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Microbrewery Proposed as Part of Major Overhaul for The Hills Marketplace

The Hills Marketplace at Terrey Hills could soon have its own microbrewery if the proposed $9.8 million makeover of the retail complex is approved.

Read: Hikers are Raving About this Hidden Gem in Belrose

According to planning documents submitted to the Northern Beaches Council, the renovations would include a small area for brewing equipment to serve craft beers as part of a new licensed eatery that can seat up to 250 people.

The proposed microbrewery is just one component of the major redevelopment plans submitted to the council.

3D Perspective of proposed redevelopment (Photo credit: BN Group)

The plans, rendered by architects from the BN Group, also call for adding two new buildings to house a garden centre, rural supplies outlet, and a restaurant.

Additionally, the space once occupied by Piemonte Cafe, which closed two years ago, would be reconfigured to expand the existing flower shop on site.

The Hills family has operated the flower business on the property at Mona Vale Rd since 1923, growing some flowers on site and selling directly to the public. The ground floor of the existing building would also see minor upgrades as part of the $9.8 million project.

The Hills Marketplace — Photo credit: www.hillsmarketplace.com.au

The proposed renovations involve demolishing several retail spaces to allow for an expanded garden centre, new restaurant, and additional retail tenancies. The redevelopment plans also call for relocating and adding more parking spaces. Upgrading the existing mechanical services to provide fresh air throughout the complex is also part of the planned works.

The proposed renovations and additions for The Hills Marketplace did not receive strong opposition during a public exhibition period last month. However, nearby residents have expressed hope that the works will fit with the local area and not negatively impact locals.

Read: Belrose Eats: Have You Tried Stella Blu Kitchen and Pizzeria Special Lunch Menu?

The council is currently reviewing the redevelopment plans and a decision on whether to approve the microbrewery and other proposed upgrades is expected in the coming months.

Published 16-August-2023

IKEA Expands With New Plan and Order Point In Belrose

Photo credit: IKEA / ikea.com/au/en

IKEA has revealed that it will open its second ‘Plan and Order’ point in Australia at the HomeCo shopping centre in Belrose, Sydney’s Northern Beaches area, in June 2023.

The newest Plan and Order point will open in June at the HomeCo shopping centre at Belrose in Sydney’s Northern Beaches area. Plan and Order points aim to provide customers with a more convenient and accessible shopping experience in Australia.

The store will offer Northern Beaches residents one-to-one expert planning advice in a 215 sqm area and will be the Swedish furniture retailer giant’s second smaller IKEA format in Australia.

At the Belrose store, customers can receive personalized and expert advice for planning kitchens and wardrobes on the spot by booking a planning appointment or simply walking in to browse.

In addition to displaying kitchens and wardrobe systems to facilitate planning for complex areas of the home, IKEA Belrose also offers the convenience of placing an order for any product across the complete IKEA range.

“The Plan and Order point format has opened up new opportunity for IKEA to be exactly where our customers need us to be, and this is a key part of our growth strategy for IKEA in Australia,” Johanna Gbenplay, Market Area Manager, IKEA Australia said.

“We already have a strong presence with three IKEA stores in Sydney, but we will now be on the doorstep of the many people of the Northern Beaches area, who we know are avid home furnishers and renovators, but may have not considered IKEA as close or convenient for them previously.

“We have learnt valuable lessons from our first opening at Highpoint, Melbourne, and are anticipating an exciting response from existing and new customers when IKEA Belrose arrives in June.”

In 2019, IKEA opened a temporary pop-up store at Warringah Mall in Brookvale, which operated for approximately eight months. Following that, the first Plan & order point in Australia opened at Highpoint in Melbourne’s west in September 2022.

Bookings for planning appointments at IKEA Belrose will be able to be made via the IKEA website.

Published 5-May-2023

New Wyatt Avenue Bike Park Opens in Belrose

The gates have opened to the long-awaited Wyatt Avenue bike park in Belrose, which is aimed at bikers of all ages, especially young kids who are looking at improving their biking skills.

The new bike park has different ranges for beginners who will need to train before they can try biking at the more complicated Bare Creek bike park or the rough ride at the Manly Dam.

The Wyatt Avenue bike park was designed with the guidance of parents, coaches and the biking advocacy group Trail Care. Thus, this facility is top-notch even for beginners with its trail loop, climb and decent section, technical features, and the bike launching area.

Visitors and companions may also enjoy the bike park because there is a view platform and picnic area with plenty of seating.

Published 22 February 2023

Concerns Raised Over Another Liquor Store At Popular Shopping Centre In Belrose

Some residents in Belrose are worried about opening another liquor store at Glenrose Shopping Village, citing the effects of increased alcohol use in the area, such as anti-social behaviour especially among the youth.

Read: Hikers are Raving About this Hidden Gem in Belrose

This comes after Vintage Cellars, which is owned by Coles group received an approval from NSW Liquor and Gaming to open an outlet at the mall, which would already be the third for Glenrose Shopping Village.

Photo credit: Adrian Compton/Google Maps

At present, there are already two bottle shops operating at the mall–Woolworths’ BWS and a separate alcohol section at Aldi supermarket. Vintage Cellars will take over the space once occupied by a seafood restaurant and a shop used to advertise a retirement village nearby.

Back in June 2021, young people were being targeted by Northern Beaches Police following a case of vandalism at Glenrose Shopping Village, which resulted in damaged fence panels at the mall.

Belrose — Photo credit: DANNY Kwon/Google Maps

Investigations revealed that young people were congregating in the area, consuming alcohol, illicit drugs, which resulted in offensive behaviour, damage to property and leaving dangerous or harmful litter in the area.

Because of the incident, the Northern Beaches Council proposed the re-establishment of alcohol-free zones.

Council consulted the residents and based on feedback received, around 79 percent of respondents support the re-establishment of the Belrose Alcohol Free Zone, and round 20 submissions identified continuing issues of alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

Residents asked to include the reserve behind Glenrose shops and bounded by the aforementioned avenues as it has been the scene of some anti-social behaviour in the past.

“It is disappointing that the reserve behind Glenrose Shopping Centre is not included inthis action. This is the major area of concern for the surrounding neighbourhood where drug and alcohol abuse and subsequent damage to public and private property takes place and where Neighbour Watch has recently started,” one neighbour wrote in the submission.

Read: Belrose Children’s Centre Nurturing the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers

At present, the existing alcohol free zone in the area is bounded by Haigh, Wingara, Lowanna and Coora Avenues.

Meanwhile, some members at the Belrose, Davidson, French’s Forest & Forestville Community Page shared they would love to see a food outlet in the space, like another fish ‘n chips rather than a bottleshop.

Hikers are Raving About this Hidden Gem in Belrose

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are rediscovering and raving about this hidden gem in Belrose, comprising a 4.5km scenic trail alongside the picturesque Frenchs Creek Track.

Located inside the Garigal National Park, the exciting trail is situated some 30 minutes away from Sydney CBD by car or 10 minutes from Frenchs Forest. It ends in a beautiful cascading waterfall, also found within the massive park.

First-time visitors to the site will find the beginning of their track along a sealed area after a private residence on Wanniti Rd in Belrose by following the red ribbon marks. There is no car park in the area but there is a sign leading to a downhill walk.

After a few minutes, hikers will see the top area of the Cascades waterfalls. Pushing ahead of this hidden gem for 15 minutes or so, then hikers will hear the next body of water’s section.

The centre of the Cascades is located on a large rock platform on the creek. It makes for a great spot when resting for the hike.

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Not everyone, however, will see the full beauty of the multi-tiered falls, per the Australian Waterfalls. Runners and hikers who frequent the site said the view around the walking track is a lot better during the winter months, especially after rain than during the dry summer months because the falls will not be flowing with water.

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The track is pretty narrow, rocky, and steep so hikers are advised to take extra caution and wear the most appropriate walking shoes. There are also no toilets in the area so plan your walk accordingly.

Belrose Residents Fight Proposed Boarding House Modifications Anew

A group of Belrose residents has found themselves fighting a development application anew, over two vacant properties on Wyatt St, next to John Colet School.

In 2019, residents heavily opposed the development proposal for a 27-room boarding house along 14 Wyatt St (DA2018/0401), They cited that the plan was an overdevelopment and was not in keeping with the “quiet family character” of the community. Belrose is a low-density residential site with a 12-room maximum for such an establishment.

The locals also opposed the project due to its potential impact on the biodiversity of its surrounding bushlands. In its submission to oppose the DA, Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment stated that these native bushlands have “complex ecosystems and wildlife corridors” that could be ruined by excessive development.

In April 2019, Northern Beaches Council rejected the DA for 14 Wyatt Ave citing that the proposal failed to comply with the requisite housing density standard despite a series of pre-lodgement meetings conducted since 2017.

In January 2021, the Land and Environment Court upheld the rejection of DA2018/0401 to construct the boarding house.

However, in October 2020, the developers appealed and submitted amended plans under DA202/0996 for 14 Wyatt Ave as well as DA2021/1039 for 16 Wyatt Ave. The house along 16 Wyatt Ave will also be knocked down to accommodate two large buildings at least three to four stories high. The proposal estimates that the boarding house will be able to accommodate 160 people.

Residents, once again, took exceptions to the plans that will include “changes in the landscaping of a non-urban property.”

The developer, however, said that the amendments “do not change the number, size, design or location of the boarding rooms, or the range, number, location and nature of the communal facilities.” The proposed amendments also do not make changes to the intensity or impacts of the development.

Northern Beaches Council opened the notification period for these amendments on 13 July 2022. Residents have until Wednesday, 27 July 2022, to file their submission.

John Colet School in Belrose Consistently Tops NAPLAN Results

John Colet School, an independent primary educational institution in Belrose, has consistently achieved excellent NAPLAN scores not only among all the schools in the Northern Beaches but also across the rest of New South Wales.

For 2021, John Colet School landed fourth in the ranking across NSW with a primary average of 553.8. The school’s excellent overall performance follows St Aloysius College in Kirribilli (562.2), Abbotsleigh in Wahroonga (562.4), and the Sydney Grammar School in Darlinghurst (586.9).

John Colet School’s Year 3 students earned good results for reading (526) and Grammar (564), whilst its Year 5 students scored some of the highest achieving scores for the 2022 NAPLAN with 599 in reading, 564 in writing, 584 in spelling, 604 in grammar and 590 in numeracy, per data from the National Assessment Program.

The school was fifth in the ranking in the previous year. For 2021, it is the only primary school in the Northern Beaches to rank in the Top 100 in a school year impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns, when students were mostly learning remotely. Surveys have revealed that many of the children’s parents were committed and comfortable in assisting their kids to study and prepare for the annual assessment.

Photo Credit: John Colet School/Facebook

However, other primary and secondary schools in the Northern Beaches were cited as “high progress” schools as the students also exhibited improved performances across various subjects compared to the last test.

Meanwhile, NAPLAN 2022 testing has recently concluded online with more than 1.2 million students and 9,315 schools across Australia.

“This year was uniquely challenging with the full transition to online testing as well as staffing and attendance challenges due to COVID-19. It is a testament to the hard work of education authorities in each state who worked collaboratively with their schools to support students and manage any issues that arose that it went so well,” ACARA CEO David de Carvalho said.

From 2023, NAPLAN will move from May to March so results will be available to education authorities earlier in the year to inform school and system teaching and learning programs.

84-Bed Wyvern Private Hospital Under Construction in Terrey Hills

Photo Credit: ADP /adpconsulting.com.au

Construction has commenced on Wyvern Private Hospital, an $88-million, 84-bed private hospital in Terrey Hills. The facility is expected to undertake complex surgeries and provide acute health care services.

Land clearing has started on the 4-hectare site situated between Myoora and Larool Roads in Terry Hills, making way for the development that secured approval from the State Planning Panel in 2018.

Designed by Bureau SRH, the project is expected to deliver three pavilion-style buildings of up to three storeys separated by landscaped courtyards.

The development includes a range of high-end specialist and health services facilities including radiology, hydrotherapy, rehabilitation, ICU, operating theatre, plus associated administrative and front of house services.

There will be about 99 Staff at the hospital including 22 Doctors, 69 Nursing Staff, and 8 Administration Staff.

Wyvern Private Hospital on Terrey Hills artist impression — Wyvern Private Hospital on Terrey Hills | Photo Credit: ADP /adpconsulting.com.au

The hospital will provide acute health care with a total of 88 beds including surgical (56 beds), intensive care unit (8 beds) and rehabilitation (20 beds). Areas of focus include cardiology, vascular, spinal surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopedic.

The radiology department will come equipped with CT, MRI, X-Ray and ultrasound imaging capabilities whilst the physiotherapy and rehabilitation facility will have a hydrotherapy pool and a gymnasium.

Moreover, there will be a total of five large general operating theatres, one hybrid operating theatre, and one Cardiac Cath Lab operating theatre along with specialist consulting suites and staff support offices, a cafe, a pharmacy and a pathology department.

A total of 136 car parking spaces will be provided:

Basement Level – 69 spaces including 6 accessible car parking spaces
Lower Ground Floor – 28 spaces
Ground Floor – 4 spaces
Level 02 – 35 spaces

Wyvern Private Hospital artist impression | Photo Credit: ADP /adpconsulting.com.au

To address concerns regarding the development’s impact on the flora and fauna as well as the pygmy-possum population on the Duffys Forest, the developer committed to protecting 35 per cent of the site in “perpetuity” by leaving it untouched and will only be accessible to arborists and ecologists.

“An extraordinary aspect of the new hospital will be the surrounding natural landscaped setting of Duffys Forest and the onsite coastal upland swamp. Steeped in Australian history and beauty it’s the home to the eastern pygmy-possum, one of the smallest possums in the world and currently noted under a vulnerable conservation status. The hospital has committed to being custodians of the land’s ecosystem and inhabitants, a commitment they hold with great pride, encapsulating Wyvern health’s mantra ‘Care without Compromise’,” the ADP Consulting wrote on its website about the project.

The project is expected to be completed in about 22 months.

‘Feathers & Dreams’: 50 Artworks Up for Online Bid to Benefit Belrose Charity

A remarkable selection of 50 artworks is up for bidding online to raise funds for a Belrose charity for metastatic cancer patients. The “Feathers & Dreams” exhibition features original artworks that depict feathers to symbolise “trust, honour, strength, wisdom, power and freedom.”

Each artist involved in “Feathers & Dreams” has agreed to donate 50 percent of the sale price of their artworks during the exhibition at the gallery, diversARTy, in Cromer. Two of these artists are Clare and John, who are also metastatic cancer patients.

“I remembered the cutest photo that my daughter had taken on the farm of this little duck. Everything just connected – a dream weekend away, and the picture of the duck, that I have painted as part of the exhibition,” Clare said.

*Photo Credit: Clare Ward – Where Dreams Are Made (Bonnie)/Supplied*

“Having a dream was almost like being able to start again – chemo done and new beginnings. My dream has given me awesome memories of how precious family is and how grateful I am to still be alive.”

Gallery Director Wayne Devenny offered his full support to host this event, following his own brush with a serious illness.

“After learning about Dreams2Live4, my wife and I thought it would be a great idea to hold an exhibition to raise awareness and funds for this amazing charity,” Devenny said, “Dreams2Live4 provides much needed respite for patients with metastatic cancer, and their families and carers. Being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, I know firsthand what providing these ‘dreams’ truly means,” he revealed.

Terri Cracknell – Doorway to Dreams
Jake Graham – Mystik Oddyssey (Dreamers’ Dream Catcher)
Camille Fox – Well Heeled
Amy Raymond – Pretty As A Peacock

Dreams2Live4 was founded in 2008 by Annie Robinson, who passed away from metastatic cancer in 2009. Annie’s experience with the disease gave her the drive to “treat the soul as well as the disease” and her legacy lives on with the Belrose charity.

To support the artists and the charity, bid on the “Feathers & Dreams” artworks online. The exhibition will run until 30 September 2021. You may also follow Dreams2Live4 on Facebook for updates.

New Japara Aged Care Home in Belrose Nears Completion

The flagship aged care home commissioned by Japara Healthcare in Belrose is nearing completion, with an expected opening date scheduled for June 2021.

The upcoming Belrose aged care building, which started construction in November 2019 and is currently worth $31 million, was built by Richard Crookes Constructions. It was designed by Thomson Adsett Architects, with rooftop plant and hard and soft landscaping and an aesthetic inspired and influenced by the surrounding area’s native flora.

The three-storey aged care home contains a grand total of 102 beds. Basement car parking will be provided for staff, tenants, and visitors.

Photo credit: Richard Crookes Constructions

Only 3.7 kilometres away from the Northern Beaches Hospital, the upcoming Japara Healthcare site takes up an area of 1.03 hectares and provides tenants with views of the coast and nearby national parks. A range of amenities will also be available at the aged care home such as an in-house café and bar, as well as a cinema.

Beauty, hair and nail salons will also be available for tenants looking for a makeover, and those interested in staying in shape can make full use of the on-site gymnasium. 24 hour care will be available for tenants seven days a week with qualified nursing staff who have been trained to provide personalised care tailored specifically for each resident.
For more information on Japara Healthcare, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook for the latest updates and announcements concerning the upcoming aged care home in Belrose.