Pittwater Life July 2024 Issue

News
Letters: Readers have their say
Don’t whitewash
Labor contribution
Your article, ‘Good Things In
Store’ (Pittwater Life – June)
featured local Federal MP Dr
Sophie Scamps expounding
the benefits of the new
Warriewood Community
Battery, but the article makes
no mention that this was
a Federal Labor election
commitment.
The battery was promised to
the people of Mackellar during
the 2022 Federal election
campaign by then Shadow
Minister for Climate Change
and Energy Chris Bowen,
should Labor win that election.
Labor’s candidate at the
2022 election Paula Goodman
formally represented Minister
Bowen at the official opening
of the battery in May.
It is wonderful to read of Dr
Scamps’ support for this great
community facility which will
help to hasten the transition to
a net zero economy.
But it would have been
useful to acknowledge a key
fact – the community battery
was promised, delivered and
funded by Labor.
Pam Ward OAM,
Secretary Mackellar ALP FEC
In defence of
Councillor Gencher
In response to Tina Butler’s
claim that Councillor Michael
Gencher has betrayed his
voters by joining the Liberals
(Pittwater Life – Letters, June),
it’s crucial to clear things up.
Councillor Gencher’s recent
move isn’t a betrayal – it’s a
smart step to get things done
for Pittwater.
Anyone paying attention to
Council business would know
that Councillor Gencher’s
switch is all about advancing
Pittwater’s interests. His
commitment to the platform he
was elected on hasn’t wavered.
He’s focused on achieving
actual results, not just looking
good on social media.
The team Councillor
Gencher has joined is all
about being responsible,
functional, and strategic.
Unlike those more interested
in social media popularity, this
team is dedicated to making
meaningful improvements for
Pittwater. Councillor Gencher’s
move ensured he can keep
advocating for the community
and work towards sustainable
outcomes and fiscal health.
His move months ago was all
about making sure Pittwater’s
interests are prioritised and
effectively advanced. Instead
of seeing it as a betrayal,
recognise it as a clear sign of
his commitment to delivering
real results for our community.
Shane Fergusen
Newport
Motor-only mode a
big e-bike problem
Congratulations for your
recent articles on e-bike rules
and safety. Northern Beaches
Council’s ‘The Code’ initiative
is an excellent move and
delivers a comprehensive
message. However, one
massively important fact that
appears to receive the lowest
priority in both advertising
and editorial is the message
delivered at the end of your
June article: “To be considered
a bicycle it cannot be propelled
exclusively by a motor.”
Unfortunately, most of
the bikes appearing in the
advertising pictures can be
simply converted to a “motoronly
use” with the switch of
a button. When being used
in motor-only mode these
bicycles are illegal; they fall
within the category of a motor
vehicle and under NSW Law are
required to be registered and
the driver needs a motorcycle
licence.
Last week, I spoke to two
14-year-old girls who were
cruising along without
pedalling and without helmets
and I asked them if they had
any idea of the laws they were
breaking. They had no idea.
This is a daily sight. Our
youth are not getting this
important message and the
Safety Video and Signs that
have been placed around our
schools do not allude to this.
At this stage, slowing down
appears to be the only message
getting through.
Gareth Jones
Bilgola Plateau
E-bike safety:
has the horse
already bolted?
What a great initiative by
Council to place the ‘The Code’
plaques at strategic places
within the LGA. Great to see
people are so concerned about
safety around school kids
riding these “weapons” called
e-bikes.
Numerous times kids are seen
speeding on these bikes, no
helmets, speeding on roads
and footpaths, with two or
three kids on the bike, also
with no helmets.
I have witnessed these
idiotic kids hooning around
the car park at McDonalds,
Warriewood. How are the
police going to police the
situation? These kids are too
young to carry ID.
I would think the
Government should ban these
weapons before the horse
bolts.
Andrew Massie
Dee Why
Education programs
won’t solve problem
Being a daily walker on shared
paths around Warriewood, I
constantly encounter people,
young and old, whizzing past
me from in front and from
behind. Most are travelling
at speeds much higher than
walking pace and most do not
indicate their presence.
These very large and
substantial e-bikes are, in fact,
motorbikes with an electric
rather than petrol engine. They
have no place on footpaths.
Proposed ‘education’
programs will have minimal
effect. These electric motor
bikes must be registered and
restricted to roads. Pedestrians
are in increasing danger. Will it
take a death or serious injury
to change the law? I hope not.
Many of the ‘shared’
pathways on the Northern
Beaches are dangerously
narrow, putting pedestrians
at a disadvantage from both
traditional pushbikes and
these new, heavy motorised
12 JULY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991