Katoomba news, Blue Mountains NSW Australia

TRIFECTA OF AWARDS FOR BLUE MOUNTAINS COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY

Thursday 25 November 2004

Blue Mountains Council have taken out three Awards at the Local Government and Shires Association Environment Awards this week.

The 2004 Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards presented at the Australian Museum on 24 November and Blue Mountain residents were once again recognised for their work with Council to plan and work for a more sustainable future.

Council took out the division award for Local Sustainability and won the overall award for local sustainability for the “Blue Mountains - Our Future “ project.

This was for the consultation and innovative engagement process of more than 6000 people in shaping the vision of the Blue Mountains for the next 25 years.

Councillor Kevin Frappell, who was at the ceremony with staff to receive the awards, said the awards were a major recognition of the work done by council and the community.

“It is significant that these awards recognise work that council has undertaken in partnership with the community.”

“These latest awards mean that we have now received four awards in as many weeks for the Blue Mountains – Our Future project. Clearly there is recognition amongst our peers that this has been an outstanding project and a great success,” Cr Frappell said.

Annabel Vogel a student from Blue Mountains Grammar School took part in the project through creative story telling, which involved students from schools throughout the Mountains.

“I’m glad that children are being given a voice because the future being created now is the future we are going to have to sustain,” Annabel said.

“This project came to fruition only after extensive consultation with Blue Mountains residents. This awards recognises the time, energy and commitment the community has to the future of the mountains,” Cr Frappell said.

“The strategy provides a framework for all of us to commit to action now and in the future to move towards a more sustainable Blue Mountains. The directions set by the community are now guiding Council’s strategic direction for the next 25 years and detailed planning for the next four years,” Cr Frappell said.

“Council also won the Water Quality / Catchment Management Award for the Yosemite Catchment Restoration and Action Project, which included a community catchment day held at the community gardens in North Katoomba.”

“As part of the project community volunteers contributed over 220 hours to the ‘Broom Blitz’ weeding event along Yosemite Creek targeting Scotch Broom and 3,000 native species were planted in the riparian zone along Yosemite Creek and its tributaries by contractors and Bushcare groups,” Cr Frappell said

“Congratulations to everyone at Council, and to the community, for these awards.”

The Explorers' Tree, on the great Western Highway at Katoomba, has had a facelift and is now more noticeable and safer.

Blue Mountains Council has replaced the roof, the surrounding aluminium fence and has jet washed the foundation stonework.

Council also replaced all the timber battens, repainted and installed safety and traffic control barriers.

Councillor Terri Hamilton said the work was important to restore one of the Blue Mountains most historic sites.

FACELIFT FOR HISTORIC MARKER

"The Explorers' Tree at Katoomba, through its association with the expedition of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth in 1813, has achieved the status of a national symbol.

"For many it stands as one of the few surviving tangible links to the early period of Blue Mountains exploration and, in particular, to the first major triumph of land exploration in Australia," Cr Hamilton said.

"Thousands of visitors stop here every year to see the markings on the tree."

"The work undertaken by Council has made the area safer, more visible from the highway and has restored one of the most powerful icons of Blue Mountains folklore."

L-R: Front : Annabel Vogel from Faulconbridge,

Back :Cr Kevin Frappell, Marion Buhlan, Blue Mountains Sustainable Business Owner

and Rosemary Dillon from Council

Thursday 23 September 2004 - Dementia information in Libraries

The Katoomba Library has received the Public Library Dementia Resource Pack consisting of books, videos and audio tapes, thanks to the funding support provided by the Katoomba RSL & All Services Club,

The collection will be launched at Katoomba Library by Blue Mountains City Mayor, Cr Jim Angel, on 28 September at 3.30pm.

Cr Angel said the information pack “will assist people affected by dementia within the Blue Mountains Community to better understand some of the characteristics of Dementia, such as dealing with difficult behaviours, how to better understand some of the characteristics of the disease and where to obtain help and support.”

Lewis Kaplan Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW says “We consider Public Libraries to be the hub of the communities and the placement of our information resource packs is just the first and very important step to helping the community by encouraging people to seek early diagnoses.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is undertaking a major project that over the next 2 years will place Dementia Information into libraries throughout NSW.

The incidence of Dementia is growing rapidly. In New South Wales over 57,000 people have dementia and there are as many again with in the early (pre-diagnosed) stages. Across the country, Alzheimer’s Australia has a role in representing at least half a million people who are having first hand experience living with dementia.

Within the next two decades, the total number of people living with dementia is expected to increase by 65% manly due to the ageing “baby boomer population.

In the past 12 month alone the number of calls to the Dementia Helpline (operated by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW have increase by 50 % This services has now expanded to include Chinese language helpline which operates every Thursday 9am to 1pm with with both Cantonese and Mandarin spoken. This is an important support service particularly for regional communities.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW will be represented by Ms Ann Pearson, Community Development Co-ordinator, Nicky Hayward-Wright, Library Information Service Co-ordinator

For more details please contact Ann Pearson direct: 02 9888 4224

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