News Archive

Public Meeting - Monday 16 Feb @ 6pm
6 February 2009

Oxford Falls Retirement Village Public Meeting
Monday 16 February 2009 - 5.30pm (6pm start)

Dee Why Civic Centre (Warringah Council).

Wear a white shirt or t-shirt, show your support and have your say!

We will be arranging a guest speaker and media coverage and really want to pack out the council chambers to get a maximum effect in the press.

Please pass this on - we really need to attract as many people as we can.

Markets & Meetings
4 February 2009

Markets
We will be running a stall at the Frenchs Forest Organic Market at the Parkway Hotel on Sunday 8 and 15 February 2009. We are calling for volunteers who would like to help man the stall between 7am and 1pm (you don't need to do the entire time!!)

Also, on 15 February we are handing out leaflets at the Narrabeen Village Market at Berry Reserve.

If you can help at either event please let us know your contact details prior to Friday 6 February (email us at info@oxfordfallsactiongroup.org). We are hoping to have something big on the 15th at the Frenchs Forest Market so stay tuned.

Council Meeting
STOP PRESS: (updated Feb 9) Council will table their draft submission and is against this development. They have advised us that it would be better for people to attend the Monday 16th February meeting instead. So, if you were planning to come to the 10/2 meeting please take the time to work on your submission instead!

Have You Seen One?
2 February 2009

Because of its location and usage the chances are good that you've probably seen one of Warringah's endangered species in Oxford Falls valley.

As part of your submission, and to aid us in helping to protect this area, please let us know if you have seen one of the species listed on our new
Oxford Falls Threatened Species page.

The Developer already concedes (in part 10 of their submission) that the site has a population of Grey-headed Flying Foxes. What else is there?

Link Details
26 January 2009

In case you've had problems with the link on our leaflet, the page on the Department of Planning's webste it redirects you to is here.

More Updates
21 January 2009

We've added more information about the development - we now have the most recent list of landowners involved in the development. You will find this information on our links page.

A big thank-you to all of those who have agreed to help in our letterbox drop - we appreciate your time.

Things are moving
19 January 2009

A very big thank-you to those community members already reaching out with offers of help and support.

The good news is that the core OFAG group convened today and has started the ball rolling on some focused communications. We will publish more details in the next day or two that will provide more details.

If you would like to help (in any way) please email us at info@oxfordfallsactiongroup.org.

2009.. Another Fight
14 January 2009

We've won before, we can do it again!

Community members living adjacent to the proposed site today received notification from the Department of Planning that the Department now has the necessary paperwork to progress the DA to the next stage.

We have until Friday 27th February 2009 to make submissions.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) is available to view online (expand the "Environmental Assessment" section for PDFs) or at either of these two addresses:

• Department of Planning, Information Centre, 23 - 33 Bridge St,
  Sydney, 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri.
• Warringah Council, Civic Centre, 725 Pittwater Road,
  Dee Why - 8.30am - 5pm Mon - Fri.

We will send out more details soon in relation to a plan of action.

Merry Christmas 2008
1 December 2008

Oxford Falls Action Group would like to wish all its members a happy Christmas and New Year and thank them for their ongoing support. We'll be monitoring the situation through this period and on into 2009.

Warringah Council Elections 2008
2 September 2008

The Oxford Falls Action Group will be asking all candidates in the Warringah Council elections to answer a short set of questions relating to the ongoing development proposal. We will publish the questions in the next day or two and the candidate's responses as we receive them. They will appear on this page.

Thank-you and the details...
2 July 2008

A very big thanks to those of you who submitted a letter to Urbis in relation to their request. Some concerned members of the local community who did not receive the letter have asked about it's details, so here they are:

[Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5]

Request for Comment
15 June 2008

Spurred on by our insistence that the project should be removed from the state register the developer has once again come back to the community seeking input via urban planning firm Urbis.

If you received one of the hand-delivered letters and would like advice please e-mail us.

Another Inappropriate Development?
Lizard Rock, Morgan Road, Belrose
15 June 2008

Thanks to an OFAG member for bringing it to our attention - do you want to see what developers really want to do to our local area?

Take a look at the scale and size of the proposed Lizard Rock development.
[Updated 04/08/08: due to recent press coverage the developer has removed the details from its website].

Is this another Part 3A development that will fail to benefit the local commmunity?

Two Years on the Register
09 June 2008

It's been two years since this 'resort' made it on to the NSW Department of Planning's Major Development register...

Is it about time for it to be removed due to lack of movement?

Metro Strategy Public Session Feedback
11 August 2007

A big thank-you to those of you who attended the evening at Warringah Mall - it appears that a lot of concerned locals made their support for the protection of Oxford Falls in the Metro Strategy known to the planners.

We had a good discussion at the event with planning staff and while there is nothing definitive relating to our situation we can share with you, it is good to see that the awareness of it is high within the department.

Overall it is positive for us and OFAG encourages you to give your feedback about the Strategy to ensure that we have yet another tool at our disposal to help end this ridiculous development once and for all.

Draft North East Subregional Strategy Available
28 July 2007

The NSW Government has recently published the draft of the section of their Metropolitan Strategy that covers our region (North East Subregional Strategy). The draft is available for comment through until Tuesday 18 September 2007 at one of these locations:

• Warringah Council, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
• Pittwater Council, 1 Park Street, Mona Vale
• Manly Council, 1 Belgrave Street, Manly
• NSW Department of Planning, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney

Additionally, it's also available online.

Great news for us is that on Thursday 2nd August there will be a public session at Warringah Mall community room (located above library near the cinema) between 5.30 and 8.30pm at which you can give direct feedback to a NSW planner! We would urge you to read the draft (or the sections most relevant) and go along to the session and let them know directly where your concerns are.

Hopefully the Strategy will mean protection from the likes of the retirement village proposal still pending - let's make sure it does and maybe prod the planners to apply it retrospectively also!

One year on: time to strike from the list?
7 June 2007

One year on from the last official update for this project on the Department of Planning's website we have to ask the question:

If this development is so important, why has there been no movement in the last 12 months?

Is the developer hoping that we'll simply stop paying attention?

Enough's enough - we call on the Department of Planning and Minister to strike this development from the Major Projects list and consign it to its rightful place - history.

Community Action Groups making a difference
1 May 2007

The ABC 4 Corner's program covered the ongoing saga in Western Australia related to Brian Burke and his ilk in their show last night - "Dark Arts".

Of interest to us all should be the role played by the local Smiths Beach Action Group in the uncovering of the machinations happening in relation to the unwanted development on "an idyllic sweep of beachfront" in their locality.

If you're not a member of the Oxford Falls Action Group why not get in contact?

Already an Oversupply of Aged Care?
28 March 2007

The Manly Daily is today reporting that there may be a 'glut' of aged care places already. Rod Young, chief executive of the Aged Care Association, reportedly claimed that some nursing homes had fallen below 90 percent occupancy when they needed at least 97 to make profit.

We've noticed an increased number of advertisements in the Daily for retirement villages over recent months - there's two alone in the same edition as the above story - pages 21 & 22.

It really begs the question - can this development be justified as meeting a demand if there is no demand for it?

What about the other developments going ahead elsewhere on the peninsula at the Dee Why RSL and the Anglican Retirement Village in Warriewood? They'll add more supply to a market that is apparently already oversupplied.

It's about time this development application was rejected - the community doesn't want the Oxford Falls Retirement "Resort", it's inappropriate in its location, and it is obviously not needed.

Sea(t) Change.
24 March 2007

The State Election sees the seat within which the development falls change. Previously it had been in Davidson. Post election it will be in Wakehurst. Please direct your political lobbying towards the local member whose details can be found on the links page.

No Submission.
12 March 2007

The Department of Planning has advised us that it has not yet received any further submissions from the developer.

Must be an election in the air?

Christmas Update.
22 December 2006

We thought we'd better let everyone know we're still here and that things are still rumbling along as far as this development goes.

OFAG, along with other local community groups, was recently contacted by an "independent advisory firm", working on behalf of the developer, to provide feedback on the development.

In line with our position on this development we replied, clearly stating our opposition to this development and pointed out that the local community did not want this development - as has been clearly shown twice before.

The Planning Departments process is still at a stage where no general public input is possible, but once it is possible we will be sure to let you know.

We'd like to thank the community, our organisers and supporters for their continued vigilance and efforts - 2007 will be our year of action. Have a safe and pleasant Christmas and New Year.

"Fight for the Falls" - Sunday Telegraph Story.
30 July 2006

Today's Sunday Telegraph runs a story "Fight for the Falls" (page 33) which highlights the local community opposition to this outrageous development. We'd like to thanks those who attended the photograph session in the early morning one day last week - I'm sure you all agree the photo really shows why we are all fighting this development.

New Proposal - Department of Planning Feedback.
10 July 2006

We have spoken with a representative of the Department of Planning and she advised us that they have only received preliminary documents in relation to the proposal.

The Department will now coordinate gathering of requirements from other Departments (such as Environment) in addition to their own and these requirements will be bundled and handed to the proponent (developer) who has two years to lodge the necessary response documents.

Once the developer's responses are received the proposal will be opened for public comment.

The representative said it would be at least two to three months before any further movement took place, but we'll keep on monitoring.

Details Available! It's here - MP 05_0113.
5 July 2006

The Department of Planning's Major Projects register has been updated so it now includes the preliminary documents relating to the major projects application. It is still a "700 to 850" resident development with three floor buildings.

We haven't had the chance to review the documents fully yet and are still waiting to hear back from the Department of Planning about what action we can take, but in the mean time please read the documents which can be found on the Department of Planning's website.

Note that some of the documents are quite large (50+ Mb). You'll also need Adobe Acrobat to read them. Probably the best document to start with is the Preliminary Assessment Document.

Six More Months?
1 March 2006

Today's Manly Daily contains an article in which Sid Londish claims it will be at least six months before a decision is forthcoming from the Department of Planning. He's also claiming he's been advised to keep quiet on the matter... Wonder who offered him that sage advice?

Just a tip for the developers: six months, six years... we'll still be here.

No will always mean No.

Department of Planning Replies
10 February 2006

We've heard back from Frank Sartor's department, and the news is that we can expect another fight on our hands. The Minister determined on 1st December 2005 that the developer of the Retirement "Resort" would be allowed to make an application to the Department of Planning regarding their development. We've scanned the letter we received (and we suspect that everyone who wrote should get one also). You can read it here.

Until such time as the project is lodged with the Department all we can recommend is that you continue to lobby your local State representative and write to the Planning Minister and Premier (their addresses can be found here).

URGENT: State Planning Minister Reviewing Proposal!
17 December 2005

Sid Londish has been reported by the Manly Daily to have approached the State Government to try and use new laws to push ahead with the over development of Oxford Falls with his retirement village.

Upon reading a separate article in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday it appears that the State Government will be carefully monitoring any application and has already rejected other similar applications. We would like your support in writing to the State Government indicating your objection to this "inappropriate development in an inappropriate place" and let's keep Oxford Falls the way it is for this and future generations.

View a letter one of our members has written. As in the past, please write your own individual letter but feel free to take a look for ideas. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it.

Success: Warringah Council rejects DA
22 March 2005

Yes! Warringah Council has rejected outright the application for this inappropriate development! After a lengthy investigation by the Council's Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel (IHAP) the Administrator agreed with their opinion and rejected the proposal for this "very large retirement village".

Signs Vanish!
18 January 2005

Somebody must have been bored! Large areas of signs have mysteriously disappeared. They weren't merely vandalised and left in a pile somewhere - somebody actually went to the trouble to remove them entirely. Wonder who?

It doesn't matter as they are working well and we continue to be buoyed by the public's response on this issue.

Signs are up
10 January 2005

The new OFAG signs are up all over the area and they look great! Thanks to all those who have agreed to put them up in their front yards and support our efforts. Let's keep up the pressure!

Our signs - they look great. Source: Manly Daily.

Proposal V2 viewed
15 December 2004

We have viewed the new application and it is more of the same, less a few floors. Please find below a photo of the new development. We have written a letter to council concerning this new development proposal. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to read it.

Return of the Inappropriate Proposal?
2 December 2004

It has been indicated in the Manly Daily that there is a revised development for the Oxford Falls Retirement Village. We have made contact with the Warringah Council about this proposal but we have been unable to gain any information. We will advise as soon as we can establish anything further.

Craning Necks
10 July 2004

The crane get-together was held today with hundreds of supporting people attending, along with many local politicians and media. Thank you to the speakers who addressed the gathering. People were devastated to see the actual height of the proposed development. We need to remind you that it is vital now for you to send you letters of objection to this proposed development to the appropriate people. Please click here for the link to these names and addresses.

Over the last week we have had 15 volunteers doorknocking the district far and wide to insure that as many people as possible have been informed of this get-together. Our thanks go to these people for all their efforts in achieveing a fantastic result.

Please tell your friends and neighbours about this proposed development so we can extend the suppport for our objection. Also let us know of your support via email so we can keep you informed of future events.