Issue No. 62
To the residents of Willoughby South:
Welcome to this edition of The 272 which has been supported by the generous sponsorship of:
- La Botte Italian Restaurant (608 Willoughby Road, Willoughby 2068).
- Oishi Furniture and Homewares
- Willoughby Architects
The aim of The 272 is to build community spirit in the Willoughby South area, so readers are invited to comment below on any issue pertaining to our community.*
You can contact the Willoughby South Progress Association at:
Email: hello@willoughbysouthpa.org.au
Editor: Tony Tenney
*The views and opinions of individual contributors are not necessarily those of the WSPA.
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A word from your new president...
By Ken WIlson
Getting involved in local good planning is a raison d’etre of our Progress Association. Yet this July, we have been completely outdone by children at Willoughby Public school.
Working with their teachers, council and bicycle network, Year 6 have designed, mapped, and marked an active transport map for the school. Four routes now wind their way to school from the Leisure Centre (pink), the Nine Development (green), Sydney Street North (orange) and Willoughby Park Centre (blue).
Data for this year’s ride to school day, shows students mostly avoided being driven to school with 108 on bikes, 62 on scooters and 357 making the trip on foot. The school community is also involved in the Edward Street proposal which aims to make what is now the “green” route greener with more trees and improvement for cyclists and pedestrians.
Active transport has many benefits for our environment, health and wellbeing. If you do still need to drive, please be careful when backing out of your driveway, especially if your property is now on one of the school’s active transport routes. You can view the Willoughby Public School’s “Active map” by scanning this QR code below.
Ken Wilson,
President, Willoughby South Progress Association.
Getting involved in local good planning is a raison d’etre of our Progress Association.
In this issue: Edward Street Update
By Bob Taffel
Recently Council received a grant of $5m from the state government to upgrade Edward Street. With the Channel 9 property, now rechristened as NINE by Mirvac, soon to welcome its first residents, Council’s focus will be on traffic and parking in the surrounding streets. As a preliminary project, Council is looking at Edward Street with a view to improving pedestrian safety and traffic flow, not just in Edward Street but also in the connecting streets. An important part of the project will be the enhancement of the amenity of the street to make it a much more community friendly connection between Artarmon Road and all the connecting streets that run into Edward Street.
To date Council has conducted two consultation sessions to hear what the community would like to see in the upgrade plans and what the most important concerns are. It was gratifying to see, at the first session, that Willoughby Public School is taking an active part in letting Council know what the school sees as important. Four Year 6 students addressed the meeting to give their views and it became evident that the school would like to see Edward Street as a safe precinct for kids to walk to school. See their article below. Now we are waiting for Council to produce a draft plan for further community consultation. This is expected to occur in late 2023.
Channel 9 Parking Problems Now that the Channel 9 build has reached the internal fit- out stage, the number of tradies and workers on site has increased considerably. This has led to Lucknow and Wyalong Streets becoming one-lane thoroughfares during working hours and all parking spaces in other surrounding streets being totally filled by Channel 9 workers. Recently your association contacted Mirvac with a request for workers’ vehicles to be parked within the building site. Mirvac responded promptly, acknowledging the problem and reported that they had been in consultation with Council and gained permission for their employees and contractors to park their vehicles in the Leisure Centre car park Monday through Thursday. It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the problem. See Bob Taffel’s report below.
Streets in the vicinity of Edward Street are already very heavily congested with workers’ vehicles. Cr Anna Greco reports: A project page is currently being drafted and updates will be available in the next few months. The next Community engagement and feedback on the draft Edward Street and Penshurst Street Corridor Improvement Concept Plan is expected in late 2023.
With the Channel 9 property soon to welcome its first residents, Council’s focus will be on traffic and parking in the surrounding streets.
Active Travel Project – Joint initiative between Willoughby Public School and Willoughby City Council
Willoughby Public School have been working with Willoughby Council over the past two years at developing safer pathways to school for our students. Year 6 students have worked with teachers, people from council and Bicycle Network to design four pathways to school that pass the residences of students at our school.
Stencils have now been placed on those footpaths that show parents and children the direction to school, how to cross the road safely and the distance school is away. The four pathways are all colour-coded and there is an interactive Google Map that can be used on your phone.
Students at Willoughby Public School have also contributed ideas to support the Edwards Road street-scaping project which forms part of one of the pathways students designed as a safe way to school. Students gave voice to what they would like to see including more trees, water-bottle filling stations, colourful pathway murals and crossings, garden seats and gathering points that are safe for students to join with friends on the way to school. We are very proud of the students at our school and the wonderful contributions they have made to our community and we are thankful to Willoughby Council for giving our students this amazing opportunity. We are having a celebration of this project on Monday 7 August as we launch the new pathways to school. The mayor, Tanya Taylor and various members of council and the Bicycle Network team will be there to hand out give-aways and promote active travel to school. We hope continuing relationship between council and our school will improve traffic congestion and safety for families getting to school.
Channel 9 Construction Parking
In recent times, now that the project has entered the internal finishing stages, we’ve seen the number of tradie and worker vehicles ramp up to a point where Lucknow and Wyalong Streets have become single-lane roadways during working hours. In Artarmon Road, Edward Street, and Richmond and Chelmsford Avenues during the day, it’s difficult, often impossible, to find a parking space anywhere around Channel 9. In fact there are times when Channel 9 related vehicles are even parked further away than these streets.
Your Progress Association approached Mirvac to see if the current problem could be mitigated by tradies having access to parking space within the Channel 9 property. If this solution was not possible, then Mirvac was requested to look at other means of relieving the pressure on local parking.
Mirvac responded by accepting that the current stage of construction was causing parking problems as detailed in our letter. They told us that they were in discussion with Council about the problem and that Council has offered them the lower Leisure Centre car park from Monday through to Thursday each week. Mirvac tells us that they have broadcast this to all trades and included a map for their benefit and will continue to direct trades down there. Whether this will have a noticeable effect on the parking situation remains to be seen. Mirvac further stated that they are not too far from completing the upgrades to the surrounding streets as well as completing the first portion of Scott Street and the first buildings. Once this occurs it is expected that the parking situation will ease for two reasons, more parking and less tradesmen. Also, there may be opportunity then to direct parking within the site as well.
Mirvac tells us that they have broadcast this to all trades and included a map for where the trades can park.
What’s in a street name?
Gorman Street – on William Carr’s grant.
Originally named WARRANE STREET after the Warrane Estate through which it passes, but the name duplicated that of the existing Warrane Road in Willoughby and was very soon changed to GORMAN STREET. Named after Thomas Patrick Gorman, a fireman for many years at North Sydney Fire Brigade, Walker Street, North Sydney, who is said to have lived in a tent near Gorman Street before buying land in Borlaise Street in 1904 and erecting a house on it.
Source: Municipality of Willoughby 1988.
Loading Zone, Willoughby Road
By Wayne Farmilo
Recently a “Loading Zone” was installed in front of 562 Willoughby Road.
Previously there were five parallel parking spaces between Borlaise Street and the Bridge View Hotel, which provided 1-hour parking between 8.30 am-3.00 pm. This was the only weekday parking on either side of Willoughby Road until 10.00 am. Today 40% of these parking spaces have been taken away and replaced by the Loading Zone. According to the affected shop owners, this will only benefit one shop, the vacant tenancy at 562 Willoughby Road (advertised for auction two days after the Loading Zone was installed). The affected shop owners approached WSPA to investigate how this “Loading Zone” was approved.
WSPA approached Willoughby City Council to get an understanding of the process.
Initially, WCC advised that they weren’t aware of the “Loading Zone” signage installation but followed up with a call to advise that as Willoughby Road is a “state” road and that the approval would have been granted by Transport for NSW,
WSPA then reviewed the Development Approvals for 562 Willoughby Road. The original Approval (DA2016/125) was for 18 apartments and 2 commercial office suites. A subsequent approval (DA 2021/323) was granted for a “change of use” application to change one of the commercial office tenants into a neighbourhood supermarket. One of the conditions of approval of the approval stipulated in part:
The following conditions from TfNSW must be complied with:
- While there are no current plans or investigations to extend the clearway operational period in the northbound carriageway of Willoughby Road, it should be acknowledged that TfNSW is able to carry out traffic control works on all public roads pursuant to s87(1) of the Roads Act 1993. The agency has the power to remove and/or alter the proposed controlled loading zone signage and install a different traffic control sign at any time.
- The proposed controlled loading zone on Willoughby Road is not for the sole use of the proposed business and can be used by neighbouring businesses.
- The applicant shall undertake community consultation with neighbouring businesses on the conversion of existing 1P parking to a loading zone (must accommodate the design vehicle being a Medium Rigid Vehicle – 8.8 meters in length) to the satisfaction of Council. The consultation should include loading zone times that would support the proposed and surrounding businesses. The outcome of this community consultation shall be provided to TfNSW, prior to installation of the controlled loading zone.
- A regulatory signage plan to scale illustrating the full extent of the changes to existing 1P parking signage on Willoughby Road to accommodate the proposed loading zone shall be submitted to TfNSW for review and endorsement “ It has been reported to WSPA that no such community consultation has occurred with the neighbouring businesses and, therefore, that the “Loading Zone” has been installed NOT in accordance with the Development Conditions.
The Council advised that Transport for NSW has a “have your say” on their website, and this is the appropriate place to raise any concerns about the new Loading Zone and the process of obtaining it.
The shop owners want to elevate their concerns through this process and have asked that other interested parties do the same. WSPA will continue to monitor this situation and advise on the outcome.
Shop owners want to elevate their concerns about the Loading Zone through the Have Your Say process and have asked that other interested parties do the same.
WEPA: An update and areas of concern
By Kristina Dodds
Willoughby Environmental Protection Association (WEPA) is now in its 41st year, is a community-based group advocating for environmental protection in the City of Willoughby and has a long and ground-breaking history, commencing in the early 1980s with the push to close the tip site in Flat Rock Gully. WEPA is a unique voice in Willoughby and has over 160 members. The greater the membership the greater the voice. If you care about environmental matters locally, and at a state and national level please become a member (only $10 pa). To find out more please visit https://wepa.org.au. Willoughby has a very rich environment with resources worth protecting.
WEPA has been actively involved in opposing the Beaches Link, bush vandalism (most recently at H D Robb reserve at Castle Cove), maintaining wildlife corridors, raising awareness, writing submissions, organising film nights, speakers, attending community events and so much more. One of the hot topics at the moment is plastic grass – which poses a threat to bushland and waterways. Did you know that a new report just released by the Chief Scientist of NSW highlights the presence of toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, in the rubber infill of synthetic turf?
Studies conducted for the report found rubber infill and synthetic turf fibres in waterways across NSW, raising concerns about pollution and threats to aquatic life. Synthetic turf fields without proper measures to reduce infill loss, could wash tens to hundreds of kilograms of infill and hundreds of kilograms of turf fibres into stormwater systems or waterways each year, posing a significant environmental risk. “This is particularly relevant to SBR (styrene butadiene rubber) crumb infill, given the lack of import standards for waste tyres, which are known to contain contaminants and heavy metals, “ it said.
The report also sheds light on the adverse impacts of synthetic turf on ecology and wildlife. The replacement of natural grass or vegetation with synthetic turf disrupts ecological balance, causes habitat loss, and increases heat. It calls for further research to better understand the extent of these health risks and to develop guidelines for safe use. But it also went one step further and warned against using synthetic grass in hot weather.
The NSW Chief Scientist’s Report on Synthetic Turf will, hopefully, force all councils, including our own, to comprehensively assess the environmental impacts of artificial turf in future.
WEPA supports the Natural Turf Alliance which advocates for natural turf open spaces and sporting fields using best practice design and maintenance.
A message from Mayor Tanya Taylor
Thank you for the opportunity to provide an update in this edition of The 272.
Sydney Water has been convicted and fined $365,625 and have agreed to pay $500,000 to environmental projects, after around 16 million litres of raw sewage resulted in the relocation of 39 Naremburn residents in 2020. The funding will be used for environmental projects in the Creek catchment, such as a biofiltration raingarden on Marden Street which will filter pollution from the industrial estate upstream, improving the quality of water.
Council has maintained a strong commitment to protecting our precious natural environment over many years, and we are very much invested in the restoration and preservation of Flat Rock Gully.
I have been asked to comment on the recent decision to lease Chatswood’s Devonshire Street Childcare Centre. Leasing the centre to a highly regarded provider guarantees it remains open and provides ongoing quality care to families, while at the same time assisting the Council’s financial sustainability. I respect the views of the many parents and children who spoke at Council meetings and wrote and spoke to Councillors and staff ahead of this decision. For most parents, the selection of a childcare centre is an extremely emotional and important decision, so it is understandable a lot of feedback was received. The decision Council made ensures the continued delivery of quality care, ongoing staff employment and an important new revenue stream for Council. Importantly, along with its curriculum, the cultural education programs and fee schedule will all be maintained.
Two foundational documents that set out the Council’s goals for delivery of infrastructure and services have been adopted. The Operational Plan for 2023/24 details the Council’s capital works spend, budget and revenue policy, overall changes to fees and charges, including the Domestic Waste Management Charge, corporate performance indicators and business improvements. The Long-Term Financial Plan 2023-33 outlines the Council’s response to an unprecedented and volatile economic climate which has challenged the Council’s financial sustainability, and public engagement on a potential Special Rate Variation is due to commence shortly.
Lastly, Emerge is coming to High Street, Willoughby! As part of our annual Spring Festival, from 5pm – 8pm every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 21 September to 8 October, you can enjoy live music and connect with neighbours and friends at the High St Shops. For more information visit emerge.com.au.
Council has maintained a strong commitment to protecting our precious natural environment over many years, and we are very much invested in the restoration and preservation of Flat Rock Gully.
Reports from our Sailors Bay Ward Councillors
Cr John Moratelli
- I was greatly disappointed to see council recently resolve (on the mayor’s casting vote) to outsource the excellent council-run childcare centre in Devonshire Street to a commercial provider. I and the other councillors who voted against the outsourcing view any financial benefit to council being won at the cost of reduced quality and/or increased cost to parents. We also see it as short-sighted to tie up a part of a large council-owned landholding in the Chatswood CBD for 20 years.
- The advisory committees are up and running and are a great means of feeding community expertise into council strategies. Unfortunately, not all the promised administrative support is being supplied due to staff shortages and this is something I intend exploring
further. - Complying developments (CD) continue to be a source of concern with residents not even able to see what’s been approved without making a GIPA application. Although the shortfalls in the CD system are not of council’s making, I want to see whether council can do more to assist residents in this area.
Residents can contact me about these and other issues at:
john.moratelli@willoughby.nsw.gov.au
Cr Roy McCullagh
I continue to meet in person with residents of Willoughby South and attend the Willoughby South Progress Association meeting and provide assistance to residents. This assistance often is as simple as helping you speak to the appropriate person in Council.
Other significant issues that I have worked on include:
- Edward Street upgrade: I have been speaking to residents in relation to this planned upgrade. However, I have received very little feedback. Now is the time to review the plans before it is too late.
- Devonshire Street Child Care Centre: I strongly opposed Council’s decision to cease operating the Centre and to offer it to a private company.
- Referendum on the Mayoral Election process: I supported a Notice of Motion to hold a referendum on the election of future Mayors at the September 2024 Council Elections. Currently the Mayor of Willoughby is elected by popular (residents’) vote. We believe that there are significant advantages where future Mayors are voted in by the Councillors of the day. This is normal practice in many Councils in NSW. The Notice of Motion was supported by 8 Councillors out of 13.
We believe that there are significant advantages where future Mayors are voted in by the Councillors of the day. This is normal practice in many Councils in NSW.
Cr Hugh Eriksson
- Council is currently asking for feedback to changes to the kerb side pick-up. Personally I believe this is one of our best current services in Willoughby – scheduled and on demand. I encourage residents to provide their feedback.
- Parking: I will soon be asking our Traffic Committee to look at ways we can increase on-street parking for residents and visitors – by seeing where we can change alignment and increase small car and/or motorcycle only parking.
- Budget – now more than ever we need to see where we can make appropriate improvements to costs to ease pressure on Council’s bottom line without reducing services. I believe a ‘back to basics’ approach is what is required at this time, focusing on service and maintenance.
Major Projects Update from Cr Anna Greco
Willoughby Leisure Centre (WLC) upgrade
Project works are under way and expected to be completed mid-2024 for the following:
- 25-metre lap pool with access ramp
- Warmer pool for programs such as warm water
exercise. - Learn to swim pool
- Toddler pool
- Play pools
- New spa and sauna
- External cladding and re-roofing of the whole centre
Project Updates are filed under “have your say”:
https://www.haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au/willoughby-leisure-centre-pool-upgrade
Advisory Committees
A part-time officer starting in mid-August 2023 will provide additional support for the advisory committees. Their role will include ensuring information is up to date on the website, that is, the current terms of reference, minutes and meeting dates.
Current established committees are:
- Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee
- Active and Integrated Transport Advisory Committee
- Bicentennial Reserve and Flat Rock Gully Advisory
Committee - Built and Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee
- Bushland and Natural Heritage Advisory Committee
- Cultural and Creative Arts Advisory Committee
- Sustainability Advisory Committee
https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-meetings/Committees
Artarmon Local Centre Hampden Road Upgrade
The project is being delivered in 11 stages to maintain access to retail and services, the order of stages will be communicated throughout the project and relevant parking and traffic changes. Works are expected to be completed mid-2024.
Please refer to the project page for updates:
Council is investigating the feasibility of a smaller indoor sports centre as an alternative option to the current scheme in the Gore Hill precinct.
Artarmon Clubhouse Pavilion
Building materials have been delivered on-site. Changes to the building code as of 1 May 2023 have delayed the issue of the construction certificate.
The project is currently on budget. However, the date of completion is not yet confirmed due to the unforeseen delays.
Gore Hill Indoor Sports Centre
Council resolved to investigate the feasibility of a smaller indoor sports centre scheme commensurate with the available capital funding, as an alternative option to the current scheme in the Gore Hill precinct. In parallel, Council is investigating other options to deliver a community indoor sports centre in the Gore Hill precinct with the available capital funding.
A report on the feasibility of options is estimated to be received by Council, October 2023.
Devonshire Street Long Day Care Centre
By Kate Lamb
At the end of July Willoughby Councillors supported their Chief Executive (CE) in her proposal to lease the Devonshire Street Long Day Care Centre to a commercial entity, Mini Masterminds. She proposed a 10 + 10 year lease at $330,400 plus annual CPI escalations. A lease of public land this long requires Ministerial approval and that’s where it sits right now.
Discussion within the Council appears to have been intense. As we know, Council meets regularly on a confidential basis. Since May 2022 there have been six of these confidential ‘briefings’ on the subject of Child Care Services and an unknown number of associated confidential Memos.
Controversy over Devonshire Street has alerted us to the fact that Council has made a policy decision to get out of this business. So far as WSPA is aware Council has never sought community views on Child Care policy, despite having a strong commitment to community consultation. In order to allow for such a long lease of public land, a new Plan of Management (PoM) expressly allowing for leasing was required. Such plans must be exhibited before adoption. At a meeting held during the exhibition period attendees with concerns about Council relinquishing control of the centre were told that their concerns were ‘out of scope’.
One month earlier (17th March) a confidential briefing ‘informed Councillors of the outcome of the Tender for the Devonshire Street Child Care Centre’. On 30th March Council advertised the exhibition of a PoM for 28-32 and 34-40 Devonshire St (the Child Care Centre) in the North Shore Times and elsewhere. It is not clear how a tendering process and its outcome can be reported whilst community consultation about a PoM which would determine its legitimacy was underway.
Secrecy has made it difficult to understand what has developed here. There is clear opposition to Council’s proposal and there is a lack of clarity as to its motivation. The community is inclined to distrust in such circumstances. In this case, Ministerial approval will determine the outcome.
Secrecy has made it difficult to understand what has developed here. There is clear opposition to Council’s proposal and there is a lack of clarity as to its motivation.
The Federation of Willoughby Progress Associations (FWPA) met on 5 August 2023
By FWPA Willoughby South delegates Kristina Dodds, Kate Lamb, and Don Swonell
The Beaches Link tunnel was up for discussion again, as the project has not been cancelled as promised by the new state government.
As background information, the Western Harbour Tunnel (WHT) is proceeding with modifications. However there has been no change to the design which caters for the addition of the Beaches Link when and if approved. A public consultation period on the WHT is closing on 15 August (after this publication ends up in your mailbox). The FWPA remains concerned that the traffic impacts to Willoughby have been left unresolved with problems exacerbated by the proposed modifications. Also of concern is the increased air pollution at the Cammeray unfiltered stack (due to the change in gradient).
A motion was passed at the meeting that Willoughby City Council take a stronger stance and to write to the Roads, Planning and Transport Ministers:
- expressing deep concern about the impacts on Willoughby being left unresolved, with the problems being exacerbated rather than resolved by the modification;
- expressing concern that, contrary to publicity, the Beaches Link has not actually been cancelled, and noting that all recent consultations have included aspects of the Beaches Link project;
- to ask that the EIS be formally withdrawn from the planning process (this would require a new EIS process to be started in future if the project were to go ahead, meaning substantive re-design would be possible along with an analysis of alternatives); and
- to ask Transport for NSW for a graphic representation of ingress from and egress to Willoughby LGA to/from currently planned Warringah Freeway Upgrade (WFU)/WHT.
The FWPA comprises 7 Progress Associations in Willoughby Local Government area, was established more than 20 years ago and meets every two months. You can read more about FWPA and what is discussed at https://fwpas.org
Metro work at Chatswood coming to an end
By Bob Taffel
After six years the work on the Metro dive site on Mowbray Road is in its final stage. The major work still in progress is the finishing of the five storey northern dive services building which will be all that is left when all the work is completed. Next year when the Metro extension to Central and Sydenham is placed in service, we are told Crows Nest will be 3 minutes from Chatswood, North Sydney 6 minutes, Martin Place 11 minutes and Central 15 minutes.
So, what will we see happening to the remainder of the vacant dive site? No announcements have been made that we have heard of. However there has been talk of a new school to cater for the ever-growing local population which sees the existing local schools stretched to capacity. Council advises that the site has been zoned MU1 for mixed use. This zoning permits educational use as well as a range of other uses including commercial premises and shop-top housing.
In November last year, Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) called for expressions of interest (EoI) for development of the site with plans for a school being canvassed as part of the mix of land use. Also included was adaptive reuse of the heritage listed Mowbray House school building and an area of public open space linking with the existing Frank Channon Walk. The successful proponent will create a master plan that demonstrates how the project will support local community needs. The EoI process closed on February 15th, 2023 but, so far, no details have been released. It is expected that the site will be developed through the government’s “State Significant” process meaning Council will be asked to comment on proposals but the State Government will control the process through to the final decision.
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