The Christmas holiday period overtook many good intentions to
communicate with everyone prior to Christmas.
WBA membership is now 55 households and we expect to welcome more.
Many members continue to provide valuable services in kind, which is highly
appreciated.
If you have not renewed your membership, please consider it now.
The annual membership fee is $30 per household.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘Watsons Bay Association Inc.’
EFT payments may also be made direct to our account: ‘Watsons Bay Association
Inc.’ at ANZ Bank, Rose Bay. BSB 012-396, Account No. 2033-56461.
Or click on http://watsonsbayassociation.org/join
The first edition of the WBA newsletter, ‘Bay News,’ was really well-received
in the community and ongoing contributions will be welcomed, both for the
newsletter as well as the website.
Transport and parking
Thanks to Catherine Boardman for convening a meeting of this group in
December.
Mans Carlsson, a strong advocate for a commuter ferry for Watsons Bay,
has produced an online survey and is correlating results - and distributing
more letters. While Woollahra Council has endorsed the concept, there has been,
at best, muted response from Sydney
Ferries.
Recent commentary suggests that this newly part-privatised agency is
more focused on internal efficiencies than introducing new services. There may
be more prospects with private operators and Mans will be sounding out some of
the companies.
There are, of course, consequences for local parking and bus services with
a commuter service.
Flooding in Watsons Bay
Members will be aware of local flooding in Cliff Street, Military Road, the
‘lawnie’ and surrounding areas in June 2012. January rains also caused concern.
Council’s response to our June submission on the flooding is provided
separately on the blog. It provides little comfort.
Georgia Stojanovic and Tim Williams have been active in engaging with
Council and initiating action on a number of flooding issues, notably blocked
drains. Thank you.
Cr Anthony Boskovitz
has also been involved and commented in a recent email to Council staff:
“I
reiterate the cleaning of the sewerage drains.
Increasingly over the last 6 months I have noticed
that there has been more and more debris on the street. I sometimes see the mechanical
street sweepers and they are usually just pushing the mess elsewhere.
Can we look at this issue and also the issue
Georgia raised about ensuring our drains are being cleared, especially in areas
like Watsons Bay where drainage has been an issue.
Anthony.”
Following this intervention, Council staff cleared debris from
drains and gutters around Camp Cove area and also made modifications to one of the
stormwater drains in Camp Cove Reserve.
If you have been affected by floods and wish to be engaged in this
issue, let us know so we can foster a collective effort to ensure the matter
remains active in Council.
Election of
WBA President - 2013
As I noted at the AGM, I would like to step down as President of
the WBA in April 2013. I plan to continue my contribution to the WBA but feel
that after nearly two years in our establishment period, it is appropriate for
someone else to take over as President.
An extract from our Constitution follows:
S6 (1) Nominations of candidates for election as office-bearers
of the association or as ordinary committee members:
(a) must be made
in writing, signed by 2 members of the association and accompanied by the
written consent of the candidate (which may be endorsed on the form of the
nomination).
A simple letter of nomination, with signed consent, is all that is
required.
Roger Bayliss
7 February 2013
