[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he story on Mirvac’s and Australian House & Garden magazine’s My Ideal House last week reminded local lawyer and amateur historian Patrick Duffy of another residential design breakthrough that also happened right here in Macarthur.
After a little bit of research, Duffy found an article on Australia’s first underground display home, which was built in Ettalong Place, Woodbine by Jewan Constructions in 1981.
Apparently it was big news at the time, even getting air time in the nightly news bulletins on TV.
“I got the distinct impression we would soon all be living in cool underground houses,’’ Duffy told Macarthur Chatter.
“In any case it seems our area’s always been where they try out new housing designs,’’ says Duffy, who lives in one of Campbelltown’s historic homesteads, Denfield.
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Speaking of local history, the Percival family has been one of the most notable in the past few decades.
Greg Percival served on council for many years, while the Percival name is almost synonymous with the northern parts of Campbelltown, especially Ingleburn,
That involvement has included the formation of the then Ingleburn Municipal Council and its later incorporation into what we know now as Campbelltown City Council.
Greg’s son Drew, a former partner in Marsden’s Law Group, will speak about all that and lots more at the next Ingleburn chamber of commerce meeting this Wednesday, June 13 in Ingleburn RSL from 7pm.
Drew Percival, now retired, is also a former chamber president.
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One of the rubber stamp decisions councillors will make at the next meeting – tomorrow night – will be to give their seal of approval to a pay boost for themselves.
The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal has recommended an increase of 2.5 per cent from July 1 for both councillor and mayoral allowances or remuneration fees, as they are called these days.
It will mean that from July 1 each Campbelltown councillor, including the mayor, will pick up $25,160 a year.
The remuneration fee for the mayor goes up to $66,860 a year, and when you add his councillor’s fee of $25,160 Mayor George Brticevic will receive $92,020 a year.
Cr Brticevic, who works fulltime in another NSW public service job, spends one full day – Wednesdays – on his mayoral duties.
According to our estimates, he would be earning a total of more than $200,000 a year while serving as mayor, which is pretty good for the boy who grew up in Macquarie Fields.
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Tomorrow night’s council meeting could be interesting for another reason: to hear the answers to questions asked on notice by former mayor Paul Lake.
They include: Could the General Manager provide an update on the investigation carried out at the Campbelltown Arts Centre, during May 2018, regarding combustible cladding?
And: Could the General Manager advise why she has marked every page in the Council Weekly Bulletin, which goes to Councillors and Staff every Friday, as “Confidential” from 18 May 2018 and not in previous Bulletins?
Other Lake quesations are:
Could the General Manager give an update on the “Love Leumeah” Program which was held Friday 20 April 2018 and a further event that was to be held at the end of May 2018?
Could the General Manager provide an update as to whether a response has been received from “Google” about relocating their headquarters to Campbelltown?
Re-imaging Campbelltown as a City. (A) Could the General Manager advise how Council will legally implement the plan for buildings within the CBD to have green rooftops and green vegetation down the side of buildings? (B) What percentage of area, on the outside of each building, will be required to be covered by green vegetation? (C) Has Council, or its consultants, investigated the cost to maintain the green vegetation on the side of buildings? (D) Has Council, or its Consultants, investigated the negativity to potential residents by implementing this plan?
If that got your interest, council meetings start at 6.30pm.
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With an NRL game in Campbelltown next Sunday – against the Canberra Raiders – it will be fascinating to see if the Wests Tigers train at Campbelltown Stadium during the week and also hold media briefings like they used to in the Jason Taylor coaching days.
Since Ivan Cleary took over local journos still get invited to media briefings, but they’re either at Concord or Leichhardt Oval.
I think you will discover, with a little basic research, that Ettalong Place, runs off Collaroy Road Woodbine.
Yep, thank you, Mr Mayor, had Glen Alpine on my mind for some reason.