Manly Community Forum newsletter May 2020

Items from this month's  Manly Community Forum newsletter. 

MANLY PROJECTS MOSTLY COVID-IMMUNE

Despite Coronavirus ripping a $21 million hole in the Council's budget,  most  projects in our area will still go ahead. These include:

Little Manly Pool  where major restoration work has just started. It includes restoration of the timber 'boardwalk' and beautiful new seahorse-friendly netting.  

The desperately-needed new toilet block at East Esplande Reserve will have more toilets, accessible facilities, showers and a baby change room. The whole area will get a revamp including landscaping, new sandstone edges on garden beds, new swings, fitness equipment, a picnic table and seating. Work has finally started  and it should all be finished by summer. 

Funding is also locked in for a revamp of Little Manly Reserve, although that work won't start until  2022/23. It will include landscaping, wide steps down to the beach and the demolition of  No 40 Stuart Street with the land added to the park, and the zig-zag access ramp straightened out. 
Funding is also secure for future work to rebuild the  playground at Little Manly Point, with Council teaming up with a consultation committee of parents and grandparents, including Forum member Cathy Griffin.  

The much-needed new toilet block at Little Manly Point is not yet funded, and we are concerned it will be delayed. There are no toilets in this park at all, despite it being extremely popular for fishing, picnics and late night parties.  This year Clean Up Australia Day volunteers were disgusted  when they found human waste in  Little Manly Point bushland. Manly Ward councillors must push this project forward, despite the Council's COVID economic hit.

Meanwhile, the  rebuild of Manly Life Saving Club  is in a holding pattern, awaiting  a $5 million contribution  from the State Government. Funds from  Council and the Federal  Government are already  locked in. 
And in a win for the Forum, the Council has now moved Manly Wharf's new double decker bike racks to a more suitable spot near the hotel games area. They had been placed too prominently near the wharf main entrance.

MANLY LODGE HOTEL DA DIFFICULTIES
Manly Lodge Hotel's proposed rebuild has hit a hurdle after the Council knocked back the $5 million proposal. The Victoria Pde hotel has the right to appeal, but it's good news for residents  concerned by the scale of the project. A new five-storey, 49-room hotel with a rooftop  open area was proposed. Hakan's cafe is safe for now. 


WIN FOR CABBAGE TREE BAY
Cabbage Tree Bay has another 5 years with all its aquatic reserve 'no take' protections in place. Despite all the kerfuffle, the State Government has maintained full protection for our precious marine sanctuary. 


DOGS ON THE ROCK PLATFORM
Many dogs are being let off the lead on Manly rock platforms and some swim in the water as well. It's now clear that the Council does have jurisdiction over the rock platform, as it is "wholly within Northern Beaches Council LGA". So dogs MUST be on the lead just like on Marine Pde and Council rangers are doing regular patrols. But whether dogs can, or should, be banned entirely from the rock platform will have to wait until the finalisation of the Council's Management of Dogs in Public Places policy. So no 'dog' signs on Marine Pde until then.