Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum.

Meeting Date Wednesday October 8, 2010
Meeting Opened at 7.00pm
Meeting Chaired By Vice President - Trevor Aspin
Attendance 23 Names are recorded in the attendance book.
Apologies 6 Names recorded in the attendance book.

Guest Speaker
Councillor Gareth Ward

Deputy Mayor Gareth Ward addressed the meeting discussing the following:
" Garry Kearny is now Deputy mayor
" John Ferguson is Chair of the Development Committee
" Robert Miller is Chair of the Finance Committee
" Gareth has sent a letter to Council re the issues raised at the September meeting - Skate park - materials lying around - signage at bird park and dogs - drainage between the soccer club and Rural Fire building.
" CCTV case - now adjourned
" Trees following windstorms
" Policing - temporary closure of Berry Stations
" Awaiting outcome of Federal Grant for Coolangatta Road
" Retirement village site - motion to Council to progress with Dept of Lands
" Impressed with emergency service personnel response to windstorms.

Two questions were asked of Gareth - what can be done to Post tel site now vandalised - Gareth will inspect. Concern at DISPLAN still inaccurate information on Council website regarding the evacuation of individuals.

Guest Speaker Christine Taylor
Terry Lillie introduced Christine Taylor who outlined ideas for a Community Fun Run along the beach. The run would benefit chosen charities and be the opportunity for local groups to raise funds by having food stalls etc. - Need to have volunteers work on the organisation of the event.

Guest Speaker Terry Kershaw
Terry Kershaw addressed the meeting - Terry owns East Coast Fire and Safety and gave an excellent presentation on fire safety in the home. He reminded members on the need to check battery's in alarms and replace them every 10 years.
Brochures were distributed to members and Terry kindly donated a small extinguisher and fire blanket as raffle prizes.

Neighbourhood Watch
Police Report Apology received from Senior Constable Paul Nancekivell - no report

Minutes of Previous Meeting of 1 / 9 /2010
Tabled and confirmed Moved: Trevor Aspin
Seconded: Terry Lillie
Business Arising n/a

Inward Correspondence - Tabled
1. SCC - Draft Community Engagement Strategy
2. Councillor Gareth Ward - issues raised with SCC
3. SCC - Congratulations on office bears of Forum for coming year

Outward Correspondence - Tabled
1. Minister for Lands - Two publically funded swimming pools for Shoalhaven Heads.
Moved: Terry Lillie Seconded: Cec Knight
that incoming correspondence be accepted and outgoing correspondence be endorsed.

Treasurer's Report Opening Balance $1,410.54
Income - Raffle Proceeds $ 32.00
Shoalhaven City Council $ 400.00
Expenditure
SHB&RC $ 51.00
Raffle Voucher $ 25.00
Bank Balance $1,766.54
Cash on hand $ 49.95
Unpresented Cheque $ 51.00
Total $1,766.54

Moved: Judy Moate Seconded: Peter Moate that the report be accepted. Carried unanimously.

Report of the Shoalhaven Heads Chamber of Commerce and Tourism -
Anne-Louise O'Connor advised that no president has yet been elected - Light up your house will again be conducted over Christmas period. The Chamber is reviewing an opportunity to have art work done on the skate park. The Chamber is seeking level 2 visitor centre accreditation for a business within the heads.

Bushcare Report: Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum -
All groups have been busy checking regrowth, removing storm damage, clearing lantana & planting native species. Thanks to Shoalhaven Heads Golf Club for donating banksias to replace trees damaged in the wind storm. The SCC Jerringa Bushcare group has been treating lantana in the dunes & at Berry's Canal. Residents are reminded not to throw garden refuse in bushland as it is difficult to control. Unfortunately there is still a problem with vandalism & theft of plants & guards from the river bank & River Rd. All work is voluntary & it is discouraging to see hard work destroyed by thoughtless individuals. Authorities have been notified & the area is being patrolled.
Volunteers are still required and times & day can be arranged to suit, if you are interested please contact a co-ordinator. River Rd Group, Lynne 44487903, Coolangatta Mountain Group, contact Myke 0418297436, Shoalhaven Heads Group or Golfers Group contact Noel 44487680.

Report of the Shoalhaven Heads Community and Progress Association.
John Dogterom tabled Council documents and noted DA's.

Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre Report -
Trevor advised that the blinds have now been installed and the car park resurfaced. The centre reported an operating loss this year due to the loss of a client and increase in outgoings.
Curtis Park Arboretum -
September has proved to be a busy month in the Arboretum.
The wind-storm earlier in the month caused some damage. We lost a mature Coastal Tea Tree and a large limb came off the big Bangalay gum. There was also some wind damage to the leaves of some of the large leafed trees, but these will recover. Compared to some areas we came out of it mostly unscathed.

However the storm also benefitted us as we received two large loads of mulch which has enabled us to remulch most of the gardens.
The highlight was the planting day on the 26th when over 150 new plants were put in to begin the under-storey planting. This was achieved by the community spirit that is so prevalent in The Heads with representatives from The Edible Gardens Program, Bush Care, the 'Heads Hotel Fishing Club, the Men's Shed and the Park Care Group. A special mention goes to Bill and Alan from The Men's Shed who catered for the sausage sizzle after the work was done.
It was particularly encouraging to see young families becoming involved in the project.
The number of visitors is increasing but we would ask parents to restrain their children from running on the gardens as they now contain many small plants that are not very visible at this time.
A barrier has been placed at the southern end of the laneway that leads from Renown Avenue into the Park to prevent access by horses and vehicles.
We expect Council to take some action in the near future with regard to the placement of bollards to protect both the Arboretum and the playground areas from vehicle incursions. The Men's Shed and the Park Care Group will combine to install these when they become available.
Further planting and mulching will occur during October.
We are still waiting on the outcome of some of our funding applications to begin other projects that include plant identification signage and brick edging for the gardens.
The Arboretum Committee would like to place the following proposals before The Forum so that the draft plan can be formalised.

1. That Celia Place not be closed off as per the draft plan but place speed humps at twenty (20) metre intervals to control traffic speed.
2. That the proposed parking be extended to both sides of the road for the full length of the park.
3. That the access road to Meals on Wheels be realigned as shown.

There have been considerable changes in the demographic since the development plan for Curtis Park was put together.
The Pre-school has become a long day-care centre, the Men's Shed was not in existence and the Arboretum had not been proposed.
Parts of the Draft Plan have been followed in that the play-ground equipment has been moved to the eastern side of the Park and the B-B-Q has been removed.
A traffic survey conducted by Ron Traynor indicates that the majority of traffic enters Celia Place from Renown Avenue. The closure of Celia Place as proposed in the Draft Plan will cause considerable inconvenience and create a possible traffic hazard on River Road.
A petition "To Not Close The Road" has been signed by twenty-one parents and staff of the long day-care centre and is attached.
With the upgrade of the play-ground equipment more families are coming to the Park and as there are no restrictions on vehicle movements parents are driving right up to the playground which constitutes a possible hazard to small children and there have been vehicle incursions into the Arboretum.
The Arboretum is also attracting more visitors and on Monday through Wednesday with the Men's Shed operating there would be insufficient car spaces on the Draft Plan.
We therefore believe that the three (3) proposals listed above are necessary to enable the best use of the facility.
A PowerPoint presentation was shown on the proposal.
Moved: Peter Moate Seconded: John Dogterom that all reports be accepted - carried unanimously

General Business
1. " Trevor Aspin resigned his position as Vice President and was nominated by Peter Moate - seconded Noel Schneider to the position of President of the Forum.
" Noel Schneider agreed to the nomination as Vice President - nominated by Trevor Aspin - seconded by Peter Moate.
" Carolyn Garden was nominated as Secretary of the Forum by Trevor Aspin nominated - seconded by Peter Moate
Members agreed unanimously to the above nominations which were uncontested.
2 Moved Roger Tilley and seconded by Terry Lillie that the proposal as put by Roger for Curtis reserve be endorsed and sent to Council with a copy of the petition mentioned in the proposal - carried unanimously.
3 Moved Eric Bird moved that a letter be sent to Council regarding the building of the jetty near 36 Hay avenue to ensure that steps over be provided for people who walk the low tide - seconded Dorothy Bird - carried unanimously.

Raffle was won by Colin Bell
Meeting closed at 9:10pm
Next Meeting 3rd November 2010

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