Katoomba Leura Online

It’s Leura central this week, as Leura Spires commercial building is up for sale.

The residential units have been less than inspiring, with initial investors finding it a long wait to get more than their $330,000 off the plan investment price. It will be interesting to see how the commercial side fairs. The vendor claims $245k p.a. income, but some of the tenants look to be less than commercial (mountains bridge club?). The rent suggests a price around $5 million-ish if the tenants are on standard commercial leases. KLonline bids $1!

If you want to bid more, go here.

The big surprise is the clocks show the same time. Did they stop at 8:40 together? Certainly, they have shown the wrong time 90% of the time the building has existed.

To welcome in Spring, Healthy Harvest Kitchen Gardens is very excited to announce our next workshop “Build Raised Beds Like the Professionals!” on Saturday 3rd September from 10am- 4pm here at Healthy Harvest HQ, Faulconbridge.

Work side by side with Healthy Harvest’s own kitchen gardener and SPIN farmer Daniel Hatfield, and our special guest green expert Gordon Williams, Permaculture Design Consultant, educator and former carpenter!

You’ll learn how to select the best site for your vegetable bed, set posts, measure and build raised beds that look great and last the distance.
You’ll also find out how to build on slopes, which is a real challenge for many gardeners.
Get practical experience with basic carpentry and power tools, ask your food-garden questions and most importantly, have fun while you learn!
Entry is $5 and a light lunch will be provided.

This workshop will be popular so bookings are essential! Please visit www.healthyharvest.com.au for bookings and more information.

For all Katoomba and Leura dog lovers, we’re celebrating our move to the Blue Mountains with a $50 session special. Previously based in Sydney, we’re proud to finally call the mountains home and so we’d like you to help us celebrate! If you have a pampered pooch or cat that you regard as a special member of your family, give us a call today.

All details and pet galleries are on our website:  www.redbirdphotography.com.au

All creatures great and small are welcome! We are also available for [human] family sessions, contact us to see a sample session. Be quick, book early to avoid disappointment!

As part of the Crave Sydney International Food Festival, Western Sydney Institute (TAFE) Blue Mountains College’s fine dining training restaurant provides commercial cookery, food and beverage and events students with training to be high quality hospitality professionals.

The 100 Mile Dinner – six course degustation menu – include bream from the Hawkesbury River, truffles from Borrodell on the Mount in Orange, Bilpin chestnuts, Jannei goat’s cheese from Lithgow and Megalong Valley beef. Local wines will be matched and sold separately.

The meal is one of four 100 Mile Dinner events hosted by TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute across western Sydney and the Blue Mountains which will demonstrate the calibre of hospitality students whilst supporting local producers.

See what these talented students can come up with and support local producers.

Bookings essential.

When: October 29, 7.30pm-9.30pm

Cost: $80

Where: Elevation 867, Blue Mountains College – TAFE Western Sydney Institute, Mitchell Street, Wentworth Falls NSW 2782

Phone: 02 4753 2138

100 Mile Meal chef Simon Bestley.

Recent reports show both Katoomba and Leura have high mortgage stress with around 1 in 16 mortgage holders in arrears, and a high number of defaults.

The UWS Urban Research Centre, responsible for the report,  is here.

Katoomba local Ray Green has been awarded an OAM for services to the sport of Rowing and the Blue Mountains community.

Congratulations!

From: Governor General’s site

Mr Raymond Charles GREEN,  Katoomba NSW 2780
For service to rowing through a range of administrative and coaching roles and as a competitor, and to the community of the Blue Mountains.
Supporter of rowing, for over 50 years.
Patron Member, NSW Rowing Association, 2007; Team Manager, 1982; Board Member, 1964 and 1982.
Life Member, Sydney Rowing Club; Vice-Captain, 1964-1968; Committee Member; 1981-1982; Coach, 1963-1989; Member, since 1958.
Chair, SRC Union of Old Rowers, 2007.
Coach, Newington College Rowing, 1989-1995.
Foundation Member and Captain, Lake Wallace Rowing Club, Wallerawang, since 2006.
Foundation Member and Captain, Rowing Club Liverpool, NSW, 1974-1976.
Captain, Drummoyne Rowing Club, 1976.
Coach, University of New South Wales in Championship events, 1968-1971.
Manager, first Australian Lightweight Rowing Team to New Zealand, 1967; promoted lightweight rowing; leading role in sending a rowing ‘eight’ to the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games.
NSW State Champion Rower, 1964.
Volunteer, Blue Mountains Food Service, since 2005.
Volunteer/activist, Blue Mountains Conservation Group and Bush Regeneration Society.

The Lithgow Mercury is reporting the upgrade to the highway over Victoria Pass will bypass the Mt Vic township, a relief to those concerned that thier houses and businesses could be resumed for the expanded road. Still no answer on why we need a multi-million dollar road expansion rather than boosting rail transport, hoever.

Sky News is reporting that Katoomba Maternity unit has been closed for a 36 hour period due to lackof anaesthetic cover. It remains a mystery to me that so many people want to live in the mountains, and many who do are forced to travel to the city for work, yet NSW Health cannot recruit medical staff to work at the Katoomba Hospital.

The media is reporting that the NSW state government will no longer fund over time pay for full time Fire fighters to cover staff shortages if retained (part-time) staff call in sick.

This will cause approximately 30 stations in NSW to close peridically, including Leura.

The potential savings from this move? $1.5million.

It doesn’t seem like a good cost/benefit trade off. A pretty paltry saving against a $800m budget to needlessly put people in danger, particularly in a bush fire prone area such as the Blue Mountians.

As of Monday 21st July, 2008, the maternity ward at Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital will be closed for at least 3 months and, until further notice.

This action effects many women already booked into the hospital and also takes away the rights of pregnant women to choose their place of birth in the Blue Mountains region.

The closure of the maternity unit may also cause problems for labouring women as they are forced to travel much longer distances to receive adequate care & as a result, they may be faced with unnecessary intervention. In the case of an emergency, the extra distance may have a huge impact on the birthing mother & baby.

A rally has been organised for this coming Monday, 21st July at 11am outside Katoomba Hospital

Please show your support by attending the rally & by forwarding this information on to family, friends & any members of the community that you have contact with. Bring placards/banners & balloons.

Everyone needs to attend to make the biggest impact possible!

Thank You.