February 1 - 28, 2025: Issue 639
Week Two February 2025 (February 3-9)
New amenities now open at Barrenjoey Headland
Newport’s Conner Maggs wins 2024/25 Iron Series
New Bus Timetable Leaving Commuters Stranded Along Essential Routes, again
Australia's climate in 2024: 2nd warmest and 8th wettest year on record: BOM + It’s official: Australia’s ocean surface was the hottest on record in 2024 + Extra Recent Related reports
The King and I on the Hawkesbury (a Chris Hendrikson photo and memory confirms decades of rumours)
Vaping rates falling among young Australians: New Cancer Council 'Generation Vape' Report
Pictures: Careel Bay's Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos: February 2025 Antics
Education News February 2025: Anzac Grants for Barrenjoey High School - Terrey Hills Public School + Manly Students Experience Democracy at Parliament of NSW - 2025 Education Program Available + Out Front 2025 opens February 21 at Manly Art Gallery & Museum + Thousands of students return to new and upgraded schools + Narrabeen Sports High School Upgrade Update + Highest HSC Results for Sports High School in NSW
Park Bench Philosophers: Emergency response beacons can cut drownings at the beach – but 72% of people haven’t heard of them By Rob Brander, Professor, UNSW Beach Safety Research Group - Also available from December 2024; New Emergency Response Beacons Now Active at North Palm Beach, Turimetta, Narrabeen + South Curl Curl, Fishermans, Shelly Beaches
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Week One February 2025 (January 27 - February 2)
Northern Beaches Council Passes Motion to Apply for a Permanent 40% Increase in Rates
Louis Tilly Crowned 2025 Australian WASZP Champion
Creative additions bolster Pantaenius Pittwater Regatta: Runs February 7 to 9 by Di Pearson
Aquatics: Project Restore: seagrass from Palm Beach Going to Sydney Harbour - Join the Storm Squad + Environmentally Friendly Moorings – Free Trial Available
Changes coming to council meetings: NSW Government's OLG Public Consultation - closes February 28 2025
Pictures: Turimetta Moods: January 2025 by Joe Mills
Internationals combine for assault on 2025 Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race by Di Pearson
Park Bench Philosophers: Australian democracy is not dead, but needs help to ensure its survival
Out Front 2025 Opens this February at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum - stunning HSC works on display
Tilly Rose Cooper's Swimwear Drive For Fijian Youngsters - drop off swimmers to surf clubs by end of Nippers February 9
DIY Ideas: A Job For Life: Apprentice Carpenter + Commencement Tool List
Bus Timetable changes: Be ready for back to school - Reminder on articulated buses
Wildlife Killed by Same Roaming Dog Pair Again: 2025 Review of NSW Companion Animals Act to Commence following Dog Attack Inquests - (Dogs killing wildlife at: North Narrabeen-Elanora-Ingleside-Warriewood - January 2024; NB - the news service has received MORE of these reports since this first ran - these need to be reported to the Council to enable the Council to act on these)
Draft Plan of Management for Dogs offleash On South Mona Vale Beach Open for feedback closes Sunday February 9 2025
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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.
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.
Pittwater Offshore Newsletter:
Click on Logo to access the latest PON:
To contact Roy: editor@scotlandisland.org.au
Island Café: Catherine Park, Scotland Island

Tougher laws against antisemitism and hatred in NSW
- Introduce a new criminal offence for intentionally inciting racial hatred, with a proposed maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Introduce a new offence in section 93ZA of the Crimes Act 1900 directed at the display of a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, with an increased maximum penalty to 2 years’ imprisonment, and clarify that that graffiti is a ‘public act’.
- Expand the aggravating circumstance that applies on sentence when an offence is motivated by hatred or prejudice to ensure that it applies whether a crime is partially or wholly motivated by hatred or prejudice.
- Amend the Graffiti Control Act 2008 to create an aggravated offence for graffiti on a place of worship.
- Introduce a new offence in the Crimes Act 1900 to stop people in or near a place of worship from intentionally blocking access to the place of worship without reasonable excuse, or from harassing, intimidating or threatening people accessing places of worship, and provide police with associated move on powers. This new offence is proposed to have a maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Increased funding to support the crucial work of the NSW Police Force Engagement and Hate Crime Unit by $525,000. This will allow for boosted engagement and communications with the community, including additional synagogue and school visits.
- An increase to the NSW Local Government Social Cohesion Grants Program by $500,000.
- Training to support local governments address rising prevalence of hate crimes.
- The NSW Police Force launched Operation Shelter on 11 October 2023 to respond to public safety in relation to the current conflict in the Middle East.
- More than 300 proactive patrols are conducted under Operation Shelter every day. These centre around significant sites such as places of worship.
- Resources from Traffic and Highway Patrol, the Regional Enforcement Squad, dog unit and Pol Air have also been brought in to help local police on the ground.
- Strike Force Pearl has been established to investigates these hate crimes – and doubled its fulltime dedicated detectives from 20 to 40.
Sydney mayors stand together against racism
''We, the Mayors of the following Councils, are united in calling out violence, hatred, and extremism. Our communities are welcoming and connected and made stronger by our diverse views, faiths, backgrounds, cultures and identities. The acts of hate and violence seen across Sydney must be condemned in the strongest terms, while these brazen and cowardly acts require prosecution with the full force of the law.These criminal acts aim to create fear, chaos and division. We call on our communities to stand together, as we are standing together, to support one another during these challenging times. We unequivocally condemn the alarming rise in antisemitic attacks as well acknowledge the broader escalation of racism and violence against racial and faith-based communities including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists. There is no place for hate in our society.Sydney is a vibrant and proudly multicultural and multifaith city. Its diverse population is reflected right across the city, creating an inclusive community of which we are proud. Every layer of government and every person in our community has a role to play in maintaining our peaceful harmonious community in Sydney. Local government plays a crucial role in fostering this inclusivity among multicultural communities, where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We strongly state that local government is for local issues, and that foreign affairs is not the remit or expertise of Councils.We are committed to being champions of social cohesion and using our leadership and knowledge to combat racism and promote community safety. Our communities deserve to live free from fear and hatred and we will work together to uphold these values and advocate for the support needed to achieve them.Today, we call on the New South Wales and Federal Governments to take urgent action by:
- Recognising Local Government as a vital tier of Government in creating and maintaining social cohesion;
- Partnering with Councils to combat the scourge of antisemitism, and protect all communities from vilification, intimidation, and violence;
- Investing in multicultural and interfaith education programs to strengthen understanding and unity between communities;
- Enhancing legislation to combat hate crimes and discrimination and ensure stronger protections for all;
- Supporting Local Government to develop anti-racism, inclusion and social cohesion strategies and policies; and
- Providing security infrastructure and resources where needed to safeguard at-risk communities including robust and effective policing, to find and charge perpetrators of hate crimes.
We will continue to collaborate as elected representatives to advocate for our communities, share best practices, coordinate and promote initiatives, activities and community safety. We intend to formalise this work through strategic frameworks. Our goal is to create a stronger, safer and more united society where everyone feels respected and valued.''
NSW Rental Taskforce to tackle fairness in rental market
- Ending solicited rent bidding
- Implementing renting reforms to prevent no grounds evictions
- Ensuring improved responses to repairs and maintenance in the rental market
Closure of free mediation services a costly barrier to justice
NSW Government releases draft legislation to protect gig workers
- Allow the Commission to determine what is fair and reasonable pay and conditions for rideshare and other gig workers in the transport industry.
- Correct the historical exemption that prevented milk, cream and bread delivery drivers from having the same protections.
- Explore new offences of accessorial liability for those who break the law in a supply chain.
- Ensure there are enforceable standards across road transport supply chains to make sure everyone, no matter how big or small, can recover their costs.
- Consistent with the approach of the Commonwealth Government, the existing exemptions for transport of livestock and produce will remain in place.
Have your say: Domestic and family violence information sharing in NSW
North Bilgola Directional Marker: Do you have a photo of the surface?
Breeding time for Little Penguins: Boaters urged to stick to speed limit
- Keep speed to under four knots when entering North Harbour, Manly
- Be extra careful at dawn and dusk
- Don’t anchor in seagrass beds
- Don’t bring dogs or cats onto beaches
Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week
Nicki
2yo Foxy X
Nicki is a very gentle but timid dog. He came from the pound very thin and scared and shut down, but he has come out of his shell quickly with experienced carers and other small social dogs. He is slowly learning to play and relax. He has a short coat and weighed 7.1kg when he came in. He would suit people with rescue experience and is happy in an apartment environment and being left alone for PT hours. He comes desexed , vaccinated, heartworm free and chipped. His adoption cost is $700.
Marlin
5mths DSH Cat
Marlin is a playful smoochy boy. He was found as a neonatal and our vet staff have nursed him to become a handsome healthy boy. His siblings are Nemo, Crush and Dory. He weighed 2.1kg Dec 24. All our cats come desexed, wormed, F3 vaccinated, FIV/FeLV tested if over 6 months old and microchipped. His adoption fee is $220.
For further details call DoggieRescue on 9486 3133 or email Monika@DoggieRescue.com. RON R251000024
Newport Surf Life Saving Club: Get your Bronze

2025 SLSSNB Branch Championships: Dates
- Champion Lifesaver Championships
- Patrol Competition Championships
- Open Championships (Beach Events Only)
- Masters Championships (Beach Events Only)
- March Past Championships
- Rescue & Resuscitation Championships
- Junior Championships (Beach Events Only)
- Open Championships (Water Events Only)
- Masters Championships (Water Events Only)
- First Aid Championships (U17’s & U19’s)
- Junior Championships (Water Events Only)
- First Aid Championships (U14/15’s & Opens)

Purple Poppy Day Service 2025

Zonta Club's 2025 Birthing Kit Pack Day

JP Public Register
- Terry Jones J.P.
- Robert (Bob) Wood J.P.
- Deborah Hendy(Carter) J.P
Slow Down: Wildlife Crossing

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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January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016
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January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019
January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020
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January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022
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Letters to the Editor
Anzac Community Grant Recipients 2024
Warriewood SLSC News: Junior Lifesaver of the Year Awards + More


Avalon Beach SLSC: 50 Year Anniversary Screening of Highway One

NBC IPART application submitted
Tilly Rose Cooper's Swimwear Drive For Fijian Youngsters
Anyone interested in having a clean out of children’s outgrown swimwear, rashies and wetsuits in the next few weeks, please bring them along to your local surf club and put them in the special bin for a clothing drive for youngsters in Fiji. Community surf clubs from Palm Beach to Collaroy are supporting Tilly Rose Cooper, a 13-year-old Mona Vale SLSC SRC member, who is collecting these items for the community of Tagaqe Village in Fiji.
Tilly explained during the week her family had gone to Fiji as her grandparents were renewing their vows.
‘’Tagaqe Village in Fiji is a very special place, you have to be invited to be allowed to go there. I started talking with the other kids there – they asked if I played football – and then we went for a swim.’’ Tilly told the news service this week
‘’I noticed then they didn’t have any swimmers – they were going in in their everyday gear or their school uniforms because they didn’t have swimmers. With Christmas, and so many of us getting new swimmers because we have outgrown our other ones, I thought it would be good to repurpose these so they could have swimgear too.
‘’This would allow them to go swimming in swimgear instead of their clothes, which is a drowning hazard. We’d also be saving them from landfill by repurposing them.’’ Tilly said
How much gear do you need Tilly?
‘’As much as possible and whatever people can give. We need swimmers, rashies, t-shirts, shorts, hats, thongs, sunblock in ages from littlies through to teenagers. Everything really, and gently used or new would be great. We’re hoping to collect around 20 boxes of swimgear to send over. ‘’
‘’The surf clubs from Palm Beach to Collaroy will have a box with this sign people can drop it off to – that way our community will be helping this community.’’
Tilly is also looking for a sponsor to help her ship the swim wear over. If you want to be the sponsor for this, or can help out in another way, please email her mum Allison: allison@steamit.com.au
Details of the Fijian Clothes Drive for Youngsters
- What to Donate: Gently used or new swimwear, rashies, board shorts, and t-shirts.
- When: Now until February 9th.
- Where: Donation boxes will be placed at participating Surf Life Saving Clubs, including during nippers and other club activities, from Palm Beach SLSC to Collaroy SLSC.
More via Instagram at: www.instagram.com/myfijianclothesdrive
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby said this week; ‘‘There aren’t many 13-year-olds who come back from a holiday in Fiji with a mission to give back to the community they have visited. Tilly is a changemaker and embodies the Spirit of Pittwater, making a difference in our community as a member of Mona Vale Surf Lifesaving Club and beyond.
‘’I encourage everyone to donate swimwear for this wonderful cause. I look forward to recognising Tilly in parliament with a Community Recognition Statement in the upcoming sitting weeks.’’
Changes coming to council meetings: NSW OLG Public Consultation- closes February 28 2025
The NSW Government stated on December 17 2024 it is continuing to progress reforms to strengthen local government, announcing changes to the way council meetings are conducted to ensure greater transparency and increase community confidence in council decision making.
All councils are required to adopt a code of meeting practice based on the Model Meeting Code issued by the Office of Local Government.
The government has now released a consultation draft of amendments to the Model Meeting Code for public comment.
The changes aim to simplify the Model Meeting Code and ensure councillors are making decisions in the full view of the communities they are elected to represent.
They also aim to increase the dignity of the council chamber and remove the general manager’s involvement in council politics.
Key changes, some of which have been recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) include:
- preventing councils from holding private councillor briefing sessions
- requiring information considered at closed meetings to be made public after it ceases to be confidential
- requiring councils to give reasons when making decisions on planning matters that depart from staff recommendations
- de-politicising the role of the general manager by removing the requirement for them to prepare reports on councillors’ notices of motion
- expanding the powers of the mayor to expel councillors from meetings for acts of disorder
- requiring councillors to stand when the mayor enters and when addressing the meeting
Changes to the Model Meeting Code were flagged in a discussion paper outlining the government’s proposed reforms to the councillor code of conduct system.
Submissions will be accepted until COB Friday, 28 February 2025.
To learn more and provide feedback, go to: www.olg.nsw.gov.au/reforms-to-code-of-meeting-practice
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said in December 2024:
“Council meetings are where a council’s most important decisions should be made.
“It concerns me that these decisions are increasingly being made behind closed doors in private briefings, locking out the community and protecting councils from public scrutiny.
“As a former mayor, I want to see all councils conducting their business in an open and public forum, where communities can engage with their council on issues that directly affect them.
“The current Model Meeting Code has become unwieldly and is prone to drawing the general manager into political disputes which should be left to elected councillors to resolve.
“These changes are part of the government’s commitment to restore public trust in local government which has been eroded by years of neglect and a cultural shift towards secrecy over public service.”
From that linked to webpage
Consultation on reforms to council meeting practices
The Office of Local Government is inviting feedback from the local government sector and others on proposed amendments to the Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW (Model Meeting Code).
The amendments are part of the Government’s agenda to ensure that councillors are visibly in control of their councils, demonstrating to the community that decision making is genuinely local.
The reform of the code and procedures governing how councillors gather, debate and make decisions was flagged by the Minister for Local Government as part of the discussion paper issued in September, “Councillor conduct and meeting practice: a new framework”.
The feedback the Office of Local Government receives will be used to inform the amendments that are ultimately made to the Model Meeting Code.
It is anticipated that the new Model Meeting Code will be prescribed in early 2025.
The proposed amendments to the Model Meeting Code are the first tranche of reforms to the regulation of meetings. The second tranche will be legislated in 2025 as part of the measures implemented to reform the regulation of councillor conduct and will have a particular focus on behaviour at meetings.
Have your say!
The Office of Local Government has issued a consultation draft of the amended Model Meeting Code and accompanying paper to seek the views of the local government sector, key stakeholders and the community on the proposed amendments.
The proposed amendments to the Model Meeting Code are indicated in track changes in the consultation draft.
- A new model code of meeting practice – Consultation draft – PDF – 468KB
- Consultation draft of the new Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW – PDF – 467KB
Submissions will be accepted until COB Friday 28 February 2025.
What are you being asked to do?
The paper outlines the key focus areas of the review. We are seeking your input on these matters through the questions asked in the paper and available in the online form.
We are also seeking your comments on the proposed amendments to the Model Meeting Code.
Feedback can be provided in 3 ways.
Using the online submission form below (HERE)
OR
By email – olg@olg.nsw.gov.au
OR
Post: Address – Office of Local Government, Locked Bag 3015, NOWRA NSW 2541
Submissions must be clearly labelled “Model Meeting Code amendments” and marked to the attention of the Office of Local Government’s Council Governance Team.
Information on privacy and confidentiality
When you give us your feedback, the Office of Local Government will be collecting some personal information about you, in particular:
- your name
- your email address
- the name of your organisation (if provided).
All feedback received through this consultation process may be made publicly available. Please do not include any personal information in your feedback that you do not want published.
As part of the consultation process, we may need to share your information with people outside the Office of Local Government, including other public authorities and government agencies. We may also use your email contact details to send you notifications about further feedback opportunities or the outcome of the consultation. You should also be aware there may be circumstances when OLG is required by law to release information (for example, in accordance with the requirements of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. There is also a privacy policy located on the Office of Local Government’s website that explains how some data is automatically collected (such as your internet protocol (IP) address) whenever you visit the Office of Local Government’s website. The link to that policy is https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/about-us/privacy-policy/.
NB: you can choose to have your details kept confidential.
funding for community groups: Griffin
- $30,000 for six air conditioners at Harbord Public School
- $14,344 to Seaforth Football Club towards equipment for staging games
- $25,000 to NBSC Manly Campus for outdoor seating and shade
- $48,618 for a power wall battery storage, utilising 82 existing solar panels
Pharmacy programs agreement consultation to start soon
2025 NSW Surf Life Saving Championships

Spanish Moss killing critically endangered local trees
The spread of environment weeds in Pittwater is becoming of greater concern to residents and the bushcarers who work to remove them. A recent pictorial by Joe Mills showed there is widespread masses of all types of weeds at Warriewood's perimeter and wetlands and this week the spread of Spanish Moss, with quite a bit now growing on trees beside the path into Toongari Reserve off Avalon Parade, next to the kindergarten, is yet another invader.
Spanish Moss has been found to spread over mature trees across the Sydney Basin and in doing so, prevent photosynthesis, killing the trees.
A recent study by STEP, over Cowan to Marrickville, ascertained what tree species it grew on and found the critically endangered Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) is the most severely affected of all the 76+ species of plants STEP recorded Spanish Moss growing in.
Fragments carried by birds to line nests in bushland have spread this weed into more and more areas, but the tips can also be blown by the wind to another plant.
See: https://www.step.org.au/index.php/item/702-spanish-moss-a-serious-environmental-weed
STEP is a community-based environmental organisation with over 500 members from Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and surrounding suburbs. Our primary aim is to work for the conservation of bushland in northern Sydney.
Many of these are termed 'garden escapees'.
STEP's Recommendations:
- Gardeners remove all moss they can reach, put it in their green bin and prevent spread.
- Local authorities such as local councils and NPWS remove it from all public places, including trees on nature strips.
- Add Spanish Moss to the next iteration of the Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan and all other relevant regional strategic weed management plans.
- Classify Spanish Moss at a level that enables its eradication and containment, prohibition of sale and distribution, e.g. as a regional priority weed.
- Undertake research into why Turpentines are a favoured host and the ecological effects of Spanish Moss on bushland.
- Undertake research into control methods.
Swaying veils of grey in dead or dying trees and simplified bushland is not something to look forward to. Let’s not risk it.
Read STEP's full report.
Spanish Moss infestation killing Australian trees: STEP photo
Avalon Beach SLSC turns 100 in 2025!

Paddle out to honour Guy “Creature” Haymes
Day of respect and celebration of life

Warringah Rats Sevens by the Sea 2025
- 🎶 DJ and live music to keep the vibe going
- 🍹 Pop-up bars serving your favourite drinks
- 🎭 Dress to impress on HillBilly Hill
- 🏃♂️ Fastest On-Field Race – will you take the crown?
- 🎁 Raffles and epic prize giveaways you won’t want to miss!


Pittwater Community Groups:
Mona Vale Residents Association

Speed humps on McCarrs Creek Rd: share Wildlife Data
- The position via GPS or road and suburb
- The date
- The animal