The final hurdle: Watt Park stairs decision this Monday, 26th March 2018

Good Evening, Feedback regarding the Watt Park stairs has now been collated by the Open Space & Environmental Services Division of North Sydney Council. The matter has been placed on the Agenda for the Council meeting this Monday, 26th March; with a recommendation that Councillors pursue Option 4 (the least intrusive of the four options presented; however, steel handrails, handrail lighting, an elevated walkway, and additional stairs are still included). Papers can be found here: https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council_Meetings/Meetings/Council_Meetings/Council_26_Mar_2018 We have all done an excellent job to convince a reluctant Council Division to move from the original plans (Option 1) towards a better outcome for the stairs. However, if you believe the need for a conservation and sympathetic restoration option (which the community has been asking for all along) cannot be ignored, please ensure you attend the council meeting this Monday, 26th March at 7pm sharp. The meeting will take place at the Council Chambers. More information can be found on the Agenda here: https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council_Meetings/Meetings/Council_Meetings As Council asks persons wishing to present similar points of view to do so via a spokesperson, it has been discussed that perhaps the best way to get our point across is for Bernard Smith, Secretary of the Lavender Bay Precinct, to speak on behalf of Precinct; and for myself to speak on behalf of the petition signatories and other community members who have made submissions supporting an Option 5. These speeches will be drafted and released via the petition site and email on Sunday, 25th March 2018; so those we are representing have a chance to review them prior to the meeting. Anyone else who has a strong desire to speak on this issue is requested to email me (dancerbelle888@hotmail.com) no later than tonight (Saturday, 24th March) at 7pm with the following details; so we can ensure our group presentation is tight and there are no double-ups: - full name - are you a local resident? - points you wish to elaborate on in your speech Please note, we will try to limit individual speeches to 1 minute, as there is strong interest in this issue; and please ensure you have read North Sydney Council’s notes for speakers (these can be found on the Agenda). I cannot stress the importance of this meeting enough: based on the recommendation from the Open Space and Environmental Services Division, in conjunction with what is presented to them in the meeting on Monday night, the Mayor and Councillors will make a decision on the fate of the Watt Park stairs. Please attend to show strength in numbers, so the Council is reminded of the importance of this issue. Once again, thank you for your support of the Watt Park stairs and I hope to see you on Monday night as we attempt to clear the final hurdle! Kind Regards, Belinda