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February 12, 2013
Your independent local newspaper
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Issue 51
Ph: 4325 7369
Gosford’s main street closed for two weeks
Photos: ValsPix
ann St, Gosford, is expected to remain closed until at least the end of the week following a fire at Zone 3 Laser Tag on Friday, February 1, which compromised the stability and structural integrity of the building.
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Alternative routes are available to motorists during this closure and include roads parallel to Mann St (Showground Road and Henry Parry Drive), Racecourse Rd and Hill St which provides direct access to the Gosford CBD. Around 9:50pm police from Brisbane Water Local Area Command responded to reports of the fire. Attending police were
forced back due to a large amount of smoke from the fire. Fire and Rescue NSW officers attended and extinguished the blaze, with the structure having been totally destroyed. Specialist officers then uncovered an amount of asbestos in the building and the structure was deemed unsafe. A number of businesses
have been affected by the fire and subsequent road closure including Central Coast Eurocars and Gosford City Suzuki which are located opposite the fire damaged building. Central Coast Eurocars and Gosford City Suzuki principal dealer Mr Julios Husazarek said the closure severely impacted the access to his business. “Apart from the road
closure, across the front is an eight foot barrier that we can’t move cars in or out of and, apart from that barrier, we have an asbestos fallout on all the cars which we are not allowed to touch or open until they’re cleaned professionally,” he said. Mr Husazarek, who is also a board member of the Gosford Chamber of Commerce, said he was surprised that the reopening of the main street of Gosford wasn’t made a priority. “My concern is to expedite the opening of Mann St and the cleaning of
the buildings. “The whole business will have to be hosed down and even the pebbles in the garden will need to be replaced,” he said. Gosford Business Improvement District (GBID) manager Mr Paul Brasch said the team at GBID were “devastated” when news of the fire broke. “Zone 3 Laser Tag was an extremely popular business, particularly for youth. “We have been in touch with a number of businesses along that end of Mann St and obviously they are
doing it tough because of the road closure. “I know Gosford City Suzuki has been heavily advertising and letting their customers know that they are still open. “We’re looking forward to the road re-opening when it is deemed safe. “The sooner the better,” said Mr Brasch. Kaitlin Watts, 7 Feb 2013 Media Release, 7 Feb 2013 NSW Police Media Media Release, 7 Feb 2013 Gosford Council Media