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Friday, October 19, 2012

Version 2 of the Whale Watching Platform Design


Hi all,

Attached is a sketch plan (ignore the sections) I my understanding of the new direction. As per Nick's email I will fix this up and send something through early next week. Ignore the paving area also- I believe it will be deck.

I think this idea of a wide boardwalk / narrow deck is better. This will allow us to get seating along the western edge of the decks and the whole eastern edge becomes a seating element also due to the natural slope of the ground.

Let me know if you have any comments.

Thanks
Dan



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Norries Headland Whale Watching Platform Update



bodhi nick aldridge
5:22 PM (1 hour ago)
to memikeLukeDan

Hi guys, I have still not worked the blog out so i will give this update and one of you may update the blog:

I had another meeting with Rod Keevers from TSc on site today with Dans sketch ( tried to get a hold of mike without success )

rod then met with the TSC carpenter on site and spoke to myself and Dan Plummer over the phone.

TSC have decided to embrace Dans sketch with the following changes:

1, instead of paving, the current seat will be replaced by a 3x3mt timber deck with a seat built in at the back with seperate steps in and out

2. the decks dan has suggested will now only be 3x4mts and 3x3mts with seats built into them to avoid them being too big and requiring a handrail


next steps:

1. TSC are costing the above project and hope to have it done by friday

2.Dan is going to amend his sketch and have it to us by monday

3. hopefully anthony can log in to the grant site tomorrow and start writing

4. i have spoken to Jane Lofthouse from TSC as well and she will provide us with written owners consent to lodge the grant



 Bodhi Nick Aldridge

Leadership Coach

join me on facebook:www.facebook.com/ leadership from the heart tours

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Preliminary Concept Sketch of Norries Headland Whale Watching Platform

Here is a concept that Nick's Landscape Architect friend has kindly designed and sketched.

What do you think?

Ant



Hi Nick,
Rough sketches attached of the approach we discussed yesterday.
Note:  There are 3 pages in the attached and the last one will be the one you want to look at.
If you could get me some feedback on approach within the next day or so it would be good.

Thanks.


Regards
Dan Plummer AILA

PLUMMER & SMITH
landscape architecture / art / design

Suite 30, 2 Queen Street
PO Box 204
Murwillumbah NSW 2484


Monday, October 15, 2012

Update - Proposed Grant Application- Norries Headland

Another update 15th October

Anthony and Nick attended a site meeting with Rod and Neil from TSC on friday 12th

Nick arranged to meet with Dan Plummer - Landscape Architect on monday 15th.
Dan has offered to do a concept sketch at no charge and we hope that with quick feedback
it will be possible to mould this into a point of discussion design suitable for TSC to proceed with some costings.
Mike attended that on site discussion as the  Caba Trails subcommittee rep.

Traffic from the boardwalk has concentrated the erosion at the viewing area near the crest of Norries Headland. Our aim as outlined to Dan is to work with TSC to secure a State Govt grant to allow an improved viewing area to be designed and constructed.

Concept to be sustainable - balance amenity, cost , durability, future maintenance
Must be low impact especially visually
Try to merge low terrace design with existing contours
Provide pockets for seating of small groups
Lead additional visitors around (behind) visitors who are already seated.
Try to cater for those who wish to take in the view from the crest as well as those who prefer to be seated in a more protected situation and those who just want to do stretches or tai chi.
Consider a staging of the development (for cost reasons)

Nick will onforward sketches/ notes from Dan for our consideration/input with the aim of reaching that point by about Thursday.
Regards Mike


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Update 10 October 2012

Just a quick post to share info for people not in attendance.

Meeting held last night chaired by Luke Porter who is currently leading the group.

Attending was Luke, Nick, Faye, Mike, Sandra, Graeme and myself.

Luke please correct me if I write anything wrong

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Purpose of meeting was to be clear on messages want to put forward to council staff in a meeting at the top of the Headland on 19/10 at 10.30 am

We affirmed the highest priority for us is the viewing platform at the top of Norries.

We don't need to have a design concept as the experts will have one.

(Please leave your comments below if you have a point of view on this as I like Kieran's idea of a low flat rock terrace with sitting space to 12 bums. Sort of similar to the space on the Belongil to Byron Light house walk where the trail takes a 90 degree bend.)


The minutes from the Meeting / Walk 18th August list other priorities to make the walk attractive and safe to locals and tourists.

Mike, Nick & I will attend the meeting on the 19th.

We will just print out the blog post from the 18 Aug and pass that on by way of reference.

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Mike tabled a great document in regards to where we have been, where we are at where to.

Mike's discussion document is linked here.

This is aligned to our thinking but the major point for mine was what level of integration do we want to have with the council. ( I guess answer is as much as the community needs.) Thanks for shifting our thinking Mike.

There is likely to be another meeting with senior council staff regarding the broader group activity at a later stage.

Nick is going to arrange that and Mike will go to that meeting with another representative.


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In terms of the next steps for the group beyond that we still need to work our way through the walks we have prioritised in our meeting back in August at the Surf Club.

That is we walk the trails and detail what improvements are required from our point of view.

Nick rightly points out that our point of view may be very different and difficult to achieve with so many passionate stakeholders in places like the southern and lake precinct.

Pushing onwards we plan to meet at the headland carpark on Saturday 20 October at 9.30 am to walk to Hastings and back.

Can you please tell anyone interested to meet us at the start of the bush tracker trail?

See you then.

Ant

PS please correct me or add in what I missed in the comments.

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Lastly ... and in breaking news .....

Nick was meeting Geoff Provest today and mentioned the whale watching platform. Geoff talked about  a grant scheme he thought we must apply for as it he supports the concept of a platform atop Norries.

Details of the NSW community building grant scheme are at this link and it could be worth $15K towards the platform.

We just need to apply under banner of a registered organisation such as the Surf Club / Dune Care etc and detail the scope, timeline and cost for the project.

Nick has a landscape architect that can help with scope, time and cost so if you have an opinion on what / how you think the platform would be please comment below so it can be taken into consideration.

Mike, Nick and I (reluctantly) are going to meet at the pub tomorrow night to discuss should we go ahead with the grant in such a rushed timeframe with little consultation or wait / possibly miss out.

If you can picture me in a YouTube video I would be making a gesture like kangaroo paws ..... please leave comments below!!!

Bye
Ant