A Sunday Flower for You

I actually took this photo ( Copyright to the Poster ) in Galston but that's in Hornsby Shire! So Enjoy!

Next Week Dural Lane access to the Swimming pool Site. Er Have you actually seen Dural Lane?

Empty space in Hornsby

Here's one PRIME example of the many vacant spaces in Hornsby.
Okay I know some time in the future units and shops are suppose to be going up on this site but this shop has been empty for months!

Today in the Advocate a representative of the CWA was quoted about the problem of finding empty community space in Hornsby. No the problem is the word COMMUNITY.

Apparently whoever owns all these vacant unleased properties would rather have them stand empty then offer them GRATIS or at a LOW rent to COMMUNITY organizations.

The landlords certainly are not reading the Advocate?

Who owns this building? Why can't you offer a temporary lease to the CWA or some other LOCAL community organzation ?

There are plenty of vacant properties home and business available for rent and sale in the Hornsby area that I see advertised over and over again in the Advocate.

I suspect a great deal of housing and small business problems would be solved if rents were a lot lower? Yes landlords you are entitled to make a profit but how can you from empty space?

Next time probably a flower photo !

Hornsby's Mystery House

HORNSBY'S MYSTERY HOUSE

is on Pretoria Parade.

Can you help solve the mystery!

Remember the recent story about a body found in Surry Hills and the discovery of a body in a gully behind houses in Hornsby?

Frankly I'm worried this house might have a deceased occupant or someone living there who needs help badly?

Now some one clearly visits occassionally and clears out the mail box and sometimes trims back the plants near the path to the front doors and during evening walks I have noticed there seems to be a light in the back of the house that shows as a dim orange glow.

It could simply be the case that the house is untenanted due to legal issues with a deceased estate or one in guardianship and the landlord or owner or state trustees have ahd a light installed with a timer? If that's the case my apologies! HOWEVER ... what there's an elderly or disabled person living there who doesnt know there are community services that will provide garden and home help?

Are you a neighbour or the agent or owner? Do you know them?

What's the story and is there a person in there who needs help BEFORE there's a tragedy of neglect? Can anyone tell me who I should contact to check if a social worker or the police can be sent to check? How do you check on such things without intruding or trepassing?

I have left the street number off this post in respect for the privacy of the owner.

Whoever you are do you need help?

Hornsby Bike Path still not QUITE finished!

Did you know we have a bike path in Hornsby?

Running down behind the buildings in College Crescent?
Well we would if the Council or someone would just finish the last section!


Go into the Baptist Church car park ... the unpaved part between the cottage by the railway and the main building and walk down hill and turn right.


If you walk to the end of the gravelly stony rubble patch and turn left you 'll see the view on the left: the finished part of the bike path!

This path is suppose to join up with other roads and paths and run down to Normanhurst and beyond.

You're supposedly to be able to cross over Pretoria Parade and follow the roadway up behind the Jubilee and Polaris and other buildings then go up the lane to rejoin the main road to the station.

I've been following the VERY slow progress of this path since it was first announced.

Maybe this year the last section will be FINALLY paved?

If you're willing to walk over the rubble section its a pleasant cool shady walk down the back of the apartment buildings.

At the rate its be worked on over the last DECADE yes Decade! you shouldnt have to worry about being bowled over by skateboarders or cyclists any time soon!

I'll let you know if and when it's finished!

New Bookshop in Hornsby

The good news is that there's a new bookshop in the Westfield Mall on the top floor.

The semi bad news is that its a small discount type bookstore with limited stock.

However all the stock is apparently $5 each?

Check it out but don't forget we have an excellent second hand store on the Westside and a larger store next to Gloria Jeans !

Readers would you like Twitter alerts when blogs are posted?

Let me know and I'll do a twitter account linked to this blog!

Whether you live in Hornsby or beyond I hope you have a great weekend.

Okay its raining as I type but Hornsby is blessed with 2 cinemas and bookshops for you to visit!

A final view of the Hornsby CWA?

Well that depends on when or if demolition starts?

You certainly willn't be seeing any roses for a while whatever happens as the gardener has pruned them all back for winter.

Once again you can see the laneway and how even if they spare the CWA at least one tree the bus shed the pergola behind it and part of the rose garden will probably go.

This also wipes out a shelter used by local people during the day for lunches and watching the park pigeons.

More on this issue after the Council meeting.

Today you get double blogs as I have a news flash!

See you there!

A Rose for You

Since its cold and gloomy today

I'm just going to post a flower image.

Next post Friday or Saturday!

ENJOY THE FLOWER !

The Hornsby CWA Problem

For those of you who never or rarely go past the CWA in Hornsby Park I thought I would put up some photos so you can judge for yourselves.

On the right and centre you have two shots of the lane that currently runs down past the CWA building. As you can see it could take a truck but not a large crane?

The lane could possibly be widened but that would mean removing the tree to the right and possibly the bus shelter and the pergola behind it.

On the left you can see the land that runs down the northern end of the park. That could be widened too but even more trees would have to be removed.

What I can't show you in a photo is why they need front access. The back of the pool is supported on concrete pylons and the land slopes down very steeply to the valley below.

If I had tried to take a shot all you'ld see is trees and weeds since I couldnt find a safe advantage point to take a clear shot from above or below.

Two issues that also need discussion!

ONE the problem of where to move the CWA to if the building has to come down. There's this lovely recently renovated bank that's gone empty for months further up the road . Is there any chance the council can do a deal with who ever owns it of rate reduction in exchange for housing the CWA? Probably not? There are also other empty untenanted shops?

TWO What about the disruption to TAFE staff and students and people coming and going to the Court House? A continual stream of trucks coming and going will disrupt pedestrian and car traffic to TAFE and also the Post Office and there's going to be the possibility of some nasty competition for the limited parking near in front of and behind the shops and Court House?

Finally a reminder for people who don't get the Bush Telegraph or forgot to check the Advocate.

JULY 14 Hornsby Memorial Hall next to RSL.

Public Meeting starting 7PM

Hornsby Views One

Hornsby Views

This bloom is one of the many magnificent roses grown in Hornsby Park.

Come and enjoy them before DEconstruction of the Pool commences!

In the next posts I'll be discussing the CWA problem.

Join me soon!

Please note this photo is copyright to the photographer.
I do have permission to use it.
Reproduce for personal usage only.

Finding Centrelink Two

Finding Centrelink Two

I have not been able to figure out how to get more than one photo in the post yet. I'm not used to this template yet.

If you can see the view on the left and just crossed a driveway look to your right.

Centerlink is in Randall house.You're there!

Finding Hornsby Centrelink

Finding Hornsby Centrelink.

I sometimes get asked by people where Hornsby Centrelink is.

So here's how to walk to it from the Station.
Exit on the left side. you will see a charity kiosk between a ramp leading to the overhead bridge on the right and a path leading to a pergola on the left.

Take the path to the left. You will see steps and a ramp leading down to the street.

Continue up the street to the traffic lights.

Cross over. Follow footpath. Ignore pedestrian crossing on left.

Cross Pound Road a short street curving downhill. Continue.

Now check the photo above.

Can you see a green and white sign in the distance?

You're getting close!

Two more photos in the next post!

How to Find George Street! The One in Hornsby!

So you need to find George St and get it mixed up with the Old Pacific Highway?

Here's some travel tips that will provide details GPS Street directories and Map Apps don't. There's a map further down too!

As a local resident who often gets asked for directions by lost visitors
I find the problem seems to be people taking a wrong turn coming out of Hornsby station or driving up the Old Pacific Highway.

If you are coming up the Pacific Highway by car  when you see the sign for Edgeworth David Avenue only turn right if you're trying to get into the parking for the shopping centre.

You want to go up George St. Go straight ahead due north.
Do not turn left over the rail bridge!

Be aware if you're trying to get to one of the small shops or businesses there is no left hand side parking.
You may have to turn into a side street to park or go around a block so you're in the southwards lane.

Did you turn left and continue on the Old Pacific highway? Don't panic!
You should be able to turn right at Bridge St and back onto George St.
Just continue past the Courthouse the Park and TAFE.

Are you on foot and coming from the station?

Where are you going? TAFE? The shops? The Westfield mall? Centrelink?

For the Westfield mall turn EAST and go over the foot bridge.

For the Westside shops TAFE and the Courthouse or Council Chambers turn WEST.

Do not go up the street where the taxi rank and buses are.

You will end up at the back of TAFE and in Jersey Street.

Use the pedestrian crossing. you are now next to a real estate agent on the corner.

Turn right. Keep walking. When you see a cafe called Armeros that's Coronation Street.

You should now be able to see the Park and TAFE.

Stay on the Post Office side if you are heading for the Court House or Council Chambers.

Heading for TAFE admin to enrol? Cross over to the left side.

NEXT TIME HOW TO FIND CENTRELINK!

and photos so you have visual landmarks to help!

This is the first blog in a series.

Please posts on this topic will not all follow each other.

Posts on other topics will be mixed in!