HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🌭 A Sunday sausage sizzle offers relief — and community — in Hornsby

I had the opportunity on Monday to chat to some folks who have just recently started a really great project up in Hornsby.

On the North Shore, there are a number of charities that provide food for those experiencing homelessness throughout the week. But over the weekend, places to find a free warm meal become scarce.

The Hornsby Sidewalk Social was founded on the premise of filling that gap where many go hungry.

Running on Sunday evenings, the program provides a simple barbecue and sausage sandwiches to those who need it most.

🗣️ “Regardless of how wealthy a suburb is, there will always be somebody doing it tough”, Mark Langford, who founded the charity, told the Lorikeet.

Read the full story below.

🚧 Is time up for Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre? This developer thinks so

Twenty-eight storeys of apartments will sit on top of a redesigned Mandarin Centre, under a $1.2 billion proposal put forward to redevelop the Chatswood shopping centre.

What happened: Property group Metis has lodged a State Significant Development application for the mall, sitting on Albert Avenue, which would involve knocking down the current Mandarin Centre and bringing 325 apartments to the Chatswood CBD.

A housing development in Greater Sydney can apply to be considered a State Significant Development if its value is greater than $75 million.

The State Significant Development process is designed to streamline and speed up the approval of new housing, by transferring decision making from the local council to the Department of Planning.

Mandarin Centre: While foot traffic may be greater in the neighbouring Westfield and recently renovated Chatswood Chase, the Mandarin Centre has maintained many retail businesses through the years — including a cinema and bowling alley — as well as a food court renowned for its affordable options.

Site history: The Mandarin Centre was constructed on Albert Avenue in the 1990s. Previously, a church had occupied the lot since the 1920s, built in the classical style for adherents of Christian Science.

Read the full story and see what the proposed new centre will look like here.

🍷 What’s on this March?

And finally, here is your regular list of all the best events being held across the North Shore this March.

Did we miss something? Let us know and we’ll update! Just email [email protected].

LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀

🚒 Three states at heightened fire risk in Autumn Bushfire Outlook

The Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services has released its bushfire outlook for autumn. 

The fire risk has increased for parts of southern, central, and eastern NSW as well as large chunks of Victoria that extend into southeastern South Australia, and parts of WA.

What’s caused it? 

According to the report, bushfire risk is rising due to long-term drought in Victoria and South Australia, as well as dryness in NSW and soil moisture deficits across parts of WA and the south-east.

While northern and central Australia have above-average soil moisture, parts of north-eastern NSW and the south-east remain very dry.

Sea surface temperatures have been mostly cooler than average, except off parts of WA.

Read the full story below.