Issue 235

Front Page Issue 236: Pittwater Residents Maintain NO Amalgamation Stance at Rosehill...

Keeping Pittwater Independent Stance Persists:  Media Releases Monday 12th October to Friday 16th October, 2015 relating to FFTF Reforms by LGNSW, IPART, State and Pittwater Council

Front Page Issue 237:  NO FORCED AMALGAMATION RALLY at Winnererremy Bay Park Thursday 29 October 5pm 

FFTF Facilitators Found Faulty: 'No Amalgamation' Chant Continues: + Front Page Issue 238  

A Greater Pittwater Option Discussed at Public Meeting on Proposed Council Amalgamations: Some Attendees Suggest A Statewide Referendum  

Two Council Model Option Preferred to Mega Council Pittwater and Manly Mayors Announce: Mosman Stands Firm

Pittwater Prefers to Remain Pittwater: Greater Pittwater Option Forwarded as Second Preference: Cr. Hegarty's Address at Council Meeting of November 16, 2015

NSW Government Announces Amalgamation Proposal Plans: Reactions and What's Next in Process - 2016

Having Your Say on Local Government and Council Proposals: Written Submissions and Public Inquiry at Mona Vale Feb. 2nd, 2016  

Community News February 2016: VOICES of PITTWATER - community leaders on amalgamation

Pittwater Residents Urged to Have Their Say on Proposed Council Changes - Passionate residents speak out at Public Inquiry Meetings

Pittwater's Future Down to A Numbers Game? Warringah Council's Bid to Have it ALL Revives New/Old One Council Proposal -Community News March 2016  

Pittwater Asked to Have Its Say On Council Amalgamations AGAIN 

Pittwater Residents Reject Mega Council Proposal at Public Inquiry Meetings - Written Submissions To Close on April 8th

Front Page Issue 257  Community Have Their Say on Proposed Amalgamation

Front Page Issue 258: Community Have Their Say on Proposed Amalgamation

Front Page Issue 259: Community Voices on Amalgamation

Front Page Issue 260 - Pittwater Councillors Passed Motion to Commence Legal Proceedings Against Forced Amalgamation Overturned Due to 'No Substance' to Grounds Raised

Pittwater is STILL Pittwater: Residents - Sacked Councillors Discuss Options: Legal action and second Secession to begin discussed

Mona Vale Place Plan: Have You Say By November 13, 2016 - community dismayed at draft slating six storey buildings for Mona Vale

Mona Vale Place Plan Meeting Discloses Salient Points And Communitys' Objections

Administrator's Message: draft Mona Vale Place Plan

Community News Issue 291 - Administrators Minute November 22nd, 2016

Mona Vale Rally on Mona Vale Place Plan Reopens Recent Wounds - Pittwater Council's MVPP List echoes Greater Sydney Commissions List for Mona Vale

Renewed Calls To Return Pittwater Council To Pittwater By Pittwater People in Wake of Recent Retirement Announcements: Issue 298

Community News Issue 299 :  Council Amalgamations Windback: Community Feedback This Week: Issue 299

Calls To Restore Pittwater Council Persist: Issue 300

Community News Issue 304: Interview with Hon. Rob Stokes on Mona Vale Hospital

Save Mona Vale Park Protest against B-Line Destruction of The Village Green space reignites calls for Protection of Pittwater

Resident Birds Baffled By B-Line Sleight Of Hand: Where Did All Our Trees Go?

Forced Amalgamations Hit "Procedural Fairness" Snag That May Bring Every Imposed Merger Completely Undone

'Don't Be Developed Out Of Pittwater' Rally At Mona Vale's Memorial Hall: Motion to Fight to Restore Pittwater Council Passed Unanimously

Protect Pittwater Community Forum: 7 P.M. Tuesday May 16 At Pittwater RSL - What impact will the new government body - the Greater Sydney Planning Commission – have on Pittwater? How will development approvals be carried out? How can we recover our local Pittwater Council?

One Year On: Amalgamation STILL Rejected: May 2017 Issue 312 + Front Page Issue 312

Pittwater Community Forum Supports Legal Action To Restore Council - Protect Pittwater launched + Front Page Issue 313 

Crowd-funding Appeal for Legal Action to Protect Pittwater Launching on Tuesday - contact points fixed + Front Page Issue 314