What we do and how to join

What we do

Bywong Community Incorporated is a residents group aimed at strengthening connections between local people in Bywong and acts as a forum for raising and resolving local issues.

We organise a number of annual events including the biggest, the Bywong Car Boot Sale which usually happens at the end of March each year.  We also put forward to Palerang Council  local issues that impact a majority of residents such as the upcoming closure of the Macs Reef Road tip facility and other issues - see Current Issues and What's been happening in Bywong below for more details.

How to become a member

All Bywong residents are part of the Association, whether they have formally joined or not.

Joining as a formal member gives you voting rights at our meetings, eligibility to be elected onto the committee, and you will receive regular email information about local issues. Keeping your membership up to date helps the committee keep in touch with you.

Membership is $1 to join and $1 per annum.

The membership form can be downloaded here. It has information about how to pay for your membership.

Current Issues

The Association is happy to support issues from residents as long as there is some concensus presented by all those people affected and that the issue is broadly inclusive of all Bywong residents.

Issues for 2010

Waste transfer station at Macs Reef Road - it's not there yet!!

A combined working group from Wamboin, Bywong and Sutton has been working hard with Council to develop and agree a plan for a replacement to the current tip at Macs Reef Road.  Council met in early March and passed the following resolution:

That Council: 
 
1. Note the minutes of the Wamboin / Bywong /Sutton East Waste Management Working Group held on 12 January 2010.

2. Accept the Concept Options Report and Recommendations at Section 13 (page 34), should the council formally resolve to proceed with the construction of a waste transfer station at Macs Reef Road.

 3. Include the provision of a waste transfer station at Macs Reef Road in its draft 2010/11 Management Plan and fund the works through incremental increases to the general waste charge (GWC).

Moved: Cr Terry Bransdon
Seconded: Cr Anne Goonan

The resolution was only narrowly accepted with 5 votes for and 4 votes against.

Local Environment Plan (LEP)

The Local Environment Plan (LEP) is currently being developed by Palerang Council. This plan is important to residents because it affects land zoning, public facilities, building regulations  and a wide range of other planning issues and restrictions. You can see a copy of the current working draft LEP here.

Greenways  expansion and road safety and improvement

Greenways expansion and road safety and improvement are two issues that the Association will be actively pursuing in 2010. We are having a public meeting on each topic. Greenways expansion will be on Tuesday 20th April at Bywong Hall, and we will have an information night on road safety and improvement on Tuesday June 22nd, also at the Hall.

Kids and teenagers – where are you? 

The Association would be most interested to talk with you about activities, events or other things that you would like in our community. Suggestions so far include improved access and connections to ensure people can travel safely around Bywong – horses, pedestrians and pushbikes .Also, suggestions were made for a communal area for pushbikes / motorbikes.

 Locality signs

Local government infrastructure funding was provided to Palerang Council for locality signs, as part of the Federal Government stimulus package. The Association has made several approaches to the Council to find out when locality signs will be made available and we await their response.

 Upgrading our community blackboards

We are working on a project to repair and improve the existing community blackboards, and hope to plan for more.

Working with partners at the Les Reardon Reserve and Bywong Hall to improve the amenities.

The Association is represented on the Les Reardon Reserve Committee and is working hard to get agreed, prioritized plans for improvement, apply for funding & organize maintenance to be done.

Getting better contact information from you, our community residents

Maintaining and improving individual and community connections is an important focus for the Association. Become a member of the Association and be a part of the network. 

What's been happening in Bywong over the last year?

December 2009

Raised the issue wih Council about  a bus shelter and bus stop locality that does not suit residents and gained a review of bus stop/shelter sitings for Bywong to be included in the Local Environment Plan (LEP).

September 2009

New toilets and storeroom at Bywong Hall completed on time and on budget. 

August 2009

Results of community waste management survey indicate two-thirds of residents are not in favor of curbside pick-up.  Council abandons plans for a trial and is now reviewing transfer station at current Macs Reef Road tip site. 

July 2009

Another successful Bywong Trivia Challenge was held on 26th July, with just over 70 people enjoying the night, the soup & the company.

June 2009

The Association donated $1,000 to Wamboin Rural Bush Fire Brigade

March 2009

Clean-Up Australia Day – what a load of rubbish! Thanks to the 45 or so people worked hard to clear our main roads of rubbish with a well-earned BBQ at the Hall afterwards. Very special thanks to the angel Jenny Johnston who so efficiently organized everyone with their bags, water and sunscreen.