Category: Crag Archives

NSW Fire Brigades and Willoughby City Council’s Bushfire Crew successfully completed a hazard reduction burn in bushland on the Castlecrag Northern Escarpment near Sunnyside Crescent on 28 and 29 July.

The aims of the burn were to provide protection to surrounding properties in the event of a future wildfire and to maintain diversity of native plant species. Considerable planning and preparation was required by Willoughby City Council’s Bushfire Crew to ensure effective bushfire management. The crew developed a detailed burn plan of the area that included conservation of cultural heritage sites, bushland vegetation and wildlife habitat and property protection.

The burn area was prepared by cutting down standing vegetation and leaving it to season for a year before burning. This helps ensure that a hot burn is achieved to assist the regeneration of plant species. The preparation also reduces available fire fuel over the area and the burn can be conducted safely. This burn preparation technique also minimises air pollution and reduces the amount of water needed to manage the burn.

The crew had to await ideal weather conditions on 28 and 29 July this year to carry out the burn, which was most successful. The burn area will continue to be maintained by Willoughby City Council staff to ensure weeds are controlled. The public can assist the native plant regeneration throughout the burn area by sticking to the paths to enable plants to regenerate and to reduce erosion. A successful pile burn was carried out in Casement Reserve on 13 September also.

Keep a close watch on this area, as the regeneration occurs over the next year. An abundance of beautiful native wildlife flowers is expected to flourish on the site. If you require further information on how to protect your house during the fire season, please contact Willoughby Council on 9777 1000.

Rebecca Hill, WCC

On Sunday 18 September, approximately 40 residents gathered at the Stoker Playground on Edinburgh Road, for the Inauguration of the Edinburgh Road Tree Planting program, as well as the official opening of the refurbished Stoker Playground.

The Progress Association put forward the tree planting program to Council as a Centenary of Federation project in 2001. We envisaged a project that would improve the presentation of Edinburgh Road with a fine avenue of locally indigenous trees.

For the ceremony, 13 Banksias, of a planned 100 trees, were planted along the southern side of Edinburgh Road. In addition to being a local species, this tree has been chosen for its relative ease of pruning around electrical wires. A number of long-standing residents participated in the event.

The Mayor of Willoughby Pat Reilly and Mrs Reilly were present for the planting and the opening of Stoker Playground, as two of Phyllis and Michael Stoker’s children, Annette and Kathy spoke of their parents’ contribution to the Castlecrag Community. Michael Stoker moved to Castlecrag in 1935 at the invitation of the Griffins and was active in local theatre group activities. He and Phyl returned to ‘The Crag’ in 1942 and established a registered child-minding centre, which expanded to become the Castlecrag Kinder-garten. Several of those present had attended that centre.

The Stoker Playground upgrade is one of many planned open space refurbishments in the City of Willoughby. As Mayor Reilly highlighted, the design and fit-out of Stoker Playground is very much in keeping with, and complementary to, the unique character of Castlecrag.

The playground is once again enjoying much use from families. For those who visit the playground, have a look at the rubber mat surrounding the castle. (The mat is made in the shape of the Castlecrag Peninsula!)

Jennifer Kos

The Castlecrag Community Centre Committee has finalised the installation of the Castlecrag Infants’ School plaque in a prominent position at the Community Centre.

As reported in the last issue of The Crag (No. 156, 2), Willoughby City Council arranged for the restoration of the plaque by International Conservation Services. As shown in our photo below left, the plaque is again in pristine condition with the motto, ‘Together We Grow’, the centre of attention. The plaque is an important symbol of our community’s achievements and the Progress Association expresses its thanks to Council and the Committee for this outstanding result.

NSW Minister for Planning, The Hon. Frank Sartor, has released a Discussion Paper (title above) sketching proposed ‘reforms’ to the NSW planning system at State and Local levels. It has enthusiastic support from the Coalition for Planning Reform, an alliance of 14 major development industry and planning organisations. However the 152 Councils of the Local Government Association and the Shires Association, community groups and individuals have grave reservations and suspicions.

The Castlecrag Progress Association has long argued for more consistent and simple criteria for decision–making in planning and development proposals, but shares LGA’s concerns. Specifically, all local progress associations are joining LGA’s call for a proper consultation period, aiming to settle non-contentious reforms by July and the rest by December.

This article spans the 142 page proposal and its impacts on Castlecrag residents, homes and amenity. Our planning cub-committee has researched a Special Report for consideration by the committee and submission to NSW Planning. Issues include:

Aims for the Planning system: The Paper seeks to encourage more sustainable developments, to be transparent and accountable; to ensure the economic use of resources and time; to achieve consistency and simplicity with clear agreed systems for decision-making; and to ensure an equal and fair approach to all decisions for all participants. These generalities are unexceptionable; it is the proposed methods that are causing concern.

Plan-making: Three levels of ‘Environmental Planning Instruments’, State, regional and local government, govern land use and economic development in NSW. Their effectiveness depends on consistency between the different levels, the quality of the plans, their clarity for ease of use and the effectiveness of their application ‘on the ground’. Your Progress Association supports the principle that planning instruments and development controls need to be clear and definitive; that we residents need to know what we are permitted to do—and what developers are permitted to do. We also believe that effective plan-making requires high levels of community participation, as it is a prime object of the Environmental Protection & Assessment Act: ‘to provide increased opportunity for public involvement and participation in environmental planning and assessment’. The Paper is not clear as to whether future plan-making would require public consultation, or whether a Council would be able to amend the Planning Department’s standard template LEP to address the special needs of a local area.

Development assessment and review:The Paper aims to move to a ‘tailored assessment system’ that depends on the scale, risk and complexity of local environmental plans and development projects. Developments for single dwellings and alterations less than $1 million are deemed ‘minor’. Criteria for ‘exempt’ and ‘complying’ development would be revised to ‘achieve fast and simple approvals for single dwellings and other minor developments and to take volume out of the assessment system’ in order to increase the proportion of DA’s in these categories from 10 per cent to 50 per cent within four years. Where a DA is assessed to be fully ‘complying’ with the applicable code, a certifier (council or private) may approve the development. A courtesy note is proposed to notify affected neighbours and there would be no right of appeal for complying development. New procedures are set out for ‘minor non-compliance’, but a full DA to Council would be required where a DA does not comply with relevant codes. First-level appeal would be to a ‘planning arbitrator’ for a non-legal informal review. Only then could a further appeal go to the Court. A list of approved ‘planning arbitrators’ would be established by the Department and Councils.

The Progress Association supports clearer development controls that reduce non-complying DAs. However, the special circumstances of particular sites must be recognised and addressed. With its diverse topography, scenic and bushland areas and important Conservation Area, Castlecrag requires a more flexible approach to the treatment of DAs (both residential and commercial) to allow innovative solutions to development in our special geographic and social environment.

Private Certifiers: The role of private certifiers in the planning system remains controversial. The Paper proposes addressing perceived and actual conflicts of interest by strengthening the registration and auditing of private certifiers and broadened and mandatory training for certifiers. A key issue is whether private certification is an accountable and transparent system of accreditation, compared with the present system of elected Councillors making these decisions after consulting the community.
Please read the Discussion Paper at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/planning_reforms and a Commentary by the Environmental Defender’s Office (a not-for-profit legal centre specializing in public interest environmental law) at http://www.edo.org.au:80/edonsw/site/papers/planning_reforms071210.php

Bruce Wilson

“Mark your calendar for the 5th of June,” my friend told me. “You’ve been recruited to help with the Castlecrag Fair and it’s going to be the BEST ever!” So promised the organizer of the big day, and she kept her word. With good weather, great planning and lots of participants running stalls, entertaining and just volunteering, her promise was good.

I arrived early on the ‘Big Day’ to help set up, then with my family, walked to the Fair mid-morning. My children could not believe their great fortune when they laid their eyes on the jumping castle and spinning teacups, and realised that they would be spending a large part of the day at the Fair (as Mum was helping out).
The children ate their way through the food stalls, enjoyed the sounds of the musical acts and even found some treasure (in their eyes) at the Trash & Treasure staff operated by the Progress Association. Luckily, they spotted the fairy floss much later in the day.

With some calls of protest from the little ones, we made out way home at the close of the Fair and went straight to the bathtub to unstick the fairy floss fingers and faces. What a great day out!

As a fairly recent transplant to Castlecrag, I am thankful that I live in this gem of a suburb. It is great to have such a supportive local business community, because without them events such as the fair would not occur. I am also thankful to have a friend who forces me to step outside of my comfortable box, meet new people and be a part of something bigger.

Now, if only my three year-old will stop asking, “Can we go to the Castlecrag Fair today?”

Jennifer Kos

Griffin Reserves Community Forum

What do you know about our reserves, walkways and road islands incorporated by Walter Burley Griffin into his landscape plan for what is now the Castlecrag Conservation Area, and their ongoing management? Here is your chance to learn about this unique feature of our suburb—as detailed on page x. Willoughby City Council invites all Castlecrag residents to a community forum on Thursday 6 March 2008 at the Community Centre. The Forum will address the significance of the Griffin Reserve System, provide a briefing on the restoration works that have been completed over the past ten years and discuss future management issues. The guest speaker will be James Weirick, Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of New South Wales and a leading scholar on the Griffins’ work. This is a special opportunity to become better informed about the Griffin Reserve System and to raise matters relating to their future management. The forum will be held at the Castlecrag Community Centre from 7-9pm on 6 March.

Sally’s Bookshop

Sally Crawford’s bookshop has become a special retreat for many Castlecrag residents and visitors to our suburb since Sally and her team relocated their business here in November 2006. Since then they have become an important part of our community, hosting several book launches, a children’s reading activity at the Community Fair and, most recently, the successful ‘Poet Lorikeet’ event. Sally has recently advised us that she plans to retire from the book and gift selling business and she has reluctantly offered the two businesses for sale. She has asked us to express her gratitude for the support and friendship she has enjoyed here in ‘The Crag’, and her sadness to be leaving at this time.

I am sure that readers of The Crag will join us in wishing Sally all the best in her future endeavours. We are aware that the bookselling business has become very competitive in recent years, but remain hopeful that a local ‘white knight’ may come forward at least to maintain a delightful bookshop in our midst.

Chicago Art Institute Director at Castlecrag

Jack Perry Brown, Director of the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago, was the guest of the Walter Burley Griffin Society on 19 and 20 January. Following a guided tour of Griffin sites on the northern suburbs on the Saturday, Jack was given a tour of our suburb and its landscape setting, and inspected several of the Griffin houses before lunching with members of the WBGS committee on the 20th. He then presented a public lecture at The Haven Amphitheatre on the Art Institute’s exciting project that has published Marion Mahony Griffin’s grand work, The Magic of America, on the net. Completed last August, the web version of this important architectural document collates 1400 pages of text and some 650 accompanying illustrations from the three known copies of the work.

Jack Brown delivered an inspiring lecture, noting the brilliant ambience of The Haven for the subject and focused on the key elements of Marion’s work that relate to Castlecrag. These can be summarised in three key themes: the architecture and landscape planning principles of Walter Burley Griffin; the relationship of the Griffins to our natural environment; and Marion’s care for and love of the children of Castlecrag. Having just received advice from the Institute, Jack was also able to announce to our audience that the 650 illustrations for The Magic of America are now available on line. For more about The Magic of America project and to find the link to the online publication, please visit the ‘News’ page of the WBGS website at: www.griffinsociety.org

Nancy Fleming’s 90th Birthday Bash

Some 150 friends gathered at the Castlecrag Community Centre on 19 January to celebrate Nancy Fleming’s 90th birthday and to honour her contribution to our community. Organised by her children Andrew and Lesley, grandchildren and friends Kate Westoby and Mushi Haruska, it was a most enjoyable event. Andrew provided a short audio-visual presentation of Nancy’s career in photographs, followed by short speeches about Nancy’s professional work as a social worker and her many contributions to the Castlecrag community during 52 years of residence here. We learn that Nancy loves music, dancing and a good party, and that she has played a leading role in the formation and work of the Sydney Opera Society. Her house was always open for community activities and it became a temporary refuge for a Sydney tram (now safely stored at the Tram Museum).

It is a Castlecrag tradition that every Christmas Eve, Carols by Candlelight is presented by the Haven Amphitheatre Management Committee.

It’s a Castlecrag tradition that every Christmas Eve the weather is fine and a wonderful time is had by all.

Alas, tradition was not traditional in 2004.

It rained!

Then it presented us with an urban myth. Now the story of this needs to be told and told well, that is best done by the Castlecrag poet lorikeet! Just down from the high country to spin the yarn for you wondering readers of The Crag and give you the mail on what really happened on that special night at the Haven.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Santa yelled “Yike!”,
“My reindeer have colic; my Helpers on strike
“We’ll have to move Christmas to ’round Easter time,
“I’ll postpone all Carols to give me some time!”
He called out to Heaven: “My patience is worn,
Don’t do nothin’ violent, – just send in a storm!

Down south, in Australia, at Castlecrag’s ‘Haven’,
the volunteer stagecrew were all misbehavin’;
The sound-desk was booming, the lights all blazed bright;
The carolers’ harmonies shone in full flight.
When in rolled the stormclouds, with Donner & Blitzen,
“We’re all gunna drown” cried the raven-haired vixen;
“A second front’s coming, due ’round about seven;
What have we done wrong to be so cursed by Heaven?!”
So sadly the stagecrew packed all gear away
and sat below stage to brood glum on the fray.

But meteor’logical science, it seems;
failed to account for the power of dreams;
Two local Crag families from over the foam,
had flown in grandparents to see their new home.
And come to The Haven to sing, laugh and carol,
not knowing the storms had forced plans to unravel.
Then elves and bush spirits waked under the stage,
and heard these two groups sing from young to the aged.
Crept out from the bushes (to all folks’ surprise!)
and fashioned a Caroling ‘fore their own eyes.
Just voices! – no music, no sleighbells were rung;
Just voices: “Orana” (Let’s Welcome) was sung.
And candles and songbooks, and more and more souls,
emerged out of nowhere like orchids and quolls.
Then as the black stormfront slewed off to the North,
what should then a’happen? Yes, – Santa came forth!

With a “Ho” to the left, and a “Ho” to the right;
and a “HoHo” small lolly for eyes shining bright..
Then rellies from Norway and Yorkshire and Rome,
Told stories of Christmas Eve happ’nings “back home”.
‘Til finally the last of the eventide light,
slipped westward and left us in candle-lit night.
So singers and families left sharing good cheer,
Singing “Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”

Bruce Wilson/Harold Rubie

My family and I are avid users of Willoughby’s wonderful parks, bushland reserves and and the great network of bush tracks and cycleways. (Incidently, Council has just updated a great brochure called walking and wheeling in Willoughby, I highly recommend it if you want to discover some great walks in our city).

One thing that often irks me is the abandoned shopping trolleys that often seem to escape shopping centres and end up in our streets, parks and worst of all, our creeks. I have requested Council to put a motion at the 2007 Local Government Association Conference requesting that the State Government grant council’s the right to charge for the cost of recovery and disposal of shopping trolleys from public areas.

Currently the percentage of a retailer’s trolleys which become ‘lost’ or stolen and end up in our environment and streets, are written-off as a business expense.

However the full costs of the product, i.e. cradle-to-grave costs, are not being completely included in this economic analysis. The burden of the lost trolleys is being transferred to the public and the environment.

If local government can recover the costs of retrieving lost and abandoned trolleys from retailers it may just tip the economic balance in favour of preventing the trolleys being ‘lost’ in the first place.

The Willoughby Men’s Shed was officially opened on 26 July 2007. Situated in the Northbridge RSL hall (down near the Northbridge Golf Club), the shed is is fully decked out with brand new equipment like table saws, wood and metal lathes, band saws and a state of the art dust extraction system to keep it all crisp and clean.

Any blokes out there who have a project lurking on the back burner or simply want to while away some time with some like minded fellows should contact Council’s Help Line on 97771000 to find out how they can get into it! Experienced hands are on deck to ensure you keep yours safe and sound).
The Spring Festival is back in Willoughby this September for its eleventh year running. The Festival gets bigger, better and more diverse each year. The Street Parade is the highlight and was held on Saturday the 15 September, with dancers, musicians, sporting groups and more weaving their way along Victoria Avenue, showcasing the fabulous talent within the Willoughby community. On display were many inspirational and practical initiatives that can help us all ‘think globally and act locally’.

This coincided with the launch of Willoughby City Council’s draft Sustainability Charter. It is the proposed policy that will oversee all Council’s activities with a view to their sustainability. It has three elements covering social, ecological and economic sustainability. The Charter is in draft form because we are seeking community comment on the policy before consideration or adopting it formally. There are lots of words, but no doubt they encompass the most exciting, meaningful and positive initiatives I have had anything to do with in my time on council. Check it out by typing ‘sustainability charter’ into the search field on Council’s website (hard copies are available from Council). Feedback is most welcome and the Charter is open for comment until 8 January 2008.

Cr Adrian Cox, Sailors Bay Ward

The public forum Keeping Castlecrag Special! sponsored by Willoughby City Council and the Progress Association on 26 October 2004 was a great success with some 100 residents attending.

The forum explored the special qualities of the suburb that the community may seek to retain and helped to explain the processes that are used to achieve the conservation of the built and natural environments. The aim was to demystify the issues and correct misinformation.

With Deputy Mayor Terry Fogarty in the chair, Bob Clark of the Sydney Harbour Trust led the session on Castlecrag’s special character using dramatic images to reinforce his coverage of the special features derived from its harbour setting. He covered the pressures for change and highlighted the scale and design of buildings and the need to retain tree cover as the key issues that need to be addressed if Castlecrag’s special character is to be maintained. With the assistance of projected images showing key elements of Castlecrag’s unique heritage. Bob reminded s that what we do no\w will have major future impact. Castlecrag is different for other places, and it is best to build with an understanding of this local character. As Bob said, people who know Castlecrag say affectionately, “Ah! Castlecrag”.

Professor James Weirick gave a most informative and entertaining presentation on the special features of the suburb that need to be preserved. Her reminded us that Griffin had made a gift of the foreshore and bushland reserves for the whole community, and these set a fundamental structure for development of Castlecrag that persists today.

The Griffin Conservation Area is today protected by DCP 16, and this ensures that the significant features of Castlecrag will be retained. The features that characterise Castlecrag are nationally and internationally recognised – an urban character which respects the character of the landscape, allows sharing of views, encompasses design aimed at conserving the landscape quality, sense of community and social connections; and where the built form is subservient to the natural landscape. Professor Weirick observed that a repeated theme in Castlecrag is the way in which roads have been constructed in the landscape; the roads are small in scale, perhaps inspired by the ancient roads of Japan. This is very different to the roads in most other Sydney suburbs. He detailed some of the techniques that have been used to create buildings subordinate to the landscape. These include disaggregated elements of the building, and integration of gardens with adjacent reserves. It has been demonstrated on many sites that the griffin aims are still relevant and possible to retain, that there is a sense of continuity with the Griffin philosophy here; modern houses are still sited so that the bushland filters the views of the buildings.

John McInerny (Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney and Past President of the Planning Institute of Australia) has had a long contact with Castlecrag. He tackled the myths that are often spread about the financial implications of heritage listing.

John said that the Griffins are classed as one of the most important Australian influences in urban design, and there is increasing international interest in the Castlecrag area. He examined the financial implications of ownership of properties in conservation areas and analysed individual listed item – Vs – conservation areas which contain many such items and have overall landscape controls. John said that there is no doubt that a conservation area classification does add value to a property when compared with equivalent properties outside the conservation area. The development controls for conservation of certain qualities add certainty, and the specific and unique environment is valued. The NSW Heritage Council’s publication, Heritage Listing – benefits for owners, states: “people purchase heritage buildings because they like them”. The document emphasises that heritage listing does not preclude changes. Some agents say that heritage properties are easiest to sell and bring the best prices. Isolated (listed) heritage properties may not appreciate in value as rapidly as those in conservation areas, although an individual heritage listing may improve the value and should not restrict the owners too much. John said that development controls need to be clear and rigorously enforced, quoting John Milne “All that makes existence possible is the enforcement of constraints on other people.”

John gave examples of how good architects can work successfully with new buildings in the urban design framework of conservation areas (e.g. Paddington, Sydney). The Griffin Conservation Area DCP is a good planning instrument; its intention is to re-state Griffin’s vision, and replacement buildings can be an opportunity to reinstate the vision, and to correct some of the mistakes of the 1950s and 1960s.

Peter Moffitt (Architect, Planner, Urban Designer, and Castlecrag Resident) noted that the Willoughby LEP lists over 200 heritage items: they are not all buildings, but many types of items. In a review of the list in 2001, there were an additional 50 properties nominated, many by their owners.

In examining the way in which a heritage listing might affect a property owner, Peter said that a property owner can sell, rent and maintain a property in the normal way – no special approvals are needed. A development application is needed for alterations and additions, and this is the process to allow consideration of the impact on the heritage values of the listed item. There is usually no problem with actions such as updating bathrooms. And a property owner can apply to the Valuer general for a heritage-restricted value on a listed property. Link to Willoughby City Council Heritage Listings.

Willoughby Council’s Environmental Services Director, Greg Woodhams then spoke on Planning Controls and DCPs. He explained that the plan-making process is the means to enunciate the values, through planning controls – such as for the Griffin Conservation Area.

Greg advised that to avoid delays, anyone planning to submit a development application to Council should consult the planning staff early in the process. A heritage impact statement is relatively simple and there is a standard format for guidance. When the development application is lodged with Council, it goes through the examination of Council experts, and neighbours are notified. Issues to be negotiated are identified before a report to Council is prepared. For some applications, a Council Officer can do the report and decision. For the rest, Council makes the decision. Then a construction certificate is issued, and there may be ‘Section 96 modifications’ for small changes. Council or a private certifier carry out mandatory inspections for compliance.

The DCPs for Willoughby City and Castlecrag are very good, because there is an active community. This improves the planning instruments through many inputs, and the DCPs reflect the views of the whole community. Link to Willoughby City Council DCP 19 Heritage & Conservation and DCP Guidelines

The Forum concluded with questions and discussion and the Chair thanked all for their attendance. It was suggested that there should be another such Forum in the future.

Lorraine Cairnes

Download the “Castlecrag Heritage Forum transcribed notes October 2004”

Some 36 Castlecrag residents – new faces, ‘old hands’ and new residents – participated in a public forum at the Progress Association General Meeting at the community centre on 21 August to discuss what they wished to see in our community over the coming 5-10 years. As expected, such an event brought forward a range of views, but there were also key themes of agreement.

One such theme was that Castlecrag’s unique architecture and natural bushland settling have been major drawcards to those who have come to settle here; both for recent arrivals and those who have been here for longer periods. They spoke of the wonderful environment the suburb offers for adults and children alike – of the walking tracks to explore our bushland and harbour vistas, the many examples of innovative buildings that fit snugly into the natural environment, the improvements in children’s playgrounds and the range of voluntary groups that enrich our community. There was string agreement that a key challenge for us all is to protect our built and natural environment and the community-based services that we currently enjoy. The value of our community library was singled out as a service that requires strong support from residents in order to survive.

The efforts of the community, through the Progress Association and other community groups, to protect and conserve Castlecrag’s unique heritage over they years, often in the face of strong opposition by some, was identified as a key factor in maintaining Castlecrag as the ‘special place’ that its residents enjoy today. Several speakers identified the trend towards large houses that dominate the landscape as a major threat to the suburb’s character and natural environment. It was pointed out, however, that while there is a need for constant vigil to ensure that development applications (DAs) comply with Council controls, it has been heartening to see that the proportion of non-complying DAs has diminished in recent years. Nevertheless, factors such as ignorance of the special features of the suburb, aspirations for grander mansions and/or pressure on Willoughby Council to process DAs against time targets mean that some unsatisfactory proposals continue to be put forward.

The village atmosphere that has emerged in our shopping centre over recent years was highlighted by several contributors as a special feature of Castlecrag, although it was felt that further steps could be made to improve the social amenities of the area. Some saw this in terms of improvements to the built environment at the entrance to the suburb; others felt that the enhancement should be made through more trees and shrubs in the streetscape. There was general concern that Council has not been sufficiently vigilant in monitoring the ‘tree butchers’ from electricity companies who mangle street trees in the name of ‘pruning’. There was also agreement that more should be done to protect large trees in the suburb, both on private property and in the reserves.

A number of participants felt that residents should seek to be more sustainable by shopping locally rather than undertaking excessive car travel to other shopping facilities. Of the present range of goods and services, the inability to purchase Travel10 bus tickets at our local shops was raised as a concern, while a good health food shop was identified as a need. Poetry readings and wine tasting events at our local bookshop and restaurants were identified as possible activities to strengthen interaction between local residents and the business community, while design improvements at the Quadrangle were suggested to make it a more welcoming place for people. A grander suggestion was the possibility of a co-operative business in a local shop that brought a wider range of activities to our shopping centre on a rotational basis (eg Thai noodle nights) and fostered closer interaction between community and business.

The Haven Amphitheatre was highlighted as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of our social agenda, but its management committee is constantly looking for ideas on the kind of events that should be held there to ensure its programs are relevant to the community. The recent Australia Day street parties in The Bulwark, The Scarp and The Battlement were put forward as examples of positive initiatives that helped to bring residents together and make newcomers feel welcome. Linden Way and parts of Edinburgh Road were also put forward as examples of this activity.

We would like to hear further suggestions from Castlecrag residents and businesses on the activities and improvements you would like to see in our community in the short- to medium-term. Please write to The Crag, PO Box 4259, Castlecrag 2068 or email us at: editors@castlecrag.org.au