Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

The Way We Were
Every month we pore over three decades of Pittwater Life, providing a snapshot
of the area’s recent history – and confirming that quite often the more things change,
the more they stay the same! Compiled by Lisa Offord
25 Years Ago…
The Way We Were
Welcome to January 1999, when the US TV
show “Baywatch looks like becoming part of
our life to the benefit of the Avalon Surf Club
and our image around the world.” Hmm,
not so fast… further inside the magazine
readers learned “Avalon’s Alex McTaggart
has a personal objection to the use of Avalon
Beach for filming the Baywatch TV programs
and that’s why his ‘No More Baywatch’ signs
appeared at North Avalon and on the Bilgola
Bends.” The story explained Mr McTaggart’s
protest, through a recently formed
committee Friends of Avalon Beach, was
not against the filming but against what he
saw was the lack of consultation with beach
users. The “Baywatch people” wanted to film in Avalon for
two days a week during the winter months. “I want to see a
public meeting which we will call at which all the information
can be made available, and the community as a whole can
have their say. If the majority feels this is good for Avalon,
then so be it. I will abide by that,” McTaggert said. Moving
on… Summer Holidays in Pittwater mean “… sailing, the
beach, long lunches, and dinners on balmy evenings. This
month we have focussed on the best of a Pittwater summer,
places to go, things for kids and adults to do, the best eateries
and some great holiday reading.” Council was revising its
medium density Shop Top housing plans to “push people
15 Years Ago…
into the commercial centres to live”. The
plan had “already seen unprecedented
development of units in the commercial
centres of Avalon and Newport”. The
“controversial policy was created by the
Council in response to State Government
moves for more medium density houses and
a backlash from residents who complained
about the original plans for the whole of
Pittwater… the resident groups complained
long and loud about the impact of medium
density housing in their own streets”. Under
the new plan each new development “…
will have to meet genuine housing needs and
larger developments that contain only studios
and one-bedroom dwellings will not be approved”. Australia
Day in Pittwater “will focus once more on Newport Beach”.
A party atmosphere was planned, with “traditional sports
such as thong throwing and a great wheelie bin race”. A safe
play space at Katoa Reserve at Warriewood was unveiled
showcasing “great design and sculptures” including stone
carved snakes, water dragons, frogs and turtles lying in a
dry creek bed and sandpits. The cover of our mag showed
the beginning of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race;
also, it marked 25 years since The Big Swim from Palm
Beach to Whale Beach first took place.
5 Years Ago…
The cover was “Pittwater’s own maxi-yacht” Wild
We ran our annual Locals’
Oats XI, built by McConaghy Yachts in Mona Vale and
Guide. There were some great
owned by Palm Beach’s Bob Oatley, streaking down the gigs including The Screaming
Derwent in Hobart on its way to the finishing line. In
Jets and GANGajang. Also,
news, more than $60 million in capital works relating
the Ocean Swim Series. In
to the Warriewood Valley land release was “in danger
news, an off-leash dog trial at
following moves by the State Government to reduce
Station Beach was “closer to
charges to developers… the scheme is being implemented reality”. Council announced
in a desperate attempt to curry favour with the electorate its partnership in a research
and particularly among the new home buyers finding
project to devise a national
house and land packages too costly”. Council’s General
early warning system to
Manager Mark Ferguson said the proposal could lead to alert coastal communities
rate increases of up to 25 per of impending storm-wave
cent a year. Work had begun damage; Avalon Public School,
on the Renal Dialysis unit
Bilgola Plateau PS, Elanora
at Mona Vale Hospital; more Heights PS and Narrabeen
women were competing in Sports High were set to get excavation will assist to keep
the Ocean Swim series; a plan new air-conditioning systems; the lagoon entrance open for
to build a block of 10 home Mona Vale Hospital’s Urgent several years before further
units for seniors and people Care Centre was upgraded
works are required.” And a large
with disabilities at 2129 and with emergency trained staff
contingent of Avalon locals
2133 Pittwater Rd, Church to manage patients who selfpresent
with injuries and
were “busy planning a protest
Point attracted more than
70 objections; and Australia illnesses 24 hours a day;
meeting to vent their opposition
Day events were being held the mouth of the Narrabeen to NB Councils current plans for
at Bert Payne Reserve, The Lagoon had been excavated the coastal walkway through
Newport Arms and at the and open for public use over Little Avalon car park at
Royal Motor Yacht Club.
summer. “It’s understood the Surfside Avenue”.
18 JANUARY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991