⏱️ The 144th edition of our newsletter is a seven-minute read.
Morning all,
I’m working on another story I could use your help on — this time it’s about insurance. There's two sides of the North Shore: the inner metropolitan North, with its metro stations and high rises, and the outer suburban North, often backing onto vast swathes of bushland.
This story concerns the latter. As I’m sure you're aware, there are large parts of this outer North Shore region — suburbs like Wahroonga, St Ives Chase, Cowan and Berowra — which sit on or near bushfire prone land.
Considering the rising costs of construction, scorching hot summers and lovely, old (often expensive) heritage homes populating these areas, I’m curious to know what it’s like to insure a house in an area like that.
If the sort of place I’m describing sounds like your neighbourhood, reply to this email — whether you’re insured fully, partially or not at all, I’d be keen to get your perspective.
Now… onto this morning’s news. If you missed it in the last video, it looks like the end is nigh for “The Don” in Waverton. We went down to Balls Head to explain why the government is planning to scrap the ship, and why a number of maritime enthusiasts are disappointed. See the full video below.
🗞 Now, into the rest of the news …
HEARD THIS WEEK👂
😎 “Pervert glasses”: North Shore councils move to ban eyewear recording devices
As “smart glasses” capable of covertly recording everyday interactions grow more commonplace in Sydney, local government bodies are cracking down on the technology in order to quell privacy concerns.
On the North Shore, that means smart glasses will soon be prohibited at public pools, libraries and community centres.
What happened: In recent council meetings, both North Sydney and Mosman Council requested smart glasses be banned from their indoor facilities, and signage be installed to make this policy known.
Willoughby Council will also debate a similar motion on Monday evening, proposing the prohibition of the technology within indoor Council-operated facilities.
What is it: According to Meta, which produces one of the most popular models of the technology, smart glasses are “normal-looking eyewear with discreetly integrated glasses technology”. These can be speakers, microphones or a camera.
Due to the technology’s inconspicuous appearance, they can be used to record individuals discreetly and potentially without consent. Critics of the technology have dubbed them “pervert glasses”.
Smart glasses have been on the market since 2021, but in recent years have become more affordable: models can now retail for under $100.
Council crackdown: While concerns about the technology cross state borders, it has mostly been local councils introducing rules about their use. City of Sydney and Inner West Council have both already established a ban on the technology in council facilities like pools, libraries and community centres.
Mosman Council has attempted to take this one step further with its own policy, asking staff to investigate whether it would be plausible to restrict use on beaches, parks and foreshore areas.
Mosman Mayor Anne-Marie Kimber said the policy may be difficult to police, but nonetheless important to investigate as “a deterrent”.
Both councils agreed that any policy should have “appropriate exemptions” for those using smart glasses for accessibility purposes, such as people with visual or auditory impairment.
🪴 WATCH: New South Wales legalises human composting
The bill passed parliaments upper house on Wednesday. Full video below.
🌲 Six hectares of West Lindfield are up for sale. Bushcarers want it to become protected parkland
A bushy plot of land along the Lane Cove River is up for sale again, with North Shore conservationist groups once again petitioning the NSW Government to buy the land and expand the neighbouring national park.
What happened: The 6.17 hectare property along the Lane Cove River, known as “Naamaroo”, was last purchased in 2023 for around $15 million by The King's School. Previously, it was owned by the Uniting Church. At the time, North Shore bushcarers urged the National Parks Service to purchase the land, to no avail.
In October, the patch hit the market again, and local bushcarer groups Friends of Lane Cove National Park and STEP Inc again asking the state government to consider buying the land.
What is it: While a large amount of Naamaroo is uncleared bushland, the property also has accommodation for 184 guests, multiple halls, a commercial-grade kitchen, a swimming pool and a basketball court.
The zoning of the site — RE2 Private Recreation — does not permit the development of housing. Rather, it is reserved for community and recreational facilities, such as bowling greens, golf courses or a leagues club.
What they said: Friends of Lane Cove National Park president Tony Butteriss said members of the organisation had been working in the area since at least the 1994 Lane Cove bushfires, and that it was good quality bushland with very low weed density.
He told the Lorikeet the park was “very skinny and very long, very impacted by things around it”, that securing additions to it was important, and not unprecedented.
He pointed to the addition of Sugarloaf Point to the park, in 1996, as an example.
The campaign has been supported by Davidson MP Matt Cross, who has written to Environment Minister Penny Sharpe requesting the government consider purchasing the land and incorporating it into Lane Cove National Park.
Will that happen? National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), which manages land acquisitions like this, claims its resources are already spread thin.
A NPWS spokesperson said it “recognises community interest in seeing Naamaroo added to the national parks estate”, but the service “receives more offers of land for acquisition than can be supported within available budgets each year”.
The property was assessed by NPWS when it last went up for sale, but the service did not identify it as a priority for acquisition.
“NPWS prioritises land acquisitions within the available budget, focusing on habitats and landscapes that are underrepresented or currently not reserved, threatened species habitat and other areas of significance”.
Read the full story below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀
🟠 Labor’s strategy for beating the Liberals: talk up One Nation
With One Nation polling between 19 and 24 percent in Victoria, Labor is pushing for the party’s state leader, Warren Pickering, to be included in any televised debates ahead of the November 28 election.
The Liberals, who may need One Nation’s support to form government, say they won’t take part if he is.
In NSW, where voters go to the polls in March, Labor has given One Nation the same unlimited access to the Parliamentary Budget Office as the major parties. Other minor parties, including the Greens, can only get two policies costed.
Labor says it wants One Nation’s policies scrutinised. One Nation calls it a “political stitch-up”.
Watch the video below for the full story.
That’ll be all from me today.
As always, if you have a news tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at [email protected].
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Cheers,
Huw
