GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT TO RESIDENTS
COUNCIL NOTICES
The Year in Review
I hope you all enjoyed a relaxed and safe time during this week of festive celebrations. For many people this is also a great time of reflection on the year that is coming to an end and plans for new beginnings in the new year. Before joining Warringah Council in March this year I visited the area on Australia Day to witness the local celebrations and I was impressed to see the high level of community involvement in the Australia Day breakfasts. Since taking on the role of General Manager I have been proud to note that there is a strong sense of community in the area and within the organisation. At the end of 2007 we can reflect on a year that has seen a number of fine examples of this sense of the community. More than 700 people participated in the development of a new Cultural Plan and many thousands enjoyed Ripple Festival events across Warringah. The 2007 Community Survey pointed to a high level of community connectedness and satisfaction with local quality of life as well as the performance of Council. Northern beaches residents battled a number of storms in the middle of the year with Council staff and SES volunteers working around the clock. I congratulate staff and volunteers on their amazing efforts during this time. My personal highlight of the year was the Talk of the Town in September which saw around 400 residents, ratepayers and other stakeholders having their say about Warringah's future. It was wonderful to see so many people generously give up four hours of their precious weekend to contribute to the way Warringah will look and feel in the years ahead. I am happy to say that staff and community members made me feel very welcome since my arrival. My initial impression was that Council has made significant progress over the past few years in strengthening the governance of the organisation and our relationship with the community. I am looking forward to working with staff and the community to build on this success and I am particularly looking forward to sharing in the Australia Day events on January 26 in a few weeks time.
Vacation Care
Summer 2008 School Holiday Program
Council operates a number of Vacation Care centres across Warringah offering high quality care and a recreational program for children during their school holidays. Participants enjoy centre based activities including arts, crafts, sports and games as well as excursions to a range of venues across Sydney. For more information and to download the Summer 2008 program and enrolment form visit Council's website at www.warringah.nsw.gov.au
Insect Mania at Warringah Libraries
Discover the mysteries of creepy crawlies with the 'bug man'. Insect Mania is buzzing to a library near you:
Forestville Library
10 to 1 1am Monday, January 1 Bookings essential 4. on 9452 5706.
Dee Why Library
Intensive Learn to Swim Holiday Program
Warringah Aquatic Centre, Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest
• Monday, January 7 to Friday, January 1 1 • Monday, January 1 to Friday, January 18 4 • Monday, January 21 to Friday, January 25 The intensive five-day learn to swim program costs $60 per week. Half-hour lesson daily for kids 18 months and up. For more information and bookings phone 9451 8000.
2 to 3pm Monday, on 9942 2449.
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Warringah Mall Library
10 to 1 1am Friday, January 1 Bookings essential 1. on 9942 7999.
Belrose Library
2 to 3pm Friday, January 1 Bookings essential on 9452 321 1. 1. Tickets must be purchased and collected prior to the event. Cost is $2 per child. Numbers are limited.
Summer Reading Club
School Holiday Sports Extravaganza
Warringah Aquatic Centre, Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest
Dive into the Warringah Aquatic Centre for a variety of land, water and creative activities including Ultimate Frisbee, Footsteps dance sessions, Oztag, T-ball, soccer, Australian Wildlife shows, pool games and diving board sessions. Children 6 to 1 years can enjoy activities 9am to 3pm daily 2 from Tuesday, January 1 to Thursday, January 1 and 5 7 Tuesday, January 22 to Thursday, January 24. Bookings open Monday, December 1 For more information 7. phone 9451 8000 or visit www.warringahaquatic.com.au
School aged children can now register for the Superheroes Read 2008 Summer Reading Club. Receive a free library bag and surprises with your superhero passport. Prizes to be won. For more information visit www.summerreadingclub.org.au
What's On
January
8 Cosmic Crazy Costumes and Heady Hats for kids eight to 1 years. 10am – 1 4 2noon at YOYO's Youth Centre, Forestway Shopping Centre, Frenchs Forest. Cost is $20. For more information phone Council's Recreation Officer on 9942 2576. Free Night Skate Session for kids six to 16 years. 5 – 8pm at St Matthew's Farm basketball courts, South Creek Road, Cromer. For more information phone Council's Recreation Officer on 9942 2576. BreastScreen mobile screening unit – free mammograms for women aged 50 to 69 years. Behind HCF at Warringah Mall. To make an appointment phone 1 20 50. 3 Wacky Mobiles and Musical Instruments for kids eight to 1 years. 10am – 1 4 2noon at YOYO's Youth Centre, Forestway Shopping Centre, Frenchs Forest. Cost is $20. For more information phone Council's Recreation Officer on 9942 2576. Free Talk: The Science of the Surf (SOS) – an award winning educational presentation on surf safety. Find out why some beaches are safer than others, learn how to spot rip currents and how to get out of one. The talk will end with the release of purple dye into the rip current. 2 – 3.30pm at Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club. Bookings not required. For more information visit www.scienceofthesurf.com Free Eco Garden Workshop – Intro to Eco Living and Eco Gardening. 10.30am – 1pm at Kimbriki Eco Garden, Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre. Bookings essential on 9486 351 Monday to Friday. 2 For more information visit www.kimbriki.com Free Eco Garden Workshop – Intro to Eco Living and Eco Gardening. 10.30am – 1pm at Kimbriki Eco Garden, Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre. Bookings essential on 9486 351 2 Monday to Friday. For more information visit www.kimbriki.com Free Rock Platform Walk – Discover Long Reef Aquatic 2noon – 2pm. Meet at Fisherman's Reserve. 1 Beach toilet block. Wear sunscreen, hat and shoes that can get wet. For more information phone Fishcare on 041 1 200. 1 24 Free Night Skate Session for kids six to 16 years. 5 – 8pm at St Matthew's Farm basketball courts, South Creek Road, Cromer. For more information phone Council's Recreation Officer on 9942 2576. Free Eco Garden Workshop – Composting: hands-on and theory. 10.30am – 1pm at Kimbriki Eco Garden, Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre. Bookings essential on 9486 351 2 Monday to Friday. For more information visit www.kimbriki.com Free Eco Garden Workshop – Worms: hands-on and theory.10.30am – 1pm at Kimbriki Eco Garden, Kimbriki Recycling and Waste Disposal Centre. Bookings essential on 9486 351 Monday 2 to Friday. For more information visit www.kimbriki.com
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School Holiday Diving Clinics
Warringah Aquatic Centre, Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest
• Intensive five-day diving clinic for beginners. 9.30 to 10.30am daily from Monday, January 1 to Friday, January 4 18. Cost is $72.50 for the week. • Intensive four-day diving clinic for elite to intermediate levels. 10.30 to 1 1.30am daily from Monday, January 1 to 4 Tuesday, January 1 and Thursday, January 1 to Friday 5 7 January 18. No classes Wednesday, January 16. Cost is $58 for the four days. For more information and bookings see the programs office or phone 9451 8000, extension 4. 1 6 1 4
School Holiday Stroke Correction Swim Program
Warringah Aquatic Centre, Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest
Stroke correction classes for Junior Development Squad to Junior Squads 8.30 to 9.30am daily: • Tuesday, January 1 – Butterfly and Freestyle 5 • Wednesday, January 16 – Backstroke and Freestyle • Thursday, January 1 – Breaststroke and Freestyle 7 Cost is $18 per session. For more information and bookings phone 9451 8000, extension 4.
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Swimming Carnival Preparation Clinics
Warringah Aquatic Centre, Aquatic Drive, Frenchs Forest
Junior Carnival Preparation Clinics (Levels 6, 7 and 8) 9.30 to 10.30am Friday, January 18 and 25. Cost is $18 per session. Senior Carnival Preparation Clinics (Junior Development to Junior Squads) 8.30 to 9.45am daily from Monday, January 21 to Wednesday, January 23 with a Mini Meet Carnival on Thursday, January 24. Cost is $18 per session. For more information and bookings phone 9451 8000, extension 4.
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Find out more about Warringah’s community centres at www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/communitycentres
General Manager, Civic Centre, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why 2099 • Phone 9942 21 1 • Fax 9971 4522 • council@warringah.nsw.gov.au 1