Update 25 June 2010
Date: 25-Jun-10
Author: Peter Firminger
Hi all,
The Cessnock LEP 2010 will be put on exhibition for 28 days from (I'm told - to be confirmed) 7 July 2010. See news story here.
Councillor Graham Smith tried to have the Significant Lands overlay map removed from Wollombi and Mulbring (quite a surprise to everyone) but failed to gather support. Some of the Heritage items were removed. I'll be getting a list of exactly which of these affected items were and I'll publish it when I get it but I believe at least one of our churches may be involved.
Following a long discussion with Bo Moshage (along with Paul and Priscilla who will report to Progress tomorrow), I believe that this will simply mean a process of having any Heritage Items that have been dropped (for the sake of some unwanted items) re-included by submission in the exhibition period. I don't have a problem with this approach as some listed items in the schedules that were excluded were inappropriate to the owners. This was a simple way to get it through to re-exhibition - in a very complex environment of councillors having to leave the room repeatedly during discussion and voting on a document that was split into 24 parts to allow it to pass in this way. Otherwise it would never have been able to pass.
Bo said that there will be two meetings held in Wollombi, one with the Wollombi Working Party and one public meeting, so these and any other issues can be discussed.
Overall, this is all good and we can look forward to having this period of stress and bitterness put behind us. Some of the Wollombi BANANAS (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) will still bleat like the pre-historic goats they emulate - but you can't please everyone!
Now there is a proposal from the "Traffic Committee" about making the Great North Road at Ramsay's Leap Bucketty a single lane (with a Stop Sign etc.) to apparently make way for parking for tourists and koalas who want to gaze over the edge. I asked the Director of Infrastructure (Acting General Manager - David Pavey) about this and he said that it had been sent back to the Traffic Committee for further discussion and has not been approved. A recommendation from the Traffic Committee is not automatically adopted by Council - it will still have to go through the process, so take a look at the proposal and have your say to your Ward Councillors. See below (after the events list) for some details.
I'm not going to comment much further on this as I really don't care that much. I rarely go to Sydney any more and I have far more interesting things to do. I DO care greatly about the speed of bikes (and cars) down that hill and along that road generally, and the need for RFS volunteers to have to cope with the aftermath. Some say this will be a head-on collision waiting to happen... Yep, if you go through a Stop Sign while another vehicle is approaching with the right of way, you will likely come to grief!
If you don't like it, feel free to write up what you want about it and post it on the Wollombi Community Website, send it to me and I'll post it on your behalf, or get your ass into action, write to the Councillors, get into a Progress meeting and do something about it for yourself.
Progress is the appropriate local body to deal with this and I'm sure it will be discussed fervently tommorrow morning.
The proposed destruction of the (Endangered Ecological Community) Warkworth Sands Woodland, the wiping of Wallaby Gully Road (c 1830 - a Sir Thomas Mitchell-surveyed GNR carraigeway) from the map and the very likely total loss of the village of Bulga - all for the sake of an extended Open Cut Coal Mine are far more important! Singleton Council have unanymously opposed this (calling it a watershed moment on mining in the shire) but the rats in Macquarie Street still have Part 3A at their disposal - "If there is a resource there, we will harvest it". 274 days to go!
Sorry, I'm putting this up front, even though (or because) I'm involved :)
David Williamson's Money and Friends
Date: 2-4, 7-10 July 2010
A revealing clash between materialism and ideals, it is David Williamson at his best demonstrating as always his acute observation of the Australian character.
Peter, a mathematician who is niceness itself, is in financial trouble because of his brother's bankruptcy. His neighbour Margaret, decides that he needs help from his friends, who are all wealthy. What happens is funny and confronting.
First performed in 1991 this play is found to be every bit as relevant to us in 2010. Great characters and superb comedy - Don't miss it!
All performances at 8pm (and Laguna Hall will be heated!)
- Friday 2 July
- Saturday 3 July
- Sunday 4 July
- Wednesday 7 July
- Thursday 8 July
- Friday 9 July
- Saturday 10 July
Tickets available now from Wollombi and Laguna Stores
TONIGHT
The Cutaways, The Untidy Sideys and The Camel Tones @ Laguna
Date: Friday 25-Jun-10 at 8:00 pm
The Cutaways, The Untidy Sideys and The Camel Tones will be appearing at the Laguna Wine Bar for a bon-voyage/birthday band bonanza! All welcome!
TOMORROW
Wollombi Valley Progress Association Meeting
Date: Saturday 26-Jun-10 at 10:00 am
Wollombi Valley Progress Association meets at 10am on the last Saturday of the month at Wollombi Hall (excluding December)
Olive long table luncheon at Whispering Brook
Date: 26 June 2010
Susan Frazier & Adam Bell at Whispering Brook in Rodd Street Broke will be hosting an olive long table luncheon at Whispering Brook on the 26th June 2010.
Artist Talk: Kristin Wright @ CRAG
Date: Saturday 26-Jun-10 at 2:30 pm
Please join us at the Gallery for a talk by Kristin Wright who will be discussing the making of her photographic series titled Looking for Love... In all the wrong places currently on exhibition in Love from Beijing at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery.
NEXT WEEK
ADFAS: Darwin in Australia - Mr Paul Brunton
Date: Monday 28-Jun-10 at 7:00 pm
Mr Paul Brunton is the Senior Curator of the State Library of NSW and the talk centres on Charles Darwin. At Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, corner of Aberdare Rd and Vincent St, Cessnock. Evening Lectures start promptly at 7 pm, followed by wine and sandwiches.
Organic Viticulture, Is it for you?
Date: Tuesday 29-Jun-10 at 9:00 am
By Tim Marshall and TMOrganics. This is a FarmReady approved course and is therefore 100% refundable for eligible producers and managers.
'Until Now' - Janelle McCloy Exhibition at Wollombi Cultural Centre
Date: 3 to 11 July 2010
'Until Now' brings together her works on various subjects and uses various mediums - oil on canvas, acrylics on canvas and board, pastels on paper, charcoal on paper and different printing processes, including collagraphs and screen printing finished with acrylic paint. Her subjects include portraits, landscapes and still life. 'Until Now' opens on Friday July 2 at 5:30pm, with drinks and finger food, at the WCC.
Jazz at Catherine Vale Wines
Date: Sunday 04-Jul-10 at 12:00 pm
Enjoy Jazz with the Newcastle based Presevation Jazz Band Old Style Dixieland/New Orleans 12:00pm - 3:00pm Bring a picnic or enjoy a steak & sausage sizzle. No BYO - Catherine Vale Wines 656 Milbrodale Rd Bulga
OTHER STUFF
Love From Beijing @ CRAG
Date: 5 June to 18 July 2010
Recent work by photographers Johanna Trainor who has recently returned from a residency in Beijing, and Kristin Wright whose series 'Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places, explores the issues of identity a young woman can encounter - and not just in a country town.
The Wedding Singer
Date: 11 to 26 June 2010
Singleton Theatrical Society is producing The Wedding Singer. Based on the Adam Sandler film with original 80's style music.
Mangrove Mountain Markets
Date: Sunday 27 June 2010
Attention - Belinda Neal MP for Robinson will be making a speech regarding Solar Panel for the Community Hall! - she will be at the markets from 10am - 12.00pm
Cessnock Regional Art Gallery School Holiday Programs
Date: 5 to 14 July 2010
All programs are held at 27 Vincent Street, Cessnock. For bookings please contact the Education and Public Programs Manager Robina Booth at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery.
...and interestingly, the same play - twice!
The Witches - Maitland Repertory Society
Date: 18 June to 4 July 2010
"The Witches" by Roald Dahl and David Wood, Directed by Lesley Coombes.
The Witches - Hunter Region Drama School @ CPAC
Date: Friday 09-Jul-10 at 10:00 am
Come and see one of Dahl's best loved classics live on stage at the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre.
ITEM NO: 10/037 GREAT NORTH ROAD BUCKETTY - PERMANENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT RAMSAYS LEAP REFERENCE: ID 09/10/:5060
Traffic Committee approval of proposed signposting and pavement markings associated with proposed one lane carriageway conditions at Ramsays Leap, to provide additional clearance between the proposed raised concrete barrier and the rear edge of the existing sandstone retaining wall.
The proposed design plan incorporates a proposal to narrow the carriageway at Ramsays Leap, to permit a proposed concrete barrier to be located at a greater distance from the top of the sandstone retaining wall.
The proposed treatment incorporates similar measures to those at narrow bridges, including:-
- "Stop" sign on the northbound approach;
- "No Overtaking Or Passing" on the southbound approach;
- Advance warning W3-1 "Stop Sign Ahead" on the northbound approach;
- "No Stopping" restrictions opposite the proposed concrete barriers;
- Barrier (BB) centreline markings on the approaches (where pavement widths permit) and edgeline (E1) markings, with C1 continuity markings at the location of the proposed three (3) parking spaces on a widened shoulder, opposite the retaining wall (designed to allow visitors to stand clear of the active carriageway).
Implementation of the proposed signage and pavement markings will require the removal of the "Give Way", "Give Way To Heavy Vehicles On Curve" and "Prepare To Stop" signs on the southbound approach (measures which were considered by the Traffic Committee on 16 November 2009 and implemented recently).
At the Traffic Committee meeting, the Committee was advised that the restoration of the sandstone wall and culvert is being funded from Federal Government Grants and that the project is scheduled for completion in the current financial year.
See page 30 of the attachments for the 9 June 2010 Council Meeting for a plan (5.42MB PDF).
Ward A Councillors
Clr Cordelia Burcham (Lib)
Mobile: 0413 912 650
Email: cordeliaburcham@gmail.com
Clr James Hawkins (ALP)
Phone: 02 4990 3647
Mobile: 0428 414 724
Email: james.hawkins@bigpond.com
Clr Rachel Main (Ind)
Phone: 02 4991 5850
Mobile: 0408 222 826
Email: rachelmain@live.com.au
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