Dee Why, New South Wales
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| Dee Why Sydney, New South Wales |
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 Dee Why Beach |
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| Population: | 17,463[1] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 2099 | ||||||||||||
| Property Value: | AUD $740,000[2] | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 18 km (11 mi) north-east of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | Warringah Council | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Manly, Wakehurst[3] | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Warringah, Mackellar[4] | ||||||||||||
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Dee Why is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dee Why is located 18 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region. Dee Why is surrounded by the suburbs of Collaroy, North Curl Curl, Brookvale, Narraweena and Cromer.
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[edit] History
The origin of the name of neighbouring Long Reef is obvious, but the origin of Dee Why remains unclear. The earliest reference to it is a pencil note in surveyor James Meehan's field book, "Wednesday, 27th Sept, 1815 Dy Beach - Marked a Honey Suckle Tree near the Beach".[5] What it meant to him was not recorded, and since then many reasons have been put forward. One suggestion is that "Dy" could have been an abbreviation for the Greek word "dyspropositos" which means difficult to reach, since the beach was shielded by undergrowth and swamp surrounding Dee Why Lagoon.[6]
[edit] Geography
Dee Why is contained in the drainage basin of Dee Why Lagoon, and stretches from Victor Road in the west to Dee Why Beach in the east, and from the crest of Wingala Hill to the northern edge of Dee Why Lagoon. A walking track leads from Dee Why Beach along Dee Why Head to North Curl Curl Beach, which is home to many coastal native plants, although some areas of the track are overgrown with weeds. Another significant natural resource within Dee Why is the Stony Range Botanic Garden, formerly Stony Range Flora and Fauna Reserve.
[edit] Dee Why Beach
Dee Why Beach runs for about 1.2 km along the eastern border, overlooking the Tasman Sea. To the north are the dunes separating the beach from the Dee Why Lagoon. On its southern end, the foreshore is given over to Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club, and Dee Why Beach Reserve, which contains picnic areas and century old Norfolk Island Pines, similar to the ones in Manly. The reserve is contained by a seawall running for approximately 400m, and has recently been upgraded, with new pathways, stairs, lookout platforms, an upper promenade and the restoration of the war memorial.[7] There are two playgrounds in the vicinity, located southern end of the beach and west of the Life Saving Club, and several ocean pools located below cliffs to the south. Car parking facilities exist in the streets to the south, as well as a car park next to the Life Saving Club.
[edit] Dee Why Lagoon
Behind the beach's remaining dunes, to the north of The Strand, is Dee Why Lagoon. Its entrance marks the northern end of Dee Why Beach and the southern extent of Long Reef Beach. The high conservation value of the lagoon and its surrounding area was recognised in 1973 when it was proclaimed a wildlife refuge. The Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge covers an area of 69 hectares. It is a major scenic feature of the Northern Beaches, situated off Pittwater Road.
[edit] Commercial Areas
The Strand, running along the southern Dee Why beachfront, is also a major commercial area, and features many cafes, restaurants and bars.
The main commercial area in Dee Why is the Dee Why Town Centre, which has grown up on either side of Pittwater Road, the main arterial road for the Northern Beaches. It also lines the main streets of Howard Avenue, Oaks Avenue and Dee Why Parade, which all lead from the main road to the beach. On the western side of Pittwater Road, opposite the Town Centre and next to the Warringah Council Chambers, is Dee Why Library, one of four networked libraries in Warringah Council.
Recently, there have been plans for the Dee Why Town Centre to be revitalised as a place "where people want to go, not have to go," as the Warringah Administrator Dick Persson said.[citation needed] The major developers involved are a Warringah Council and a joint venture between Multiplex and the locally based Vumbaca Brothers. Major proposals in the plans put on display in February 2008 involve:
- The creation of a new, 2,250m2 town square in Howard Avenue
- A pedestrian road linking the new square to Oaks Avenue
- Two towers, of 20 and 17 stories
- An underground pedestrian concourse linking the Multiplex site to the Council Chambers
- The extension of Walter Gors Park to half a hectare
- The creation of an additional two smaller parks on council land
- Redevelopment of the Council Chambers site, with the retention of the existing buildings and remnant bushland and the creation of active open space - building footprints to only take up 30% of the site
- The creation of a new street next to Saint Kevin's Catholic church, and another through the current Dee Why Arcade
- The establishment of a one way anticlockwise road system to help with future traffic congestion.[8]
Theses plans are subject to the community's reaction and approval by the council. There is considerable opposition to the construction of the towers, which far exceeds the current limit of 8 stories. Multiplex has asserted that the development will not set a precedent and follow recent plans set out by the State Government.
[edit] Governance
Dee Why is within the Warringah Council Local Government Area, and is home to the award-winning Warringah Council Civic Centre built in 1973, which contains the Council Chambers and is situated just to the north of the Library. Warringah Council's councillors were dismissed in 2003 over certain controversies, and is currently headed by an administrator. Council elections are due in 2008.
Dee Why is in both the federal electorates of Warringah, represented by Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party, and the electorate of Mackellar, which is currently represented by Bronwyn Bishop, also of the Liberal Party. The suburb lies within both the state electorates of Wakehurst and Manly, who are represented by the Liberal Party members Brad Hazzard, Shadow Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, and Mike Baird respectively.
[edit] References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). Dee Why (State Suburb). 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
- ^ Dee Why Suburb Profile. domain.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
- ^ State Electoral Office search results. NSW State Electoral Office. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ AEC Polling Places. Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
- ^ Sydney's Northern Beaches, David Messent, David Messent Photography, 1999, ISBN 0-9577124-05
- ^ The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollen, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia ISBN 0-207-14495-8, page 82
- ^ Dee Why Beachfront Reserve Opening. Warringah Council. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
- ^ Dee Why Town Centre Draft Masterplan. Warringah Council. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
[edit] External links
- Dee Why, New South Wales is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). Community Profile Series : Dee Why (State Suburb). 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
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