rockdale remembers local pub helps bexley shine · feel for all of us here and we want to see the...
TRANSCRIPT
Customer Service Centre will be closed on Saturday 6 and Monday 8 June
due to the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend
You might be aware that the Cooks Cove project has grinded to halt with the joint venture, operated by Westpac Funds Management and John Boyd Constructions, having gone into voluntary administration.
This is, quite simply, devastating news. This 1.7 billion dollar project was to provide an extra 11,000 jobs. The plans included a technology park, retail space, major hotel, golf course and open parkland. Council is eager to see the project reignite and we are looking forward to the parties involved finding a solution in the near future.
I would like to thank the residents and businesses who participated in our Easter celebrations at King Street Place. I would also like to thank the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce for making this event extra special.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the Rockdale City Suns and the St George Football Club for their electrifying performance in the inaugural local soccer derby. Rockdale City Mayoress, Christine Stavropoulos, and I attended the match and were delighted at the level of enthusiasm and sporting spirit demonstrated by the players and spectators. It reminded me how great it is to live in Rockdale City and be part of this wonderful and vibrant community. I look forward to this event becoming an annual feature on our calendar.
Councillor Judy FeeneyLiberal C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216 M 0434 600 053E [email protected]
Councillor Joe AwadaLabor PO Box A343 Arncliffe NSW 2205 T/F 9567 9737 M 0438 223 600 E [email protected]
Councillor Liz BarlowIndependent 40 Grantham Street Carlton NSW 2218 T 9553 9681 F 9553 9689 M 0417 490 882 E [email protected]
First Ward
Second Ward
Third Ward
Fourth Ward
Fifth Ward
Your Councillors
Councillor Bill Saravinovski, Mayor
Councillor Peter PoulosLiberalDeputy Mayor PO Box 136 Bexley NSW 2207 T/F 9599 4743 M 0416 101 663 E [email protected]
Councillor Jan Brennan Liberal PO Box 6 Arncliffe NSW 2205 T/F 9597 7185 M 0412 388 563
Councillor Yvonne Bellamy JPIndependent 95 Canonbury Grove Bexley North NSW 2207 T 9554 3974 F 9554 9541
Councillor Angelo AnestisLabor C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216 T/F 9597 4641 M 0422 227 882
Councillor Michael NagiIndependent 17/13-15 Wollongong Road Arncliffe NSW 2205 M 0403 222 666
Councillor Lesa de LeauGreens PO Box 410 Brighton Le Sands NSW 2216 T/F 9593 2675 M 0413 581 603 E [email protected]
Councillor John La MelaLiberal C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216M 0434 140 996 E [email protected]
Councillor Bill SaravinovskiLaborMayor PO Box 139 Banksia NSW 2216 F 9567 8632 M 0412 139 068 E [email protected]
Councillor James MacdonaldIndependent C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216M 0434 140 530E [email protected]
Councillor Shane O’BrienLabor C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216M 0418 227 977E [email protected]
Councillor John FlowersLiberal C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216 T/F 9556 3106 E [email protected]
This document contains important information about Rockdale City Council. If you do not understand, please visit Council's Customer Service Centre at 2 Bryant Street Rockdale on Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Council Staff will be happy to arrange interpreter services for you. You may also contact Telephone Interpreter Services in 131 450 and ask them to ring Rockdale City Council on 9562 1666 on your behalf.
Customer Service Centre
9562 1666www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au
This document is printed on environmentally responsible papers manufactured under the environmental management system ISO:14001 using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp sourced from sustainable, well managed forests.
Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane Labor C/o Rockdale City Council PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216 M 0411 337 525 E [email protected]
2 Bryant Street Rockdale NSW 2216 PO Box 21 Rockdale NSW 2216
Tel 02 9562 1666 Fax 02 9562 1777
Email [email protected] DX 25308 Rockdale
Council’s Customer Service Centre is open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm
Community Events Calendar
Have Your SayWhat do you think about your community newsletter?
Let us know, we welcome your feedback.
Email [email protected] or phone 9562 1666. Attention: Media and Public Affairs Unit.
May 2009Rockdale Community Newsletter
Bardwell Valley Bushcare Group When Meets every third Saturday of the monthWhere At the end of Veron Street, BexleyCall Kath Wade on 9150 7736. Beginners welcome
Dance Fusion Belly Dance ClassesDance Fusion classes are for girls and women of all ages. All you need is a willingness to dance, learn and have fun, all within your own physical capabilities.When Starting Tuesday 28 April. Every Tuesday for the
next 10 weeksWhere St George PCYC, 9 Ador Avenue, RockdaleCall St George PCYC 9567 0408
Message from the Mayor
City Plan 2009–2018
On Public Exhibition
TerrificTime for Arncliffe
TotsDiscover the
ArncliffePlaygroup
Community Fun
Run/WalkHelp Raise Funds
for Charity
Helping the Forgotten Victims of WarOver 80 large removalist boxes containing thousands of items of clothing, toys and educational items are being fast tracked to the children of Gaza, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community.
“The Children of Gaza Appeal was initiated by our local Arabic community. Many felt powerless watching the unfolding conflict on the news every night. It wasn’t long before they banded together and started up the Appeal to help the many innocent children who suffered the consequences of a violent war,” Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane said.
“A significant number of the items donated by the community were bought brand new, with the labels and receipts still attached to them, demonstrating that the community wanted to make a real difference for the forgotten victims of war, the children.”
(L-R) Councillor Moselmane, Khalil Ibrahim and Sam Asmar packed the final box ready to be shipped to Gaza on Thursday 16 April.
For 31 years the family-owned and operated Forest Inn on Forest Road, Bexley, has been one of the key attractions of the Bexley Town Centre. Recently the family, Angelo and Santina Elliot, along with their daughter Amber Jazzini, participated in Council’s Bexley Shopfront Improvement Grant program. The grant helped to fund signage and has enhanced this historic pub’s look and feel.
The Bexley Shopfront Improvement Grant provides local businesses up to $1000 to reinvigorate and upgrade their shopfronts. The funds were allocated on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Many businesses spent well in excess of the $1000 provided to them which has made a noticeable improvement to the Bexley Town Centre.
“Despite a down turn some years back when the M5 was completed and the major banks pulled their branches out of Bexley, there has since been a steady recovery, with many new businesses establishing themselves here in the Town Centre.
Rockdale RemembersWorld War I soldier Frederick Charles Waine lived in Farr Street, Rockdale, and was the Deputy Town Clerk at Council. With his life ahead of him, Frederick joined the army in October 1914, just two months after Britain declared war on Germany. The Mayor of Rockdale at the time granted Frederick time off work and guaranteed him that he could come back and work for Council when he returned from the war.
Many Australians going to war expected the war to be over quickly and Frederick was no exception. Barely eight months after enlisting Frederick was killed during the battle for Lone Pine at Gallipoli on 1 May 1915; he was 27 years old. This story was re-told by the Mayor of the City of Rockdale, Councillor Bill Saravinovski, at the official opening of the restored Rockdale War Memorial Garden at the Seven Ways intersection on the Princes Highway, Rockdale, on Wednesday 1 April.
The revitalised memorial, which includes public seating, shade cloth and new paving, was initiated by the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce. The project was jointly funded by Council and the Chamber. Members of the Royal Australian Navy and the University of NSW Regiment took part in the ceremony and provided a performance of the Last Post. Amazingly and fittingly the traffic fell silent at the busy intersection whilst the Last Post was played.
Local Pub Helps Bexley Shine
Forest Inn proprietors Angelo and Santina Elliot with daughter Amber Jazzini grandaughter Anita. The family was delighted to take part in Council’s Bexley Shopfront Improvement Grant program.
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(L-R) Sophie Morgan representing The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, President of the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Rami Abdallah, The Mayor of the City of Rockdale Councillor Bill Saravinovski, President of the Rockdale RSL Peter Lyons and Senior Vice President of the Rockdale RSL Andrew Dale.
University of NSW Regiment soldiers stand to attention during the Last Post at the commemoration ceremony at the Rockdale War Memorial Garden.
Stores such as Mitre 10 and the IGA supermarket have been a real success story for Bexley. There is a strong community feel for all of us here and we want to see the area continue to grow and prosper,” Angelo said.
$4.8 Million for Streetscape UpgradesThe Federal Government has pledged $4.8 million towards Council’s upgrade of the Bexley North Town Centre and Bay Street area in Brighton Le Sands.
The announcement was made by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, and Federal Attorney-General and Member for Barton, The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, in the heart of Brighton Le Sands on Monday 27 April.
(L-R) The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Mayor of the City of Rockdale, Councillor Bill Saravinovski, Rockdale City Mayoress Christine Stavropoulos and Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane.
Have Your SayThe Community Strategic Plan and Delivery Program
will be on public exhibition for public comments.
Don’t miss the opportunity to tell us what you think;
simply complete the ‘Have Your Say’ form.
The public exhibition is from 13 May to 10 June at
Council’s:
Customer Service Centre
All local libraries
Website
Please submit your ‘Have Your Say’ form to Council by
4.30pm on Wednesday 10 June 2009.
Based on the NSW Department of Local Government’s
Integrated Planning and Reporting guidelines, Council
has prepared the City Plan which will be progressively
implemented over the next three years.
The City Plan is a suite of three plans – Community
Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and an Operational Plan.
The Community Strategic Plan sets a long-term
direction by identifying our vision for everyone living,
visiting and working in our City. It sets the goals,
and priorities for all parts of the City around four
Strategic Directions.
It also draws together all the projects for the City which
Council has been working on such as Destinations
Rockdale, Thriving Town Centres Program, Cook Cove
Development, Wolli Creek, Brighton Pier and Marina etc.
The Strategic Directions are:
1. A City with a Sense of Pride
2. A Liveable City with Lifestyle Quality
3. A Connected and Accessible City
4. A City with Viable Business & Employment
Opportunities
The Delivery Program and Operational Plan describe the
strategic projects, initiatives and direct delivery of services
to the community through which Council will implement
Council’s Vision and Strategic Directions outlined in the
Community Strategic Plan.
This City Plan places Council in a strong position to
respond to new requirements by the NSW Department of
Local Government and work with all stakeholders to strive
towards achieving the vision for the City.
How’s the Cooks River Shaping Up?The 2008 Annual Lower Cooks River Report Card has just been published. The report conveys a detailed summary of the current health of one of this country’s most polluted river systems.
Some positive results include:
• Increased diversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates in 2008, particularly at the sites near to, or within, Wolli Creek;
• Crab numbers were stable in 2007/08, and were greater than in 2005/06;
• Sydney Rock Oysters and barnacles had expanded to colonise a greater number of sites in 2008 compared to previous years; and
• The remnant estuarine vegetation in the Cooks River is dominated by healthy mangrove forests though small but isolated patches of saltmarsh also exist.
Whilst the signs show some positive improvement to specific areas of the Cooks River it should be noted that a continued and sustained effort is required from everyone to help this river become the flourishing ecological haven it was before the arrival of European settlement.
To view the report card visit www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au or Council’s Customer Service Centre.
Eggcellent Time at King Street Place There was a carnival atmosphere in Rockdale on Thursday 9 April as children and their parents converged onto King Street Place for the Easter celebrations. A joint effort between Council and the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, the celebrations included children’s rides, an animal petting zoo, face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny who handed out chocolate Easter eggs.
“Words cannot describe the colossal smiles on the children’s faces at our first Easter celebration. King Street Place came alive with a fantastic and overwhelming family atmosphere.
More importantly, it was the local businesses through the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce who made this great event a reality and I thank them for that,” the Mayor of the City of Rockdale, Councillor Bill Saravinovski, said.
Harmony DayCouncillor Angelo Anestis migrated to Australia from Greece to begin a new life more than 40 years ago. Since that time he and his wife Irini have seen Australia mature into a diverse melting pot of cultures and traditions.
Our cultural diversity is celebrated each year during Harmony Day. This year Council’s popular annual Harmony Day event was celebrated on Thursday 2 April. A number of community groups including the St George PCYC, the St George Migrant Resource Centre and the St George Community Alliance Church took part in the celebrations.
High energy demonstrations by the Arabic Drumming Group and Dance Fusion Belly Dancing School were among the acts that performed for the packed crowd at Rockdale Town Hall. There were also cooking demonstrations, Latin dancing lessons and Egyptian art displays. Councillor Anestis reinforced the importance of promoting cultural harmony.
“Harmony Day is here to remind us that our Country and more specifically our City is shaped by the many wonderful traditions and cultures that have been brought here from all over the world,” Councillor Anestis said.
Councillor Anestis with a traditional Egyptian plate at Council’s Harmony Day celebrations.
Our Message to World LeadersOver 250 local residents armed with candles and picnic rugs attended the Earth Hour picnic at Carss Park, Kogarah on Saturday 28 March.
As darkness fell, residents signed a petition urging world leaders to commit to a strong agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year.
“The number of people who attended the Earth Hour event reflects a growing awareness in our community of the need for action on climate change. With so many other nations and cities following Sydney’s lead, local residents who took part joined millions of people around the world in sending a message for decisive action to our world leaders,” the Mayor of the City of Rockdale, Councillor Bill Saravinovski, said.
The Earth Hour picnic was a joint effort between Rockdale City and Kogarah Councils.
Passing on the ANZAC Legend It has been 94 years and three generations since the ANZAC soldiers landed on the beaches of Gallipoli, yet the legend of these courageous soldiers and their subsequent sacrifices throughout World War 1 have never been stronger in the hearts and minds of Australians.
On Thursday 9 April a group of Kyeemagh Public School students took an excursion to the Kyeemagh RSL sub-branch to hear from club President Ken Clarke. The students aged five to nine sat wide eyed and silent as Ken recalled the stories of our soldiers. The students also heard from Council officer, Veronica Giles-Cook, who described the symbolism of the ANZAC biscuit.
“Our nation was born on the shores of Gallipoli on that fateful day of 25 April 1915. Therefore it is essential that we continue to pass on the ANZAC story to our children so they can pass it on to their children,” Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane said.
A Tramming SuccessA tramway between Rockdale station and the-then newly developed Brighton Baths was constructed in 1885. It was developed and owned by Thomas Saywell, who also owned the Brighton Hotel and Brighton Baths. The tram was Saywell’s solution in getting large numbers of visitors to and from the hotel and baths.
However, with trams still in their infancy, Saywell’s tramline was originally fraught with complications in the first few months of operation; these included setting people’s lawns on fire from flying sparks, trams were too wide to get through a cutting at Frogs Hollow, and because it was underpowered, passengers were forced to get out and push the tram at the steep incline just before Rockdale. Thankfully these issues were rectified over time.
This is one of the hundreds of interesting historic tales about our City and its people, and once again the Ron Rathbone History Prize is offering $5000 for the best piece of original, unpublished research relating to the City.
There is also an additional category - Memories of Rockdale. Write your personal story of living, working or visiting the City of Rockdale for a chance to win $500.
For more information entrants can contact Council’s Local History Services Specialist, Kirsten Broderick, on 9562 1821. Entry forms and guidelines are available from Rockdale City Libraries, Customer Service Centre or on Council’s website www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au
The Rockdale City Library team is hosting a Parent Information Night about starting school. The seminar will be held on Tuesday 2 June at Rockdale Town Hall.
If you have children who are starting school in the next couple of years this is the perfect opportunity to find out how best to tackle this critical step in your child’s scholastic life.
Ana Levar, Lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, will be speaking about ‘Making sure your child has a good start to school’. Staff from our local primary schools will provide information about curriculum and conditions of enrolment. Information on Rockdale City Library services will also be available. Child minding will be provided.
Please register for this great information night by calling Community Events Specialist Amy Duncan on 9562 1872.
Terrific Time for Arncliffe Tots
Infants and toddlers, along with their parents and carers, can find a wonderful retreat at the Arncliffe Playgroup. Children up to six years old can learn, grow and develop through the many activities, toys and facilities available.
“Council is proud to be supporting the Arncliffe Playgroup. It is an important asset in the Arncliffe community and integral to the City’s youngest residents,” Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane said.
It costs $39 for a 12-month membership to Playgroup NSW and $2 per session which includes morning tea and art and craft supplies. For more information call Arncliffe Group Coordinator Catherine Dewberry on 0403 578 417 or email [email protected]
(L-R) Ken Spragg, Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane and Ken Clarke at the Kyeemagh RSL sub-branch.
How Far Can You Run in 15 Minutes?
Current Rockdale City Community Fun Run/Walk title holder Daniel Delaney can run 5kms in 15 minutes 10 seconds. Do you think you have what it takes to beat him?
Now in its eighth year, the community event, held on Sunday 24 May, continues to attract some of Australia’s best middle and distance runners. It is also the perfect opportunity to catch up with other residents, whilst getting exercise. You can participate in the 5km run or the 1km walk. The course takes in the iconic views of Botany Bay along picturesque Cooks Park. The starting point is on Carruthers Drive, Dolls Point, and the starting gun will fire at 8.30am.
Entry forms are available from Council’s Customer Service Centre, Council libraries, the St George District Athletic Club, www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au or www.sgdac.org
Entry fee is $10 per person or $15 for a family of two adults and two children. Registration closes on Tuesday 19 May. Entries on the day will incur a $5 late fee.
For more information phone Albie Thomas, Club President of the St George District Athletic Club on 9587 2356 or Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9562 1666.
Tram terminal at Rockdale, circa 1910.
Nicholas and Angelo on the Ferris Wheel at the Easter celebration.
Councillor Shaoquett Moselmane at the Arncliffe Playgroup Open Day last month.
Get Ready for SCHOOL