Thursday 26 April 2012

Capertee Valley Photos

For a look at some beautiful photos from our area go to:


http://caperteevalleyphotos.blogspot.com.au/

TOP 10 Australian birding sites.

It is quite interesting what you find when you're looking for something else! 
Here is a short piece from a website http://bird-o.com that I have come across. 
Great information on our unique part of the world!


Here’s Bird-O’s “no-frills guide” to our TOP10 Australian birding sites.
The Capertee Valley.
The incredible Capertee Valley!!
Surely the most famous birding destination in Australia? Anyone who’s ever thought of coming to Australia has Capertee at the top of their list. The trip starts at the Capertee General Store for an excellent bacon & egg roll.  It’s great to be down before dawn for plenty of birding action but what makes this spot so brilliant is that the road lies in the lee of the Blue Mountains. You can start at 07.00 as the sun crests that little dividing range running the length of Australia. Often birds at the Capertee start their dawn chorus around 07.30 ….
Even with a late start you can notch up 100 birds in a day quite easily and still be back in Sydney by mid-evening. Such gems as Turquoise Parrot,Plum-headed FinchDiamond FiretailSpotted Quail-thrushAustralian Owlet-NightjarRegent Honeyeater (best in spring or when their favourite trees are flowering or when they decide you may be permitted to look at them); a superb selection of mammals are often on show too. Add to that, what’s reputed to be the largest enclosed valley (leading to the narrow gorge formation at Glen Davis) in the Southern Hemisphere – it’s simply stunning scenery and quite similar to the smaller Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

ANZAC celebrations at Capertee School





Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework


At its meeting held on 23 April 2012, Lithgow City Council resolved to adopt its Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework for public exhibition for a period of 28 days concluding on Friday 25 May 2012. 

The Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework has been developed following extensive consultation with the community and review of all internal strategic planning documents. The Framework consists of:
·                Our Place…Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2025
·                Our Place…Our Future Long Term Financial Plan 2012-2022
·                Our Place…Our Future Strategic Asset Management Plan
·                Our Place…Our Future Workforce Strategy 2012-2016
·                Our Place…Our Future Draft Delivery Program 2012-2016 and Operations Plan 2012-2013 (former Management Plan)
·                Our Place…Our Future Fees and Charges 2012-2013.

Copies of all of the Draft documents can be read at the Lithgow, Wallerawang and Lithgow PCYC,
 Suzanne McNamara
PO Box 632,
LITHGOW NSW 2790Portland libraries; and are available at the Council’s Administration Centre or may be downloaded from Council’s web site http://www.lithgow.nsw.gov.au/integratedPlanning

A series of briefing and open house sessions will also be held at the following places:

CAPERTEE: Thursday 26 April, 6pm Capertee Memorial Hall – IPR Briefing Session
HARTLEY: Wednesday 2 May, 6pm Old Hartley Schoolhouse – IPR Briefing Session
PORTLAND: Thursday 3 May, 2-5pm Portland Library – Open House Session
LITHGOW: Friday 4 May, 10am-4pm – Lithgow Valley Shopping Centre – Open House Session
WALLERAWANG: Tuesday 8 May, 10am-1pm Wallerawang Library – Open House Session
LITHGOW: Friday 11 May 10am-6pm – Lithgow Library – Open House Session

In addition to the abovementioned sessions a Youth Forum will be held at the Lithgow Council Chambers on Thursday 10 May 4-6pm with the Lithgow Youth Council, local youth service providers and youth groups.

Written public submissions close on Friday 25 May at 4.30pm.  Submissions may be sent to the General Manager, Lithgow City Council, PO Box 19, Lithgow 2790, or tocouncil@lithgow.nsw.gov.au, quoting reference number IPR09-12.

All feedback from these briefing sessions and written public submissions will be tabled with Council for consideration prior to making its final decision in June.

If you require additional information please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned on 6354 9921 or e-mail deborah.mcgrath@lithgow.nsw.gov.au

Yours sincerely




Deborah McGrath | Corporate Strategy and Communications OfficerPolicy and Planning | LITHGOW CITY COUNCIL
PH (02) 6354 9999 | FAX (02) 6351 4259

18 April 2012
DRAFT INTEGRATED PLANNING AND REPORTING
FRAMEWORK PROPOSED EXHITION TIMETABLE
Council is currently developing its Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework
which will consist of the following suite of documents:
 Our Place…Our Future Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025
 Our Place…Our Future Draft Long-term Financial Plan 2012-2022
 Our Place…Our Future Draft Workforce Strategy
 Our Place…Our Future Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan
 Our Place…Our Future Draft Combined Delivery Program 2012-2016 and
Operations Plan and Revenue Policy 2012-2013.
 Our Place…Our Future Fees and Charges 2012-2013
The Draft Delivery Program 2012-2016 and Operations Plan 2012-2013 replace
council’s annual Management Plan from previous years providing a four-year
horizon for the implementation of the Draft Community Strategic Plan.
Following adoption of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework at the
Council meeting to be held on Monday 23 April it is proposed that the documents
will be on exhibition until 4.30pm on Friday 25 May 2012 and will be available for
viewing at Council's Administration Centre, Lithgow Library Learning Centre,
Portland Library, Wallerawang Library, Rydal Library and website
http://www.lithgow.nsw.gov.au/integratedPlanning
Written submissions may be made at any time during the exhibition period up
until 4.30pm on Friday 25 May 2012 and should quote Council's Internal
Reference No. IPR09-12.
A preliminary timetable for community briefing sessions and open house sessions
has been developed to enable members of the community to meet with Council
Officers to discuss any of the abovementioned documents during this period as
follows:
 Thursday 26 April 6 - 7.30pm - Capertee Memorial Hall – Briefing Session
 Wed 2nd May 6 - 7.30pm – Hartley School Hall – Briefing Session
 Thursday 3rd May 2-5pm - Portland Library – Open House Session
 Friday 4th May 10am - 4pm - Lithgow Valley Shopping Centre – Open
House Session
 Tuesday 8th May 10am - 1pm - Wallerawang Library – Open House
Session
 Thursday 10th May 4pm - 6pm - Council Admin Centre - Youth Forum
 Friday 11 May 10am-6pm - Lithgow Library – Open House Session
Please note these dates and times are subject to adoption of the
Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework by Council on Monday
23 April and may be subject to change.
Any queries regarding this matter may be directed to Ms Deborah McGrath,
Corporate Strategy and Communications Officer on 02 6354 9921.

Sunday 15 April 2012

Community Engagement Strategy - Lithgow City Council




The Community Strategic Plan is to be developed in collaboration with the community and establishes an overarching framework based on the community’s main priorities and aspirations for the future of our area.
However, Council is not wholly responsible for the implementation of the plan.  The community strategic plan requires a collaborative approach between Council and its partners; state agencies and community groups to deliver the long-term objectives of the plan.
Our Place, Our Future – Draft Community Strategic Plan 2021 has been developed following continued consultation with the community since the development of the Strategic Plan 2007.  It shows that although we have achieved many of the objectives set, integrated planning is part of a continual process of reviewing, developing and implementing plans, strategies and processes to ensure the long-term sustainability of our local government area. 



Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework – Proposed Exhibition

At its Ordinary Meeting held on 26 March 2011 Council resolved to adopt the proposed community engagement timeframes and actions for the public exhibition of the Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework as follows:
Monday 23 April: Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework document suite reported to Council to adopt for exhibition.
Tuesday 24 April to Friday 25 May: Exhibition Period – Briefing Sessions
Thursday 26 April 6 - 7.30pm - Capertee - IPR Briefing Session
Friday 27 April 10am-6pm - Lithgow Library - Open House Session
Wed 2nd May 6 - 7.30pm - Hartley - IPR Briefing Session
Thursday 3rd May 2-5pm -  Portland Library - Open House Session
Friday 4th May 10am - 4pm - Lithgow Valley Shopping Centre - Open House Session
Tuesday 8th May 10am - 1pm - Wallerawang Library - Open House Session
Thursday 10th May 4pm - 6pm -  Council Admin Centre - Youth Forum
Monday 4 June: Final Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework Document Suite reported to Council for adoption.
Note: The Proposed Community Engagement Process for Phase 2 Consultation is subject to the adoption of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework for public exhibition on Monday 23 April and may be subject to change.
The following draft documents which make up the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework will be exhibited by Council for public comment as part of this process:
  • Our Place…Our Future, Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025
  • Our Place…Our Future, Long-term Financial Plan
  • Our Place…Our Future, Strategic Asset Management Plan
  • Our Place…Our Future, Workforce Plan
  • Our Place…Our Future, Combined Delivery Program and Operational Plan.
Once finalised and adopted for exhibition the Integrated Planning and Reporting Draft Document Suite will be available for viewing at the following locations during ordinary hours
Council’s Administration Centre
180 Mort Street, Lithgow (or phone 02 63549999 for further information)
Lithgow Library Learning Centre
157 Main Street, Lithgow
Portland Library
Williwa Street, Portland
Wallerawang Library
Main Street, Wallerawang

Coalpac seeks planning approval

COALPAC Pty Ltd
Coalpac Pty Ltd, is currently seeking state planning approval through the Department of Planning for the Coalpac Consolidation Project, located approximately 25 kilometres north-west of Lithgow.
The environmental assessment is on public exhibition for an extended period from Tuesday 10 April 2012 until Friday 1 June 2012.
All relevant project documents are publicly available on the department’s website at http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4332
The proposal includes:
  • Consolidating development consents and project approvals at both the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines so that one approval regulates mining across both sites;
  • Expanding open cut and high wall mining areas, to extract an additional 108 million tonnes of coal;
  • Upgrading and building associated infrastructure to process 3.5 million tonnes of coal per annum and transport coal off the site by road and rail;
  • Producing up to 640,000 tonnes of sand products each year;
  • Clearing approximately 960 hectares of vegetation, primarily within Ben Bullen State Forest; and
  • Rehabilitating the site.
The proposal includes a biodiversity offset strategy, which would potentially allocate more than 1,755 hectares of land as biodiversity offsets.
Coalpac is proposing to employ up to 120 operational staff and additional contractors for the 21-year life of the project.
The project will also require Commonwealth approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
From Tuesday 10 April, the environmental assessment for the project will be available to view during business hours at:
  • Cullen Bullen General Store – Castlereagh Highway, Cullen Bullen
  • Department of Planning and Infrastructure – Information Centre, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney;
  • Lithgow City Council – 180 Mort Street, Lithgow CBD;
  • Lithgow Council Library Portland Branch – Williwa Street, Portland; and
  • Nature Conservation Council – Level 2, 5 Wilson Street, Newtown.

Submissions can be:
· Lodged online at www.planning.nsw.gov.au;
· Emailed to plan_comment@planning.nsw.gov.au;
· Faxed to (02) 9228 6466; or
· Posted to Mining and Industry Projects, Department of Planning and Infrastructure,
GPO Box 39, SYDNEY NSW 2001.

Regent Honey Eater Tree planting weekend

Birds Australia Regent Honey Eater Capertee Valley Tree 


Planting Weekend. 




5th and 6th of May 2012 




Suzie Lamb 0410 959 537

Paul Toole visit

Paul Toole visit - reminder

24th April 2012

Stop 1
Bogee RFS- 8.45 to 9.30am –
Bogee Rural Fire Shed for (quick cuppa) Morning Tea.

Stop 2
Glen Alice School official opening  10.00am to 11.00am

Stop3
Glen Davis Community Association 11.30am to 1.00pm
Community Centre – meet the community and light lunch (gold coin).

Stop 4
Capertee Public School/ Progress Assn 1.30pm to 2.30pm
Meet the school families and staff and the residents of Capertee.

Workshop Invitation

click on text to enlarge