5 MAY 2021
ISSUE 237
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
Community groups fight to save facilities listed for sale
News
The (VRA) is celebrating the launch of their first official uniform for members of the organisation... See page 5
Out&About
Central Coast resident, Nikki Bennett, is now starring in a theatrical tribute for Australian Music legend, Helen Reddy. See page 19
Business
The local community has asked to see the Termite Report which Central Coast Council says shows the Norah Head Hall should be demolished. See page 10
New CEO, David Farmer, has his eyes firmly set on the future As the State Government ordered public inquiry delves into the causes of Central Coast Council’s financial crisis, new CEO, David Farmer, has his eyes firmly set on the future. Farmer is determined to achieve his dual goals of making the Council into an organisation for which its staff are proud to work and which is recognised more for its initiatives and policy decisions than the mistakes of the past 6-7 years. Taking up his appointment as CEO on April 12, Farmer is almost a month into his tenure and says he is in it “for the long haul”. He has a difficult job ahead of him. Working alongside Rik Hart,
who will take over from Dick Persson as Administrator on May 13, it will be Farmer’s job to see Council return to a solid financial footing. “I have been in difficult situations similar to this before,” he said. “I have worked at councils under administration at Wollongong for three and a half years and at Ipswich for 12 months, and am familiar with how this will work. “In some ways it is easier working alongside just one person, as opposed to elected councillors, as you don’t have to wonder how the numbers will fall. “Each Administrator is different, but I am confident that I will work well with Rik Hart, he understands both roles.
Central Coast Council CEO, David Farmer
“His will be a more short term focus but I have a long term plan to work first with the Administrator and eventually with elected councillors to make the organisation as sound as possible.” Hart, who acted as CEO from
October 30, when councillors were suspended and the Council was placed under administration until Farmer’s appointment, is already familiar with the workings of the organisation. Farmer said the first priority would be returning the Council’ finances to a healthy state. “It will be a lot of hard work for many people,” he said. Farmer said the road to financial recovery had begun with the loss of around 250 staff members. “Many of the hard decisions have already been made, with most of the staff cuts at management level, and now the organisation has to adapt to operating with fewer people and less resources as it continues to deliver essential services,” he said.
“In the short term, I hope to get this year’s budget working a little better than anticipated and I’d like to see a small surplus to start next year.” Key to achieving this, Farmer said, would be the 15 per cent rate rise yet to be okayed by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which will hand down its decision some time in May. In the event the rate increase of 13 per cent above the 2 per cent cap is denied, Farmer said there would be some “serious surgery” to services. “With cuts already having made to staff at the upper levels of the organisation, a further wave of staff cuts would impact those who deliver Council’s services,” he said. Continued page 10
Business NSW Central Coast has applauded news that the Federal Government has extended the construction commencement requirement.. See page 26
Sport
The Men’s Over 40 and Over 45 State Championships went ahead in Tamworth from Friday to Sunday, April 30 – May 2... See page 39
Puzzles page 23
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