Scotland Island is a very safe place to live, with a warm and welcoming community who are always willing to assist and embrace newcomers. First point of call for information on Scotland Island and the offshore community is the Scotland Island Community Website. https://www.scotlandisland.org.au/ This will tell you just about everything you need to know, including information about the history of the island, about the community, and a full list of local services. Also there’s the local Facebook page ‘Pittwater Offshore Community Page’. This is a font of knowledge - ask any question and you’ll get your answer! To get an idea of what it’s like to live offshore read Susan Duncan’s beautiful coffee table book ‘ A Life on Pittwater’ and her memoirs ‘Salvation Creek’ and ‘The House at Salvation Creek’. Helpful information: The island is water access only so residents travel to and from the mainland by private boat, water taxi or ferry. The closest mainland point is Church Point. The Church Point Ferry runs to several public wharves on the island and the bays. Timetables can be found on their website. https://churchpointferryservice.com/ The Pink Water Taxi also runs from Church Point to both public and private jetties. https://pinkwatertaxis.com.au/ Residents without private jetties have berths at the public wharves and most residents tie their boats up at the commuter wharf at Church Point when they are on the mainland. Commuter wharf permits can be purchased from Council with proof of offshore residency. There are two ticketed public car parks at Church Point and offshore residents can purchase a yearly permit from Council that allows for unrestricted parking. The top level of one car park is reserved for residents who choose to pay an additional fee for a permanent private car parking space. Some residents choose instead to pay for a private berth and car space at one of the several local marinas. Taylors Point on the mainland near Clareville is a handy drop off/pick up point for visitors as there is free parking and a public wharf. For those with larger boats such as motor cruisers or yachts, swing moorings can be leased from local marinas or private mooring permits can be obtained in locations around the island and the bays. Scotland Island is a residents only mooring area. The current owner has a swing mooring directly in front of the property that can be negotiated as part of the sale. Mail is not delivered to the island so offshore residents have PO Boxes at Church Point. The post office can also be used for paying bills and for banking. The Waterfront Store at Church Point combines a cafe, kiosk, restaurant, bottle shop and general store. The Pasadena also has a restaurant and kiosk. Most residents shop at Mona Vale, the nearest shopping precinct, about a 5 minute drive from Church Point. There’s a great local grocery delivery to your door service called ‘Box Divvy’, and Woolworths will deliver to the Church Point Cargo wharf if you prefer to shop online and pick up your shopping by boat. Scotland Island Residents Association (SIRA) is the local community organisation that liases with Council and oversees most local services. As the property is waterfront, there’s a council provided bin on the jetty for rubbish collection by barge on Mondays and Fridays, with additional collections during the summer holiday season. There are additional skip bins at public wharves. Recycling goes in black plastic crates provided by council and they get put out on the road Sunday evenings for collection Monday morning. Bulk green waste collections and general goods collection are twice per year. Water & Wastewater: Rainwater tanks collect water from the gutters on the cottage and cabin. The property has three tanks, one beside the cabin approx. 2000L, one beside the cottage approx. 5000L, and a reserve tank under the house approx. 3500L. The property has a connection to the island’s emergency water supply which comes from the mainland and is used in times of low rainfall to top up tank supplies. Instructions and information will be provided to buyer. Scotland Island is currently not connected to mains sewage. It is hoped that mains sewage and permanent mains water will be supplied to the island at some point in the near future and the community is in continued discussions with Sydney Water about this. Wastewater is treated through an on-site septic system. The septic tank is under the house. Street frontage is to Robertson Rd which has been recently asphalted, kerbed and guttered. SIRA operates a community vehicle that operates a bit like a taxi for residents. It can be pre booked for transport to and from the local ferry wharves or other locations on the island. More info on the community website. Many people use golf buggies to get around and some people living in more inaccessible parts of the island have cars that stay on the island full time. Council, local tradies and builders also have vehicles. See community website for further information. The island has its own fire brigade and trained team of first responders who can work with the local water police and emergency services in case of any medical or other emergencies. Always call 000 first as this means the local first responders/police/fire brigade will be notified by emergency services automatically. For families, there are many day care providers, preschools, primary schools and high schools, both public and private, on the mainland. Church Point Ferry Service runs designated school ferries to Church Point and to Newport Public Wharf, from where students can walk or take buses to and from school.