29 Nov HOW TO VOTE FOR LANE COVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

West Ward candidates on the Nose in Lane Cove

Following the long-awaited retirement of Polythene Pam Palmer, or Napalm Pam as she was also fondly known, formerly representing East Ward, and Karola Brent representing Central Ward, it’s now up to West Ward voters to finish the job of cleaning out Lane Cove Council.

Scott Bennison and Daniel Strassberg must be voted out in West Ward. These two rogues have long voted against the best interests of the many thousands of Lane Cove residents who have worked so hard to persuade councillors that Craig Wrightson (WRONGson) and his executive team are out-of-step on the key issues threatening Lane Cove’s natural heritage and our long-standing favourite locales.

(Visit the many articles on this website about how our unloved, error-ridden, Craig Wrightson-influenced Council is always tripping over itself because it is so out-of-step with their community).

Because of our Council’s unpopularity and its well-documented roughshod development practices there are now any number of major resident groups in action against them.

Our resident groups have all at times painstakingly, methodically and democratically lobbied Council and its retiring councillors to genuinely reflect the wishes of the many thousands of petitioners and emotionally and philosophically exhausted members of men, women, children – and dogs, who want no more ‘shock-em, shoot-em and ask-em-later’ tactics from their council.

This is how one local group has summarised some key issues that retiring councillors Polythene Pam Palmer, Karola Brent, and long-term West Ward outliers Scott Bennison and Daniel Strassberg have conspired to bungle with Craig Wrightson’s cronies:

GOLF COURSE – SPORT & REC BUILDING

Council is proposing to build a gigantic $52 million sports complex at the golf course, against the wishes of community. There is no valid evidence that it is needed or wanted. Also, it will create massive traffic problems on River Rd. (Plus loss of brilliant music and entertainment venue).

ST LEONARDS SOUTH (SLS)

Council has approved re-zoning of land between Greenwich Rd and Canberra Ave. High rise towers will contain 2000 apartments in this very small area. Again, against the wishes of the community, and creating massive traffic problems on River Rd

DOG POLICY KINGSFORD SMITH OVAL (KSO)

Families and dogs have played happily here for many years. Now some Councillors want to remove or restrict dogs from this public space. (Council’s solutions are dangerous to children, seniors and dogs)!

BOB CAMPBELL OVAL (BCO)

Council has signed a contract to replace natural grass with synthetic grass. This will destroy the natural beauty of this precious environmentally sensitive area. Families and dogs’ recreation will be enormously restricted by the proposed fencing. Again, against the wishes of community and ignoring submissions of 1500 residents.  Hopefully, Council will be stopped by a State Government review.

266 LONGUEVILLE RD, BLAXLANDS CORNER

Council re-zoned this recreational land to commercial  and then sold a 99 year lease to a private developer.  Again, against wishes of community and creating enormous traffic and parking congestion.

In East Ward, Merri Southwood, the hardworking president of the Greenwich Community Association is so concerned that she has taken the huge decision to stand herself as an Independent at this election. Our vote goes with her, with special mention also to our stalwart Independent Frances Vissel who has stood so firmly against much wrongful pressure from Craig Wrightson’s team of goons. David Brooks-Horn is also no fan of development at Bob Campbell Oval, but still needs to better consider the many different options for the impending Golf Club disaster.

SOS, another popular local community group in Lane Cove has launched a campaign for this election to “help save the character of our suburb including precious parklands, green space and wild-life in Lane Cove in the Gore Creek Valley which is home to the Lane Cove Golf Course.

“There is a misconception that the proposed multi storey sports facility for which the Council has lodged a DA (DA 64/2021) was the subject of the recent community panel. It was not. The community panel was only asked to decide what should happen to the green space left after part of the golf course is carved out to build the multi storey sports facility.

This facility will destroy forever 120+ mature trees and the animals that live in them”.

Thank you to the SOS community group for all their hard yards in the public interest, and their own woefully predictable tale of deceptive council behaviour.

Also read this website about the imminent loss of so much world-famous musical entertainment and vital community activities as the club faces the wrecking balls of Craig Wrightson and his atonal, culture-starved executives/minions.

‘Band leader Billy Burton used to record with the best of them. As well as his own band recordings on Australia’s famous Festival Records he has played with the many of the real ‘greats’ of the international music industry including Dusty Springfield, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. Maybe some of the Council staff have heard of them.

‘The legendary George Golla has been a regular player at this great Lane Cove venue. One of the world’s great guitarists, the always modest Golla — another Festival Records/Cherry Pie star — is also one of the finest jazz and instrumental teachers of our time, partnering in performance and education with other greats like Don Burrow and James Morrison, nurturing legions of musicians and singers along the way. As well as playing at the oh-so-famous international Newport Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival, George, like Billy Burton has played for decades at our humble little club at Lane Cove.’

Besides performers such as Golla and Burton, the Lane Cove Country Club hosted long-term and very long lunches with Martin Erdmann a legendary Australian music figure who produced huge projects such as I Still Call Australia Home, The Rocky Horror Show Australian Cast version, hits such as Life Is Getting Better for Flake, Unforgotten Dreams for King Fox and Harry Young and Sabbath’s The Wheat In The Field.

Martin’s lunches at our local club were legendary in the music industry and often featured great guests including visiting rock stars, home grown pop heroes and even a member of Status Quo who lived in Sydney. (Sadly, both Martin Erdmann and Alan Lancaster of Status Quo are no longer around to entertain us).

In Central Ward, four candidates are supported by the necessarily ubiquitous community group Natural Grass@ BCO: Kathy Bryla – Labor, Bridget Kennedy – Independent, Katherine Mort – Liberal and Jerem Zwart – Independent and founder of the Open Park Movement, who write on their website:

“Having known each other for many years through our pets’ interactions at Kingsford Smith Oval, we realised that we share a common vision for Lane Cove.

​“Together, and by providing a commitment to decisions that work for all residents of Lane Cove, our independent team of Jerem Zwart, Vanessa Walker and Paul Mirabelle, can make a difference on Council and ensure the views of various stakeholders are actually listened to and fairly considered.”

At Lane Cove Action we are backing Jerem’s team because we are aware of the unfulfilling experiences his team has had lobbying Lane Cove Council with so many well researched and community backed proposals and smartly crafted communications – only to have it thrown back at them – as is Craig Wrightson and his sidekicks’ only modus operandi when they don’t get what they want, despite the fact they are not residents. (See main illustration above).

OUR SUMMARY:

West Ward TOSS the tossers Scott Bennison and Daniel Strassberg.

East Ward Vote for Greenwich and Merri Southwood, then also consider Frances Vissel.

Central Ward Vote Jerem Zwart for open parks and a properly consultative council.

AND ask your candidate and councillor to put the heat on Craig Wrightson to consider his future rather than ruining Lane Cove’s.

Status Quo no more:  Councillors Scott Bennison and Daniel Strassberg performing ‘Roll Over Lay Down and Let Me In’ at Lane Cove Council Chambers annual Craig Wrightson benefit night.