Pittwater Life March 2017 Issue

Editorial
Reflecting on MP’s 10 years
It may sound a romantic,
idyllic lifestyle but spare a
thought for the great levellers
our offshore residents have to
cope with to live their dream.
Just hours after we captured
the smiling faces of prominent
Scotland Islanders Cass and
Bill Gye’ for this month’s ‘Life
Stories’ feature, Sydney was
swamped by storms and rain
that plunged the island into
four nights without electricity.
Read this local power couple’s
incredible story on p28.
It’s easy to rip into politicians
because, well, they’re
politicians and they’re in the
firing line when communities
perceive their local area isn’t
getting a slice of the broader
infrastructure and funding pie.
But credit where credit is
due. This month marks Rob
Stokes’ 10-year anniversary as
the State Member for Pittwater.
Borrowing from Monty
Python’s Life of Brian: “What has
Rob Stokes ever done for us?”
We approached Mr Stokes’
office for achievements
delivered over the past decade.
The list includes: Purchase
of Currawong Beach and
declaration as a NSW State
Park; over $50m secured for
infrastructure improvements
at Mona Vale Hospital;
commencement of the Mona
Vale Road Upgrade project;
expansion and upgrade of the
Palm Beach Ferry Wharf; longterm
funding for the protection
of the Warriewood Wetlands;
planning underway for a
dedicated inpatient palliative
care unit at Mona Vale Hospital;
the new B-Line bus service;
and the declaration of the
Narrabeen Lagoon State Park...
plus more (see our website).
We know there will still
be those who read this and
say: “All right, but apart from
[insert the above], what has Rob
Stokes ever done for us?” LOL.
In any event, we congratulate
Mr Stokes on his milestone.
– Nigel Wall
MARCH 2017 3