1 3 1' s A

T O f T r t

the balmainassociat ionincorporatednews sheet

T H e P e n i n s u l a

Vol 32 No 2 Issue 246 F o u n d e d N o v e m b e r 1 9 6 6 Apr i l /May 1997

N o M r K n o w l e s !The Planning Minister, Mr CraigKnowles, is pushing amendmentsto the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act that will severely restrictcommunity consultation in development proposals. He proposes a singleapprovals system that will link associated licences, permits and approvalswith one development consent. Thereis general agreement with the thrusttowards reducing red tap>e and complexity of planning. However, the proposedamendments strengthen the position ofdevelopers and would lead to alienationand dissatisfaction. James Coleman,consultant, says, "History offers strongsupport for the view that a combination of commercial greed, poor designand compliant consent authority will inevitably produce a substandard result".The Environmental Health & BuildingSurveyors Association has attacked theproposals, "The new religion is thatcompetition is the solution".

John Ralston Saul, author of TheUnconscious Civi l ization, in SMH 22March, wrote, "'Efficiency', has become the legitimising word,of our time.Where once we dropped in 'by thegrace of God' and still drop in somev e r s i o n o f " r e a s o n ' , w e h a v e n o wpushed the concept of efficiency intothe leadership role for our civilisation".

The amendments to State significance give too much power to the Minister for Planning and reduce his accountability. His existing powers fordeclaring regional and state significance are adequate.

New categories of exempt and complying development present the greatest th reat to res idents ameni t ies . Someadditions such as fences, retainingwalls, barbecues 2.6m high, pagodasa n d d e c k s c o u l d b e c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h

out proper negotiations with neighbours. Many councils have already inplace Local Approval Policies. They arethe most appropriate bodies to determine what needs council approval.

Developers will be able to buy a pri

vate cert ifier as an alternative to Council for complying development. Theemployment of private certifiers to assess individual appl icat ions wi l lpresent conflicts with local policies.For example too many restaurantsmay cause parking difficulties andstreetscape problems. The caf^ society burgeoning in Balmain is alreadyimposing pressure on residents'amenities. Payment for parking provision under Sect 94 is no solution whenno land i s ava i lab le . A 24 hour chemist shop could be replaced by 24 hourtake-away food premises without anapproach to Council or resident consultation. In the proposed amendments, complying development has tobe approved within 7 days.

It is incredible that a private certifier paid by a developer would be sympathetic to the interests of residents.There is no mot ivat ion for them to actin any way but to accede to the intere s t s o f t h e i r c l i e n t s . A l l t h e e v i d e n c eindicates that private certification willi n c r e a s e c o s t s .

Reform can be achieved by adminis t ra t ive ra ther than leg is la t ivechanges. A database should be introduced throughout NSW through themed ium o f a s t a te w ide i n t r ane t . P ro

viding access to such information, together with sensible legislation for integrated development consents, willencourage developers and builders toprepare applications that meet the local government planning controls.

The conditions requiring contributions towards public open space under Section 94 should provide for dedication of land in preference to the payment of a monetary contribution. If theland is available it should be dedicated.A recent decision by the Land & Environment Court concerning the development appl icat ion by Colgate-P a l m o l i v e a l l o w e d t h e e r e c t i o n o f t e ntownhouses. Only part of the land wasdedicated for open space resulting Ina gross overdevelopment of the site.

Evidence for the developer suggestedthat the council had a responsibility tomake up the shortfall of open space forthe new residents. Even i f the land wasavailable it could not have been purchased by the monetary contribution.

It will be necessary for the Councilto strengthen its development controlsto remove any ambiguity that may beinterpreted by the Court in the develope r ' s f a v o u r.

The six week consultation period wastotally inadequate for the public to consider what is the most significant reformof planning acts. Further discussionwith local government and the community is essential to prepare more equitable legislation.

Write to Mr Knowles and Sandra Nori,MP to indicate your objections to thisattack on peoples' rights.

Loyalty SquareLeichhardt Council has allocated$152,000 for the upgrade of Loyalty Square. A plaza will improve thesafety and amenity in the busiest partof Darling Street. The Association, together with the Chamber of Commerceh a v e l o b b i e d f o r t h i s s c h e m e f o r anumber of years and it Is pleasing thatw o r k w i l l c o m m e n c e s o o n .

A Walk Up Darling StreetRemarkable Changes

The local newspaper of Balmain, theLink dated 14 January, 1932, published a Pen Picture by former Alderman of the Balmain Council, Alfred HBogle. The History of Balmain in theEighties, 1880s.

This was in reply to an article in theLink on 23 December, 1931 when TheMayor, Alderman Reginald Thornton,wrote on the subject of the Village Pumpin Beatt ie Street near El l iott Street. Thearticle *had greatly surprised theyounger generation who would find ithard to realize that 50 years ago (1880)drinking water in dry seasons had tocarted from the Public Pump'.

^ I L L N 6 S U C K 6 T S J T A e V f e p T P V M P

W h a t c o m m e n t s w o u l d M e s s r sThornton and Bogle make of DarlingStreet, to-day, March, 1997?

In response to your invitation to supply you with a few historical facts onBalmain - to mark the great progressduring the past 50 years, I have submitted the following pen pictures - as aferry trip from Sydney to Darling Street,Balmain, thence to Pigeon Ground{Gladstone F^rk), naming in very greatrespect, some of the late residents andplaces en route.

The wharf at Erskine Street, Sydney,was very different then, as the wharfwas open to the weather with the officeand two d is t inc t areas known as Mor t 'sDock Ferry and Bald Rock Ferry.

CJtllUy was the best of the Mort'sDock fleet and could puff puff her wayto Darling Street in 10 minutes - theLeopold took 12 minutes and the Cygne t t ook 15 m inu tes . One had t ime t omake a survey of the harbour duringthe trip, hence as we pass Darling Island (now part of Pyrmont), it is interesting to watch the steamers being builton the slip. A flag above the workshopand slip, was always hoisted to warnthe ferry captains that a ship was coming off the slip.

We are now nearing Peacock's Point,and Bell Bros Engineering works arein full swing, the clang of the many

hammers and the puff, puff of oursteamer and the splash, splash of thepaddle wheel, make pleasant harmony.Bell's later sold to Foster and Minty.

Adjoining these works we see HarryBeattie's ship-building yard in which thekeel of a wooden schooner is, with thebow and stern post in position. Uponthis keel fully 10 years later. The Lordof the Isles was formed and dulylaunched. Alongside this yard is theW a t e r m a n ' s H u t a n d i n t h i s s h e l t e r

shed, as many as 28 watermen waitedwith their fleet of rowing boats for signals to approach ships, etc. As we passFenwick's water tank boat, our Captaincalls down the polished brass speaking tube, 'easy - easy - then stop 'er -stern' and we bump Darling Street jetty.

We now commence our promisedstroll up Balmain. The first person wemeet is old Mackenzie, the boatman,he has his skiff alongside the jetty anda long chapter could be written aboutthis interesting and civil old sailor. Onour left is the old Shipwright ArmsHotel and on the right the large galvanised shed erected for a tannery by thenow famous Ludowicies - just beyondwe see Looke's Boat building yard andthe residence of Joseph W Looke, whowas one of Balmain's early councilors.The William James cottages adjoin,they are noted for their gardens whichextended to the ferry - where Plym Terrace now stands - the vegetables weresold try Charlie, an island boy who trundled a barrow. On the left we note two

large houses. One is occupied by MrToogood, a storekeeper in King and PittStreet, City, and the other by Mr JacobGarrard, a f terwards the Hon JacobGar ra rd , MP fo r Ba lma in . The o ldweatherboard shop with shingle roof,on the corner of Nicholson Street, wasthe first general store and post office

built and occupied by Mr Chidgey andnow a butchery run by Mr J J Wheeler.Part of the old stone wall is sti l l stand

ing, at the rear of the up to datepremises of Mr Adams grocery.

T h e A l b i o n H o t e l o n t h e o t h e r s i d ewas a flourishing house where the boatmen and sai lors loved to meet . On the

oppos i te corner s tood Armi t t 's Cottage, with large yard and stable.Armitt's coach was popular when fogprevented the ferry from making earlytrips. The coach had to travel toParramatta Road, Leichhardt thence tothe City. Wilkinson's Bakery was alwaysa noted bakery - in the next block wepass Leach's Bakery and the Commercial Hotel, opposite is James Conway'sbutchery on the corner of Duke Street.

The large residence on the left,G l e n t w o r t h , i s C a p t a i n J o h nBloomfield's, noted for his glass houseplants. Adjoining is Moat's grocery -then, the well kept boot shop of J HMills - father of H Mills, Mayor ofBalmain 1899 and 1900. In the cottageopposite known as Cromwell lived DrOwen S Evans, who was Mayor in 1864and was always most popular - adjoining is the handsome stone Church ofEngland, St Mary's, with its RectorTress. Dick Thallon the great footballerlives in the big house opposite and CaptMarshall in the weatherboard cottage,with his ship's cabin trim and neat.

On the right opposite, is the fiorth-umberland House, occupied by Cap>-tain Rowntree, the long avenue of treesmake a fine setting for the porch overthe front door. Again on the left we seethe once famous Burnbank Hotel, (seepicture) occupied by Captain GeorgeTernen, who was one of the first to buildand run a s tearn boat f rom the foot o fTernen Street to Sydney.

(conclusion in next issue)

Demolitions Worry

The Balmain Association has expressed concern to LeichhardtCouncil at the number of demolitionsand potential demolitions of residencesin Balmain and Rozel le . Some of thesewere for small workingmen's cottagesthat council planning officers formulated guidelines for possible retention.

I n l a s t t w o d e c a d e s B a l m a i n h a sbeen prominent in attracting Investorswho were willing to restore run downr e s i d e n c e s t h a t m a i n t a i n e d t h e

streetscape and the heritage. The so-called yuppies were responsible for thesaving of many properties that developers would have destroyed. Only thesmal l a rea o f Ba lmain a l lo tments savedother buildings from demolition. Al-

G o o d s i r S t r e e t R e s e r v e

Fronting Goodsir Street betweenM o o r e a n d M u l l e n s S t r e e t s i s asmall reserve of 340m^ adjoining residential land owned by the Departmentof Housing. After a fire had destroyedtwo dwellings Leichhardt Council acquired the property and created a public reserve with some play equipment.It also serves as a pedestrian link.

S i n c e i t s i n i t i a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t t h ereserve has experienced problems withvandalism and has generally lackedany sense of place. Growing tired ofthese problems, local residents, working with Council, instigated a higherleve l o f ma in tenance and in i t ia ted new

landscaping to foster a sense of pridein the park. Council installed brightmodern play equipment, fencing andlighting. They also mow the grass andcollect garbage. The park is regularlywatered by an adjoining propertyo w n e r. T h e r e a r e c o n t i n u a l d o n a t i o n sof plants and trees by residents. The

Coaghan's DairyThe article in the February, Observer,a b o u t t h e C o n a g h a n D a i r y,prompted member Joan Stephens, neeCarson, to send her memories as follows: I was born at 9 Mapoleon Street,Rozelle and lived there for 25 years. Asa small child of about 6 or 7 years, Ioften had to run errands for my motherto her friend, who lived at the bottomof Toelle Street, on the left hand side.House now demolished. Opposite thehouse at that time, was a holding yardwhere cattle were kept. I was either halfway down or up, when a herd of cattlecame and In no time I ran as fast as I

though we recognise the diversity of thedwelling styles that is a feature of thePeninsula some of the new buildingsare unsympathetic to their surroundings.

With the emphasis on high densityand the enhanced desirability of thearea together with elevated propertyvalues the trend is for less scrupulousinvestors to maximise their profit byoverdeveloping the sites. There is alsothe problem of increased congestionby private vehicles.

We are encouraged by the recentsale of 27 Trouton St by a young couple who are determined to restore theold stone dwelling at obviously considerable expense. We were concerned bythe imminent sale of 8 Duke Place, a

resident group that initially beganthe park program has grown into asmall army of volunteers who conduct clean-up days several timeseach year. The activity helps to generate a sense of community.

To secure this valuable amenitythe local residents have requestedCouncil to dedicate the park as reserve land fo r rec rea t iona l use .

T h a n k Y o u

The Association is pleased to havereceived donations of local historyassignments from two mature age students of the Department of History,University of New England, Armidale.Congratulations and thanks to BarbaraHoward for her study of the areabounded by Darling and Wise Streets,Iron Cove and Birchgrove Road andD e l e i l a L a d d - H u d s o n f o r t h e a r e awithin Punch Street, Fitzroy Avenue,Elkington Park and Glassop Street.

could away from them, as I was prettyscared, you can imagine. The cattlemade quite a lot of manure in ToelleS t r e e t .

M y m o t h e r p l a y e d t e n n i s a tConaghan's tennis court located nearManning Street. A Miss Conaghantaught music while 1 was a pupil at Rive r s i d e S c h o o l .

During the 1930s and 40s, therew e r e n u m e r o u s t e n n i s c o u r t s I n t h ewhole of the Peninsula and duringschool holidays, 1 went along to play.

Sunshine Rcnics were organised bya group of women, my mother beingone, who took the very poor children

s e m i - d e t a c h e d r e s i d e n c e b u i l t i n 1 8 6 0but were gratified to discover that a local resident has bought it and intendsto restore the building. The owners of10 Duke Place organized support forits retention. Paul Davies pepared anapplication for a heritage order.

Other propert ies under threat areresidences at 122 Short Street (cl882),69 Ballast Point Road (1910) and twoblack brick dwellings at 22 Rose Streetand 43 Louisa Road. Council recentlyrefused a demol i t ion order on 2-6 ShortStreet. There was no accompaning DA.

Residents are dismayed by the replacements that have been approvedon some sites. They are disappointedthat the streetscape is violated by theunsympathetic structures.

H e r i t a g e We e k A c t i v i t i e sSaturday 19 & 26 April

Watch House Photographic Exhibition.Tr a m s o n t h e P e n i n s u l a . T i m e : 11 a m -

3pm Free. Balmain Association Inc.Sunday 20 April

Heritage Walk and Ferry around SnailsBay and Ballast Point. 1 lam at 1 Ballast Point Road, Birchgrove. $10 ppBookings limited.Contact 9810 3639Snail's Bay Residents Group.

Friday 25 AprilHeritage Pub Crawl 1.30pm WatchHouse 179 Darling Street, Balmain.$5pp Bookings 9818 4954.

Sunday 27 AprilRozelle Heritage Walk 1.30pm

Balmain Road and Cecily Street $5ppBookings 9818 4954.Arch ive Room, Dawn Frascr Poo l

Sunday 20 April lpm-3pm. Friday25 April 2pm-4pm. Sunday 27 April3pm-5pm. Free. Contact 9810 6885Fr iends o f Dawn F rase r Poo l .

from the area on a Saturday over toBalmoral Beach. It was all done on public transport, with the ferry from theQuay over to the Zoo Wharf and thent h e o l d t o a s t - r a c k t r a m t o B a l m o r a l ,where another group of ladies werewaiting. 1 do not know if this group camef r o m t h e B a l m o r a l a r e a .

We went to a picnic hall and two bigwicker baskets, one full of girl's cossiesand the other for the boys. Then it wasswimming, making sand castles andprizes given, mostly old toys from otherchildren. I won a big box of buildingblocks with beautiful pictures on them.

Joan Stephens, Oyster Bay.

(2^n ^out ^at^enApril GardeningThere will be no mistaking autumn.Every time you go outdoors there willbe another heap of leaves to rake up.Put all of these into the compost bin orin a heap, in layers with garden refuseor other organic material. It producesv a l u a b l e c o m p o s t i nspring.

The now ba re a rea und e r d e c i d u o u s t r e e s c a nbe prettied up by plantinga few bulbs of scilla, triteliaor grape hyacinth or asprinkling with some seedor alyssum.

Evergreen c l imbingplants can be plantedn o w. R o s a b a n k s i a e - l u t e dIs a fast growing climber thatproduces masses of pretty yellowflowers in spring. Roses, fuchsias, dahlias, sasanqua camell ias, chrysanthemums, canna and nerines will also be

flowering well so you will enjoy working in the garden. Any of bulbs listedfor March can be planted as hyacinths.Using an all-purpose ferliliser, give fortn igh t l y feed ings to es tab l i shedseedings.

May Is considered to be clean-upm o n t h a n d a s i t i s m u c h c o o l e r i t i seasier to work in the garden. Don't leaveit any later than early May to plant the

spring flowering bulbs.Other bulbous type plantsto plant or repot this monthare ast i lba, sprekel ia,brodiaea diva (one of myfavou r i t es ) , be l l adonna ,conva lber ia , l i l l i um, ande u c a m i s .

The early japonica camellias will be blooming.

I f wea the r cond i t i ons a re no t

providing adequate moisturegive plants a deep wartering, addingsome liquid seaweed. Watch that azaleas and rhododendrons do no t become

dry or their flowering could be affected.Thick clumr*- 'f buds on camellias

could be thinned if you want biggerblooms. If roses are to be planted during winter, prepare the soil with organicmaterial and pelletised manure.

B o n n i e D a v i d s o n

W a t c h H o u s e E x h i b i t i o n sPear Shape - watercoloursSuzanne Moss April 12-13Heritage Week April 20-27

Tr a m s o n t h e P e n i n s u l aDenise Rothweli May 3-25C o m b i n e d s h o w w i t h Q u e b e cArt GalleryGeorgina Lawson June 21-29

French provincial still lifeEnid Colquhoun July 19-27with Judy Brownlie and LynMitchell. Paintings & etchingsJudy Brownlie October 11-19

Printed on recycled paper by SnapPrint, Balmain. © Not to be repro

d u c e d w i t h o u t a u t h o r i s a t i o n

I h a M n N i n• M o d M l o nT T T T .l a t w p t f w M

T h e P c n l n A u l a

Registered Publication PP225832/00001I f u n d e l i v e r a b l e r e t u r n t o ;

T h e B a l m a i n A s s o c i a t i o n I n cP O B o x 5 7

B a l m a i n 2 0 4 1 Dr IVtor Reynolds9 T h e A v e n u e

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A u s t r a l i a

T h e B o l m o l n A s s o c i a t i o n I n crepresenting Balmain, Birchgrove, Rozeile.O u r A i m s A r e To ;

Improve the living, working and recreationala m e n i t i e s o f o u r a r e a , m a i n t a i n a l lfeatures having natural architectural and/or historical value, compile and recordhistory of the area & keep a permanentcol lect ion of i tems of h is tor ica l in terest .

seek t he coope ra t i on o f eve r yoneconcerned in the realisation of the above.The Watch House is open every Saturdayfrom 12 to 3pm. The Balmain Associationmeets on the first Wednesday of eachmonth at 7.30pm in the Watch House 179Oarling Street, Balmain. Our editorialphone/fax is 9818 4954.

Interested artists, potters, sculptors, etc.who would like to organise an exhibition inthe Watch House are urged to contactS t e v e S o u t h o n 9 8 1 0 1 4 1 1 .

AnnualSubscr ip t ions:Household $16, Pensioners & Students $7,Organisation $21.

HOW MUCH NOISE CAN YOU TAKE!Did you know that you can report unreasonable noise to an authority thatmust act on your behalf ? All you need to do is follow these three easy steps:

1 Try to identify the noise offender and select the appropiate service.2 Phone and say "I am making a noise complaint and I want it registered." Give as much

information as you can. If possible, keep a copy of details to send back with this calendar.3 Mark the date of the call on the calendar below and use symbol to show what you registered.

S H I P & W H A R F N O I S EC O N T A C T S Y D N E Y P O R T S C O R P O R A T I O N 2 4 H O U R

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Vindicates when East Balmain Precinct meetings are held(last Monday of the month in Clontarf Cottage, Wallace St)

Please record all noise complaints on this calendar and return to us at the end of 1997 - all recordswill be collated with the authority's records to see if complaints are being properly handled.YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO REASONABLE QUIET - ACT FOR YOUR RIGHT

Inner City & ForeshoresCommunity Action Group (inc)

a n dPrecint 2, Leichhardt Council.

Dear Resident.

Some interesting extracts from the article "Plagued By Noise in the NewScientist" of 16 November, 1996:

"For years scientists and doctors believed noise was only a problem if it wasloud enough to damage hearing. Now there is increasing evidence thatexposure to relatively low levels of noise for iong periods can o^jrhealth, raise blood pressure, disrupt cognitive development in children,disturtiing sleep and prompting psychiatric disorders.""Noise does not have to be loud to cause health problems" - Director ofNoise Centre of the League for the Hard of Hearing in New York.

"The World Health Organisation has revised Its guidelines in the light of freshresearch....The new guidelines will reduce the recommended night-timeaverage level of noise suitable for undisturbed sleep from 35 to 30dB(A). Forthe first time, the guidelines will also include a peak night-time maximum of45dB(A).' ('Party boats' record up to60d8(A)l).

"People living or working in noisy environments are at considerable risk ofdeveloping cardiovascular disorders and the risk of exposure increases withthe intensity of the noise and the period of exposure" - research from Dept. ofOccupational (Medicine in La Sapienza University in Rome.'People may appear to adapt to noise, but they do always at a cost to theirsystem. Noise is stress and eventually the body gives in some way.Becoming adapted to noise may make people more susceptible to illnessDept. of Psychiatry at University College London Medical SchoolFor more information about these noise issues or about the Inner City &Foreshores Community Action Group (inc). or to obtain a copy of the 'NewScientist' article "Plagued by Noise", contact a committee member by fax orphone on either 9810-3279 or 9818-3334. or come to a meeting of Precint 2.Leichhardt Council, held on the first Monday of each month at Clontarf Cottage.Wallace St., East Balmain, at 7.30 p.m..

Your registering of noise complaints by telephoning the relevant Authoritywill be an important step in ensuring the mental and physical health of yourfamily and your community. Your calendar with details will help us confirm ifyour complaint is being properly handled. Post it back at any time to-

T h e S e c r e t a r yInner City & Foreshores Community Action Group (Inc)

33 Darling St., Balmain 2041.