The Annual General Meeting of the Lugarno Progress Association was held on Monday 14th February 2000. We had a good attendance at the meeting and I would thank those LPA members who attended. Office bearers elected for 2000 were:

Our February meeting was again attended by our local State member, Mr Kevin Greene. Kevin has become a regular attendee at our meetings and can always assist in answering members concerns or passing onto us some information that we were unaware of.  Kevin also speedily attends to matters that we request he consider and we cannot be appreciative enough for his assistance.

Membership of the LPA is now due! Joining the LPA does not mean that you must attend meetings every month or participate in activities etc. Membership is open to all Lugarno residents and costs $5 for families and $2 for individuals. It is important to join as the money raised from membership dues helps fund the monthly newsletter that seeks to be informative and interesting and other expenses such as insurance, community donations, stationery for correspondence etc. Also the greater the number of members in the LPA, the more credibility we have when we raise issues with Council or other Authorities or ask for assistance with various projects.

A membership drive will be held shortly at Chivers Hill Shopping Centre, so watch out for us during one of the March weekends.

                                                                                                    Rob Clarsen - 9153 5158

At the last LPA meeting a number of concerned residents who live in and near Tate Place or were former residents of this area, raised the matter of the Lugarno boardwalk and emergency services access to the river. They were particularly concerned regarding whether a public boat ramp was being proposed and what impact that might have.

The LPA is supporting the concept of a boardwalk and an emergency services access ramp from where the old ferry used to leave. The boardwalk is proposed to provide access to the waterway for Lugarno residents in a pleasant and environmentally sensitive setting, given that, although Lugarno is on the water, ready access to the waterway is severely limited. The emergency services ramp would be available for use by the Riverkeeper Programme, the Fire Brigade, Ambulance etc. It would not be available on a public basis and would be kept locked.

The old ferry area provides a great deal of history in relation to Lugarno and proper recognition of this seems to be appropriate and would be part of any proposal. The concept of a boardwalk and emergency services ramp has been supported at two recent LPA meetings by a vote of members present.

The concept has a long way to go and requires funding, public consultation, feedback and support. It may also form part of a regional boardwalk strategy as a number of local Council areas have proposed boardwalks under the State Government Georges River Foreshores Improvement Porgramme and the Government is concerned that there by uniformity between proposals.

The January issue of Area 18 for Neighbourhood Watch is now on the website.

Hurstville Police have advised that a number of motor vehicle thefts and thefts from motor vehicle offences have taken place in the Lugarno area:

• thieves have frequently targeted cars in the Lugarno area between 0100 and 0500 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays;
• about 50% of cars stolen are stolen from the street, so if you have off-street parking use it;
• take all personal items including mobile phones, briefcases and handbags with you when parking your car or put them out of sight;
• don't hide valuable when you are already parked! - thieves could be watching you.

Crime statistics for January were:

Neighbourhood Watch has left two books with the LPA for safe keeping:

• The Court is Open
• For Love of Life - the story of the first decade of the NSW ambulance parademics
  

If anyone would like to borrow these books, please call the LPA Secretary (Toni Hulme) on 9584 0410

The website has been updated to show the 1999 LPA Annual Report and also the details of the Year 2000 elected office bearers.

The History of Lugarno is now on the website and is a must read for all residents. It is very interesting and provides background to the various land grants and subdivisions that occurred to create today's Lugarno.

Remember the web address is:

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

Some discussions arose at the last meeting regarding the implementation of a new garbage collection format for Hurstville. Kevin Greene provided us with some background and we understand the following is to occur in the second half of 2000:

• Domestic garbage - 120 litre bin collected weekly
• Domestic recycling - 240 litre bin collected fortnightly - co-mingled service
• Green waste 240 litre bin collected fortnightly for dwellings, villas and townhouses
• Clean-up - two services per annum to residential properties

For garbage collection from home units it is proposed to collect the bins from within the property boundary to overcome the unsightliness and inconvenience of bins being left all over the footpath and roadways.

Council is putting programmes in place prior to implementation to fully explain the operation of the new service to Hurstville residents.

Jazz in the Park is back on again. This great family afternoon will be held on 19 March starting from midday. Admission is free.

Entertainment will be provided by the Little Toot Jazz Band and will also feature the Gunners, plus model radio controlled boats and a replica of the Lugarno Ferry. Donations and proceeds from the day go to the Illawong Bush Fire Brigade which includes the Lugarno area. A BBQ lunch, beer, wine, soft drinks and afternoon tea will be available. Make sure you don't miss this very enjoyable afternoon.

The St George Family Network Hope for the Children in conjunction with the Regency Fine Dining and Family Restaurant at the Mortdale RSL are having a charity deal for the month of March.

Pick up a coupon at either Lugarno Estates or Lugarno Hardware and every time you dine at The Regency Restaurant during March, $1 from every meal purchased will be donated to the St George Family Network.

The Network is part of the Hope for the Children Foundation that aims to assist with the care of children where family situations are under threat of breakdown. The aim being that by keeping the family unit together and assisting, rather than dividing the family unit, a better social result for both the family and the community is achieved.

Hurstville Council's Year 2000 FREE Tree Giveway will be held on ONE DAY ONLY, Sunday 9th April 2000 from 9.00am to 4.00pm at Mortdale Memorial Park, corner of Boundary Road, Oxford Street and Martin Place, Mortdale.

Council is giving away free trees to each resident. Trees improve our environment, provide a haven for wildlife and enhance the beauty of our city.

Arrangements can be made to deliver trees to the elderly or people with physical disabilities.

Residents will be given two (2) free trees to suit their location after presentation of a Hurstville Council rate notice.

A Free Sausage Sizzle is being held by St. George Central Rotary and the Tree Giveway is being held in association with St George Earth Works and the National Trust.

Click here to see Tree Giveaway Poster.

   »  St Stephen's Church Hall (Opposite Allwood Crescent)
   »  Councillor Joanne Morris will be attending and providing the Council report
   »  Tea & coffee available after the meeting