PEARL BEACH – BEACH SAFETY AWARENESS ARTICLE

Anyone can drown, no-one should! 

 July 25 was World Drowning Prevention Day, a day to help remind us to safely enjoy the water. 

Drowning can occur when we are actively on or in water. 

Drowning can also happen just by being near water.….

Smita’s Story - a survivor’s voice.

Pearl Beach is a haven away from a busy life for Professor Smita Shah, a Sydney based community physician and part time Pearl Beach resident. 

PEARL BEACH – SPEED LIMIT AND SHARED USE ZONE

Central Coast Council has indicated their willingness to consider and then recommend to Transport NSW the introduction of a suburb 40 KPH speed limit and a 10KPH shared use zone for Pearl Parade and Tourmaline to Diamond Road, plus Amethyst & Emerald from Diamond to Pearl Parade. It is considered this will provide improved pedestrian and traffic flow, depicted as follows:

Progress Association Members and the local community are invited to forward their comments on this subject to the Association.

New information will be published by the Secretary.

ROCK POOL AND WALKWAY OVER THE ROCKS TO THE POOL

After several recent cancellations due to rough sea conditions and equipment breakdowns the Council cleaned the pool on 22^nd June 2022.

Sand had built up in centre of the pool. The far western end pool walls were good and in other walls there was minimal weed growth.  

Next scheduled clean will be early mid-September depending on sea and tide conditions

Regarding the walkway over the rocks top the pool, the Safety Advisory Group raised concerns with Council in March 2021 regarding access the pool over the rocks by foot which is far too dangerous for older swimmers as well as to families with young children. Since March 2021, there have been several discussions with Council about possible solutions but to-date no resolute outcome other than to place sand between the rocks lasting only a short period of time. 

Recently, Umina Beach Blue Swimmers approached the Council regarding the walkway over the rocks to the pool. Craig Healy that whilst he has responsibility for the Beach & the Pool the rock walkway issue is outside his area of responsibility. Blue Swimmers have also engaged support from Liesl Tesch and the possibility of a grant for the work.  

The Council advised in 2020 a quote was obtained for the construction of a ramp 2 metres long 1.5 metres wide and handrail – the price at time was $65K plus support from Council with 1 staff & 1 4WD to transport equipment across beach. With increasing steel prices and contractor prices the estimation would now likely come in at $130K est. To reduce that cost, the Council could look at a smaller ramp and stairs in southwestern corner of baths onto the concrete pathway of pool deck. 

Watch this space as the Safety Advisory Group is yet to meet with Council to discuss this matter for ultimate consultation with the Progress Association and the Community for feedback. Meantime, the Umina Beach Blue Swimmers are liaising with Council and Liesl Tesch MP for support including funding. 

PEARL BEACH MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION RELIABILITY

This issue had been raised in April 2021 with Lucy Wicks, the former MP for Robertson. Lucy Wicks visited Pear Beach with Paul Fletcher, the former Minister responsible for Communication in November 2021.  Then Lucy Wicks MP advised on 18 Jan 2022 that “Pearl Beach has been submitted as a priority location under the PUMP Program (mobile coverage) and we hope to hear from the department about this soon”. Well, despite several follow-ups we did not receive any further information in the lead up to the Federal Election. 

We have now formally requested a meeting with the new Robertson MP Dr Gordon Reid in the hope of his assistance for the many residents of Pearl Beach who continue to experience poor mobile phone connection.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE – PROJECT STATUS

Aust. Govt Black Summer Bush Fire Recovery Grants Program - $91k – installation of all major infrastructure is progressing well to plan.

• Installation by Towards Tomorrow Energy (Simon Duff) of the Solar Power Energy including generator system was completed 26^th July. All that is required following testing and installing the plant cabinet is ‘commissioning’ within the next 7-10 days.  
• Installation by Waterflow Plumbing (Bradley Talbert) is well underway with completion expected by 5^th August and by that date or following week the fire protection sprinkler system will be fully tested.  The only outstanding issue is the installation of the spearpoint for which we are still awaiting Water NSW approval of our licence application. Water NSW wanted to assess the Progress Association, as the owner of the hall land, as a commercial business organisation and charge us $7,044 for the licence. Emails (x2 13 July & 25 May) sent to the Minister Kevin Anderson. In the absence of any acknowledgement/response, we sent an email to Liesl Tesch 21 July seeking her assistance.
• With the back shed making room for the Solar inverters and battery system, the shelving has been changed and certain items considered no longer required have been cleared. The solar inverters and batteries need to be in a locked plant room and an ethernet cable has been installed as the system requires internet controls/monitoring. 
• The NBN is scheduled to be installed by week-ending 5^th August with the modem replacing the existing modem. Once this is completed, there is a phone connection – not for normal use but as an answering service with directions for anyone requiring use of the defibrillators (we are seeking a phone and answering machine if anyone has these no longer in use; please advise secrerary@progressassociation.org.au).
• Final Testing and Commissioning Plan of the Solar System and the Sprinkler System will take place during August. Following this we will be finalising and implementing an Operating instruction document and training within the Safety Advisory Group team, the Progress Association Executive and the local RFS Brigade. Rollout and information sessions will be arranged for the Pearl Beach community as well as our Street Contacts as part of Neighbour Alert – date to be advised.   

Paul Toohey for and on behalf of the Safety Advisory Group

31 July 2022

PROPOSED NEW WELCOME SIGN FOR PEARL BEACH

Brief

To revamp the Welcome to Pearl Beach Sign and improve communication. 

To keep its current purpose of welcoming visitors to Pearl Beach to relocate information about attractions and services available to the community hall. 

To display current events such as meetings and local activities.

To modernise its design.  

To create a clean and simple sign.  To focus on the readability and consolidation of the information.

Scale

Use the scale of the current sign.  Make detail measurements and allow for a cross bar a metre from the ground so temporary signs can be displayed.

The proposed sign is 20 cm shorter than the current sign.

Material

Metal sign and structure.  Metal was chosen on advice from the sign makers as it is the current preferred material and its longevity over timber etc.

Colour

To have a clean, modern and easy to read sign.  White and navy blue similar to the new street signs.

Design

Use up to date design principles and appropriate typography and readability.

The shape of the sign reflects ‘Lion Island’ and  To include the PBPA logo

Use professional graphic designers.  Currently we have a specialist graphic designer, who will undertake future or possible changes to the design after consideration of input from the community.

Budget

Currently there is no budget for design and or manufacture.  It has taken over 6 months of research and design to arrive at this point.  All work has been done gratis.  

Preliminary estimation of cost for aluminium $2000.  $1000 for new noticeboard.

Under consideration is reference to a National Trust Village and reference to the Custodians

THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED FEEDBACK AND A FURTHER SUBMISSION AND DESIGN WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PBPA. FOR CONSIDERATION.
 

Margaret Westcott, Victoria Crawford, Pauline Toohey and Catherine Reilly

Communications Committee

Following the success of the Pearl Beach 90th Anniversary Merchandise the 'Events' sub-committee have designed and produced a Jute Shopping Bagwhich will be promoted at the 'Food & Wine Fare' cost will be $10 each.  The bags would also make great presents to send to family and friends, why not shop early for Christmas !  to purchase contact Lynne on 4344 2319 or Malcolm on 0413 805 024

The recent Night of Song performed by the Pearl Beach Singers, orginated as a Glee Club formed in the nineteen fifties to raise much needed funds to complete the building of the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall by putting on a number of “Grand Concerts”.

This years two concerts were a sell-out and excelled in building on the splendid tradition with a program that surprised and delighted performed by a variety of local talent and enthusiastic musicians – young and old, amateur and professional. The large audiences were invited by MC Extraordinaire John Irvine to Singalong with the Pearl Beach Singers.

The past two years of continual COVID lockdown made it extremely difficult for the Singers to meet on a regular basis, however when possible they got together to rehearse. The concerts would not have been as successful without the number of helpers and volunteers who set-up the hall, provided professional audio, sound and lighting, ticketing and ongoing enthusiasm to ensure the Singers that it would be ‘all right on the night’

Proceeds from the concerts will go toward the Memorial Hall upkeep and maintenance.

Lynne Lillico. 

The “Buddies” is a Pearl Beach Community Social Group, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 12 pm to 2pm in the Community Hall.

All Community Residents are welcome to participate – and be involved in the Group activities, Forums for topics of interest, and the nomination of guest Speakers to join the Group.

A light lunch with coffee and tea is provided, with a $5.00 member contribution to cover the cost.

Contact details:

Di Swalwell – 0499 790 279 or  pearlbeachbuddies@gmail.com

Propagating native plants at home

On 25 September 2022, the Arboretum will be hosting a propagation workshop from 10:00 till 12 noon, run by the Australian Plant Society.  If you are interested, please book a spot by emailing the secretary at secretary@pearlbeacharboretum.org.au .

PBEAT 2022

PBEAT 2022 was a great success.  We had wonderfully creative entries, over 1,000 people through the Arboretum to view them – many several times they loved it so much.  There were many positive comments, and we are running a survey as well to see what interest there may be for future events.

The Central Coast Council and Belle Property sponsored the event and without them we would not have been able to have such a wonderful event .  Nor could we have provided prizes to the winning entrants with Belle’s support.  Malcolm Davison won $1,000 for the people’s choice award for his Octopus’s garden complete with stingrays, sharks, seahorses, turtle and of course octopus.  JoJo Fuller won $1,000 for her Tide Rising with beautiful jellyfish hanging from the trees.  Cecile Ferguson and Anna Westcott won $3,000 for their very colourful Which super wildflower are you?.  Check out our website for a short video.

Phytophthora 

Phytophthora is a water mould that can cause trees to die.  We were concerned that it had killed one of our beautiful Xanthorrhoes (grass trees) on the main track behind the tennis courts.  We temporarily closed the track and had our soil tested by the Department of Primary Industries.  The results showed no Phytophthora or other pathogen that would cause the tree to die.  Their view was that because of all the rain the plant had sat for too long in the wet.

It was a beautiful tree and sad to see it die but it was a relief that we did not have an outbreak of Phytophthora.

Boardwalk destroyed

I think most people are aware that the boardwalk across the wetland was destroyed by the rain earlier in the year.  The volume of water washed out the footings and brought several large trees down.  The Central Coast Council is responsible for the repairs but given its financial state cannot do anything in the near future.  They are looking at various grants which we may be able to access but we fear it may be several years before the boardwalk can be used again.  It is probably going to cost at least $150,000 to replace it. 

Volunteers – including treasurer and auditor

We are seeking volunteers to assist with managing the Arboretum.  As our treasurer, Larry Nelson, is moving out of the village we are seeking a replacement.  We are also seeking an auditor.  If you are interested in either position, please contact the president at president@pearlbeacharboretum.org.au.  

Volunteers to assist with our monthly working bees are always welcome.  The next one is on 18 September from 9:00am to 12 noon.  About 11:00am we stop for morning tea.  We are also seeking input from people with an ecology/environmental/botanical background to assist us with our planning.  If that is you, please contact either the president or secretary so we can talk. 

Victoria Crawford
President
Pearl Beach Arboretum
(Crommelin Native Arboretum Inc.)
president@pearlbeacharboretum.org.au

https://www.pearlbeacharboretum.org.au/

https://www.facebook.com/PearlBeachArboretum/

Central Coast Koala Survey

Brisbane Water National Park is one of 3 sites in NSW chosen as a possible translocation site for Koala Translocation.

Central Coast Council is wanting to understand gaps in knowledge and future projects that can increase the viability of Koala populations on the Central Coast. In 2019 Council completed an acoustic survey across 58 sites, where Koalas were detected at nine sites, with the surveyed sites shown at https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/first-ever-survey-shows-koalas-far-west-region-coast.

As a result of the survey, Council has been working with key stakeholders to identify barriers and opportunities to working towards improved outcomes for Koalas in the region. As a community member with a general interest in Koalas and their long term persistence on the Central Coast and adjacent regions such as Cessnock and Lake Macquarie, please complete our survey which is available at:

https://centralcoastcouncil.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_etZZUx1XORxqQjs and will remain active until the 27^th August.

Kind Regards

Ann Parsons

Vice President

Crommelin Native Arboretum Inc.

0409 249 046

We are back in our stride after the wet weather. Cleaned up Middle Creek area on 6^th of August. We need more, able bodied, people to join us. We always have fun and the morning tea is also most rewarding. I will be putting up the sign at the corner in advance of 3^rd September, letting you know the venue.  
Stephen Parsons. 0448 75 15 95
 

STAY INFORMED about all DA’s lodged in your area

Go to www.planningalerts.org.au You simply enter your address and it will give you information on all submitted DA’s within 2kms . Better still register your email and it will send you alerts when a DA is submitted that is within 2km of your property