Just an update from my initial post in the interest of providing a balanced report:

Council's proposal does seek to instate a 3 metre public right of way at the beach end of lots 34, 36, 38 and 40 to link the boat ramp to the park area to the east, which would be a good outcome. It is, however, dependent on the owners of lot 38 agreeing to the acquisition of the beachfront end of their property, which is not a certainty.

Hi All,

The issue of whether Little Manly Beach public land is to be sold off is to be decided at the Manly Council chambers on Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm. Come along and let Council know what you think.


Below is an update on Little Manly from the Manly Open Space Supporters:

We have had a very successful Rally on Australia Day both outside the Council Chambers and at Little Manly Beach. People are becoming aware and angry. They do not want these two properties to be sold. We have also handed out flyers and gathered signatures for the above petition on Friday at the Manly Wharf.

People were very happy to think that they would have an extended park at No 34 and 36 Stuart St. The boat ramp , dinghy storage and park at the back of 34 Stuart St is already used daily by kayakers, sailors rigging their boats and divers. They were astonished when they heard it was to be sold.

Now people are angry at this sudden and unnecessary Sale of Public space on their beloved Little Manly Beach. It makes no sense at all.

The park at the back of 36 Stuart St is usually full of people relaxing.The elderly and disabled are able to sit safely there in the shade. Families picnic there. They were heartbroken when they heard, their park already in use, was to be sold.

Everybody is querying the reasons for the sale of 34 and 36 Stuart St.

It can't be the money people are saying. What about Section 94 (developer contribution) monies set aside for the purchase of the Stuart St properties? At last reckoning approximately $1 million.

Why is the Council borrowing $15 million dollars to rebuild the swimming pool? Why is The Council thinking of spending $ 75 million dollars for a carpark under the football oval?

The Council can't afford to keep it's public space!! Is it publicly owned Sydney Harbour Foreshore properties that have to be sold!! Shouldn't the Council just stop the grandiose building projects????

Councils look after their community don't they ?? A park is a place of joy for people forever.

Little Manly Precinct has always voted overwhelmingly for a park and did again in December 2012. So why isn't Manly Council listening to the community????


We are asking you to come to the Manly Council chambers when the isssue will be decided on Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm . Make your wishes known to your representatives. Let them know we live in a democracy. Be there.

A public harbour foreshore park is our right and our children's inheritance.

Please send emails to the Councillors and State and Federal politicians and Copy us in at lmopenspace@hotmail.com so that we know your emails are getting through.

Thank you.

Manly Open Space Supporters

************************************************************

Councillors for the land sale: jean.hay@manly.nsw.gov.au, steve.pickering@manly.nsw.gov.au, adele.heasman@manly.nsw.gov.au, alan.lesurf@manly.nsw.gov.au
Councillors against the land sale: Barbara Aird (Airdba@manly.nsw.gov.au,), hugh.burns@dugeem.net , candy@bingham.com.au
Councillors abstaining: cathy.griffin@manly.nsw.gov.au , James Griffin (Griffinja@manly.nsw.gov.au)
Council Records:records@manly.nsw.gov.au

As public foreshore land is important to all people in NSW, ask the State and Federal governments to intervene:

Mike Baird, State Member for Manly, 02 9976 2773 manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Barry O'Farrell, Premier of NSW, office@premier.nsw.gov.au
Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au
John Robertson, State Opposition Leader, Leader.opposition @ parliament.nsw.gov.au
Don Page, Minister for Local Government, office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au
David Shoebridge, Greens, david.shoebridge@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, via website: www.pm.gov.au
Tony Abbott, Federal member for the area, Leader of the Opposition, tony.abbott.mp@aph.gov.au
Sydney Morning Herald: letters@smh.com.au
Manly Daily: editor@manlydaily.com.au, letters@manlydaily.com.au

From: Manly Open Space Supporters [mailto:lmopenspace@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, 8 February 2013 1:48 PM
To: Manly Open Space Supporters
Subject: Council meeting Monday 11 February 2013 at 7.30pm

The rescission motion for the proposed sale of 34 and 36 Stuart St is on Manly Council's agenda for Monday 11 February at 7.30 pm

It is most important that you make every possible effort to attend this meeting. It is held at Council's Chambers at the end of the Corso, opposite the ferry wharf. Come at 7pm to be sure to get a seat.

You enter via the large front doors and go up stairs inside to the Council chamber. The public gallery is quite small, but it is important that it is overflowing as this is how Council gauges the depth of public opinion!! If it becomes very full, we can also congregate outside under the First Floor Council window where Councillors can see (and hear) us if they take notice. The issue will be discussed early on so you won't be there all night. There are people speaking for us in opposition to the sale, and your support will be very much appreciated.

Council keeps saying that not many people are concerned about this issue. From the many, and very eloquent, emails you have sent, it is clear there is very widespread opposition to this sale of public Harbour Foreshore. This is your best way to show the depth of your opposition. Come along at 7.30 for half an hour or so.

If Council rejects the rescission motion, and confirms that they propose to sell the foreshore properties, then there are some further actions to be pursued - but attending this meeting is the most important action you can take at present.

Our email list has gone from 150 to over 700, and Facebook LIKES are over 1400 - but this opposition needs to actually be observed. We look forward to seeing you there. We cannot stress too much the importance of a good attendance.

*******************************

If you have not already done so, please send emails to the Councillors and State and Federal politicians. The Councillors voting for sale are all Liberal Council members, although the community parkland proposal at 34 and 36 Stuart St had previously been supported across all parties. Ask Mr Baird, Mr Abbott and Mr O'Farrell if they can influence their Party colleagues to have more concern for the public good.


Copy us in at lmopenspace@hotmail.com so that we know your emails are getting through.

Tell them how you value Little Manly

Thank you.

Manly Open Space Supporters


************************************************************

Councillors for the land sale: jean.hay@manly.nsw.gov.au, steve.pickering@manly.nsw.gov.au, adele.heasman@manly.nsw.gov.au, alan.lesurf@manly.nsw.gov.au
Councillors against the land sale: Barbara Aird (Airdba@manly.nsw.gov.au,), hugh.burns@dugeem.net , candy@bingham.com.au
Councillors abstaining: cathy.griffin@manly.nsw.gov.au , James Griffin (Griffinja@manly.nsw.gov.au)
Council Records:records@manly.nsw.gov.au

As public foreshore land is important to all people in NSW, ask the State and Federal governments to intervene:

Mike Baird, State Member for Manly, 02 9976 2773 manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Barry O'Farrell, Premier of NSW, office@premier.nsw.gov.au
Brad Hazzard, Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, office@hazzard.minister.nsw.gov.au
John Robertson, State Opposition Leader, Leader.opposition @ parliament.nsw.gov.au
Don Page, Minister for Local Government, office@page.minister.nsw.gov.au
David Shoebridge, Greens, david.shoebridge@parliament.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, via website: www.pm.gov.au
Tony Abbott, Federal member for the area, Leader of the Opposition, tony.abbott.mp@aph.gov.au
Sydney Morning Herald: letters@smh.com.au
Manly Daily: editor@manlydaily.com.au, letters@manlydaily.com.au

Hi All,

Just thought I'd let you know the outcome of the Council vote...

We lost.

Pretty sad evening really. The Libs failed to present any sort of cogent argument, had all of their 'reasons' debunked, dismissed the overflowing public gallery as not being a true representation of the electorate and then voted as a block to ensure the land is sold, with Madam Mayor casting the deciding vote.

And there ends the 50 year promise of a public foreshore at Little Manly.

Watch out for Libs coming to public open space near you!

Wollemi said...

And so the land extending down to the information board (well, a frame at least as it is currently) and the standalone sandstone wall and seat will remain?

The area to which you refer will now be private property and can be built on, fenced off, etc at the owner's discretion. So the area for rigging, meeting, etc adjacent the boat ramp is gone.

The really big thing that has changed however is that the plan of the last 50 years to acquire 34, 36, 38 and 40, to create a contiguous public foreshore has just taken a huge step backwards. All four of these properties are currently zoned as open space in line with this plan. Council currently owns 34, 36 and 40, so it was only the purchase of 38 preventing the realisation of the public foreshore. Instead, this Council has decided to sell off 34 and 36 and to rezone 34, 36 and 38 as residential. The Council is not in any financial hardship, so one can only guess at the real reason behind this sale and rezoning. (Here's a clue though, look at who benefits from the rezoning.)

When I first found out about the selloff I went in to Council and asked the Duty Planner what was going on. The Duty Planner was completely unaware of the resolution to sell, which shows that the Liberal Councillors have concocted this plan without even consulting their own planning department. The whole thing stinks.

It was a long tense emotional meeting at council last night.
David spoke for the community and he was so cool. Councillor Le Surf try to trap him and trick him but David was too smart and stuck to the facts.
Unfortunately we didn't get the result.
The result we wanted was proper democratic debate for this area.
What the council did may have even been illegal!
There is something going on at manly council and its not good.



I think the only way forward is a well published investigation in the media. But how do you do that?

Info passed on to Seven News journo in Sydney newsroom... prey for a quite news day and it might get a cursory glance across the production desk !

I heard ACCC and four corners are having a look at it. It would be great if seven got it too.
7 is going great with My Kitchen Rules. lots watching that network.