Hi All,
I don't often post on here but I think this one is pretty important, especially to any windsurfers and sailors who live on the north side of the harbour.
In a nutshell, the Manly Council Libs have decided that they can make a quick buck by selling off the land adjacent the boat ramp at Little Manly Beach. Anyone who's windsurfed or sailed out of Little Manly knows this is a great spot for rigging and derigging and is the only Harbour boat ramp in the area. It's also the storage area for tenders, kayaks and dinghies.
The link below is to the Facebook page, which has information about how to get involved - please take a look. Even if you're not from the area, remember it could be your local/favourite windsurfing spot being sold off next! http://www.facebook.com/NoPrivatisationofLittleManlyBeach?fref=ts
Thanks for reading,
David Howe
AUS-688
Just an update from my initial post in the interest of providing a balanced report:
Council's proposal does seek to instate a 3 metre public right of way at the beach end of lots 34, 36, 38 and 40 to link the boat ramp to the park area to the east, which would be a good outcome. It is, however, dependent on the owners of lot 38 agreeing to the acquisition of the beachfront end of their property, which is not a certainty.
Hi All,
The issue of whether Little Manly Beach public land is to be sold off is to be decided at the Manly Council chambers on Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm. Come along and let Council know what you think.
Below is an update on Little Manly from the Manly Open Space Supporters:
We have had a very successful Rally on Australia Day both outside the Council Chambers and at Little Manly Beach. People are becoming aware and angry. They do not want these two properties to be sold. We have also handed out flyers and gathered signatures for the above petition on Friday at the Manly Wharf.
People were very happy to think that they would have an extended park at No 34 and 36 Stuart St. The boat ramp , dinghy storage and park at the back of 34 Stuart St is already used daily by kayakers, sailors rigging their boats and divers. They were astonished when they heard it was to be sold.
Now people are angry at this sudden and unnecessary Sale of Public space on their beloved Little Manly Beach. It makes no sense at all.
The park at the back of 36 Stuart St is usually full of people relaxing.The elderly and disabled are able to sit safely there in the shade. Families picnic there. They were heartbroken when they heard, their park already in use, was to be sold.
Everybody is querying the reasons for the sale of 34 and 36 Stuart St.
It can't be the money people are saying. What about Section 94 (developer contribution) monies set aside for the purchase of the Stuart St properties? At last reckoning approximately $1 million.
Why is the Council borrowing $15 million dollars to rebuild the swimming pool? Why is The Council thinking of spending $ 75 million dollars for a carpark under the football oval?
The Council can't afford to keep it's public space!! Is it publicly owned Sydney Harbour Foreshore properties that have to be sold!! Shouldn't the Council just stop the grandiose building projects????
Councils look after their community don't they ?? A park is a place of joy for people forever.
Little Manly Precinct has always voted overwhelmingly for a park and did again in December 2012. So why isn't Manly Council listening to the community????
We are asking you to come to the Manly Council chambers when the isssue will be decided on Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm . Make your wishes known to your representatives. Let them know we live in a democracy. Be there.
A public harbour foreshore park is our right and our children's inheritance.
Please send emails to the Councillors and State and Federal politicians and Copy us in at lmopenspace@hotmail.com so that we know your emails are getting through.
Thank you.
Manly Open Space Supporters
************************************************************
Councillors for the land sale: jean.hay@manly.nsw.gov.au, steve.pickering@manly.nsw.gov.au, adele.heasman@manly.nsw.gov.au, alan.lesurf@manly.nsw.gov.au
Councillors against the land sale: Barbara Aird (Airdba@manly.nsw.gov.au,), hugh.burns@dugeem.net , candy@bingham.com.au
Councillors abstaining: cathy.griffin@manly.nsw.gov.au , James Griffin (Griffinja@manly.nsw.gov.au)
Council Records:records@manly.nsw.gov.au
As public foreshore land is important to all people in NSW, ask the State and Federal governments to intervene:
Mike Baird, State Member for Manly, 02 9976 2773 manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Barry O'Farrell, Premier of NSW, office@premier.nsw.gov.au
Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au
John Robertson, State Opposition Leader, Leader.opposition @ parliament.nsw.gov.au
Don Page, Minister for Local Government, office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au
David Shoebridge, Greens, david.shoebridge@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, via website: www.pm.gov.au
Tony Abbott, Federal member for the area, Leader of the Opposition, tony.abbott.mp@aph.gov.au
Sydney Morning Herald: letters@smh.com.au
Manly Daily: editor@manlydaily.com.au, letters@manlydaily.com.au
Dear Ms Hay,
I write to share with you my bitter disappointment at learning of your proposed sell-off of public land at Little Manly Beach. As a rate payer and regular user of the turfed area adjacent the boat ramp (numbers 34 and 36) I feel this area is extremely important for the character and amenity of Manly and for enabling people like myself, without our own Harbour-front property, to access the greatest PUBLIC Harbour in the world.
Being adjacent the only Harbour boat ramp in the Manly Council area, this land is in constant use by sailors, windsurfers, paddlers, rowers, fishers and divers, for rigging, de-rigging, tuning, washing, meeting and storage and should be expanded in line with the LEP and Zoning plans. On any given day you might find State, National or International sportspersons using this space as it is one of only a handful public places like it in the area, with lawn, parking and water access.
What's disappoints me further is the way I found out about your proposal, not from any Council source but from reading a sign erected by concerned Little Manly Precinct residents, while rigging my windsurfer one morning, minutes before your Rangers removed it. Not only are you deliberately failing to inform the users of the land of your intentions, you even go so far as to instruct Council Staff to remove any information about the proposal – SHAME! Note that this sign was informative, factual, in no way derogatory and was affixed to a sign structure erected by Council. I can see no reason, safety, planning permission or otherwise, why this sign should have been removed and can only conclude that my Rates are now being used to pay for your personal goon squad.
Please also be aware that I spoke with the Duty Planner to find out more about the proposal but the Duty Planner was unaware of anything proposed for that area. What I draw from this is that you have not even consulted with your own planning department before cobbling this proposal together. Why have a planning department at all?
When this land has been earmarked for public open space for 50 years and considering it is only the acquisition of a single property standing in the way of the creation of a truly fantastic beach and public foreshore, why have you now decided to take such an appalling step backwards? I ask that you please answer this one question for me prior to the 11th, so I can attend the attend the Council meeting as an informed Rate Payer and I hope that the reason is more than just nepotism.
Regards,
David Howe B.Arch, M.Arch
Director
NSW Architects Registration Number: 6771
APEC Architect Certificate Number: AU00013
GBCA Green Star Associate - Jul 2010 - Jul 2013
edge condition
A.B.N. 19 651 972 809
17/114 North Steyne Manly NSW 2095 AUSTRALIA
w www.edgecondition.com
p 0421 115 025
e David@edgecondition.com
From: Manly Open Space Supporters [mailto:lmopenspace@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, 8 February 2013 1:48 PM
To: Manly Open Space Supporters
Subject: Council meeting Monday 11 February 2013 at 7.30pm
The rescission motion for the proposed sale of 34 and 36 Stuart St is on Manly Council's agenda for Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm
It is most important that you make every possible effort to attend this meeting. It is held at Council's Chambers at the end of the Corso, opposite the ferry wharf. Come at 7pm to be sure to get a seat.
You enter via the large front doors and go up stairs inside to the Council chamber. The public gallery is quite small, but it is important that it is overflowing as this is how Council gauges the depth of public opinion!! If it becomes very full, we can also congregate outside under the First Floor Council window where Councillors can see (and hear) us if they take notice. The issue will be discussed early on so you won't be there all night. There are people speaking for us in opposition to the sale, and your support will be very much appreciated.
Council keeps saying that not many people are concerned about this issue. From the many, and very eloquent, emails you have sent, it is clear there is very widespread opposition to this sale of public Harbour Foreshore. This is your best way to show the depth of your opposition. Come along at 7.30 for half an hour or so.
If Council rejects the rescission motion, and confirms that they propose to sell the foreshore properties, then there are some further actions to be pursued - but attending this meeting is the most important action you can take at present.
Our email list has gone from 150 to over 700, and Facebook LIKES are over 1400 - but this opposition needs to actually be observed. We look forward to seeing you there. We cannot stress too much the importance of a good attendance.
*******************************
If you have not already done so, please send emails to the Councillors and State and Federal politicians. The Councillors voting for sale are all Liberal Council members, although the community parkland proposal at 34 and 36 Stuart St had previously been supported across all parties. Ask Mr Baird, Mr Abbott and Mr O'Farrell if they can influence their Party colleagues to have more concern for the public good.
Copy us in at lmopenspace@hotmail.com so that we know your emails are getting through.
Tell them how you value Little Manly
Thank you.
Manly Open Space Supporters
************************************************************
Councillors for the land sale: jean.hay@manly.nsw.gov.au, steve.pickering@manly.nsw.gov.au, adele.heasman@manly.nsw.gov.au, alan.lesurf@manly.nsw.gov.au
Councillors against the land sale: Barbara Aird (Airdba@manly.nsw.gov.au,), hugh.burns@dugeem.net , candy@bingham.com.au
Councillors abstaining: cathy.griffin@manly.nsw.gov.au , James Griffin (Griffinja@manly.nsw.gov.au)
Council Records:records@manly.nsw.gov.au
As public foreshore land is important to all people in NSW, ask the State and Federal governments to intervene:
Mike Baird, State Member for Manly, 02 9976 2773 manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Barry O'Farrell, Premier of NSW, office@premier.nsw.gov.au
Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au
John Robertson, State Opposition Leader, Leader.opposition @ parliament.nsw.gov.au
Don Page, Minister for Local Government, office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au
David Shoebridge, Greens, david.shoebridge@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, via website: www.pm.gov.au
Tony Abbott, Federal member for the area, Leader of the Opposition, tony.abbott.mp@aph.gov.au
Sydney Morning Herald: letters@smh.com.au
Manly Daily: editor@manlydaily.com.au, letters@manlydaily.com.au
Hi Everyone,
Don't let Manly Council set the precedent for the privatisation of Sydney Harbour!!
Please come alone to the Council Meeting on Monday and let them know this is important to us.
Manly Council Libs are counting on your apathy. I'm counting on you turning up:
The rescission motion for the proposed sale of 34 and 36 Stuart St is on Manly Council's agenda for Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm
It is most important that you make every possible effort to attend this meeting. It is held at Council's Chambers at the end of the Corso, opposite the ferry wharf. Come at 7pm to be sure to get a seat.
You enter via the large front doors and go up stairs inside to the Council chamber. The public gallery is quite small, but it is important that it is overflowing as this is how Council gauges the depth of public opinion!!
Hi All,
Just thought I'd let you know the outcome of the Council vote...
We lost.
Pretty sad evening really. The Libs failed to present any sort of cogent argument, had all of their 'reasons' debunked, dismissed the overflowing public gallery as not being a true representation of the electorate and then voted as a block to ensure the land is sold, with Madam Mayor casting the deciding vote.
And there ends the 50 year promise of a public foreshore at Little Manly.
Watch out for Libs coming to public open space near you!
David,
from this weekly letter from the Mayor of Manly, she states that the dingy storage area won't be affected. It has occurred to me that 34 and 36 already have residences on them.
And so the land extending down to the information board (well, a frame at least as it is currently) and the standalone sandstone wall and seat will remain? If so, nothing changes from access to the grassed area adjacent to the boat ramp.
Yes it would have been nice if council continued to own such.
www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/
It was a long tense emotional meeting at council last night.
David spoke for the community and he was so cool. Councillor Le Surf try to trap him and trick him but David was too smart and stuck to the facts.
Unfortunately we didn't get the result.
The result we wanted was proper democratic debate for this area.
What the council did may have even been illegal!
There is something going on at manly council and its not good.
I think the only way forward is a well published investigation in the media. But how do you do that?
Info passed on to Seven News journo in Sydney newsroom... prey for a quite news day and it might get a cursory glance across the production desk !
I heard ACCC and four corners are having a look at it. It would be great if seven got it too.
7 is going great with My Kitchen Rules. lots watching that network.
The Save Little Manly Beach Foreshore issue is heating up now with the Land and Environment Court date getting closer and is now receiving coverage on commercial television. The following link is from Thursday night's Channel 10 News: 10play.com.au/news
You can show your support by liking us at: www.facebook.com/SaveLittleManlyBeach