BEROWRA & DISTRICT COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION

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From Helen Hajduk, Mount Colah, 25 July 2009

No Go!

We (the residence) know what is right, and "we will fight" (Government numbers do not reflect what we know is right). "We will fight with all our might!"

This [council] Prospective has not been individually presented to each household for a vote.

Back in 1985, as residents living in Mount Colah, we were sent a questionnaire by council enabling us, the residents, to express our point of view on the level and quality of services currently being spent by council, as well as answering "how your money should be spent" over the next 4 years. Our views and insights were respected by those at the time that represented us.

Why now has this changed? 1st of all Why hasn't the council contacted us, the shire residents, with profiles of choice?

We should not have to see this in local newspapers! We should be receiving a SHIRE OF HORNSBY QUESTIONNAIRE, so we the residents have a say. It is not about the Government dictating what numbers we should meet!

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From Dimity Douglas-Byrne, soon to be of Berowra, 22 July 2009

Hi,
I recently sent an email to the Mayor regarding the pool and received a quick response, please see below for both emails.
Cheers,
Dimity

EMAIL SENT 24/6/09

Dear Mayor and Councillors,

I am about to relocate from the inner west of Sydney to Berowra, which I am looking forward to immensely. However, in researching aquatic centres in the area, I was disappointed to learn that there are none in the Berowra district.

I have a 2 and 4 yr old, the house we have purchased has a pool. I currently have both children in lessons at our local pool in Marrickville and was hoping to continue them in Berowra. As I am an ex-Olympic swimmer, having once been afraid of the water, I know the importance of introducing lessons at an early age. Unfortunately, with the busy lives that we parents live today, commuting outside the local area is sometimes not feasible, meaning that lessons are left behind and the risk of drowning accidents increase.

I understand that a proposed aquatic centre has been on the drawing board for quite sometime, so hoping that you keep in mind that the Berowra district is becoming a more popular area for young families to relocate, I would appreciate your feedback on a rough time frame for its approval.

Thank you,
Dimity Douglas-Byrne

RESPONSE RECEIVED 3/7/09

Dear Ms Douglas-Byrne

I refer to your email dated 24 June 2009, in which you make inquiries regarding proposals for an Aquatic Centre at Berowra.

Council is aware of local community desires for an aquatic centre to be constructed at Berowra. Council acknowledges concerns such as yours regarding the provision of aquatic centres in centres such as Berowra but at the present time, does not have the funds to provide a facility of the standard that has been requested by the community.

Council has agreed that as an initial step, a Learn to Swim facility should be constructed. Consent has been given to a Development Application which would enable the construction of a small program pool in the undercroft area of the Berowra Community Centre. This decision recognises the priority of teaching children to swim, and acknowledges that funds to construct a larger facility are not available at present.

Funds to enable the program pool to proceed have been tentatively identified, but are dependent on the sale of land held by Council elsewhere in Berowra. The current economic conditions are such that if this land was disposed of now, the funds realised would be insufficient to enable the project to proceed to completion.

However, Council is also aware that there are members of the community who consider a Learn to Swim facility such as that proposed is not sufficient to meet the needs of the Berowra community, and should not proceed in its present form. Accordingly, Council is reluctant to proceed with this project in the absence of the support of a significant proportion of the community, and is further considering its position.

You may be aware that Council also operates an Aquatic Centre at Hornsby, a short distance by car or public transport from Berowra. A comprehensive Learn to Swim program is available at Hornsby, and a Squads program is also provided. However, this centre is reaching the end of its effective life, and Council has recently resolved to commence planning for its replacement. As a Shire wide facility, this project will require significant expenditure. Council is yet to make a strategic decision as to how this project is to be financed.

The centre remains open for business in the meantime.
Council shares your concerns regarding the importance of teaching children to swim, and wishes you well in your proposed move into the Hornsby Shire.

Yours sincerely
NICK BERMAN
Mayor

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From Sasha Turner, Berowra Heights

You can send in your observations, comments, complaints, etc. by filling out the form on the Your Say page. As a rule, material you send in will be posted on this News & Views page.

You can read the issues pages and then use the material to send an e-mail to relevant members of the council (e.g. you can copy as much as you wish of the material into the e-mail form). Note that not all councillors have e-mail addresses, so you may have to contact them by snail mail or ask the ones you do contact to print out copies for the others.

A further thought. The democratic process doesn't end at the ballot box. That's where it begins. After the ballot is over, voters need to continue to take an active part in what happens. Theirs is not just a passive role, putting up with whatever decisions their representatives make. Indeed, those elected need to know what the people think and feel if they are truly to represent them. So, voters have an obligation and a duty to be a continuing part of the democratic process, and to persist in putting their ideas forward and in making their opinions and aspirations known to those they've elected. That's what being a responsible adult means in a democracy.
(Taken from an address given in Sydney in 2005 by Fancisco 'Chico' Whitaker, one of the founders of the World Social Forum.)