Golden Kangaroos Being Evicted!

The Golden Kangaroo Band has advised us that Hornsby Council is considering a recommendation to sell their band-hall at 179 Beecroft Road to developers! Most worrying is that the band were given less than one week's notice to respond to the proposal, which is slated for debate by Hornsby Council on 24th August 2011.
So the band needs your immediate help. Please send an email or a letter, or make a phone call, to Hornsby Council supporting the band and protesting strongly about the lack of community discussion on this topic.

M2 Road Bridge dividing Beecroft!

Although the RTA have agreed not fully to close the Murray Farm Road / Kirkham Street bridge over the M2, it is alarming suddenly to hear that the promised single lane working will not be available for buses or trucks to use! This will seriously affect businesses in Beecroft as well as residents and school children.

BCCT Blog

The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has created a blog to allow rapid dissemination of news about local issues. The address of the blog is BCCT2119.blogspot.com.
Obviously the key issue at the moment is the fate of the Kirkam road bridge over the M2, between Murray Farm Road and Beecroft Road. The RTA and Transurban have permission to make this single lane working with traffic lights while they widen the bridge spans, but are now proposing to demolish the bridge and not replace it for at least ten months. The BCCT is in close contact with Greg Smith and others on this issue and should be able to provide rapid notification of when the issue goes to public debate.

RWB takes over Wongala 5

Ray White Beecroft have been awarded the management contract for 5 Wongala, comprising seven shops, five offices, and four apartments.

Kirkham Bridge Petition

Signatures are piling up on a petition, currently available in the offices of Ray White Beecroft, saying "I strongly oppose any move to close this bridge".

Kirkham Bridge - the RTA Answer

In response to my blogs, I have been contacted by a senior member of Transurban, who advises that the M2 Widening Project is not authorised to shut the Kirkham road bridge. The approved plan is to provide single lane traffic light controlled passage while work is being done on widening the bridge spans. They are now considering alternatives, including closing the bridge, but would need to have such an option subjected to public scrutiny and planning authorisation.
We the businesses of beecroft need to make clear our total opposition to that option, because of the effect it would have on our trade. There are all sorts of damaging consequences that would result from the closure of the bridge. Many customers of the Beecroft Shopping Village would be forced to go to Carlingford shopping arcade, and might not return once the new bridge is open. Even the Beecroft newspaper shop that delivers papers, and dry cleaners that deliver, would be unable to continue servicing those customers in that suddenly isolated part of the shire.

Major Beecroft Bridge to be Demolished

The businesses of Beecroft should be very concerned to hear that Transurban intends, as part of the M2 widening project, to demolish the Kirkham Road Bridge between Murray Farm Road and Beecroft Road. Their announcement states it will be "at least six months" before the bridge is replaced.