From its beginnings in responding to developments impacting the Lane Cove National Park and nearby residents – see History – the Group has been active for more than 20 years on a range of local issues, including:
The 416 Group is active in promoting greater community spirit and dealing with residents’ current concerns.
The western sections of the suburbs of Killara and Lindfield were developed in the 1960’s in the area between Lady Game Drive and Lane Cove National Park. Residents were attracted to the natural bushland of the area, its tranquility and in particular the Lane Cove River Valley. However, on the Western Side of the Valley and opposite Albert Drive, Killara, the then Ryde Council developed a garbage tip. During the operational life of the tip residents were adversely affected by noise and smells.
In the 1990’s a number of new impacts affected the area including:
To address the threats an informal group called The Albert Drive and West Killara Residents Action Group was formed. It had some successes including the erection of noise barriers that reduced the impact of green waste grinding, road waste and concrete recycling noise on residents.
In 2000/1 a new threat came from a City of Ryde Council proposal to build a Mega Waste Transfer and Recycling Centre at Porters Creek adjacent to the Park and directly opposite West Killara and West Lindfield residents.
City of Ryde Council, even after repeated requests and despite its commitment to do so, failed to ensure non-Ryde residents were informed of their intentions. It thus became evident that a formal organisation was required to engage with City of Ryde Council. Residents in West Lindfield/West Killara decided in 2001 to form an environmental association – The 416 Group, the name being derived from the most common phone prefix for the area.
The Group was successful in helping to:
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