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After Mobiles, Cameras Detecting Seatbelt Offences Tested in NSW

Cameras detecting illegal phone use among Sydney drivers, which were rolled out in 2020, will be testing the detection of seatbelt offences. About 45 of these devices, both portable and fixed, are installed across NSW, including the one on Anzac Parade in Moore Park.

In a statement, Transport for NSW said that it will continue to find ways to use new technology to make the roads safer. With the success of the Mobile Phone Detection Camera Program, the state now wants to look into seatbelt use.

“It makes sense to see if the same cameras can be used to tackle other high risk behaviours known to result in significant road trauma. The technology is now being tested to help assess if it can reliably identify potential offences and meet rigorous NSW Government performance requirements.”

Penalty for Seatbelt Offences

Currently, the penalty for seatbelt offences is $349 and three demerit points. Drivers with two or more unrestrained passengers will lose six demerit points and incur a fine between $697 to $1123.

“The outcomes of the testing will be considered by the NSW Government before any decisions are made about next steps.”

An average of 30 deaths and 90 injuries of drivers and passengers per year occur on NSW’s roads because they did not have their seatbelts strapped. These accidents are largely preventable with proper seatbelt use.

Mobile Phone Detection Camera Review

Consequently, NSW is also reviewing the Mobile Phone Detection Camera Program and its enforcement following a public consultation between 25 May to 9 July 2021.

Some of the key areas of these cameras are found in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Prospect, Nowra and at Anzac Parade in Moore Park. The cameras’ locations may also be verified on the NSW Service site. Locals may also nominate a site for potential camera installation.

During the trial and warning period, 304 Maroubra residents had to keep their car in the garage to avoid committing a double penalty after the cameras caught the drivers with mobile phones in their hands.

Across Sydney, these are the suburbs with the most frequent offenders.

Merrylands – 385
St Clair – 382
Guildford – 316
Auburn – 313
Penrith – 312
Maroubra – 304
Mount Druitt – 272
Mascot – 263
Coogee – 249
Greenacre – 246

However, in late 2020, the warning signs to indicate that there are detection cameras nearby were removed. Three months later, the number of fines in relation to mobile phone use whilst driving tripled.

The penalty for mobile phone use whilst driving is $349 ($464 in a school zone) and five demerit points. Repeat offenders incur 10 demerit points.

Whilst the controversial decision to do away with the signs increased the state’s revenue because of the collected fines, angry drivers have tried to remove the road cameras with hammers and other tools to avoid paying the penalties. NSW Police Minister David Elliot said that he understood the anger but the public has to see that the rules and fines are implemented for their own safety.

The detection cameras have been developed by Alex Jannink of Acusensus who lost a friend in 2013 in a road crash caused by a distracted driver in the U.S.

COVID-19 Fragments Detected in Maroubra Sewage as New Exposure Site List Grows

On the same day that the lockdown in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour was announced, a public health alert was issued for residents of Maroubra, Auburn, Lough Park, St Marys, West Camden and Ireland Park after fragments of COVID-19 were detected in their sewage network.

The NSW Health said that locals in these areas should be “vigilant for any symptoms that could signal COVID” and self-isolate as soon as possible if they are exhibiting cough, runny nose, sore throat and fever.

The Maroubra sewage network serves over 90,500 homes and establishments in the following Eastern Sydney suburbs, which have entered into a lockdown from 25 June to 9 July 2021, along with Greater Sydney:

Bondi Junction
Bronte
Centennial Park
Clovelly
Coogee
Daceyville
Eastlakes
Kensington
Kingsford
Maroubra
Matraville
Moore Park
Paddington
Pagewood
Queens Park
Randwick
Rosebery
South Coogee
Waverley
Woollahra

In addition to the sewage detection, health officials have also expanded the list of COVID-19 exposure sites.

⚠️PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER⚠️
👉 Stay at home orders extended to all of Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
👉 Restrictions apply to the rest of NSW
🔗 For more information, head to https://t.co/rH9BQjnpBk pic.twitter.com/rn4Kq0GRBF
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 26, 2021

Anyone who has been in these venues is considered a “close contact” and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of their test results.

View the specific case locations

⚠️PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – FURTHER VENUES⚠️

NSW Health has been notified of additional venues across Sydney visited by confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/mtaWk5DpuY
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 26, 2021

If their symptoms progress, they may call 1800 943 553 or any of these agencies for assistance:

Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511

Sydneysiders are also urged to regularly check NSW Health for succeeding alerts and updates.

Your Feedback Needed for the Revised Heffron Park Plan of Management

A revised Plan of Management (PoM) for Heffron Park in Maroubra has been released for public exhibition. Residents affected by this change to the PoM, which had originally been adopted in 2009, may express their support or objection to the recategorisation by submitting a feedback form.

The execution of the revised PoM is in line with the requirements of the NSW Crown Land Management Act 2016 covering all community lands, such as Heffron Park. The PoM enables better planning and governance for the use of such a public place.

According to Randwick City Council, the previous PoM’s major projects have been completed thus the need for recategorisation to:

better protect small areas of planting that is now categorised as ‘natural area: bushland’;
identify an area near the remnant sand dune to be categorised as park as this better describes its appropriate use; and
apply the category of ‘community use’ on the Heffron Centre precinct which most appropriately reflects the intended future use of the facility.

Heffron Park is Randwick City Council’s largest sporting facility and has been used for various events and leisure activities. Formerly used as storage area for the Navy during World War II, the park was turned over for Council’s management as a public recreation site in 1959.

The new PoM comes following the approval of the construction of a new indoor sports centre for the South Sydney Rabbitoh in March 2021.

Printed copies of the PoM are may be seen at the following exhibition sites or online:

Des Renford Leisure Centre in Heffron Park
Randwick Council Customer Service Centre, 30 Frances St, Randwick
Lionel Bowen Library, 669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra
Margaret Martin Library, Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, Randwick
Malabar Community Library, 1203 Anzac Parade, Matraville

The community may lodge their submission at council@randwick.nsw.gov.au or through the online feedback form until 27 July 2021.

Cotton Buds Ban Pushed to Safeguard Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant

Did you know that plastic cotton buds are a major cause of damage and deterioration of the Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant? Unfortunately, many Sydney locals don’t dispose of this basic cosmetic item properly, resulting in a serious problem at the wastewater facility.

According to Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant general manager, Maryanne Graham, used plastic cotton buds or Q-tips and tiny wet wipes flushed down the toilet end up in Sydney Water’s pipes and screening equipment, leading to clogs, damage and backflows.

These items are non-biodegradable and will remain solid for a number of years, which means that they can easily combine with other debris, such as oils and fats, flowing and filling up the pipelines.

Thus, New South Wales Environment Minister Matt Kean is advocating to ban plastic cotton buds permanently, alongside single-use lightweight bags, straws and stirrers.

“The single-use items we are phasing-out will stop an estimated 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from ending up in our environment and waterways over the next 20 years,” the minister said.

“We can’t keep sending our scraps to languish in landfill when there are huge opportunities to turn our trash into treasure.

“Under our plans, every household will have access to a separate bin for their food and organic waste for the first time in NSW. This will not only deliver on our commitment to achieve zero emissions from organics in landfill by 2030, but will also grow our economy by extracting more resources like biogas from our waste.”

A transition phase introducing new products as well as an education drive will be underway before the phase-outs are in effect. The State Government will invest $356 million in this campaign for the next five years, which will be divided across local councils.

“We want NSW to be a leader when it comes to reducing waste, maximising recycling and protecting our environment, but we want to do it in a way that drives job creation and innovation,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

St Mary St Joseph Primary in Maroubra to Undergo a $10 Million Makeover

The St Mary St Joseph Primary School in Maroubra has been given the green light to undergo a $10-million renovation after a year of assessment with the planning panel.

In July 2020, the school lodged a development application (DA/259/2020) with the Randwick City Council, detailing plans to demolish three buildings and the existing playground area, create a new two-storey building block, and refurbish two other buildings with “Aspect classrooms.”

The development also includes additions or improvements to the playground, landscaping, pedestrian path, and other amenities. Once completed, the school community shall benefit from new state-of-the-art learning areas, a bigger library, a new basketball court, and improved rooms for the staff and teaching unit.

BEFORE the re-development
Photo Credit: Development Application

AFTER the re-development
Photo Credit: Development Application

The upgrade is the biggest development project in 10 years as the school’s population grows. Principal John Farrell expects the construction work to finish by 2024.

Prior to the approval of the development, members of the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel visited and inspected the site in May 2021. Per the panel’s unanimous decision to approve the application:

“The Panel is satisfied the proposed development will provide improved facilities for the school and community while at the same time maintaining the number of students at 440 and 30 teachers. The Panel considers the application worthy of approval and it will not result in any unreasonable impacts.”

Founded in 1935 by the Brigidine Sisters, St Mary St Joseph Primary School in Maroubra proud to be a low-fee Catholic school that exemplifies the Brigidine tradition of “strength and gentleness.”

Revealed! First Look at the New Maroubra Home of the Rabbitohs

Ahead of its planned construction, the South Sydney Rabbitohs has unveiled their new home in Maroubra, where the team will be moving in before the 2023 NRL season rolls.

The new photos are the artist’s impression of the $58M state-of-the-art sports complex that will also include cafes, a merchandise shop, a special fan area for watching training, and a hall of fame section.

The new Rabbitohs facility will also be opened for community use for lectures, events, workshops, as well as access to the playing fields. The gymnastics facility and the indoor sports centres for volleyball, netball, badminton, and basketball will be operating seven days a week.

“The Heffron Centre will allow us to move our NRL, Women’s and NSW Cup teams and administrative, commercial and Souths Cares staff members to one site – with the rest of our representative pathways programs using Redfern Oval,” Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said in an official press statement.

“Importantly it will also allow us to double the size and reach of our community programs which have already helped achieve over 400 Aboriginal employment placements, helped young people achieve their HSC, and helped over 7,600 students with health and well-being messages.”

Funding for the sports complex will come from the Federal and State Governments, as well as Randwick City Council. Construction is expected to begin in August 2021. Randwick Mayor Danny Said revealed that this is the Council’s biggest project, which has taken seven years to plan. Following the building’s opening, however, that the Rabbitohs will be saying goodbye to their old home in Redfern.

Maroubra One-Bedroom Apartment Sold for $1.2 Million

A one-bedroom apartment in Maroubra has set a new record after it sold for $1.2 million within just 10 days on the market.

The dwelling, located in an Art Deco block on Marina Parade, received a lot of enquiries from professionals looking to move near the beachside with a lot of cafes and shops for their remote work. Buyers were also attracted to the site because it’s in a peaceful location.

According to realestate.com.au, the apartment has a beautiful view opposite Mahon Pool and Lurline Bay. Before the sale, the property was also renovated and updated with contemporary features.

Whilst it is a small apartment, it has a spacious lounge and modern kitchen with a large master bedroom and its own lock-up garage.

It is not known who snatched up the place but First Hand Property’s Mitchell Farah said the new owner paid $1.2 million for the boutique apartment. The sale is another indication of a stronger Sydney property market.

In Maroubra, a two-bedroom house’s average price is $1.7 million whilst a one-bedroom unit will set back investors or occupiers for $644,500, depending on the location. Unit rentals, on the other hand, are between $450 to $750 a week.

Two Interactive Outdoor Classrooms Installed in Maroubra

Do you have curious children who love to learn about how things work? Then take them to the new interactive outdoor classrooms in Maroubra to understand how Randwick City’s biggest stormwater harvest and reuse system works!

The Council has recently installed two interactive sites near Maroubra beach’s playground and at the Mahon Pool that will teach the children how the tanks for collecting rainwater, built under Arthur Byrne Reserve in the last 10 months, is being used to hydrate public parks and gardens and supply water in some parts of the city.

The kids will enjoy knowing how much water is saved in the two one-million litre tanks on the ground, which will continually keep the grasses and trees around the suburb lush and green.

The interactive outdoor classrooms were officially unveiled at the end of March 2021 with some school children from the nearby St Mary St Joseph Catholic School.

Meanwhile, the South Maroubra SLSC also tested the new Arthur Byrne Reserve sprinkler system at the clubhouse grounds and it works efficiently.

The Arthur Byrne Reserve is Randwick City Council’s 14th stormwater harvesting system. Construction commenced in mid-2020 and took at least three stages to complete. The project al has an automatic irrigation system that will provide water for the toilets and amenities, including potable water, found in these public places:

Arthur Byrne Reserve
Broadarrow Reserve
Jack Vanny Reserve
Maroubra Beach
John Shore Reserve
Murranborah Reserve

#SeaToSource: Volunteers Needed for Botany Bay Clean Up

You don’t need superpowers to make a difference in the world because small good deeds, such as volunteering to clean up a portion of Botany Bay, can create a ripple effect to benefit the community. If you want to take part in such an initiative, a #SeaToSource event will be underway near Plane Spotters Beach in Kyeemagh, located some nine kilometres away from Maroubra.

About 70 percent of the earth is covered in water but more than 269,000 tons of plastic pollute the water’s surface, impacting marine life in the most harmful way. Experts said that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean but people can prevent this global problem from worsening if they work together.

On Sunday, 11 April 2021, everyone is invited to take part in the #SeaToSource National Day of Action and clean up the beaches. Plane Spotters Beach is one of more than a dozen locations across the country for cleaning up on this specific day, as organised by the Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), the Sydney Airport and Bayside Council.

Photo Credit: Conservation Volunteers Australia/Facebook

“CVA is excited to work with local partners to deliver opportunities that allow people to care for their waterways,” CVA’s Revive Campaign Director Renae Riviere said.

“We’re so excited to be hosting an event in Bayside that allows everyone to be involved in doing their part for our oceans and waterways,” Ms Riviere added. “For us it’s not just about cleaning up litter on the beach, it’s about addressing where that litter is coming from and protecting the wildlife that live in the ocean. It’s also about empowering communities to feel connected through a love of the world around them and feeling inspired to make small daily actions to protect it.”

#SeaToSource has received a grant from the Australian Government’s Environment Restoration Fund program. To join the National Day of Action, volunteers may sign up online.

Powerball Winner: Mum Bought $50 Million-Winning Ticket in Maroubra

The only $50 million Powerball winner drawn by The Lott on Thursday, 18 March 2021, was a mum from the eastern suburbs who bought her ticket at the Cigarettes Tobacco Cigars (CTC) in Maroubra.

The unnamed woman said that she almost didn’t buy the ticket as rains battered the region in the last few days. She made the decision to “duck out” at the last minute and braved the “crappy weather” that dampened the weekend of her win…just to try her luck.

The Lott officials did not immediately locate the winner as the ticket was not a registered player card. So, they had to play the waiting game until the winner comes forward but the agency did confirm that the ticket came from the CTC Maroubra outlet on Anzac Parade.

The mum heard of the winning ticket’s location in the news and could not believe that it was in her hands. Her husband could not also believe his wife’s luck and checked the winning numbers a few times.

Her winning numbers 18, 30, 16, 29, 6, 33 and 35 is the lone winner of Powerball draw 1926.

The mum said that she will only be able to sleep until she sees the $50 million in her bank account. She also said this money will drastically make their lives different and she plans to buy a house with her prize and treat her family to shopping sprees.

Meanwhile, Cigarettes Tobacco Cigars has been operating in Maroubra for seven years and this is their first division-one winning ticket. Owner John Yu said he also bought a Powerball ticket but he’s very glad that it’s a customer who won the big prize.