Post Election Thanks

To all our supporters

Thanks for all your hard work and time spent over the last few weeks, and particularly on election day itself. At present we are sitting in fifth place on the primary vote count, with 11% of the votes counted so far. It's too hard to tell if we are going to improve upon this or not as there are still the pre-poll votes to count before we move into considerations of preferences, and whether voters have actually followed their respective party preference suggestions or simply voted for their chosen candidate alone.

What I can tell you is that with some 640 votes in the Wingala polling booth we scored the highest individual booth score for the whole of B Ward, and the second highest for the entire Warringah area! Not bad for a campaign that only started about 6 weeks ago, and on a shoe-string budget.

There are so many people that I would like to thank for their input in achieving the level of success that we have so far, and I hope to have the opportunity to do that personally over time, but I will just make a special mention of Tony Recsei, the President of SOS NSW, and his wife Greta, who went out of their way to travel over from Warrawee to spend the whole of election day at a polling booth in Manly Vale. Thank you both for your support.

For the time being we can only sit back and await the process of vote counting and preference allocation to be followed through, and maybe cross our fingers! Even if we do not achieve a Councillor position we have managed to raise the issues on our platform to a level where the other parties have had to take them on board and commit to a position to follow if elected. Be assured that this is only the beginning for Save Our Suburbs Warringah, and whether we are successful this time or not we will certainly continue to be active in the Warringah community.

One Day To Go!

Hello everyone and Happy Day Before Election Day!!!

Well, the campaign’s been short and sharp – and tomorrow’s the big day. Here’s hoping for a huge vote for new ideas and a fresh approach.
We’ve run this campaign on issues that are important to making this a stronger and more inspired community. That’s what this election is all about – getting a council that has both the vision to build a wonderful community and the know-how to make responsible decisions in everyone’s best interests.
I am so excited at the prospect of representing you on Council. I firmly believe that our Save Our Suburbs team has what it takes to make a real difference and, as we’ve been saying, put knowledge before politics.
Save Our Suburbs Warringah arose from the frustration our community has felt over the issues surrounding John Fisher Park. Local residents have been sidelined on the JFP netball debate for too long – by both the dysfunctional previous Council and the Administrator. This has got to stop.
Be confident that it is not too late. The Administrator’s plan for JFP hasn’t been implemented yet and the new council is in a position to stop it until a proper solution is found – one that is inclusive of everyone, not just sports users.
JFP is just the start. There are new issues on the horizon all the time. Dee Why Town Centre is a great case in point – but also here in B-Ward we have the current proposal for a huge development by Harbord Diggers Club on the Curl Curl/Freshwater Headland.
There’s a lot for the new council to do. It is absolutely imperative we elect people who will not bow to special interests. We deserve a council which will make decisions for the whole community.
Here’s to a great outcome tomorrow.

John Fisher Park - breakfast with the bulldozers

Just to update you; there was a gathering this morning (5th Sept) at John Fisher Park to protest at Council’s intention to push ahead with hard surfacing of a substantial area of the park for hard surface netball courts. The attendance at this protest was across party lines with those attending including our State representative Mike Baird, as well as current B Ward candidates Jim Boyce (We Love Warringah), Christina Kirsch and Ian Hehir (The Greens), Chris Thomas (Save Our Suburbs), and also included Manly Save Our Suburbs candidate Tim Fiddes.

Council produced a second layout for the courts yesterday to replace the one that was issued out last week and then immediately withdrawn. This smacks of knee-jerk reactions to the community objections to this unwanted development. Are we going to see another plan next week?

John Fisher Park - act now

Council staff have confirmed this week that Council is intending to start work before the forthcoming local government election to install more areas of bitumen netball courts at John Fisher Park.

This sort of action is precisely why Save Our Suburbs has candidates standing in this election. Council is pressing ahead with this action despite vast objection from the community, and without following any due process in terms of a development application and impact studies being publically exhibited.

Voice your concern immediately to Council, the Minister for Local Government and your local State Member Mike Baird.

Sunday's Picnic in the Park

The sun came out on Sunday for our 'meet the candidates' day. Thanks to all who came - your enthusiasm was contagious! Between taking a stab at just how many jelly beans fit in a cereal container, munching on chicken burgers and discussing issues close to our hearts, some good ideas came up that all three candidates have taken on board.

It still seems that most people we've spoken with are keen to see new faces on council. We can definitely help out there.

The health of Curl Curl lagoon was also on people's minds and you can be sure that we're right behind its rehabilitation.

And then, of course, Netball. As most of you know, we're not anti-sport and having been a netball player on those very courts myself, we're not anti-netball (forgive the double negative). We'd just like to see the existing facilities used in a smarter way. See the entry below: Sport and Recreation - An SOS Warringah priority

If anyone's got comments to make on those frequently-raised topics from the picnic, please add them below. Discussion is where it's at.

Sustainable Development - An SOS Warringah Priority

We will work to establish Warringah as a model of sustainable development. The Save Our Suburbs team will take into account social, economic and environmental factors in every decision.

In particular, we will strive to accommodate urban growth sensibly and sustainably by encouraging new housing to be developed in areas in which it makes sense in terms of employment opportunities, transport and social services.

Local Focus - Regional Co-operation

Our focus is local, but we also believe that, working co-operatively, Councils on the Northern Beaches can achieve much for our communities.

The SOS team will take a regional approach on the common issues that affect us all. Issues such as local transport planning, environment, employment and social services, will all be better managed if we work together.

Sport and Recreation - An SOS Warringah priority

The SOS team will work to promote a diversity of sporting and recreational opportunities for all. This means developing new facilities and maintaining existing ones so that everyone can enjoy their chosen recreation and open spaces do not become the exclusive domain of the few.

A wide diversity of non-sporting activities must be also be provided. We will work to make sure that Council's facilities are available to all and that opportunities for residents to participate in art, music, dance, community education and other cultural pursuits are expanded.

Save Our Suburbs Warringah names its candidates

On Friday 8th August 2008, grassroots community group Save Our Suburbs (SOS) announced its entry into the Warringah Council election campaign, standing 3 candidates in B Ward.

Chris Thomas is a practising architect. He already has experience of working with Council through his involvement with both the John Fisher Park Advisory Committee and the Sportsfield Rectification Committee. Chris has been a resident of Warringah for 12 years, involving himself in a host of community and sporting activities. He lives in Curl Curl with his wife and young son.

Andrew Speers is an environmental and water management practitioner, who has previously been a member of the Harbord Community Bank Board and an owner of The Childcare Group which until recently operated childcare centres at Freshwater and Manly Vale. Andrew is married with 3 children and lives in Freshwater. He has lived in Warringah for 22 years.

Paula Cowan, an educator, has a long history of involvement in the grassroots democracy group GetUp! Paula is passionately concerned with issues affecting Warringah's youth. Paula is married and lives in Curl Curl where she has resided for the past 5 years.

SOS Warringah - Picnic in the Park - Sunday 24 August

On Sunday afternoon, 24th August 2008, the Save Our Suburbs Candidates for Warringah Council will be holding a picnic in the park - Stirgess Avenue Park, Curl Curl.

This will be a great opportunity to come along and meet us and hear what we propose to bring to Warringah when the Council returns to democracy after five years under the Administrator.

This is such an important time for Warringah. It's vital that the new Councillors are able to rise above the problems the Council had in the past and bring a new form of intelligent and informed governance. Warringah residents deserve no less.

That's why we will always make decisions based on knowledge and fairness - not politics.

The Save Our Suburbs Candidates wish to know what issues are of importance to you.

Let us know through this blog, or come along on this Sunday from midday and tell us yourself.