Community Association Chairman's letter - April 2019
Dear Raleigh Park Owners & Residents,
I am writing to you to provide an update on work and improvements that have either recently been undertaken or are planned for the rest of the year.
Gardens in front of Sherwood Apartments
The garden and lawn areas in front of the Sherwood Apartments were overgrown and unsightly as well as not in keeping with the rest of the planting and landscaping in the estate. Over the past few months this area has been totally transformed with the construction of a sandstone wall that gives the new lawn area greater definition. The trees planted along the borders are much more appropriate than those they replace. They look better, will grow to a manageable height and do not have the damaging root system of the original ficus trees. Damage to the adjacent pathway, pavers and kerb has now been rectified. I have noticed more residents using this area since its renovation. The Gardens and Grounds Subcommittee as well as our Caretaker/Manager are to be congratulated for the planning and oversight of these improvements.
Children’s playground – installation of new artificial grass and shade sail
The artificial grass in the lower area of the playground is worn and needs to be replaced. Quotes are being obtained to replace the existing artificial grass as well as installing the same material in the top portion of the playground that, at the moment, is either bare earth or covered with unattractive weed. We will take the opportunity to cover the top of all brickwork around the playground with padded artificial grass as a safety precaution.
A shade sail will also be installed over the children’s playground once Randwick Council has approved the necessary development application.
CCTV system
The existing CCTV system is inadequate. The Security Subcommittee has spent considerable time and effort over the past six months identifying an appropriate system and I am now able to advise that a contractor has been selected and will be engaged subject to formal Executive Committee approval and agreement on contractual terms and conditions. The failure by a previously acceptable contractor to agree to our required terms and conditions in a timely fashion resulted in our terminating discussions with that contractor that, in turn, delayed the project which we had hoped to have completed before the end of 2018. All being well, the new CCTV system will be commissioned during the third quarter of this year. It is intended to use, as much as possible, the existing co-axial cable that supported the original CCTV system.
Community Hall hire
As owners and residents will be aware, we are obliged to allow the Community Hall to be hired out to third parties as well as residents. I have been concerned that the hall has been hired out without a formal agreement being entered into by the hirer. This is not good practice. A pro-forma set of agreements and application form have been drafted and will be placed on the Raleigh Park Website so that prospective hirers will be aware of the terms and conditions on which the hall will be made available. All hall hirers (whether third parties or Raleigh Park residents) will be required to enter into the necessary agreement(s). However, the hall may be used without charge and without the need to enter into an hire agreement by Raleigh Park Strata Owners’ Corporations or Neighbourhood Associations who wish to use the hall for statutory meetings of those corporations or neighbourhoods.
Raleigh Park signage
Almost all the signage within the estate has deteriorated which is not surprising given that the estate is nearly thirty years old. Signage will be replaced over the coming months.
Perimeter fencing along Todman Avenue
The painted brickwork part of the perimeter fencing facing Todman Avenue is in need of repair and/or repainting. The section between the SupaCenta and the Brompton Road entrance to the estate is particularly bad. Steps will be taken this year to find the best solution to rectify the problems and restore the fence to an acceptable condition. It has now been established pursuant to a ruling by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal that perimeter fencing is the responsibility of the adjacent owner. Accordingly, relevant owners will be required to contribute their pro-rata share of costs of repair and/or repainting as was the case in the past when similar work was undertaken.
It should be noted that the damaged perimeter fence between the Turnberry strata block and the SupaCenta is the responsibility of Turnberry and the SupaCenta as adjoining owners and is not a matter over which the Raleigh park Community Association has either jurisdiction or responsibility.
Walls along the watercourse between The Serpentine and Brompton Road
Parts of these walls are deteriorating with significant paint blistering and holes in the cement render. We have been investigating the problem and possible solutions for over a year. Unfortunately, no cost-effective solution has yet been identified. We will continue our efforts in this regard.
Pantheon
The pseudo Greco-Roman sandstone structure in Basin Park, affectionately known as “the Pantheon”, is also in need of some attention which it will receive in due course.
Other work
Residents may have noticed that we have found a better location for the rather unsightly large garbage bins used by Menzies and they are now less noticeable. The lawn area which they used to occupy adjacent to the child care centre has been restored.
The extension of the irrigation system from Basin Park across the northern end of The Serpentine has achieved its desired objective and the large grassed areas adjacent to the houses at this end of The Serpentine have been transformed.
The radical reduction in height of the hedges along the watercourse between The Serpentine and Brompton Road has proved to be beneficial to the health of the hedges which are now seeing robust growth in the mid-sections. They will be maintained at a height of 1.8 metres in future.
Green Options, the Community Association gardeners, continue to do an excellent job and are always trying to improve the gardens, lawns and open spaces in the estate.
Passive recreation policy
I take this opportunity to remind residents of the estate’s passive recreation policy which may be found on the website. If you see that the policy is being breached please contact the security guard.
Yours sincerely,
B C Hung
Chair, Executive Committee, Raleigh Park Community Association
I am writing to you to provide an update on work and improvements that have either recently been undertaken or are planned for the rest of the year.
Gardens in front of Sherwood Apartments
The garden and lawn areas in front of the Sherwood Apartments were overgrown and unsightly as well as not in keeping with the rest of the planting and landscaping in the estate. Over the past few months this area has been totally transformed with the construction of a sandstone wall that gives the new lawn area greater definition. The trees planted along the borders are much more appropriate than those they replace. They look better, will grow to a manageable height and do not have the damaging root system of the original ficus trees. Damage to the adjacent pathway, pavers and kerb has now been rectified. I have noticed more residents using this area since its renovation. The Gardens and Grounds Subcommittee as well as our Caretaker/Manager are to be congratulated for the planning and oversight of these improvements.
Children’s playground – installation of new artificial grass and shade sail
The artificial grass in the lower area of the playground is worn and needs to be replaced. Quotes are being obtained to replace the existing artificial grass as well as installing the same material in the top portion of the playground that, at the moment, is either bare earth or covered with unattractive weed. We will take the opportunity to cover the top of all brickwork around the playground with padded artificial grass as a safety precaution.
A shade sail will also be installed over the children’s playground once Randwick Council has approved the necessary development application.
CCTV system
The existing CCTV system is inadequate. The Security Subcommittee has spent considerable time and effort over the past six months identifying an appropriate system and I am now able to advise that a contractor has been selected and will be engaged subject to formal Executive Committee approval and agreement on contractual terms and conditions. The failure by a previously acceptable contractor to agree to our required terms and conditions in a timely fashion resulted in our terminating discussions with that contractor that, in turn, delayed the project which we had hoped to have completed before the end of 2018. All being well, the new CCTV system will be commissioned during the third quarter of this year. It is intended to use, as much as possible, the existing co-axial cable that supported the original CCTV system.
Community Hall hire
As owners and residents will be aware, we are obliged to allow the Community Hall to be hired out to third parties as well as residents. I have been concerned that the hall has been hired out without a formal agreement being entered into by the hirer. This is not good practice. A pro-forma set of agreements and application form have been drafted and will be placed on the Raleigh Park Website so that prospective hirers will be aware of the terms and conditions on which the hall will be made available. All hall hirers (whether third parties or Raleigh Park residents) will be required to enter into the necessary agreement(s). However, the hall may be used without charge and without the need to enter into an hire agreement by Raleigh Park Strata Owners’ Corporations or Neighbourhood Associations who wish to use the hall for statutory meetings of those corporations or neighbourhoods.
Raleigh Park signage
Almost all the signage within the estate has deteriorated which is not surprising given that the estate is nearly thirty years old. Signage will be replaced over the coming months.
Perimeter fencing along Todman Avenue
The painted brickwork part of the perimeter fencing facing Todman Avenue is in need of repair and/or repainting. The section between the SupaCenta and the Brompton Road entrance to the estate is particularly bad. Steps will be taken this year to find the best solution to rectify the problems and restore the fence to an acceptable condition. It has now been established pursuant to a ruling by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal that perimeter fencing is the responsibility of the adjacent owner. Accordingly, relevant owners will be required to contribute their pro-rata share of costs of repair and/or repainting as was the case in the past when similar work was undertaken.
It should be noted that the damaged perimeter fence between the Turnberry strata block and the SupaCenta is the responsibility of Turnberry and the SupaCenta as adjoining owners and is not a matter over which the Raleigh park Community Association has either jurisdiction or responsibility.
Walls along the watercourse between The Serpentine and Brompton Road
Parts of these walls are deteriorating with significant paint blistering and holes in the cement render. We have been investigating the problem and possible solutions for over a year. Unfortunately, no cost-effective solution has yet been identified. We will continue our efforts in this regard.
Pantheon
The pseudo Greco-Roman sandstone structure in Basin Park, affectionately known as “the Pantheon”, is also in need of some attention which it will receive in due course.
Other work
Residents may have noticed that we have found a better location for the rather unsightly large garbage bins used by Menzies and they are now less noticeable. The lawn area which they used to occupy adjacent to the child care centre has been restored.
The extension of the irrigation system from Basin Park across the northern end of The Serpentine has achieved its desired objective and the large grassed areas adjacent to the houses at this end of The Serpentine have been transformed.
The radical reduction in height of the hedges along the watercourse between The Serpentine and Brompton Road has proved to be beneficial to the health of the hedges which are now seeing robust growth in the mid-sections. They will be maintained at a height of 1.8 metres in future.
Green Options, the Community Association gardeners, continue to do an excellent job and are always trying to improve the gardens, lawns and open spaces in the estate.
Passive recreation policy
I take this opportunity to remind residents of the estate’s passive recreation policy which may be found on the website. If you see that the policy is being breached please contact the security guard.
Yours sincerely,
B C Hung
Chair, Executive Committee, Raleigh Park Community Association