It’s like Uber with benefits - It’s local, it involves your own circle of friends, and best of all - it’s free! Localift is an app built by Manly entrepreneurs Krystyna Weston and Stephen Coulter to help people arrange free lifts between people they know. Like car-pooling, but rejigged for people living their lives in the fast lane. Ms Weston and Mr Coulter say our traffic is already so bad, we can’t wait for promised infrastructure such as tunnels, road widening or B-Line buses. Their statistics illustrate the point: • We live in a car culture, with 75% of Northern Beaches workers driving to work • Only 1 in 14 cars have a passenger • 25% of morning peak hour traffic is related to schools • Saturday sport creates terrible traffic and parking chaos “Look at netball as an example,” Ms Weston said. “ With the season starting in April, every Saturday there are thousands of people at John Fisher Park at Curl Curl creating traffic and parking congestion for participants and residents. If an app like Localift is used there’s potential to reduce cars by 25% to 50%.” She said Localift works by bringing together social networking, mapping, messaging and calendars in one app. Users “friend” each other in the app and can arrange lifts directly or through groups of friends. “This is a brilliant idea by Krystyna and Stephen, and could be a real game-changer for our region,” Good For Manly President Candy Bingham said. “I’ve used the app and it worked very well. I love the way this will not only take cars off the road, but has the potential to strengthen community ties. “And we’re the first ‘cab’ off the rank, which is very cool. If the app is a success here, it will be rolled out in other regions and overseas." You can download the Localift app from iTunes or Google Play, or contact help@localift.net to have your sport, school or club more actively involved. More details at localift.net
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Thanks to the hard work of a community committee comprising local residents and artists, the iconic Oceanides sculpture at Fairy Bower, known by locals as the 'sea nymphs, will be reinstated in long lasting bronze. The committee, made up of Hugh Burns, Heather Potts, Wendy McCready, Julie Bakalor, Candy Bingham, Sherree Hooper, Sharon Curby and Janne Seletto, has successfully matched the $40,000 pledged by the Northern Beaches Council.
"We have been blown away by the passion felt by people in relation to this sculpture. The crowd-funding raised almost half the additional $40,000 needed, and the sale of limited edition miniature sculptures has ensured the funds needed have now been raised," explained Candy Bingham, Head of Fundraising for the project. Feature stories in the Manly Daily and Sun-Herald spread the word, and more than 10,000 promotional flyers were distributed in local letterboxes promoting the crowd-funding website. In addition, the Northern Beach Council supported the campaign by erecting a large "Save Our Sea Nymphs" donation sign at the entrance to the Fairy Bower pool. The project was accepted by the Federal Government's Australian Cultural Fund, which enabled donations to be tax-deductible. Artist Helen Leete worked tirelessly with the Committee, donating her time and talents to produce two miniature sculptures of the Sea Nymphs, which were available in 23cm and 50cm. Only twelve of each will be produced. The launch of the fundraising event, took place at the Bronze Sculpture Gallery at North Head on Friday night (31/3/17) with students of Helen Leete providing the catering and the Manly Art Gallery providing its full support with the loan of glasses, a lecturn and donation box. By the end of the evening the final funds needed were quickly secured with the sale of the 50cm miniature sculptures selling out. "The project has been a wonderful example of how the Council and its community can work together to get the outcomes they want, and really highlighted for me just how much art is appreciated in this area", Candy Bingham added. Clive Calder of the Bronze Sculpture Gallery and Foundry at North Head will cast the replacement sculpture, which is hoped to be back in its proud position overlooking Fairy Bower Pool in time for next summer. Well done Manly! The Northern Beaches Council released last week a review of the Dog Parks in the Northern Beaches following representation by dog owner groups last year that there were inadequate off-leash areas. It was revealed that there are a staggering 43,000 registered dogs in the Northern Beaches. It is unclear how many homes have dogs as many homes may have more than one dog. Interestingly the report found that Council believed that the off leash dog areas within the Northern Beaches LGA was adequate as there is a higher supply in comparison to four similar sized local government areas in Sydney, and residents are able to access these areas with no more than 10 minutes driving time. Dog owner representatives argued however that most of these areas are overcrowded, and do not provide adequate facilities. Current Locations of Unleashed Dog Exercise Areas Currently Council provides 26 Unleashed Dog Exercise Areas in the three regions including: 1. Hitchcock Park, Careel Bay 2. Dearin Reserve, Newport 3. South Mona Vale Headland (Robert Dunn Reserve) 4. Progress Park, Narrabeen 5. Rowland Reserve, Bayview 6. Mackerel Beach Reserve – from the public wharf north to the boundary with the National Park between sunrise to 9.30am and 5:00pm to sunset 7. McCarrs Creek Reserve, McCarrs Creek – trial unleashed dog area allowing for unleashed dogs at the western end of the reserve on weekdays (excluding public holidays) only 8. Deep Creek Reserve – Unleashed Dog Training Area 9. Forestville Memorial Playing Fields 10. Currie Road, Forestville (near Forestville Park) 11. Beverley Job Reserve, Narraweena 12. Flora and Ritchie Roberts Reserve, Griffin Road, Curl Curl (Curl Curl Lagoon) 13. John Fisher Park, Adams Street, Curl Curl 14. Hinkler Park, Pittwater Road, Queenscliff 15. Truman Reserve, Cromer 16. Griffith Park, Long Reef 17. Frenchs Forest Showground, Frenchs Forest 18. LM Graham Reserve, Fairlight 19. Lagoon Park, Queenscliff 20. Manly Cemetery, Fairlight 21. North Harbour Reserve, Condamine Street, Balgowlah The Council committed $400,000.00, over four years, to be spent to improve facilities for dogs and their owners. Manly Lagoon Issues
A site specific issue has been identified following complaints concerning dog usage of Manly Lagoon at Queenscliff Bridge. The boundary between the two former Councils at this location was the centre of the Lagoon. The southern bank of the Lagoon formed ‘Manly Lagoon Park’ which is a designated unleashed dog area. However, dogs enter the water at this location and often encroach onto the northern bank and into private properties opposite. One resident informed Council at the meeting that it was not uncommon for dogs to enter his property, even his home, from the other side of the Lagoon. There is also a playground, barbecue facilities and a cycleway at Manly Lagoon Park which can cause conflicting issues with dogs off-leash. The Council has undertaken to investigate these areas further. A cluttered field of 12 candidates, many of whom don't even live in our area, has made it even more difficult for the genuine contenders. Thats' the line-up for the State By-Election on Saturday 8th April. Here's A Quick Guide: 1. The Candidates Although 12 people have registered to stand, there are really only three serious contenders: They are Clara Williams-Roldan (Greens), James Griffin (Liberal) and Kathryn Ridge (Independent). Please take a moment to check out their websites and policies by clicking on their names, which will give you a direct link. It is interesting to note that there has been an anti-LIberal vibe in the area, particularly since the pre-selection of James Griffin as the Liberal candidate. The Save Manly Oval Alliance has produced a fact sheet on James's performance as a Councillor on Manly Council (see below), which speaks volumes. 2. Who to Support? Many people are asking me who I am personally supporting. I know all three candidates well and think Clara has a great future, but needs more experience behind her. James's performance as a Councillor with me on Manly Council was lack-lustre. He supported the Manly Oval Car Park and contributed very little to community projects. Kathryn is an experienced lawyer with a long record of backing community projects and getting results. I'm supporting Kathryn as I believe she will be an outstanding independent Local Member. 3. Pre Polling Details Pre-Polling operates from Monday 27th March - Friday 07 Apr 2017 at Manly Oval Pavillion, Sydney Road Manly and at Unit 2, 192 Harbord Rd, Brookvale. Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 6:00pm Thu (06 Apr): 8:00am - 8:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm Closed on Sun Polling Day Saturday 8th April. 4. Volunteer If you would like to support Kathryn Ridge by helping out on pre-polling or polling day, contact Anne Lanham, dion0106@bigpond.com or phone: 0427 787833. If you wish to support other candidates, contact them via their websites. 5. Meet the Candidates The Greater Manly Resident Forum is staging a Meet The Candidates evening on Monday 3rd April at 7pm at Manly West Public School. It will be well worth attending. More details here. Will a strong independent gain the support of locals again, or will the Liberals win the day? What do you think?
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AuthorCandy Bingham, Deputy Mayor & Manly Ward Councillor on Northern Beaches Council. Background in marketing, public relations and community engagement. Author of five business books. Former Lady Mayoress of Sydney. Aka Candy Tymson. ........................................
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