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Organisers Apologise for Allambie Heights Fireworks Chaos that Injured Kids

The organisers behind the fireworks display of the annual Christmas concert at Allambie Heights Oval have issued an apology over an accident that injured several children.

According to reports, Howards & Sons and its director, Andrew Howard, are very concerned for the victims, which included 11-year-old boy Elias Carrera who had his chest burned and punctured because of a rogue firework.

The boy apparently requires plastic surgery and was transferred to the Westmead Children’s Hospital from the Royal North Shore Hospital.

“We are out and recovering, not as straight forward as they’d hoped with the firework going in further than first thought – at an angle and downwards reaching his spleen and tearing his abdominal muscles,” Elias’ mum, Emma Carrera, wrote.

“Quite a large area of damaged tissue had to be taken so it’s too difficult to close. He currently has a drain in and wound left partially open in the hope it’s safe enough to close it in a few days time with a second surgery.

“Looks like the burns unit will be home for this week and just so grateful it wasn’t worse – thank you all again for the incredible support – we are truly humbled. Hug those loved ones a wee bit tighter tonight.

An 8-year-old girl was also treated for burns on her wrist and has since been released from the Northern Beaches Hospital.

Several other bystanders were also treated by the paramedics and fire crew members who rushed to the chaotic scene. Witnesses said that children were screaming when the fireworks started “shooting at the audience” watching the Christmas carols at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, the 11th of December 2022.

Police say that the fireworks accident may be due technical issue but Safework NSW is currently investigating. Mr Howard also said the investigation will be his company’s priority.

Howards & Sons is a “globally renowned fireworks and special effects company” and has had no problems with its fireworks displays in the past. Reports cited that the company has its license and paperwork in order with SafeWork NSW.

Northern Beaches CEO Ray Brownlee said that the event, which had been sponsored by local businesses, observed proper protocols. The Allambie Heights Christmas Carols have been running since 2008 and the fireworks display is a regular attraction.

Westfield Warringah Mall in Brookvale Plans Downsizing David Jones, Adding New Tenants

Changes are coming to Westfield Warringah Mall in Brookvale after the Scentre Group lodged a development application to redevelop the shopping centre by downsizing David Jones and bringing in three new tenants.

Per DA2022/1822, the northern section of Westfield Warringah Mall will undergo major changes from the ground floor to the roof. The most significant features of these changes include the accommodation of one new tenant on the ground floor, two new tenants on the second floor, a site for a new gym, and a co-working space.

Work on Level 2, where David Jones is housed, will comprise some demolition that will create openings for new glazed windows, a new door opening to the common mall, and the construction of a dividing wall to create spaces for two tenants.

Scentre Group also plans to install a pedestrian bridge from the car park on Level 2, in preparation for the 24/7 gym that will have its own security measures, including a swipe card for all members to access the facility outside of the staffed hours.

Warringah Mall — *Photo Credit: DA2022/1822*

The redevelopment will also include a new roof with skylights to increase the safety of the car park, especially at night and a common walkway on the southern edge of the building.

“The proposal is minor in nature relative to the size of the whole shopping complex,” the urban designers stated in the DA. “The proposal will enhance the function and internal amenity of the site, resulting in minor changes to the built form which will only be slightly visible on the roof.”

The DA is currently under a public notification period until the 2nd of December 2022.

Revised Design Released for The Forest High School Relocation to Allambie Heights

Photo Credit: School Infrastructure/NSW

Revisions for the design of the new building for The Forest High School relocation to Allambie Heights have been released, showing a shift from four-storey buildings to two-storey structures that will not ruin the neighbourhood streetscape and character.

School Infrastructure NSW took the feedback of the community in considering the changes after complaints that the original four-storey building designs were too big.

Following further architectural studies, reducing the building’s height to two storey and dividing the structures into smaller spaces may also significantly improve the travel time around the planned campus.

The Forest High School — *Photo Credit: School Infrastructure NSW*

The design changes also includes configuring the sports courts to the west side of the property with the gymnasium relocated to overlook the sports field. Ramps, stairs and lifts, multiple undercover and courtyards will be added throughout the school site to allow the students and staff options for different modes of travel and maximum use of the outdoor spaces.

Per School Infrastructure NSW, “the design for The Forest High School has continued to be developed in consultation with department experts, school representatives and the Project Reference Group.”

Actual construction of The Forest High School in Allambie Heights has not yet been determined, pending the approval of the development application and the tender process. However, School Infrastructure NSW anticipates that the existing building, McLeod House, will be demolished by late 2022 to prepare for the new site.

The Forest High School is relocating from its Frenchs Forest site as the suburb is undergoing significant changes to create a new town centre. Moving the school to Allambie Heights will benefit the town centre planning.

The new site was selected because it is already serviced by gas, water, electricity, stormwater and public transport, aside from providing the right size and space for The Forest High School’s intake.

SSD Preparation Underway for The Forest High School Relocation to Allambie Heights

Preparations are underway for the State Significant Development (SSD) application, as well as the technical studies and environmental impact assessment, of the relocation of The Forest High School to Allambie Heights.

Consultations are also ongoing with Northern Beaches Council, Transport for NSW, and other key stakeholders to prepare the design development and planning details required before filing the SSD.

In December 2021, the NSW School Infrastructure released the concept design of The Forest High School, which has been earmarked for a 2025 opening along 187 Allambie Road, Allambie Heights. The new site will feature modern flexible learning spaces fit for 1,500 students, a new library, canteen and administration spaces, a multi-purpose sports and performance hall, new outdoor sports courts, and landscaped recreation with outdoor learning spaces.

*Photo Credit: NSW School Infrastructure*

The new site, located near the Warringah Aquatic Centre sporting facilities, was chosen as an adequate environment to build a new high school since it can accommodate the current intake of the current school. The location is also well-serviced by public transport, water, stormwater, electricity, and gas.

Due to the relocation, the assessment report in the SSD will also detail the school transport plan and travel demands of the school community. The project will also include a range of infrastructure proposals, such as school drop-off and pick-up areas, staff car parking, and secure bicycle or scooter parking.

New bus zones and upgrades to existing pedestrian and road infrastructure are also possible, if the plans, based on discussions with Transport NSW, the Northern Business Council, and bus operators, are consolidated.

Principal Rosemary McDowall expressed that the designs and preliminary plans meet the needs of the school community. She’s happy to see the plans incorporate a collaborative space with the NSW School Infrastructure taking in the inputs and comments properly.

Construction of the new school is expected to start by mid-2023, after the demolition of the former Cerebral Palsy Alliance building in late 2022. The old school, on the other hand, will become part of the Frenchs Forest new town centre, which will have medium density residential units.

Ancient Rock Carvings At Gumbooya Reserve Saved From Destruction

Photo credit: mapio.net

Ancient rock art at the Gumbooya Reserve in Allambie Heights have been saved from destruction, thanks to a resident living nearby who noticed something amiss and informed the authorities.

Read: Mario Sardelich Honoured 42 Years After Rescuing Drowning Boy at Manly Dam

The rock art, which portrays a kangaroo or a wallaby, was at the brink of destruction because of poor drainage at the site. A local noticed the erosion and told staff from the Allambie Heights’ Sunnyfield intellectual disability support charity about it.

The staff informed the Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO) at Freshwater about the damage. Following a visit by their inspectors, AHO sought the help of Heritage Council of NSW who also sent specialists to examine the site.

Entrance to Gumbooya Reserve (Photo credit: mapio.net)

The staff from AHO cleaned the engraving platform and took away the excess material from the engraving. They also installed an improved drainage to ensure they will not be damaged by water when it rains.

There are around 68 carvings at the Gumbooya Reserve. Some of the figures include a fish, a dolphin, and a large human figure – all believed to be located in a sacred site. History has it that the Aboriginal Australians used the reserve as an ancient track to get to nearby Manly beach. At present, the reserve is surrounded by houses and a main road running alongside.

To help protect the Aboriginal site, Council also has revealed its plans to improve landscaping around the engraving with native ground covering plants.

CarExpert Debuts New Experimental Automobile Hub in Brookvale

Did you know that CarExpert has opened an all-new experimental showroom and test drive hub at Westfield Warringah Mall in Brookvale?

After opening in March 2021, CarExpert’s test drive hub allows automobile enthusiasts and car buyers to discover, drive, and compare some of the latest cars available. The company, which was founded in 2018 by the team behind the automobile website CarAdvice.com.au, is rapidly expanding, and this new venture serves as their very first retail initiative.

Taking up an area of 960 square metres of floor retail space, along with a section of the shopping centre’s valet car park, is the automobile hub which features up to 40 cars from various manufacturers in the industry.

As part of CarExpert’s experimental bid, there will be no salespeople present at the hub nor will it sell cars. Instead, the venue will be staffed with independent car experts who aim to help visitors find the perfect car for them.

Having experts assist those who come to visit rather than salespeople also removes the pressure to buy, and advice provided will be independent and completely built on experience. The hub will have connections to local dealers in a concierge style service.

No fees or commissions will be paid to CarExpert for their services, however. Instead, these dealers simply must provide the customers sent by the company with excellent service.

Westfield Warringah Mall can be found at Cnr Old Pittwater Rd and Condamine St, Brookvale, open every day from 9:00 a.m. onwards with the exception of Sundays, in which the shopping centre opens at 10:00 a.m.

To learn more about CarExpert, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and announcements concerning the showroom.

Mario Sardelich Honoured 42 Years After Rescuing Drowning Boy at Manly Dam

Long-time Allambie Heights resident Mario Sardelich, who once saved a teen from drowning, has received a civilian bravery award, 42 years after the fateful incident at Manly Dam.

Mr Sardelich, who is now 64, was honoured with the Commendation for Brave Conduct in the Federal Government’s Australian bravery decorations on the 24th of March 2021. The award itself is only ever given to those who perform acts considered worthy of recognition. Though the incident happened over four decades ago in 1978, his heroism has not gone unnoticed or forgotten.

During the incident, Mario Sardelich was only 23 and working as a carpenter for the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board, which is known nowadays as Sydney Water Corporation — a government-owned statutory corporation that provides potable drinking water to New South Wales.

While Sardelich was out on business, he managed to hear cries for help coming from around the Manly Dam area. A group of students were celebrating the end of the school year with a picnic, however an accident led to two boys drowning in the waters of a popular swimming spot in Manly Vale.

By the time he had arrived, the boys were desperately trying to stay afloat, which prompted him to dive into the water to try and rescue them. Though he succeeded in rescuing one of the boys, the other had sunken out of reach and disappeared deep beneath the surface of the water despite the man’s best attempts to find him.

The teenage boy Sardelich managed to rescue that fateful day has opted to remain anonymous, mentioning that it was a particularly traumatic event he’d rather not revisit. He was good friends with the other boy who’d drowned, Peter Mastroianni, who was only 16 at the date of his passing.

The Commendation for Brave Conduct itself is a 30mm-long silver-gilt sprig of mimosa mounted on a red ribbon 32mm wide and 90mm long. The sprig’s centre is 19mm from the bottom of the ribbon and 16mm from either edge, mounted at a 45 degree angle.

This prestigious award is to be worn solely on the left breast on all occasions where medals must be presented, and the ribbon bar can be worn with service dresses at any time, however the lapel badge can be worn with civilian clothing.

Popular Allambie Heights Café Mr Grigor’s Forced to Shut Down

It had been a successful five-year run for the beloved Mr Grigor’s cafe in Allambie Heights which closed its doors recently, after missing their deadline to renew their lease by two weeks.

The 7th of March, 2021 marked the final day of Mr Grigor’s: a family restaurant and cafe that succeeded in establishing itself as a community fixture during its five-year run at 19 Grigor Pl, Allambie Heights.

The morning after Mr Grigor’s final day of trade, the owners of the cafe, Maria and Bill Panagiotopoulos, brewed and handed out free coffee to some of their loyal customers, who remained with the venue as part of their last hurrah.

Freebies were given out by the Panagiotopoulos family to those who visited on the 9th of March as thanks for the past five years, with products such as food, drink, as well as some of the cafe’s iconic doodads. Even the planters that stood outside Mr Grigor’s doors are up for grabs, according to their Facebook post.

Want to own one or both of our signature planters? Enquire within or pop in. Great statement plants for inside the home or to add some flare to your front entry! Link will be in the bio!! 🪴🪴🪴
Posted by Mr. Grigor’s on Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Long-time customers have expressed their gratitude on social media, writing comments on Mr Grigor’s announcement to show just how much the restaurant meant to them. One of the trends among comments across their Facebook page shows that Mr Grigor’s is irreplaceable to the Allambie Heights community, and that the suburb will never be the same without them.

What Happened to Mr Grigor’s?

The story goes that the Panagiotopoulos family received a letter from the estate agents of the Allambie Heights shopping centre that informed them that they had to pack up and vacate the premises. Mr Grigor’s predicament was brought about by a series of complications over the renewal of their five-year lease.

Pressure to keep the business afloat amidst the pandemic partnered with growing personal and family concerns only exacerbated the issue and prevented the couple from renewing their lease with their landlord. The couple missed the deadline by two weeks, and their follow-up offer was rejected.

With the restaurant closed, the Panagiotopoulos family has set its sights on starting anew and opening another one within or around the Northern Beaches area.

Allambie Heights Lands on Top 10 Suburb Choices for First-Time Home Buyers in NSW

First-time home buyers in Australia consider Allambie Heights as a top choice for building a home and starting a family in New South Wales.

In a survey from Realestate.com.au on the most desirable suburbs in the country, Allambie Heights landed on the fifth spot and the second top choice among four NSW suburbs in the Top 10.

The Top 10 list also included five South Australian suburbs and one from the state of Victoria:

Middle Park, Victoria
Millswood, South Australia
Killarney Heights, New South Wales
Crafers West, South Australia
Allambie Heights, New South Wales
Stirling, South Australia
Collaroy Plateau, New South Wales
Birchgrove, New South Wales
Aldgate, South Australia
Belair, South Australia

Families enjoy living in Allambie Heights in the Northern Beaches for its ocean views, its access to schools, and its abundance in parks and nature.

Surrounded by green spaces, such as the FJ McMahon Reserve and the Manly Dam, Allambie Heights feels secluded from the busy main roads going to the north and south of Sydney. However, it has also steadily grown in the last few years with more community facilities, shops and transportation access.

*Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council*

According to Homesales.com.au, house prices at Allambie Heights have risen to 20.15 per cent in three years. Median house sale price is at $1,636,714 while unit price is at $1,188,935.

Developed as a residential area for war veterans after the Second World War, Allambie Heights has more than 6,700 residents today. Plenty of new families with young children have moved in this suburb but most of the residents belong to multi-generations of families whose parents and grandparents know each other.

Then & Now: The Improvements of FJ Machon Reserve’s Old Playground at Allambie Heights

Photo Credit: Laterjay/Pixabay

FJ Machon Reserve’s playground may be small compared to other children’s recreation site at Allambie Heights, but its facilities have been a big benefit to the community.

Before the Northern Beaches Council decided to set aside a budget to improve the reserve as a recreational facility, the FJ Machon Reserve playground did not use to have anything substantial to offer aside from the greenery.

Five years ago, the FJ Machon Reserve playground had but a two-seater swing. There was nothing else for kids to play at the reserve but this equipment, which was set close to a tree for shade.

*Photo Credit:* *Northern Beaches Council/Facebook*

In 2014, the Council proposed to upgrade the FJ Machon Reserve playground and the project was completed before the end of that year. Five years later, families living near the reserve are still enjoying the playground facilities designed and built by Forpark Australia.

Among the features of the FJ Machon Reserve playground are a children’s swing with strapped seats for toddlers to use and a play structure with rope climbers, double slides, and play panels. These playground sets cater to children of different ages and physical abilities.

Right beside the children’s playground is a table with benches. Parents sit down this area to have snacks while they watch their children. Not far off is a fitness equipment area where older kids, teenagers, and even adults could use for their whole body workout.

After school hours, this place does get busy with children playing and parents mingling with each other. The playground upgrades did not just improve the use of the area but it also promoted community building.

The FJ Machon Reserve playground is on Anzio Avenue.