Beautiful Tree at Beecroft Shopping Village

This Thursday at 10:00 the JRPP will decide on the Development Application for the corner of Beecroft Road and Chapman Avenue.  The one issue outstanding is the lovely White Mahogany tree in the rear of heritage listed 83 Beecroft Road. 

The developers want to knock it down so they can build another five units in their 90-unit development. The Civic Trust disagrees. Although the tree is not very visible at the moment, it will become the center-piece of the Beecroft Shopping Village when the Module development is complete. The new Module development proposes a central grass public area surrounded on three sides by residential multi-storey flat buildings.  If the tree is taken out, the grass area will be surrounded on all sides by residential blocks. 
But if left in place the White Mahogany tree would be a wonderful sight from that grass area!

EPA Review of Regulation of Railway System Activities

The EPA has reviewed the way rail construction and operational rail activities are conducted.  They conclude that the regulatory framework has not achieved the community benefits intended.  Anyone living near the ETTT activities will already know that.
The EPA has prepared a position paper to review changes to the regulatory framework.  The paper is available at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing/railindustry.htm and comments are invited by 8 October.
Submissions can be made to rail.review#epa.nse.gov.au.

JRPP Chapman Ave/Beecroft Rd DA 81/2014

The JRPP will discuss the DA to demolish existing houses on the corner of Chapman Avenue and Beecroft Rd and construct a 5 storey residential block of flats Thursday 18 September starting 10am

BCCT Response to Madness of 10/50 Rule

Rural Fire Service 10/50 Clearing Code of Practice

Stop the Madness. Mosman Council is pushing for an exemption –Will Hornsby?

The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has been active for 50 years in protecting the heritage, environment and character of Beecroft and Cheltenham. We were horrified to hear that the NSW Government passed this law on 1st August without any announcement or community consultation. In areas declared fire prone, landowners can clear trees within 10m of habitable building and vegetation within 50m. This is ostensibly to protect homes from bushfires. However, that areas declared fire prone have been increased and now encompass some 96% of Cheltenham and 90%of Beecroft. It includes areas which are never likely to be affected by fire. We have very substantial concerns with the impact this will have on our suburbs, known for their bushland. It will affect large swathes of sensitive and valued bushland including 85% of Hornsby Shire and many other parts of Sydney. We have asked that a halt be imposed on this legislation until the consequences are fully examined.

Our concerns are:

1.    The scheme does not address the reality of bushfire risk and may reduce the adoption of more effective measures against bushfires.

2.    It allows widespread clearing of trees and vegetation in large suburban areas which in reality are extremely unlikely to be affected at risk from bushfire.

3.    It adds a 250m buffer to the existing 100m buffer around previously declared fire prone areas.

4.    It fails to consider environmental and heritage importance of trees, biodiversity, wildlife habitats and soil erosion which may occur with clearing sloping land.

5.    It fails to consider measures already in in place to ensure fire mitigation in houses and buildings adjoining bushland and bushfire prevention measures such as controlled burning, community fire pumps and training.

The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust requests that the Government put an immediate halt to implementing this legislation It allows landowners excessive and unwarranted ability to remove trees, regardless of their contribution to bushfire risk. This will result in loss of biodiversity and environmental damage. It needs to be reconsidered so that these undesirable consequences are avoided.

We would suggest:

•      Making a distinction in policy between rural and urban areas.

•      Considering exemptions for sensitive and endangered species, wildlife corridors and heritage areas.

•      Redrawing the maps of fire prone areas so that they more accurately reflect fire risk. If the existing maps are to be used, the additional 250m buffer zone should be removed.

•      Considering exemptions where Councils have implemented measures to mitigate fire risk.

•      Encouraging more fire mitigation measures.

•      Returning control for local issues to Councils.

Please write to Greg Smith, the Mayor and your C ward Councillors requesting Government put a halt to this legislation and that Hornsby Shire and the Beecroft Cheltenham Heritage Area be declared exempt .

Greg Smith: epping@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Mayor: srussell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Councillors: mhutchence@hornsby.nsw.gov.au ; jcox@hornsby.nw.gov.au ;bazizi@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Digital Signal Mast at Chapman Road Bridge

Sydney Trains have erected the Digital Train Radio System mast on the NE corner of Chapman Road railway bridge.

There is a good article on the purpose of this system at this address:

 

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-train-drivers-left-in-communications-void-by-delays-to-safety-upgrade-20140818-105g0v.html

The Module New DA

DA 1006 / 2014 was submitted to Hornsby Shire Council on 2 September, titled

MIXED - COMPRISING 1 SUPERMARKET AND 7 COMMERCIAL UNITS AND 23 RETAIL UNITS AND 122 RESIDENTIAL UNITS - DEMOLITION

This will be evaluated by the Trust Committee and results will appear on this blog.