Below is a the text of the agenda for the forthcoming Mayor-PBPA meeting on August 2, 2012. You can download a copy by clicking here: Agenda Mayor-PBPA Meeting 2 August 2012
Thursday 2nd August 2012 @ 3:00pm
1. Status of Drainage and Road Works in and around Pearl Beach especially the interaction with environmental issues and across departments
a) Turning point into Pearl Beach Last Mayor meeting, confirmation that easements granted and funding for plan in current 2011-12 budgets but funding for implementation was not yet found. Has funding and timing been finalised?
b) One way street in Pearl “CBD” and new traffic management plan Letter dated 9 May 2012 from Keith Dawson Road Safety and Traffic Co-ordinator. To be implemented as soon as work priorities permit. Noted that in the week beginning 28 May, first signage for change of traffic conditions had been installed. Issues outstanding for the community are the list of works and the final form that those works are to take. For instance the form of the road narrowing and its incorporation into landscaping, drainage and protection of some of the affected trees is important to get right.
c) Drainage on Pearl Parade and beach erosion and integration with new traffic management infrastructure Letter dated 14 May 2012 from Peter Amour, Acting Director City Services. Works have been included in the Council’s Minor Drainage Improvement Works Program. Issues outstanding for the community are when, what is the plan as it impacts heavily on a main area within Pearl Beach and how is it incorporated into the traffic management plan and infrastructure?
d) Creek Erosion – Middle Creek and Green Point Creek Letter dated 14 May 2012 from Peter Amour, Acting Director City Services. Natural recovery expected and Council to continue to monitor the situation.
e) Drainage on shoulder of Diamond Road – grassed pan drains Letter dated 14 May 2012 from Peter Amour, Acting Director City Services. Apparently a low priority because of its location and funding would be required. Issue outstanding from the Community is that as currently phrased it appears the Council will do nothing. This is a hard message for affected residents to accept. How bad does it have to become before it is even put on a list of works to be undertaken?
2. Application of the Development Control Plan to better protect the environment and Community position
Last Mayor Meeting, letter dated 16 February 2012 from Roger Murray to Gary Loft and subsequent telephone conversation on 27 February 2012 between Roger Murray and Gary Loft. This remains one of the most difficult areas to work out where a difference can be made especially with the mixed progress of the Draft LEP. Could the Council again advise where the process is at so that the PBPA can work out what it can do.
3. E5 Environmental Protection and impact on Pearl Beach – which sites are proposed to have this protection and are comments sought
Letter dated 29 May from the PBPA requesting: * E5 status for a number of areas * Overlays to be incorporated for better support of E5 * Public review of the amended LEP as it is now unclear how it affects the total of Pearl Beach
4. Schematic Planning for Pearl Beach
Last Mayor Meeting, letter dated 16 February 2012 from Roger Murray to Gary Loft and subsequent telephone conversation on 27 February 2012. There was to be a meeting arranged between Peta James to assist in preparation of a schematic for infrastructure in Pearl Beach.
5. Lagoon Management Plan
Continuous communication between Tim Macdonald Snr Environment Planning Officer | Integrated Planning. No action required at this time other than Council’s general awareness of the importance of the project for the Community participation aspect (it is a major Council interface at the moment) and for future execution of the matters identified. At what time should more of the Council be brought up to speed?
6. Establishment of specific purpose fund to assist the Council & Associations joint priorities – tax deductible
Last meeting with the Mayor, letter dated 16 February 2012 from Roger Murray to Gary Loft and subsequent telephone conversation on 27 February 2012 The limitations and possibilities for the Gosford City Council Trusts are still not clear but we need to establish how it can work to channel community donations for Council associated works. For instance if streetscape works or lagoon infrastructure work is required how can the Council Trusts be used?
7. Long term options for maintenance and cleanliness of Pool
Series of emails from widespread sections of the Community wanting a better solution to the periodic poor condition of the pool. It is increasingly untenable that alternative solutions are apparently no more advanced.
8. National Broadband roll out – environmental issues including overhead cabling
Letter dated 28 May 2012 requesting an update on the roll out of the NBN and the way in which it will be undertaken in Pearl Beach. What options are there and what opportunities are there for input from the Community?
9. What if any policy of the Council for control of bamboo
Is there anything that can be done to remove or restrict bamboo in the urban environment as it is an increasing environmental challenge. Noting that Rhizomatous Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.) is a noxious weed.
10. Play ground refurbishment Coral Crs
Series of emails, holding pattern for existing playground but waiting for possibility of a “retro” park to be pursued. Unclear if this is dependent on the recent review of Council policy on parks or if there is other initiating action required.
11. Amenities Block * Overlap with new traffic conditions and association landscaping unresolved * Simple benches and hooks installed * Water hungry cisterns to be changed * Replacement bin near the Pearl’s Café so that there are 2 in the busiest part.
Series of emails waiting for action to be taken but no recent update as to progress.
12. Extension of Bushcare and Dunecare areas so that they are not isolated and join them to other conservations areas. Co-operation between NPWS and Crown Lands
Series of emails waiting for final confirmation of parcels of lands to be brought under the bushcare processes involving formal delegations from Crown Lands and different areas within council (eg drainage areas and verges).
13. Mt Ettalong
a) Clean up Graffiti on water tank and infrastructure – request went ot Water and Sewer Development Officer Letter dated 27 Feb 2012 from Brent Evans, Natural Reserves Project Officer, Open Space & Leisure Services Request had gone into the Water and Sewer Asset Development Officer but no response.
b) Traffic Management at entrance – to be reviewed and at least vegetation trimming to be carried out Letter dated 27 Feb 2012 from Brent Evans, Natural Reserves Project Officer, Open Space & Leisure Services Reviewed but not sufficient risk for major traffic change except vegetation trimming/clearing required. Not yet undertaken.
c) Proper bush regeneration plan – subject to review of bush care sites Letter dated 27 Feb 2012 from Brent Evans, Natural Reserves Project Officer, Open Space & Leisure Services Part of the assessment of Bushcare sites within Gosford area and awaiting advice that this has been completed.
d) Minor maintenance of existing railings and seats – removal of pine logs, review of sustainability of current railing to determine required repairs and review of condition of seats Letter dated 27 Feb 2012 from Brent Evans, Natural Reserves Project Officer, Open Space & Leisure Services Consideration as to removal of pine log barriers, geotechnical report to be carried out on continued use of the site as a look out and assessment of seating to be undertaken. Progress on these matters unclear.
e) Walk way between Umina and Pearl with an off-shoot to the lookout – a keep warm topic Letter dated 27 Feb 2012 from Brent Evans, Natural Reserves Project Officer, Open Space & Leisure Services and letter dated 22 March 2012 from Ed Sukesh Manager Infrastructure Planning This remains a topic to be kept warm but the current resources, priorities and environmental issues make this unlikely without an unanticipated source of funding. Note the confusing position in the letter from the Manager Infrastucture Planning that seems to be a defensive letter covering Council liability rather than encouraging that the issue remain a possibility to continue to be worked on.
14. Council’s approach for Climate Change and notations on title of properties This issue is new for the Association and the Council but the Community is seeking more information about the range of issues including protective measures that they should be undertaking and any notations on title that may be under consideration.