Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

The Hunters Hill Trust

The Hunters Hill Trust

Preserving Our Heritage since 1968

Council elections 2017: what the candidates say

The Trust recently invited all the candidates to answer 7 questions:

  1. Background of each candidate
  2. Their goals and vision for Hunters Hill and how they hope to achieve them
  3. How they will respond to increasing pressures of development in Hunters Hill so as to preserve its heritage and character, including its mature tree canopy
  4. If they support an upgrade of the heritage listing in the LEP to include more buildings from the 20th century
  5. Their position on the Gladesville Shopping Village
  6. Political party membership
  7. How their preferences will be distributed.

Check the verbatim record of what they said:

(more…)

2017-09-29T21:09:21+10:00September 2, 2017|

August walk: Field of Mars

Field of Mars walkers

15 enthusiastic people joined our August guided walk that was led by Brigid Dowsett.

Walkers enjoyed the wildflowers and heard about the history of 1960s-style local activism in protecting the Field of Mars and Buffalo Creek from further landfilling and degradation, and how it is now maintained as a vital remnant of good quality bushland, saltmarsh and mangroves as well as an important place of learning with the Environmental Education Centre hosting over 15,000 students a year.

2017-09-02T14:10:39+10:00September 1, 2017|

‘Priority growth areas’: what about heritage & infrastructure?

The State Government has an ever increasing list of Priority Growth Areas, Priority Precincts and Urban Renewal Corridors now located all over Sydney. Local Council’s have no say over these areas.

Pitt St 1892-93 Image: Dictionary of Sydney

Why is there so little provision for social infrastructure in these mega-plans?

For example, the Sydenham to Bankstown rail corridor will destroy entire suburbs in Sydney’s inner west, many of which have outstanding heritage value. The Government proposes to build 35,000 homes along the railway line, with towers of up to 25 storeys, with minimal provision for additional infrastructure.

Better Planning Network and other community groups have begun a major new campaign to fight the NSW Government’s plan to impose massive, low-quality development across Sydney. More information here.

2017-09-01T09:09:31+10:00August 27, 2017|

Rise and RISE of apartment blocks

Image: www.afr.com

More than a third (34%) of residents of Ryde / Hunters Hill ABS statistical area live in apartments, which is more than the average for Greater Sydney (28%) Source: 2016 ABS Census data.

In 2016, more apartments were built in Australia than houses.  Building industry deregulation presents serious concerns over quality, materials and fire compliance, including

    • poor oversight by local planners and authorities
    • self-certification of building components
    • relaxation of defect rectification requirements
    • long chains of sub-contractors
    • cheap or non-compliant fittings and finishes.

Many people blame foreign investors but in fact most investors are locals.  For more information about the implications of Investor-driven developments.

2017-08-27T14:22:30+10:00August 27, 2017|

Trees: a local strategy

The Importance of treeS

Speaker:  Jeff Angel, Executive Director Total Environment Centre

When:  Sunday 3 September 2.30pm

Where:  RSL Hall 56 Alexandra St Hunters Hill

Hosted by Vienna Committee FREE Admission

A canopy of mature trees has always been a feature of Hunters Hill. However the Vienna Committee has been concerned at the rate they are disappearing and this was highlighted in an article in the SMH in April this year that reported that Pittwater, Warringah, Hornsby, Willoughby, Hunters Hill and Manly local council areas have seen the highest percentage loss in their tree canopy in the past seven years. (more…)

2017-10-14T16:37:30+11:00August 27, 2017|

For our lungs’ sake: send a message

Image: Friends of the Urban Forest

A powerful network of community, planning and health organisations, including the Heart Foundation, National Trust, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is calling on the Premier of NSW to protect and enhance the lungs of Sydney.  The Hunters Hill Trust has also signed this open letter that has been organised by the Total Environment Centre.

The letter urges better protection of green spaces and trees from development and raises serious concerns about the proposed Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, which will lead to the widespread clearing of remnant bushland in the Greater Sydney area, in return for developers’ cash payments.

  We encourage you to sign the letter too (here)

2017-09-03T11:54:04+10:00August 10, 2017|

Powerhouse heritage dismantled

We are outraged at NSW government’s plan to dismantle the Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in Ultimo Sydney. The Museum and its collections are not ‘owned’ by the government to treat as currency, they are our heritage, collectively owned by the people of NSW and held in Trust – a gift from previous generations to future generations.

The Federal Government recently sold our magnificent GPO, the prize of Martin Place, for $150 million. The NSW Government now plans to spend $140 million on a car-park in Parramatta to house the relocated Powerhouse.  Is that a good deal for the people of NSW?

What else is for sale?

You can read the Trust’s letter to the NSW Premier here.

2018-04-28T15:26:11+10:00August 9, 2017|

Creeping ugliness: fixing our broken planning system

Image: Jessica Shapiro, SMH 2016

Members of the Hunters Hill Trust’s executive committee recently met with the Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Special Minister of State along with the Secretary of NSW Department of Planning to discuss our deep concerns about the failures of the planning system and its impact on heritage and the environment. The presentation addressed:

  • Greater Sydney Commission
  • Gladesville Shopping Village development
  • Revisions to the NSW Housing Code
  • Protections for conservation areas
  • Design led planning that strengthens community life.

See the full presentation of concerns and solutions here:  HHT presentation to Minister for Planning.

2017-07-31T12:14:32+10:00July 31, 2017|

Effects of living near a busy road…

Image:  The Telegraph UK 2017

Have you ever wondered about the longterm health effects on noise, vibration, airborne pollution?

Evidence about the risks is accumulating. A decade-long study of 6.6 million people, published in the The Lancet, found that one in 10 dementia deaths in people living within 50 metres of a busy road was attributable to fumes and noise. There was a linear decline in deaths the further people lived away from heavy traffic.

The Age reports on a major US study that links asthma and  cardiovascular disease to living up to 500m of a busy road.
Our very own Dept of Planning set out guidelines for managing risks back in 2008:  Development Near Busy Roads, NSW Dept Planning.
So how come we are building stacks of accommodation along the major highways of Sydney right now?
2017-07-25T14:55:18+10:00July 25, 2017|

Heritage protection as the juggernaut thunders on

On Thursday 20 July, Trust Committee Members met with Anthony Roberts, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing, and Special Minister for State, Leader of the House to discuss heritage and planning in NSW. The Department of Planning and Environment Secretary, Carolyn McNally was also present.

A number of matters were canvassed including the Trust’s submission to the Greater Sydney Commission and submissions on the Gladesville Shopping Village and revisions to the Housing Code. The Trust raised the need for stronger heritage protections with the loss of heritage across Sydney, providing examples of local items lost and under threat and, further afield, the significant Thompson Square at Windsor that is under threat of destruction by the RMS for a major road and new bridge.
 (more…)

2017-08-08T16:56:50+10:00July 25, 2017|

We are a volunteer community organisation with over 50 years’ proud representation on behalf of the residents of Hunters Hill, advocating for our suburb’s unique heritage and environment.

If you would like to donate to our cause, your contributions will be greatly appreciated and very carefully used.

Donations can be via bank transfer to: CBA Bank; BSB 062000; Acct 16211909, or by cheque payable to Hunters Hill Trust sent to PO Box 85, Hunters Hill 2110.

Please email us at huntershilltrust@gmail.com so we can acknowledge your kind contribution.

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