Coast Community Chronicle 220

23 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 220

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Horse rescued

News

A new consolidated Central Coast Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) will not come into force until the State Government gazettes them, which is not expected until early 2021.

See page 3

Out&About

Rescue crews were called out in torrential rain on Sunday, December 20, to rescue a horse stuck in a dam at Warnervale.

Volunteers from Warnervale and Wadalba Rural Fire Brigades and Central Coast Rescue Squad were called out just before 9am.

The horse had been stuck in the dam overnight and was exhausted after trying to free himself.

Crews managed to use large animal rescue slings to assist hauling him out of the water and mud to safety.

A local vet was on the scene to give the horse a check over after his ordeal.

The Central Coast community has come together to celebrate the life of one of their own.

See page 17

Education

Source: Central Coast Rescue Squad

A free online healthy lifestyle program for older adults living on the Central Coast will return in 2021.

Two Central Coast residents are in COVID-19 home isolation Two Central Coast residents are in home isolation while another remains in hotel quarantine in Sydney after all being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) has confirmed that the two local cases have been linked to the Northern Beaches cluster, with health staff undertaking daily wellness checks with both patients.

The CCLHD also confirmed that the resident in hotel quarantine had returned from overseas when they tested positive for the virus and that

their case is not deemed a risk to the Central Coast community.

All three patients will remain in isolation until deemed noninfectious by health staff.

According to a spokesperson for the CCLHD, one close contact has been identified in relation to the first local case, with the contact residing in the same household as the patient.

They are now also in-home isolation and have been tested for COVID-19 as a precaution.

The spokesperson said anyone who travelled via the 6.15pm ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe on Wednesday,

December 16, is considered a casual contact of this case and advised that they should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested immediately should symptoms appear, regardless of the severity.

The spokesperson said that all close contacts for the second local case had been contacted and were selfisolating, with the ferry journey the only location identified for casual contacts.

There are no other exposure sites identified on the Central Coast.

The situation has prompted

CCLHD Chief Executive, Dr Andrew Montague, to remind residents about the importance of COVID testing.

“It is important that anyone who gets tested also isolates themselves if they have even the slightest of symptoms,” Dr Montague said.

“We are asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the Northern Beaches at this time.

“We know many Central Coast residents commute to the Northern Beaches area for work, however, the message is the same for everyone regardless of whether you have

See page 31

been on Northern Beaches.

“If you have symptoms, please get tested.

“These latest cases serve as an important reminder that we cannot become complacent, COVID-19 is still present, and we must remain alert for symptoms.”

Local COVID-19 testing is available at Wyong Hospital Building C (opposite the Health Services Building), open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

Bookings are encouraged on 4394 9200, however walk-ins are accepted.

Dilon Luke

Sport

MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale student, Jack Albanese, has ended his school year on a high after setting a new national record with Powerlifting Australia, not once, but twice.

See page 38

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

INFO

Page 2

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

CHANCE TO WIN!

SOURCE LINES: WHERE DO OUR ARTICLES COME FROM?

The Chronicle would like to offer three lucky winners the chance to win a copy of Alan Hayes’ two-book set, The Concise It’s So Natural.

Widely known locally and internationally through his ‘It’s So Natural’ writings, bestselling author Alan Hayes has committed his life to living a sustainable lifestyle and has always encouraged others to do so.

Alan is recognised as one of the foremost exponents of the natural lifestyle and he has published more than 38 books on herbs, health and natural alternatives.

He continues to share his knowledge in two new books released by publishers Pennyroyal Press.

Illustrated in colour, The Concise It’s So Natural books are brief and eclectic

Coast Community Chronicle includes “source lines” at the end of each article which aim to provide readers with information about where and how we came across the information, so that they might judge for themselves the veracity of what they are reading.

It should not be assumed that the article is a verbatim reproduction of the source.

Similarly, it should not be assumed that any reporter listed is necessarily responsible for writing the whole news item.

Source lines are not by-lines.

Often articles come from a number of sources. They are edited for readability and reader interest and given different headings, and consequently can be expressed quite differently from the source material.

Coast Community Chronicle usually receives its information in three ways: It is sent to us by

full name, suburb, email address and daytime telephone number on the back of an envelope and mail it to Coast Community Chronicle It’s So Natural Competition, PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250, before 5pm on January 20.

The winners of the Taronga Zoo Competition were Kerrie Dawson of Berkeley Vale, Ken Kneeves of Berkeley Vale and Cara Lake of Blue haven.

compilations of the international weekly newspaper column Alan continues to write entitled ‘It’s So Natural’.

They include the versatility of herbs in and around the home for health, garden and household pests, cleaners and cosmetics, and many other products and applications that are just as effective as chemicals.

For your chance to win one of the two-book sets, write your

Prize winners may be required to pick up their prize from our Wyong office or Gosford.

Entries may be passed on to prize providers for marketing purposes.

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All contributions should be emailed to editorial@centralcoastnews.net CCN reserves the right to use, or not use, any material sent to us in our publications and to validate, amend, update, expand or reduce information at our sole discretion and in accordance with our editorial standards.

CCN contributions. Media Statement - sent in response to our questions. Website or Social Media - information published online. Newsletter or Report published in print or online.

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Forum contributions may be: Email if sent electronically and Letter if written on paper.

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Deadline: January 11 Publication date: January 13

Coast Community Chronicle covers: Alison, Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Colongra, Crangan Bay, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Gorokan, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Kingfisher Shores, Lake Haven, Lake Munmorah, Lemon Tree, Little Jilliby, Long Jetty, Magenta, Mannering Park, Mardi, Moonee, Norah Head, Noraville, Ourimbah, Palmdale, Palmgrove, Point Wolstoncroft, Ravensdale, Rocky Point, San Remo, Shelly Beach, Summerland Point, Tacoma, Tacoma South, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Toukley, Tuggerah, Tuggerawong, Tumbi Umbi, Wadalba, Wallarah, Warnervale, Watanobbi, Woongarrah, Wybung, Wyee, Wyee Point, Wyong, Wyong Creek, Wyongah, Yarramalong

Publisher: Ross Barry - CEO: Cec Bucello - Design & Production: Justin Stanley, Lucillia Eljuga Journalists: Sue Murray, Terry Collins, Dilon Luke, Jacinta Counihan, Hayley McMahon, Maisy Rae, Haakon Barry, Merilyn Vale - Head of Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff ISSN 1839-9045 - Print Post Approved - PP100001843 - Printed by Spotpress Marrickville

9 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 218

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Foreshore reserve rejuvenated

News

11 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 272

The end of an era for youth services hub

News

See page 6

Workforce at Central Coast Council to be slashed by 242 The workforce at Central Coast Council will be slashed by 242 in the wake of its financial crisis, to return to the number of staff at the time of amalgamation.

CCN

Staff costs have risen by 43 percent since amalgamation, using a normalised cost of $154M as the starting base, while revenue has risen by only six percent, the Administrator, Dick Persson, stated in his interim 30-day report delivered to the public on December 2.

He also mentioned the “substantial costs” of $25M from an industrial dispute concerning 38/35-hour week

negotiations as well as unifying the salary scale and harmonisation costs.

The nine directorates making up the senior leadership team has been reduced to five long term.

A sixth directorate is short term, which is Malcolm Ryan, who has been engaged short term as Chief Operating Officer to assist the interim Administrator and Acting CEO deal with issues such as improving processes and structures.

Council has earmarked $45M in its current budget for organisational restructuring costs including staff

redundancies.

It then adds another $5M for the recruitment of critical or revenue generating positions.

Acting CEO, Rik Hart, proposed the new organisational structure and the Administrator, Dick Persson, adopted it at the November 30 meeting.

The revised Senior Staff Structure will consist of a director for water and sewer, community services, environment and planning, infrastructure, and corporate affairs.

The senior staff roles that no longer form part of the executive structure are the Director Governance, which is

currently vacant, the executive manager People and Culture; executive manager Innovation and Futures; and the chief information officer, which is currently vacant.

It is unclear whether these four roles will be cut or simply demoted.

Persson flagged that the next level of management, the 37 unit managers, would also be substantially cut.

CEO, Rik Hart, has called a series of staff information sessions throughout the day on December 9 to include all staff, including those at work depots.

United Services Union representative, Luke

Hutchinson, said he has had numerous meetings with the CEO about proposed workplace changes and staff levels.

“Discussions I’m having with Council are in relation to a voluntary redundancy program and to limit the loss of rank and file or operational jobs or essential workers, which I think would be disastrous for delivery of services on the Central Coast,” he said.

“The Union has been working with Council through all the staff changes and what we’re trying to achieve is that any of these changes don’t impact the community,” Hutchinson said.

Sue Murray and Merilyn Vale

After 20 years, tenants in the Gosford Parkside building are having to relocate to make way for the construction of Central Coast Council’s Gosford Regional Library.

See page 17

Health

The Central Coast’s very own opera company, Coast Opera Australia, is launching a new post-pandemic program, with Opera Afloat planned for February 2021.

See page 17

Education

Compass Housing has teamed up with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Cerebral Palsy Alliance to build and plant-out a wheelchair accessible sensory garden...

See page 31

Sport

Wyong, Northern Power and Lisarow-Ourimbah White claimed the points in Round 5 of Central Coast Cricket Association’s Women’s A Grade Competition.

See page 39

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Acting CEO Rik Hart

It appears this may have led the Council to believe it had more cash reserves than it actually did.

A significant issue for the new Council was the way auditors suggested they account for restricted funds at the beginning of 2017, when the Council was still under administration from the merger.

Council’s Acting CEO, Rik Hart, said there was a note to the accounts in the 2016 financial year saying the department had a voluntary policy on how to account for restricted funds.

“This was done at the time allegedly under the advice of the auditors,” Hart said.

The policy made it appear that the Council had an extra

$88M as cash that could be spent.

Hart said that elsewhere in the annual report, the funds appeared as restricted funds.

“These were published numbers, they were there if you knew where to look,” Hart said.

The reporting of the restricted funds as cash meant the Council, at the beginning of the 2017 financial year, thought it had $93M in cash when in fact it only had $5M. At the end of the financial year, the Council had saved $65M from income thanks in part to $80M in operational grants from the State Government.

So, it had total cash of $70M only, not the extra $88M of restricted funds mentioned at the start of 2017 in the published accounts.

But even with only $70M in cash, Council started the 2018 financial year in great shape.

That was July 2017 and the

ISSUE 004

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

News

Smith takes out Single Ski

The bicycle boom was one of the most unexpected impacts of COVID-19, but it’s a welcome surprise for Alison Homestead Men’s Shed members, Kerry Braslin and Ken Johnson.

Kanwal’s Grace Evans has taken out this year’s Dobell Christmas Card competition.

See page 17

Continued page 14

ISSUE 273

Peninsula local Jemma Smith took out the Female Single Ski event in round three of the Envirobank Super Teams Series at Umina Beach on December 5.

See page 17

Education

See story page 39

A new consolidated Central Coast Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) will not come into force until the State Government gazettes them, which is not expected until early 2021.

Out&About

He has a busy week ahead of him, but Santa Claus managed to find time to pop in to the Australian Reptile Park on December 16 to enjoy cuddles with the animals and hand out some Christmas treats.

See page 3

Out&About

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, now known as Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, will hold a series of art workshops over the summer by award-winning Aboriginal artist, Garry Purchase.

Rescue crews were called out in torrential rain on Sunday, December 20, to rescue a horse stuck in a dam at Warnervale.

See page 17

Santa was even brave enough to take on 35 American alligators as he jumped into the lagoon to feed them snacks but the feisty reptiles chased Santa out as soon as he delivered their presents.

Education

Volunteers from Warnervale and Wadalba Rural Fire Brigades and Central Coast Rescue Squad were called out just before 9am.

The horse had been stuck in the dam overnight and was exhausted after trying to free himself.

Crews managed to use large animal rescue slings to assist hauling him out of the water and mud to safety.

A local vet was on the scene to give the horse a check over after his ordeal.

Jemma Smith winning the Female Single Ski

council was still under administration.

The councillors were not elected until September 2017. “$70M was a sound amount to have as a cash buffer for unexpected expenses and to cover for fluctuations in cash flow,” Hart said.

But once the councillors were elected, the Council started spending way more than it earned in income.

By the end of financial year 2018, the deficit was $22.7M. By the end of financial year 2019, another $5M was added to the accumulating deficit.

Also looming by then was a $39M cut in income from the IPART decision to lower water and sewer rates for the Central Coast.

By the beginning of 2020, the figures were showing that income was decreasing and costs increasing.

Continued page 3

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch is encouraging Central Coast young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for scholarships now...

See page 35

Sport

Avoca Beach will play host to a world-class surfing competition next year, with the Vissla Central Coast Pro set to be held from 2 to 7 March 2021.

See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

A dog boarding, training and breeding business, operating without consent at Palm Grove and strongly opposed by neighbours, was approved behind closed doors by Central Coast Local Planning Panel on Wednesday, December 9.

There was no public announcement of the meeting, which ran from 10.05am to 10.14am, nor was it livestreamed online, as Panel meetings usually are.

The supplementary meeting, held one day before the Panel’s regular meeting, was to consider a further report to the development application which the Panel requested when it deferred the matter in October.

The Panel decided on a 15-month trial period with a maximum 30 dogs, and then the owner, Mr K Lewis, must submit a new development application for approval to continue business at 604 Ourimbah Creek Rd. After the 15-month period,

The unauthorised outdoor dog kennels and evening house

operations must cease until further development consent is given.

The owner must also submit a Building Information Certificate application by the end of 2020 in relation to the unauthorised outdoor dog kennels.

Another requirement of approval is an independent acoustic assessment in January 2021 to compare operational noise levels to predicted noise levels, as well as identifying any further noise mitigation

measures.

The Panel said the Council must prepare a policy on complaints handling and dispute resolution and maintain a complaint register and actions taken.

Another approval condition was that the business must appoint a manager who is contactable 24/7, and the manager’s phone number be supplied to adjoining neighbours in order to address an immediate concern regarding use of the

property for dog boarding, training and breeding.

In July 2019, Council received complaints about the unlawful use of the 7ha site and about intrusive noise from barking dogs.

Council found the business, including the construction of outdoor dog kennels, was operating without development consent and issued noncompliance notices.

However, for some time, Lewis continued business until a

Penalty Infringement Notice was issued, which led to Lewis’s development application 97/2020.

TheDAreceived45submissions of objection including the absence of development consent, cleaning methods of the dog runs with the possibility of waste washing into Ourimbah Creek, noise impact from dogs barking, concerns for animal welfare, dog breeding not fitting the character of the area, the noise and smell of a large number of dogs driving away wildlife, and no confidence that a set number of dogs would be abided by the owner.

The Local Planning Panel’s unanimous decision of approval included that subject to the conditions imposed, the business was not expected to have an adverse social or economic impact.

Sue Murray See also comment from the community in Forum

Rates could go up by 15 per cent

Rates could rise by 15 per cent Budgewoi Public School students have ended their school year on a colourful high, following the school’s inaugural colour run.

See page 34

Sport

God, family and good ole hard work, that’s what’s going to get Tacoma’s Anita FaimasuiBrown to the 2021 Rugby World Cup. See page 38

Puzzles page 23

Peninsula residents could be facing a 15 per cent rate rise next year, following an announcement at the Central Coast Council meeting on December 14.

A proposed rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November has now risen to a proposed 15 per cent.

Administrator Dick Persson announced Council would write to the Independent Regularity and Pricing Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation.

Harmonisation of the rates between the former Gosford and Wyong council areas would see Peninsula residents paying about $7 a week more while residents to the north of the region would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.

Residents protested a mooted rate rise ahead of the Council meeting on December 14

These are average payments.

Persson said further work has been done in forecasting reductions in levels of service to achieve sustainable long term financial plans and repay

the restricted reserves debt.

“As a result, it is now apparent that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain a similar level of service,” he said.

The increase, if granted, would be permanent.

“In considering a possible rate variation, I have looked at the rate levels for neighbouring councils,” Persson said.

“It is clear from this information that residential rate payers on the Central Coast pay less in rates than neighbouring councils of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock – all of whom currently have special rate variations applying.”

Persson said COVID-19 had resulted in a loss of income to Council.

“I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment,” he said.

“I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.”

Merilyn Vale

CWA of Umina Beach members donated home knitted hot water bottle covers to children in war-affected countries on November 18.

See page 35

Sport

It was a historic day for a local cricket club last month when the family of a late player pitched on the field named in his honour.

See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

News

See page 10

See page 6

Education

Unauthorised outdoor dog kennels approved in secret

ISSUE 220

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Horse rescued

Cycling enthusiasts who need assistance are now able to jump back on a bike, with the Central Coast Bicycle User Group (CCBUG) re-starting its tandem RidesAssist program.

Out&About

A local fire brigade has swapped Santa’s sleigh for a sidecar at its annual threeday Santa run which started on December 10.

23 DECEMBER 2020

News

A Santa for all

A house in Umina Beach has brought festive cheer to locals with a spectacular lightshow that is free to all each night of the week.

See page 8

Out&About

See page 4

Auditors in Council’s sights Auditors are in the sights of Central Coast Council about advice provided on the reporting of restricted funds.

18 DECEMBER 2020 17 DECEMBER 2020

A letter asking for national leadership on beachfront coastal erosion is being penned by Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson...

Out&About

The halls aren’t the only things that have been decked this festive season, with Busways Central Coast rolling out some specially decorated buses to spread holiday cheer and raise funds...

Doreen Vandersteen, Lyn Clark-Duff, Janet Clark-Duff and Jenny Sullivan at the mural walls in tribute to the namesake of Ashley Chapman Reserve at Budgewoi

News

See page 3

Out&About

See page 4

ISSUE 219

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Rebikes reinvigorated

Professional Central Coast surfer Adrian “Ace” Buchan added his voice to growing chorus of opposition to the renewal of the PEP 11 licence for offshore gas exploration.

Construction of Elsie’s Retreat, the Coast’s first dedicated inpatient palliative care unit, is poised to begin.

Over the past 18 months, a small group of Budgewoi locals have been rejuvenating a small foreshore reserve at the end of Noela Pl, bringing it back to life, firstly with a proud new name, Ashley Chapman Reserve, as well as wall murals in tribute of its namesake.

16 DECEMBER 2020

Central Coast residents could be looking at a 15 per cent rate rise next year, with Council Administrator Dick Persson announcing he will apply to the Independent Pricing and Regularity Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation.

This supersedes a rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November.

Persson shared the news with a group of protesters outside Wyong Chambers before heading into the December 14 meeting and made the official announcement.

Harmonisation of the rates between the two former council areas would result in the former Gosford area paying about $7 a week more while the former Wyong areas would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.

Residents protested a mooted 15 per cent rate rise ahead of Council’s December 14 meeting

These are average payments.

Persson said further work has been done forecasting the reductions in the levels of service to achieve sustainable long term financial plans and repay the restricted reserves debt.

“As a result, it is now apparent

that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain a similar level of service,” he said.

The increase, if granted, would be permanent.

“In considering a possible rate variation, I have looked at the rate levels for neighbouring

Councils,” Persson said.

“It is clear from this information that residential ratepayers on the Central Coast pay less in rates than (in) neighbouring Council (areas) of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock – all of whom currently have special rate

variations applying.”

Lake Macquarie pays 34 per cent more; Newcastle 42 per cent more and Cessnock 13 per cent more than the average rates a Central Coast resident pays.

Persson said COVID-19 resulted in a loss of income to Council.

“I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment,” he said.

“I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.”

Persson said the money Council spent on infrastructure, although a flawed decision, was well spent.

Merilyn Vale

The Central Coast community has come together to celebrate the life of one of their own.

See page 17

Education

Source: Central Coast Rescue Squad Central Coast Sports College Year Nine student, Paige Stanford, has held a sleep out for her peers to highlight the plight of homelessness.

Two Central Coast residents are in home isolation while another remains in hotel quarantine in Sydney after all being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Four young mountain-bikers from Killcare, calling themselves the Four Mulleteers, journeyed to Rydal in NSW to take on the best riders in the state last weekend (December 12-13) in the Rocky Trail Jet Black 24-hour Race.

See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

A free online healthy lifestyle program for older adults living on the Central Coast will return in 2021.

Two Central Coast residents are in COVID-19 home isolation

See page 35

Sport

Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) has confirmed that the two local cases have been linked to the Northern Beaches cluster, with health staff undertaking daily wellness checks with both patients.

The CCLHD also confirmed that the resident in hotel quarantine had returned from overseas when they tested positive for the virus and that

their case is not deemed a risk to the Central Coast community.

All three patients will remain in isolation until deemed noninfectious by health staff.

According to a spokesperson for the CCLHD, one close contact has been identified in relation to the first local case, with the contact residing in the same household as the patient.

They are now also in-home isolation and have been tested for COVID-19 as a precaution.

The spokesperson said anyone who travelled via the 6.15pm ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe on Wednesday,

December 16, is considered a casual contact of this case and advised that they should monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested immediately should symptoms appear, regardless of the severity.

The spokesperson said that all close contacts for the second local case had been contacted and were selfisolating, with the ferry journey the only location identified for casual contacts.

There are no other exposure sites identified on the Central Coast.

The situation has prompted

CCLHD Chief Executive, Dr Andrew Montague, to remind residents about the importance of COVID testing.

“It is important that anyone who gets tested also isolates themselves if they have even the slightest of symptoms,” Dr Montague said.

“We are asking people to avoid non-essential travel to the Northern Beaches at this time.

“We know many Central Coast residents commute to the Northern Beaches area for work, however, the message is the same for everyone regardless of whether you have

See page 31

been on Northern Beaches.

“If you have symptoms, please get tested.

“These latest cases serve as an important reminder that we cannot become complacent, COVID-19 is still present, and we must remain alert for symptoms.”

Local COVID-19 testing is available at Wyong Hospital Building C (opposite the Health Services Building), open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

Bookings are encouraged on 4394 9200, however walk-ins are accepted.

Dilon Luke

Sport

MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale student, Jack Albanese, has ended his school year on a high after setting a new national record with Powerlifting Australia, not once, but twice.

See page 38

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Office: Level 2.01/86-88 Mann Street Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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2020 OFFICIAL

Page 3

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

NEWS

New consolidated Local Environment and Development Control Plans adopted A new consolidated Central Coast Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) will not come into force until the State Government gazettes them, which is not expected until early 2021.

The plans were adopted by Administrator, Dick Persson, at Council’s December 14 meeting but there is still some work to do before submitting the documents to the State Government for sign-off.

These two planning instruments harmonise the guidelines that are used for development applications and planning proposals across the entire region.

Once gazetted, the consolidated plans will allow dual occupancies in the former Gosford council area.

Under the old LEP, the former Gosford area only allowed secondary dwellings in R2 zones.

The new rules mean better planning outcomes because secondary dwellings that apply under the dual occupancy rules can be bigger and must take

LEP and DCPs regulate development such as a childcare centre proposed for this Long Jetty site

into account parking and private open space requirements.

In the Woy Woy Peninsula area in particular, this gives residents more choices.

The consolidated LEP retained the 8.5m maximum building height in the former Gosford council area R2 Low Density Residential zone and kept the 550m2 minimum lot size

where it currently applies in the R2 Low Density Residential zone in the former Gosford council area.

After listening to community feedback, Council also removed the small lot housing from R2 zoned lands in the Wyong area, but kept its minimum lot size.

The consolidated LEP was the review of existing controls.

Mostly it retained the existing

zones, not up-zoning or downzoning land.

Where there were differences between the former Gosford and former Wyong council areas, one control was chosen to be universal across the Coast, except for the minimum lot size where Council decided to run with both.

The current DCP Floodplain Management controls have

been adopted for the present.

Council is working on bringing maps up to a contemporary standard and that should be sorted by April.

What is a DCP and an LEP? The LEP outlines the zoning of land, and what development and activities are allowed in each zone and any special provisions applying to land, such as heritage requirements.

The DCP identifies Council’s required design and construction standards.

It includes topics such setbacks and height restrictions, access to sunlight, and who needs to be told when someone wants to develop their land.

When Council was created from the merger of the former Wyong and Gosford Councils, their LEPs and DCPs had to be consolidated and that is what has now been achieved.

The consolidated DCP and LEP are only step one on a long journey to a Comprehensive LEP (see separate story).

It also includes waterways.

For example, in the past there were no rules on slipways in either Gosford or Wyong’s DCP. The CCLEP was prepared as a Digital Environmental Planning Instrument and is a digital mapping pilot project for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Council.

This is a catalyst project for the rest of NSW moving to digital LEP mapping.

H

Happy Holidays

From the teams at Creightons Funeral Service, Greenway and Palmdale Memorial Parks, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

While it has been a long and difficult year like no other, we wish you a safe time celebrating and connecting with family and loved ones.

Our friendly team are here for you 24/7 over this Christmas and New Year period.

Call our 24/7 phone line on 4324 1533.

02 4324 1533

Merilyn Vale

NEWS

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Consolidated plans adopted but what’s next?

Central Coast Council’s new consolidated Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP), which both guide what can be built and where, still have a long process ahead before the planning documents are complete.

Council only has some housekeeping to do before it can send its LEP and DCP off to the State Government for gazettal, but that is only the first step.

Council has about 10 strategies that now need to be completed to complete the package of work leading to a phased number of amendments to the consolidated LEP. Once all the amendments are

completed, Council will have a Comprehensive LEP and DCP. But even then, the work does not end.

The State Government rules say that the LEP and DCP should be reviewed at least every five years, so basically these are ever evolving documents.

The process will see five Council owned Coastal Open Space System (COSS) lands that are currently subject to a site specific plan converted to the E2 Environmental Conservation standard instrument zone.

It will also see numerous strategies written up and incorporated into the LEP and DCP. These include a Housing

Director of Planning and Environment, Scott Cox

Strategy, Heritage, Employment Lands, social planning and recreational space needs.

Work on these will run in tandem with an environmental lands review which will deal with the deferred lands issue

(see separate story).

Updated maps that work with Flood Risk Management Controls are also being worked on.

It was a big issue when Council took the LEP out for public exhibition without the maps.

The current LEP has two different freeboard levels which art the minimum habitable floor levels.

“We may come to some consistency but also it may be based on the characteristics of each catchment.

“There may be freeboards based on the physical characteristics rather than a blanket approach,” Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said.

It will be based on a number of variations.

Council will look at rainfall intensity, based on certain levels, and the characteristics of the river or the creeks that are flowing into the lakes.

“It is a sensitivity analysis no different to you setting up a business and you do a sensitivity analysis based on 10 percent interest rate or a two percent interest rate.

“Our flood studies are done on the same climatic differences based on what could be a one in hundred year storm or a one in five year storm,” Cox said.

Council says that while consolidation of the planning instruments created consistency in the way that

Council applies its planning controls across the Central Coast, it isn’t a one size fits all approach to development.

“We know that what works in some areas of the Coast may not work in others, so this process has retained site specific and town centre controls in many areas, such as Woy Woy, and additional controls and site specific chapters are part of the consolidated DCP,” Cox said.

“This includes the retention of character statements in the former Gosford LGA under the Draft CCDCP,” Cox said.

The character statements will be expanded to take in the former Wyong areas too.

Merilyn Vale

Coast Connect Central Coast Council’s weekly news and community information

From Council At the meeting of Council last Monday evening, I brought on an Administrator’s Minute to consider, in addition to the Special Rate Variation (SRV) of 10% previously resolved by Council, that consultation also be undertaken on an increase of 15%.

Following further analysis, it is now apparent that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain current levels of service.

In dollar terms what will this impact have on rate payers? After harmonizing the rates between Wyong and Gosford, a 15% SRV on the average residential payer from Gosford will be approximately $7.00 per week, while the average residential payer from Wyong will be $3.00 per week decrease.

A 15% rate increase would deliver around $25M per annum towards reducing our deficit ($89M last year).

Reducing expenses will contribute more to solving the problem than raising revenue from rates.

I spoke with residents demonstrating outside of Wyong Chambers last Monday evening, understandably there were feelings of anger and angst among the group.

Questions were raised such as ‘Why should we pay and it’s not our fault’, to which another member of the community responded, ‘We voted them in’.

Let me be clear. This is not a done deal and IPART will make the final determination following community consultation.

Dick Persson AM Administrator, Central Coast Council

Council meeting

To find out when the next Council meeting is and to view it online go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ meetings

Council office closures over Christmas and New Year

Offices will be closed from 24 December, reopening on 7 January 2021 including Gosford and Wyong Offices, Council works depots and Laycock Theatre. All Library branches will also be closed and after-hours chutes will not be open for returns.

Be Prepared – Be Patient – Stay Safe

#coastsummersafety Steps to stay safe this summer centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/coastsummersafety

Essential services will continue throughout the closure period including water and sewage treatment, lifeguard beach patrols and residential waste collection, with household bins and kerbside collections continuing on public holidays as scheduled.

Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities will only be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, these facilities will close at 1pm. Kincumber Waste Transfer Facility remains closed until further notice.

All Council leisure centres will be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, and will be open on all other days, operating on adjusted hours. Gosford Regional Gallery will only be closed on designated public holidays. The Entrance Visitor Information Centre will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and all public holidays, otherwise will be open on adjusted operating hours of 10am-4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Council operated childcare centres will be shut from Thursday 24 December and reopen on Monday 11 January.

Keep up-to-date by following Council on social media. Call 1300 463 954 to report water, sewer or other urgent Council requests or lodge any non-urgent requests at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ reportaproblem We wish the community a happy festive season.

Development Applications and Consents Development Applications and Consents can be inspected at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au by searching ‘Development Applications’ or in person at Council offices in Gosford and Wyong 8.30am-5pm weekdays.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2019, submissions on Development Applications are required to be published on our website. Submissions lodged using Council’s DA Submission Form or online portal will have personal contact details and signature redacted. All other submissions will be published in full. Your submission may also be reproduced in full in Council reports or in Court proceedings.

Council’s financial situation

Council has adopted a Recovery Action Plan that will review all aspects of Council’s operations.

For up-to-date information search ‘news’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

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The Community Environment Network (CEN) has welcomed Central Coast Council’s decision to defer zoning Coastal Open Space System (COSS) land until the completion of an environmental lands study and cautioned that an E2 zone would not work for COSS. CEN would also like to see the NSW Planning Minister sign off on the proposed E5 Environmental Protection Zone so that it can be included in the statewide Standard Instrument to provide protection for public environmental land.

CEN Executive Member, Gary Chestnut, said that it had been Council’s intention since amalgamation to expand COSS to the former Wyong local government area, to protect Porters Creek Wetlands and other public environmental lands.

“We would like to see all future land added to COSS across the whole Central Coast local government area to be zoned E5,” he said.

“It would provide protection for public environmental land

Deferral enables the completion of an environmental lands study

Porters Creek Wetland

on the Coast as well as across NSW.” At Council’s December 14 meeting, Administrator, Dick Persson, resolved that COSS land, along with other “deferred matters” under the former Gosford City Council’s Interim Development Order No. 122 (IDO 122) and Gosford Planning Scheme Ordinance (GPSO), would continue to be “deferred matters” and sit outside the consolidated LEP for the time being. (see separate story).

“This allayed CEN’s concerns that Council was rushing to zone COSS land as E2 as part of pushing through the Consolidated Local

Environmental Plan (CLEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP),” said CEN Executive Member, Gary Chestnut.

Chestnut said that deferral provided an opportunity to revisit adding an E5 Environmental Zone to the NSW Government’s Standard Instrument for zoning land.

“CEN has written to the Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, to ask him to take the final step and sign off on the introduction of an E5 zone which could be used for our COSS and for publicly owned environmental lands across the state,” Chestnut said.

“The bureaucrats who created the Standard Instrument for planning across NSW had a Sydney centric focus.

“They included eight different zones for industrial land but only four for environmental land.

“As it stands, the environmental zones under the Standard Instrument would see public and private uses in one environmental zone, E2, which is impractical,” Chestnut said.

“The old zones of 7a through to 7g were never going to work when translated into the Standard Instrument.

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“The E5 has been ready to go for years and CEN hopes that Minister Stokes will see the sense in adding it to the Standard Instrument.

“CEN has called upon Administrator, Dick Persson, and Chief Operating Officer, Malcolm Ryan, to create a positive environmental legacy during their time on the Coast by championing an appropriate environmental zone for our Coastal Open Space System.”

Chestnut said CEN agreed with Council staff that the recommended deferral of zoning COSS was ‘acknowledgement that additional work and studies are

NEWS

required to ensure that impacts have been adequately considered on an evidence basis before appropriate policy settings are recommended’.

“CEN will be asking local NSW MPs, MLCs and responsible Ministers, why the E5 zone, drafted in 2012 and given widespread support at the NSW Local Government Conference in 2017, has disappeared from the NSW Government’s policy agenda,” he said.

“The Coastal Open Space System may be unique to the Central Coast but other regions across NSW could also put to great use an E5 zone to protect public environmental land.

“Council is expected to make an Environmental Lands Review and Planning Proposal to review the Deferred Matters a high priority in the coming year, so CEN hopes that the Administrator uses this opportunity to support the introduction of an environmental zone for COSS,” Chestnut said.

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Community Environment Network

Jane Smith

Independent ...working for our community

Changes to planning rules adopted contrary to a lawful resolution of Council On 14 December 2020, the Administrator, Dick Persson, adopted the Consolidated LEP and DCP. These are key planning documents that set the rules for development in your neighbourhood.

On 23 November 2016, the first Administrator, Ian Reynolds, decided to begin the process of developing these new plans, having one set of rules for the Central Coast.

The Department of Planning indicated that there was no need to go down that path, that “the existing instruments can continue to operate and there has been no directive from the State to undertake consolidation”.

In spite of this, the Administrator decided to proceed. The new Councillors were put in a position of having to play catch up in order to represent the interests of residents and community in this process. This took time and meant delays.

There have been some wins - maintaining the R2 residential minimum lot size in the former Gosford LGA and height limits in the LEP - however, the 2nd Administrator has overturned some of the changes Councillors agreed to.

In adopting the Consolidated LEP/DCP, the Administrator has ignored a lawful resolution of Council.

The State government required each Council to prepare a Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) this year. The deadline for Central Coast was 1 July 2020.

The LSPS sets out the 20-year vision for land-use in the local area, the special character and values that are to be preserved and how change will be managed into the future.

The LSPS presented to Council in June 2020 was not satisfactory—however, Council needed to adopt it as an Interim LSPS to meet the deadline. Council’s decision required

Local Government NSW to campaign for a stronger ICAC

that a final LSPS would come back to Council by the end of November 2020.

Councillors recognised that it was important to ensure that the new planning rules were consistent with the final 20-year vision, the LSPS. In March 2020, it was agreed that the Consolidated LEP / DCP would only come back to Council after the LSPS was finalised.

These decisions of Council still stand and have not been rescinded. They have not been complied with. It appears that there has been no regard to these lawful resolutions of Council.

Full financial transparency needed Financial data must be publicly available to build community confidence - preferably before the decisions are taken by the Administrator: • The Administrator has claimed a debt of $565 million - how has this been calculated?

• On 11 November, Council raised $50 million and on 18 December Council raised $100 million. It is understood that loan details are confidential but the cash flow estimates should be transparently supplied.

• The Investment report tabled on 14 December showed a negative unrestricted cash of $31 million so after this cash raising there appears to be $69 million unrestricted cash.

• The council should be transparent with the total amount of debt after the $100 Million was raised - and then provide the cash flow, amounts restricted and unrestricted and debt projected at year end.

Knowing the answers to these questions are essential in understanding Council’s current financial position.

Local Government NSW is the peak body for Councils in NSW. Each year LGNSW has an Annual Conference where Councils submit motions to provide direction and form policy.

On 24 August 2020, Central Coast Council resolved to submit a number of motions to the LGNSW Conference. This included a motion to campaign for stronger independent integrity organisations at both the State and Federal levels.

Over recent years, NSW ICAC has been under with Linda Scott, President LGNSW in 2019 attack-facing ongoing budget cuts and limiting of its powers. There are concerns that its independence is being undermined. Recent hearings conducted by ICAC make those concerns even more pointed. At a Federal level, there is no integrity commission. No agency has the power to investigate what might be considered to be corrupt conduct - including misconduct of politicians, political staff or the judiciary.

The motion put forward by our Council has been supported through the LGNSW Annual Conference. As a result, LGNSW will actively campaign to restore funding and ensure the independence of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The campaign would include a public campaign and providing resources to Councils across NSW to build grassroots support for the campaign. In addition, LGNSW will advocate through the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) for the Federal government to establish an independent anti corruption body with powers similar to those of the NSW ICAC. I look forward to this campaign.

For the record: The vote on the motion to Central Coast Council on 24 August:For: S mith, Matthews, Holstein, Greenaway, MacGregor, Sundstrom, Vincent, Mehrtens, Hogan Against: Best, McLachlan, Marquart, Burke, Pilon, Gale

Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year

It has been a tough year for many. I hope that the Christmas and New Year period brings some happiness, hope and kindness leading into 2021.

Disclaimer - Views expressed in these articles are my own and do not represent the views of Council

Central Coast New Independents

Photos: B. Maurer, B. Wills

For more information or to subscribe to my eNews www.ccnewindependents.com

NEWS

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

5 percent of land not included in consolidated plans

The newly adopted consolidated Central Coast Local Environment Plan (CCLEP) covers 95 percent of land on the Central Coast - but what about the other five per cent?

These are known as the “deferred matters” and relate to about 4,000 blocks of land in the former Gosford council area, mainly in the Matcham area, that are zoned environmental lands.

All these environmental lands currently come under two zonings: 7a and 7c2.

Under the new LEP, these lands have to be rezoned under four environmental zones,

although only three relate to private land as the fourth is for national parks.

It is a priority focus for Council and it is a challenge, says Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox. “A lot of people don’t want to be down zoned in terms of 7c2 to E2 because they can do less with their land and some people believe that if they are 7a or 7c2 zone and they are close to residential zones, they should be rezoned to residential,” Cox said.

Council is examining the zonings in an environmental and urban edge review of both the former Wyong and Gosford

council areas to determine the right zones.

“With the Wyong component of environmental lands, which have already been rezoned into the E-zonings, there may be parcels of land that have ecological value that we think may need to be an environmental zone or we might question why that land is zoned environmental when it could be better zoned as public open space or something like that,” Cox said.

Council hopes to finish the review by June 2021.

It is a high priority.

This means public consultation will take place before June.

Once the “deferred matters” are resolved, Council will remove another three planning instruments from its books and will have achieved true consolidation.

It will also be the first stage to moving to one Comprehensive LEP, which is the next step up from its consolidated LEP. The two former councils used the same standard instrument LEP template but the environmental zones and development standards were not applied in the same manner, nor with the same intent.

During the Council meeting of December 14, when the draft LEP was adopted, a number of

residents spoke about the zoning of their lands.

As part of the changes that will be made, some businesses that were allowed in Gosford’s environmental zones will be taken out.

For example: bed and breakfast in the E2 zone and hotels in E4 zones.

Council owns environmental lands that will be rezoned E2 as part of the “deferred lands”.

These are the COSS lands (Coastal Open Space System) that are in the former Gosford council area.

Council said support for the rezoning of COSS lands to E2 Environmental Conservation

was evident at community consultation sessions and in submissions received.

“As such all Deferred Matters Land which is identified as Council owned COSS, will be rezoned as exhibited to E2 Environmental Conservation to ensure a greater level of protection is provided to these lands with high environmental and scenic value.

“Landowners of parcels deferred from the CCLEP will be further consulted through the Environmental Lands Review project prior to any land use zoning change being made to their land,” Council said.

Merilyn Vale

CEN calls for an independent Climate Change Commission Climate change represents a clear and present danger to human society and Australia is more vulnerable than most nations to its impacts, according to the Community Environment Network (CEN).

actions in creating this situation and for protecting Australian citizens from the consequences of the resulting changes.

“We must also shoulder the task of cutting our share of current emissions in line with international requirements as set out in the IPCC and UNEP guidance in the above documents,” said CEN Executive Member and coauthor of the submission, Richard Weller.

The submission was written in response to the Standing

Committee’s review of both the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020.

“We must cut our emissions rapidly in the next 10 years,” Weller said.

“The Climate Change Bill sets out to provide the framework within which this may be attempted.”

The CEN submission strongly our planet supported the setting up of an “It must be fearless and independent advisory body, the independent in order that it be Climate Change Commission, enabled to speak the truth to “as the previous Climate power.

Change Authority has failed to “We strongly support the adequately advise the target of reaching net zero Government since its Targets emissions by 2050,” Weller and Progress Review in 2014”, said.

Weller said.

“Australia must not be seen ADVERTISEMENT “It is very important that this as a laggard in setting this body be representative of the target or fall behind the rest of scientific facts/projections and the world in the transition to a reflect the broad understanding low carbon economy.

ADVERTISEMENT of the scale of the problems “We are rapidly running out of associated with the warming of

time to achieve what is required to save the future for our children and grandchildren.

“Further delay will result in massive disruption to Australia’s economy, geopolitical stability and our natural environment.

“We are all in this together and there is no Planet B.”

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Emma McBride MP u m CEN has made a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Energy, arguing that “Australia must take responsibility for its own

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Community Environment Network

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Mail: PO Box 3763 Tuggerah NSW 2259 Mail: PO 3763 Tuggerah Mail: PO BoxBox 3763 Tuggerah NSW 2259 NSW 2259 02 4353 0127 @ emma.mcbride.mp@aph.gov.au @ emma.mcbride.mp@aph.gov.au @ emma.mcbride.mp@aph.gov.au 01270127 ✆ 02 024353 4353 www.facebook.com/mcbrideemma

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Authorised by Emma McBride, ALP, 204/1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259

Authorised by Emma McBride, MP, ALP, Suite 204, 1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259.

Authorised by Emma McBride, MP, ALP, Suite 204, 1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW

NSW

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NEWS

Little Terns under siege again Despite being on track for a record breaking breeding season, The North Entrance Little Tern colony is again under threat from human interference.

According to Council, the colony’s Karagi Point nesting grounds have been besieged by beachgoers as a walkway, dumping ground, and even a bathroom, causing untold damage to the site as well as stress to the colony, and now Council is calling on community members to change their ways or risk copping some hefty fines.

“So many in our community celebrate the arrival of these special birds every year, and while Council have played our part to protect them with fencing and signage, it is also up to the community to do their part,” said Council Unit Manager, Environmental Management, Luke Sulkowski.

“Unfortunately, people have been ignoring the fencing and signage and continue to use

Little Terns Photo: Geoff White Photography

the nesting site as a short cut to and from Karagi Point.

“The damage to the nests has been devastating to the population and is distressing to see.

“In just one short monitoring period this week, our staff

observed more than 10 instances of people that were fishing nearby accessing the fenced and signposted area for use as a public bathroom.

“I am disgusted by this behaviour, as I expect most of our community would also be, and it must stop,” Sulkowski

said.

“The amount of rubbish left in the area is astounding, on average we are collecting 120 litres, that’s almost your full red bin, every day from the site, and more on Mondays after weekends.

“This amount of rubbish would not only be extremely detrimental to our waterways if it was washed in, but the food waste attracts predators who then attack the Little Tern eggs and chicks.

“The community was shocked last year when the

birds were harassed by individuals throwing eggs and harassing chicks.

“While the actions of those at The Entrance North at the moment may not appear as detrimental, the impact is significant and if it continues, we will see more chicks lost as a direct result.

“We are doing all we can to protect the Little Terns this breeding season, but we all need to stand up and take responsibility to protect the Little Terns before it is too late,” Sulkowski said.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to report sightings of these threatened birds, harmful activities or damage to nests, by calling Environment Line on 1300 361 967.

It is an offence under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 to harm any animal that is a threatened species in NSW. The maximum penalty is $330,000.

Dilon Luke

Council has the highest number of industrial disputes of any NSW council While the United Services Union (USU) is in the middle of talks with Central Coast Council about staff cuts in the wake of its financial crisis, the union says there are deeper problems, with Council recording the highest number of industrial disputes of any NSW council.

USU Northern Industrial Officer, Noel Martin, said the difficulty that Council had to overcome was the high number of disputes which “people at the highest level in the organisation had to look at and deal with.”

“You have to ask the question: what is going on?” Martin said.

“Even before the financial crisis, they were having problems within their Human Resources directorate in

respect to their interpretation of the conditions under which their staff were employed, the Local Government State Award.

“Since amalgamation, there has been about 30 industrial dispute cases, with most being resolved now, but there are still nine active matters.

“When you consider that with other amalgamated councils, none of them are anywhere in that vicinity.

“There’s a whole raft of industrial disputation at this Council that needs to be rectified, ranging from under payment, bullying and harassment, and incorrect gradings,” Martin said.

“The USU has had an organiser at Central Coast Council on two days, sometimes three days a week since amalgamation, to assist in trying to sort out what’s going

on.

“Council’s interpretation of the Award is not what it should be, and this is the responsibility of the Human Resources Department,” Martin said.

“The relationship between the interim Administrator and the Acting General Manager is still relatively new and we are working through the issues with them, and they have been willing to come to the table and engage with the union.”

A Council spokesperson said the Central Coast was one of the largest councils in NSW and subsequently had one of the largest council workforces, with many staff part of the United Services Union.

“The amalgamation brought with it a significant period of change and whilst all attempts are made to resolve issues locally, it is acknowledged that

the Industrial Relations Commission is a valid form of dispute resolution and provides assistance where the parties cannot agree,” the spokesperson said.

“In relation to the current changes, staff are being kept informed every step of the way as Council takes steps toward financial recovery.

“Council always consults with staff and unions about any workforce impacts, in line with the Local Government State Award.

“Council has been speaking to the Union at great lengths regarding concerns they have and will continue to engage in the spirit of working together.

“From Council’s perspective, the conversations have been constructive, with both parties working towards a common goal of sustainability for the

organisation,” the spokesperson said.

Council Administrator, Dick Persson, signposted in his recent 30-day report that more than 200 jobs would go, and Expressions of Interest for voluntary redundancies have now been put out to staff across the whole Council workforce.

Council’s steps toward financial recovery includes a reduction in the costs of the current workforce to preamalgamation levels, which equates to a reduction in the annual amount of employee costs to $175M. Martin said the next step for the USU was to help members through the process of voluntary redundancy.

“That does not mean that those people who put up their hand for a voluntary redundancy are going to be made redundant.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get to the sort of numbers the Council is looking at and I understand that they are still looking at 242 staff positions to go,” Martin said.

“It could be that where someone who chooses to exit the organisation, someone else in the organisation with the requisite skills could slot into that position, if it’s a necessary position.

“It will serve the purpose of finding efficiencies in the workforce and we’re going to do our best to ensure that the level of services provided to the community are maintained, and to do that, there has to be adequate staff numbers,” Martin said.

Sue Murray

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NEWS

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Planning Panel rejects poor value for money implications We are worth the money, says the Local Planning Panel (LPP), which in July took over the role of determining some development applications that used to go to council meetings.

Under the NSW Planning Act, the four panel members are paid from a minimum of $500 per meeting for the community member, $1,500 for the two professional representatives and a minimum of $2,000 per meeting for the chairperson plus GST. The LPP has taken issue with a Council report, tabled at the LPP’s December 10 meeting, that outlined the estimated cost of the Panel.

The LPP said it rejects the poor value for money

Chair of Central Coast Local Planning Panel, Donna Rygate

implications in the paper.

The Panel, chaired by Donna Rygate, also questioned estimates of the meeting costs and the suggestion of significantly increased costs if face to face meetings were to be held.

The council report said the sitting fees and travel expenses of the panel members totalled about $6,570 per meeting and the costs grew to $11,865 when counting the additional cost of council staff and secretariat services.

These estimates are based on the conduct of remote meetings.

“It assumes costs would increase were meetings conducted in person, as a result of booking meeting space, catering, cleaning, and

security,” the report said.

The panel members conduct site visits and read lengthy reports before meeting via zoom, to determine applications.

The panel accepted the report but added “notwithstanding that, the Panel rejects the value for money implications in the paper, and questions the full meeting cost estimate provided in the paper and its suggestion of significantly increased costs were face to face meetings held”.

It also noted Council’s intention to pay ‘business undertaken outside of meetings’ rates for matters determined by circulation of papers only.

That rate is significantly lower, ranging from $71 per

hour for the community member to $214 for the professionals and $285 for the chair.

The report included changes to the panel’s operation and its meeting dates for next year.

The panel agreed that objections should reach 15 before a matter is brought to panel.

Other reasons a development proposal might go before the panel included contentious proposals and council owned applications.

The councillors voted for the panel in May, but noted that they were opposed to it and they wanted the community to understand that it was being imposed by the State Government.

Merilyn Vale

Residents in public housing encouraged to comment to Parliamentary Inquiry Residents in public housing are being encouraged to come forward and speak up about the lack of maintenance at their homes.

Wyong MP, David Harris, says that one of the largest issues that housing tenants face daily is the need for assistance with basic maintenance on their property.

Harris and NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Ryan Park, are encouraging all housing tenants to take part in a

Parliamentary Inquiry to review all aspects of public housing contracts, by providing information and personal experiences.

Park said that he was regularly inundated by housing tenants from across NSW who were frustrated with the lack of maintenance at their properties.

“Families are living in horrendous conditions for years on end, with broken windows, doors that won’t lock, tiles falling off the walls, the list goes on,” he said.

“This Government needs to take its responsibility as a

landlord seriously.”

In the Wyong electorate there are 1,036 social housing properties and The Entrance has 1,369.

Harris said that it was vital that everyone impacted by public housing maintenance, tenants, landlords, housing providers and disability advocates share their experiences.

“These are people’s homes and if this was any other landlord, they would be expected to fix these issues,” he said.

“It just isn’t good enough.”

In November, Federal Shadow Minister for Housing, Jason Clare, and Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, visited tenants in government owned homes in Watanobbi and Wyoming that were in dire need of maintenance.

McBride said that about 100,000 homes across the country needed urgent repair, and just like the Watanobbi and Wyoming homes, they had problems such as mould, leaking roofs and water damage, while others were just simply unfit to live in.

She and the Shadow Minister

are calling on the Morrison Government to invest $500M to fast track urgent repairs to social housing.

The Entrance MP, David Mehan, has also been campaigning in State Parliament to have more public housing, and at the very least, have neglected properties that have fallen into an unliveable state repaired.

He says too many public housing properties are vacant because of neglect and disrepair as well as properties being sold but not being replaced, and meanwhile the

number of local people on the Housing Register keeps creeping up and now stands at 1,692.

Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, says the Land and Housing Corporation spent almost $3.8M in 2019-20 to restore 302 vacant social housing properties on the Central Coast and the 2020-21 NSW Budget includes more than $17M for maintenance and upgrade work at social housing properties.

Sue Murray

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Yasmin Catley calls for a stronger stance on masks NSW Labor is demanding that the Government take a stronger stance on masks, instead of relying on goodwill to contain the growing threat of the Northern Beaches COVID-18 cluster.

Acting NSW Labor Leader and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley, said that it’s time that the government made masks mandatory on public transport, in supermarkets and shopping centres, and in places of worship.

“The government has repeatedly ignored Labor’s

Yasmin Catley

calls to make masks mandatory and is relying on a lot of community goodwill.

“It’s risky, we only get one chance to prevent another wave,” Catley said.

“The government has the power to make public health orders for exactly this reason.

“With the stroke of a pen the Minister can end any uncertainty.”

Shadow Minister for Health, Ryan Park, warned that the next few days will be critical and decisive action is needed.

“NSW is on a knife edge.

“Gladys Berejiklian must take decisive action against the spread of COVID-19 in NSW and make masks compulsory,” Park said.

“Public health orders exist to protect the community.

“The Premier should use them to stop the spread of the virus and keep the economy moving.”

Park also voiced his concerns over the state’s handling of hotel quarantine.

“There have been real concerns about our hotel quarantine arrangements for months.

“This government has ignored the warning signs and now the community is at risk.

“How did we not learn from Melbourne?

“Why won’t we employ these guards full time?

“Why didn’t they act when air crew breached arrangements weeks ago?

“Our hotel quarantine should have been a fortress, but they’ve left the back door open.”

Source: Press release, Dec 18 NSW Labor

Disability worker has won $250,000 worth of prizes An Ourimbah disability worker has won $250,000 worth of prizes as the first prize winner in the latest Play For Purpose raffle.

The Central Coast resident’s prize includes a premium

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The Central Coast resident bought her winning Play For Purpose ticket in support of Guide Dogs Queensland.

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Council has a new $100M loan but terms and conditions remain a secret Central Coast Council has taken out another loan, this time for $100M, as it continues to work through mitigation measures for its cash crisis.

This latest loan sees Council’s total borrowings for the year reach $200M, with a $50M loan taken out with NAB in May to be repaid over 20 years, and another $50M borrowed from an unnamed financial institution in November, a principle and interest loan with a fixed five year term amortised over 15 years.

The latest loan was approved at an extraordinary meeting on

December 18 and is a fixed three-year loan amortised over 15 years.

Details of the loan were discussed in closed session and remain commercial in confidence.

A Council spokesperson said the loan would assist Council with a positive budget for the next financial year and a long term 10-year financial plan.

Council resolved at the December 18 meeting to authorise Administrator, Dick Persson, and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rik Hart, to execute all documents relating to the facility agreement between Council and the

financial institution.

Council also resolved that the report should remain confidential in accordance with the Local Government Act as it “contains commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it”.

The minutes also say that consideration of the matter in open Council would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as publication of all tendered amounts would discourage potential tenderers from submitting commercial information in future and would

affect Council’s ability to obtain value for money services for the Central Coast community.

Meanwhile, Council continues its path to financial recovery and sustainability under its business recovery plan, the spokesperson said.

Reductions have been made in the capital works program, sales of assets are underway, an employee savings target has been set and a voluntary redundancy program has commenced, as well as notification to IPART for a special rate variation of 15 percent.

Terry Collins

Suspended councillors on Planning Panel replaced Central Coast Council has appointed alternate members to the Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel for the period of councillors’

suspension.

This follows advice from the Office of Local Government that the four nominated councillors who currently sit on

the Panel cannot hold those positions during the period of Council suspension.

The alternate appointees have been selected from the existing members of the

Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

They are Greg Flynn and Stephen Leathley from the “expert” LPP list, and Anthony Tuxworth and Lynette Hunt

from the “community” list.

The Regional Panel deals with development applications of regional significance and this appointment is meant to ensure that Council’s representation in

the decision making process remains.

Source: Media release, Dec 15 Central Coast Council

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Proposed boarding house at Glen Rd on public exhibition

An artist’s impression of the proposed boarding house in Ourimbah (Project Works Design)

A new proposal for a boarding house at 2-6 Glen Rd, Ourimbah, for students and young professionals, is now on public exhibition.

Plans for the three storey accommodation comprise 53 self contained rooms made up of 37 double rooms, 11 single, four accessible rooms and an

on-site manager’s residence.

There are communal areas on each level and open space including extensive landscaping at ground level.

This proposal is a revised version of a previous application first put to the former Wyong Council in 2013 for 101 boarding rooms, which was later reduced to 83 rooms, and

granted development consent.

That development consent lapsed, meaning that this fresh development application (DA 1249/2020) was required.

This current proposal employs the same building envelope and footprint as conditionally approved previously by the Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel.

Land rezoning for Gwandalan local centre endorsed Central Coast Council has endorsed the rezoning of land at Parraweena Rd, Gwandalan, which will transform a vacant industrial site into a new local centre.

It is proposed to include both commercial and residential

uses, with a supermarket and retail shops, service station, village green, childcare centre, medical centre and housing.

This proposal realises Council’s and the NSW Government’s vision for the area.

A Council spokesperson said Council was committed to the

improved amenity and activation of the region to drive business and economic development and to create new experiences and vibrant hubs for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Source: Media release, Dec 15 Central Coast Council

However, the number of rooms has been significantly reduced to 53.

The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) submitted with the DA says that it is suitable for student or young professional accommodation given the accessible location with connections to public transport,

shops, services, recreation as well as Ourimbah campus of Newcastle University and TAFE. It fits in with the walkable neighbourhood objective of the planning guidelines and will provide affordable student accommodation of which there is a shortage, the SEE says.

A key consideration is the future of expansion of the

university, covered in the Ourimbah Masterplan, and the SEE points out that this accommodation will support that growth.

Submissions to the proposal will be accepted by Central Coast Council until February 8, 2021.

Sue Murray

Central Coast Water is not for sale Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said reports in other media that there was a plan to sell Central Coast Water were “absolutely untrue”.

“I suspect this story has been placed by a person trying to deflect from their contribution to the financial disaster which

is upon the Council,” Persson said.

“This issue was mentioned in a media interview on ABC with one of the local Members of Parliament, and a prominent local businessman told me it was something that should be looked into,” Persson said.

“I requested advice from the Chief Financial Officer and it was immediately pointed out

that it would be a dumb decision given the amount of revenue it generates for Council.

“That was the end of it from my point of view.

“I reiterate, there is no plan to sell this business, it will not happen,” Persson said.

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Administrator, Dick Persson

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NEWS

Ausgrid propose a one year wage freeze and 200 redundancies

Ausgrid workers are angry about a proposed wage freeze

Around 700 Ausgrid workers on the Central Coast face an uncertain future, with the company proposing a one year wage freeze from February, and 200 redundancies across the network announced the week before Christmas.

Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union NSW & ACT, Justin Page, said that while redundancy numbers on the Coast were not yet known, any job losses would impact Central Coast depots.

Ausgrid has proposed a one year wage freeze for all Enterprise Agreement (EA) employees from February 2021 as what it says is “a necessary response to the

financial challenges the company is facing resulting from the impacts of COVID-19”.

This would be followed by pay increases equal to CPI for the second and third year of the proposed agreement, the company said.

But Page said that with the uncertainty surrounding the CPI, the move could effectively result in a three year freeze.

“Our members have been extremely busy across the network, with more frequent storms, rain, floods and fires, we’ve had the lot,” he said.

“Members are very angry.

“They’ve worked really hard over the last three years to keep power on or restore power quickly for customers.

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“We surveyed our members about the proposed wage freeze and 94% responded that they are prepared to take legal industrial action, that’s a strong indication that the workers aren’t happy.

“They are also expected to work right through the holiday season.

“If storms hit, they will be required to restore power.”

Ausgrid says senior staff are already experiencing a wage freeze with no salary increases this financial year, which would likely continue in 2021-22.

“All Ausgrid EA employees received a 2.25 per cent pay increase this year, in March, as part of a total 7.5 per cent increase over the period of the last EA,” a spokesperson said.

“The proposed one-year wage freeze would take effect upon commencement of the new EA.” Ausgrid CEO, Richard Gross, said the company was in “tough times” and was restructuring the business, cutting back office positions and reducing the executive leadership team by more than 20 percent.

“Our executive team and senior managers have been on a wage freeze since mid-2019 and I have personally taken a 10% wage cut this financial year,” he said.

“In addition to this, our shareholders have not had a dividend for two years and are unlikely to receive one for another two years.”

Gross said the goal was to keep downward pressure on costs to customers and protect as many jobs as possible.

“We have worked hard to ensure the wage freeze proposed for EA staff is for just one year and to keep the current, active entitlements for our people,” he said.

“We know this is a tough time for everyone and this is not a position that anyone would hope for, but given the circumstances, this is a fair and balanced offer.”

The proposal has been put to unions and staff as part of the enterprise bargaining process, with the current Enterprise Agreement due to expire in February.

The United Services Union

says Ausgrid staff, who have endured five years of restructures that have resulted in more than 2,000 jobs being cut, feel let down by the proposed wage freeze.

A Union spokesperson said staff at the partially privatised company, the largest electricity distributor in Australia, should be commended for their efforts to keep the lights on for millions of homes and businesses on the Central Coast and in Sydney, Newcastle, and the Hunter through a challenging year which has seen a health crisis, bushfires, and major storm damage.

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Crossbow is a prohibited weapon

A NSW Police Officer handling a prohibited RS-X7 ‘Doomsday’ Slingshot Crossbow PHOTO: NSW Police Force

The NSW Police Force is warning members of the community about the illegal importation and possession of prohibited weapons such as the RSX7 ‘Doomsday’ Slingshot Crossbow.

The importation of weapons, firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, firearm magazines and accessories for firearms is controlled and restricted by Australian Border Force (ABF).

To import any of these items into NSW, the importer must first obtain approval from either the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department or from the NSW Police Firearms Registry.

Since August this year, the NSW Police Force has received information relating to the illegal importation and possession of RS-X7 ‘Doomsday’ Slingshot Crossbows into NSW from the

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This crossbow is capable of firing metal, glass and clay ball projectiles, as well as arrows, and is classified as a prohibited weapon by the NSW Firearms Registry.

Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson, said these weapons represent a major threat to the safety of the community and emergency service personnel.

“With Christmas only one week away, we want the community to be aware of the

dangers associated with prohibited weapons like this,” Det Supt Watson said.

“We know these items are marketed online as ‘shooting toys’, however, they are very capable of inflicting serious injury or even death.

“Specialist detectives are now conducting inquiries into the possession of slingshot crossbows across the State.

“Initial information has identified several individuals that have recently purchased these weapons from Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We are calling on those in the community who have a slingshot crossbow or other prohibited weapons in their possession to surrender the items to police immediately otherwise detectives will soon be on your doorstep to seize them,” Det Supt Watson said.

Source: Press release, Dec 18 NSW Police Media

Elaborate phone scam warning The NSW Police Force is warning the community about an elaborate phone scam, believed to be linked to transnational organised crime syndicates.

In the past month, several people across NSW have reported receiving a call from someone purporting to be a NSW Police Force officer or government agency representative, demanding money under the threat of violence or arrest.

Many of these calls are made using caller ID spoofing, where the number appears to be that of the agency they claim to represent.

The caller then convinces the person to divulge personal information, before giving

instructions to purchase gifts cards or withdraw money and provide it to a nominated person.

Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, urged the community to never provide any personal information on unsolicited calls.

Instead report the incident immediately.

“These callers purport to be various government officials and the essence of the scam is to convince the victim that they are in trouble but they can pay their way out of it,” Det Supt Howlett said.

“I want to make it very clear that NSW Police Force officers

will not request money from you under any circumstances.

“Sadly, this is not the first time these types of scam phone calls have circulated in the community, and likely won’t be the last.

“These scams often have ties to organised criminal syndicates operating across the country and around the world and are designed to take advantage of people’s trust in authorities.

“All reports of fraud will be thoroughly investigated by the NSW Police Force and we will continue to put perpetrators before the courts,” Det Supt Howlett said.

Source: Press release, Dec 20 NSW Police Media

Alcohol theft in Wyong Tuggerah Lakes Police are seeking the community’s assistance in identifying a person they wish to speak to in relation to a stealing incident at Wyong.

At about 4pm on Sunday, November 15, a retail stealing offence of alcohol occurred at the Liquorland Bottle Shop at Wyong Plaza on Alison Rd. Tuggerah Lakes Police have obtained CCTV footage of a man who is described as Caucasian appearance, possibly in his late 30s to early 40s, with a solid build, shaved head and wearing glasses.

Source: Website, Dec 15 Crime Report E76116470 Tuggerah Lakes Police District

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Drug supply network crippled Two Wyee residents are before the courts and an alleged drug supply network has been crippled following a major operation

by Lake Macquarie Police.

In May, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Loxton to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs, mainly methylamphetamine, in Morisset and other Central Coast border suburbs.

Over the course of the investigation, 11 people have been charged with various drug and firearm offences, but following further inquiries, another four have been arrested and charged after a series of raids.

At about 8am on Tuesday, December 15, detectives with assistance from the Northern Region Operational Support Group and Strike Force Raptor North, executed five search warrants and two firearm prohibition order warrants in Morisset, Wyee, Kingfisher Shores and Dora Creek.

During the warrants, police seized methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, about $100,000 cash, replica firearms and knives.

A 39-year-old Dora Creek man was arrested at a

commercial premises in Dora Creek.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, deal with the proceeds of crime, and possess prohibited weapon.

He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Wednesday, December 16.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at a Kingfisher Shores property.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with supply and possess prohibited drug and possess restricted substance.

A 39-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man were arrested at a Wyee property.

They were both taken to Toronto Police Station where the woman was charged with supply and possess prohibited drug and possess prohibited weapon, and the man charged with possess prohibited weapon and breach weapons prohibition order.

All three were granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

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Thirteen people have been arrested following a high visibility police saturation operation across the Coast.

Operation Overwatch was set up by Tuggerah Lakes Police District to ensure community safety following incidents of serious crime at the northern end of the Coast.

The operation was aimed to prevent and disrupt serious violent crime through identifying and targeting recidivist offenders, while also conducting compliance checks for several police and court appointed orders including bail orders, AVO checks, firearms and weapons prohibition orders and intensive corrections orders.

Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District, with assistance from the Northern Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, Northern Region High Visibility Policing Unit, Northern Region Operational Support Group (Operation Utah) and Traffic and Highway Patrol, deployed across the north between 3pm and 9pm on Tuesday, December 15, to carry out the operation.

Officers conducted a high visibility injection into two sectors: The Entrance, Long Jetty, Bateau Bay and Killarney Vale; and Lake Haven, Gorokan, Charmhaven and Kanwal.

Mobile breath testing was conducted throughout each

Tuggerah Lakes Police are seeking the community’s assistance to identifying two individuals they wish to speak to regarding a fail to pay for taxi offence.

At about 6.30am on Sunday, July 5, the offence occurred in Warner Ave, Wyong.

Police have obtained CCTV footage from the taxi and wish to speak with the two pictured individuals.

Police wish to speak with these individuals

CCN

ON THE BEAT

Operation Overwatch nets thirteen arrests

Fail to pay for taxi offence

Source: Website, Dec 16 Crime Report E77920567 Tuggerah Lakes Police District

Page 15

23 December 2020

Newspapers

would like to take this opportunity to thank our thousands of readers and advertisers for your interest and support over the past 21 years.

We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Our office will be closed on December 23, 2020 and will remain so until January 11, 2021

sector, while officers simultaneously conducted compliance checks at dozens of addresses across the two sectors.

In addition, mobile general duties officers conducted pushbike patrols of highlypopulated areas.

As a result of Operation Overwatch: One Weapons and Firearms Prohibition Order was conducted in San Remo; 29 person searches were conducted; 13 ADVO compliance checks were conducted; 33 bail compliance checks were conducted; 13 people were arrested for offences including outstanding warrants, goods in custody,

their community concerns.

Officers also visited the Berkeley Vale Christmas Lights display, which was greatly appreciated by the children in the area.

Tuggerah Lakes Police District Commander, Superintendent John Gralton, said Operation Overwatch was a two-pronged strategy targeting offenders while helping to boost community confidence.

“Operation Overwatch was just as much about engaging recidivist offenders in our neighbourhoods as it was about engaging with members of the public in a highly visible way.

“We want to assure the community that their safety is our top concern in their homes, in their streets, in their workplaces, and in their shopping destinations.

“We want the residents of the Tuggerah Lakes area to see their police out on the streets in numbers, targeting those who want to break the law and disrupt the peace.

“We will not stand for it, we will arrest these offenders and we will bring them before the courts,” Spt Gralton said.

Tuggerah Lakes Police District will continue to roll out ongoing high visibility operations on a regular basis.

assault, custody of knife in public place and breach of AVO, with numerous other warrant enquiries made; 217 RBT’s were undertaken, with four positive roadside drug tests and three persons charged with PCA; 75 vehicle stops were conducted, resulting in six vehicle searches and two defects identified; Eight traffic infringement notices were issued; 14 licensed premises inspections were conducted; One person was issued with a move on direction; and one person was charged for possessing a prohibited drug.

Community engagements were also conducted in Lake Haven, San Remo, The Entrance and Bateau Bay, with police speaking to residents about

Dilon Luke

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Page 16

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Community Engagement Award beggars belief Is it lies, smoke and mirrors or simply total ignorance?

I find it astounding, in fact an insult, that Central Coast Council could either nominate itself or be nominated by another group for Recognition for Excellence in Community Engagement, in light of Dick Persson’s appointment as Administrator. (Chronicle p6 Dec2) I have attended many consultation meetings over the past 12 years with Council and have not yet had a meeting where I felt satisfied with the outcome.

These included: Disability Inclusion and Access; Planning; and, Parks and Tourism, with the most recent being EcoTourism at the Wyong Chambers where two new staff members operated the national webinar with the grand total of two residents attending.

This is indicative of a number of consultation meetings where the staff out number the residents, obviously a reflection of the community either not trusting the Council or simply having lost all faith in their processes.

If we’re talking about “consultation”, how about that which added a special rate levy on to Wyong residents only, having seven staff and only four local residents, with enough food to feed an army?

Alternatively, my 30-page written submission pointing

FORUM See Page 2 for address and contribution conditions.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of the newspaper out many anomalies within the Greater Lake Munmorah Structure Plan in April 2019, not even getting a response or a simple thank you for your time.

It is obvious that the community has major concerns with any dealings with Central Coast Council to the tune that several groups such as the Central Coast Better Planning Group, made up of former council staff, highly ranked retired personnel from NSW Planning and active residents, are seeing very little positive outcomes with consultation or planning proposals.

In fact, it has become a war between Council and residents where genuine concerns raised in writing are totally ignored, don’t receive a reply, or the individual is seen as nuisance value or the enemy by Council.

Council spruiks about the wide range of consultations over the past four years on matters such as Land Use and Place Planning, a State

Government initiative, taken out of Council’s hands with the advent of politically appointed Regional and Local Planning Panels.

Other issues include affordable housing, but nothing I see being built is anywhere near affordable to any lowincome family.

Having a consultative panel or reference group made up of those representing the disabled or ageing means nothing if Council does not listen or continually opposes or places barriers before any community proposals.

Roads have never been in such a state, environmental issues have been totally ignored or placed in the hands of another politically nominated panel, such as the Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel.

As for water and sewerage, both sections have blown their budgets by astronomical amounts.

We cannot have a Council with such an ego that has landed the community in such astronomical debt, looking at rate increases of 10 percent, the need to borrow more money plus needing to dismiss the over employment of staff and yet still has the audacity to spruik how good they are at “community engagement”.

Nothing has changed!

Email, Dec 9 Gary Blaschke OAM, Lake Munmorah

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Accountability needs to extend to Executive Management Team FORUM

While it is understandable that Central Coast Council’s former General Manager and Chief Financial Officer are most directly accountable for the financial fiasco and deserve their employment to be terminated, I believe that a wider scope of accountability needs to extend to the Executive

Management Team, given the scale of the crisis.

I believe, on the face of it, that there are a least two Directors who should also bear responsibility and who had direct knowledge, or should have had direct knowledge, of the nature of the restricted

funds.

These Directors are those responsible for the collection and accounting for development contributions and sewer and water DSP charges.

Email, Dec 17 David Kitson, Budgewoi community representative on Local Planning Panel

Former Mayor asked to please explain FORUM

The advertisement by (suspended councillor) Jane Smith (Chronicle p12 Dec 9) seems to me to be laying responsibility for Council’s financial problems on others as well as implying that the sale of the airport will solve the problems.

Jane appears to be wanting to be open and honest so, in the spirit of openness and honesty, I have a few questions: Given the massive deficit, when were budgetary concerns first raised at Council?

Is the Council amalgamation just a scapegoat for the mismanagement by Council, when there seems to be a lack of normal project and budgetary management?

In relation to the high turnover of senior financial staff over the past few years, have these departed staff raised issues relating to budgeting?

Were these departed staff recipients of payouts, if so, how much?

Were the departed staff party to confidentiality agreements on departure?

Even more curious is the departure of AAI, the aircraft construction company that

was to be based at Warnervale, and why did the Council pay out to break the lease?

Were termination payments paid by Council to AAI on their departure? If so, how much?

Why does your advertisement obsess about the airport?

In the grand scale of things, the airport is a drop in the ocean compared to the magnitude of the financial disaster over which she has presided.

Who initiated most of the costs pertaining to the airfield, it certainly wasn’t at the behest of the aero club.

Why is it necessary to have people permanently stationed at the airport to count aeroplane landings?

Other airports manage this simply by radio monitoring.

Is it true that every element of business relating to the airport has been loaded up with reports, bureaucracy and cost, which in turn would be used to justify closing the airfield?

Why has it been such an issue about trimming the trees at the northern end of the airport?

The Administrator addressed

the issue by looking (did Jane ever?) and then said “trim the trees”.

Jane has been a councillor/ mayor/deputy mayor for all of the period that Council has now found itself in dire financial mess.

She has been on Council long enough to know the ropes and ask the hard questions.

The presence/absence of the airport is not the architect of all the Council troubles, it’s just another convenient scapegoat for the disaster over which she has presided.

The sale of the airport land will not solve all the problems, the scale of the financial problems is just too great.

The sale of the airport should not be used for a personal agenda or as a diversion from the mismanagement of council affairs.

She was elected to preserve the interests of the electorate and has significantly failed to do so.

Jane, please help us understand how we got into such an awful pickle; the community requires answers to these questions.

Email, Dec 17 Trevor Walshe, Halekulani

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Page 17

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

OUT & ABOUT

Friends and family paid tribute to Luke Viner at Cabbage Tree Harbour Photo: Mark Smith

Luke Viner – Gone but not forgotten The northern community has come together to celebrate the life of one of their own.

Around 300 people descended on Cabbage Tree Harbour on December 20 in memory of Lake Munmorah’s Luke Viner, who tragically passed away on December 11.

Family, friends and well wishers braved the rain to assemble on the beach to pay tribute to Luke and reflect on his life, before around half of the gathering entered the water to release flowers in Luke’s memory.

Cameron Marshall organised the event and said the paddle out was a reminder of the importance of community and

connection.

“Today we paddle not only for Luke Viner, but for all our brothers and sisters that might also be struggling with their mental health.

“We paddled to show our strength in numbers and to look out for each other.

“Please message your friends and family and let them know you love them because you might not get another chance.”

The community has also rallied to support Luke’s partner, Emma Viner, and their baby Ohdi, with a fundraiser in his memory having raised just under $15,500 in less than a week.

The fundraiser was organised

by Rhiannon Marden, who said

Luke would be dearly missed.

“Luke touched the hearts and lives of so many people and he would have given anything to anyone, that’s just the kind of caring, loving and thoughtful person he was.

“Let’s keep Luke’s legacy going by rallying around Emma and Ohdi when they need us all the most.

“As their friends, their family and as a community, let’s show them just how loved and supported they truly are.

“We will never be able to take away the pain and sorrow of such a tragic event but we can all help make it a little less stressful for them during this difficult time.”

Dilon Luke

Luke and Emma Viner with baby Ohdi

OUT & ABOUT

Page 18

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Council unveils Big Chair Project

Coast launches Pioneer Dairy project The new SWAMP (Sustainable Wetlands Agriculture Makers Project) community group, operating from Wyong’s Pioneer Dairy, was graced by a visit from bushy bearded television celebrity of Gardening Australia, Costa Georgiadis, on Sunday, December 13.

Central Coast Council has unveiled its Big Chair Project and residents are being invited to sit up and take notice.

The project, which involved students from Gorokan and Terrigal High Schools, San Remo Neighbourhood Centre (The Epicentre), The Entrance Men’s Shed and a team from Fairhaven’s Disability Enterprise Team, has seen five dazzling beach chairs installed around waterfronts across the Coast.

The oversized chairs were constructed by Men’s Shed members and then painted by the other groups, with the artwork on each chair designed to reflect the character and unique identity of the suburbs where they’ve been installed.

Doubling as an interactive public art installation, residents and visitors alike are being encouraged to follow the Big Chair Trail to observe and interact with the chairs, which were installed at their designated locations on December 19.

Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said the Big Chair Project had brought the community together, with the new assets set to enhance visitor experience these holidays.

“I’m excited to see a project from Council’s eMerge youth

program in partnership with community groups come to life.

“This program supports emerging artists and has provided an opportunity for participants to explore their creativity and showcase their talents to the wider community,” Vaughan said.

“These groups have done a great job expressing the town centre identity and culture in their designs and I encourage our community from the north to the south to seek out a Big Chair near you, snap a fun photo and share it on social media with the hashtag CCbigchairs,”she added.

Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said it was great to see this creative communityled endeavour come to fruition

despite the challenges of 2020.

“The Big Chair Project has not only provided a creative outlet and important social connection for the creators, but has also delivered an engaging art installation for the rest of the community and visitors to enjoy,” Persson said.

The Big Chairs are located at: Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi (Weemala St); Canton Beach foreshore, Toukley (Beach Pde, near the intersection with Lakeview Pde); Woy Woy Wharf foreshore (Brick Wharf Rd, near the playspace); Terrigal Beach foreshore (Terrigal Esplanade, next to Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club); and, Umina Beach foreshore (Sydney Ave, next to Umina Surf Life Saving Club).

Dilon Luke

He came to view the region’s newest gardening and agriculture group, and SWAMP spokesperson, Cheralyn Darcey, said that they were thrilled to have Costa there to launch the project and see what was building at the former dairy.

“He gave a passionate and inspiring talk about volunteering, creating community, looking after our local environment and, of course, growing plants,” Darcey said.

“Costa said we drew a line in the dirt, that from this day on we would all be jumping over, while each of us was creating vectors of community spirit across the whole Central Coast.

“He offered his ongoing support for SWAMP and said he couldn’t wait until he returned to see the view had disappeared, shielded by our garden,” Darcey said.

Costa spoke of the surge of interest in gardening right around the country during 2020, and his passion to encourage re-wilding in local

communities to support the local ecosystems of plants, insects, birds and animals and to inspire inter-generational connections.

SWAMP Project Co-ordinator, Sue Bradley, is pleased how the concept is growing.

“We’re all about growth and community, and gardening together is such a great antidote to many of society’s challenges,” she said.

“We have people of all ages

and backgrounds coming on board, it’s remarkable to watch both the volunteers and plants grow together.

“We’re so appreciative of Central Coast Council and the Wyong Pioneer Dairy Board of Management for giving us this wonderful opportunity.”

To become involved or for more information, go online to swampcentralcoast.com.au David Abrahams

Put rubbish and recycling bins out as usual over the festive season Cleanaway is reminding Central Coast residents to put their bins out as usual over the festive season.

Waste and recycling services will remain the same across the region.

Households are reminded to place general waste, recycling and garden vegetation waste bins out for collection the night before their scheduled day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. “One of the simplest things that you can do to reduce your environmental impact at this time of year is to ensure that you put the right things in your

yellow lid recycling bin,” a Cleanaway spokesperson said.

“Remember to place your Christmas wrapping paper, envelopes, cards, party hats, biscuit tins, fruit mince pie trays and cardboard packaging in your yellow lid recycling bin.

“Cellophane and foil wraps can’t be recycled so they belong in your red lid bin, as do ribbons, bows and twist ties.

“If you are engaging in a little festive cheer, make sure bottles and cans find a home inside your recycling bin too.”

COASTAL DIARY

Source: Media release, Dec 21 Cleanaway

A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF EVENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON THE CENTRAL COAST SATURDAY, DEC 26 Family Fun Fair, Terrigal Memorial Foreshore, 26/12 - 17/01, 10am - 6pm

TUESDAY, DEC 29

TUESDAY, JAN 5 Pool inflatable course, Toukley Aquatic Centre, 11am - 2pm, 5/01 - 21/01 (tues & thurs only)

THURSDAY, DEC 31

Belle Of The Turf Race Day, The Entertainment Grounds Gosford, Ticketed, 12pm - 5pm

MONDAY, JAN 4 Learn to swim program, Toukley Aquatic Centre, 4/01 - 22/01

Mariners v Jets, Central Coast Stadium, Ticketed, 6pm SUNDAY, JAN 10

Handmade on the Coast Markets, Brick Wharf Rd Reserve Woy Woy, 7am - 4pm

MONDAY, JAN 11 Subbuteo (finger football) session, Toukley Library, 10:30am - 12pm

10am - 12pm

THURSDAY, JAN 14 Basketball for Beginners, Lake Haven Recreation Centre, 10am and 11am sessions

SUNDAY, JAN 17 Umina Beach Markets, Peninsula Recreation Precinct, 9am - 2pm

MONDAY, JAN 18

THURSDAY, JAN 21 Breakfast on the Mountain, Kincumber Mountain Reserve, 7:30am - 10am Basketball for Beginners, Lake Haven Recreation Centre, 10am and 11am sessions

Holiday Fun Drumming sessions, Green Living Workshop, Memorial Park The Entrance, The Entrance Community Hall, SATURDAY, JAN 23 on the hour every hour between from 10am 10:30am and 1:30pm Tuggerah Lakes Art Society: Green Living Workshops, Home Baked Exhibition and TUESDAY, JAN 19 The Entrance Community Hall, FRIDAY, JAN 15 Handcraft Market, 10am - 11:30am The Entrance Community Sea Life painting sessions, Gallery, 23/01 - 31/01, Carnival mask making Memorial Park, The Entrance, Ticketed entry TUESDAY, JAN 12 crafternoon, on the hour every hour from Village Central Wyong, 10am to 1pm Inflatable kingdom, on the hour every hour from MONDAY, JAN 25 Lake Haven Recreation Centre, 10am to 1pm

Over 60’s Healthy and Active online program, 10 week online program, free 4320 9700 www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au

SUNDAY, JAN 31

Peninsula Lions Club: Car Boot Sale, Dunban Road Car Park on the cnr of Ocean Beach Road, 7am - 1pm

Basic entries in the Coastal Diary are FREE. Send information to coastaldiary@centralcoastnews.net

ENHANCED entries using bold typeface with an address, phone number and a live link are available for a small fee.

Photographs can also be added for a small fee. All display advertisers are entitled to a free enhanced entry.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Page 19

23 December 2020

OUT & ABOUT

Jam packed summer holiday program Central Coast Council has unveiled its summer school holiday program and here’s what’s on offer up North.

From January 4-22, a learn to swim program will be run at Toukley Aquatic Centre, with participating children able to fine tune their skills with a private 15-minute swimming lesson.

From January 5-21, a pool inflatable course will run at Toukley Aquatic Centre from 11am to 2pm, every Tuesday and Thursday.

On January 11, Toukley Library will host a Subbuteo (finger football) session from 10:30am to 12pm.

Participating children will take control of a team that they will flick around the pitch to score goals in a round robin tournament.

On the same day, Green Living Workshops will take place at The Entrance Community Hall from 10am to 11:30am, with children making upcycled terrariums and insect hotels.

An online Storytime event will also take place from 10:30am to 11am, as will Council’s Online Mystery Challenge, where participants review clues and work their way through puzzles as they e-visit familiar locations across the Coast.

From 10am to 12pm on January 12, Lake Haven Recreation Centre will be transformed into an inflatable kingdom, with visiting children

able to jump, dodge, weave, throw, kick and shoot their way through obstacles, inflatable stations and during fun sports activities on the Centre’s indoor sports courts.

Basketball for Beginners’ clinics will run at Lake Haven Recreation Centre on January 14 and 21.

This instructor led program introduces boys and girls to playing basketball, which can

assist in moving towards joining a basketball club, team and coaching.

Two sessions, 10am and 11am, are available on both days.

Multiple Holiday Fun Drumming sessions will also take place on January 14 at Memorial Park, The Entrance.

The drumming for beginner sessions will run on the hour every hour between 10:30am

and 1:30pm.

A Carnival mask making crafternoon will take place at Village Central Wyong on January 15.

Sessions will take place on the hour every hour from 10am to 1pm.

An online Children’s Book Trivia Night will take place from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on January 15 and 20 via Zoom and Kahoot, with children encouraged to dress as their favourite literary characters.

Green Living Workshops return to The Entrance Community Hall from 10am on January 18, with two separate workshops dedicated to composting and worm farms.

The 18th will also see the return of online Storytime from 10:30am to 11:30am.

January 19 will see Lake Haven Recreation Centre transformed into an inflatable kingdom once again from the same time as the previous session.

Sea Life painting sessions will also run on the 19th at

Memorial Park, The Entrance.

Sessions will run on the hour every hour from 10am to 1pm.

Crafternoons return to Village Central Wyong on January 20, with lantern making sessions.

Sessions will also run on the hour every hour from 10am to 1pm.

A Battlebots robot fighting tournament will take place at Toukley Library from 10:30am to 12pm on January 20.

Participants will take control of a robot and prepare to do battle in this fun and interactive event as they duke it out for the title of Battlebots Champion via a round robin competition.

On January 22,The Entrance’s Memorial Park will be transformed into an immersive laser tag adventure with inflatable walls and bunkers set to make for an epic day of fun.

Tag sessions will run in 15 minute intervals from 10am to 1:30pm.

Some activities incur a fee.

Dilon Luke

Lifeline Central Coast is preparing to help hundreds of people Lifeline Central Coast is preparing to help hundreds of people who, rather than being relieved and excited about the arrival of the holiday season, may be feeling anxious, down, or alone.

Will Nesbitt, Lifeline Direct Counselling Services Manager, said that for many, Christmas and New Years can be reminders of those who have passed, breakdowns in relationships or financial stressors.

“It can be a very difficult time that sees the Lifeline Crisis Line increase with callers and a real need for our counselling service,” he said.

“We all know how the first Christmas without a brother, sister, mother, father or child is incredibly sad.

“We feel the absence of loved ones because it is a time when families have routines where we get together and there is a role for everyone.

“For people with family members who are ill in hospital

or in a nursing home, this Christmas will be like no other.

“The freedom we had prior to COVID-19 where we could visit our loved ones whenever we wish has changed and many people will be unable to visit their family in hospital or in nursing homes due to regulated restrictions.

“This brings an enormous level of sadness and distress.

“This year, financial pressures will also be significant for many people.

“The impact of COVID19

means that there are people in our communities that are out of work or working fewer hours than they would like.

“Some might not be able to celebrate the way they would normally, or they may not have the income to holiday this year or provide for their children the way they would like to.

“For some people, an impending period of loneliness is a trigger for anxiety and depression.

“Shops and community centres are closed, there may

Grant received to install car seats for babies and small children Wyong based, We Care Connect, will receive $5,373 from the NSW Government’s Road Safety Grant program, which is one of 27 initiatives being funded to help reduced fatalities and injuries from road crashes.

We Care Connect collects pre-loved children’s clothing and household items and supplies them to families in need.

The $5,373 grant will enable We Care Connect to deliver a

new Buckle Up Baby program which aims to assist disadvantaged families by providing and installing car seats for babies and small children.

Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said by delivering this support to people who needed it the most, We Care Connect, would also increase road safety awareness and support safer use of local roads.

Minister for Regional Roads and Transport, Paul Toole, said

the grants played an important role in the delivery of the NSW Government’s Road Safety Plan 2021 which was guiding statewide efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from road crashes.

“More than 160 projects have been funded through the program since its inception in 2015, and now we’re rolling out even more because community groups are in a unique position to connect with local people about local road safety issues,” Toole said.

“Community groups can reinforce our road safety messages in targeted ways that can make a real difference in encouraging people to be safer road users.

“One life lost on our roads is one too many, so programs like this to help drive home the road safety messages will make a real difference in regional communities,” Toole said.

Source: Media release, Dec 15 Parliamentary Secretary Central Coast, Adam Crouch

not be many friends or loved ones nearby and the routine of their everyday is disturbed.

“Holidays can mean regular conversation is halted for 10 days for some and this can bring real worry and sadness.

“When we combine these factors with the bushfires this time last year and the long term drought, there is a cumulative pressure that for many people will mean they need some support and someone to talk to,” Nesbitt said.

“If people sense they are

getting anxious, having difficulty sleeping, feeling sad or depressed, its important they have a plan in place.

“This could mean talking to a friend, booking an appointment with one of our local counsellors for the first week in January on 1300 152 854 or calling the Lifeline Crisis line on 13 11 14.

“It’s totally free and you don’t need a referral,” Nesbitt said.

Source: Press release, Dec 17 Lifeline Media

If you’re reading this, so are

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23 December 2020

COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Friday 25 December

Thursday 24 December

Wednesday 23 December

ABC (C20/21)

PRIME (C61/60)

TEN (C13)

NINE (C81/80)

5:30 Today [s] 6:00 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 11:00 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 11:30 10:00 Howards End [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 Movie: “A Kiwi Christmas” (PG) 12:00 Movie: “My Christmas Prince” 12:00 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] (’17) Stars: Kari Väänänen, Sia (PG) (’17) Stars: Alexis Knapp, 1:00 1:00 Christmas Sounds Better This Trokenheim, Xavier Horan, Callum Alexander, Pamela Sue 2:00 Year [s] Samuel Clark, Luca Andrews, Martin, Parker Stevenson 2:30 2:00 The Queen’s Green Planet [s] Laura Daniel, Troy King 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast 2:00 Funniest Cutest Kittens (PG) (PG) [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 3:00 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 3:30 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 4:00 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 4:30 6:00 Seven News [s] 6:00 Sammy J’s 2020 Dumpster 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens Fire Spectacular [s] 5:00 Summer: Countdown To Carols 7:30 Paramedics (M) [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] (PG) [s] 8:30 The Inbetween: Kiss Them For 6:00 7:30 Hard Quiz Kids Special (PG) 6:30 Me (M v) [s] 8:00 The Yearly With Charlie 7:30 Woolworths’ Carols In The 9:30 Chicago Med: Guess It Doesn’t 7:30 Pickering 2020 [s] Domain (PG) [s] Matter Anymore (MA15+) [s] 9:00 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat 10:00 Movie: “Vegas Vacation” (PG) 8:00 10:30 NINE News Late [s] Christmas Special [s] (’97) Stars: Chevy Chase, 11:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: 10:00 Would I Lie To You At Beverly D’Angelo, Randy 9:00 Con-Text (M v) [s] Christmas? (PG) [s] Quaid, Marisol Nichols, Wayne 11:50 World’s Wildest Weather: 10:30 QI: Pubs (PG) [s] Newton, Ethan Embry 11:40 Hellish Hailstorm (PG) [s] 11:00 ABC Late News [s] 12:00 Code Black: Unfinished 1:40 12:40 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 11:20 Score: A Film Music Business (M d) [s] 2:40 1:30 Home Shopping Documentary (M v) [s] 1:00 Home Shopping 6:00 5:30 Today [s] 6:00 Sunrise [s] 6:00 rage Christmas Eve Special 8:30 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] (PG) [s] 11:00 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 12:00 Movie: “Snowed-Inn Christmas” 12:00 Movie: “Finding Father 10:00 Howards End [s] (PG) (’17) Stars: Bethany Joy 12:00 Christmas” (G) (’16) Stars: Erin 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 1:00 Lenz, Andrew W. Walker, Krakow, Wendie Malick, Aliyah 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 2:00 Belinda Montgomery O’Brien, Niall Matter, Jordana 1:00 Hard Quiz Kids Special (PG) 2:30 Largy, Bethany Brown, Michael 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast 1:30 QI: Pubs (PG) [s] (PG) [s] Kopsa 2:00 Would I Lie To You At 3:00 2:00 Cutest Ever Puppy Party (PG) 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] Christmas? (PG) [s] 3:30 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 2:30 The Cook And The Chef [s] 4:00 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 4:30 6:00 NINE News [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 3:55 The Heights (PG) [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 4:25 Back Roads (PG) [s] 4:55 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 7:00 The Secret World Of Toys At 7:30 Christmas With Delta (PG) [s] 5:00 8:00 Carols By Candlelight (PG) [s] 6:30 Christmas (PG) [s] 5:50 Worzel Gummidge [s] 7:30 8:00 Movie: “Elf” (G) (’03) Stars: Will 11:00 World’s Best Christmas 7:00 ABC News [s] 8:30 Commercials (PG) [s] Ferrell, Jon Favreau, Zooey 7:30 Spicks And Specks Reunion Deschanel, James Caan, Bob 11:50 Movie: “The Jazz Singer” (PG) 9:30 Special (PG) [s] 10:30 (’80) Stars: Neil Diamond, Newhart, Ed Asner, Peter 8:30 Would I Lie To You At Laurence Olivier, Lucie Arnaz, Dinklage, Mary Steenburgen Christmas? (PG) [s] Catlin Adams, Franklyn Ajaye, 11:30 10:00 Movie: “Fred Claus” (PG) (’07) 9:00 QI: Quizmas (PG) [s] 12:30 Paul Nicholas, Sully Boyar Stars: Vince Vaughn, Paul 9:35 Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell 1:30 Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, 2:00 Home Shopping Pagan Holiday Special (M) [s] 5:00 Skippy - The Bush Kangaroo Miranda Richardson 10:35 Sammy J’s 2020 Dumpster 2:30 5:30 Wesley Impact [s] 12:30 Home Shopping Fire Spectacular (M) [s] 6:00 6:00 National Pharmacies 6:00 Woolworths’ Carols In The 7:30 Landline Summer [s] 7:00 Christmas Pageant [s] Domain (PG) [s] 8:00 ABC News On Christmas Day 8:30 Stan Grant’s One Plus One [s] 8:30 Christmas Catholic Mass 114 8:00 2020 Lord Mayor’s Christmas 7:30 8:00 Carols [s] 9:00 ABC News On Christmas Day 10:00 Movie: “Jack Frost” (PG) (’98) 9:00 Movie: “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Stars: Michael Keaton 9:30 The Pope’s Christmas Mass 8:30 Christmas Ever” (PG) (’14) 12:00 Movie: “Love Always, Santa” 2020 [s] 11:00 Stars: Grumpy Cat, Megan (G) (’16) Stars: Marguerite 11:00Gardening Australia [s] Charpentier, Daniel Roebuck Moreau, Mike Faiola 12:00ABC News On Christmas Day 2:00 Funniest Ever Toddlers (PG) 10:50 CMA Country Christmas [s] 12:00 12:30Christmas With Poh [s] 12:00 Christmas With Delta (PG) [s] 1:00 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 1:00 Would I Lie To You? [s] 1:00 Carols By Candlelight (PG) [s] 4:00 Better Homes And Gardens 1:30 QI (PG) [s] 4:00 Movie: “Arthur Christmas” (G) 2:00 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 2:00 That Christmas [s] (’11) Stars: Sarah Smith 3:00 ABC News On Christmas Day 6:00 Seven News [s] 3:30 7:00 Border Security - Australia’s 6:00 NINE News [s] 3:20 The Queen’s Christmas 5:00 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] Front Line (PG) [s] Message 2020 [s] 6:00 7:30 The Disney Holiday 7:30 Movie: “National Lampoon’s 3:35 Call The Midwife (PG) [s] 6:30 Singalong [s] Vacation” (M d,l) (’83) Stars: 4:55 Escape From The City [s] 8:30 Movie: “Christmas With The 7:30 Chevy Chase, Beverly 5:50 Worzel Gummidge [s] Kranks” (PG) (’04) Stars: Tim D’Angelo, Randy Quaid 7:00 ABC News On Christmas Day Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis 8:00 9:35 Movie: “National Lampoon’s 7:30 The Queen’s Christmas Christmas Vacation” (PG) (’89) 10:30 Christmas In New York Message 2020 [s] Inside The Plaza [s] 9:00 Stars: Chevy Chase 7:40 The Royal Variety 11:35 Movie: “Spies Like Us” (PG) 11:30 2020 Queen’s Christmas Performance 2020 (PG) [s] Message [s] 10:00 (’85) Stars: Chevy Chase, Dan 9:40 Midsomer Murders (M v) [s] 11:40 World’s Best Christmas Aykroyd, Mark Stewart 11:10ABC News On Christmas Day Commercials [s] 12:00 1:30 Home Shopping 11:40rage (MA15+) [s]

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

Left Off The Map [s] 5:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 5:15 My Market Kitchen [s] 5:30 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 Jamie’s Quick Meals At 2:00 Christmas [s] Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:50 Inside The Children’s Hospital [s] 3:25 Judge Judy (PG) [s] Left Off The Map [s] Farm To Fork [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 5:30 (PG) [s] 6:00 10 News First [s] WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Big Bang Theory: The 8:30 Cooper Extraction (PG) [s] 9:30 Jamie’s Easy Meals At 10:25 Christmas [s] 10:55 Movie: “Jack Reacher” (M v,l) 11:55 (’12) Stars: Tom Cruise 12:45 The Masked Singer USA (M) The Project (PG) [s] The Late Show (PG) [s] 5:00 Headline News [s] 5:15 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:30 Jamie’s Easy Meals At 1:00 Christmas [s] 2:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] Emmylou’s Christmas Table 2:50 Entertainment Tonight [s] Inside The Children’s 3:25 Hospital [s] Judge Judy (PG) [s] Left Off The Map [s] 4:25 Farm To Fork [s] The Bold And The Beautiful 5:30 (PG) [s] 6:00 10 News First [s] The Project (PG) [s] 6:30 The Living Room [s] 7:30 The Graham Norton Show (M) 9:15 Blue Bloods: Atonement (M) Blue Bloods: My Brother’s 11:10 Keeper (M) [s] WIN’s All Australian News [s] 12:10 The Project (PG) [s] The Late Show With Stephen 3:20 Colbert (PG) [s] 4:25 Home Shopping The Talk [s] 5:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 5:15 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 5:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 1:00 (PG) [s] 2:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] Jamie’s Quick Meals At 2:30 Christmas [s] The Living Room [s] 3:30 WIN Symphony Orchestra Special [s] 4:30 Halfway Across The Galaxy And Turn Left (PG) [s] 5:30 The Saddle Club [s] 6:00 10 News First [s] WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Big Bang Theory: The Holiday Summation (M) [s] 8:00 Have You Been Paying Attention To 2020? (M) [s] 9:00 Hughesy, We Have A Problem - Christmas Edition (M s,l) [s] 10:00 Movie: “That’s Not My Dog” (M) (’18) Stars: Shane Jacobson 10:55 The Project (PG) [s] 11:55

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Classifications: (G) General, (PG) Parental Guidance, (M) Mature Audiences, (MA15+) Mature Audience Over 15 Years, [s] Subtitles Consumer Advice: (d) drug references, (s) sexual references or sex scenes (h) horror, (l) language, (mp) medical procedures, (n) nudity, (v) violence

This Weeks

This Weeks

SBS (C30)

This Weeks

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Pope - The Most Powerful Man In History (M) Great British Railway Journeys (PG) Greetings From Planet Smurf (PG) (In English/ French/ German) The Monopoly Story Letters And Numbers Going Places With Ernie Dingo: Yirrkala (PG) SBS World News London’s Great Bridges (PG) Secrets Of Britain (M v) The Sister (M) SBS World News Late 24 Hours In Emergency (M) Vikings (MA15+) Movie: “Ismael’s Ghost” (MA15+) (’17) Stars: Mathieu Amalric, Marion Cotillard (In French) CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Pope - The Most Powerful Man In History (M) Great British Railway Journeys (PG) Destination Flavour Christmas Rick Stein’s Christmas Odyssey Letters And Numbers Going Places With Ernie Dingo: Mount Kosciuszko (PG) SBS World News A Lego Brickumentary (PG) Professor Marston And The Wonder Women (MA15+) 24 Hours In Police Custody: Lost In Translation (M l) The Chocolate Factory: Cadbury Australia Celtic Woman: A Celebration Great British Railway Journeys (PG) CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Great British Railway Journeys (PG) Sandringham: The Queen At Christmas Rick Stein’s Spanish Christmas Rick Stein’s Cornish Christmas Letters And Numbers Going Places With Ernie Dingo: Broome (PG) SBS World News A World Of Calm: The Birds Journey (PG) Planet Of Treasures: India (PG) (In English/ German) Tom Cruise - Body And Soul (M) 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M) Country Music (PG) The Name Of The Rose (M)

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

This Weeks

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TEN (C13)

NINE (C81/80)

Home Shopping Weekend Sunrise [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Pre Game [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 2 *Live* From The MCG [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Lunch Break [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 2 *Live* From The MCG [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Tea Break [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 2 *Live* From The MCG [s] Seven News [s] Cricket: Big Bash League: Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes *Live* From The Brisbane Cricket Ground [s] Movie: “Due Date” (MA15+) (’10) Stars: Zach Galifianakis, Robert Downey Jr. Home Shopping

6:00 6:00 Easy Eats [s] 7:30 7:00 Weekend Today [s] 10:00 SA Variety Bash 2020 (PG) [s] 8:00 8:30 11:00 Peaking (PG) [s] 9:00 11:45 Ultimate Rush (PG) [s] 10:00 12:15 Wild Metropolis: 12:00 Outcasts (PG) [s] 12:30 1:15 Movie: “We Of The Never Never” (PG) (’82) Stars: Angela 1:00 Punch McGregor, John Jarratt, 1:30 2:00 Arthur Dignam, Tony Barry 3:00 4:00 Tipping Point [s] 5:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] 4:00 5:30 Territory Cops (PG) [s] 5:00 6:00 NINE News Sunday [s] 6:00 7:00 60 Minutes (PG) [s] 6:30 8:00 RBT: Close Shave (PG) [s] 7:30 8:30 Movie: “Deep Impact” (M l) (’98) Stars: Téa Leoni, Morgan 8:30 Freeman, Elijah Wood 10:55 Killer On The Line: 11:05 Darren Byrne (M v) [s] 11:45 Young, Dumb And Banged Up In The Sun (M v,s) [s] 12:00 12:35 Tipping Point [s] 2:00 1:30 Home Shopping 4:30

Religious Programs [s] 5:00 Fishing Australia [s] 5:15 Australia By Design: Interiors 5:30 My Market Kitchen [s] The Living Room [s] Bondi Forever (PG) [s] Left Off The Map [s] Roads Less Travelled [s] 1:00 Freshly Picked [s] 3:00 RV Daily Foodie Trails [s] 4X4 Adventures [s] 5:05 Close Encounters Of The 5:35 Animal Kind [s] 6:30 All 4 Adventure [s] 7:30 10 News First [s] WIN News [s] 7:55 Family Feud (PG) [s] The Graham Norton Show (M) 9:40 Movie: “Now You See Me 2” (PG) (’16) Stars: Jesse 10:25 Eisenberg, Dave Franco Blood And Treasure: The 11:30 Revenge Of Farouk (M v) [s] 12:45 NCIS (PG) [s] Home Shopping 3:35 CBS This Morning [s]

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch – Deutsche Welle English News 6:00 France 24 English News 6:30 Al Jazeera English News 7:30 Italian News 8:10 Worldwatch Continues Speedweek Figure Skating: ISU Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup Travel Man: St Petersburg Nazi Megastructures (PG) SBS World News A World Of Calm: A Horses Tale (PG) Dan Snow: The Tutankhamun Mystery (PG) Secret Life Of The Mega Resort (PG) Marry Me, Marry My Family (PG) (In English/ Amharic) Police Custody (M l) The Diet Testers How To Lose Weight Well (PG) Great British Railway Journeys (PG)

6:00 8:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 1:00

Headline News [s] 5:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 5:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 2:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] Jamie’s Quick And Easy 2:10 Food [s] 3:05 Entertainment Tonight [s] 4:00 Inside The Children’s Hospital [s] 4:35 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 5:30 Left Off The Map [s] 6:00 Farm To Fork [s] 6:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 7:30 (PG) [s] 7:55 10 News First [s] WIN News [s] 9:40 The Project (PG) [s] 10:50 Movie: “Home Again” (PG) 11:15 (’17) Stars: Reese Witherspoon Movie: “Drunk Parents” (M l,s) 12:10 (’19) Stars: Alec Baldwin 2:20 Drunk History Australia (M l,s) The Project (PG) [s] 3:25 The Late Show (PG) [s] 4:25 Home Shopping

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch Destination Flavour China Bitesize Story Of Europe y (PG) Restaurant SOS: Lilu (PG) Great British Railway Journeys (PG) The Supervet (PG) Letters And Numbers Mastermind Australia SBS World News A World Of Calm: Noodle (PG) Big Fat Quiz Of The Year 2020 (M) Happy Birthday Hubble (PG) SBS World News Late Hamilton Agent (MA15+) (In Swedish/ English) Outlander (MA15+) For The Love Of Meat With Matthew Evans (M l) The Wine Show (PG) Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (M)

Headline News [s] 5:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 5:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 1:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 2:00 Jamie’s Quick And Easy 3:00 Food [s] Entertainment Tonight [s] 3:30 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] 4:35 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 5:30 Left Off The Map [s] 6:00 Farm To Fork [s] The Bold And The Beautiful 6:30 (PG) [s] 7:35 10 News First [s] WIN News [s] 7:55 The Project (PG) [s] Movie: “Ocean’s Eleven” (M l) 8:30 (’01) Stars: Brad Pit 10:10 Movie: “Ocean’s Twelve” (M l) 10:40 (’04) Stars: George Clooney 11:30 Drunk History Australia (M l,s) 12:40 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 1:35 The Late Show (PG) [s] 3:45 Home Shopping

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Story Of Europe s (PG) Great British Railway Journeys d (PG) Who Do You Think You Are?: Michelle Keegan (PG) Inside Windsor Castle (PG) Letters And Numbers Going Places With Ernie Dingo: Jindabyne (PG) SBS World News A World Of Calm: Snowfall (PG) Great British Railway Journeys (PG) Food Fighter (M l) SBS World News Late Why We Hate (M) The A Word (M l,s) The Pier (MA15+) (In Spanish) Life Drawing UK (M n) Great British Railway Journeys (PG)

Sunday 27 December

6:00 Easy Eats [s] 7:00 Weekend Today [s] 10:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 12:00 Award Winning Tasmania: Ulverstone [s] 12:30 The Rebound [s] 1:00 Healthy Cooks [s] 1:30 World’s Greatest Journeys [s] 2:30 Movie: “The Walk” (PG) (’15) Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt 5:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] 5:30 RBT: Tattoo You (PG) [s] 6:00 NINE News Saturday [s] 7:00 Movie: “Twins” (PG) (’88) – A physically perfect but innocent man goes in search of his longlost twin brother, who is a short small-time crook. Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston 9:10 Movie: “Kindergarten Cop” (M) (’90) Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller 11:20 Movie: “The Brothers Bloom” (M v,l) (’08) Stars: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody

Monday 28 December

Home Shopping Weekend Sunrise [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Pre Game [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 1 *Live* From The MCG [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: The Lunch Break [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 1 *Live* From The MCG [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Tea Break [s] Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 1 *Live* From The MCG [s] Seven News [s] Cricket: Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades *Live* From TBA [s] Cricket: Big Bash League: Sydney Sixers V Melbourne Stars *Live* From TBA [s] Home Shopping

6:00 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 11:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 11:30 Songs Of Praise: Birmingham 9:30 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 10:30 12:30 Landline Summer [s] 1:00 Call The Midwife: Christmas Special [s] 12:30 2:30 War On Waste (PG) [s] 3:30 Everyone’s A Critic [s] 4:00 Football: W-League: Round 1: 1:10 Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory *Live* From 3:10 TBA [s] 6:00 Antiques Roadshow [s] 3:30 7:00 ABC News Sunday [s] 7:30 Fight For Planet A: Our Climate Challenge (PG) [s] 6:00 8:40 The Cry (M) [s] 7:00 10:35 Killing Eve: Wide Awake (MA15+) [s] 11:20 Silent Witness: Identity (Part 1) (M) [s] 12:15 Endeavour: Passenger (M v) [s] 11:00 1:45 rage (MA15+) 4:00 Silent Witness: 1:00 Identity (Part 1) (M) [s] 6:00 The Cook And The Chef [s] 6:25 Short Cuts To Glory: Matt Okine vs Food [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 Antiques Roadshow [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 The Great Acceleration (PG) 1:55 Rake (M l,d,s) [s] 3:00 Death In Paradise (PG) [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) [s] 6:30 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 David Attenborough’s Tasmania (PG) [s] 8:25 Australia Remastered: Kakadu 9:20 Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip (PG) [s] 10:10 Tomorrow Tonight (PG) [s] 10:40 ABC Late News [s] 10:55 Harrow: Ab Initio (M v) [s] 11:50 Silent Witness (M l,s,v) [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 Program Be Advised 9:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Pre Game [s] 10:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 3 *Live* From The MCG [s] 12:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Lunch Break [s] 1:10 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 3 *Live* From The MCG [s] 3:10 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Tea Break [s] 3:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 3 *Live* From The MCG [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Cricket: Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers *Live* From The Adelaide Oval [s] 11:00 Station 19: Let It Burn (M) [s] 12:00 Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence (M v,l) [s] 1:00 Home Shopping

5:30 Today [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Housesitter” (PG) (’92) Stars: Goldie Hawn, Steve Martin, Dana Delany 2:00 Bondi Vet: Coast To Coast (PG) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Gold Coast Cops (M v,l) [s] 8:00 Driving Test: Thomas (PG) [s] 8:30 Movie: “Inferno” (M v,l) (’16) Stars: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Irfan Khan, Omar Sy, Sidse Babett Knudsen 10:55 The First 48: The Graveyard Shift *(M) [s] 11:50 Generation X: The Power Of Disruption (M) [s] 12:45 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 1:15 Explore [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

6:00 The Cook And The Chef [s] 6:25 Short Cuts To Glory: Matt Okine vs Food [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 David Attenborough’s Tasmania [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 The Great Acceleration (PG) 1:55 Rake (M l,d,s) [s] 3:00 Death In Paradise (PG) [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) [s] 6:30 Anh’s Brush With Fame (PG) 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Freeman [s] 8:30 The Australian Dream (MA15+) [s] 9:35 Pangolins: Narrated by David Attenborough [s] 10:35 ABC Late News [s] 10:50 Glitch (M l,s) [s] 11:50 Silent Witness (M l,s,v) [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 Program Be Advised 9:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Pre Game [s] 10:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 4 *Live* From The MCG [s] 12:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Lunch Break [s] 1:10 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 4 *Live* From The MCG [s] 3:10 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Tea Break [s] 3:30 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 2: Day 4 *Live* From The MCG [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Cricket: Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars *Live* From Manuka Oval 11:00 Chicago Fire: Protect A Child (M) [s] 12:00 Funniest Cutest Kittens Ever (PG) [s] 1:00 Home Shopping

5:30 Today [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day” (PG) (’08) Stars: Amy Adams, David Alexander, Clare Clifford, Christina Cole, Stephanie Cole, Beatie Edney, Shirley Henderson 2:00 Desert Vet (PG) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 20 To One: Epic Celebrity Fails (M) [s] 8:30 Kath & Kim: Cactus Hour/ The Mango Espadrille (PG) [s] 9:35 Program To Be Advised 10:40 Hamish & Andy’s Euro Gap Year (PG) [s] 11:35 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Baggage (M v) [s] 12:30 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:15 12:15 1:15 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 7:00 9:00 10:40

2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 6:30 7:30 8:00 11:30 12:00 1:00 2:00 6:00 8:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 1:00 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 6:30 7:30 9:55 12:25 12:55 2:00 3:30

Unknown Road Adventures Entertainment Tonight [s] RV Daily Foodie Trails (PG) All 4 Adventure [s] 4X4 Adventures [s] Taste Of Australia [s] Left Off The Map [s] My Market Kitchen [s] Everyday Gourmet [s] Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club (PG) [s] The Living Room [s] Movie: “Miss Congeniality” (PG) (’00) Stars: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine Roads Less Travelled [s] Freshly Picked [s] Fishing Australia [s] 10 News First [s] The Dog House (PG) [s] Movie: “Red Dog” (PG) (’11) Stars: Josh Luca Movie: “Koko: A Red Dog Story” (G) (’19) Stars: Jason Isaacs, Felix Williamson Blood And Treasure (M) [s]

SBS (C30)

6:00 rage (PG) [s] 6:00 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 7:00 10:00 rage (PG) [s] 9:30 11:00 rage Guest Programmer (PG) 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 10:30 12:30 Royal Variety Performance 2020 [s] 2:30 The Sound [s] 12:30 3:30 The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2017 [s] 1:10 5:00 Program To Be Advised 5:35 Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! [s] – Dr. Seuss’ 3:10 timeless holiday classic comes to life in this fun-filled and 3:30 heartwarming stage production of “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical”, filmed in London at the 6:00 Troubadour Theatre.

7:00 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Program To Be Advised 9:00 Endeavour: Passenger (M v) [s] 9:20 10:30 Sherlock: The Final Problem (M) [s] 1:00 11:55 rage Guest Programmer (MA15+) [s]

Tuesday 29 December

Saturday 26 December

ABC (C20/21)

Page 21

23 December 2020

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Programming information correct at time of going to press, changes are at the network’s discretion Prepared by National Typesetting Services

5:00 5:15 5:30 1:00 2:00 5:05 5:35 6:30 7:35

7:55 9:00 12:05

CGTN English News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Kimberley Cruise: Australia’s Last Great Wilderness Travel Man: Tenerife Nazi Megastructures (PG) SBS World News A World Of Calm: The Gift Of Chocolate (PG) – Inspired by the ancient cacao traditions of Central America, we capture the alluring alchemy of chocolate and its metamorphosis from tropical fruit to global delicacy.

Secrets Of Our Cities: Freemantle (PG) Movie: “Gangs Of New York” (MA15+) (’02) Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio (In Latin/ Chinese/ English) Movie: “The Fortress” (MA15+) (’17) Stars: Byung-hun Lee, Yoon-seok Kim (In Korean)

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

Page 22

23 December 2020

COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS

CCN

ARTS & CULTURE Wyong Writers

Writers meet monthly to encourage and develop their writing skills.We meet on the 4th Saturday of each month – arrive at 1.15pm for a 1.30 start.

Woodbury Community Centre 1 Woolmers Cres, Mardi.

4333 7489

meilingvenning@hotmail.com www.wyongwriters.org

Toukley District Art Society

Caravans, tents, mobile homes, all welcome.

Social outings & trips away

0458 645 979

www.friendlytravellers.com

Lake Munmorah 50s Plus Leisure and Learning Club Computer classes, dancing, exercise, pilates, yoga, craft, carpet bowls and Tai Chi.

4358 8390

toukleyartgallery@gmail.com www.toukleyartgallery.com.au

Indoor bowls, computers, exercise, yoga, line-dancing, tai chi and more - 9am to 3pm

Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre

Information and referral, energy account assistance, food assistance, no interest loans, computer, printing and internet access, kid’s school holiday activities, parenting program, workshops, drop-in centre, community garden, walking group.

4388 5801 or 0490 538 494 manager@bvnc.org.au https://bvnc.org.au

Central Coast Caravanners Inc

3rd Sun - Jan to Nov Trips away, social outings, friendship with like minded folk Call Geoff 0447 882 150

Wyong Toastmasters’ Club

Improve your public speaking, leadership skills & confidence.

1st, 3rd & 5th Fri 10:30am to 12:30pm Wyong RSL Club wyongtoastmasters@gmail.com

Long Jetty Senior Citizens’ Club

Computer classes, line dancing, tai chi and zumba gold Mon - Fri, 9am to 3pm

COMMUNITY GROUPS

4353 1750

0421 216 952

Painting, drawing groups and classes, demonstarations and workshops. Open 7 days 10am - 4pm, Cafe.

Tues - drawing 10am - 1pm, Wed-painting 9:30am - 12:30pm

4392 4666

events, projects, workshops, arts programs.

Open community garden.

4332 5522

Wyong Uniting Church Weekly Sunday service 9am Bible Study group 62 Watanobbi Rd, Wyong 4352 1528 wyonguca@gmail.com www.wyong.uca.org.au

Long Jetty Over 50s Club

4332 5522

Tuggerah Lakes Toastmasters’ Club

Are you looking to Build your confidence?

Grow as a leader; Improve your communication

0410 238 022

Toukley Neighbourhood Centre

Lakes food care, energy account assistance, no interest loans, free counselling. Childrens’, youth & adult activities. Laundry & hot showers.

Hall & meeting space for hire.

4396 1555

The Lakes Church

All Welcome! Sundays - 8:30am, 10:30am & 5pm, (9am & 5pm Dec/Jan) Kids church, youth group, cafe, wheelchair friendly, 6 Pioneer Ave, Tuggerah

4353 0977 thelakes.net.au

COMMUNITY CENTRES CENTRAL COAST MARINE DISCOVERY CENTRE

The revamped CCMDC is open.

Schools and Group bookings welcome by appointment.

Building has special needs access and toilets. Open 7 days 9am – 3pm. Terrigal.

4385 5027

ccmdc@bigpond.com www.ccmdc.org.au

HEALTH GROUPS

www.tnc.org.au

Toukley Presbyterian Church

Not for profit service providing free legal advice.

Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm

Hargraves St & Victoria Ave Family service (Sunday school 9.30am), cafe church 5pm, community activities

Alcoholics Anonymous - Someone cares.

Thurs - 12.30pm, Progress Hall Henry Parry & Wells Street East Gosford

contact@centralcoastclc.org.au

toukleypc.org.au

Better Hearing Australia

Central Coast Community Legal Centre

4353 4988

The Creative Compassion Centre

Secondhand shopping, upcycling, minimalism, creativity, community lounge area, free Wifi.

5/22-32 Pacific Hwy Mon-Sat - 9am-4pm

0437 048 815

Country Women’s Association-Toukley

Mthly Market 2nd Sat 9am-1pm 175 Main Rd Books, bric-a-brac, cakes, Devonshire tea, handicrafts, plants, preserves, sausage sizzle, fun, fellowship, fundraising Meet 1st Wed 10am Hall available for hire.

4976 1642

Friendly Travellers Caravan Club

4392 9904

Venue for Hire

Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah - several buildings for hire, suitable for weddings, seminars, markets & fund raisers.

0408 271 957

Hearing loss management Support and educational groups providing practical experience and confidence.

4321 0275

Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Wyong)

pioneerdairy@bigpond.com

Volunteering Central Coast

Refer potential volunteers to community organisations and provide support to them.

Training for volunteers and managers of volunteers.

Information sessions

4329 7122

recruit@volcc.org.au

Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Supporting disadvantaged, vulnerable and isolated people offering community services,

Last Fri, Terrigal Uniting Church 380 Terrigal Dr, Terrigal 9.30am to 12 noon

4367 9600 www.pcfa.org.au

Central Coast Asbestos Diseases Support Group

Support for those suffering with asbestos diseases and others interested in asbestos issues. You are not alone, meet with others who can share their experiences.

Bring a family member or friend.

1pm at Ourimbah RSL on forth

Wed of each month.

Maree 0419 418 190

Al - Anon Family Groups Health

We offer hope and friendship for people affected by someone else’s drinking.

Al-anon family groups meet weekly, please contact

1300 252 666 al-anon.org.au

S.A

Is Internet porn destroying your life.

We may be able to help.

We are a 12 step fellowship like AA. Meets every Sat at 7pm on the Central Coast Contact for further details

0473 631 439

newcastlesagroup@gmail.com

Tuggerah Combined Probus Club

Meet new friends and enjoy social events.

2nd Thur., 10:30am, guest speakers. Social outings 3rd Thur.

Woodbury Park Community Hall, Mardi

Groups/schools welcome Morning tea/lunch for group bookings, wheelchair friendly, Alison Homestead 1 Cape Rd, Wyong Sun-Thur 10am-2pm

4352 1886

www.alisonhomestead.com.au

MUSIC Coastal a Cappella

Award winning women’s a cappella chorus.

Music education provided.

Rehearsals Tuesday 7pm @ Red Tree Theatre Tuggerah.

Performance opportunities.

Hire us for your next event.

0412 948 450

coastalacappella@gmail.com

POLITICAL GROUPS Labor Party Ourimbah/ Narara Branch Discussion/action community Issues – 3 levels of Government Function Room, Grange Hotel, Wyoming 7.30pm 1st. Monday

0410 309 494

Kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com

Central Coast Greens

Local, state wide, national & international issues & campaigns Council and parliamentary representation - 3rd Thur centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au centralcoastgreens@gmail.com

Liberal Party Ourimbah Branch How good is this?

2nd Thurs

0468 476 237

PROBUS CLUBS

Tuggerah Lakes U3A The Entrance - cryptic

Wyong Golf Club, 4th Mon, Morning Tea, Guest Speakers, regular monthly outings probuswyong55090@gmail.com

www.tugglakesu3a.info

Wyong Probus Club

4352 3692

The Entrance Probus Club

Ladies and gentlemen welcome.

Guest speakers, morning tea and many activities.

9.30am 4th Tues Bateau Bay Bowling Club

0478 228 914

Inner Wheel Club Wyong Join a team of dedicated women, sharing fun and friendship and a passion for community service 6.30pm 3rd Wed Wyong Golf Club 4393 2755

4390 2451

LEARN TO DANCE

Social ballroom dancing for all ages, all you need is a desire to learn and dance, no partner required. meet every Wed -15 Lorraine Ave Berkeley Vale, 2:00pm Anne - 0409 938 345 anneglazier@y7mail.com

SPORT KI-DO Mingara Judo Academy

Junior boys and girls Mon and Wed Two classes 6-8.30pm from 7yrs, Kangy Angy

0413 237 010

iiw.au.wyong@gmail.com

www.kidomingarajudo.com.au

The Lions Club of The Entrance

SATO - KAI KARATE - DO

Serve your community make friends, join Lions.

1st and 3rd Wed, North Entrance Surf Club.

The Entrance Markets Sun Mornings, behind The Entrance Cinema.

0488 286 006

theentrancelions@gmail.com

The Lions Club of Gwandalan

Join the Lions, make friends and help your local community Sat Garage Sales and BBQ 7 to 11.30am

4972 5562

secgwandalanlions@gmail.com

The Lions Club of Wyong

50 years supporting local activities - Meet new friends 4th Tues 6:30pm Don Small / Lions Retirement Village Colin 0413 014 266 www.wyong.nsw.lions.org.au

SPECIAL INTEREST Biz Plus Networking Association Grow your business & build worthwhile relationships.

Networking breakfasts every Thur 7:15- 9am Erina Leagues Club Geoff Neilson network@bizplus.com.au

Central Coast Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service

Toukley Dojo 7th. Dan Shihan Master Instructor.

0413 456 086

Sato- ha shitoryu karate do australia

Wyong Lakes Australian Rules Football Club Play AFL - Teams for Boys, Girls, Women & Men. No Experience Necessary

0404 257 702

play@wyonglakesafc.com.au

Doyalson Wyee Soccer Club

Football club for the local community, encouraging juniors from under 5 to senior team.

Karen 0410 045 981 president@doylowolves.com.au

Canton Beach Sports Club Lawn Bowls

Come and join us at Canton Beach Sports Club, every Tues 9:30am.

Never played before, don’t worry, all levels welcome. Free coaching available. go on, give us a call on 0415 210 536 for Chris, or 0409 292 086 for Lorraine.

VENUE HIRE

Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy

Central Coast Wetlands is located in Tuggerah. We have several buildings for hire.

They would be suitable for weddings, seminars, markets & fund raisers.

0408 271 957

pioneerdairy@bigpond.com

Newspapers Central Coast

CCN

4353 5515

cctaas@hotmail.com

crosswords, play reading Bateau Bay - Memoirs, Reading Group - Killarney Vale - Talks, Mah Jong - Toukley - Creative Writing Berkley Vale - Music appreciation - Chittaway Bay - Movies

4351 0450

HISTORY GROUPS SERVICE GROUPS Museum & Historical Society, Wyong District

Free telephone advice and advocacy for all tenants & residents in residential parks

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here call us on 4325 7369 or see www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Entries in the Not For Profit Community Organisations Directory are free. However, we require each organisation to subscribe to each newspaper to ensure that someone from that organisation keeps their entry up to date. Subscription rates $75 for 25 editions.

Page 23

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

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LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

CCN

Missing Link Solution: Missing Link Solution:

P B QUE L M A J AMS U A T MUG B I M ONCE E D K A Y A T L

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43. Sells (goods) in street 44. Utilise again 47. Sounding (of bell) 51. Starvation period 52. Non-liquid food 53. Allergic inflammation 54. Filtered 58. Join register 59. Barbie doll’s mate 61. Business books review 63. Resided 64. Library patron 65. French washbasins 66. Cleopatra’s land 68. About-face (1-4) 71. Avoid 72. Tinned meat 74. Abrade 76. Small spots 78. Garden water-feature 80. Variety 83. Musical, ... Miserables © Lovatts Puzzles

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YOUR ADVERTISEMENT HERE

ACROSS

PUZZLES

OUT & ABOUT

Page 24

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Weeds on median strips are disgraceful and an embarrassment

Rent to kick off big year

The Entrance MP, David Mehan, is calling on Central Coast Council to undertake much needed maintenance of road median strips and verges before the holiday period commences.

Famed Broadway rock musical, Rent, will usher in a triumphant 2021 of live entertainment in Wyong, when the brand-new Australian production hits The Art House this coming February.

As shows begin to return at reduced capacity and under Covid-safe guidelines, The Art House is determined to continue forging its path of bringing headlining metropolitan Aussie theatre to the Coast.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the original production that spent 12 years on Broadway, the Aussie revival will come to Wyong directly after its opening run at The Sydney Opera House.

Following a group of queer artists struggling to survive and thrive in New York City’s East Village, Johnathan Larson’s 90s rock musical tackles the themes of love, friendship and respect as the cast grapples with the gentrification of their neighbourhood, while the dark shadow of the HIV/AIDs epidemic looms.

The production stars Seann Miley Moore and Callum Francis, with Shaun Rennie at the helm as Director, Andrew Worboys as Musical Director and Luca Dinardo as

Council receives funding from the NSW State Government to maintain vegetation on main roads, which includes Wyong Rd, the Central Coast Hwy and Pacific Hwy. The funding is linked to an agreement for the work to be done.

“I accept that Council should be paid more money to do this work, but having signed an agreement, it needs to fulfil its obligations,” Mehan said.

“Anyone can see that these roads are not being maintained as required under the agreement,” he said.

“Our region relies heavily on tourists, but tourists won’t visit an area that looks rundown.

“Our main roads look rundown because they are not being maintained.

Wyong Rd used to be a grand avenue with well-maintained vegetation, but now it’s just a bunch of weeds,” he said.

Peter (Big Wave) Pracy, who was previously a groundsman with the former Gosford Council, raised the issue with Mehan.

“The state of these roads is disgraceful and an

embarrassment,” Pracy said.

“When I was a groundsman, we used to have four people on the team, but now I hear that there is only one,” he said.

A Council spokesperson said maintenance works was being prioritised and focussing on sports grounds, parks and play spaces ahead of the holiday period.

“Council uses funding from the NSW State Government to maintain median strips and verges in respect to the safety of road users, and currently there is no identified risk to road users from the weeds,” the spokesperson said.

Sue Murray

Seann Miley Moore and Callum Francis will star in Rent Photo: Daniel Boud

Choreographer, and is being presented by The Art House in association with LPD Productions and Sugary Rum Productions.

After a year of social, physical, and emotional turmoil, this tale about living in the moment, facing adversity, and finding community is more relevant than ever.

The production is sure to bring people back together to bond over this much-loved story.

Rent opens at The Art House on February 4, 2021, for a strictly limited four show run.

Tickets are essential and are available through The Art House’s website.

Dilon Luke

Peter Pracy and The Entrance MP, David Mehan

BOOK REVIEW

CCN

One By One Author: Ruth Ware Publisher: Vintage

Snoop is an app that allows people to listen to your music, “Voyeurism for your ears,” is what the company calls it.

If you cared what music a so-called celebrity was listening to, you could also listen to it.

Why? I am not sure, but this seems to be something young people desire, at least according to this story.

Snoop was founded by Topher St Clair-Bridges and Eva van den Berg.

They used to be together but have since de-coupled or is that uncoupled?

Other members of the company have titles such as head of beans, chief nerd, friends tsar, head of cool and lawman.

I kid you not.

The staff of Snoop are very hip and with it (and now you know how unhip and not with it I am by using that term).

They have traveled from London to St Antoine, an exclusive ski resort in France.

Also, among the group is Liz, a

former Snoop employee.

Liz is the odd one out – she’s not hip, not with it at all.

There is a moment of panic when Topher and Eva realise they did not include Liz on the list of guests they supplied to the chalet.

Her presence is a mystery until the reader realises she is one of three minority shareholders in Snoop.

This is important because there is a buyout offer on the table.

Team Eva wants to sell but Team Topher wants to hold out.

Liz feels she owes it to Topher to vote his way, while Eva seems to think that Liz will vote her way.

Oh, the tension.

The chalet is staffed by Danny, who does all the cooking and Erin who does everything else.

It has snowed a lot in the past couple of weeks, “Snowmaggedon” as one of the staff labels it.

There are no roads to the chalet and it is only accessible by a funicular.

The clouds are rolling in and more bad weather is predicted, and the avalanche rating is expected to rise.

Lifts and trails have been closed but the funicular chugs on.

Topher is determined to get everyone out skiing.

The group sets out to ski, but one of them doesn’t return.

Then an avalanche traps everyone in the chalet - communication is out, the power is out … and time is running out.

And then, slowly, other members of the group begin to die – one poisoned, another murdered.

If I’m sounding negative about this book, that’s because I’m negative

about this book.

I’m not entirely sure why I chose it – it did not make any of many lists for the top 100 books for 2020 (NY Times, Kirkus Reviews, etc) and there’s a good reason why not.

It’s a quick and easy read, but that’s about where the accolades end.

The characters were ridiculous.

The plot was weak.

The story ran out of steam after the first few chapters.

The chapters alternated between Liz and Erin and began with the SnoopID, their followers and what they were listening to – this added to the story except.

There was a lot of skiing references which might appeal to skiers but by the end I was tired of reading the word piste.

The attempt to seduce the reader with the rustic, French mountain setting, cozy fires and some mindfulness pampering with a sprinkle of corporate intrigue are all lost in the stew of slop in which it is served up.

I should say that the Kirkus review says it is simply masterful and that Ware is a contemporary Agatha

Christie.

It says, quite positively, the solution is “maddeningly simply” – read “obvious” – when was that ever a good thing?

If you’re going to take on Agatha, you need to be better than this.

The sad thing is if I’m successful in stopping you from reading this, you won’t ever know that you should thank me for stopping you from reading it.

Kim Reardon The Reluctant Book Critic

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Page 25

23 December 2020

OUT & ABOUT

DOWN IN THE GARDEN: A Magical Botanical Christmas them, Christmas or not!

They do grow up to 35m in height, however.

But oh, Woolly Bush Adenanthos sericeus how divine you are!

Perfect for small gardens as it will grow up to a manageable 5m and with bonus vivid orangepink flowers in spring and early summer this will delight both you and your local pollinators.

If you have a dinosaur lover or botanical history buff in your family, then you just have to make a Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis your garden Christmas Tree.

One of the rarest and oldest trees on Earth, it will grow comfortably indoors and in sheltered spots in the garden.

Holly

CHERALYN DARCEY

Could it even be Christmas without our botanical friends, the Christmas tree in our loungeroom, the poinsettia gracing our table and the Christmas Bush bursting from gardens everywhere?

Depending on where you are in the world, people have been inspired to decorate their homes and celebrations with the plants of the festive season.

The tradition of bringing greenery into our living areas during the winter months dates back to prehistoric times when the leaves of plants, particularly evergreens, symbolised life.

It was a promise and reminder from nature that as harsh as conditions were at the time, life could still go on.

The Ancient Egyptians decorated with palm rushes to indicate that the sun god, Ra, was returning after the passing of the winter solstice between 23rd and 26th December each year, while the Ancient Romans would fill their living spaces and temples with evergreen boughs to honour the deities of agriculture and the winter solstice.

Vikings had a great affinity with evergreens as the botanical symbol of their sun god, Balder and the Celtic Druids honoured (and still honour) the evergreen as a symbol of renewal and the promise that spring would return.

As the world has become smaller, we have seen a blended version of the plants that symbolise the time of Christmas for most.

Let’s have a look at the hall of fame plants that say, “Merry Christmas”.

Christmas Trees By 16th Century Germany we see people of this region bringing entire evergreen trees into their homes and decorating them as ‘Paradise Trees’ for Christmas Eve, symbolic of the tree from the Garden of Eden.

Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, raised the popularity of the Christmas tree in the UK after a newspaper illustration of them with their children around the palace ‘Christmas Tree’ inspired the people of the time.

From there, the modern-day Christmas tree as we know it was born.

So, what about growing your own Christmas Tree here on the Coast?

Although there are traditional Northern Hemisphere trees that can be grown in your garden, an Australian native tree will be far better suited to the environment here and fit in with the wildlife locals better?

Let’s begin with the magnificent Norfolk Pine Araucaria heterophylla.

I’m planting one this year because I just love

The Druids regard Holly as a sacred tree that represents fertility, and it was and still is used in their rituals as such.

The Ancient Romans decorated their living spaces and temples with holly as a dedication to the god of agriculture and the harvest, Saturn.

Later Christianity adopted this practice for their devotional spaces to symbolise the crucifixion of Christ with its sharp leaves and blood red berries.

Holly has become naturalised in parts of Australia, including NSW because birds love the berries – they eat them, then deposit the seeds far and wide.

We don’t want it in our bushland as it takes over our natural habitat and destroys opportunities for our smaller plant life so please don’t plant it.

If you are looking for an alternative, try Sweet Viburnum Viburnum odoratissimum as you will be blessed with an abundance of gorgeous leaves and a fast-growing lovely hedge to boot.

A good friend of mine, the photographer, and avid gardener, Karen Burgess, always creates the most stunning Christmas wreaths that emulate holly for our climate from bay leaves and bright red chillies.

Perfect for the foodie in your life!

Mistletoe A parasitic plant seems an unlikely Christmas time romance inspiration but the plant we all grew up seeing thrust over the heads of the desired in holiday movies was usually European Mistletoe Viscum album and although this plant can eventually kill its host, there are many mistletoes around the world that are semiparasitic and actually beneficial to our environment.

There are indications of mistletoe use in various beliefs throughout history with it becoming entwined with Christmas sometime in 18th Century England when what was a popular game entailed male servants being allowed to kiss female servants found standing beneath it.

To refuse a kiss was considered bad luck.

There are 97 species of Australian mistletoe found right across the mainland but not Tasmania.

While our mistletoe is not toxic like most others, it is still at the very least semi-parasitic.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.

They offer shelter, nesting places and food for our wildlife and are simply part of the great circle of life here.

Poinsettias A native of Mexico, the poinsettia is a very interesting plant.

Firstly, they are not vivid red flowers of the plant that you are observing at all but ‘bracts’, modified leaves that surround the true flowers.

Look closely next time you see a poinsettia in bloom and you will see that within this ring of festive red, tiny cream-coloured flowers that are the true blooms nestle within.

Poinsettias flower and display their colourful bracts, not only in red but pinks, oranges, creams and whites, in the winter.

To supply the market in our summer Aussie Christmas, they are grown in greenhouses where winter is emulated.

Light is limited and they are kept cool.

After Christmas, you can plant your potted poinsettia out into the garden and while you won’t be enjoying their famous display next Christmas, you will have a ‘Christmas in July’ display. Tip: Prune in late summer to encourage flowering and be warned they have a poisonous sap so protect yourself when handling and particularly pruning.

Australian Christmas Bush Depending on where you find yourself in our beautiful country, will indicate the type of plant known locally as ‘Christmas Bush’.

Here on the Central Coast and across our state, NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum is our Aussie festive native and it becomes more popular each year.

People in colonial times simply looked to flowers that reminded them of the European Christmas of their birth places.

Christmas bush, with its red flowers in tiny bell shapes and its appearance at the ‘right time’ did just that.

Louisa Anne Meredith, an artist of the time, refers to it as such in the 1830s: “We used to meet numbers of people carrying bundles of beautiful native shrubs to decorate the houses, in the same way we use holly and evergreens at home… it is a handsome verdant shrub, with flowers, irregularly flower shaped and go from green to crimson in colour.”

Similar in ways to the poinsettia, the flowers are not the part of the plant that endear us to it. The flowers are small creamy-coloured blossoms that fall away in spring to leave sepals that turn a gorgeous red by late December.

Find a full sunny spot to plant your Christmas Bush and feed during spring with a nativespecific fertiliser only.

When harvesting your Christmas bush, never remove more than a third of the plant and cut branches at an angle with sharp secateurs.

Remove all foliage that will sit below the waterline in your vase, change water every

second day and snip drying bottom of stems as required and you should see your cut Christmas Bush last well into the New Year with a vase life of at least two weeks.

NSW Christmas Bells The flaming yellow-red Christmas Bells Blandfordia nobilis and Blandfordia grandiflora are two of my personal favourite flowers.

They are members of the Lily family and say everything ‘New South Wales’ to me and remind me of summer bush walks, family picnics and home.

As with any native flower, it is illegal to pick these in the wild but that’s ok as they will grow easily in Coast gardens.

You will find that Blandfordia nobilis grows well in full sun but is semi-shade tolerant while Blandfordia grandiflora needs full sun.

I hope these tips bring a little Christmas inspiration into your garden and home and remember, you can also start a holiday plant tradition of your own.

In the Darcey home, we have a strong affinity with Sunflowers and its never Christmas until the house is filled with their bright happy faces.

UPCOMING GARDEN EVENTS Coachwood Nursery Open Days 18,19 December 9am to 3pm. Free Entry. We also have regular workshops for $49. Succulent & herbal teas workshops this December. www. coachwoodnursery.com Distillery Botanica, formally ‘The Fragrant Garden’ in Erina creates hand-crafted native Australian botanical gin and gorgeous gelato amongst 2.5 acres of beautiful gardens. Open 10am - 5pm Wed - Sun, 25 Portsmouth Road, Erina https://distillerybotanica.com THIS WEEK YOU COULD PLANT beans, beetroot, brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, chilli, celery, cucumber, eggplant, leek, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, silverbeet, spring onion, sweetcorn, tomato, zucchini, basils, parsley, lemongrass, mint, alyssum, boronia, celosia, nasturtium, marigolds Cheralyn Darcey is a gardening author, community garden coordinator and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘The Gardening Gang’ 8 - 9am every Saturday on Coast FM. Send your gardening questions, events and news to: gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com

BUSINESS & PROPERTY

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Business & Property Central Coast Strategy briefing held

Growth of the food manufacturing business at Berkeley Vale and a focus on mixed housing and employment growth across the northern suburbs were key points that Wyong MP, David Harris, and The Entrance MP, David Mehan, put forward in a briefing on December 11 with the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC).

In October, Premier Gladys Berejiklian tasked the GSC to develop and deliver a Central Coast Strategy that creates new job and business opportunities.

It is a collaboration between the GSC, led by: Chief Commissioner, Geoff Roberts; Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch; Minister for Jobs and Investment, Stuart Ayres; state and federal agencies: Central Coast Council and private sector partners.

“Having consulted with more than 50 industry and government stakeholders, six areas of interest have been identified by the GSC,” Crouch said.

The six areas of interest identified in the Central Coast Strategy include: Locating a university campus in Gosford city centre; Expand health services in Gosford; Facilitate

The Masterfoods factory at Berkeley Vale

faster transport connections to and from regional centres; Increase the amount of serviced industrial lands to support and expand industries such as food technology and advanced manufacturing; Streamline planning processes to help remove barriers, such as uncertainty and wait times, for businesses looking to locate on the Central Coast; and, Establish a high-speed internet network to attract new, diverse businesses and remove any

existing barriers for growth related to digital connectivity.

Harris and Mehan support those propositions and welcomed the GSC briefing where they could add other key points.

Mehan suggested the Berkeley Vale area, where Masterfoods and Sanitarium are located, could grow into a food manufacturing hub by enticing complementary industries to the area.

Harris said that with Central Coast Council’s recent endorsement of its Tuggerah to Wyong Economic Strategy, he was looking to the State Government to support progress of those projects.

“They took on board our thoughts about adding in some other industrial land around Berkeley Vale and Tuggerah and seemed keen to progress things and cut through the red tape, so we have to be happy about that,” Harris said.

“We want to make sure the northern growth areas are being included in their plans.

“There’s the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the Scentre Group (Westfield), Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council and the State Government, and we want to see that Strategy moving forward, which will also include land near the Super Centre at Tuggerah.

“The impetus is on jobs and

we need to see progress, because if we keep building houses, we need to have local jobs for the residents.

“The GSC has worked well in Sydney and delivered some great projects, and in 2015, I made a speech in Parliament when they announced the GSC. “I said at the time that I wished Central Coast was included.

“Well it took five years, but it got there,” Harris said.

Now the NSW Government wants to hear from the community about the proposed Central Coast Strategy through a seven-week public consultation period.

“I encourage everyone in our community to review these areas of interest and provide feedback which will quite literally shape the Coast’s future,” Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said.

The seven-week public consultation period will also include meetings and briefings with industry and government stakeholders.

Feedback will be evaluated and incorporated into the final version of the Central Coast Strategy, which will be presented to the Premier in early 2021.

Sue Murray

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY

Kanwal boarding house approved A boarding house to accommodate 44 residents at Kanwal has been given the go-ahead by Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

Development application 1505/2018 was first lodged early in 2018, and since then the proposal has been reduced from 28 double rooms to 17, plus 10 single rooms, for a total of 44 residents, as well as a manager’s residence.

The $2.9M two-storey project on 1,657sqm will comprise a series of buildings with a central driveway, an outdoor area at the rear and an interior common living room on the ground floor.

All rooms will have built-in wardrobes, a kitchen and a bathroom with a washing machine and a dryer.

There will be undercover parking for 15 cars, six motorcycles and six bicycles.

It will be built at 741 Pacific Hwy, near the intersection with Sparks Rd, and access will be off a slip road parallel to the highway.

Concept drawing of the proposed boarding house at Kanwal

Two petitions and 27 submissions were received during the development assessment period, with key issues being solar, privacy, intensity of use, compatability

with the surrounding area, location and access.

Nick Karahalios spoke at the Panel’s meeting on December 10, representing owner/ proprietor, Sofia Karahalios.

He said the property management team had worked closely with their architect and Council to address all residents’ concerns and to ensure that the project complied with State

and Council controls.

The proposal also encompasses the initiatives that Council has adopted in its Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy, he said.

“I truly believe that the design and amenity proposed will not only benefit the many people struggling to find suitable, affordable private accommodation, but will also become an example of how a boarding house should be built and managed,” he said.

Karahalios said the property management team currently owns and operates another registered 20-room boarding house on the Coast, and also manages numerous other affordable housing properties.

“We also have over 30-years’ experience in managing rental properties and lodgings, mostly with housing providers and housing groups.

“Our tenants are typically single mums or dads, students, retired elderly people and people with jobs generally on a low income or a social security benefit, and this type of accommodation suits them in both financial and lifestyle aspects,” Karahalios said.

Sue Murray

Pacific Link Housing win multiple awards The Central Coast’s only locally based Tier 1 Community Housing Provider, Pacific Link Housing, has finished 2020 with some significant award wins and achievements.

The not-for-profit company has more than 1,000 properties, with about 650 of those across the Coast, including 190 in the Wyong region, and housing 2,300 tenants in the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Hunter regions.

Pacific Link Housing received multiple outstanding award wins including a prestigious national award with PowerHousing Australia, recognising their outstanding efforts in providing affordable housing and support for those in need in difficult COVID-19 impacted times.

In addition to this, Pacific Link

Housing won the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Hunter Housing Award for Affordable Housing Project of the Year, in partnership with Kingston Building Australia, for a mixed tenancy development at Glendale.

They also won the prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Affordable Housing Development of the Year Award, in partnership with Evolve Housing, for a development at Roselands.

Pacific Link Housing Chairman, Wal Edgell, said that the award wins had come at an extremely exciting and pivotal time in the organisation’s 35 year history, and despite the difficult operating challenges faced during the past year, Pacific Link Housing had celebrated many recent successes.

“Within the past 12 months

Pacific Link Housing has built 51 affordable homes for those people in our community in greatest need, secured significant low cost finance to deliver additional housing stock, moved to new premises, and successfully implemented a new housing first program to assist people experiencing homelessness during COVID-19”, Edgell said.

“The development awards reflect the quality of design and construction in the new homes delivered, which is a reflection of the experienced and capable team at Pacific Link Housing, from Board level all the way through the organisation, and are just rewards for the dedication and commitment of the entire team”, Edgell said.

“On top of this, we are delighted to have recently commenced construction on our latest development on the Peninsula, which will provide

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12 one and two bedroom units to mainly assist women aged over 55 who are struggling to afford housing in the current difficult rental market.”

The PowerHousing Award recognised the significant efforts of Pacific Link Housing and their support partner, Uniting Central Coast, in successfully housing 30 tenants in a newly completed development during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Many of the tenants were in crisis accommodation and required additional support to settle into their new home.

Pacific Link Housing CEO, Ian Lynch, said that successful partnerships with wider community groups provided opportunities for tenants to secure homes and help build pathways out of homelessness.

“A home is just the first step.

“It is collaborative

partnerships and community assistance that ensures that those people most in need are provided with the necessary care and support to rebuild their lives,” Ian Lynch said.

“The support received from the broader community has exceeded anything Pacific Link has experienced in previous years with numerous donations, including food hampers from OzHarvest, toiletry kits, handmade quilts, household items being provided by caring community members, as well as various whitegoods and appliances being generously donated by Harvey Norman Commercial on the Central Coast.”

In addition to all that was achieved by Pacific Link Housing during this most difficult year, the Company also managed to successfully relocate their operations to new centrally located premises

to accommodate their growing team.

The new office environment provides a bigger and brighter space for staff to continue providing much needed services and support to the community over the coming years.

“Next year is set to be an even greater challenge, with a significant development pipeline ahead of us, and continually looking to strengthen relationships with all levels of government and the commercial and CHP sectors broadly, but we are delighted with the Award wins and achievements and the ever growing appreciation and recognition of our role in the wider community,” Lynch said.

Source: Media release, Dec 15 Pacific Link Housing

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY

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Salvation Army has gained official approval to run a café in Wyong The Salvation Army has gained official approval to run a café on the corner of Hely St and Anzac Ave as part of its Oasis Youth Centre in Wyong.

It will operate from an existing converted shipping container with attached covered decking, which was established without authorisation, on land owned

by Central Coast Council at 1523 Hely St. The Central Coast Local Planning Panel voted at its December 10 meeting to allow the café.

The café is used as part of the training and employment

The Salvation Army’s café in Wyong

program by The Salvation Army to provide training for Certificate 2 in kitchen operations and Certificate 3 in hospitality for the youth of Wyong.

It operates with one full-time Salvation Army staff member and up to two students at a time and is an extension of the kitchen operations in the main building.

Pre-packaged meals, sandwiches, snacks, coffee and other drinks are available from the café and other menu items are prepared in the main kitchen.

Hours of operation have now been extended to 8am to 5pm,

seven days a week.

As a condition of consent to run the café, The Salvation Army will now be required to lodge a Building Information Certificate to address the illegal construction of various works such as covered decks, stairs and balustrades.

The site is currently occupied by the Salvos Oasis Youth Centre and a car park, however the future of the 15-23 Hely St site is uncertain as it was nominated as one of Council’s parcels of land to be sold in the wake of its financial crisis.

Sue Murray

New program to help businesses submit tenders and negotiate contracts Small businesses on the Central Coast will soon have better access to government tenders and contracts, thanks to a new $5M support program.

The NSW Small Business Commission will deliver a fouryear program to help local

businesses submit tenders and negotiate government contracts.

Commissioner Chris Lamont said the Commission would develop targeted information and support to assist small businesses to put their best proposals forward.

“For some small businesses,

it’s hard to know where to start, and this program will provide practical support and assistance,” Lamont said.

A small business exemption will also allow NSW Government departments to buy directly from small businesses for any purchases up to $50,000, even if there is a mandated whole-

of-government contract in place.

Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said that with thousands of small and medium businesses on the Central Coast, this program was fantastic news for local workers.

“The NSW Government

spends more than $40B every single year on construction, as well as the procurement of goods and services,” he said.

“Nearly half of that already goes to small businesses, but I want to ensure that Central Coast businesses are aware of the opportunities to receive assistance with government

tendering processes.

“I hope this $5M program can also support local economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19.”

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Parliamentary Secretary Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Legislation unveiled to update the way council rates are charged A new environmental land rate category and more flexible residential, business and farmland categories are among plans to update the way council rates are charged.

Local Government Minister, Shelley Hancock, has unveiled a draft Local Government Amendment (Rating) Bill 2020, due to be introduced into State Parliament next year.

The Bill, which is now out for consultation until February 5, includes an environmental land rate category and the division of business rates into industrial and commercial categories.

It proposes a more flexible residential, business and

farmland rating, as well as special rate variations to help councils undertake joint infrastructure projects with other levels of government.

The Bill will allow gradual rate harmonisation for amalgamated councils over four years to protect ratepayers from excessive and sudden rate rises, Minister Hancock said.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said he was awaiting advice from senior management on how these proposed changes to the legislation would impact the Coast.

However, he expected that rates would be harmonised on the Central Coast by March.

Minister Hancock says the proposed reforms most significantly would see rating income growth to help councils provide for growing communities while still protecting residents from unfair rate rises through the rate pegging system.

Local Government NSW President, Cr Linda Scott, said the new ratings categories, along with a new ratings formula to recognise the impact of population growth, were certainly advances on the current moribund system.

“The rigidity of the current ratings system in NSW and its one size fits all rate peg has deprived communities of vital local infrastructure for far too

long,” she said.

“We are staring down the barrel of a prolonged economic recovery period (due to COVID-19), and many councils are facing a financial crisis as they try to provide and maintain infrastructure and services to their community.

“These reforms don’t go far enough to solve underlying financial sustainability issues, so we are looking at a band aid rather than a cure.”

Minister Hancock also foreshadowed a new ratings formula which incorporated recognition of the additional demands on community infrastructure and services by population growth, which is expected to be released by the

Independent Regulatory Pricing Tribunal (IPART) in September 2021.

However, LGNSW says real change requires the government to take the next step and scrap the rate cap, a move also backed by the NSW Productivity Commission, NSW TCorp, the Planning Institute of Australia, the Committee for Sydney, the Sydney Business Chamber and the Western Sydney Business Chamber.

“Earlier this month, the Productivity Commission found average NSW council rates stood at $591 per capita in 2019, compared to an $835 average for all other states,” LGNSW President, Cr Scott, said.

VIDEO NEWS 5@5

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“This means our communities right across NSW are missing out on good local roads, footpaths, sports facilities, parks and all the other infrastructure and service components they need.

“If councils have insufficient funding to keep local infrastructure such as roads in shape, we all suffer, through congestion, lower productivity and a worse quality of life for everyone,” Cr Scott said.

She said a lot more work was needed on the government’s draft Bill to achieve meaningful reform and to ensure a financially sustainable system.

Each Friday evening we publish a brief video news wrap highlighting stories from the previous week. coastcommunitynews.com.au

Sue Murray

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Lemon Myrtle Caramels

GEORGIA LIENEMANN Lemon Myrtle Caramels Well this is it folks, my last column for the year and I thought we’d go out with a bang. Just in case you can get your hands on some fresh lemon myrtle leaves, this is my all-time favourite caramels recipe – with an Australian twist.

Lemon myrtle is one of my all-time favourite native plants. It is often referred to as the “Queen of the lemon herbs” and was revered as a potent healer in indigenous medicine – and we now know why. It’s one of the most powerfully antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant herbs ever discovered!

It also makes what is arguably the world’s most delicious tea and is exceptionally easy to grow in pots, so well worth getting yourself a plant from a local nursery.

Lemon Myrtle has two predominant essential oils. One is citral – and it’s the richest natural source of this oil. The second is citronellal, which is an excellent insect repellant.

The plant’s properties have been investigated by scientists at Charles Sturt University. When

undergoing the Rideal-Walker test which assesses anti-microbial activity, it received a coefficient rating of 16, where Tea tree scored 11, and Eucalyptus, only 8.

In other studies, its antimicrobial activity was shown to be 30% higher than Tea Tree oil. So, a superfood by any definition, but most especially when fear rages high about germs and thorough sanitisation!

Now, it goes without saying that there are healthier ways to enjoy the health benefits of lemon myrtle, however as we all know, caramels are exceptionally good for the soul. And soul food is especially important at this time of year.

So, let’s have a closer look at our star ingredients.

Unrefined sugars When you’re choosing sugars to make good caramel, the heavily refined versions are much, much easier to work with as they result in a smoother texture, but who wants to sacrifice all those lovely minerals and unparalleled flavour found in the unrefined options? I’ve experimented

Lemon myrtle recipe: honey & crème fraîche caramels Yield: 16 caramels I’m well aware of the fact that everyone approaches candymaking differently. It’s usually a combination of available equipment and personality. I’m going to offer all 3 options, so that everyone is happy.

1) You have a candy thermometer: I will give you exact temperatures to follow.

2) You don’t have one, but like to ‘freestyle’ and aren’t too fussed if the caramels are a tad too chewy or brittle for your liking: I’ve given you accurate timings / instructions.

3) You’re missing a thermometer, yet keen on a particular result: I will give you the ‘stage’, so that you can use the iced water method to check. Simply fill a small jug with iced water and drop in half a teaspoon of hot caramel so you can feel its final texture as it cools. If you’re new to this method, do a quick google search for a rundown of the different stages.

Note: this is a fairly small portion of caramels, which is perfect for our house. If you want to double the recipe, you’ll need to adjust the timing accordingly.

with many types over the years and settled on maple syrup and honey as my favourites, although the latter creates a much sweeter caramel - slightly too sweet for me!

Lemon myrtle When it comes to lemon myrtle recipes, fresh leaves trump the dried variety, by a mile. So if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a branch or two from a kind neighbour (and happen to own a Thermomix or high powered blender), the clever way to preserve the beautiful aromatic flavour is to blitz them into a fine, dry mass and freeze it in a ziplock bag. It lasts for months and you can simply add a pinch here and there to your cooking. (Or make a cup of what is arguably the best tea in the world!)

The other way to prepare the leaves – and to be honest, I prefer this method for the caramels, as it’s a tad less stringy – is to slice out the middle stems and lay a few leaves on top of each other, roll them up and finely slice them. Then use a chef’s knife to mince them extremely finely, as you would any other herb.

Ingredients 1/3 cup crème fraiche or sour cream 25g salted butter 2/3 cup maple syrup (or honey) ¼ cup water ½ tsp fine sea salt 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tsp ground or finely minced fresh lemon myrtle (about 6 leaves) Instructions 1. L ine a small 10cm2 pan or dish with baking paper.

2. I n a small pot, combine the crème fraiche and butter over very low heat (keep an eye on it and if it produces anything more than a gentle simmer, remove it from the heat).

3. W hilst that’s heating, combine all the other ingredients in a medium-large saucepan and allow it to boil, without stirring, over high heat for around 7 minutes, ensuring that it doesn’t bubble over. (130C/265F - hard ball stage) 4. V ery carefully pour the crème fraiche into your hot sugar mixture. It tends to splash and spit, at the beginning, so pour

Crème fraîche We always have lots of homemade crème fraiche on hand because I enjoy making it myself.

It’s easy - simply stir in a tablespoon of whey and leave it on the bench until it thickens!

If I didn’t have such a preference for cultured cream, I would have never discovered the beautiful depth of flavour it adds to my caramels.

It was simply a case of having no regular cream in the fridge when I was hit with the urge to make them!

Rest assured that store-bought sour cream will do nicely too.

Chewy or toffee-like?

As with all things, I go through phases of preferring them one way or the other. Right now, I can’t quite remember why I used to love brittle, toffee-like shards as I’m hooked on the soft, chewy texture of traditional caramel. And with candy-making, it all comes down to length of cooking time, so I’ve included instructions for both methods below.

very slowly at first.

5. Stir the mixture until it’s smooth, then continue to stir on medium-high heat for around 2-3 minutes, until the mixture thickens. (120C/248F - firm ball stage) This will yield a soft, chewy caramel. To get a toffee-like consistency, continue stirring for an additional minute, making sure it doesn’t burn.

(143C/289F - soft crack stage) 6. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 2 minutes before adding the lemon myrtle and stirring to combine.

Transfer the caramel into your pan and allow it to cool on the bench for at least 2 hours.

7. Use the paper to lift the caramel out of the tray and a large, sharp knife to slice it into squares. To make slicing easier, you can heat the knife either by dipping it into a jug of boiling water or holding it for a few seconds over a gas stove. It’s best to wrap the caramels individually in waxed paper or cellophane to help them keep their shape.

Well that’s it for the year, folks! Wishing you a relaxing festive season and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you in the new year.

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Free online healthy lifestyle program A free online healthy lifestyle program for older adults living on the Central Coast will return in 2021.

Healthy and Active for Life is available for people aged 60 and over, or 45 and over for people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

It aims to support older people to live independently by increasing their knowledge, skills and confidence in how to lead active and healthy lives, while also helping to prevent falls.

Programs will run four times over the year, with the first of the year starting on January 25, although registrations

close one week prior.

The program will run for 10 weeks, with self paced interactive healthy eating and lifestyle modules supported by exercise videos to do in your home each week.

Participants will also receive bespoke phone support from a local trained coach at times that suit them.

Healthy and Active for Life is a NSW Health Statewide initiative which launched in October.

It is facilitated on the Central Coast by the Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service.

Health promotion officer, Leanne Andrew, said those who took part in the inaugural

program in October found that it was a great way to get active and learn about healthy lifestyle habits from the convenience and comfort of their own home.

“So, for anyone who might be making a new year’s resolution to be healthier, this program is the perfect opportunity,” she said.

To register, or for more information, visit www. activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au or contact the Central Coast Health Promotion Service on 4320 9700.

Registrations close on January 15.

Source: Media release, Dec 14 NSW Health

$3.8M investment for a new linear accelerator The Morrison Government is assisting the Central Coast Cancer Centre to treat more patients with a $3.8M investment for a new linear accelerator (LINAC).

Lucy Wicks MP with Central Coast Cancer Clinic’s, Kate Lyons, Dr Roland Alvandi, Shaun Clifford and Chris Lee

Linear Accelerators are used to administer radiation to cancer patients, allowing doctors to target cancer cells while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue.

Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the new linear accelerator is the most advanced machine on the market.

“This machine is able to deliver radiation doses faster than its predecessors, significantly reducing

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treatment times for patients,” Wicks said.

The new machine improves treatment of patients with intracranial brain tumours, allowing patients with multiple tumours to have them treated simultaneously.

“Patients with certain types of cancer will now be able to receive treatment two to three times faster than previously possible,” Wicks said.

I am proud to be part of a government that is determined to make a cancer treatment journey just a little bit easier by providing world class health services right here on the Central Coast.”

Source: Press release, Dec 18 Office of Lucy Wicks MP

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FOLLOWING IS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE PICKUP LOCATIONS, PAPERS ARE DELIVERED TO ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS EVERY WEDNESDAY Halekulani Bowling Club BATEAU BAY 50 Natuna Ave Ritchies IGA Cresthaven Shopping Centre Leader Pet Supplies 17 Lake St Bateau Bay Bowling Club 5 Bias Ave Coast Hotel The Entrance Leagues Club 169 Budgewoi Rd 3 Bay Village Rd Tenth Avenue Pharmacy Tuggerah Lakes Community 56 Tenth Ave Centre BUFF POINT 1 Bay Village Rd Budgewoi Soccer Club Bateau Bay Men’s Shed 1 Millington Way 1 Bay Village Rd CANTON BEACH Bateau Bay Square Heritage Village Toukley 12 Bay Village Rd 2 Evans Rd

1/74 Wallarah Rd

Coles The Entrance Rd

Lakefront Village 1-91 Village Way

Woolworths 12 Bay Village Rd

GWANDALAN Gwandalan Public School Kanangra Dr

CHAIN VALLEY BAY Valhalla by Gateway Lifestyle Gwandalan Bowling Club 25 Mulloway Rd Gamban Rd

Sun Valley Tourist Park 2 Bateau Bay Rd Blue Lagoon Beach Resort 10 Bateau Bay Rd Uniting Nareen Gardens Bateau Bay 19 Bias Ave Bupa Aged Care Bateau Bay 17 Bias Ave Elderslee Retirement Community 15 Bias Ave Southern Cross Care Reynolds Court Residential Aged Care 7 Bias Ave Kiah Lodge Retirement Community 15 Anne Findlay Pl BERKELEY VALE Berkeley Vale Public School 6 Pindarri Ave Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College - Berkeley Vale Campus 5-25 Berkeley Rd BP 1 Blade Cl Berkeley Vale Private Hospital Lorraine Ave Opal Berkeley Village 8 Lorraine Ave Medical Centre 3/10 Lorraine Ave Berkeley Vale Cellars 258 Lakedge Ave Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre 3 Heather Ave

Central Coast Leagues Club 1 Dane Dr Masonic Centre 86 Mann Street

Wyong Public Hospital Pacific Hwy

CHARMHAVEN Charmhaven Tennis Centre Parkside Dr Northlakes Tavern 17-33 Pacific Hwy Supanews Westfield Northlakes CHITTAWAY BAY Chittaway Centre Pharmacy Chittaway Shopping Centre DOYALSON Macquarie Shores Home Village 150 Tall Timbers Rd Doyalson Wyee RSL Club Pacific Hwy FOUNTAINDALE Happy Belly Takeaway 9 Catamaran Rd FORRESTER’S BEACH Celebrations Shops 6&7, 15 Forrester’s Beach Rd Brown Sugar Bakery 15 Forrester’s Beach Rd Forries Café 970 The Entrance Rd, Forrester’s Beach Di Matteos 27 Forrester’s Beach Rd

Liquorland 72 Wallarah Rd

Coles 11 Parsons Rd

Coles Express 102-106 Wyong Rd

The Orchards Retirement Village 15 The Ridgeway

The Bottle-O Shop 2/120 Wyong Rd Killarney Vale Bakery & Café 122 Wyong Rd

LONG JETTY Caltex Long Jetty 431 The Entrance Rd

Killarney Vale Newsagency 112 Wyong Rd

Bridge Club 415 The Entrance Rd

Central Coast Cycles 118 Wyong Rd

CUT Computers 421 The Entrance Rd

Red Prawn & Seafood Takeaway 118 Wyong Rd

Diggers at The Entrance 315 The Entrance Rd

KULNURA General Store, Indian Restaurant & Cafe 4 Greta Rd LAKE HAVEN Lake Haven Castle Cottage 8 Kylie Cl Metro Cinemas Lake Haven Forrow Dr

The Dam Hotel Cnr Minnesota Rd & Pacific Hwy

Arcare Kanwal Aged Care 2 Pearce Rd

Oasis Caratel Caravan Park 207/209 Wallarah Rd Wyong Rugby League Club 40 Lake Haven Dr Fill & Carry Fruit Market 258 Wallarah Rd BYO Cellars 260 Wallarah Rd

Central Coast Fresh & Cooked Seafood 74 Wallarah Rd

KILLARNEY VALE Opal Killarney Vale 1 Daniel Cl

TSG Gorokan

Central Coast Community

Lakeside Leisure Village 51 Kamilaroo Ave Lake Munmorah Residential Resort 2 Saliena Ave LISAROW Lisarow Takeaway Shop 2/1 Parsons Rd Lisarow Newsagency Shop 13/1 Parsons Rd McDonald’s 2 Parsons Road Woolworths 3 Parsons Rd

Corner Park Road & Warrigal 149-157 Main Rd Street TUGGERAH 7-Eleven The Entrance Westfield (service desk) Gosford Ave 50 Wyong Rd

WYEE Wyee Mini Market Shop 5 Wyee Shopping Village

KFC 16 The Entrance Road

WYONG Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Inc Building 2/8 Rankens Ct

Jimbo’s Quality Seafoods 109 The Entrance Rd Subway 35/37 Coral St Dunleith Tourist Park 2 Hutton Rd Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Rd

Kaino’s Seafood And Burgers David Mehan MP - The Entrance Electorate Office 324 The Entrance Rd 24 The Entrance Rd MAGENTA Smoking Dragon Magenta Shores Golf & 173 The Entrance Rd Country Club 1 Magenta Dr TOOWOON BAY MANNERING PARK The Bottle-O Mannering Park Cellars 68 Vales Rd

Lake Haven Shopping Centre NORAH HEAD (service desk) Norah Head Bowling & Lake Haven Drive & Sports Club Goobarabah Avenue Bottlemart Victoria St 181-187 Minnesota Rd Lake Haven Library and NORAVILLE Council Services Palm Springs Home Village Vietnam Veterans Keith Lake Haven Shopping Centre 181 Minnesota Rd Payne VC Hostel LTD 1 Evans Rd Catholic Healthcare Wellness RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Village Centre OURIMBAH Christopher Cres 1 Minnesota Rd Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Club Subway 6/20 Pacific Hwy Warnervale Public School Warnervale Rd & Minnesota 2/14 Bannister Dr Coastal Rural Traders Rd McDonald’s 10 Ourimbah St Goobarabah Ave Uniting Nareen Terrace TAFE Ourimbah Campus Hamlyn Terrace LAKE MUNMORAH Q-10, Loop Rd & The lot 1/35 Louisiana Rd Lake Munmorah Public Boulevarde School Uniting Starrett Lodge Pacific Highway Carters Rd The Preview 1/35 Louisiana Rd The Boulevarde Jamaica Blue Anglican Care Warnervale The Millery 275 Pacific Hwy Gardens 10 Chittaway Rd 171 Mataram Rd Woolworths Lee Rowan’s Garden world 1 Tall Timbers Rd KANWAL 72 Pacific Hwy Amcal+ Pharmacy Kanwal Parktrees Village Village SAN REMO 750 Pacific Hwy Shop 1/260 Wallarah Rd Coles Lake Munmorah Senior Northlakes Shopping Centre Kanwal Medical Centre, Citizens Club k2/654 Pacific Hwy Neighbourhood Centre 1 Acacia Ave 28 Brava Ave Tuggerah Lakes Private Munmorah United Bowling Hospital the Lott Club 645 Pacific Hwy 21 Pacific Hwy Acacia Ave

Forrester’s Beach Retirement William Cape Gardens Village 40 Pearce Rd 1001 The Entrance Rd

GOROKAN Guardian Pharmacy 70 Wallarah Rd

Discount Drug Store 73 Scenic Dr

GOSFORD Imperial centre 171 Mann St

The Lakeside Lifestyle Community 132 Finlay Ave

Blue Haven Public School 37 Colorado Dr

United Petroleum 67-71 Scenic Dr

6 Wallarah Rd

HAMLYN TERRACE Hakea Grove Aged Care 102 Louisiana Rd

Caltex service station The Entrance Rd Cnr Bellevue Rd

Coles Noela Pl

Toukley & Districts Art Society

Teraglin Lakeshore Home Village 2 Mulloway Rd

BLUE HAVEN Blue Haven Community Centre 1 Apsley Ct

BUDGEWOI

Wallarah Bay Recreation Club 40 Wallarah Rd

Care Association Cnr Cornish Avenue & Wyong Rd

San Remo Pharmacy 123 Marine Parade THE ENTRANCE The Entrance Visitor Information Centre 46 Marine Parade Nesuto The Entrance Apartments 18 Coral St

The Greens The Entrance

Supanews Westfield Tuggerah Terry White Chemmart Westfield Tuggerah Tuggerah Library and Council Services Westfield Tuggerah

Wyong Family History Group 6 Rankens Ct Village Central Wyong 18/34 Alison Rd Plaza Newsagency 6/18-34 Alison Rd

Shingle Inn Tuggerah Westfield Tuggerah

The Art House Theatre 19-21 Margaret St

Meals on Wheels 6/10 Pioneer Ave

Club Wyong RSL 15 Margaret St

Emma McBride MP Mariners Centre of Excellence, Suite 204

Central Coast Mobile Village 1A Cutler Dr IGA North Wyong Shop 2/34-38 Cutler Drive North

Bay Takeaway 205 Bay Rd

TUMBI UMBI Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Tumbi Umbi Campus 150 Bellevue Rd

Toowoon Bay Cellars 153-155 Bay Rd

Glengara Retirement Village 220 Hansen’s Rd

Australia Post 145 Bay Rd

Mingara Recreation Club 12-14 Mingara Dr

Toowoon Bay Seafood & Take Away 92 Toowoon Bay Rd

Chemist Outlet Tumbi Umbi Discount Chemist 7 Mingara Dr

Amcal+ Pharmacy Toowoon Bay 96 Toowoon Bay Rd

Domino’s Pizza Mingara 8 Mingara Dr

United Petroleum 359 Pacific Highway North

McDonald’s Mingara Mingara Dr

Mr David Harris MP - Wyong Electorate Office 142 Pacific Hwy

Toowoon Bay Holiday Park 1 Koongara St

Family Bean 90 Toowoon Bay Rd Flour & Co. 88 Toowoon Bay Rd TOUKLEY Toukley50 Plus Leisure & Learning Centre 1 Hargraves St

3 Mingara Dr Subway Restaurant Lot 9 Mingara Dr &, Wyong Rd WADALBA McDonald’s London Dr

The Salvation Army 28 Canton Beach Rd

Woolworths 1 Figtree Blvd

NewsXpress Toukley Shop 1/30 Canton Beach Rd

Coles Orchid Way

Coastal Health Medical Centre 213-217 Main Rd

The Lott 2 Edward Stinson Avenue

Toukley Golf Club 54 Ninth Ave Opal Norah Head 63 Palomar Parade Toukley Public School Main Rd Canton Beach Sports Club 11 Hibbard St PRP Diagnostic Imaging 54 Victoria Ave

Coles 781/17-21Yaralla St Wallarah Point Care Community

Wyong High School 53 Alison Rd TAFE NSW – Wyong Porter St Wyong Milk Factory Café 141 Alison Rd All Sorts Fitness Wyong 141 Alison Rd Alison Homestead 1 Cape Rd

Hungry Jack’s Mingara Recreation Complex KFC 300 Pacific Hwy KFC Mingara

Seabreeze Seafoods 10 Hargraves St

Lakeside Shopping Centre The Entrance Rd & Dening St Toukley Library Main Rd Coles The Entrance Rd &, Dening St

Coles Westfield Tuggerah

Nargis Gourmet Food Indian & kebab 6/2 Edward Stinson Ave WAMBERAL Pacific Garden Hotel 871 The Entrance Rd WARNERVALE ChemistCare 3 Mary Mackillop Drv Warnies Café 1/13 Warnervale Rd WOONGARRAH Warnervale Gardens 171 Mataram Rd St. Mary Mackillop Catholic Church Warnervale 91 Sparks Rd

Subway 250/300 Pacific Hwy Nexus Smart Hub 3 Amy Cl JAY-C 60/1-10 Amy Cl Kidz Hq 2c Amy Cl Wyong Golf Club 319 Pacific Hwy St James Anglican Church 25-27 Byron St Wyong Bowling Club 3 Panonia Rd Meander Village 18 Boyce Ave Kooindah Waters Golf Club 40 Kooindah Blvd Wyong Men Shed Incorporated 175 Pollock Ave Bendigo Bank 88 Pacific Hwy Oliver’s Real Food Caltex Stopover, Pacific Hwy Cafe F3 Northbound F3 Northbound Freeway

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR LOCATION ADDED TO THIS LIST FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Page 33

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Bondi 2 Budge charity swim is finally complete It’s been three long weeks, but Bryan ‘Dorf’ Dorfling’s Bondi 2 Budge charity swim is finally complete.

The Budgewoi local came ashore at Budgewoi Beach just after 3pm on December 22, bringing to an end his epic ocean swim that’s seen him freestyle his way up the coastline to raise funds for his beloved Camp Breakaway.

Departing from Soldiers Beach at 10am, Dorf’s trademark pink cap and zinc signalled his arrival at Budgewoi.

Spent but smiling, Dorf, who last year walked from Budgewoi to Brisbane to raise funds for mental health services, said he

was thrilled to be finished with his latest charity adventure.

“It was exhausting and at times it was frustrating, but now that it’s done, I just feel this huge sense of achievement and I’m so glad that I was able to raise a lot of awareness and funding for Breakaway.

“I’m also really glad that I don’t have to put on this wetsuit anymore,” Dorf said.

His time in the water taught him many lessons but Dorf reckons the most important was self-awareness.

“I had a lot of time with my own thoughts out there and while it was tricky, I think it’s really helped me with my mindfulness.

“There was always something

to worry about out there, what’s the weather doing, am I hydrated enough, sharks, but I just focused on taking it one stroke at a time because there was no use stressing over the unknown.

“At the very least, it was good meditation practice,” Dorf said.

With his journey now over and fundraising still ongoing, Dorf said he’d be spending the next few weeks on dry land.

The larrakin is also pleased that his big swim had helped bring the community together and open people’s eyes to the joy of giving.

“Since I announced the swim, I had people donating all sorts of things to help me and of course people were donating to

Breakaway, and since I started swimming, I’ve had people come out and swim with me, give me and my support crew a place to bed down, a meal or just some words of support, and that has really meant the world to me, seeing a strong, loving community in action.”

Dorf also gave a special mention to his right-hand man and principal supporter, Mick Parker.

“Mick has been by my side every step of the way and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without him.

From day one to day done, we did it together and I take my (swim) cap off to him.”

Dilon Luke

Fred gets his head back

Submission period to Inquiry into rural and regional health services extended

There’s been a Christmas miracle at Gorokan’s Guardian Pharmacy, with the store’s display mannequin, Fred, getting back his head.

According to pharmacy owner, Eric Ngo, Fred has been a mascot for the store as well as a major feature in all its holiday displays. for years, but tragedy struck in November when a thief stole Fred’s head, Santa hat and all.

The brazen theft prompted Ngo to take to social media to request Fred’s head be returned and in a bizarre twist it was via Australia Post.

The head turned up in a parcel giving Ngo a bit of a shock during his mail run, but with Fred whole again, he’s now back in pride of place at

The time for submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry into rural and regional health services, including the Central Coast, has been extended to Friday, January 15.

Fred has been reunited with his head

Shadow Minister for Central Coast, Wyong MP David Harris, said it was a great opportunity to raise concerns about the provision of health services locally.

“We know there are concerns about maternity and cardiology services already and this Inquiry will give residents the chance to outline those and other areas of concern,” he said.

“Our hospitals at Wyong and

Gorokan Guardian, with the team thankful to have him back, despite his headless holiday adventure.

“Fred finally came back and will spend Christmas with us

this year.

“We at Gorokan Guardian thank the Facebook community for helping bring Fred back,” Ngo said.

Dilon Luke

Gosford are stretched to the limit with staffing and pressure from population growth.”

Shadow Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said the extension of time ensured that people had the time they needed to share their experiences ahead of public hearings in 2021.

He said this Inquiry was so important to create equality between healthcare services in metropolitan areas and cities compared to rural and regional NSW. Topics to be considered in the Inquiry include: health outcomes for rural, regional and remote NSW; the access and availability of services; planning systems; capital and recurrent health expenditure;

and, staffing challenges and allocations.

“This process is about hearing from patients, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, parents, friends and communities, and it’s vital that everyone who has a story is given the opportunity to share it,” said Shadow Minister for Rural Health, Kate Washington.

“I encourage everyone who wants to see improved local healthcare services to make a submission and have their voice heard.

“There is nothing more powerful than a community coming together to fight for change,” Washington said.

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EDUCATION & SCIENCE

Page 34

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Class of 2020 performed on par with a normal year despite COVID-19 They were arguably the most disadvantaged cohort to ever sit the exam, but that hasn’t stopped the Class of 2020 from excelling in this year’s HSC. Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell, said the Class of 2020 had shown perseverance all year, with their results evidence that hard work does pay off.

“Despite all the hurdles, the Class of 2020 has performed on par with what we would expect in a normal year, which is an incredible achievement,” Mitchell said.

“The Class of 2020 has displayed a tremendous sense of unity and resilience this year and all students should be proud of what they have achieved.”

HSC marks were released across the state on December 18, with Central Coast students achieving some phenomenal results.

Gosford High School was the Coast’s overall highest achieving school, ranking 72nd in the state, with Erina Height’s Central Coast Grammar School ranked 83rd and the only other local school to make the top

The 2020 First In Course cohort includes Jessica Sanchez

150 schools list.

Students from southern schools also dominated this year’s HSC Merit Lists, with Gosford High School students Mikayla Bewley, Liam Chaney, Zoe Clarke, Liam Davies, Patrick Fang, Sophie Norris and Mikhail Savkin all making the All-Round Achievers List (students who achieved a result in the highest band possible in 10 or more units of courses in their current pattern of study), along with St Philip’s

Christian College’s Louise Huang.

And that result was mirrored in the local rankings for Top Achievers (students who achieved one of the highest places in their HSC or VET course), with Kincumber High School’s Jessica Sanchez ranked first in the state for Community and Family Studies and Central Coast Grammar School’s Katelyn Williams placed fourth in Society and Culture.

Gosford High School’s Sophia Stewart, Sophie Kelly, Jessica Livette-Vial and Patrick Fang rounded out the list, with Stewart ranking 10th in English Extension 2, Kelly sixth in Food Technology, Livette-Vial second in French Beginners and Fang seventh in Mathematics Extension 1.

And while Southern schools may have performed better overall than their Northern counterparts, Gorokan High School, Lakes Grammar,

MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale, Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus, Wadalba Community School, Wyong Christian Community School and Wyong High School all had at least one student make the Distinguished Achievers Merit List (students who achieved a result in the highest band for one or more courses).

Gorokan High School Principal, Matthew Boake, said

Year 12 should be proud of all they’ve achieved this year.

“We are very proud of all our Year 12 students.

“Our students achieved six Band 6 results across six different subjects and one E4 Band in Extension Maths.

“There were a further 39 Band 5 results achieved.

“Congratulations to an amazing cohort who conquered everything 2020 threw at them.”

It’s a sentiment being echoed across the State as schools and communities celebrate the success of an amazing group of young people and the families, teachers and school staff that supported them every step of the way through the trials and tribulations of 2020.

“Parents, students, staff and the wider community have all gone above and beyond this year.

“Congratulations to the Class of 2020 and the entire school community of NSW for all that you achieved this year and all the best for the future,” Minister Mitchell said.

Dilon Luke

Call for the validity period of 2020 Creative Kids vouchers to be extended Labor is urging the NSW Government to extend the validity period of 2020 Creative Kids vouchers to ensure that families and children don’t miss out on opportunities to get involved in the arts due to COVID-19.

The vouchers expire on December 31, even though a

third of the 359,978 vouchers requested by parents have yet to be used.

This year, COVID-19 restrictions have left many families unable to access arts and creative programs.

The arts and creative industries have been among the worst hit by the restrictions.

Shadow Minister for Better Public Services, Sophie Cotsis,

and Shadow Minister for Cost of Living, Jo Haylen, have written to the NSW Government requesting that the $100 vouchers be able to be used into next year, ensuring the money is not lost to families and arts organisations.

Even though parents can apply again next year when vouchers expire, their value is lost to families, children and

communities.

“COVID-19 restrictions have played havoc on both families and arts organisations with kids missing out on art classes, dance competitions, music recitals and more,” Cotsis said.

“Extending the validity of the vouchers would mean that the program does its job and properly supports families to access these important

programs.

“The money has already been budgeted and the Minister could do this with the stroke of a pen,” Cotsis said.

Haylen said an extension of the validity date would mean an extra $100 per child for families heading into the school holidays.

“Families are often desperate for options to keep their kids

entertained during the summer holidays and extending the vouchers would mean that they have more options to access creative programs and keep their kids busy,” she said.

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Shadow Minister for Better Public Services, Sophie Cotsis Shadow Minister for Cost of Living, Jo Haylen

CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT EDITION OF THE CHRONICLE TO GET THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS? Then satisfy that need for free by listening to a podcast of our daily local news bulletin at www.centralcoastnews.net/podcast/bulletin/ Or, get it from our facebook page www.facebook.com/centralcoastnewspapers Or, follow us on twitter twitter.com/CoastNewspapers Or see our end of week video news, 5@5 – NEWS coastcommunitynews.com.au/news/video-news/

Daily local news as it happens from Central Coast Newspapers

Page 35

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

EDUCATION & SCIENCE

School has ended 2020 with a momentous celebration Bateau Bay Public School has ended 2020 with a momentous celebration, the school’s 40th anniversary.

Officially opened on October 13, 1980, the school has been building up towards its grand anniversary celebration since September.

Festivities commenced on September 18 with a special anniversary photo were students came together to spell out a giant number 40 that was snapped via drone.

With pandemic regulations still in effect on the actual anniversary date, students and staff celebrated the anniversary on December 11 with a commemorative assembly and an 80’s themed mufti day, which Principal, Peter Graham, said was a throwback to the school’s opening.

“The day of the opening actually coincided with the 100th centenary of Education in NSW, so then Education Minister, Paul Landa, actually arrived at the ceremony in a vintage car with a passenger

and driver in period costumes,” Graham said.

Due to the pandemic, parents and members of the wider community were unable to attend the celebration, but Graham said the school was privileged to welcome back all its past Principals and a small contingent of other invited guests to represent the community.

With the celebration a perfect way to see out a tough year, Graham said Bateau Bay PS was looking to the future.

“Throughout the 40 years, our students have achieved excellence and our teaching and support staff have continued to ensure that they are provided every opportunity for individual and collective success.

“From the classroom to the sporting field, our students have continued to shine.

“We look forward to the next 40 years where Bateau Bay Public School continues to go forward,” Graham said.

Dilon Luke

Bateau Bay Public School’s 40th anniversary celebration

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23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

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CENTRAL COAST NEWSPAPERS has a very liberal credit policy for advertisers and realises that from time to time, people, businesses and organisations get into financial difficulty and may need assistance and time to get things back on track.

However, some people, businesses and organisations take advantage of this generosity they use advertising but simply don’t pay their account after several months and need to be taken to court to do so. From time to time, as necessary, we will name these people, businesses or organisations as a warning to our readers so that they will be wary when dealing with them.

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WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

EDUCATION & SCIENCE

Mural designed to turn dull spaces into beacons of happiness and good vibes End of year celebrations at Toukley Public School were made a little brighter this year, following the installation of a new mural.

The colourful new artwork was unveiled on December 9 and takes pride of place on one of the entrance way walls.

Sporting the school’s lighthouse icon along with the message ‘Shine Bright Share Your Light’, the dazzling mural was designed and erected by Artist, Angie Elder, to inspire students and the wider community to do their best to be a positive light to others, something Elder knows a thing or two about.

The Co-Founder of art and

positivity platform, My Happy Place, Elder has made it her mission to make the Central Coast a brighter place, literally, through her art.

With a background in visual arts and education, Elder has been painting murals for over 30 years, with her works beautifying schools, businesses and homes around the Coast.

Strongly believing in the philosophy that what we see every day can influence the way we think, feel and act, Elder said that her murals were intentionally designed to turn dull spaces into beacons of happiness and good vibes, with her latest creation no exception.

“I spent quite a few years

trying to make a difference in the lives of school students, so stepping out of the classroom and painting full time has been quite the journey.

“I’m learning, I’m grateful and I’m still motivated to make schools a happy place for kids and teachers.

“You don’t need a degree to appreciate that when someone feels better in themselves and in a space, that they’ll be more inclined to engage productively, so I guess I’m still doing what I’ve always done, and thankful for all the like minded educators who agree that art is as good for the mind as it is for the soul.” Elder said.

Toukley Public School’s new mural

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The talent and dedication of the members of Tuggerah Lakes Junior Concert Band were put on full display recently, when the Band held its annual end of year concert and presentation despite the considerable impact that the pandemic had on the Band’s preparations for this year’s event.

Conductor, David Markham, with assistance from Senior Band players, Mitchell Lowe, Ian Baker and Band President, Tom Williamson, presented an enjoyable program for a Covid safe audience of parents, grandparents and supporters at Don Stewart Band Hall at The Entrance.

A highlight of the concert was the inaugural presentation of the Midge Beach Award for Dedication and Commitment, in memory of the recent passing of Ron ‘Midge’ Beach, an

outstanding long time player, Administrator and Treasurer, who is dearly missed by the Band and the community.

Ron’s wife Margaret, also a Life Member of the Band, congratulated and presented the award to cornet player, Maxine Maiden.

Margaret was delighted by the Junior Band’s performance.

Promising Junior, Amelia Wu (trombonist) won the Junior

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VIDEO NEWS 5@5

CCN

Each Friday evening we publish a brief video news wrap highlighting stories from the previous week. coastcommunitynews.com.au

SPORT

Page 38

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Jack Albanese has set a new powerlifting national record POWERLIFTING MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale student, Jack Albanese, has ended his school year on a high after setting a new national record with Powerlifting Australia, not once, but twice.

Competing in the organisation’s 2020 Schools’ Bench Press Championships, Albanese broke the record for the 69kgs and Under Division when he performed a successful lift of 97.5kgs, earning himself a national title and gold medal, but amazingly the Year 10 student broke his

Jack Albanese

In another historic moment for women’s sport on the Coast, two female players have taken to the field in a Central Coast Cricket Association First Grade fixture for the first time.

As reported earlier this year, Wyong Roos’ wicket wonder, Tiegan Kavanagh, became the first female to take to the green in First Grade in Round 2, but on December 17, she was joined by Lisarow-Ourimbah up and comer, Alisha Bates, who made her debut in the T20 fixture, ironically against Wyong and Kavanagh, at Sohier Park.

Bates had a starring performance taking 3/7 off her allotted three overs with her left arm spin.

However, it was Kavanagh

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who came out on top, with Wyong winning by six wickets.

Kavanagh also performed strongly with her accurate medium pace, taking 1/8 off three overs.

Both Bates and Kavanagh have come through the Central Coast juniors and have also had distinguished female representative careers, with Bates having been a recipient of a Sixers WBBL contract and represented NSW/ACT Country at numerous under age carnivals, whilst Kavanagh is a multiple representative for NSW Country Women’s team.

They also play First Grade in the Sydney Women’s Premier Grade Cricket Competition.

Source: Press release, Dec 18 Central Coast Cricket Association Media

FORT DENISON

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect.

Proud dads Darren Bates (left) and Gary Kavagnah with their daughters Alisha and Tiegan

TIDE CHART

0552 1.47 0505 1.40 0001 0.56 1.33 23 0413 24 25 26 1217 0.69 1114 0.75 0636 1.55 27 1004 0.78 THU 1705 1.28 2318 0.57 0318 0.53 0951 1.84 THU 1633 0.34 2229 1.32 0336 1.47 0935 0.63 THU 1539 1.46 2204 0.44 0324 0.45 0959 1.96 THU 1642 0.24 2238 1.39

30

31

6

7

13

another successful lift of 100kg prior to the competition window closing and beat his own record.

“Congratulations Jack.”

The Schools’ Bench Press Championships is an annual competition open to high school aged lifters around Australia.

The event is designed to be a fun way for junior lifters to compete with their peers at the national level without having to travel, and helps raise awareness and interest in the sport by involving schools and communities.

Two female players in a First Grade Cricket fixture for the first time

CRICKET

WED 1603 1.32 2233 0.57 0239 0.53 0912 1.80 WED 1554 0.37 2147 1.31 0236 1.41 0823 0.63 WED 1433 1.56 2109 0.42 0235 0.45 0911 1.97 WED 1556 0.22 2151 1.39

own record not even a month later after pulling off a 100kg lift.

According to a spokesperson for the College, Albanese’s record setting lifts were the result of rigorous training and were verified by teachers under the competition’s strict performance criteria.

“Jack committed to a progressively overloading training plan and our own Mr Hughes submitted the video of Jack successfully lifting 97.5kg, which earned him the gold medal and set the new record for his weight division.

“Jack then re-entered

14

FRI

1

FRI

8

FRI

15 FRI

LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000

28

29

Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

0122 0.55 0043 0.55 0200 0.54 0756 1.69 0716 1.62 0833 1.76 1802 1.26 SAT 1311 0.61 SUN 1356 0.53 MON 1437 0.46 TUE 1515 0.41 2026 1.29 1942 1.28 2107 1.30 1855 1.27 0046 1.34 0400 0.53 0530 0.55 0139 1.37 0444 0.54 0622 0.58 1032 1.85 1158 1.80 0719 0.61 1114 1.84 SAT SUN MON TUE 1245 1.74 1714 0.34 1841 0.35 1336 1.65 1757 0.34 1928 0.37 2312 1.33 2017 0.40 2358 1.33 0051 0.46 0436 1.56 0633 1.77 0144 0.45 0536 1.67 0729 1.87 1053 0.59 1316 0.41 0821 1.93 1209 0.51 SAT SUN MON TUE 1415 0.31 1651 1.40 1908 1.36 1508 0.25 1802 1.36 2008 1.37 2300 0.46 2101 1.38 2356 0.46 0048 1.35 0412 0.47 0006 1.36 0132 1.34 0457 0.51 0627 0.62 1044 1.91 0542 0.56 0715 0.68 1126 1.83 SAT SUN MON TUE 1245 1.60 1725 0.28 1205 1.72 1324 1.48 1805 0.34 1921 0.48 2323 1.38 1844 0.41 2000 0.54

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9

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11

12

16

17

18

19

APPROX. TIME LAG AFTER FORT DENISON Ettalong 40 min, Rip Bridge 2hrs - Wisemans Ferry 2 hrs 30 min, Koolewong 2 hrs 10 min

In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated

Page 39

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU - COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE 23 December 2020

SPORT

Three in and one out as Mariners 2021 squad takes shape FOOTBALL The Central Coast Mariners have announced a major departure and three acquisitions, with the club parting ways with Ziggy Gordon while welcoming Michal Janota, Stefan Jankovic and Jaden Casella into the fold.

Ziggy Gordon

On December 17, the club confirmed Gordon’s departure as well as Janota’s signing, as the Mariners enter their final preparation period before season 2021 kicks off in Gosford on New Years Eve. In making the announcement, the club confirmed that it had granted Gordon a release from his contract at his behest.

It’s a loss that is likely to hurt

the Mariners’ preseason planning, with the Scottish defender having been a core member of the squad throughout the entirety of last season, but Janota’s signing is just as likely to have an impact, with Mariners Head Coach, Alen Stajcic, excited about what the Polish attacker will bring to the Yellow and Navy.

“Michal is a player who we are very excited to be able to bring to the A-League, and he’ll add great depth to our attacking stocks,” Stajcic said.

“Having spoken to Michal and seeing vision of him play, we are confident that he can be a great addition to the team and make a difference for us up front.”

The former Feyenoord man

has spent much of his career in Poland and the Netherlands before a recent spell in Saudi Arabia ended earlier this year.

Janota has played professionally since 2006 and in that time has proven himself equally adept at finding the back of the net himself and creating chances for others.

His 2018/19 season with Arka Gdynia saw him score 10 times and provide six assists through his 32 matches.

In the hours following the Gordon-Janota announcement, the Mariners also advised Jankovic and Casella had put pen to paper on 2021 contracts.

Hailing from OFK Beogard, Jankovic has spent his entire career in Serbia and will be

another focal point for the Mariners attack this season.

The 23-year-old has also featured in many of the Serbian national youth teams, and has more recently played with Mariners youngster, Joey Jevtic, who headed to Serbia last season.

Casella has entered a scholarship deal after impressing during his preseason tenure with the Mariners.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder was born in Sydney and spent time with Sutherland Sharks as a youngster, and more recently had a spell in Spain with Torre Levante and Mislata FC. Dilon Luke

Michal Janota

Mariners F3 Derby to be followed by fireworks display The Central Coast Mariners will kick their season off with a bang, with the club set to host fireworks at their New Year’s Eve clash against the Newcastle Jets at Central Coast Stadium.

NYE fireworks have been a longstanding tradition at The Entrance and Gosford and have traditionally been delivered by

Central Coast Council as part of its New Year festivities, but this year’s events were cancelled in response to the pandemic, with Mariners CEO, Shaun Mielekamp, excited to be giving this much-loved event back to the community.

“I’m so excited to announce that with the help of all the Central Coast Mariners’ partners and sponsors, that at

our match on New Year’s Eve we are able to put on the fireworks for our fans.

“We’ve got our match against the Newcastle Jets, the big F3 Derby which we are so excited to have, but even better, at the end of the match, you’ll get a fireworks display.

“2020 has been tough for a lot of people, and what better way to celebrate the end of the

year than with fireworks.

“I’m so honoured to be part of a club giving back to the community this way and such a brilliant way too.

Tickets for the match and the rest of the Central Coast Mariners home matches for 2021, went on sale on December 17 through Ticketek.

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20 Knot Speed Limit on Brisbane Water at Ettalong A 20 knot speed limit is now in place on the main channel of Brisbane Water in Ettalong.

The Ettalong Channel is a popular waterway shared by PWCs, boats, paddle craft, swimmers and a ferry service.

The 20 knot speed zone will ensure all waterway users travel at a safer speed in the area.

For more information on safe boating visit rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/safety-rules/otherboating/waterskiing.html Wear a lifejacket that is maintained as required and in good working condition.

A lifejacket never ruined a day on the water!

BLZ_SB2021

FOOTBALL

SPORT

Page 40

23 December 2020 COAST COMMUNITY CHRONICLE - WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

2020 President’s Award goes to Josh Street The Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club is a home away from home for Josh Street

MOTOR CYCLE RACING When it comes to supporting your favourite club you’d be hard pressed to find a man more loyal than Josh Street.

The Anna Bay resident, who lives with Williams Syndrome, has been making the journey to and from his home to the Coast to support his beloved Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club Inc. (CCJMCC) for the past 22 years, and now the Coast’s favourite flag marshal in training has been honoured

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with a special award.

For his tireless dedication and enthusiasm, Street was the recipient of the club’s highest honour, it’s 2020 President’s Award, and according to CCJMCC President, David Smith, there was no one more deserving.

“I’m not exactly sure how long ago I first met Josh, but I know he knew who I was before I knew who he was,” Smith recalls.

“He would always walk past me and say, ‘Hi Dave’.

“He would go to the same

spot by the fence, sit and watch the races, play with his matchbox cars and always be ready to watch the next race.

“The only time he would leave his spot was to see the ladies in the canteen for one of the world’s best hamburgers or to congratulate a rider on a good race.

“Over the years, Streetie has become a club legend because of his enthusiasm and knowledge of all the riders.

“He is the proudest winner of our Most Enthusiastic Spectator Award, so the club was sad to

lose contact with Streetie when the racing family he would come down with stopped coming.

“But last year, I heard a familiar ‘Hi Dave’ and there he was.

“Streetie had asked his carer to bring him down to Allen Park.

“When he turned up at the next meeting in a club shirt he’d grown out of, we presented Streetie with a new shirt and introduced him to our 2019 President’s Awardee, Col Adams.

“I asked Col if he could look

after Streetie for a few races and let him wave the chequered flag.

“He took to his duties like a champion and did not miss a lap, and he knew when the finish white line had to be done.

“The way he waved the chequered flag, I’m sure that his arms would have been sore for the next few days.

“For doing such a great job, one of our riders took Josh on a thankyou lap around the track and after that you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face,” Smith said.

Eleven months on and Street is still a gun on the flags and still just as passionate about the CCJMCC as he was as a wide eyed 8-year-old.

The club’s unofficial relief marshal, Smith said everyone in CCJMCC took great pride in having Street as a member and a friend, with riders keen to see him out on the flags when racing picks back up next year.

“Josh, thanks for being you from all your mates at CCJMCC,” Smith said.

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