It is a great pleasure to present the centenary report of the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association (PBWBA).
OUR MISSION
The Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association is a not-for-profit, non-political organisation of volunteer owners and residents who are passionate about keeping our area unique, and keeping the local council and state government honest. Our main function is to preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area and protect its residential amenity. We do this through communication with the Council regarding development and building applications, making submissions on relevant issues and being represented on various local government and other committees.
HISTORY
The Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association Inc. is the Peninsula’s oldest community organisation, originally being called The Palm Beach Progress Association, established in 1918.
In 1944, it became the Palm Beach Association, and in 1998 it amalgamated with the Whale Beach Preservation Society, finally becoming The Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association Inc. in 2005.
There is evidence of the early history of association in the minutes of the Warringah Shire Council Meeting 2 Feb 1918.
Letter from the Palm Beach Progress Association dated 31 January 1918 on the necessary improvements at Palm Beach.
Early progress included lobbying hard for polling booths in Palm Beach in 1920, paying 26 pounds and 3 shillings for repairs to Sunrise Road in 1922, and most importantly, in 1925, proposing that the strip of land from Pittwater to Ocean Beach be dedicated as a public park, subsequently named Governor Phillip Park; this was accepted by Council and it is something the association has fiercely guarded ever since.
There have been many achievements over the years but I am sure you will all agree that the major achievement has been to preserve our environment and enhance the natural beauty of the area and protect its residential amenity as stated in our charter.
If you look around you will see that we have unspoilt beaches, almost entirely single dwelling houses houses, no high rise, magnificent waterways, Pittwater, Governor Phillip Park, Barrenjoey Light House. How lucky we are.
This is in stark contrast to the suburbs to our south.
We must continue to work the with NSW Government and the Northern Beaches Council to ensure that the unique character of this area is maintained for future generations. It can only be described as paradise We will continue fighting on the beaches to keep it this way.
The last 12 months have been extremely busy for the PBWBA.
NORTHERN BEACHES COUNCIL (NBC)
The PBWBA worked well with the appointed administrator Richard Pearson. I must thank Rob Stokes for facilitating and attending a meeting at Palm Beach with the administrator soon after he was appointed in 2016. I am very pleased to welcome Rod Stokes to this AGM.
We started the meeting at Pittwater Park, then went to the Beach looking at the route for the walkway on the way to the beach.
Following this meeting the Demand Parking Study for Pittwater Park was commissioned, the tender was let for the walkway, the plans for landscaping of Palm Beach were commenced, and Pittwater Park and Barrenjoey Rd were upgraded.
The elections for the NBC were held in September 2017.
It is a challenge to deal with the new larger council with 15 councillors from five wards.
Pittwater ward has three councillors. The Narrabeen Ward has three councillors in part of the old Pittwater Council area. I am pleased to see Mayor Regan and Councillors here tonight.
It is essential that the Local Environmental Plans for Pittwater be retained.
THE WALKWAY FROM PITTWATER PARK TO GOVERNOR PHILLIP PARK
It is great to see that work is progressing on this long overdue project. I have walked the walkway. It is a very complex structure. I congratulate all those who have been involved in this important project.
Herminie Swainston recently suddenly passed away. She was passionate about the walkway and Palm Beach. She lived in the family home high on Observation Point. The PBWBA has proposed to council that the landing at Observation Point be called Herminie’s Landing in her memory
BARRENJOEY HEADLAND
Barrenjoey Headland is the Jewel in the Crown of Pittwater and must stay that way. It is a great asset.
Parks and Wildlife have requested a meeting with the PBWBA later in the month regarding the final plans for connection of water and sewerage to the light house area. With the increasing number of visitors the need for water and sewerage is urgent.
PALM BEACH LANDSCAPING PROJECT
We are awaiting the final plans for this project from the NBC. I must thank Rob Stokes for the New South Wales Government’s contribution of $400,000 towards this project.
The community consultation to date has been good, however following consultation a boardwalk was added to the southern end at kiddies corner. The result will be a loss of car parking spaces. The area is used by families with young children. Stephen Guilford presented a petition against the board walk to the February 2018 council meeting. Local residents predict that he walkway will be washed away in high seas.
The association has requested the council to re look at the plans for kiddies corner.
Disc Drains are due to be installed on the western side of Ocean Rd outside the surf club and the houses.
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE TREE
One of the Norfolk Pine trees on the Palm Beach front has died. The was due to a gas leak. The NBC has assured us that the leak has been sealed. The tree has been removed and replaced by a new Norfolk Island Pine.
COASTAL WALK WAY FROM MANLY TO PALM BEACH
The NBC has proposed to construct the section of this walkway along Whale Beach Rd from Norma Rd Whale Beach to the steps down to the Palm Beach Pool
Ken Allan is representing the residents of Whale Beach Rd. They met in January and have released the following statement.
“The Whale Beach Rd residents generally support the construction of a one metre footpath, a six metre wide road with traffic calming measures, the maximisation of on street parking, and the installation of guttering where appropriate.”
PBWBA strongly supports the residents views.
Ken Allan, John Warburton and I have met with Ben Taylor and Craig Sawyer of NBC regarding the plans. They have committed to further consultation before the plans are finalised.
WHALE BEACH
THE POOL
The Whale Beach Pool has been thoroughly cleaned and a new pool pump installed.
The NBC has committed to upgrading several roads in Whale Beach this financial year.
John Warburton our Vice President will be strenuously following this up.
PARKING, WHALE BEACH ROAD
Whale Beach Rd residents recently received a letter from NBC in relation to the current traffic problems in Whale Beach Rd. The 717 school bus often is unable to negotiate the narrow road due to parked vehicles on both sides of the road. The children are often late for school.
The letter advised that Council proposed to install “No Parking 7:00 am-5:00 pm Everyday” restrictions along sections of the road between Norma and Rayner Rds – restricting parking in the south bound direction only.
Following Council’s receipt of a number residents comments it has acknowledged the proposed restrictions should apply to northbound traffic rather than southbound. An amended proposal was put to NBC Traffic Committee on 1 May.
HISTORIC BUS SHELTER BARRENJOEY RD OPPOSITE SURF ROAD
The NBC has committed to rebuild this historic bus shelter. Our honorary architect Bruce James has been working with the council regarding the plans. This has been going on for many years.
CONGESTION BARRENJOEY RD IN THE MORNINGS
There are major delays driving into Avalon during the morning peak period mainly due to school traffic. The school buses are often late.
The NBC is proposing to install no stopping signs on Barrenjoey Rd leading up to the traffic lights at Central Rd.
CAREEL BAY TRAILER PARKING
The area on Barrenjoey Rd near the Careel Bay playing fields at the entrance to Palm Beach has become a dumping ground for trailers
NBC has installed No Parking Signs Motor Vehicles Exempted in the area.
The area also needs a good clean up.
FOOTPATH FROM CAREEL BAY TO PALM BEACH VILLAGE
It it almost impossible to walk along Barrenjoey Rd from Careel Head Rd to Iluka Rd. The PBWBA believes priority should be given for a walkway along this section of Barrenjoey Rd.
There is a lack of foot paths through out Palm Beach and Whale Beach. This is made worse by encroachments on the nature strips.
I believe is a is beyond the capacity of the NBC and should be a joint project with New South Wales Government.
Provision of footpaths is a very basic requirement The major cause of road deaths in New South Wales is pedestrians being run over by vehicles.
ARTS and CULTURE PROGRAM
NBC has allocated funds from the Merger Savings Fund to the following programs and projects::
i. Creative Art Space at the northern end of the Northern Beaches local government
area (Probably at Avalon) – $1 million in 2017/18
ii. Public Art in key locations (e.g. coastal walkway) with commissions from local artists
where possible – $500,000 per year for four years commencing in 2017/18.
PARTY HOUSES
There are still major issues with a few party houses with noise and unruly behaviour. The houses are being advertised as party houses and used as function centres. There must be more stringent regulations introduced by the NSW Government. A government report is due to be released soon. PBWBA made a submission to the government inquiry. The council should be given more powers to address the issue.
It is most important that any changers do not stop owners letting their houses for short term rentals particularly during the holiday periods. The great majority of lettings pose no problems.
DOGS
Following the allocation of $400,000 NBC is developing a four year plan to upgrade and provide additional unleashed dog exercise areas.
HOONS
There has recently been an increase in the activity of hoons at night, on Ocean Rd, and Governor Phillip Park and during the day with hoons on bikes on Barrenjoey Rd. These areas are 40 km/h zones. The advice from Police is to ring 000 to report problems as they occur. There needs too be more police presence in the area.
TRANSPORT, CONGESTION AND PARKING are the major issues confronting the residents in Palm Beach and Whale Beach.
NBC TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT DISCUSSION PAPER
NBC is developing a Traffic and Transport policy for the Northern Beaches covering such area as parking permits, parking compliance technology, bike riding, walking, buses, ferries, rapid transport, light rail, east west transport corridors, car share, community buses etc etc. Consult the NBC website “have your say” and see the detailed documents and make comments.
BUSES
The B Line Bus from Mona Vale to the city had been a success for commuters living south of Mona Vale however those living north of Mona Vale are severely disadvantaged.
L90 Bus from Palm Beach is only operating an off peak service. This is unacceptable. This has made the longest commuter bus in Sydney even longer. There are major delays for passengers on the return trip from the city having to change buses at Mona Vale. This is unsafe at night.
There needs to be a express bus from Palm Beach to the city operating at all times.
We have continually asked for a trial of an extension to the E88 peak service from Careel Bay to Palm Beach- where the E88 would commence/terminate in Palm Beach so that commuters would not have to change buses at Mona Vale hub.. It would provide a quicker, continuous, convenient trip. This service would be an extension only – not a new service – so why not trial it?
PROPOSED ROUNDABOUT AT BARRENJOEY RD/NEPTUNE ST NEWPORT & PALM BEACH TRANSPORT
The PBWBA supports The Newport Residents Association’s opposition to the proposed construction of a roundabout at Neptune Street/ Barrenjoey Rd Newport.
We have attended several meetings with the BLine team, at the Mona Vale Community Centre together with the other northern peninsula residents groups and senior NBC staff. We have sent countless letters/emails to BLine, Transport for NSW, Rob Stokes our local member and the NBC where we have expressed our deep concerns about the negative impact to traffic flow that we believe will be created by the construction of a roundabout at this location in Newport.
REVIEW OF “PITTWATER PARK PARKING DEMAND STRATEGY” (PPPDS) ON OR BY 30 APRIL 2018
Council resolved on 28th November 2017 that the Palm Beach Parking Demand Strategy be adopted as policy and be reviewed on or by 30th April 2018.
The review has not taken place.
Over the busy summer season, Easter and school holidays PBWBA has received a great deal of community feedback regarding the ongoing parking and traffic issues in Palm Beach.
PBWBA and the Community believes that parking availability in Pittwater Park and the Wharf precinct is still heavily weighted in favour of the Western Foreshores residents and Central Coast commuters. At present parking signs permit storage of their vehicles in Crown Land spaces that are intended to be used by recreational users of the Crown Land.
It is vital that Council acts upon the advice of its own advisors given in both the Draft Pittwater Park PoM prepared in June 2000 and the current Bitzios Pittwater Park Parking Study Feb ’17.
While some strategies have been put in place we request the implementation of all the remaining strategies as a matter of urgency, particularly the timed parking in Pittwater Park.
FERRY
The Fantasea Ferry from Palm Beach to Ettalong is regularly being cancelled due to high sand levels. Many residents of the Woy Woy Peninsula rely on this ferry service to travel to work & our community has seen a drop in tourism due to the cancelled ferry service. The businesses in Palm Beach are suffering. The Gosford Council & NSW Government keep passing the buck on who is responsible for dredging the Brisbane Waters channel. This problem must be addressed ASAP.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christmas party was once again a great success with a record number of members attending. I would like to thank Andrew Goldsmith and all his staff for the continuing support of this function. You will agree they put on a great party.
DONATION ZAPSTAND DEFIBRILLATOR
To commemorate the centenary the PBWBA has decided to donate a ZAPSTAND DEFIBRILLATOR to be installed at the ferry wharf in Pittwater Park.
THANKS
MY COMMITTEE
Thanks to my hard working committee. Each of you have exceptional and different skills, we work as a well oiled team.
I would particularly like to thank our Vice Presidents John Warburton and Virginia Christensen who took over the reins during my recent illness. Our secretary Janet Davie for all her hard work and organising this meeting. Our treasurer Doug Maher who keeps our fiances well under control.
Two committee members are retiring tonight Elizabeth Ginsberg and Jeff Skebe. Elizabeth is moving to be nearer her family. Jeff because of his business commitments we may see him back in the future. I thank you both for your contribution.
Ian Kennedy retired during the year we miss his wisdom and great intellect.
Palm Beach Surf Club for allowing us to have our monthly meetings at the Pacific Club.
Club Palm Beach for hosting us.
All members are welcome to attend our Monthly Meetings at the Pacific Club on 2nd Monday of the month at 7 pm.
NEXT COFFEE MORNING MONDAY MAY 28TH at “THE BOATHOUSE ” 10.30 am.
It is a great achievement for this association to be its celebrating its centenary tonight
I would like to acknowledge the tribute that our local member Rob Stokes made in his speech in NSW Parliament last week.
The achievement is now in Hansard for all to see. The extract from Hansard can be read online here.
I would like all past Presidents and past and present Committee Members to stand so we can acknowledge their contribution. The committee members have been the heart and soul of the PBWBA.
I would like to propose a toast to the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association.
Richard West AM
President
