COMMUNITY NEWS
JAZZ AT THE PINES
The next Jazz at the Pines is on Sunday 23rd April and features the popular ‘Zenith Jazz Sextet’, starting at 12.30pm. Location is Roughley House, 656 Old Northern Road, Dural. Tickets $20 adults and $15 concessions. Book online at www.jazzatthepines.org.au or phone 9651 4411.
Tables can be booked for groups and individuals or simply turn up on the day with your chair, picnic rug and eskie, there is plenty of room.
PITT TOWN BYPASS PREFERRED OPTION UNVEILED
Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet today announced the preferred option for the proposed Pitt Town Bypass has been selected after extensive community consultation.
Mr Perrottet said the proposed bypass would reduce traffic travelling through the town centre and improve road safety for all users.
“The NSW Government funded early planning work to address the community’s concern about the large number of vehicles passing through the town centre.”
“The community’s feedback has been taken into consideration and Roads and Maritime Services has incorporated a number of suggested features into the preferred option.”
“Key features of the preferred bypass option include a two lane roundabout for the new intersection at Pitt Town Road, Bathurst Street and Glebe Road.”
“Other features include a two lane roundabout instead of traffic lights for the new intersection at Eldon Street and Old Pitt Town Road.”
“The bypass has been under consideration for more than 60 years so I am pleased that it is progressing for the Pitt Town community,” Mr Perrottet said.
Roads and Maritime Services will continue planning and development of the concept design and consult with the community as the proposal progresses.
FREE ASBESTOS FIBRO COLLECTIONS
Free asbestos fibro collections will soon be available for Hawkesbury households. In partnership with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation Councils and the NSW EPA, Council is offering free collection of loose asbestos fibro sheeting for 40 local residential households.
Collections will be carried out by licensed asbestos removal contractors and are available for removal of up to a maximum of ten square metres (10m2) of asbestos fibro sheeting per household.
Availability is strictly limited and conditions apply. Please register your interest at https:// www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/ environment/waste-management/ waste-and-recycling/freehouseholds- asbestos-fibrocollections or call 4560 4444 by 14 April 2017. Collections will occur the week of 15-19 May 2017. This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.
COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS APPLICATIONS OPEN
Federal Member for Mitchell, the Hon Alex Hawke MP, encouraged not-for-profit community organisations to apply for the Community Heritage Grants Program.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available for community organisations such as public libraries, museums, historical societies, Indigenous and multicultural groups to help preserve and protect nationally significant collections.
“These grants help local communities to preserve and display culturally important material such as artefacts, letters, diaries and photographs. The grants can make all the difference to keep these items intact and available to the wider community,” said Alex Hawke.
“I encourage any groups in Mitchell who look after a collection to apply. The program also offers collection management training workshops in the regions to assist staff and volunteers preserve significant items.”
Community Heritage Grants Program helps small community groups manage natural, historical and Indigenous heritage collections and enables collaboration with national cultural institutions such as the National Library of Australia.
“The Turnbull Government is committed to preserving Australia’s unique history, artefacts and stories. The program is an important way of protecting culturally significant items in our regions and connecting community groups with our national institutions to share their knowledge and expertise.”
“Since the program started over 20 years ago, it has provided over $6 million to more than 1,200 groups and communities.”
The Community Heritage Grants Program is administered by the National Library of Australia, with support provided by the Department of Communications and the Arts, the National Archives of Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum of Australia.
Applications open on Monday 6 March and close on Monday, 8 May 2017.
The guidelines and application form are available at: www.nla.gov.au/awardsand- grants/chg
NEED YOUR HOUSEHOLD ASBESTOS COLLECTED FOR FREE?
Regional asbestos collection project, the Western Sydney Residential Asbestos Disposal Scheme (WSRADS) is returning in 2017 and Hills residents are invited to take up the offer to have small amounts of unattached asbestos sheeting collected for free from their homes.
Previous programs have safely removed over 42 tonnes of asbestos sheeting from homes in Western Sydney.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Councillor Yvonne Keane said the initiative was a great way for residents to dispose of asbestos cement sheeting that has been stored around the yard from remodelling or renovations.
“I know from personal experience the issues that building and renovating can unearth – and many of our Shire’s homes would have old asbestos sheeting lying around,” Mayor Keane said.
“This is a great opportunity for us to help people clean up safely,” she said.
The service has been made available for collection of up to a maximum of 10 square metres of bonded asbestos from each household.
Councillor Alan Haselden said the program would help rid the Shire of a problematic substance.
“Asbestos is the type of material that needs careful management and I’m pleased that Council is able to offer a solution for residents who may have asbestos, but be unsure of how to deal with it,” he said.
“I encourage people to check underneath the house, around the home and yard, and use this program before the asbestos begins to break down and release harmful fibres,” he said.
Collections are carried out by licenced asbestos removal contractors.
Hills Shire residents can register for the program by contacting Paul Zirilli on 9762 1112 before March 17.
For information about asbestos and its removal visit www.asbestosanswers.com.au.
