Report on activities February 2012 to January 2013

Download the report to members of the North Richmond & Districts Community Action Association (NRDCAA) and others in accordance with Part 4 clause 24 (2) (b) February 2012- January 2013 here

2013 Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting

Monday 18^th March 2013  

North Richmond Community Centre, William Street, North Richmond

commencing at 7:15pm

There will be a report on the activities of your association and all positions on the Committee of Management will be declared vacant and open for nomination from the members. Please consider your willingness and availability to join the committee, the work load and commitment from your committee has been incredible and as there is more and more pressure from developers this will only increase. The old saying ”Many hands make light work” is true in this case too!!

Please download a Membership Renewal Form and return it via mail or bring it to the Annual General Meeting.  If you cannot attend please complete a Proxy Form  You will notice that the fee has been increased by the Committee of Management to $15 and Concession $10. If this increase causes hardship then please contact me by any means, telephone if you prefer 4572-1160 so that arrangements can be made, your support is valued and appreciated. If you prefer to pay by Electronic Transfer please ensure that you give your name so that the money can be correctly credited.  The bank details are – Bendigo Bank BSB: 633-000 Acct: 142-719-749.

Even though we are financial our limited funds restrict what we can do publicly, as an example, the advertisement in the  “Gazette” before the last Hawkesbury City Council elections cost $627, that was all that we could afford to do, as a result with limited success, it was  a cost we thought necessary to try and have community representation on Council not Party Political bias.

I look forward to seeing you there. Please encourage your family, friends and neighbours to become involved in their community, it is only by community involvement that we have a chance of having the community that we want and not just having to accept what is forced upon us.

Colleen Turnbull

Secretary NRDCAA

Community Planning Forum in Parramatta on 7 March, 2013

Better Planning Network and ParraCAN are hosting a Community Planning Forum

Overdevelopment in YOUR street

Have your say !!!

Important forum for all residents of Western Sydney

Before the 2011 election Barry O'Farrell promised to replace the notorious Part 3A planning law. What he didn't tell us was he was going to replace it with something far worse, including:

▪  The proposal to remove the right of residents and communities to comment and appeal against specific developments in their neighbourhood

▪    The proposal to establish ‘enterprise zones’ across entire Local Government Areas with few, if any planning controls

▪   The removal of Ecological Sustainable Development as the overall driver of the NSW Planning System

▪     Downgrading the importance of good building design, open space, parks and urban bushland

▪     The removal of legal protection  for many environmental policies

▪     The omission of any reference to heritage protection

▪     Prioritising fast-track development ahead of community wellbeing.

Public meeting 7.30 PM Thursday 7th March

Parramatta Town Hall, Church St Mall

Speakers:   Corinne Fisher (Better Planning Network)

                    Ron Hoenig (ALP Shadow Minister for Energy and Shadow Minister for Ports)

                    David Shoebridge (Greens MP)

No booking is necessary but RSVP preferred on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ParraCAN/135084779898034

Parramatta Climate Action Network is a grassroots not-for-profit organisation acting in the community to raise awareness on climate change and renewable energy solutions.

Better Planning Network Petition

The Better Planning Network have started a petition as they  are concerned about  the NSW Government Green Paper to replace the existing planning laws in NSW with a system that will: 

• Remove the right of communities to have a say in development proposals and planning matters directly affecting their lives 
• Diminish the role of elected Councillors 
• Permit ‘Enterprise Zones’ with no planning controls to be imposed over entire suburbs or Local Government Areas 
• Not protect the environment or the heritage of the State 

The Better Planning Network are requesting the Parliament of NSW to: 
• Urgently establish a multi-party Parliamentary Committee to fairly assess the proposals to amend the planning system and ensure the community’s rights of participation, consultation and appeal are not reduced 
• Ensure that the community consultation period on the Government’s final proposal (White Paper) is at least 6 months long 

To sign the petition go to http://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/petition-state-parliament/

Meeting Monday 18 February, 2013

Special Guest 

The North Richmond and Community District Action Association (NRDCAA) monthly meeting will be held in the North Richmond Community Centre Monday 18th of February at 7.15 pm.

The NRDCAA has invited Matthew Owens City Planning Director to the meeting and present on the Draft Hawkesbury Community Strategic Plan (DHCSP) 2013-2032.

He has accepted.

We have forwarded some question to Mr Owens so he can be prepared.

According to the message in the DHCSP from Councillor Ford Mayor of HCC, This plan belongs to the people of the Hawkesbury. We encourage you to help us to achieve your vision.

The NRDCAA has over 4000 petitioners calling on the Mayor to oppose rezoning of land west of the river till our current traffic congestion is addressed. To date he has ignored the petitioners.

The NRDCAA doubts very much the sincerity of Councillor Ford’s message. However, it is in the community’s interest to attend, which will enable us to make a positive contribution to the peoples’ plan and make informed decisions in the future.

This is another opportunity to continue our efforts to have the majority Councillors represent the Community’s interest.

NRDCAA is a non political group who want a fair go for all residents and ratepayers.

This meeting is opened to all resident of the Hawkesbury.

Colleen Turnbull Secretary NRDCAA

New Proposed Planning System

The key elements of the proposed new planning system are as follows:

•        Public participation – the public will be heavily involved in the formulation of the detailed strategic plans that will comprise the new planning system. Once these plans are in place, a development application that is consistent with these plans will require less public consultation. This will provide a great deal of certainty to proponents of development.

•       Local Land Use Plans – will replace Local Environmental Plans. In addition to development controls, Local Land Use Plans will contain a detailed strategic plan for the area. A development that is consistent with this strategic plan will be allowed to proceed based on its merits, even if it exceeds the base standards identified in the plan. All development guidelines will be fully integrated within Local Land Use Plans, removing the need for development control plans. Local Land Use Plans will also specify the infrastructure required to support the strategies identified in the plans. The requirements of all government agencies will be considered when a Local Land Use Plan is prepared. This will remove the need for a consent authority to seek concurrence or approval from other government bodies when determining a development application.

•        More flexible zones – Zones contained in planning documents will become less prescriptive and more flexible. A broader range of uses will be permitted in each zone. The Government proposes to introduce three new zones:

•       Enterprise Zones – will contain very little development control. They will contain incentives to attract investment;

•       Future Urban Release Area Zones – will identify areas of future growth; and

•       Suburban Character Zones – will explicitly preclude development that adversely impacts on the local character of the zone.

Proposed Council Rate Changes

Fellow Members and Supporters,

Below is important information that will affect you and your families, please read , act and share with others in your community:

YOUR RATES

Unless rescinded (Council meeting Feb.5th) a motion carried on the Mayor’s casting vote in the early hours of Dec. 13th will dramatically change YOUR Rates.

Rural Residential householders with between 2 and 40 hectares land will pay up to $2000 less while suburban house rates will increase by up to $200.

Current system.

Urban

Your rates are calculated by multiplying the land value by a rate in the dollar.

Urban area minimum rate is $485.

Rural residential 2 to 40 hectares

You pay a base rate $190 plus land value x rate in the dollar.

Proposed system.

This is a redistribution of charges to obtain the same amount.

Council would get 65% from residential and 20% from Rural residential with the balance from business and farms.

Example:

In North  Richmond average rates on each urban house block will increase by $124 to $940 p.a. while rates on rural residential properties decrease by $627 to $1348,

What your rates provide.

Your rates provide 70% of Council’s income. T he money,  for the benefit of every one, is spent on:-

Roads,footpaths,drainage                               

Recycling and waste services

Building, planning  Capital works

Parks, gardens, environmental care   

Sport and recreation

Arts,culture,libraries                                           

Tourism,events

and many other services.

Changes

Any change in this system should only be undertaken if a gross inequity, within the current system, can be demonstrated.

What you can do?

Attend the Council meeting on February 5^th, 2013

Share this information with your friends and let Councillors know your views before February 5th Council meeting.

Colleen Turnbull

Secretary NRDCAA