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October 6, 2016
Your independent local newspaper
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Issue 143
Ph: 4325 7369
Community campaign results in land sale strategy being abandoned 12 month community campaign has won its battle to stop the reclassification and potential sale of 25 community reserves and parks across the city of Gosford.
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Mr Ian Reynolds, Administrator of the Central Coast Council abandoned the former Gosford Council’s Land Sale Strategy at the September 28 council meeting. Ms Sue Chidgey, the founder of Save Central Coast Reserves, the umbrella group that coordinated the community’s campaign against the land sale strategy, said Mr Reynold’s decision had “brought immense relief to the communities whose neighbourhood sites were threatened. “Save Central Coast Reserves, the Community Environment Network and eight additional community groups across the Gosford region have campaigned for over a year for the protection of their 25 local reserves, parks and green spaces,” Ms Chidgey said. “Only two Councillors voted against the Land Sale Strategy when it was first announced, Ms Vicki Scott and Ms Hillary Morris. “In the campaign that followed, hundreds of community emails and submissions were sent to the Mayor, CEO and
Councillors, as well as a large petition. “In addition, rallies were held, as the community pleaded for the protection of their sites. “Then in early 2016, with the Council Amalgamation, the community again rose up and sent huge numbers of emails and submissions to the new Administrator and CEO,” Ms Chidgey said. “Many of our communities now look forward to joining with Council in the ‘Adopt a Park’ initiative to enhance their community sites for the well-being of their
community and for the urban environment. “I wish to extend my sincere thanks to every community member or group who supported the campaign to achieve this wonderful outcome.”
Ms Jane Smith of Community Environment Network said: “An overwhelming groundswell of community support has saved these precious sites from sell-off and development.”
"An overwhelming groundswell of community support has saved these precious sites from sell-off and development.”
The sites being considered for reclassification were located in: Isis St, Wyoming; Perratt Cl, Eagle Cl and Winter Cl, Lisarow; George St, Wells and Coburg St, East Gosford; Ocean View Dve, Dover and Lakeview Rd, Wamberal; Yarram Rd, Bensville; Bluewave Cres, Forresters Beach; Riviera Ave, Terrigal; James Sea Dve, Green Point; Hely St, West Gosford; Jerribin St, Wyoming; Kateena Ave, Tascott; Alan St, Delaware Rd, Niagara Park; Ilumba Ave, Davistown; and Warren
Ave, Avoca Beach. In late 2015, the former Gosford Council resolved to reclassify the identified parcels of public land from “community” to “operational”. A consultant was appointed in early 2016 to review the potential reclassification of community land, and to undertake the community consultation process on Council’s behalf, including public meetings to gauge the views of the community. Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the former Council had started the process with the best intention to help fund its infrastructure backlog, but in the end, the numbers didn’t stack up. “After weighing it all up in the context of the merged Council, I believe Council can find more efficiencies and savings in our now consolidated budget without the need to sell community land as a strategy,” Mr Reynolds said. “This will be welcome news to the many residents who approached me directly with concerns about the potential loss of open space in their neighbourhood and the hundreds who put in submissions. “There is genuine benefit for Council to listen to the community. Continued P3
Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
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