,When we asked the community for comments on the Good For Manly Facebook page one of the main concerns seemed to be the proposed unisex toilets, rather than separate male and female facilities.

The addition of an outside shower was popular being close the the change rooms themselves, although we also want o keep the shower by the pool too!

We also received feedback from a diver who reported that parts of the old toilet block are still clearly visible on the ocean floor.

It is expected work will commence on the new facilities mid year.

Good for Manly has made a submission to Council incorporating comments received.  What do you think?

​Mike Baird - our local MP and the State Premier - resigned on January 19 in a move that surprised everybody. 

The state's top job is now in the capable hands of Gladys Berejiklian, Australia's first female Liberal Premier. 

And Manly will face a by-election to choose our new representative.



Good For Manly President and former Manly Councillor Candy Bingham said Mike's open, friendly approach would be greatly missed.  

“Mike Baird was totally committed to our community, and worked tirelessly. In more recent times it was clear that his arduous duties as Premier made it more and more difficult for him to service his electorate”, Mrs Bingham said.  "We have him to thank in particular for the long overdue Northern Beaches Hospital and the B-Link bus service which will go some way in helping to ease traffic congestion on the Northern Beaches", she said 

History of State Seat In Manly
Manly is often considered a safe Liberal seat, but it was held by two independents - Peter Macdonald  and David Barr - for sixteen years until Mr Baird won the seat in 2007.

It even changed hands completely between 1978 to 1984, when Labor's Alan Stewart was the Manly MP. 

However at the last election, in 2015, Mr Baird won 75% of the vote after preferences, with Greens candidate Clara Williams Roldan a distant second with 25% of the vote.

At the time of writing potential candidates had not been announced, however there is a lot of speculation as to who will stand!

“I think what locals will be looking for is a representative who is connected to the community,” Mrs Bingham said.  “What party they come from is less important than their ability to work hard for their electorate, listen to the community and understand local issues”, she added.

Council Amalgamations
Based on community research, it would seem that council amalgamations is one issue that would not be a game changer here in Manly. 

This is despite anti-council amalgamation activists threatening to “turn Manly into Orange” and rally against the Liberal Party unless the forced council mergers are unwound.

“I really think people have moved on from that,” Mrs Bingham said. “At the time of amalgamation there was some concern that Manly’s voice would be lost in one big Northern Beaches Council. However I believe that the  lack of resistance to amalgamation in Manly was not due to apathy, but rather that people were wanting a change from the Wong/Hay stronghold on the Council".  (Henry Wong was the General Manager and Jean Hay led the Liberal bloc which approved many unpopular projects - a number of which have subsequently been terminated by the new Council's Administrator).

The by-election will take place in the next few months.

What would you like to see in Manly's new Local Member?

It’s been a long time since we threw all our rubbish in the one bin and sent it to the local tip.  Now food waste is set to join the long list of items that should never have ended up in landfill. 

Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre, which processes garbage from the Northern Beaches area, already recycles more than 70% of waste. That includes glass, plastic, paper, aluminium cans, car batteries, televisions, computers, vegetation and wood waste, as well as waste concrete, asphalt, bricks and roof tiles. But it isn’t enough. 
​

​Our region only has one landfill site for waste that can’t be recycled.  That’s at Belrose and, after 51 years of operation, the site is full. That means that after November, the Council will be forced to truck waste to a landfill site in western Sydney instead. It’s expensive and it’s not a sustainable way of dealing with our rubbish. As well food waste in landfill breaks down to release greenhouse gases, including not only carbon dioxide, but methane, which is even worse. 

Now there’s a plan to take Northern Beaches recycling to the next level.

In two years time, householders will be required to separate out food scraps and throw them in the green lid bins, along with other garden waste. This one step will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by almost half.

Kimbriki is not yet able to handle putrescible (food-containing) waste, but that will change when a major new recycling and waste processing facility opens at the site in 2019 or 20. Food and vegetation waste will then be turned into compost, which will be available for sale.

For residents, the number of different bins will decrease from four to three, as follows;

The general waste red-lid bins, which will be collected fortnightly for houses, and weekly for unit blocks. 
The mixed recycling bins, for paper, glass and plastic combined, which will be collected fortnightly for houses, and weekly for unit blocks.
The mixed food and vegetation green-lid bins which will be collected weekly. Residents will also be given a free kitchen tidy bin and cornstarch bags to store food waste before putting it in the outside bin. 

“This is a sensible plan that was put together by Mosman Council and the three former Northern Beaches councils, which jointly own Kimbriki”, former Manly Councillor Candy Bingham said.

"The Northern Beaches council is on board now as well, and has called for tenders.

“We need to look to the future - we just have to reduce landfill waste. Kimbriki’s advanced new waste technology will do that and at the same time  take hundreds of trucks off our local streets.

“It will cost each household about $2 extra per week, which is a great investment.”

While community support for recycling is strong there are concerns such as, how to stop food waste from smelling, and what to do with nappies. 

For these issues and more information generally go to
kimbriki.com.au/content/about-us/regional-waste-solution

A new community group has been formed with the single purpose of eliminating single use plastic bags in Manly by 2017.  What a great goal!

It takes a village - to go plastic bag free. 
​
That's the strategy powering community group Plastic Free Manly  towards their ambitious environmental  goals.  The grassroots organisation has set 2017 - next year - as their target to rid Manly of single use plastic bags. 

Because social change only happens  if everyone is on side, the environmentalists are talking to as many groups as possible, ranging from school children and their families to local businesses and large corporate entities. 

For the children there are family activity sheets and the story of Gertie the Turtle who swallowed a plastic bag and almost died. For businesses there is support for a transition away from plastic, and publicity to nudge shoppers into doing the right thing. Plastic Free Manly already has the support of more than 40 local retailers, Northern Beaches Council and Manly Chamber of Commerce. They are also working with grocery giant Coles on a local plastic reduction campaign. 

The need is pressing. Every day ten million new plastic bags are used by Australian shoppers.  And the plastic in every one of them takes hundreds of  years to break down. 

"Manly is special," former Manly councillor and Good For Manly president Candy Bingham said.  "It's a village community, and it's full of people who care passionately about our oceans, wildlife and bush. We already have campaigns like Plastic Free July, which Good For Manly helped to introduce to Manly last year, and now this terrific  group of women are taking it to a whole new level."

Plastic Free Manly is run entirely by volunteers. To join their team and receive training as a Business Engagement Warrior or digital marketer, or just to find out more, please click the link below. 

​http://www.plasticfreemanly.org

These groups will replace former council committees.  They are:
Economic Strategic Reference Groups
  1. Affordable Housing
  2. Economic Development & Tourism 
  3. Place Making 
Environment Strategic Reference Groups
  4. Natural Enviroment
  5. Waste & Recovery Management
  6. Sustainable Transport
Social Strategic Reference Groups
  7. Art, Culture & Heritage
  8. Community Safety
  9. Inclusive Communities
​10. Open Space & Recreation
11. Northern Beaches Youth

The Groups will be formed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to be advertised shortly.
Each group will comprise representatives from the community, local experts and former Councillors and Mayors.

Community Involvement
Members of the community are encouraged to apply to be part of the working committees, which will be in place for the next twelve months until the the Council elections in September 2017. Details will be on the Northern Beaches Council's website shortly.  It is expected that each committee will have 12 community members and up to three former Councillors.

Fate of Manly's Resident Precinct Forums
Unfortunately the previous Resident Forum groups supported by Manly Council will no longer be recognised, or supported by Council,   in their current form.

In response a number of the existing Precinct Forums have reformed as Community Forum Groups. This includes Clontarf, North Harbour Reserve, Ivanhoe and Little Manly which has merged with Fairy Bower and The Corso to represent the Eastern Hill.

The list of existing resident groups already operating in the old Warringah and Pittwater Council areas is extensive.  It therefore has been decided by the new Council to invite all community groups and associations to register with the Council which will enable them to continue to play a role in council decision making.

Council Engagement Process
Raising issues with council will be via Customer Request  either via email or over the counter, and will be dealt with directly by the relevant business unit. Regular email updates will also be provided.

It's a disappointing outcome for the Manly's Resident Precinct system which has provided direct access and input to council over the past 25 years as as proven and effective way for interested residents to have a say.  However, it is pleasing to see that the majority of the Precincts have reformed into Community Groups  and are expected to continue to be as effective as ever in dealing with the issues and needs of their areas.

One advantage will be that these groups will remain independent.  When controversial issues are before Council this will mean the Council will no longer be able to dictate, threaten or attempt to control the decisions of the group. This was clearly the case with the Oval Car park plan under the former Manly Council.

​What do you think of this new approach?