March 1 - 31, 2025: Issue 640
Week Two March 2025 (March 3 - 9)
Pictures: The Zonta Club of the Northern Beaches: Celebrating 50 years of Action in 2025 - The Zonta Northern Beaches Annual Women's Day Breakfast, photos by Michael Mannington OAM, Zonta Club of Northern Beaches and others!
Saltwater Veterans in Hansa Worlds on Pittwater: Let’s Support Our Girls!
Aquatics Marine Rescue NSW Women in Flood Rescue leadership seminar
Local MP's Call for Funding to fix Narrabeen Athletics Track: Federal Budget scheduled for March 25
Old Barrenjoey Road Water Main Renewal: March 3 2025 Update from Sydney Water - Construction starting on Monday 10 March 2025
Park Bench Philosophers CSIRO science ship has students sailing into future careers
DIY Ideas Reducing Ticks in Your Garden: Garden care, Plants that Repel, What to Wear Outdoors
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Week One March 2025 (February 24 - March 2)
Happy 100th Birthday Avalon Beach SLSC!
Profile of the Week: The Better Cities Initiative: Mona Vale public forum on housing and development
IPART Consult on NBC SRV Now Open - Closes March 17
Expanded mental health services for young people at Brookvale: Design-Services Consultation With Community Now Open
NSW Pet Laws (dog and cat regulations) go under the microscope - Have your say until May 4
Pictures: Purple Poppy Day 2025: Flag of the Republic of Türkiye raised at Simpson Memorial of Narrabeen War Veterans - Pittwater RSL Honours All Animals who Served or Serve still in Moving Tribute
Aquatics: New data from Surf Life Saving Australia shows increased drowning risk on public holidays: Summer Coastal Drowning Report 2024-2025
Lime Cordiale Tees for Green Music Australia + Green Venue Program - Free Workshops this month
Water Main renewal on Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach to Commence this March
Just Two Trees (the Great Ruskin Row): Council's Draft Tree Management Policy Opens for Feedback - Closes March 30
Park Bench Philosophers Minns Government must act to fix our rivers: NCC + Sample of Previous PON Reports 2019 to 2024
Light at the end of Sydney’s secret train tunnels: St James Historical Walking Tour to commence later this year

Maxwell Spencer Dupain took thousands of photographs during his life, ranging from landscapes, to portraits, natural and informal scenes of people, and still life to nudes and architecture, along with a vast body of works taken for commercial use – the State Library of NSW holds almost 54 thousand of his images; a testament not only to his appetite for work but also the longevity of his career.
However, the subject he took many photos of was Newport Beach where the Dupain family had a holiday home, and here all of the genres that featured in his work can be seen, along with Newport ‘happenings’ – such as the launch Aklavic that was driven ashore in October 1954 by 20 year old Robert Michael Brown, ‘fugitive’ – who was eventually caught on Bushrangers Hill - or the storm of May 1974 that demolished the 'ablutions' block on Newport beach.
Pittwater Offshore Newsletter:
How About a Car Ferry? Tales of Two Islands; New Yoga Classes in the Hall; Wedding Island; Men's Shed Welcome Night; Island Café; International Folk Dancing; Moon Dance: The Wall; House for rent.
Click on Logo to access the latest PON:
To contact Roy: editor@scotlandisland.org.au
Avalon Quilters 'The Sum of Us' Raffle Quilt for Mito Foundation
The Avalon Quilters have an amazing raffle quilt they have made to raise funds for the Mito Foundation.
The quilt, appropriately named “The Sum Of Us”, was made last year by Avalon Quilter’s 25 members. It is completely handmade and totals over 4500 one-inch pieces, then finished off with hand quilting.
Details show the personal and colourful choices made by Avalon Quilters for each piece, underlining the title of this beautiful quilt.
Raffle tickets at $2 each, are available from members, who meet in the Uniting Church at Avalon every Thursday, 10-2.30, at Patchwork on Pittwater at Mona Vale, and Avalon Fabrics and Craft, in Avalon Parade.
The raffle will be drawn at Easter.
All tickets sales will go to the Mito Foundation, which Avalon Quilters have been supporting for over a decade through making raffle quilts.
The Mito Foundation supports people affected by mitochondrial disease (mito), funds essential research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures of mitochondrial disorders, and increases awareness and education about mito.
Mitochondria are the power houses of the cell providing the body with over 90% of the energy it needs to sustain life. Mitochondria take in sugars and proteins from the food we eat and produce energy called ATP that our bodies use to function properly. Mitochondrial disease (mito) is a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that reduces the ability of the mitochondria to produce this energy. When the mitochondria are not working properly, cells begin to die until eventually whole organ systems fail and the patient's life itself is compromised.
The Mito Foundation was founded in 2009 by Pittwater residents Doug and Margie Lingard, their friends, and experts in the field of mitochondrial disease (mito).
ABHS March 2025 Meeting
- Tuesday, 10 June
- Tuesday, 9 September (AGM) and
- Tuesday 9 December

Woody Point Yacht Club 2025 AGM
- Lovett Bay Boatshed
- Members free, non-members $50
- All included: food + beverages
- Live music: ‘Nothing Too Serious’

NSW Government enables delivery of new MS Plus centre


Draft Tree Management Open for Feedback
- a framework that supports the sustainable management and retention of safe and healthy trees
- supports the management of public trees through succession and new tree planting, along with proactive and reactive maintenance programs
- preferences locally occurring native species for new plantings
- prioritises alternative options before pursuing the removal of trees
Nominate a Volunteer Today: 2025 Awards
Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week
Harry
Domestic Short Hair 6 mths.
Belle came to us as a heavily pregnant stray cat. She gave birth to 7 beautiful kittens the boys being Jay, Ben, Carlos, Harry and girls are Dizzy, Uma and Evie. They are all sweet smoochy kittens. Harry is a sweet active but easy to handle kitten. All our cats come desexed, wormed, F3 vaccinated, FIV/FeLV tested if over 6 months old and microchipped. His adoption fee is $220.
Emily
2yo Sharpei X
Emily was a very sad shut down girl when she came from the pound. As soon as we found her some doggy friends she became a happy dog. Emily has been a breeding dog but that life is now behind her. She has entropion, typical of the breed which we are having repaired. She came from the pound, very thin and reached 16.5kg at the time of desex. Emily is very gentle and would do best with another dog to help build her confidence. She comes desexed , vaccinated, heartworm free and chipped. Her adoption cost is $450.
For further details call DoggieRescue on 9486 3133 or email Monika@DoggieRescue.com. RON R251000024
Wilma's Secret to Be Launched this April

2025 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships

North Bilgola Directional Marker: Do you have a photo of the surface?
Racing for a Cause: Manly Inflatable Boat Race 2025

- Pick your wackiest fancy dress costume (the crazier, the better!)
- Bring your inflatable of choice - anything from rubber duckies to pink flamingos, sea monsters, or pool ponies!
- Join in the 1km paddle adventure from Shelly Beach, around the Manly Life Savers buoys, and back to shore.
- Rules? There are none! First to the finish line wins!
NSW History Awards 2025: Submissions are now open
- Australian History Prize ($15,000)
- General History Prize ($15,000)
- New South Wales Community and Regional History Prize ($15,000)
- Young People’s History Prize ($15,000)
- Digital History Prize ($15,000)
- The Anzac Memorial Trustees Military History Prize ($10,000)
History Week 2025 Theme and Event Registrations
- 🛥️ What happens to communities when water is absent or when it is destructive? How did people in the past use water to travel and trade?
- 🌊 How do waterways connect, or disconnect, communities?
- 🐠 How important is water in cultures of sport, fishing, and play as well as the economy?

NSW Training Awards: 2025 entries are now open
The Awards honour and reward the achievements of students, teachers, training organisations and employers.
Get recognised and share your vocational success for the NSW Training Awards 70th anniversary. Don't delay, enter today.
- Individual Awards entries close 14 March 2025
- Organisation Award entries close 2 May 2025
To find out more and nominate, please visit; https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/nsw-training-awards
National worker registration scheme feedback
Slow Down: Wildlife Crossing

Letters to the Editor
Report Hate Crimes
Community News + what ran in each Issue
Community News Pages list articles that ran each week as well as reports run in other pages: Inbox and Environment News archives etc.
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IPART Consult on NBC SRV Now Open: Closes March 17, 2025

At its meeting on 28 January 2025 Northern Beaches Council passed a motion to apply to the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation.
The Councillors could only vote for or against Option 3 although four options were set out in the Have Your Say documents which were presented to residents by way of consultation and giving them opportunity to express their opinions. Option 3 will allow, by the end of three years, an increase of 39% on residential and business rates. This includes the IPART component which would automatically apply if no vote were taken by Councillors.
On Tuesday February 25 2025 IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly said the Tribunal is now seeking community feedback on applications from Federation, Gunnedah Shire, Northern Beaches, North Sydney, Shoalhaven City and Upper Hunter Shire councils. Gunnedah Shire and North Sydney councils had also applied for minimum rate increases.
“Community feedback is an important part of the Tribunal’s assessment of special variation applications,” Ms Donnelly said.
"We encourage affected ratepayers and community members to fill out the survey on the IPART website or lodge a submission in relation to any of the applications we’ve received.”
IPART sets a rate peg annually for each of the 128 councils in NSW which caps each council’s increase in the income they collect from ordinary rates. For 2025-26, the core rate pegs range from 3.6% to 5.1% across NSW. 72 of the 128 councils also received an additional allowance to reflect an adjusted population factor of up to 3.8%.
In general, the councils that have applied this year have indicated they are applying for a special variation to improve financial sustainability and to maintain their current service levels, IPART states.
Ms Donnelly said “IPART must assess Special Variation applications against criteria set by the Office of Local Government (OLG). Councils can only apply to IPART for a Special Variation if the elected councillors pass a resolution to go ahead with the application.”
As set out in the OLG assessment criteria, IPART will consider whether councils have:
- demonstrated the need for the additional income
- provided evidence that the community is aware of the need for and extent of the proposed rate rise
- established that the impact on affected ratepayers is reasonable
- exhibited, approved and adopted relevant planning documents
- explained and quantified the council’s productivity improvements and cost containment strategies.
IPART may also consider other relevant matters.
All Special Variation applications for 2025-26 are available for review on the IPART website, along with a short survey and information about how to lodge a submission. IPART will accept feedback on Special Variation applications until 11:59pm on Monday 17 March 2025.
The documents lodged by the Northern Beaches council are available to view at: www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/node/1726
To fill out the IPART Survey or lodge a submission, go to: www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Special-Variations-and-Minimum-Rates-2025-26 - and click on the 'Have Your Say' link, then choose 'Northern Beaches Council' from the dropdown menu.
IPART's Fact Sheet explains more about how to make a submission on a special variation application. It also explains some factors that are outside IPART’s remit in assessing applications but have been common concerns of ratepayers.
You can also subscribe to receive email updates about the Special Variations process for 2025-26 subscribe here.
IPART does not hold public hearings when assessing council applications for special rate variations (SRVs).
IPART can wholly or partially approve or not approve a council’s application.
IPART will release the final decisions on Special Variation and Minimum Rate increase applications by May/June 2025.
In an update to the report, 'Outraged Pittwater Community Fights To Stop Rising Costs Of Failed Merger; Renews Call To Reinstate Pittwater Council', members of Protect Pittwater, the community group working to have Pittwater Council reinstated, advised the news service they have heard back from the Office of NSW Minister for Local Government, The Hon. Ron Hoenig, and a meeting will take place in the third week of March 2025.
Old Barrenjoey Road Water Main Renewal: March 3 2025 Update from Sydney Water - Construction starting on Monday 10 March 2025
Update: March 2, 2025
Our work for Section 1 planned to start on Monday 10 March and is expected to take about 22 weeks to complete, weather and ground conditions permitting.
We’ll write to you again before work starts in Section 2 to provide more details about our work and confirm our exact start date.
We expect to finish construction by the end of October 2025, weather and ground conditions permitting.
Night work hours
Our work in Section 1 needs to be done at night to reduce the impact on daytime traffic flows and local businesses.
Our night work hours are 8 pm to 5 am, Monday nights to Friday mornings (four nights a week). We won’t work on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights, or on Public Holidays.
No work on Public holidays: Anzac Day 11 am March in Avalon Beach along Old Barrenjoey Road
In Section 1, we’ll need to temporarily close part of Old Barrenjoey Road where we’re working at night. Our friendly traffic controllers will maintain access for residents, and parking on either side of our work zone. General traffic will be detoured via connecting streets.
At the end of each night shift, we’ll restore the road so it can be used as normal during the day.
We’ll need up to borrow up to eight parking spaces for equipment storage next to our work area. This storage area will move along the road as we progress.
Come and talk with us
We’ll have monthly drop-in sessions in Dunbar Park. Our team will be there to discuss our work and answer any questions you have.
When: First Wednesday of every month, between 1 pm and 4 pm.
We understand our work can be disruptive. We will make every effort to reduce our impact on residents, local businesses, and pedestrians as much as possible. If you have any questions or concerns about our work, please contact our friendly Community Engagement team by:
- calling 1800 943 119 or emailing confluence@sydneywater.com.au
- speaking to our team in person at our drop-in sessions held on the first Wednesday of every month in Dunbar Park.
We’ll be sending out weekly project updates to anyone subscribed to our electronic mailing list, this will outline the work we have completed that week and what we will be doing in the next week.
If you would like to receive these updates, please sign up to our email list here.
Previously:
Urgent Care Clinic for Dee Why
- Minor fractures or injuries
- Minor illnesses including infections and rashes
- Mild asthma or chest infection
- Minor burns or scalds
- Minor cuts needing stitches or glue
- Minor sports injuries, including sprains or strains
- Wound review
- Minor head injury
- Bites or stings
- Mild stomach pain
- Migraine
- Skin infections
- Pathology
- X-ray
- Plastering
- Suturing
Number Screening Check for Year 1 students to be trialled in 150 NSW public schools next term
- Number knowledge - of whole numbers, for example being shown the numeral 13, recognising it and saying “thirteen”.
- Number relations - knowledge of relations between whole numbers, for example 5 comes before 6, which comes before 7.
- Number operations - knowledge of how numbers can be taken apart and put back together, for example adding 2 and 4 makes 6.
Women and girls' football participation soars in 2024

Anzac Memorial 2025 Residency
- 👉 Music composition
- 👉 Written works such as poetry and prose
- 👉 Performance and theatrical work
- 👉 Film, animation and video
- 👉 Visual art, including painting, graphic art and photography

Kindness Counts: Building Resilience Together Womens Day
- 📅 Date: Thursday, 13th March 2025
- 🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- 📍 Venue: Miami Rice (Hotel Steyne rooftop), Manly
- 🎟 Tickets: $85 – Includes a 2-course gourmet meal, inspiring stories from The Story Room, short speeches, and a raffle/auction to support domestic violence initiatives.
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Zonta Club's 2025 Birthing Kit Pack Day

Have your say: Remaking the retirement villages Regulation
- reducing the amount of information that operators must record on the retirement villages asset register
- requiring operators to prepare a 1-year capital maintenance report as part of the annual budget process, instead of a 3-year report
- requiring operators to record the ‘remaining effective life’ of capital items instead of ‘effective life’.
Have your say: Restrictive practices legislative framework
- Survey for people with a disability who have experienced restrictive practices in NSW
- Survey for supporters - family, carers, guardians and any other supporters of people who experience restrictive practices in NSW
- Email: policy@dcj.nsw.gov.au to provide written or audio file feedback
- Speak to a staff member by emailing: policy@dcj.nsw.gov.au to arrange a conversation
- Post your written feedback to: Locked Bag 5000, Parramatta, NSW, 2124
Pittwater Community Groups:
Mona Vale Residents Association

JP Public Register
- Terry Jones J.P.
- Robert (Bob) Wood J.P.
- Deborah Hendy(Carter) J.P
Speed humps on McCarrs Creek Rd: share Wildlife Data
- The position via GPS or road and suburb
- The date
- The animal