We recently nominated our Treasurer, Ken Fox, for the 2022 Treasurer Awards. Ken has always been the quiet achiever and has been an asset to all of the following community groups:
- United Residents Action group 1990 – 2016 (26 years)
- Berowra and District Community Assoc 2005–current (17 years)
- Hornsby Conservation Society 2008 – current (14 years)
- Association for Berowra Creek 2012 – current (10 years)
- Friends of Berowra Valley 2018 – current (5 years)
- Probus Club of Berowra 2020-current (2 years)
Ken has been an advocate for the environment for many years. His most outstanding achievement is his involvement with the United Residents Action Group where in May 1997 members of URAG blockaded the bulldozer at Chakola Av to prevent the start of the Landcom development. To further show residents commitment, URAG held a protest march and street rally in Hornsby in June 1997 which included guest speakers Jeff Angel from Total Environment Centre and Ian Cohen from the Greens Party and a MLC.
As a result of this and supported by John Muirhead (Mayor HSC) Stephen O’Doherty (State Member), Landcom agreed to enter mediation June 97. The mediation group consisted of Landcom, URAG and Council. As part of the mediation Total Environment Centre was selected to oversee the project of determining what portion of the land should be developed based on Environmentally Sustainable Development.
Four studies were commissioned:
- Study 1 State of the Environment
- Study 2 Ecological Sustainable Development planning framework
- Study 3 Application of the ESD framework
- Study 4 Management of the Land
In December 1999 Total Environment Centre tabled its recommendations and of the of approximate 580 building sites only 45 odd sites were deemed suitable for development. Landcom agreed to the recommendations and agreed to transfer the land deemed unsuitable for development be transferred to the NPWS for inclusion into the Berowra Valley Regional Park. However to date, due to Aboriginal Land Claims being placed on most of this land apart from one parcel at Chakola Ave Hornsby Heights have not been included into the park.
A sincere vote of thanks Ken, for the work that you have done for the environment and community and for the work that you continue to do.
