Protecting harbour foreshore slopes

In a key announcement this week, Council’s strong advocacy for protecting our significant harbour slopes has been rewarded with a proposed two-year extension to the temporary exclusion of the area from the State’s Housing Codes. Along with the support of Councillors and staff, I wish to also acknowledge the work of Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson whose representations helped secure the result.

Council will be writing to Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts, who advised us of the proposed extension, to thank him and make a submission pursuing a permanent exclusion. Interested residents may also wish to make submissions to the Housekeeping Amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 via: planspolicies.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=9425.

The new financial year has brought with it a number of changes to transport around Mosman.

Next week is the official start of our new targeted A to B community transport initiative and Council will be closely monitoring the service to ensure it provides assistance to our most needy residents.

At our June meeting Council resolved to accept funding offered by the RMS to investigate the implementation of 40km/h zones in streets experiencing high pedestrian activity. Council intends to consult the community and I will be encouraging all residents to participate and have a say on this important local community issue.

Council welcomes the infrastructure funding commitment in the NSW Budget for the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnel and awaits the imminent release of the environmental impact statement. The budget was not so kind to local government with cuts in grants and subsidy funding and also funding cuts to local libraries. While these cuts are disappointing, rest assured Council will do everything possible to maintain service levels and delivery to our ratepayers.

Thank you to all residents who recently took the time to participate in our major 2018 community survey. Your statistically relevant feedback will assist Council to set future direction and respond to your current concerns.

Finally, I want to wish all students and parents a safe and happy mid-year school holiday.