THE HISTORY OF HEBRA
•In January 2003 Mr Graham Gersbach started getting the neighbourhood together to set up the first HEBRA meeting at Hurlyvale Primary School. The main motivation was clearly to make a safer neighbourhood for us all.
•From 2003 to 2004 Mr R Walton was the Chairman and the committee started to mandate and visit the neighbourhood to get a two thirds majority approval for the application to Council.
•Mr J Olckers was elected Chairman mid 2004. Bank accounts were opened and an application was lodged to EMM.
•Principle approval was received on the 25th July 2006.
•Public notices were put up for 2 months due to council error between September and October 2006.
•Due to 3 or 4 official objections, a Tribunal was held on the 8th March 2007.
•The application was approved due to more than a two thirds majority support from the community.
•Final approval was received in March 2007.
•In April 2007 a 2 year contract was signed with the Council and approved on 13th June 2007.
•The set up started in August 2007.
•Mid Aug/September the closure became staffed with Guards from SSG.
•The re-application to continue with the enclosure was submitted in June 2009 – we are still awaiting Council re-approval.
•The first contract signed with SSG allowed for an initial start up discount – This discount fell away in 2010, and as a result HEBRA funds went into decline as new members were not signing up (Only 30% of residents were, and are still, paying).
•After much subsidizing, SSG finally removed their guards from the closure in 2011 due to lack of funds and constant underpayment by HEBRA.
•At a meeting in the park in October 2011, concerned residents aired their views – the committee which consisted of approx 6 people explained that more people were necessary to help out – as a result it grew by approx 10 extra people!
•The struggle continues to keep our road closure going…………………….
