November Update

Meeting Update:

• AGM. The following positions were filled. Deputy Area Coordinator: Brett Oakley. Secretary: Ralph Luck. Treasurer: Daniela Hardwick. Newsletter / Website Editor: Wendy Harris. Our Area Coordinator remains vacant.
• Guest Speaker Cr. John Wayne updated us on matters of our community including abandoned cars have 7 days to be cleared, parking on footpaths- if reported to GCCC the car owner can be booked. Works to begin on Helensvale Rd stormwater problems to improve drainage. A rock culvert is planned in lieu of grass. Residents were reminded that communities have a voice and to use that in local matters. A recent example was the proposal to disband a park used by local residents. Cr. Wayne encouraged residents to report all complaints and issues. Contact details: Office: (07) 5582 8555 Fax: (07) 5582 8545 Mobile: 0439 226 147 Email: division2@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.
• Michael Crandon reminded residents of state pool fencing law changes which come into effect from 1st December. For more information see: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/poolsafety. Contact Michael Crandon's office for a free pool safety DVD.
• Crime Report from Const. Donna Kay. Numerous ongoing incidents in the Coomera area. A warning to residents not to leave valuables out during holiday time and residents on Saltwater Creek to ensure all moored boats are secured as thefts can even occur from moorings. Coomera now has a dedicated Graffiti Officer and residents are again encouraged to report all Graffitti.  The importance of microdotting personal items was also discussed. Together with recording serial numbers so that located stolen property can be traced back to you in the event of a reported theft . This is especially important to later convict offenders even if your insurance company has paid out on any claims. For more information see: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/crimePrevention/Microdots.htm

NEW ***POLICE LINK 13 44 44**** to report all NON URGENT crime. If urgent ALWAYS RING 000.

For more information see: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/policelink/

• Treasurer’s and Coordinators Report. Daniela reported to residents that all goals from our previous minutes were achieved in the last 12months. Namely reviving NHW, increasing resident social functions, establishing a website and lots more.
• General Business. Eastern Brown snakes have been on the move. A resident noted the efficient response to a call out by Naturecall Steve Noy. Refer: http://www.naturecall.com.au.
• IP Surveillance update:  We are also pleased to report that after a long and arduous task of dealing with numerous state and local government departments appropirate signage should be erected  in strategic areas within the next two weeks. It's not too late to pay your household contribution of $75 and avoid any charges that can be made to compensate for retrieving information in the event of a reported crime. There will be a GRACE period offered to all unpaid households until 31st December 2010. If you have not yet paid a contribution and wish to avoid a possible $300 charge later and if you would like to pay before this date please contact us before the 31st December.
• CPR update: Resident feedback indicated a weekend: A weekend date will be set for early in the new year.

Christmas Function and Santa Run: Sunday 19th December Christmas Cheer in River Downs Park Condamine Cres. 3pm - 5pm BYO drinks, shade and chairs. Nibbles provided. NHW is considering a small prize and recognition for the best Christmas lights - let us know your thoughts on this.


Next NHW meeting: Wednesday January 19th January 2011

CHANGE OF VENUE RIVERDOWNS NHW AGM

Wednesday 20th October 7pm.

We will still be having our AGM at Helensvale State High School however, it will now be in the Performing Arts Centre (next to the hall).    Access will be now off Helensvale Road instead and residents can park on-site. 

Police Remembrance Day

On the 29th day of September every year, Police Remembrance Day is held to honour 137 men and women of the Queensland Police Service who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the execution of their duty.   The bravery and sacrifice that these men and women is honoured during the National Police Remembrance Day with vigils, marches and memorial services across the state.
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/aboutUs/commemoration/remembrance/

September Update

Welcome residents to our September Update.

The Coomera Crime Bulletin for the month of July – August 2010 is now availble. If you wish to view the Crime Bulletins for Logan & Gold Coast, you can follow this link.
http://www.police.qld.gov.au/Regional+Policing/southEastern/Crime+Bulletins.htm 
or see our useful links.
IP Surveillance
Our treasurer is pleased to advise that the camera surveillance is on order and due for installation this month. Don't forget though, as a community, we still really need to raise over $15,000 which will ensure the camera system is adequately maintained over the next 5 to 6 years as well as covering the cost of electricity and insurance for the system. Unpaid households were visited and reminded of our project and details placed in letter boxes for those not home. After a recent incident in Carrara please be aware of any unsolicited contact from callers requesting donations and claiming to be from NHW. River Downs NHW will not ask for cash and have requested payment only for our IP surveillance project by cheque or direct deposit to only the Westpac account detailed below.

PLEASE make your $75 contribution if you haven’t yet (see details below).

Westpac Southport - Scarborough St sausage sizzle held on Friday 20th August All funds raised went to our NHW. Committee members Daniela and Wendy had a successful day helping out with the sausage sizzle and all up we raised $217.20 for River Downs NHW. If you are in Southport on the last Friday of the month call in to the Westpac Bank in Scarborough St and buy a sausage to support worthy organisations such as our NHW. Many thanks to Westpac for their community spirit and their support. Also many thanks to Brett's girls, Faith and Nadia for their terrific signs. The customers and staff at Westpac loved them.

NEXT meeting AGM Wednesday 20th October at Helensvale High School.
IP SURVEILLANCE PAYMENT OPTIONS ($75 per household)

• Cheque addressed to River Downs NHW (and mailed or delivered to The Treasurer at 72 Riverdowns Crescent) or
• Bank transfer to our NHW bank account:

                   NHW Westpac Bank Account
                   BSB 034-216  Account No. 536475
Could you please put your street address in the comments field and also email NHW a copy of your banking receipt or alternatively, you can post or drop the bank transaction record/receipt into our treasurers letterbox at 72 Riverdowns Cres.
We will issue you a receipt soon after.

If you have already contributed THANK YOU but please do spread the word to your neighbours.

Until our next meeting
Your NHW committee.

June Coomera Crime Bulletin

Crime Bulletins (click)

Or see link for South Eastern Region Crime Bulletin under Useful Links

February Update

CCTV Update 

The committee is currently in the process of obtaining quotes for the installation of a CCTV security camera system with number plate recognition software at the entry to our estate. The response to the idea at our last meeting and informal discussions with residents since have been very encouraging.

It is our intention that the system will be installed and maintained long term in a manner that will act as a genuine deterrent to anybody intending to enter River Downs for the wrong reasons. Coomera police see no issue in River Downs undertaking this venture, they say it is not uncommon in upmarket and or secured residential areas.

At our next meeting on April 20th we will be presenting 3 quotes for the system along with detailed information on how it will operate and the estimated cost to each household. We will then hold a vote on the proposal and decide whether or not to proceed.

Changing of the guard, but full steam ahead

It was with regret the NHW committee accepted the resignation of Area Coordinator John Dignam. You will all agree that John has injected a new life into our NHW in the few short months of his tenure. In order that these great gains are not lost the committee will continue to collectively and enthusiastically maintain the momentum we have achieved. The entire committee would like to sincerely thank John for his service and wish him the very best. In the interim Daniela Hardwick will assist in the role of Area Coordinator together with Brett Oakley as Deputy AC, Ralph Luck as Secretary and Wendy Harris as newsletter and website editor.

Best advertising deal out for only $50.00 per annum

• Advertising of your business (up to business card size - maximum) in each issue of the River Downs NHW newsletter.
• Advertising on the River Downs NHW website

Please note: Design to be supplied by you in collaboration with newsletter editor. Your design can be in colour (for newsletter editions and advertising uploaded on the NHW website) however newsletters will be printed in black and white so please take this into consideration.

The deadline to submit your payment and advertisement for our next NHW newsletter is Monday 15th March .

Please contact us at: riverdownsnhw@email.com for easy payment options or if you have any queries.

***A note from your new NHW Area Coordinator***

Hello to River Downs residents my name is John Dignam and as of the last NHW meeting held on Tuesday 20th October I was elected (unopposed I might add) as the new Area Coordinator for River Downs. I have lived in the area for 9 years now and I consider River Downs to be one of the nicest areas I have lived in, secure, friendly and comfortable. River Downs is certainly an area with a nice feel and well worth looking after. The NHW meeting at the Bowls Club was well “just brilliant”, we had the best turnout of residents ever, I think the number who sat through the meeting was around the 37 mark, truly inspiring. And a hearty thank you to previous committee members now retiring and to our new Queensland Police Liaison Officer Const. Donna Kay, she gave an excellent presentation.

I mentioned during my introduction talk a number of initiatives that the new committee will be undertaking this year, briefly they are:

· Holding 4 quarterly meetings approximately every 3 months, the next being Monday 11th January 2010…. We hope you can make it.
· Organisation of a guest speaker for each meeting
· We intend to hold some kind of bi-annual social type function. This is to help develop the community networking aspect of knowing who we are and information communication amongst the residents. I personally know lots of the residents because of my daily marathon walking but not all can have that luxury so this may be the next best thing. The first event is a sausage sizzle type of thing in River Downs Park at Condamine Cres. scheduled for noon Sunday on the 13th December. The committee will try to secure donations of the goodies from Woolies or Coles…hopefully, and any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
· We intend to create a web page/blog; this will enable residents to view newsletters, security advice and other
announcements more promptly and also enable resident communication to the community through the committee members. (please see the November newsletter for an update on our website).
· We have also commenced collecting residents email addresses etc. We will keep these secure and only use them in communicating important materials and information. Typically this may be when a resident’s property has been unlawfully accessed or there has been a suspicious event occur. Past experience in the area indicates when one home is violated then over a short period of time a few more also become affected. Therefore if the committee is able to get early warning of an event it can broadcast a warning to all networked residents advising them to take extra precautions.

Please consider forwarding your details to the committee through myself on riverdownsnhw@email.com

The NHW committee looks forward to meeting socially with residents on the 13th December at the park in Condamine Cres. Don’t forget your chairs, drinks and shade.


21 October 2009
John Dignam