Yates Lugarno Newsagency		Sanders First National Real Estate
	Lugarno Hardware		Bruce Glanville's Lugarno Estates
	Lugarno Meats		Australia Post Lugarno
	James Meats		Lugarno Seafood Restaurant

Their support and assistance was very much appreciated.

We would also like to thank Hurstville Council and our Ward Councillors for responding to our issues and attending and supporting our meetings. We hope to continue this working relationship into 2000.

Our first meeting of 2000 will be held on Monday 14 February and will also be the Annual General Meeting. At this meeting we will be presenting 1999's accounts and electing the new Executive Committee and Office Bearers for the year. If you are interested in getting involved, then come along. The Committee normally meets once a month in the week after the monthly meeting.

Don't forget membership fees are due from 1st January and can be paid at Lugarno Real Estate at Lime Kiln Road or Lugarno Hardware at Chivers Hill. Remember, you must be a paid up financial member to vote at the AGM.

If you wish to know any more about the LPA and what we get involved in, please don't hesitate to give me a call.
                                                                                                    Rob Clarsen - 9153 5158

Crime statistics for November were:

Don't forget if you are entertaining in the back section of your house, make sure the front is secure. There's a chance a thief can slip in unnoticed when there's a crowd around.

Also, engravers are available at Lugarno Hardware and Lugarno Estates to engrave all those new Christmas acquisitions!

The LPA Website continues to progress thanks to the work of the National Trust. They will be updating the History of Lugarno information with content provided by the Hurstville Historical Society. In addition, they have put the Council's application form requesting a tree inspection on to the website. This can be downloaded from the site for those LPA members and Lugarno residents requesting a tree inspection . The web address is:

www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/lugarno.html

Hurstville Council has two Tree Preservation Officers. They receive 50-60 requests a week through Hurstville City regarding tree inspections for lopping and/or removal. All requests must be in writing and inspections are aimed to occur one week from receipt of request.

The criteria upon which recommendations are based are:

• tree is dead, dying or dangerous
• is causing structural damage to the house and its surrounds

Requests are judged on merit and removal is only considered as a last resort. Often alternatives such as root pruning or root barriers can be used quite successfully;

If a request to prune or remove a tree is not approved, then a report to Ward Councillors is usually done and the Ward Councillors can undertake an inspection of the tree.

Tree removal and lopping requests form part of the Council business papers which are considered by Council at its Ordinary Meeting (every three weeks) and are available on Council's website.

The LPA website has a direct link to Council's business papers, so trees being considered for lopping or removal can be viewed here.

The NSW State Government has recently announced the Georges River Foreshores Improvement Programme and has set aside $1.5m for projects within local Council areas along the Georges River which meet the following criteria:

• provide a broad range of recreational opportunities in the foreshores area;
• protect and regenerate the natural environment of the foreshore
• promote partnerships between community, industry, environmental groups and government bodies;
• implement best practice in foreshore land management.
  

The LPA together with the Georges River Keeper Program has combined to request consideration be given to a communal ramp facility and centralized public jetty and boardwalk in the Georges River catchment. The proposed location is in Edith Bay and aims to:

• provide access for local authorities in the event of emergency situation along and across the river
• bring the public to the foreshore to passively enjoy the assets the river has to offer;
• increase community involvement and awareness of the local environment;
• monitor water quality and assist authorities in the prosecution of river pollution breaches;
• link public transport to this historic site.

The application was lodged with the Department of Urban Affairs & Planning for consideration on 23rd December, 1999. The River Keeper Program is hopeful of a response from the State Government early in 2000. Hurstville Council has also been contacted regarding support for the project. We'll keep you informed of its progress.

   »  St Stephen's Church Hall (Opposite Allwood Crescent)
   »  This will also be the Annual General Meeting and Election of Officebearers         for 2000
   »  Tea & coffee available after the meeting