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Petition to Remove 50-Year-Old Gum Tree at Redevelopment Site in Bellevue Hill Denied

A developer’s petition to remove a 50-year-old gum tree at a redevelopment site in Bellevue Hill has been denied by the Woollahra Local Planning Panel.

Despite the best efforts of the developer to convince the local panel to take down two grown trees at 9A Cooper Park Road, the decision remained unfavourable to them.

The developer’s plan was to remove a Port Jackson fig tree and the 50-year old Eucalypt. However, the panel decided that the gum tree must stay as it is considered a community asset. As for the removal of the fig tree, no objections from both panel and locals were received.

Tree Protection Zone

To ensure that the famous gum tree of Bellevue Hill is well protected, the Woollahra Local Planning Panel ruled that a 1.8-metre fence must first be built around the tree. Cabling, bracing, and other possible stability measures must also take place in order to ensure its long term protection and stability.

In addition to these compulsory measures given by the panel, the developer must also see to it that no construction work should be carried out within four metres of the tree.

All these requirements in creating a tree protection zone must be established around all retained trees in the area in accordance with the development’s approval.

Residents’ Reaction

For the last four years, concerned residents have been sending submissions calling for the preservation of all the trees at the proposed development site. Much emphasis and focus were given to the suburb’s 50-year-old gum tree.

Included amongst those who wrote submissions was Woollahra’s 2018 Citizen of the Year, Torsten Blackwood.

New South Head Road Named Worst Street in Bellevue Hill for Congestion

Photo Credit: RettungsgasseJETZTde/Pixabay

Motorists in the Eastern Suburbs have weighed in on the worst roads in Sydney. New South Head Road in Bellevue Hill earned one of the lowest rankings in a survey conducted by National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA).

New South Head Road in Bellevue Hill received a score of 59 and 54 for road condition and road safety, respectively. The survey also showed that motorists believe this thoroughfare deserved a low score of 44 for road congestions.

As one of the major streets in the Eastern Suburbs, New South Head in Bellevue Hill connects motorists to Double Bay, Point Piper, Edgecliff, Rose Bay and Vaucluse. This road’s congestion has been making it increasingly inconvenient for residents to get to work or school.

Over the years, various private establishments and institutions, such as schools, have been built on the stretch of New South Road. Thus, congestion has become an enduring problem in this part of the Eastern Suburbs.

Over 23,400 residents replied to the NRMA Rate Your Road Survey for NSW. Old South Head Road in Double Bay, on the other hand, scored a lot lower with 40 for road condition and road safety, and 30 for congestion.

“These survey results are telling. In Sydney, some of the most congested roads will soon be transformed with the completion of Westconnex and NorthConnex,” NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said in the press release.

“Delivering the roads and public transport services of the future – both on land and through our famous Sydney Harbour – is critical to NSW reaching its business and tourism potential. Perhaps most importantly of all, it is how we can best ensure our citizens can get home to their families safely and quickly every night,” Mr Khoury added.

Bellevue Hill Cooper Park Community Garden Celebrates Year 1 With an Open Day

Photo Credit: Cooper Park Community Garden/Facebook

The Cooper Park Community Garden on Cooper Park Road in Bellevue Hill is having an Open Day to celebrate its first year anniversary. Set for Saturday, the 30th of March, the relaxing afternoon event will begin at 12:30 p.m. and anyone from the neighbourhood may attend.

There will be a sausage sizzle during the Open Day and families who bring along their kids are in for some exciting games. Members of the Cooper Park Community Garden will also be talking about the progress of this initiative.

*Photo Credit:* *Cooper Park Community Garden/Facebook*

Before the celebration, however, there will be an Autumn Veggie Gardening Workshop at 10:30 a.m.

Interested participants will be taught the following basics:

Preparing the veggie patch for autumn
Best greens to plant
Seeds versus seedlings
Soil maintenance
Patch maintenance for a good harvest

The workshop is also free of charge, but an advanced online registration is required.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn gardening or share your gardening skills, you may sign up to be a member of the Cooper Park Community Garden. This is open to everyone, regardless of their gardening experience.

As a member, you will need to share at least an hour’s worth of your time every week to tend to the garden. A yearly membership fee will also be required, which shall go to the construction and maintenance of the garden beds.

The Cooper Park Community Garden, which was officially formed on the 10th of March 2018, is recognised by the state government.

Bellevue Hill: Sydney’s Most Expensive Suburb for 2018

As of one Australia’s wealthiest suburbs, it is not surprising to see Bellevue Hill at the top of the most expensive suburbs list, and it did land as 2018’s priciest place to buy a home, according to the latest REA report.

*Photo Credit: Sardaka [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)] / Wikimedia Commons*

A total of 77 houses were sold from 1 January – 31 December 2018, bringing the median house sale price in Bellevue Hill to $5.75 million, according to realestate.com.au data. The latest figures, on the other hand, state that from 1 Mar 2018 – 1 Mar 2019, Bellevue Hill’s median house price is $5,537,500.

Yet, several trophy homes went through the roof, selling well above the $10-million mark, such as one property on Victoria Road, which was sold in December 2018 for a whopping $18.6 million. This exquisite home sits on a 1,650-sqm lot located at 86b Victoria Road where the neighbourhood’s monthly median personal income is at $6,342, according to data from realestateVIEW.com.au. The property features 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and 5 car parking spaces.

*86B Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill | Photo Credit: realestate.com.au*

Cashed up buyers are willing to pay top dollar for a home in this sought-after suburb not only for its prestige, but also because it is very close the city, amenities, and some of the city’s elite schools, the report said. Trophy homes that have been held by the same family for decades have also come onto the market lately, and wealthy buyers are just happy to snap them up.

Following Bellevue Hill in the list of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs for the 12 months to November 2018 are Double Bay, Vaucluse, Longueville, Mosman, Dover Heights, Rose Bay, and Bronte.

5 Arts and Crafts Classes for Kids In and Around Bellevue Hill

Is your child showing interest in arts and crafts? Would you like to nurture your child’s creativity in an art school in Bellevue Hill? They say that kids raised to love art become smarter children and joining art classes could definitely improve their creativity, cognition, and intuition.

Here are five art schools in and around Bellevue Hill where you may ask about art classes for your children and teenagers.

1. Kids Art Centre

Kids Art Centre is already accepting enrollees among kids ages five to 12 years old for Term 2. The classes will begin on the 20th of April and sessions will be held Monday to Friday at 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The student, however, to come once a week only.

Art materials will be covered in the term’s fee but students may bring their own tools as well. Classes will be customized based on the child’s interests. The centre is at 42 Streatfield Road in Bellevue Hill.

2. Eastern Suburbs Artistic School

The Eastern Suburbs Artistic School is about 1.5 kilometres off Bellevue Road. The school offers arts, music and language classes for children, teens and adults with different schedules held from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The school may also arrange for private classes at the students house aside from the studio. For inquiries regarding the classes, parents may phone +61 2 8040 0900.

*Photo Credit:* *Eastern Suburbs Artistic School/Facebook*

3. Arts Cool

The Arts Cool is located in Double Bay and classes are done in private based on a time and date that suits the child or teenager best. Each session is for 90 minutes long but interested students may avail of the one-time trial class before committing to the art sessions.

The Arts Cool teaches drawing, painting, sculpture, cartooning, design, printing, and ceramics. There are 10 lessons per term. Inquire by calling 9362 0780 or contact the artist and teacher Kim Smith on their website.

4. Plaster Master Fun Centre

Plaster Master Fun Centre has half-day sessions or full day sessions for kids ages five to 12 years old. Arts and crafts lessons offered include puppet making and performing, ceramic painting, plaster figurine creation, clay pottery, Van Gogh inspired painting, mosaic painting, and recycle sculpturing.

Those keen to learn and have fun may book a slot online or visit the school at 333 Old South Head Road in North Bondi, which is about 2.4 kilometres from Bellevue Hill. Artists at the the Plaster Master Fun Centre may also be booked for children’s parties.

*Photo Credit:* *Plaster Master Fun Centre/Facebook*

5. Creative Kids Co.

Creative Kids Co has art classes for budding artists as young as two years old. Each session runs for 45 minutes for the two to five-year-old classes.

The school also offers art classes for 4.5 to 10-year-old kids and 8 to 14-year-old children. Aside from learning how to draw, paint or sculpt, the kids will also be taught sessions on art history and artist profiles. The classes for bigger kids run for 8 to 10 sessions.

This school is at Paddington, which is about 4.2 kilometres from Bellevue. Call 0410 637 859 for inquiries.