Annual General Meeting

The AGM for the Progress Association is set for Monday 7th April at 5pm. This meeting will be focussed on the election of Office Bearers and a review of the year. The Association is seeking some new members for the Committee who would like to offer some time for the betterment of the area.

An interest in the community is all that’s required. Skills and expertise in any areas of community governance, event organisation, the natural environment, promotions or maintenance are always welcome. Contact any of the Committee for more information. A nomination form can be downloaded from the Blog.

In the last Chronicle mention was made that at the AGM the Constitution would be reviewed and a discussion held about selling some of the Progress Association’s land to LMCC. It has since been decided that these significant items needed their own forum and a Special General Meeting for members would be held later in the year to address them.

Guardian Groups around Neighbourhood Nodes

On Sunday 6th April a Guardian Group event will be held around West Ridge East Neighbourhood Node between 10am -1.30pm meeting on the ridge behind the School. There is a map and more details on the blog.

This event is an opportunity to learn from experienced bush regenerators about the beauty and the beasts within the bush. Answers to the following questions and more will be provided.

• What natives are lurking under the lantana? 
• Will a nest box or a Spotted Gum help the Squirrel Gliders stay put or encourage the Regent Honeyeaters to stop by? 
• How do you control Asparagus Fern?

A morning tea will start the session and determine if you and your neighbours can benefit from the resources available from the project. For more information about the Guardians Gathering please contact Suzanne Pritchard at cppa.tsls@gmail.com or ph 0438 596 741.

Who gives a Hoot?

Powerful Owl

You can join the Powerful Owl Project on Sunday 13 April, 10am to 1pm at Coal point at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Rd

Come along to hear about the owl’s habitat and threats, the results of the Powerful Owl research project and receive training to become an owl observer.

Bookings essential to Council on 4921 0333.

Do you see what I see?

Eastern Spinebill

by Catherine Wroe- Local Wildlife Carer 24/3/14

I keep an close eye on the bird life on the West Ridge and wanted to let you know that today I have a Masked Owl roosting in a tree near my aviaries, unfortunately being harassed by all the local birds. I also saw a Powerful Owl a few weeks ago and a couple of Spangled Drongos - which is pretty unusual to get here, lots of Rufous Fantails, Eastern Spinebills and other small birds.... The Goshawks are gone so the birds are coming back, and the small bird population seems to be growing.

It's been lovely seeing all of the small birds and I've never seen so many Rufous Fantails with their young - I usually only see one or two. Now I'm lucky enough to be getting a family of Eastern Spinebills , Scrubwrens, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Easter whipbirds, Golden Whistlers and other small birds coming into my garden - the bushy plants I've planted have grown enough to entice them down and I'm stoked... Another area with lots of small birds, especially honeyeaters at the moment, is some bush next to the clay pigeon shooting site along the road going towards the Awaba garbage dump, great for any bird watcher.

Masked Owl

Goshawk

Spangled Drongo

And speaking of Honeyeaters…

A Regent Honeyeater was formally recorded on the Coal Point peninsula a few years back and as a Critically Endangered Species, with only 800-2000 known birds, it is certainly worth seeing what we can do to support its ongoing survival by increasing its foraging habitat. Additionally what’s good for the Regent Honeyeater is also good for the Squirrel Glider.

Regent Honeyeaters are generalist foragers that need nectar producing trees, being a honeyeater, There are quite a few local trees and shrubs that would be just thing to lure this visitor to your bigger backyard and give it chance for surviving into the future. Local Eucalypts which are to its liking include Swamp Mahogany-Eucalyptus robusta, Grey Gum-Eucalyptus punctata and Spotted Gum-Corymbia maculata. Insects make up about 15% of their diet and a shrubby understorey provides the right habitat for bugs as well as for nesting materials.

Trees In Newcastle has produced A local resource on Creating Stepping Stones for Nectar Feeders outlines what plants you can supplement your garden with if you have

• A large block in coastal forest or sheltered gullies
• A large coastal garden on sandy soil
• A courtyard on sandy soil
• A large garden on swampy soils
• A small garden on swampy soils

A Regent Honeyeater fact sheet is available online.

Threatened Species Update

The first full year of the Threatened Species project will be completed on March 31 with the submission of an Annual report. The project will continue for another 4 years, providing lots of opportunities to support local landholders restore and regenerate the wildlife corridor that spans the Coal Point Peninsula.

Since the project commenced there has been

• 5680 hours of volunteer time provided of which 3432 hour was landcaring
• 66 training sessions in landcaring techniques for 26 people
• 15 local organisations have been involved, including Coal Point Public and St Josephs Primary schools and Carey Bay Preschool.
• 1376 plants have made it in the ground with 90% survival rate
• 10.5ha of public bushland has been regenerated
• 6.6ha has been weeded
• 17 awareness raising events held interacting with 830 people
• 42 educational products produced including flora and fauna reports, 11 Chronicles, 39 updates on the blog, 2 maps, a movie, a banner, a brochure and planting guides

The Threatened Species project is providing the opportunity to garner and gather information about the local environment in one spot. Since the last Chronicle there has been new information uploaded for sharing far and wide including some static pages holding information about

• The plants in our Bigger Backyard containing a local plant list collated from surveys and planting recommendations for replacing weeds
• The animals in our Bigger Backyard holds the bird surveys, a map and a movie about habitat hollows
• A helping hand for the last stand shares programs you can get involved with
• The Changes in our Bigger Backyard contains the photopoint monitoring for the project

Locally lodged DA’s

The DA details are available through LMCC’s Development Application Tracking Service and summarised here for community awareness.

Since the last Chronicle there have been DAs lodged which include

• 69 Coal Point Rd - 1 into 3 lot subdivision 

• 202 Skye Point Rd- Additions 

• 142a Skye Point Rd -Tree removal - lodged

• 15 Robey Cres - Extensions - awaiting determination

• 3 Robey Cres- Remove 2 trees and prune 3 - approved

• 273 Skye Point Rd- Garage & retaining Wall - awaiting determination

• 215 Coal Point Rd- alterations - under assessment

• 233 Skye Point Rd- Tree removal - approved

• 48 Amelia St- Remove 3 trees - lodged

• 6/37 Laycock St- extensions - approved

• 5/37 Laycock St- patio covers - approved

• 20 Laycock St- 26 Multiple dwellings - awaiting information requested

Asset Protection Burn possibly this Winter

And thinking about things that burn… The Asset Protection Burn for Stansfield Reserve is being proposed for August this year. This will be an exciting opportunity to see 1st hand the impacts of fire on the local bushland and the recovery of native species. It will also provide an opportunity to attempt to gain the ascendency on the Asparagus Fern.

Incommunicado Blues

A significant portion of the Coal Point Community has been experience telephonic frustration of late with the outage of phone and internet and the insufficient communication to affected residents. The recurrent problem was highlighted in a recent Herald article.  

Local residents are keen to know about the reimbursement process for covering the cost of the mobile phone usage accrued due to the absence of landline service.You can express your concerns to the local Federal Member Pat Conroy, pat.conroy.mp@aph.gov.au, phone 4954 2611.

Tossers can be Binners were Grinners

The successful completion of the Tossers can be Binners project has seen community funded twin recycling bins officially opened, drains stenciled, an EcoAngels litter survey undertaken and 350 reusable bags distributed to celebrate the completion of the Tossers can Be Binners project.

The past nine months has seen a transformation of one of Toronto’s grot-spots thanks to $8000 from Toronto Workers Club and $5000 from Keep Australia Beautiful ” said Steve Dewar- Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group’s Waste projects coordinator.

The bins are so successful they are regularly brimming with rubbish and the mural is an outstanding reminder that we can all make a difference. The most recent litter survey produced only ½ kg of litter compared to 20kg last September.

CPPA membership

If you haven’t yet received you membership renewal application for the Progress Association or you would like to join up for the first time it’s not too late. The Treasurer John Gill can pass on a membership form or it can be downloaded from the blog .

Membership provides you with some great opportunities. You can hire Progress Hall for that special occasion when space is needed, you will have priority for bush regeneration opportunities associated with the Threatened Species Project, you can join the Committee and have a say on the direction of the Progress Association and its assets. This year there is also the option to join the Local Sustainable Neighbourhood.

A petition to save the world…or our little part of it

There is currently an online petition at change.org seeking signatures to reject the proposal to amalgamate Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City Councils and section off Morisset-Wyee to Wyong Council.

In January this year, the Independent Local Government Review Panel released its final report – Revitalising Local Government for community comment. 

The report outlined 65 recommendations, including that Lake Macquarie City Council and Newcastle City Council should amalgamate and that the southern area of Lake Macquarie around Morisset – Wyee be added to Wyong Shire or a new Central Coast council.

Lake Macquarie City Council strongly rejects these recommendations.

Council is performing strongly and is well placed to provide good quality daily services that I, as a Lake Macquarie resident, expect and rely on.

For several years, Lake Macquarie has been improving its efficiency and working towards financial sustainability, and our efforts and achievements have been recognised by IPART and NSW Treasury Corporation.

The proposed amalgamation of Lake Macquarie City Council and Newcastle City Council and boundary changes in the Morisset – Wyee area is not feasible, not necessary, and would be detrimental to the community

Sponsor's Spot- Just Jude of Carey Bay

Judy McDonald has been a hairdresser since she was a teenager. She’s been in business for 22 years and purchased the Carey Bay Salon after working there for 2 years. 

With 80% of the Just Jude clientele being local the best thing about each day for Judy & crew is being able to interact in a friendly and professional manner, sharing the latest trends they’ve picked by from the ongoing training. 

The salon’s point of difference is putting their clients first and their aim is to meet the client’s needs. The greatest achievement for Judy is surviving for 22 years in the local community. The wonderful, large clientele have continued to support the business and Judy personally and fom Judy is a heartfelt Thankyou all!