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Neighbourhood Watch in
Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby
eNewsletter #431 - 14 January 2020
This weekly eNewsletter is compiled by Neighbourhood Watch volunteers as a service for residents in Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby council areas. The eNewsletter is a new type of Neighbourhood Watch; utilising the available technology to keep people more connected and up-to-date with local crime and safety issues.
The eNewsletter includes a selection of posts from the Ku-ring-gai PAC Facebook page (also known as 'eyewatch'), primarily for those not familiar with Facebook. We add anything interesting from a Neighbourhood Watch point-of-view - this could be a local newspaper article, a roadwork warning, crime prevention tip(s), an upcoming Neighbourhood Watch meeting, Q&As from residents, or an item from an other Police command ("Crooks know no boundaries!").
🚓 Have you seen anything we should share with the community? Please email our NHW in Ku-ring-gai & Hornsby volunteers. We do value your contributions. Thank you for your support.
🚓 Please feel free to share/forward this eNewsletter with your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.
🚓 Reading our eNewsletter for the first time? Click here to subscribe.
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13 January, from tcmf.com.au: Country music fans urged to plan their trip and travel safely ahead of Tamworth Country Music Festival 2020
NSW Police are urging country-music fans to plan their trip ahead of time and travel safely on the roads as they make their way to Tamworth for the annual Toyota Country Music Festival.
A high-visibility policing operation will be in place from Friday (17 January 2020) until Sunday (26 January 2020).
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is Australia’s largest music festival, with a program featuring 700 artists and more than 2800 events, across 10 days.
General duties officers from Oxley Police District and across Western Region, assisted by specialist police, will focus on road safety, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence.
Western Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, said the festival is the largest annual event in Tamworth, during which the city’s population almost doubles.
“There will be additional Traffic and Highway Patrol officers on our roads throughout the event, so we’re urging motorists to be mindful of the traffic, drive to the conditions and allow extra travel time.
“Police patrolling roads in and around Tamworth will be targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile-phone use, and other dangerous driver behaviour.
“Our officers are not out to spoil your fun, they are focused on making sure the event is safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.”
Festival-goers are also encouraged to be patient when they arrive in Tamworth, as a number of roads will be closed during the 10-day event.
Only vehicles displaying the appropriate council authorisation will be allowed entry into restricted areas.
Police and council rangers will also strictly enforce alcohol-free zones, which will be in place throughout the CBD.
“Community safety is our number-one priority, and police will be targeting criminal and anti-social behaviour associated with drinking too much alcohol,” A/Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.
“The message is simple – think before you drink, keep an eye on your mates, and enjoy the event responsibly.”
With camping the preferred accommodation option for festival-goers; police offer the following safety and security tips:
• Plan your trip in advance and if possible, make a booking;
• Get to know your surrounding campers;
• In large crowds, be mindful of your own safety and security as well as that of people around you;
• Leave valuables at home – if you must take valuables with you, ensure they are secured and kept out of sight;
• Lock your caravan or campervan when unattended;
• Where possible, use a lock to secure your tent;
• Where possible, use a portable alarm in your tent or camper;
• Plan for changes in weather conditions;
• Ensure valuables are not left in unattended vehicles;
• Report any suspicious behaviour to police.
For comprehensive event details, visit the official festival website: www.tcmf.com.au
Special-event traffic information can be found here.
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12 January, from NSW Police Force
“We can only investigate and take action on crimes that we know about, so please, report it as soon as possible”. That’s the message to bush fire affected communities from NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
Officers can take reports from community members on the spot. All other non-urgent matters should be reported to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online here.
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11 January, from NSW Police Force: Watch out for opportunistic criminals!
Times of crisis can bring out the best in people, and sadly, sometimes the worst. If you live in or near a bushfire-affected area, please remember to report any suspicious behaviour as soon as possible.
Additional police have been deployed to bushfire-affected communities and those officers can take reports from community members on the spot. All other matters should be reported to local police, the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online here.
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10 January, from NSW Fair Trading
Aussies are doing an extraordinary job raising money for victims of the bushfires, but there are reports of a number of scam and fake appeals. Protect yourself, and your donation, by checking who you are donating to has authority to fundraise here.
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10 January, from NSW Police Force
NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys is reminding bushfire-affected communities to report all criminal activity to police for investigation.
State Emergency Operations Controller (SEOCON), Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said police can only investigate crime if they are told about it.
“While we have a significant deployment of both uniformed and plain-clothes police in these areas, we need members of the community to report all crime and suspicious activity, so it can be investigated,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“We can only investigate and take action on crimes that we know about, so please, report it as soon as possible.
“Please continue to be vigilant and if there’s an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
“Officers are available 24/7, including the additional police who have been deployed to bushfire-affected communities. Those officers can take reports from community members on the spot.
“Non-urgent reports can be made through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or at any local police station,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
All other matters should be reported to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online here.
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09 January, from Hornsby Shire Council
THROWBACK THURSDAY | Normanhurst was originally known as Hornsby, named after Constable Samuel Horne, when he was granted the land between Pearces Corner and Thornleigh as a reward. The suburb that is now known as Hornsby was called Jacks Island back then. How did Hornsby become Hornsby and why was the old Hornsby renamed to Normanhurst?
When the railway was built in 1886, the most suitable site for a railway yard was a few kilometres from the village of Hornsby (now Normanhurst). At the time, the village of Hornsby had no train station, so the closest station with the railway yard only three kilometres up north from the village was given the name Hornsby Station.
However, the original Hornsby village on the land once owned by Samuel Horne grew steadily, and in the 1890s the population was large enough to have its demands for a railway platform considered. Local civil engineer and designer, Norman Selfe, petitioned for a railway station and the residents raised 100 pounds to cover the full cost of the platform. The station was opened on 21 November 1895 and named Hornsby, while the station at Jacks Island was renamed Hornsby Junction. However, having two stations with the name Hornsby created confusion, and it became obvious one would have to change.
Norman Selfe organised a protest and petitions to make a case for keeping the name Hornsby for the village and station. However, it was decided the name Hornsby should be allotted to what had been known as Jacks Island, and the old Hornsby village was renamed ‘Normanhurst’ in honour of Norman Selfe. The picture shows Pennant Hills Road in Normanhurst circa 1920, Loretto Normanhurst can be seen at the top of the hill.
For more historic pictures, documents and stories from Hornsby Shire check out here.
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From North Shore Times, Thursday, 9 January. Link here
Waterwise [page19]
Sydney is deep into stage two water restrictions which have pressing implications for us gardeners. There is a complete hosepipe ban and you can only water your garden before 10am and after 4pm with a bucket or watering can. You can also water your garden with a smart irrigation system that is equipped with either a rain sensor or soil moisture tester. Or you can use drip irrigation systems for a maximum of 15 minutes.
These measures are put into place to ensure Sydney has enough drinking water as the drought deepens. By limiting the amount of water you use on the garden, using it in the right places and by making sure you water at the right time, you can still have a thriving outdoor area.
I am lucky that I have lots of rainwater tanks that I can irrigate the garden with but I still stick to the allocated times. To make my water go further, I limit the time spent on each section — it’s all drip irrigated too. If you are using tanks you need to make sure the water tanks are not topped up by mains water — that’s cheating!
There are other ways to make your household water, that would normally simply go down the drain, go out into the garden.
Start by investing in a few good quality, easy to lift buckets. Keep one in the shower to collect the water that falls before the shower has heated up. You can also keep a bucket in the shower as you’re using it, but try to keep any soaps, shampoos or conditioners out of the water as this will upset the soil, especially when its drought stressed.
If you rinse your plates before putting them in the dishwasher, use a tub and keep this to one bucket and apply it to your garden beds
— scraps and all — as these will add organic matter. I would keep meat and bread out of this if possible as it may attract vermin. Again, keep any detergent out of this — the excessive use of soap in the garden will harm it.
Washing machines are a necessity that use lots of water, especially top loading machines. The grey water they produce can be collected and used on the garden - but you need to be careful. Firstly, you need a washing powder that is low in phosphorus and salt and one that is pH balanced. I wouldn’t use this water on herbs and veggies, or potted plants, and I would always dilute this 50/50 with either rain or tap water. Try to move this water around the garden so one area doesn’t build up.
Applying a soil wetter, such as EZI-Wet, is also a good idea as it will help the moisture penetrate deeper into the soil and helps to limit water run-off when you do water or if you receive any rain. Apply as recommended on the packet.
Mulching your garden is an absolute must as this works like an insulation blanket trapping water in the soil and making the times you do water much more effective.
The magic depth is 75mm as this allows water in while protecting against evaporation.
Time limits on when you can water make sense as they reduce evaporation but you also need to know where to focus your water.
I have let my grass die and I am just watering my trees and large shrubs as these have the biggest impact on the atmosphere of the garden, provide shade and lower the temperature of the whole space.
They are also by far the most costly to replace where as my lawn uses a lot of water and is cheap to replace when the drought breaks.
For more water saving tips take a look at this site.
Pensioner fined, $40k penalty handed down for illegal tree removal [page 22]
A PENSIONER has been handed a $40,000 fine after a court found the 71-year-old illegally removed dozens of trees at his home and a popular golf club.
The NSW Land and Environment Court found John David Chia ordered contractors to remove 74 trees at the Roseville Golf Club and his home on Carnarvon Rd without approval from Kuring-gai Council or the golf club in October 2014.
Court heard trees removed included casuarinas, black she oaks and Sydney red gums, plus a variety of foraging habitats for rare animals.
The court found Mr Chia’s “most probable motivation” for paying contractors $16,000 cash to fell the trees was to address “potential fire hazards” near his home.
The trees were covered by a preservation order by Kuring-gai Council.
Mr Chia argued the trees were “not widely used or visible to the public” and therefore the loss of public amenity was “limited”.
The 71-year-old also told the court he had paid the golf club $16,890 to undertake bush regeneration works before hiring the contractors.
Justice John Robson found Mr Chia “had no right to enter” or “conduct any rehabilitation works” on the golf course and was “expressly excluded by the club from doing so.”
Tree preservation orders enforced by Ku-ring-gai Council prohibits removing trees taller than five metres or with trunks of at least 150mm in width without prior approval.
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Dates for the Diary:
Wednesday 15 January 2020: Ku-ring-gai Council First Aid Course for Young People. 8:45am-4:30pm Info here.
Wednesday 15 January 2020: PCYC, 1 Park Ln, Waitara Driver Education Program, Safer Driver Course. 9:30am-1230pm Info & bookings here.
Thursday 13 February 2020: PCYC, 1 Park Ln, Waitara Driver Education Program, Safer Driver Course. 4:30pm-7:30pm Info & bookings here.
Thursday 20 February: Hornsby Council Seniors Week celebration. Info & bookings here.
Thursday 27 or Friday 28 February: 10am @ Hornsby Police Station - Community Safety Precinct Committee (CSPC) Email us any issue you'd like discussed.
Wednesday 26 February: Hornsby Council Tech Savvy Seniors - Korean @ Hornsby Library 10:30-12:30. Bookings here.
Sunday 19 July: **Note date change - new date tbc** NHW NSW Inc Inaugural AGM 1-5pm @ Ryde/Eastwood Leagues Club
Tuesday 31 March: Gordon/Killara/East Killara/some St Ives Neighbourhood Watch AGM 7-9pm @ Gordon Library meeting room #2. Everyone welcome. Bring a plate and mingle with like-minded neighbours. Pick up a Neighbourhood Watch goodie bag and learn more about crime prevention. Speakers: Snr Cst Colin Mitchell (Crime Prevention Officer with Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command based at Hornsby police station) - giving an update on crime in the area and appropriate advice; Chris Pitts (Bridge Mediation Pty Ltd) - Neighbourhood Disputes - Dealing with Conflict.
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12 January, from M1 Pacific Motorway, NSW
Did you know that from the 17th January 2020, if you chuck a lit cigarette out the window you can be fined up to $11,000 and lose 10 demerit points. If someone loses their life you could be jailed for up to 25 years for manslaughter. To report someone who has thrown a lit cigarette out the window of a vehicle, contact the NSW Rural Fire Service hotline on 1800 679 737.
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12 January, Shared from one of our Neighbourhood Watch friends: How To Pack A 'Go Bag' For Emergency Evacuations
Not long ago, a fire started close to my area. It moved fast, and through news reports, we watched it snake its way toward our sleepy, suburban neighbourhood. By evening, there were mandatory evacuations about 1km away from us.
It took me and my husband two hours to get home from work due to the road closures, and once there, we needed to evacuate, too. (Luckily, my two kids were with my mother, away from the fire.) I rushed around grabbing valuables and clothing. But then I froze.
I had no idea what I was supposed to pack. Sentimental photos? Artwork? I looked around my home and wondered what I could afford to lose. A neighbour reminded me to pack our important papers, and I remembered to wear the antique jewellery my grandmother left me.
But I was so panicked that all I ended up with were suitcases full of ill-fitting clothes, passports and paintings. (To my credit, I did not forget to pack the cat.)
Out of the many folks hit hard by bushfires, we ended up very lucky. It grew to about 5000 acres, but half a day after the fire started, the winds died down and firefighters were able to contain it away from our homes.
Evacuations are pretty common. Aside from natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes and hurricanes, people are often told to leave their homes due to transportation and industrial accidents. Our fire pushed me to become more prepared should a disaster strike again.
Here’s how to prepare a evacuation “go bag” that you can quickly grab in case you ever need to evacuate.
Read more here.
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10 January, Shared by one of our followers. Thanks Liz.
Due to fires happening across the Country supporting our community.
An inside look at the recent Breathing Apparatus Exercise organised by members of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service from the Hornsby/Ku-Ring-Gai District. The exercise took place at Galston High School with a number of NSW RFS brigades and over seventy members from both Hornsby/Ku-Ring-Gai and the Hills districts. The NSW RFS Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Vlog series takes you on an in-depth behind the scenes look at a number of RFS Vehicles, Brigades and Activities.
Watch video here.
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10 January, from Crime Stoppers NSW: Do you know someone who is dealing drugs?
We urge you to contact Crime Stoppers with any drug crime information, however small, as it may be the missing piece that is needed to solve a crime.
You don't have to put up with illegal drugs being made or sold in your community. You have the power to help police STOP these crimes.
Crime Stoppers provides a confidential channel for people to report drug crime to the NSW Police Force and, as the results show, these calls are an important source of information to assist police during investigations.
Please report online here or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Our operators are on standby to take your call.
Drugs in our community – watch
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09 January, from Jennifer Anderson, Mayor of Ku-ring-gai
As the bushfire emergency continues, our generous community is asking how they can best donate to people affected by the fires and frontline emergency services.
Monetary donations are one of the most useful ways to help services such as emergency relief agencies and charities, as funds can be used to quickly provide essential items and services to those affected. This also avoids the donation of unwanted or random items that are not able to be distributed effectively. We are encouraging people that wish to make financial donations to do so through registered charities. There are a number of funds which have been established to support those affected by the bushfires – including Redcross website, Salvation Army website and Vinnies website.
To help fire-affected wildlife please donate to WIRES or the RSPCA. Monetary donations can also be made directly to frontline service agencies such as NSW Rural Fire Service.
I have been made aware of some initiatives of local individuals and organisations that are doing great fundraising for specific affected communities and we will provide more details on these efforts on Council’s website today.
I also want to thank all those involved in fire-fighting efforts, including the RFS brigades from Killara and Ku-ring-gai and the Fire & Rescue brigade from Gordon, all have been deployed to fight the bushfires in regional NSW. Your courage and service in the face of this unprecedented bushfire emergency is truly outstanding!
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09 January, from abcnews.go.com: 24 Australians arrested for deliberately setting fires this season
Two dozen Australians in the state of New South Wales have been arrested since early November for intentionally setting fires as record-large blazes continue to burn across the country.
There have been 24 people charged with deliberately setting fires among 183 facing legal action in the state, according to the New South Wales Police Force.
In addition to those facing the most serious charges of starting fires intentionally, authorities said another 53 people are facing legal action for not complying with the state's fire ban and 47 people have faced legal action for discarding a lit cigarette or match on land.
Starting a bushfire intentionally and being reckless in causing its spread can result in up to 21 years in prison, authorities said.
Legal actions can range "from cautions through to criminal charges," according to NSW police.
Read full story here.
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09 January, from Marine Area Command - NSW Police Force
Although still several weeks away, preparation is needed if you plan on being on Sydney Harbour for Australia Day celebrations.
Keep up to date for Sydney Harbour and other events across the state via site1 and site 2.
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8 January, from theguardian.com: Bots and trolls spread false arson claims in Australian fires ‘disinformation campaign’
Bot and troll accounts are involved in a “disinformation campaign” exaggerating the role of arson in Australia’s bushfire disaster, social media analysis suggests.
The bushfires burning across the nation have been accompanied by repeated suggestions of an arson epidemic or “arson emergency”.
The false claims are, in some cases, used to undermine the link between the current bushfires and the longer, more intense fire seasons brought about by climate change.
The Queensland University of Technology senior lecturer on social network analysis Dr Timothy Graham examined content published on the #arsonemergency hashtag on Twitter, assessing 1,340 tweets, 1,203 of which were unique, published by 315 accounts.
Read more here.
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IMPORTANT CONTACTS & LINKS
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance): 000
NSW Police - Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command (PAC): 9476 9799
Hornsby Police Station, 292 Peats Ferry Road, Hornsby 2077
Ku-ring-gai Crime Prevention Officer: 9476 9723
Local Police Facebook page: @Kuring Gai PAC
Non-emergency two-way communication
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
Report crime anonymously
Report suspicious activity asap
Police Assistance Line (PAL): 131 444
For non-urgent minor crime
NSW Police Community Portal
Online reporting of non-emergency minor crime: lost property, intentional damage, graffiti or theft.
Interpreting & Translating Services: 131 450
NSW Police - website for crime prevention advice
Never be afraid or embarrassed to report a crime, concern or fear you have to the Police. The Police are here to help you.
Neighbourhood Watch within Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby:
 Website NHWKuringgaiHornsby.org.au
 WatchOut.org.au - our one-stop-shop for crime prevention
 Facebook @NHWKuringgaiHornsby
 NHW in Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby Facebook Group
 Twitter @NHWKRGHornsby
 Email NHWKuringgaiHornsby@gmail.com
Local Facebook pages:
Our Crime Prevention WatchOut! Facebook page
Neighbourhood Watch - Berowra (technical issues)
Neighbourhood Watch - East Killara
Neighbourhood Watch - Galston, Glenorie, Arcadia, Dural (Rural Areas)
NHW Glaston, Glenorie, Arcadia & Dural (Rural Areas) Facebook Group
Neighbourhood Watch - Gordon
Gordon (NSW) Community (incl NHW) Facebook Group
Neighbourhood Watch - Hornsby
Neighbourhood Watch - Killara
Neighbourhood Watch - Mt Colah
Neighbourhood Watch - Normanhurst
Neighbourhood Watch - Pennant Hills
Neighbourhood Watch - St Ives
Neighbourhood Watch - Turramurra
Neighbourhood Watch - Wahroonga
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