1 DECEMBER 2021
ISSUE 267
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
News
On the eve of an expected decision from the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), environmental lawyers have released their damning submission. See page 3
Out&About
Coast profiled as a great family destination
Destination Central Coast has partnered with Holidays with Kids, Australia’s number one family travel magazine, to showcase some of the best family-friendly things to do on the Central Coast, just in time for Summer.
The Glen Rehabilitation Centre in Chittaway Point has been awarded the Outstanding Community Organisation Award for 2021 from Business NSW. See page 14
Business
See page 8
One COVID-19 Omicron case confirmed on Coast - See page 4
Administrator rescinds Councillors’ airport resolution Central Coast Council will carry out maintenance work on the southern end of Warnervale Airport, as the result of a rescission motion adopted by Administrator, Rik Hart, on November 23. The maintenance work will trim back vegetation to create a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) to meet Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that all aircraft landing areas have a RESA. In 2019 Council resolved not to mow the southern end of Central Coast Airport in the
interest of protecting the nearby and ecologically sensitive Porters Creek Wetlands. But Council’s Director Corporate Affairs, Natalia Cowley, said the previous resolution was an unnecessary duplication of legislation. “Protection of the wetlands is already regulated under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Coastal Management) 2018,” Cowley said. “Council is being proactive in its management of health and safety by allowing maintenance in the area. “Creating a Runway End Safety Area will protect the
health and safety of aircraft operators and passengers, as well the welfare of animals that may cause accidents on the runway.” Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said that it is Council’s responsibility to prioritise safety and mitigate risk. “Council supports the safety recommendations of aviation experts and will meet the standards set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,” Hart said. Before he adopted the decision, two speakers addressed the November 23 Council meeting in relation to the rescission motion put before Hart.
Gary Chestnut spoke on behalf of the Community Environment Network and he put forward an alternative idea which he said would save the Council mowing the area included in the rescission motion. He also said the Council report did not bring to the Administrator’s attention the provisions of Chapter 7 of CASA Manual of Standard. He said the aircraft that use the Warnervale Landing Area or Central Coast Airfield were all classified as aircraft with a code 1 and CASA had no requirement for a 90-metre RESA (Runway End Safety Area) as presented in
Council’s report. “What is also lacking in Council’s report is the provisions of chapter 7.18.2 which states: ‘The whole part of a RESA may be included in the runway strip’,” Mr Chestnut said. He said the length of the runway was 140 metres longer than the minimum length for Code 1 aircraft of 800 metres. He suggested Council could remark the runway landing area by relocating the holding area of aircraft. “This means the end of the runway or stop way can be relocated 142 metres to the north. See page 8
David Farmer, CEO of Central Coast Council, and the Greens David Shoebridge will speak at a community planning forum to be held at Gosford RSL on December 11. See page 21
Education
The NSW Teachers Federation Council on Saturday, November 27, voted unanimously to strike for 24 hours on Tuesday, December 7. Page 27
Puzzles page 19
It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.
coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net