Issue 17 Autumn 2017
NEWSLETTER . Upgrade to Promenade Work is set to commence on a major refurbishment of the Balmoral Promenade with most of the upgrades expected to be completed by July to coincide with the quieter winter months. Works will include the refurbishment of the entire Balmoral Promenade from the Bathers Pavilion to the Balmoral Baths and the replacement of timber logs with concrete seating at the southern end of Balmoral Reserve. Additional works, which are currently scheduled to commence by September, will include the renewal of stairs to the beach, improved lighting and footpaths connecting the promenade. The footpath, which was built in the 1920s along with the seawall has seen minor improvements since that time. This has resulted in a mix of concrete types and designs along the walkway. Recent investigations have indicated many areas of the footpath have cavities below them with original subsoil, most likely laid in the 1920s, being eroded away.
Local Government merrychristmas Reform Update On 14 February Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that the NSW Government remained committed to proceeding with current merger proposals in metropolitan Sydney. This was obviously a disappointment to several Sydney councils, including Mosman, that are continuing their fight for independence. The next steps for Mosman Council will be new legal proceedings in the Land and Environment Court in late March (focussing on the inadequacies of the revised report prepared by the Government's delegate on the Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby merger proposal) as well as action in the NSW Court of Appeal in early April. These latter proceedings will seek to overturn earlier rulings of the Land and Environment Court regarding the merger proposal process. Our latest advice is that Mosman Council can at this stage expect local government elections this year, possibly as early as 9 September. The situation, however, remains somewhat fluid – dependent on the results of Council's legal action and further action by the NSW Government. The election date is therefore likely to be revisited over coming months and advice will be circulated as soon as a final date is known.
The pathway redesign, which involved consultation with local residents and input from an architect, will be consistent with the area and not detract from the heritage importance of the seawall. The project is part of Council's ongoing renewal of Balmoral infrastructure, which over the past decade has included the Rotunda, toilet blocks, baths and last year's playground renewal.
Catch the ide
Check out the Mosman Rider timetable included with this issue of the Mosman Now Newsletter
for the latest events in Mosman visit events.mosman.nsw.gov.au
Caring for older adults
Design Awards winners
Mosman Council provides a range of activities and services for local residents aged 65 and over as well as carers. Programs are designed for all interests and mobility levels from exercise, art and computer classes, discussion groups, movies, and music concerts to weekly and fortnightly bus excursions. There are also culinary options with the Community Restaurant offering twice weekly delicious three-course meals with live entertainment and Mosman Meals delivering to homes every day. Community Transport services help residents stay mobile and social by catering for individual needs with door-to-door transport for appointments or to social groups, while individualised social support can connect people with other like-minded residents in the community. For more information call us on 9978 4128, e-mail community.care@mosman.nsw.gov.au or visit mosman.nsw.gov.au/community/seniors
NBN rolls out in Mosman Selected areas of Mosman are expected to receive the National Broadband Network by April with other areas receiving access later in 2017. Details of the roll out are available via an online tool that enables residents to check the type of NBN technology they will be receiving and when, by searching their home address on the NBN website. For more information visit nbn.com.au or call 1800 687 626.
Get fit at Rawson Park
The winners of the 2017 Mosman Design Awards, which celebrate outstanding contributions to the built environment and heritage conservation in Mosman, have been announced following another year of impressive entries. The main award – Contribution to the Built Environment - was presented to 44 Hopetoun Avenue, designed by Rolf Ockert. A number of other winners and commendations were also announced, including the People's Choice Award of 73 Bay Street. All 16 nominated properties, including the winners can be found on the awards website mosmandesignawards.com.au or Facebook page. The winners of the biennial awards were chosen following visits to the nominated properties by an independent judging panel comprising respected architects Robert Staas, Gabrielle Morrish and Nick Tobias. A special presentation was also given during the awards ceremony to farewell respected heritage architect Robert Staas who has been judging the awards for more than a decade and recently retired as Mosman Council's heritage advisor after 20 years.
Attention young writers
New outdoor fitness equipment has been installed at Rawson Park. The equipment, made of marine grade materials and housed at four locations next to the footpath around Rawson Oval, offers a range of fitness exercises for the entire body and suits all ages. The project was identified as a key priority in the Mosman Open Space Recreational Needs Assessment endorsed by Council in 2015 and was designed to integrate into the existing environment.
Primary and secondary students are invited to enter the 25th annual Mosman Youth Awards in Literature competition which awards prizes for prose and poetry. More than 9,000 stories and pieces of poetry have been entered in the competition since it was first held in 1993 as part of the Centenary of Mosman Celebrations. As in previous years, entries are expected from across the state as well as from local students. Cash prizes ranging from $50 to $350 from a total prize pool of over $2,000 will be awarded to winners in various categories. The prizes are sponsored by Mosman Lions Club, Rotary Club of Mosman, Mosman Community College and Peter Burke of Mosman Zu CafĂŠ and Oracle Books, Mosman. Entries close on Wednesday 31 May and winners will be announced at a special ceremony on Wednesday 30 August at Barry O'Keefe Library. Entry forms are available at the library or online at mosman.nsw.gov.au/library/teens
mosman.nsw.gov.au A more inclusive community Mosman Council's newly developed Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is already being implemented with a number of new initiatives helping to make Mosman more accessible. A recently installed hand rail at Balmoral is assisting those with mobility issues to access the baths while improvements to parking and pathways are among a suite of improvements being completed at Clifton Gardens. Near Spit Junction, improvements to kerb ramps along Military Road and to Mosman Art Gallery's ramp will also increase accessibility. The DIAP, which was informed by input from community members who participated in the extensive community consultation process, includes actions to improve the lives of people with disability in our community around four important areas: § improving attitudes § making our community easier to live in and get around § helping people get good jobs and § improving our services and the way we communicate. The plan and an easy read version are available on Council's website at mosman.nsw.gov.au/DIAP
Doing our Bit for ANZAC Day
Garnett Francis Malley (2nd from right) with his family on Balmoral Beach
The latest additions to the Doing Our Bit blog about the wartime experiences of local service people will be uploaded in time for ANZAC Day 2017. The blog is one of the most popular features of the Doing Our Bit site which was developed by Mosman Library Service as an innovative online resource aimed at locating, collecting and sharing information and images relating to the wartime experiences of local service people to acknowledge the centenary of the First World War. The unique project, launched in 2013, allows the local and global community to take ownership by becoming ‘digital volunteers’ with descendants of Mosman servicemen and women, historians and genealogists generously helping to build the resource by adding personal memorabilia, photographs, and stories. The site also provides links to repositories and official records from around the world increasing the information available on these brave men and women. Among the many fascinating stories on the blog are those of fighter ace Garnett Malley, propaganda poster designer Harry Weston and the first Australian female war reporter Louise Mack. For more information visit mosman1914-1918.net/project/blog
Artists revisit Sydney battle
Ken Done, Farewell 2011 (detail)
Tokkōtai (特攻隊): Contemporary Japanese and Australian Artists on war and the Battle of Sydney Harbour is a suite of installations and immersive experiences timed to correspond with the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Sydney Harbour. Seventy-five years ago Sydney came under foreign attack for the first and only time. On the night of 31 May 1942 three Japanese midget submarines entered the waters of Sydney Harbour creating panic and chaos and leaving an indelible mark on Australia’s identity and the course of our history. Twenty-one Australian Naval personnel and six Japanese submariners perished in the attack. To mark the 75th anniversary of this event Mosman Art Gallery has commissioned six Australian and Japanese artists to interpret and respond to this remarkable story. The suite of new works will be displayed in the T5 Camouflage Fuel Tank at Georges Heights, an industrial scale former naval oil tank, built and camouflaged against Japanese attack during WWII. Artists include: Michelle Belgiorno, Ken Done, Jennie Feyen, Sue Pedley, Miku Sato and Gary Warner. The exhibition runs from Saturday 20 May to Sunday 11 June, for more information see mosmanartgallery.org.au
Recycling trial cleans up Mosman's mattress recycling trial has been well received by residents with 850 mattresses collected over the two Council household clean ups. Mattresses which had previously been collected during Council's twice-yearly clean ups weren't always recycled. This was due to the high cost of mattress collection and recycling, but the rising cost of landfill and EPA support for the project made the trial viable. Despite advances in recycling technology, Mosman’s recycling rates are declining. Items that cannot be recycled are being increasingly found in recycling bins, and 20 per cent of the contents of the red-lidded waste bins is typically recyclable. To reduce confusion, Council has launched a new series of waste and recycling bin room signs and bin stickers and posted a number of videos on Council's website highlighting what can and cannot be recycled kerbside. For free bin room signage and bin stickers contact Council on 9978 4000.
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©2017 Mosman Municipal Council This publication is written by Council staff and authorised for distribution by Dominic Johnson – General Manager
mosman.nsw.gov.au Spit Junction NSW 2088 9978 4000 fax 9978 4132 council@mosman.nsw.gov.au
What’s On
Connect with us
Don't miss out on the many interesting events taking place in Mosman over the next few months. Here is a sample of what's on offer – visit events.mosman.nsw.gov.au for more.
Friday Flicks – Annie Leibovitz Friday 24 March, 11am–1pm, Barry O’Keefe Library Annie Leibovitz has produced some of the most iconic images of the last 30 years. Life Through A Lens looks at the woman who has become as iconic as the people she has photographed.
Neighbour Day Sunday 26 March Celebrate Neighbour Day on Sunday 26 March by having a chat with the people next door, inviting new neighbours in for a cup of tea, or organising a neighbourhood gettogether. The community you want starts at your front door. For more information visit neighbourday.org or mosman.nsw.gov.au/neighbours
Nikki Gemmell at the Library Monday 27 March, 7–9pm, Barry O’Keefe Library Nikki Gemmell's latest book After examines in painfully honest detail a situation facing many elderly and chronically ill people around the world. Not given the legal choice to do what they really want to do, these people are compelled to make decisions alone, leaving behind a legal and emotional disaster zone.
Free child car seat checking day Wednesday 29 March, 9am–2.30pm Vista Street car park, Vista St, Mosman Get your child car seats, harnesses and booster seats checked by an authorised restraint fitter for free. Bookings essential with Sharon on 9978 4117.
Mosman Council is inviting community groups and potential sponsors to get involved in the 2017 Festival of Mosman which this year marks two significant anniversaries as it celebrates the theme Living Mosman, celebrating and promoting Mosman's unique community and identity. The festival, which will run from 13 to 22 October, presents a major opportunity for businesses and other interested parties looking for exposure to thousands of local residents and visitors to Mosman to be involved with high quality events that generate substantial community spirit and pride. Highlights of the festival, which spans the 70th Mosman Art Prize exhibition and the 75th anniversary of HMAS Penguin, include a Freedom of Entry parade, Mosman Art Prize, the Festival Opening Concert at Balmoral, Children's Fair, Pet's Day Out, Concert in the Park at Allan Border Oval and Festival Cinema Under the Stars. For more information visit: festivalofmosman.net
Recreating the past in fiction Wednesday 29 March, 7–9pm, Barry O’Keefe Library Join authors Belinda Murrell, Felicity Pulman, Lauren Chater and Lynette McDermott as they share stories about researching and writing historical fiction from ancient Rome to King Arthur's world.
Meet the Mosman Youth Art Prize winners Sunday 2 April, 2–3.30pm Mosman Art Gallery Join with some of the winning artists in this year’s Mosman Youth Art Prize as they discuss the ideas and techniques behind their artworks with the exhibition curator.
ANZAC Sunday Service Sunday 16 April, commencing 3pm (ANZAC Sunday) Mosman War Memorial, The Crescent In the event of wet weather the service will be held at Mosman Square Seniors Centre.
ANZAC Dawn Service Tuesday 25 April, 5.30–6.30am Old Parade Ground, Georges Heights ANZAC Address to be given by Colonel Andrew Condon CSC (Retd), Royal Australian Navy (Retd). All welcome. There is no seating, transport or cover if it rains. Parking is available and a torch may be useful.
events.mosman.nsw.gov.au
Catch the Rider Whether shopping, eating out, sightseeing or simply getting around, the Mosman Rider, Council’s free community bus service, is the convenient way to enjoy all Mosman has to offer. The Rider operates from 9am–1pm and 2pm–6pm daily until May when it moves to its Winter timetable. Copies of the timetable are available at the Civic Centre, Library and Art Gallery. Hailing the bus is easy, just signal the driver anywhere along the route and get on board. You can also track the Rider online by visiting the website or downloading the Rider app via the Apple App store or Google Play store.
Visit
mosmanrider.net