Every year over the Christmas period, while the majority of us are enjoying a summer holiday, there is a network of dedicated community members who are working harder than ever to accommodate a surge in homeless/unwanted animals that traditionally occurs at this time of year.

In an attempt to support the local animal welfare organisations who actively rescue and foster animals from the Blacktown Animal Holding Facility, Council will again be conducting a Christmas Pet Food Drive.

The following will be accepted as part of the collection:

Tin food, dry food, treats and toys (no fresh food please!)

Donations can be made in the allocated receptacles in the following locations:

Holroyd City Council Chambers, Memorial Avenue Merrylands;

Holroyd, Greystanes and Wentworthville libraries;

Stockland Merrylands (Centre Management - Open 7 Days); and

MemberFirst Credit Union Merrylands.

At a time when all their resources are stretched to capacity, the provision of additional food over this period substantially reduces the burden these groups are prepared to bear in the interest of animal welfare.

The collection will take place between 1 - 17 December 2009 and all donations will be delivered to legitimate animal welfare/rescue organisations in time for Christmas.

ENDS.

Council has become aware of recent press articles which have indicated that Council’s Tree Management Order (TMO) has been amended by way of providing additional exemptions to allow the removal of trees located within 2 metres of a dwelling and the pruning of branches up to a height of 2.4 metres without Council consent. It was also stated that 14 additional undesirable tree species had been added to the Exempt Tree Species list.

Please note that this is not the case. Council is currently in the process of reviewing the TMO as part of the review of Council’s LEP and DCP, and the proposed amendments will be taken into consideration as part of the review.

Any proposed changes to the TMO will only proceed once Council’s new DCP is completed, placed on public exhibition and any submissions received by Council are assessed accordingly. Council’s TMO remains unchanged at this time and the exemptions as stated in recent articles have not been adopted by Council.

All residents and property owners and others proposing to undertake tree works should consult Council’s TMO on Council’s website: www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au/environment/tree_management2

or call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9840 9840 for further information.

The Mayor of Holroyd City, Clr John Perry, officially announced the winners of the Holroyd Garden Awards at a presentation as part of the Oodles of Noodles & Wine Fest 09 event at Pemulwuy yesterday.

There were 22 entries contending for nine awards which allows Holroyd City to celebrate the efforts of residents and businesses who take extra pride in their yards.

The eight award category winners are:

New Garden: Robert McFarlane of Pemulwuy

Open Garden: Lynn Wilson of South Wentworthville

Native Garden: Roy McGuiness of Guildford

Commercial/industrial: MSA (Aust) Pty Ltd at Girraween

Small Garden: Laurence Lynch of Greystanes

Schools: Merrylands East Public School

Senior Citizens’ Garden: Charles Attard of Wentworthville

Community Grounds: Holroyd Community Garden at Wentworthville

Two outright winners were chosen from the category award winners.

The Grand Champion Award for the most attractive garden went to Eddy Perabo from MSA (Aust) Pty Ltd at Girraween for his commercial/industrial garden. The judges were impressed with his welcoming design overall – a pleasant setting around the factory in an industrial area.

The Eco-Champion Award for the use of environmentally friendly gardening techniques went to Merrylands East Public School for their excellent sustainable gardening techniques such as mulching, soil conditioning and chemical free pest control.

One of the gardens inspired the judges and deserved a special mention with it’s delicate annuals and bulbs withstanding a week of north westerly winds, wild weather plus a dust storm. Lawrence Lynch of Greystanes receiving the Judges Award.

Holroyd City Mayor John Perry said “The Garden Awards allow the community to celebrate the very special gardens in our community. I encourage all residents to start preparing now for next year’s awards.”

ENDS

Holroyd City Council’s Motion # 126 was supported unanimously by the delegates in attendance at the Local Government Association of NSW (LGA) Annual Conference held in Tamworth earlier this week (25-28 October 2009) which requests the urgent investigation and upgrade to the Asbestos Removal and State Environment Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes).

Holroyd City Council submitted a list of 10 motions in total to be discussed at the Conference where delegates met to discuss and set policy for the coming year.

The motion is as follows: “That the Local Government Association make representation to the Premier and Minister for Planning that the issue of asbestos removal under the SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 needs to be investigated and addressed by Government as a matter of urgency.”

Mayor Clr John Perry said, “Council will accept the invitation from Minister Keneally to meet to discuss our concerns.”

The State Government’s recent Exempt and Complying Development SEPP has increased the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. The SEPP permits demolition of houses containing asbestos material with inadequate measures for safe removal and disposal, as follows:

-                   Owner builders will not be protected by requirements for safe removal

-                   Appropriate disposal of asbestos will not be ensured by a Waste Management Plan as it is currently

-                   Covering asbestos material will conceal it from future owners

-                   Neighbours will not be adequately notified prior to demolition of asbestos material as so will be exposed to fibres.

The SEPP misleads demolishers into believing they merely need to meet set requirements, when in fact they still have a duty of care to neighbours. The new legislation supersedes the Holroyd City Council Policy which ensured the safe demolition and removal of asbestos, also increasing the potential for litigation placing various parties at risk, including the State Government.

Following on from the LGANSW Conference, Council has moved to engage the entire local community on the issue beginning with an on-line survey which is available at Council’s website: www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au.

For more information please contact Council’s Manager Strategic Planning on 9840 9803.

Ends.