Castlecrag Fair Postposed to 16th June

Due to the bad weather conditions the Castlecrag Fair has been postponed until the 16th of June.

As you can appreciate many local businesses have ordered in extra perishable food. We are very grateful to the local businesses for their support and now they face considerable financial loss unless we help.

Cyrus the Great, Butterflies (ex-Burleys) and Artusi and Butcher Boys all made special preparation and no doubt others too. Why not pop in for a meal, sausage, tea coffee or cake either today, Sunday or over the next couple of days. Please let them know that you appreciate the support for the Fair.

Channel 9 Rally Saturday 18th May.

A protest rally has been organised for Saturday 18th May at 12 noon, meeting at the corner of Edward and Artarmon Roads, Willoughby.

Residents are concerned that the proposed 600 unit site is too high and too dense and the impacts on traffic, schools and public transport is not acceptable.

If you are also concerned about this development, make you voice heard by joining in the rally on Saturday.

For more information, please email WAAG2068@yahoo.com.au

Planning White Paper - Public Meeting

The Castlecrag Progress Association, together with Willoughby Environmental Protection Association, are holding a public forum on the NSW Government Planning Review White Paper to be held at 8pm this coming Tuesday, 14 May 2013, at the Marion Mahony Hall, Glenaeon School, 121 Edinburgh Rd, Castlecrag.   

The speakers are Corinne Fisher from the Better Planning Network (BPN), and James Ryan, Chairperson of the Nature Conservation Association's Planning Committee, Councillor of Cessnock City Council and Solicitor.

The White Paper has at its core the ability for developers to obtain rapid approval for most developments. Neighbours and the rest of the local community will have no right or opportunity to comment on most individual development proposals including those in Conservation and scenic protection areas. Further, the objectives of the new planning system do not explicitly include Ecologically Sustainable Development, climate change mitigation, residential amenity or quality of life.  

You are warmly invited and encouraged to attend.

Repost - The Right Hand Turn at Eastern Valley Way

The latest on the right hand turn at Eastern Valley Way

The saga continues...

As you may be aware many residents in the Castlecrag area, and indeed visitors to Castlecrag are sick of taking their life (and that of their passengers) in their hands when attempting to make a right hand turn from Edinburgh Road to Eastern Valley Way.

While Council is not responsible for any installation of traffic signals at this busy intersection, I believe that we can keep up pressure on getting a resolution to this important issue.

We have been very fortunate that our local member, Gladys Berejiklian has been a strong supporter of a change at the intersection. Over the past year Gladys has facilitated meetings with the RMS and Council and you may recall a RMS community survey was released last year.

The survey gave two different options which I believe were not workable. Following the feedback to the RMS, Gladys organised another meeting in December which was aimed at directing the RMS to try again with a more suitable solution.

This week Gladys forwarded a copy of a letter from Hon. Duncan Gay MLC, Minister for Roads and Ports. In this letter Mr Gay says " I am pleased to confirm that as a result of the meeting, RMS will investigate the cost and benefits of a part-time dedicated right turn phase from Edinburgh Road into Eastern Valley Way."

While we should not celebrate in the streets yet, this is an important step in the right direction.

Many thanks to Gladys for keeping up the good fight.

This item has been reposted for publication to my new Facebook page and twitter.

Castlecrag Village - Proposed Upgrade

Your thoughts on the Castlecrag Village Upgrade!

Willoughby City Council is proposing to upgrade the public domain area in the Castlecrag shopping area on Edinburgh Road, east of Eastern Valley Way. This project is part of the dedicated Strip Shopping Centre Improvement Program which Council has been implementing for the past few years. The program aims to revitalise and promote the local shopping facilities in Willoughby’s Local Government Area. Council is seeking feedback from the community about the proposal and your comments are welcome. 

http://haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au/castlecrag-village-upgrade?module=forum&sort_by=recent

Repost - Channel 9 Site - Community Meetings on the 29th and 30th of April

Important Community Information for the Channel 9 Site

Following the release of the Environmental Statement, Channel 9 has released the dates for the next round of community consultation regarding the development of their site in Willoughby.

The first community meeting will be held on Monday 29th April from 7 to 9pm with the second on Tuesday 30th April from 7 to 9pm.
 
If you are attending a community meeting, please register with Channel Nine.  To register go to their web site at www.ninewilloughby.com.au and then click on the "Community Consultation Process" tab.  About half way down the page, immediately below the location map, click on "To Register Click Here" and then fill in the blank boxes.  You should receive back a confirmation of your registration to attend.
 
If you are concerned about this significant development of around 600 residences, it is important you attend a meeting so your voice can be heard.

Willoughby South Progress Association President Bob Taffel has organised a petition. Please see this link for further information.
http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/channel-nine-site-redevelopment fill in your name, email address and post code and then click on the red button.
 
In addition you can write a letter to The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard at office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au .  If you wish to send a letter by mail the address is:
 
Mr Brad Hazzard
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Level 31,  Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney, 2000
  
If you do send a letter it would be appreciated if you would let Bob know at rtaffel@hotmail.com. 
 
The easiest way to submit your letter is by going to http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4326 and scrolling down the page until you come to the section that is headed "Making a Submission".  After you've filled in the section titled "Your Comments", don't overlook filling in the box immediately below titled ""Your View on the Application".  This is very important as your comments will not be accepted if this box is not completed. 

Please contact me if you require further information regarding this significant development.

Gail

Repost - Right Hand Turn Eastern Valley Way

The latest on the right hand turn at Eastern Valley Way

The saga continues...

As you may be aware many residents in the Castlecrag area, and indeed visitors to Castlecrag are sick of taking their life (and that of their passengers) in their hands when attempting to make a right hand turn from Edinburgh Road to Eastern Valley Way.

While Council is not responsible for any installation of traffic signals at this busy intersection, I believe that we can keep up pressure on getting a resolution to this important issue.

We have been very fortunate that our local member, Gladys Berejiklian has been a strong supporter of a change at the intersection. Over the past year Gladys has facilitated meetings with the RMS and Council and you may recall a RMS community survey was released last year.

The survey gave two different options which I believe were not workable. Following the feedback to the RMS, Gladys organised another meeting in December which was aimed at directing the RMS to try again with a more suitable solution.

This week Gladys forwarded a copy of a letter from Hon. Duncan Gay MLC, Minister for Roads and Ports. In this letter Mr Gay says " I am pleased to confirm that as a result of the meeting, RMS will investigate the cost and benefits of a part-time dedicated right turn phase from Edinburgh Road into Eastern Valley Way."

While we should not celebrate in the streets yet, this is an important step in the right direction.

Many thanks to Gladys for keeping up the good fight.

This has been reposted as there have been problems with the twitter feed.