Issues

Issues
Aldi supermarket? Aldi has significantly lower prices, but they also have fewer selections. They might provide a low price source for the basic foods that people use. They might also lower prices at the other supermarkets in Springwood.
Bendigo Bank The Chamber of Commerce has been looking into setting up a branch in Springwood. If it appears to be feasible, one of the first steps would be to set up a board of directors from interested people in the community.
Benoits Farm Valley Heights needs a park. Council has apparently been trying for some time to convert Benoits Farm into a park. There seems to be a problem with a house on the property that people are living in. (Someone said this information isn't accurate)
Birth facilities - staff shortages Birth facilities in Katoomba were closed in July 2008. It was reopened in September, but has had to close twice since then because of staff shortages. A woman had to give birth in an ambulance on the Great Western Highway in Glenbrook. She was being transferred from Katoomba to Nepean Hospital because they had staffing shortages, and couldn't provide an anaesthetist. Someone might have had to give birth on the road.
CCTV Someone expressed concern that ordinary citizens will be subject to surveillance: "Why should all the law-abiding residents of Springwood be put under surveillance, to catch the few anti-social people who emerge from the two pubs? There are already CCTV cameras on some commercial premises. Has footage from these ever led to a conviction? I think mass installation of CCTV camers is just a ploy to look like we are "doing something", when the "something" we should be doing is more active policing and engaging youth. Too hard I suppose.
Churchill Tennis Courts Action has been delayed.
Civic Centre: air conditioning Get plans from Council. Heard air conditioning and insulation can be done for 700,000. Get estimate from contractor. Musical and Concert societies want theatrical seating put in to the upper level. Improve seating in lower level. 7 million dollars. Can we use natural ways to cool building?
Coles or Woolies needed for low prices Some people say Coles and Woolies provide significantly lower prices. Springwood Forum did an comparison shop between Coles, Franklins, IGA, and Woolworths. The survey found the prices to be very similar between all the supermarkets in Penrith, and all of them in the Springwood/Winmalee area. But the shopping experience in Coles and Woolworths does give the impression that their prices are less. Further research is probably needed to get a definitive answer to this.
Community Garden
Community Hub There is one in Winmalee, formed recently by the Lions. Not sure what they do.
Community website www.springwood.nsw.au is available for community use. Apply to www.aucd.org.au
Convert waste into electricity It might be practical for Council to do this with our waste.
Defibrillator The prompt use of a defibrillator - within minutes - can make a huge difference in the survival of heart attack victims. Units are available that give clear instructions through a speaker, so untrained people can use them. These are called Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), and are currenlty being put in public places. For example, one is available in the Sydney Central railway station. They apparantly cost around $3000 each. There should be some in Springwood, especially in areas where people at risk, such as males over 50, congregate. We should check to see if the new Springwood Sports Club will have one.
Emergency rooms There have been news articles about difficulties with hospital emergency rooms in NSW. It would be good to know in advance which one is best for the medical emergencies one is likely to face. Is helicopter transport an option?
Environmental assessment panels They apparently can bypass council for projects worth 10 million or more.
Exercise spots These are places, usually placed along a jogging path, where people can stop and perform a specific exercise like chin-ups.
Extreme makover - community construction There is a TV series in the US called "Extreme makeover - home edition" where community volunteers, with assistance from some businesses, design and build a home for deserving people. The construction, from start to finish, only takes a week.
Federal funding for Blue Mountains: 1.3 Million See: http://www.aclg.gov.au/rlcip/council_allocations.aspx . Story in SMH: It's Kevin-sent: mayors cashed up with orders to spend now, 19 November 2008 http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-kevinsent-mayors-cashed-up-with-orders-to-spend-now/2008/11/18/1226770451074.html
Find out if the library needs to be rebuilt During a recent heavy rainstorm some water leaked into the library. Adam Searle and some councillors were meeting there. They helped library staff move some books to prevent their being damaged. John Merriman, at the library, told me the problem is with the roof. It is a flat roof, and leaves from a nearby tree block the drains.
Funding: look into sources Especially for Civic Centre
General discussion period during Council meetings. Broken Hill Council has two 15 minute periods during each Council meeting where anybody can talk about any subject for a few minutes.
Graffiti removal Mark Greenhill is interested in this. He is considering holding a summit on it. The Springwood Chamber has been approached by some volunteers in the lower mountains. The Katoomba Chamber of Commerce has a graffiti removal trailer.
Homeless man in Springwood There is a homeless man in Springwood who is often seen sitting on benches in town. Has someone talked to him about ways to make his life more pleasant?
Larger pharmacy Would one large pharmacy be better than two small ones. Place to sit and have coffee.
Larger supermarket The Franklins supermarket has been trying for many years to expand into the Northern Carpark.
Late night hoons Is there a problem with misbehaviour late at night?
Listing of businesses in Springwood Name, address, contact details for proprietor
Men's shed John McCann has expressed interest in this. He belongs to the Mens Shed program in the Springwood Baptist Church. The demolition order on the former Scouts Hall in Fairy Dell has been lifted, while Council prepares a management plan for Fairy Dell. The building seemed to be secure and in pretty good shape when I looked at it on 30 October. "Anyone interested in Fairy Dell please come and see the Fairy Dell Bushcare Group on the third Sunday of each month and see what happens and talk to the group." Someone from the group said the building was subject to constant vandalism, and that there is no parking available. I think there were a few spots near the hall.
Mobile phone towers There is concern that the new tower in Faulconbridge is too close to a school. Concerns about one proposed in Wentworth Falls as well. Could they be located somewhere else?
Mobile phone towers There is concern about the phone tower in Faulconbridge, that is located near a public school. It was approved, but some others are still in the approval stage.
Office hub Place for people to work a few days a week instead of commuting. 17,000 people commute to Sydney every day. Survey, perhaps on the web, could find out if some of these commuters would be interested. "The Shed" created in Sutherland Shire. Doing well. Accountants and business managers available to help advise the business. Discussed in Better Future Economic Forum, put on by Council in 2008. See: www.SustainableBlueMountains.net.au
Parking Some have said it can be improved. Some spots underutilised because of lack of signs. Can layout of Northern Carpark be improved?
Parking not enforced on Macquarie Road A business owner said several of the parking spots near his shop are regularly occupied for many hours by staff from nearby businesses. This makes it harder for customers to patronise the businesses.
Performance space in Springwood Purpose built for performances. Concert and Music Societies are interested. Could include related services, including making films. Existing performances generate around 200,000 per year. Possibly hotel nearby.
Private-Public partnerships: are they better? Some have said a private-public partnership is needed to get infrastructure improved. Is it more economical for Council to borrow the money and build and operate it ourselves?
Recycling for all the businesses in Springwood
Shade cloth for Town Square There have been several letters to the editor saying Town Square is an unpleasant place to sit, and that the installation of shade cloth sails would be an inexpensive solution.
Shopping: help finding the best bargains Perhaps in cooperation with supermarkets. Some way to point out the most economical products.
Social events in the evening Businesses stay open later. People drawn out of their homes. Called "passseggiata" in Italy
Survey procedures that Councillors trust Is there a way to measure public opinion in a way that the Councillors, and other decision makers, will have confidence in their accuracy?
Tours of local sites of interest Pearce advertised it once and sold out.
Traffic: bottleneck Find out how bad it is. Find out the proposed solutions.
Transport in the mountains
Vacant building on Integral Energy site History: Integral Energy wanted to build housing units on their site, and were considering giving Council the building in exchange. Council denied their request. Integral is now building an imporved switching station on the site. The large warehouse building will probably be demonished. The building has been vacant for around 20 years.
Walk around Springwood Look around and record issues that appear
Weed removal volunteers There is a serious weed problem in the Mountains.
Who owns the properties in Springwood? Some have said only a few people own most of the properties in Springwood. Some research could reveal if this is true.