Northern Beaches residents, concerned about the protected birds in Careel Bay, are calling for increased enforcement in the area following a dog attack that killed a juvenile pelican.
Careel Bay is a bird sanctuary for over a hundred local and migratory bird species, including the endangered Bush Stone-Curlew, the Mangrove Gerygone, Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, and Bar-tailed Godwit. In Careel Bay, there is also an off-leash facility where dogs can run around, play and get their needed exercise.
So that both birds and dogs can co-exist, the Northern Beaches Council has placed signs all over Careel Bay directing owners to keep their pets on leads if they are not on Etival St, the unleashed dog exercise area. Violators could be fined $330 or more.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
However, in early June 2022, a local who was walking his dogs spotted an injured young pelican near the off-leash site. It was determined that the bird was the victim of a dog attack due to some telltale paw prints on the ground.
Advocate and Northern Beaches WIRES Area Coordinator Lyn Millett OAM said that whilst most dog owners are responsible, some people still forget to contain their dogs, especially around the sand flat. Ms Millett has witnessed instances where they needed to tell off the owners to control their pets.
Ms Millett believes that more policing of the area should be in place, especially during the weekends when pet owners bring their furry pals to the sand flat. Council, however, has assured the public that the rangers are “proactively monitoring” Careel Bay for unrestrained dog activity.
To learn more about responsible pet ownership, including dog registrations and microchipping, visit the Council’s official site. Call Council at 1300 434 434 to report a dog attack.
Alfonso’s Cafe along Elvina Avenue may have closed for good after nearly seven years but did you know that Alfonso and Marcela Rinaldi are still serving delicious wood-fired pizza at the Avalon Bowling Club?
After Sunday, 8th May 2022, the site of Alfonso’s Cafe has been officially up for lease whilst the Rinaldis have brought their mobile wood-fired pizza oven, as well as their famous paella, to the bowlo every Friday evening.
Alfonso is also regular at the Avalon Surf Club every Sunday. On the other hand, he and his wife have amped up their catering services for private events every Saturday. Locals who are interested in having them for parties may phone 0431 202 422 for bookings.
The Rinaldis decided to give up their shop on Elvina Avenue due to the rise in the rental costs. Still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, Alfonso admitted that they can no longer afford the rent thus they have to surrender the site.
Alfonso is originally from Italy. He moved to the Northern Beaches more than 30 years ago and then met his wife more than a decade later. They have lived in Warriewood and Newport but decided to open the cafe in Avalon.
In 2018, the community rallied behind Alfonso and Marcela following a noise complaint about their “Pizza and Music” nights. The Council moved to shut down the street music and foodie event, which drew outrage from the community.
The locals asked the Council to reconsider since the family-friendly festivities ran until 8:30 p.m. only.
“By shutting this night down you are removing more and more of the fabric of what makes Avalon a great place to live,” the locals said in a petition. Fortunately, Council has reconsidered and reinstated Pizza and Music nights.
A few years later, the Rinaldis have been forced to shift its business. Nonetheless, the food and the service remain the same, especially for its loyal customers.
A pedestrian shared space trial in Avalon has recently received $500,000 in funding. The trial will provide expanded footpaths, more seating, and landscape, as well as a chance for the locals to connect.
The trial covers a shared pedestrian and vehicle zone between Avalon Parade and the car park at Woolworths.
This pedestrian shared space has been in the plans for decades but had previously met with funding issues. With the announced allocation, however, the concept can finally be launched as the Northern Beaches also recover from the lockdowns.
As a result of this plan, northbound vehicles between Avalon Parade and the Woolworth car park will only be limited to one lane during the trial. The travel speed for this section is 10 km/h.
“This area of the village can be particularly busy with people moving between the shops, Dunbar Park, community facilities and the beach,” Mr Rob Stokes, Member for Pittwater and Minister for Active Transport said.
“The opportunity to create additional open space for people to relax, dine and move around the village is really exciting.
“Throughout COVID-19 we’ve seen a resurgence of people wanting to shop local, sit outdoors and explore the community. This project supports all of these elements and will provide a great case study for how the concept could be expanded elsewhere,” he added.
Bus routes impacting this area will be adjusted to accommodate the changes. Traffic arrangements will also be coordinated and simplified as the Council works on a seamless integration of the project with the community.
Avalon, an endangered Hawksbill sea turtle that washed up on Avalon Beach in November 2020, has been nursed back to health and was recently released in Port Stephens.
Now weighing more than 13 kilograms, Avalon was extremely malnourished at 3.8 kilograms when it was discovered struggling to forage for food nearly two years ago. She had barnacles and algae growth on her, which suggested that she was on adrift for quite some time.
The turtle was placed under an intensive care program with SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Curatorial Supervisor Ben Wynand and his team. She became healthy, strong and fit for release.
As soon as Avalon was in the water, she swam with all her strength at Zenith Beach, a natural turtle habitat around the Shoal Bay headland.
Also rescued and released at Port Stephens were Cutler and Warnie, a pair of Loggerhead Sea Turtles found in Victoria. The experts said that Cutler and Warnie suffered from Floater Syndrome, which prevented them from going underwater due to their buoyancy.
Sea Life Aquarium curator Laura Simmons said that they decided to bring the turtles to Zenith Beach as it had the perfect condition for Avalon, Cutler and Warnie to thrive.
Ms Simmons believes that the turtles could remain in Port Stephens for some time if there is great food and the water temperature is ideal. But turtles tend to travel a lot thus Avalon and the other turtles could be in Queensland’s water up north in no time.
Turtles wash up on the beach for many reasons but some have been unable to swim because they’ve gotten sick from ingesting plastic.
Robert Johnson painting under an umbrella, watched by Enid Rigby and Heather Johnson c. 1938 (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
Well-known landscape artist Robert Johnson and his wife Olive bought land at Hilltop Rd in the late 1920s. They lived in a stone cottage they fondly called the ‘Ashlar.’
Ashlar, located at 32 Hilltop Rd, Avalon Beach is listed on NSW heritage list as an example of an early artists’ home in a bush setting.
As an artist, Robert was drawn to the landscape around the Northern Beaches. The couple’s daughter Heather recalled his father would pack up on weekends and paint. Some of Robert’s favourite subjects were the Pittwater, gum trees and the headlands of Avalon Beach.
At the time, many houses in Hilltop Rd were considered as a weekend home or a holiday home because the area was isolated. Two of the main factors were the lack of good roads and public transport.
Robert Johnson working on Hilltop Road (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
In the 1930s, the Warringah Council received many complaints from residents but eventually, they had to take matters into their own hands.
Residents helped maintain the roads to keep the roads passable. They needed to be resourceful particularly when it comes to road maintenance as the services during that time were very limited.
Because refrigeration was unusual in the street until the early 1950s, bread and ice were being delivered down at the bottom of the hill. Those who had ice chests would need large blocks of ice to be delivered every second or third day.
The Rigby’s
Alan and Enid Rigby (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council)
In 1935, the Johnsons introduced Avalon to their friends, artists and avid bushwalkers Alan and Enid Rigby. The couple purchased the block of land next door to the Johnsons.
Alan, who was also into photography, captured the photographic record of some early residents of Avalon Beach.
The Rigby house photographed in late 1950s (Photo credit: Northern Beaches Council)
The Rigby family lived in their stone cottage home along Hilltop Rd from 1935 to 1972.
The Rigby’s and Johnson’s stone cottages were both built by local stonemason Charlie Erikson. He constructed the stone cottage for the Johnsons in 1935 and another one for the Rigby’s nearly a year later.
Charlie Erikson splitting shingles for roof of Ashlar (Photo credit: Alan Rigby/Northern Beaches Council)
Robert Johnson’s children Heather and Brian Johnson helped Charlie by splitting the shingles and received 1 penny per dozen for their work.
Another family who became close friends with the Johnson’s and Rigby’s were the Sibley family. The Sibley family lived in a log cabin at 53 Hudson Pde Clareville, which is in close proximity to Hilltop.
The Sibley’s are American residents living in Sydney, who considered their cabin as a weekender.
What’s unique about the Sibleys’ home was they made the logs part of the cabin instead of removing them.
Today, the house has retained its rustic feature, though the new owners have incorporated modern touches to the historic home. Based on property records, it was last sold in May 2020 for $3.6 million.
Just below Avalon’s famous hangout, Bar Elvina, is Sandy’s, the latest takeaway sandwich shop that has been earning raves from the beachgoing crowd for its simple but healthy choices of quick orders.
Once a retail store, the owners of Bar Elvina had been eyeing the street-facing space because of its very convenient location. At first, Andy Emerson thought they could open a bottle shop when they have secured the lease but then decided on a sandwich and salad bar with a focus on takeout orders.
Sandy’s offers just a handful of choices for customers who do not want a complicated menu. Whilst the menu is simple, it does have an interesting and highly-recommended Prawn Dog sandwich (King prawn dog, leaves, pickles & cocktail sauce) which will leave diners wanting more.
Admittedly, Andy said that first-timers will likely think twice about trying their seafood sandwich. However, most eventually trust that it’s going to be finger-licking good as it comes from the same team as Bar Elvina, which upholds the highest standards for its food and service.
Most of the ingredients for the sandwiches and salads — such as peppers, tomatoes, green beans, chillis, and lemon — are grown from the rooftop garden up the same building. Thus, diners ensure that they are not just eating healthy food but the ingredients are always fresh.
Sandys can’t be missed as its fit-out is a lovely and trendy pink shade with Turkish marble benchtops and cedar lift windows. The space reverbs a pleasant and casual beachside vibe.
Photo Credit: SandysAvalon/Facebook
The takeaway shop got its name from its sandy beachside location, where most people forego shoes and get cosy and comfortable in such a relaxed atmosphere.
“Finally a sandwich place, that just makes great sandwiches! Epic post-workout/ surf lunch that really hits the spot. Chicken schnitzel sanger is our go-to. Ingredients are always fresh and the bread quality is on point.”
Tessa
“Just had the most amazing sandwich at Sandy’s. Wagyu pastrami with, slaw, BBQ pineapple and wasabi mayo followed by the gooiest GF brownies. I’ve died and gone to heaven!”
Barrenjoey Swim School, a backyard swim school on Patrick Street in Avalon that was served with a notice of closure over a noise and traffic congestion complaint, has been offered a reprieve.
Barrenjoey Swim School is a home business owned and operated by Damian and Lucie Geyle and has been operating for more than ten years now. The backyard swim school was ordered by the council to close down following an inspection in December last year in response to a neighbour’s complaint about noise and traffic.
The inspection resulted in the home-business being re-classified as a “recreational facility” which means it cannot operate within an R2 zoned area. The owners were given 90 days to comply with the order.
“Northern Beaches Council has ordered us to stop running a swim school because it is making too much noise,” the swim school’s notice to their clients on 21 February reads.
They furthered that at this stage their only option is to bring the matter to the court and fight the council which would be “expensive, time-consuming and seriously stressful.”
The council explained that given that Barrenjoey Swim School interferes with the amenity of the neighbourhood, it doesn’t meet the definition of a “home business” that would have qualified it as an “exempt development” under the Northern Beaches planning rules.
Barrenjoey Swim School to continue operating
The owners recently met with Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee and Planning and Place Director, Louise Kerr. The Geyles emerged from the meeting with a sigh of relief as they were offered a reprieve by Council and gave them two months to submit a proposal addressing the noise and traffic concerns.
Damian and Lucie Geyle will work with the stakeholders to come up with suggestions that will tackle the noise and traffic congestion.
Photo Credit: Barrenjoey Swim School / bjswimschool.com.au
Closure notice outraged locals and questioned future of home businesses
The notice of closure caused an uproar among the members of the community, particularly parents of children taking lessons at the swim school and sparked an online petition as well.. Outraged locals took to social media to express their anger and concern about the future of small home businesses.
“Not only does this mean a loss of livelihood for Damian and Lucie but seems like a dangerous loss for a community that revolves around water. Will this set a precedent for the handful of other swim schools in the area? Kids are already behind in swimming with all the closures the last few years….” writes Eliza Viney on her social media.
Photo Credit: Barrenjoey Swim School / bjswimschool.com.au
One of those who commented questioned how one complaint could cause the closure of the swim school. Whilst another could not reconcile the fact that the NSW Government has been encouraging parents to enrol their kids in swimming lessons with the $100 first lap vouchers but at the same time council is “thinking that closing a local swim school is the right thing to do.”
“I never share issues like this on my page, but this one is really close to my heart as it affects some lovely friends, and also creates a terrible precedent for any work from home business,” Running Under The Sprinkler Photography’s post reads.
“I can vouch for the family’s respectful use of their home as a business, having been there during class times, and knowing others who have been there at class times, and also because I live on the same block. I am also aware of what I think may be the catalyst for this action, and it’s definitely not noise from the swim school (which operates in small, and sensible, weekday hours).
“Kids need to learn to swim, and Barrenjoey Swim School is a very well-established, well-respected, family-run home business.”
A new twist to the story of prison escapee Darko “Dougie” Desic, who turned himself in after 30 years of living as a handyman in Northern Beaches, has been revealed.
Desic broke out of Grafton correctional facility on July 31, 1992, after serving 13 months of his three-and-a-half years of a prison sentence for growing marijuana, using hacksaw blade and bolt cutters; he was 35 years old then.
He said he escaped prison out of fear of being deported after completing his prison term to what used to be Yugoslavia, where he believes he would be punished for failing to complete his compulsory military service.
He remained under the radar for 30 years whilst living in Avalon and working as a cash-in-hand labourer, until the pandemic happened. Left with no means to support himself and homeless, the now 64-year-old opted to hand himself to Dee Why Police Station.
Grafton Correctional Centre | Photo Credit: Photographic Collection from Australia, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, / Wikimedia Commons
Before he was sent back to prison, Darko took the time to make one request that will end up touching someone’s life. He asked his friend Scott Matthewson to search for the owner of a gold medal that he found whilst living a life on the run in Northern Beaches. The rightful owner of the gold Victory Medal turned out to be Ernest Charles May from Melbourne.
May was awarded the gold medal in 1919 after serving in the Great War. He was wounded three times, had miraculously survived being buried in a collapsed trench before getting gassed with sulphur mustard.
The war veteran gave his World War I medal to his nephew John Paul Bell back in 1962 who had it hanging on his key ring when he lost it whilst walking on Avalon Beach. Mr Bell then learned about Desic’s story whilst reading his Pittwater Life magazine which showed a photo of his uncle’s medal.
Locals who have known “Dougie” for years rallied behind him upon learning that he was in jail and organised a GoFundMe to help him “rebuild his life”.
“Seems like he was a small offender and the laws were harsher back then for people growing pot. Meanwhile, he has stayed out of trouble and has had this problem hanging over his head for half his life. Also, he has helped our community and been a decent fellow,” the fundraiser stated.
“Remember he has been in our community for thirty years and ended up homeless on our beach at Avalon. Never did he hurt anybody. He is in jail now.”
“Dougie” is set to be granted parole as early as August 2022 but he could face deportation upon release.
The recent death of a dog due to illegal dog baiting activity in Hitchcock Park, near the Careel Bay playing fields, has sparked heightened security checks and sparked calls for the installation of CCTV cameras in the area.
It was a rainy Sunday afternoon on the 6th of February 2022. Stacey and her husband had to stay indoors with their dogs, Malu and Hector, but a brief break in the weather gave them the opportunity to take their pets to Careel Bay sports field and the nearby Hitchcock dog park for a 30-minute walk.
Malu was let off the leash and explored the park unsupervised for about five minutes. It was presumed that during that time Malu ingested the substance but she would not exhibit signs of poisoning until the day after.
“Our beautiful, gentle, wise and calm companion Malu died on Monday 7th of February after ingesting a poison last Sunday evening the 6th of February at Careel Bay fields and dog park. Understand clearly there was no other place she went that whole week, no one she met and she was an inside dog. It was poor weather on Sunday so she and her dog brother were inside our home and did not go out without supervision,” Stacey said.
Photo Credit: Stacey Demarco / Facebook
Their beloved companion was rushed to the local veterinarian but then had to be taken to the Northside Emergency Vet Service. Sadly, Malu succumbed to an anticoagulant, a common ingredient used in rodenticides.
“Malu fought hard. So hard. She had a team of incredible vets from two practices working on her but she succumbed to the poison which according to blood work was an anti-coagulant commonly found in rat poison.
“She was murdered. It wasn’t a kind death. From what I now know, other dogs have also fallen victim. This has to stop.
“To say my husband and I are devastated to lose her doesn’t scratch the surface of what we are currently experiencing, and as Malu was beloved by so many in our community, there has been an outpouring of support and grief from all who knew her from vets, trainers, walkers and dog people of all kinds. One person yesterday I know said to me that they ‘were not really a dog person, but I’m a ‘Malu person’.”
Photo Credit: Stacey Demarco / Facebook
Stacey had the incident reported to Northern Beaches Council who confirmed that it was not undertaking any fox baiting in the area but has proactively carried out patrol checks in the Careel Bay area to deter future illegal baiting activities. So far, no evidence of baiting has been found.
Northern Beaches Police has also been notified and said that it is “a difficult crime to solve” because of the lack of lighting at the fields and perpetrators would often come at night and take advantage of the darkness to accomplish their illegal activities.
“They agreed though better lighting and CCTV would be useful. They were aware of baitings over the last few years but not these new ones at Careel.”
Anticoagulant rodenticides prevent blood from clotting resulting in internal bleeding, however, it can take days for its toxic effects to manifest. Signs of bait poisoning include loss of appetite, blood in the stool, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, seizures, difficulty in breathing, weakness, and even sudden death. Call your vet or the Animal Poisons Centre on 1300 869 738 immediately if you suspect that your dog has eaten rat poison.
Property values in the Northern Beaches, particularly Avalon, are experiencing a surge in demand, with a 29 per cent uptick in median house price, as buyers realise that living away from the CBD, where space is not an issue and amenities abound, gives great value for money.
Highlights
The median house price in Avalon experienced a 29.19 per cent uptick from October 2020 to September 2021, as buyers finally see the value of living near the coast far away from the CBD.
Avalon’s unit market performed better than the housing market with a 54.65 per cent median increase.
The median house price during this period was at $2,777,500 whilst the median unit price was at $1,300,000. Despite the increase, these prices are still relatively more affordable for investors compared to the beachside properties in other Eastern Suburbs.
Avalon House Price Growth
According to Property Market Updates, the median house price in the Avalon property market grew by 29.19 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021, rising up to $2,777,500 from $2,150,000 in the previous year.
About 198 houses were sold for this period with an average of 32 days on market, reflecting an insatiable demand from buyers who have decided to move out of the city and enjoy the beachside lifestyle in Avalon.
Investors went for four-bedroom waterfront homes the most with 87 sold at under 30 days on market. Smaller-sized properties were also quickly snapped up with one or two-bedroom homes staying on the market for just less than three weeks.
Despite the increasing house prices, which is good news for the homeowners in this tightly-held market, a lot of Avalon properties are still priced lower than a number of beachside properties in the Eastern Suburbs. A property in Coogee, for example, may cost around $8 million and it won’t be nearly as expansive as the properties in Avalon.
In recent years, the Avalon demographic has shifted from older, independent individuals or families to mature and established families on their second or third home. In the past, investors looked to Avalon for holiday homes but now they want a place where they can permanently call their home to fill their need for more open spaces.
Avalon Unit Price Growth
Avalon’s apartment market performed exceedingly better than the housing market at 54.65 per cent median unit price increase. The median unit price has settled at $1,300,000 for this same period, up from $840,600 in the previous year.
Sixty-five units were sold in this suburb between October 2020 to September 2021 within an average of 46 days on market. Avalon has one of the strongest demands for apartment lifestyle across Sydney despite the gloom in the sector due to the pandemic, especially in the CBD and inner city areas.
Buyers who want a sea change or tree change but have budget constraints look to the Avalon unit market for options as it’s more affordable than detached dwellings. The commute to the city is no longer a hindrance as most residents work from home under the new normal.
More than 80 per cent of the dwelling options in this suburb are free-standing houses thus the lack of supply for apartments.
About Avalon
Once overlooked for being quite far from where the action is in the city, Avalon has a fresh appeal for buyers who now see the value of living where beaches, bushes and the coast are more accessible.
Avalon isn’t a completely remote area as there are ample establishments where residents can buy their essentials, enjoy a healthy meal at a restaurant, or send their kids to good schools.
Though not as congested and compact as other locales in Sydney, Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade are where the business centres thrive. Undoubtedly, however, Avalon Beach is the main attraction, where Surf Life Saving and Nippers have enjoyed a long tradition.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Avalon provides locals with a great sense of space where they can relax in the beauty of nature. Boating and other water sports are the most popular recreational activities in this suburb flanked by the beach on the eastern side and the Pittwater to the west, a unique waterway perfect for fishing, kayaking, sailing, and even bushwalking.
Avalon has a tight-knit community of long-time locals who regularly organise group and cultural events. Apart from surfing, Avalon has a thriving art scene and many locals adopt a sustainable green lifestyle.
“Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade are at the heart of Avalon. Over recent years there have been a number of (re)developments that have significantly improved the appeal of the area. The majority of housing in this central location comprises of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units making it ideal for young couples, downsizers or small families. Living in Old Barrenjoey Road means you are close to shops, cafes and public transport. The beach is also only a 3 minutes walk away. For people considering apartment living and who desire a central location then Old Barrenjoey Road is certainly worth consideration.”
Paul Towers
“Joseph Street is a quiet little cul de sac which is an oasis in the hustle and bustle of Avalon. Close to everything yet you feel like you are on holidays and you can hear the birds singing, not the traffic flowing.”
Kouls
“Central Road is a fairly lengthy street running from Avalon Parade (where it becomes Hudson Parade) to Barrenjoey Rd. The street is very green with many trees and is relatively level. There are many facilities within walking distance, including in the street itself. There are speed humps in the road – to slow down the occasional through-traffic.”
