Issue 147 of COAST Community News

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December 1, 2016

Your independent local newspaper

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Issue 147

Ph: 4325 7369

Planning proposal redefines city’s new Commercial Core and offers new incentives

Somersby residents draw attention to the Rindean Quarry proposal

Quarry seeks approval for 2,250 truckloads of fill per week for four weeks o m e r s b y residents are campaigning against an application for the importation of 140,000 cubic metres of Excavated Natural Material (ENM) to the Rindean Quarry at 620 Wisemans Ferry Rd.

S Diagram of the areas to be rezoned to form the new Commercial Core

planning proposal, intended to reshape the Gosford CBD, and started by the former Gosford Council, is being taken to its next stage by the Central Coast Council.

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The proposal, new draft planning controls and a new Voluntary Planning Agreement Policy, aim to realign zoning within the CBD, and then to use incentives to encourage development to revitalise the city’s new Commercial Core.

According to the proposal, $750 million worth of DAs for the Gosford CBD were lodged in the 201516 financial year, but most were in B4 Mixed Use zoned land, surrounding the city’s Commercial Core.

“Consultations with owners of the main … redevelopment sites have indicated that, having regard to depressed city property prices and the difficulties … in accessing development finance, development incentive measures are required to encourage any substantial redevelopment

within the Commercial Core area,” the draft planning proposal said.

According to Council’s Group Leader of Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, “the proposed rezoning and amendments to the Gosford Development Control Plan (GDCP), seek to create a distinctive skyline while preserving view lines to the ridge tops and activating streets and public spaces”.

He said the amended plan would ensure the building design for the Gosford CBD reflected its status as the region’s capital.

“We have a vision of what the future built form of the CBD could look like: taller, slimmer buildings around the new Commercial Core of the CBD, Kibble Park, with activated public spaces so people can live and work in the city centre,” Mr Cox

said.

The proposal’s aim “is to amend Gosford LEP 2014 by rezoning certain land within the Gosford City Centre from B3 Commercial Core to B4 Mixed Use, and certain land from B4 Mixed Use to B3 Commercial Core.”

The amendments will “provide development incentives for land zoned B3 Commercial Core within the City Centre by introducing …a time-limited bonus ‘pool’ of floor space and/or increased height” for DAs that meet certain site and design criteria.

Current GLEP 2014 height and floor space controls will remain the “base” controls, but a pool of 150,000 square metres of bonus additional gross floor area would be available to any B3 applicant.

The 240,000 tonnes of excavation soil, according to the Section 96 application currently before the Central Coast Council, would be used to build acoustic

bunds, rehabilitate and cap former tailings ponds and construct a road and wheel wash facility.

Somersby resident, Ms Lynn Cowie, said: “This will increase the number of trucks to exponential levels, potentially 9,000 trucks along Wisemans Ferry Rd, as they only have four weeks to build the noise bunds.

“There is no traffic management plan or mention in the Environmental Impact Statement about importing nearly a quarter

of a million tonnes of earth onto the site,” she said.

“The soil they are importing is not virgin soil but excavated material from Sydney infrastructure projects and construction sites.

“Rindean Quarries stand to make more money importing this ENM material opposed to Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) and more money than selling the excavated sand it has approval to export.

Continued P3

Continued P5 A peaceful protest at Somersby

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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Your chance to win!

GOSFORD LGA EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTORY

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Ambulance, Police, Fire 000 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Organisations Aboriginal Legal Service 8842 8000 Community Options 4351 3388 Bungree Aboriginal Association 4397 7700 Mingaletta 4342 7515 Aboriginal Home Care 4321 7215 Drug & Alcohol rehab 4388 6360 Respite Care Options 4351 3388 Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health 4351 1040 Darkinjung Local Land Council 4351 2930

Accommodation Dept. of Housing Gosford 4323 5211 Regional Youth Support Services 4323 2374 Coast Shelter 4324 7239 Neleh House 4340 1052 Elandra Women and Children’s Refuge 4396 4263 Kara Women and Children’s Refuge 4323 1709 Coimba Mens Refuge 4324 7239 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Wyong Youth Refuge 4351 1922 Youth Angle 4341 8830 Woy Woy Youth Cottage 4341 9027 Maya Young Womens Refuge 4323 1636 Pacific Link Com Housing 4324 7617 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Samaritans Youth Services 4351 1922 Youth Angle • Woy Woy 4341 8830 Temporary Accommodation 1800 152 152

Animal Rescue

Family Drug Support 1300 368 186 G-line - Gambling Helpline 1800 633 635 Credit Helpline 1800 808 488 Child Support Agency 13 12 72 Australian Injury Helpline 1800 223 363 Veteran Affairs Net work 1300 551 918 Mens Domestic Violence 1800 000 599 Sexual Assault Resource 1800 199 888 Gay and Lesbian Counselling 1800 184 527 Gay and Lesbian Support 1800 249 377 Youth Sexuality Network 4320 2856 Vietnam Veterans 1800 043 503 Victims Support Services 1800 633 063 Translation and Interpreting Service 13 14 50

Counselling Mensline - talk with a bloke 1300 789 978 Lifecare Family Services 1300 130 225 CatholicCare: 4356 2600 Relationship Australia: 1300 364 277 Interrelate: 1800 449 118

the Kranks will be shown.

Photos with Santa will be available from 6:00pm and children will have the opportunity to meet Elsa from Frozen and other fun characters and there will be jumping castles, food vendors, carols and more.

For your chance to win one of five family passes, write your name, address and daytime phone number on the back of

an envelope and mail it to Coast Community News Christmas Lights in the Gardens Competition, PO Box 1056, Gosford, NSW, 2250.

Entries close 5:00pm December 6.

The winners of the Coast Community News Hunter Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular were Bec Hancock of Tascott and Phil Clarke of Narara.

Central Coast Newspapers is a local, family owned business that publishes and distributes three Central Coast Newspapers every fortnight.

All staff are also locals and between them, the three papers cover the entire Central Coast.

Each paper focuses specifically on an area bound by postcodes as follows:

Peninsula News Post Codes 2256 and 2257; Coast Community News Post Codes 2250, 2251, 2260; and Wyong Regional Chronicle Post Codes 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2263.

All articles are sourced and dated so that readers will know when and where the information came from and where they can perhaps get more information.

All articles are edited and given a heading and are often quite

different from what was originally received.

Contributions are welcome and are preferred in email form, ideally with any relevant photographs attached.

Contributions must include the contributor’s name, address and phone numbers.

This is not for publication but name and suburb will be published and anonymous contributions will not be included.

Publisher/Editor:

Senior Journalist:

The Coast Community News and Christmas Lights in the Gardens would like to offer five readers each the chance to win a family pass to attend the Coast’s own Christmas Lights event.

Christmas Lights in the Garden will run nightly from December 9 to 13 from 6:00pm to 9:30pm.

Each night at 8:00pm the movie Christmas with

Family and Relationships Parents Helpline 132 055 Central Coast Family Support Service 4340 1099 Horizons (For men with children) 4351 5008 Interrelate - Family Relationships 1300 736 966 Uniting Care Burnside Gosford 1800 067 967

Health Gosford Hospital 4320 2111 Cancer Hotline 131 120 Mental Health info Service 1300 794 991 Sexual Health @ Gosford Hospital 4320 2114 Beyond Blue (Depression) 1300 22 4636

About us

Problems, Habits & Addiction G-Line Telephone Counsel 1800 633 635 Gamblers Anonymous 9726 6625 Alcoholics Anonymous 4323 3890 Narcotics Anonymous 4325 0524 Quitline 131 848

Wildlife Arc 4325 0666 Wires 1300 094 737

Phone services: Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Beyondblue 1300 224 636 Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463 Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Griefline 1300 845 745 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Emergency Police Assistance Line 131 444 Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 Woy Woy Police Station 4323 5599 Energy Australia 13 13 88 Gas Emergency 131 909 Gosford City Council 4325 8222 Marine Rescue - Central Coast 4325 7929 SES - Storm and Flood Emergency 132 500

Jackie Pearson

Graphic design:

Journalist: Dilon Luke Sales: Val Bridge

Jarrod Melmeth, Satria Dyer-Darmawan, Jasmine Gearie

Ph: 4325 7369 Email: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Next Edition: Coast Community News 148 Deadline: December 13 Publication date: December 15

Donnison St. Restaurant 4325 3510 Central Coast Family Support Services 4340 1585 Horizons Family Services 4351 5008 Meals on Wheels Gosford 4363 7111 Woy Woy 4341 6699 Department of Community Services Gosford - 4336 2400 The Salvation Army 4325 5733 Samaritans Emergency Relief 4393 2450 St Vincent De Paul Society HELPLINE 4323 6081

Lifeline - 24 hr. 13 11 14 Suicide Helpline 1800 191 919 Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Parents Helpline 13 20 55 Indigenous Call Centre 136 380 Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321

Cec Bucello

Photo Journalist: Noel Fisher Assistant Journalists:

Justin Stanley

Welfare Services

Crisis Services and Helplines

he Central Coast has its very own themed, interactive Christmas Lights Display in the Mount Penang Gardens and it is getting bigger and better every year.

2250 - Bucketty, Calga, Central Mangrove, East Gosford, Erina, Erina Fair, Glenworth Valley, Gosford, Greengrove, Holgate, Kariong, Kulnura, Lisarow, Lower Mangrove, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, Matcham, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mount White, Narara, Niagara Park, North Gosford, Peats Ridge, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Somersby, Springfield, Tascott, Ten Mile Hollow, Upper Mangrove, Wendoree Park, West Gosford, Wyoming 2251 - Avoca Beach, Bensville, Bouddi, Copacabana, Davistown, Green Point, Kincumber, MacMasters Beach, Picketts Valley, Saratoga, Yattalunga

also, see the Not for Profit organisations directory inside

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31 October 2016

The Pearl Beach Progress Association will be able to locate a defibrillator on the beachfront, following negotiations with the Central Coast Council.

The association’s initial application had been rejected by the council.

The agreement came after an open letter from the association was published in the last edition of Peninsula News, The defibrillator will be located adjacent to the amenities block.

Council administrator Mr Ian Reynolds said Council staff and community representatives held a meeting on the morning of Friday, October 21, at the waterfront.

“I had signalled my intention to review the decision and staff met with representatives of Progress Association on Friday at Pearl Beach,” Mr Reynolds said.

“We have agreed on a suitable location for the defibrillator,” he said.

“Staff will liaise further with the

community on installation details.

“Council’s initial view was centred around risk management and I think the meeting on Friday has satisfied staff that those issues can be managed.

Association president Mr Ross Christie said the meeting with Council representatives had been positive.

“We had a meeting on Friday morning and we got a letter of approval on Friday afternoon for a defibrillator on the beachfront,” Mr Christie said.

“Everybody is fine and happy and negotiations are continuing about the location of other safety equipment,” he said.

“Unfortunately we needed a public campaign to move things along a bit,” Mr Christie said in relation to the Central Coast Council’s initial refusal.

Interview, Oct 24, 2016 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Interview, Oct 24, 2016 Ross Christie, Pearl Beach Progress Association Reporter: Jackie Pearson

From left, Jayden Gordon holidaying at Pearl Beach is taught about a rescue tube by Mr Dave Kennedy Photo Patrick Everett

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high bar for DAs

ifty objections will be the new minimum requirement for a development application to be automatically referred to a meeting of the Central Coast Council for determination.

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Government abandons level crossing project The State Government has abandoned the Rawson Rd level crossing replacement project.

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Mr Duncan Gay, announced the decision in answer a question from Mr Walt Secord in the Legislative Council on October 20.

According to Mr Gay, the overpass project would now cost the NSW Government a total of between $80 million and $115 million.

The NSW Government originally promised $30 million towards the replacement of the crossing in 2011 as a major component of Mr Chris Holstein’s campaign to be elected as the Liberal Member for Gosford.

Since then, the cost of replacing the level crossing has been revised upward on several occasions.

The level crossing replacement project has been at a standstill since the completion of the pedestrian underpass in 2015.

At the opening of the new pedestrian underpass, I committed

an extra $7 million towards the council’s proposed upgrade of the level crossing,” said Mr Gay. “This increased the overall commitment of the New South Wales Government at this location to $52 million because a total of $45 million had been committed towards a pedestrian and road solution at the level crossing.

“Unsurprisingly, the cost estimate to achieve a solution at the level crossing increased from $52 million, which increased from the original $30 million, to be between $80 million and $115 million.

“Following the cost estimate increase, I wrote to the council and advised that no further funding would be available for the proposal, which the council admitted it could not possibly afford itself.

“Taxpayers should not be forced to foot an even larger bill.”

Mr Gay said the Government had no responsibility for the roads involved.

“Woy Woy Rd and Rawson Rd are regional roads under the care and control of the Central Coast

Council, previously the Gosford Council.

“In other words, they are not state owned or managed roads,” he said.

“Since 2011, the New South Wales Government has committed more than $36 million in grant funding to Gosford City Council for the upgrade and repair of council owned and managed roads.

“This is equal to a 27 per cent increase in the grant funding compared to what Labor spent in its last term of Government.

“The New South Wales Government also spent $178 million upgrading the West Gosford interchange to address traffic demand on the Central Coast Highway and Brisbane Water Drive.

“The latter is the key State road connection to the northern end of Woy Woy and this upgrade was open to traffic in 2015,” Mr Gay said.

Hansard, 20 Oct 2016 Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Reporter: Jackie Pearson More on level crossing - Page 13

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

The sign at the front of Christ Church Gosford

ather Rod Bower, the Arch Deacon of the Anglican Diocese of Gosford, has said the Commonwealth Government’s proposed life ban on asylum seekers and refugees is a regressive law that is creating an apartheid situation that must be condemned by every decent Australian.

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“The Government’s retrospective legislation on refugees is nothing more than creating a sub-class of human beings that no other respectable nation would be willing to sanction,” Father Bower said.

“Australia has a weak and frightened Prime Minister promoting legislation on refugees that portrays us a weak and frightened nation,” he said.

“We are better than that and we deserve better than this.

“We must not let One Nation set the agenda on refugees, or anything else

for that matter.

“We must not allow them to drag the political landscape even further to the right.

“We must not allow the decent, compassionate soul of the Australian people to be destroyed.”

Fr Bower used facebook to send a message to Federal Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten.

“You owe no allegiance to Kevin Rudd’s decision not to allow asylum seekers who arrive by boat to settle in Australia,” Fr Rod said in his post to Mr Shorten.

“You, above all people,

know that this decision was made in an attempt to salvage some of the electoral furniture.

“You now have the opportunity and the electoral space to formulate and prosecute a more humane and sustainable refugee policy.

“Please do not waste this chance.

“Oppose this cruel and evil legislation.

“This retrospective law will cause the deaths of innocent, broken and desperate people.”

Fr Bower’s four facebook posts on the proposed

legislation garnered over 12,000 likes, almost 4,000 shares and over 500 comments in three days.

One comment read: “As an atheist, I feel a tad uncomfortable commenting on your page, but I wish all churches showed your humanity and humour; what a kinder and safer place the world would be.”

Another said: “Father Rod, you are a Christian in the way I understood Christ to be, a champion of the desperate, vulnerable and marginalised; if there were more like you, my faith might still be intact”.

Facebook, Nov 2, 2016 Father Rod Bower, Anglican Diocese of Gosford Jackie Pearson, journalist

The new Council had attempted to set the bar at 100 submissions, but following public consultation, changed that requirement to 50 objections.

The Council had further amended the new Public Submissions Policy to require two or more councillors to request DAs be considered at a public meeting instead of one councillor, as was the practice of the former Gosford Council.

The word “submissions” was replaced with “objections” in the rewritten policy so that it will only be the number of submissions opposing a DA that will count towards the new minimum thresholds.

These two late changes have not been the subject of further public consultation although a precedent was set earlier this year for an amended draft policy to be given a second public consultation period.

In July, the Central Coast Council placed an amended Draft Code of Meeting Practice on public exhibition for a further 42 days as a result of amendments made after the initial period of public consultation.

The Draft Code of Meeting Practice had initially been put on public

exhibition following the May 25 Council meeting.

Coast Community News asked Central Coast Council why it did not follow its own precedent and give the community an opportunity to comment on the latest amendments to its new Public Submissions Policy.

A statement issued by Council on October 27, in response to the questions said: “Council considered a draft of the Public Submissions Policy at its meeting of July 27.

“It was placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days (but not advertised in this newspaper), and public submissions were received.

“The policy adopted

by Council on October 26 reduced the threshold for referral of DAs to Council to better align with the community submissions.

“As a result of feedback [the number] was reduced from 100 to 50, so no need for further consultation.”

It appears there is no minimum standard for Councils to follow when consulting the community about the setting of policies, so technically, Council does not have to do any consultation with the public on such matters.

Continued P12

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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November 8, 2016

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Issue 104

Comprehensive Wyong Grove rezoning proposal to go to NSW Department of Planning outique Wyong Living Pty Ltd has gained Central Coast Council support for a proposal to rezone parts of the former Wyong Grove Public School site from R2 Low Density Residential to R3 Medium Density Residential.

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Floor space ratio and building heights will also need to be amended in Wyong Local Environment Plan 2013 (WLEP), if NSW Planning gives consent for a gateway determination.

A portion of the former school site remains subject to a compulsory acquisition application that was lodged by the former Wyong Council and is expected to be concluded between November 2016 and January 2017.

At Council’s ordinary meeting on October 26, Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, agreed that the latest rezoning proposal should be sent to the NSW Department of Planning for a gateway determination.

Council will consult with landowners of surrounding properties to seek their support to be included in the revised planning proposal, as recommended by Council staff.

If the proposal is successful, properties from 1 to 5 Ingram St, 1 to 17 Owen Ave and 1 to 5 North Rd, Wyong, will be rezoned for medium density residential

The subject site for the rezoning proposal is edged in red

development.

The southern part of two lots at 1 North Rd will retain their low density residential zoning.

The site is known as the Wyong Grove Community and Cultural Hub and is the home of the Wyong Drama Group and Musical Theatre Company.

Wyong Grove Public School closed in June 2013 and Wyong Council entered a two-year lease with the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) in May 2014.

However, DEC sold the site in October 2015, and in December, the former Wyong Council resolved to acquire the front portion of the former school to retain it as a community hub, and council is still awaiting the outcome

of its application to compulsorily acquire the site.

A development a p p l i c a t i o n (DA/794/2016) was lodged with Council on 24 June 2016, for the demolition of all the existing buildings on the site, but has not yet been determined.

The applicant lodged a request for a pre-Gateway review in respect of this planning proposal with the Department of Planning and Environment in August.

The pre-Gateway review is yet to be considered by the Department and the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP).

A report from the Central Coast Council’s Department of Environment and Planning to the October

The portion of the site subject to the compulsory acquisition application is edged in yellow

26 ordinary meeting said: “It is recommended that the planning proposal be amended and progressed in the following manner: rezone the majority of the subject site and those sites east of Owen Ave and south of Ingram St, to R3 Medium Density Residential; apply a maximum height of 16m and maximum Floor Space Ratop of 2.0:1 to the rezoned areas; Retain the R2 Low Density Residential zone over the south-western portion of the site which is currently utilised as the Wyong Grove community and cultural hub and is subject of the compulsory acquisition proposal; and, apply a Land Reservation Acquisition layer to the southern portion of the site to facilitate purchase of this portion of the site

by Council.

“The planning proposal has been informed by a series of preliminary technical studies/investigations and it is considered that there is currently adequate information to support a rezoning of the site for a higher density residential use.

“Further detailed works would be required to progress the planning proposal should a gateway determination be given.

“The proposal will provide for increased housing density and expand the housing choice within 800m of the Wyong Train Station and within walking distance of facilities and services of the town centre.

“WLEP only provides for limited areas of medium density residential land around

Wyong Town Centre, and this land is considered a reasonable expansion of the land use.

“The indicative development concepts accompanying the planning proposal are very basic and will need to be further developed to address matters such as privacy, overshadowing and visual impact,” the report said.

“Council’s Community and Culture Unit has advised that the rezoning should only progress on the northern portion of the lot, being the part which is not impacted by the compulsory acquisition proceedings.

“Preliminary consultation has been undertaken with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (L&HC), which owns four properties directly abutting this site, and a further six properties situated nearby.

“NSW L&HC supports the expansion of the R3 Medium Density zone (together with a 2:1 FSR) to apply to their landholdings.

“Expanding the R3 Medium Density zone (together with a 2:1 FSR) for land on the eastern side of Owen Ave, north of Ingram St and south of Cutler Dve is not recommended.

“It is considered preferable to restrict the proposed R3 zone to the area south of Ingram St.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Agenda item 3.4, Oct 26, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

14 November 201

Holstein questions level crossing decision man responsible for uring Liberal Government ding for the Rawson Rd l crossing replacement ect, former Member for ford Mr Chris Holstein, called on the State ernment to justify ndoning the project. r Holstein, now chair of the ral Coast Task Force, said Government needed to justify ning” the project just days Premier Mike Baird declared state had billions of dollars for structure. am seeking to remind the W Government that when you e a commitment you honour d here is a fine example of a mitment that was made that ot going to be honoured,” Mr tein said. e said the level crossing at h Woy Woy was “one of the t used level railway crossings SW”.

For 40 years politicians, council residents have talked of oving the road at Bulls Hill and oving the unsafe rail crossing,” aid.

There have been numerous s, due to incidents at the sing, accidents on Woy Woy or on Brisbane Water Dve traffic has been diverted caused traffic chaos on the nsula.” ccording to Mr Holstein, the of building a flyover was ored in the 1990s but the ept was rejected by politicians, cil and residents. n 2011, based on Gosford ncil’s estimated costings, I ht funding from the incoming ral Government to address the e with an expanded underpass e base of Bulls Hill and was essful,” Mr Holstein said, ring to his campaign for the of Gosford in the 2011 NSW ion. e said he had tried to get the acement of the crossing on the nda during previous attempts un for parliament but only eeded in the 2011 campaign. he level crossing replacement key to his 2011 election orm.

A northbound train approaches the level crossing at Woy Woy

Mr Holstein has been criticised for grossly under-estimating the cost of the project from the outset as progress drew to a standstill during the past year.

Mr Holstein said State Members of Parliament were not responsible for the in-depth costing of major infrastructure projects.

“We were in Opposition and could not get any proper costings from Railways or the department and Council’s costings said very clearly they would need to be reviewed and investigated along with the scope of the project,” he said.

“There was a review of costings after the 2011 election and the scope of the project was reduced, and we decided we would look at it in stages,” he said.

“For the next five years, studies were done, plans drawn, revised funding was approved and works commenced.”

The recent announcement by the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Mr Duncan Gay, that no further funding would be available for the project, begged more questions than it answered, Mr Holstein said.

“Is there still a need to improve the road and remove the rail crossing?

“Why, after five years of investigation and studies, which saw commencement, is it only now that the project is not worth it?

“Why is the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce running the blame game rather than getting answers from the Government?

“Many more questions should be asked and answered but if the answer to the first question is yes – that the improvements are needed and people’s safety is still a concern – then why doesn’t the Peninsula deserve it?” Mr Holstein asked.

“Over two decades, the railway crossing has caused several incidents and has been dangerous.

“Who from Council, our State Members or the Chamber of Commerce has been asking the Government for costings to justify its decision?

“Is somebody playing with the figures and saying the full cost of the closure of the railway line at any given time is the cost of that one project?”

Mr Holstein said he did not know why the project had been abandoned.

“I don’t know if it is because of inflated costs, or that the seat of Gosford is held by a member in Opposition.”

Mr Holstein said the Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, should also be asking questions of the Government.

“The majority of people, apart from Peninsula residents, that

use that road are coming from th electorate of Terrigal,” he said.

Mr Holstein said he believed th Peninsula Chamber of Commerc was also “throwing up a smok screen” instead of working o solutions.

“We have a State Member. haven’t seen her. And then w have a Chamber of Commerc that wants to play a blame game “Council should be askin the government questions b we haven’t got any electe representatives to do that becaus we are in administration.

“This issue has got to b answered.

“It hasn’t been answered in m mind, and the people who shou be asking for answers are n doing so.”

Mr Holstein said that the form Member for Terrigal, Mr Chr Harcher, had acknowledged 2011 that the railway crossin replacement would benefit th people of the Terrigal electorate.

In terms of whether funds p aside by the NSW Government f the abandoned rail crossing shou be reallocated to other Peninsu projects, as suggested by th local Chamber of Commerc Mr Holstein said: “I am sure th projects Matthew Wales talk about are worthy too, but why doe he think the issue at the bottom Bulls Hill has gone away?”

Local Liberal Members Parliament were not answering M Holstein’s questions last week.

Member for Terrigal Mr Ada Crouch said that, because Rawso Rd was not in his electorat he would leave comment to th Parliamentary Secretary for th Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonal A statement from M MacDonald’s office said: “Th Minister has answered thes questions at length.

“We have nothing further add.”

Media release, 7 Nov 201 Interview, 8 Nov 201 Chris Holstein, Centr Coast Task Forc Email, 8 Nov 201 Debra Wales, Office Adam Crouc Email, 8 Nov 201 Chris Sullivan, Office Scot MacDona Reporter: Jackie Pearso

November 17, 2016

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Consultation is insufficient for Coastal Management Plan

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November 22, 2016

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he Wyong community will get a bigger and better hospital as a result of the NSW Government’s proposed publicprivate partnership, according to the NSW Minister for Health, Ms Jillian Skinner.

Mr Pat Aiken, Secretary of the Coastal Residents Association, said the consultation period for the community to respond to the draft SEPP, which closes on December 23, is too short.

Mr Aiken said the one community meeting scheduled for the Central Coast, at Erina on December 9, is inadequate, given that the local region would be “one of the worst affected by sea level rise in the whole country”.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment, in conjunction with the Office of Environment and Heritage, is responsible for developing the new coastal management framework.

The new SEPP is intended to support the State Government’s new Coastal Management Act 2016.

“The Coastal Management SEPP will integrate and improve current coastal-related SEPPs and ensure that future coastal development is appropriate and sensitive to our coastal environment, and that we maintain public access to beaches and foreshore areas,” said the NSW Department of Planning and Environment web pages on the draft SEPP. “Once published, the

Ms Skinner told the Wyong Regional Chronicle that the NSW Government would still spend its promised $200 million on the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital.

“I would expect a private sector partner to add more money to the $200 million, but our commitment has not changed,” Ms Skinner said.

“Having a private partner means the community can get a lot more, including extra services, a bigger hospital, and more staff,” she said.

Ms Skinner said she expected a redeveloped Wyong Hospital to become a major maternity hospital if the privatesector partnership went ahead.

The existing Wyong Hospital currently has limited birthing services.

Ms Skinner said it would take at least a year to work through the Expression of Interest and Tender processes necessary to find a suitable private sector partner.

The Minister for Health would not name

Continued page 3

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The collapsed 40 tonne crawler crane at 18 to 20 Kendall St, Gosford

n operator escaped without injury following a crane collapse at a major building site at 18 to 20 Kendall St, Gosford, on Monday, November 14.

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Following the collapse, which damaged two cars, broke the cross-arms of power polls along the street and pulled down power lines, the crane driver remained trapped for some time in the cabin.

Emergency Services, including Police from the Brisbane Water Local Area Command, NSW Fire Service and Ambulance crews worked with an emergency crew from Ausgrid to isolate the mains power in that section of the network so the crane driver could be released from the cabin safely.

According to Ausgrid, the power supply was interrupted to at least 600 homes and businesses, but most affected had their power restored within 90 minutes.

Around 50 homes and businesses were left without power overnight and an emergency Ausgrid crew continued working the following morning to restore

their supply.

Ausgrid reported that, by 3:00pm on Tuesday, November 15, 10 homes and businesses remained without power, but were expected to be reconnected to the network by around 4:00pm.

Kendall St remained closed to all traffic on Tuesday, November 15, and police advised motorists to avoid the area.

SafeWork NSW confirmed that it had sent an investigator to the site and would explore whether the accident was caused by any breach of work health and safety requirements.

SafeWork took charge of the site of the accident and were not able to move the crane away from the site until the morning of Wednesday, November 16.

Parts of the crane may need to be sent away for further testing and work would not be able to recommence on the construction site until

SafeWork NSW determined that the construction company was compliant with all SafeWork requirements.

A statement from SafeWork NSW said: “Initial inquiries indicate that the 40 tonne crawler crane tipped over while slewing, bringing down power lines and damaging two motor vehicles before coming to rest on the road.

“No workers were injured in the incident.

“SafeWork NSW has directed the principal contractor to stop work and arrange for the crane to be safely removed from the site so it can be tested by an independent engineer.

“SafeWork NSW’s investigation remains ongoing.”

The original development consent for the $17.1 million, 48-unit residential flat building at 18 to 20 Kendall St was granted

by Gosford Council in two parts in November 2014 and

May 2015.

Two Section 96 amendments were subsequently lodged and approved to add six units and then make amendments to the drive way, parking, utility spaces and the internal planning of various units.

A construction certificate was granted by private certifier, City Plan Gosford Pty Ltd, for commencement of bulk earthworks, basement parking and demolition of existing structures on October 31, 2016.

Media release, Nov 14, 2016 NSW Police media Media statement, Nov 15, 2016 SafeWork NSW media Media statement, Nov 15, 2016 Zoe Allebone, Ausgrid Website, Nov 15, 2016 Central Coast Council Application Tracker, DA46276/2014 Jackie Pearson, journalist

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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28 November 2016

From left: Jillian Skinner NSW Minister for Health with Premier Mr Mike Baird at the announcement of the Northern Beaches Hospital in 2014

the organisations that had submitted expressions of interest, but confirmed they had to have a proven track record of running hospitals in Australia to qualify.

“We got numerous known private hospital operators and nearly all of the not-for-profit operators,” she said.

NSW Health will spend the next four to five months working with the operators that submitted expressions of interest to give them a clearer understanding of the commitments that would be expected of them if they were to participate in the tender process.

“The tender specifications will include a clinical services

plan for the district, and the operator would be obliged to meet those requirements, but they don’t have to stop there.

“There is no limit to what they can bid,” Ms Skinner said.

She said opening up the development and operation of the hospital to a competitive tender process meant two parties could out-bid each other by committing to the delivery of additional services.

“The Northern Beaches Hospital ended up with a Cardiac Catheterisation Lab that was not in the original tender plan,” she said.

Ms Skinner referred to the Northern Beaches Hospital, constructed

by Healthescope, as the model for the publicprivate-partnership being proposed at Wyong.

She said she urged people to take a drive past the new hospital on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

“It is a beautiful hospital, much better than anything you would get out of public funding,” Ms Skinner said.

The Minister said she could assure public patients that they would be cared for exactly as if they were in a public hospital.

“The government will pay for public patient care,” she said.

“At the end of the contract (20 years in the case of the Northern

Beaches Hospital), the partner will have the option to continue, but if they don’t, the hospital returns to public ownership,” she said.

Ms Skinner said that would be the case irrespective of the level of “value adding” the private operator had done on site.

The for-profit and not-for-profit operators that submitted expressions of interest will be required to meet minimum requirements for documentation, legal arrangement and financials before they are allowed to tender, as the fine detail required in the tender process could cost any potential partner millions of dollars.

When asked if Health NSW would make the detail of the contract for the partnership available for public scrutiny, Ms Skinner said: “The public can already have a look at the details of the Northern Beaches Hospital arrangement and I can tell you that it will be saving tax payers $1.5 billion over 20 years,” she said.

Ms Skinner argued that a partnership with the private sector would result in more jobs, not less, and that the contract could ensure conditions of employment, including superannuation, would be carried forward.

“When we announced we were seeking expressions of interest for a series of sites, we said we would not go ahead if it was of no benefit to the community and the tax payer. and we have already walked away from one property,” she said.

Ms Skinner said claims that free public health care would not be available at a redeveloped Wyong Hospital, or that there would be no emergency department, were “rubbish led by the unions.

“I met with the unions and they told me that they had a philosophical problem with private sector involvement,” she said.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Interview, Nov 17, 2016 Jillian Skinner, NSW Minister for Health Jackie Pearson, journalist

December 1, 2016

Your independent local newspaper

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Issue 147

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Planning proposal redefines city’s new Commercial Core and offers new incentives

Issue 105

Public-private partnership will provide a better hospital

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aterfront landowners in the suburbs of Kincumber South, Yattalunga, Saratoga, Davistown, MacMasters Beach, Copacabana, Avoca, Terrigal, Wamberal and even parts of East and West Gosford have been encouraged to pay close attention to the NSW Government’s Draft Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

Coastal Management SEPP will be the single land use planning policy for coastal development.

“The Coastal Management SEPP will also better equip councils and coastal communities to plan for, and effectively respond to, coastal challenges such as major storms, coastal erosion and climate change impacts.”

Central Coast Council already has a Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plans (DCP) that include coastal hazard maps and provisions, which means mapped areas will become part of a Coastal Vulnerability area.

Mr Aiken said the two zones that local land owners need to pay attention to when examining the draft SEPP are Coastal Wetlands and Coastal Vulnerability.

The Department of Planning website links to a mapping tool that demonstrates how different parts of the Coast would be classified under the new SEPP. “People have a short time to look at their own particular situation and make a formal submission,” Mr Aiken said.

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Issue 146

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Crane collapses at a major building site

THIS ISSUE contains 52 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info 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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The Rawson Rd Level Crossing at Woy Woy

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November 3, 2016

Regressive refugee law is Council sets creating an apartheid extremely situation in Australia

Defibrillator permitted at Pearl Beach

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Edition 405

Somersby residents asking questions about the Rindean Quarry

Quarry seeks approval for 2,500 truckloads of fill per week for four weeks

The Westpac branch in West St, Umina, and (inset) the notice in the window announcing the closure

Another major bank withdraws from Umina Another of the big four banks in Umina will close its branch before Christmas this year, leaving just one major bank branch in Umina.

The Umina Westpac Bank Branch will close its doors on December 9, due to steadily declining numbers in over-the -counter transactions.

“Fewer customers are visiting our branches these days, as more and more people choose to use digital banking channels like mobile banking, internet banking and smart ATMs,” said Westpac Group spokesperson Ms Lucy Wilson.

“With over-the-counter transactions accounting for less than five per cent of total transactions, we are closing the Umina branch and merging it with another Westpac branch at Woy Woy,” the spokesperson said.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said the decision was corporate greed by one of the big four banks.

“I am sick and tired of the big banks’ attitude to local retail centres and this decision by

Westpac reinforces my view that the big banks are out of touch with local communities,” Mr Wales said.

“The Westpac regional manager Mr Adam Wilson has confirmed that the Umina branch will close in December, with all Peninsula banking operations being shifted to the Woy Woy branch in Blackwall Rd. “Unfortunately, I find it increasingly typical of the big banks that they seem to know best when it comes to customer service in main street shopping strips,” he said.

According to Mr Wales, Westpac made the decision to close their Umina branch following a review that found the branch lacked sufficient customer support to justify keeping a shop front presence.

“It is my view that once again the big banks are putting profits ahead of local services as a way of adding to the billions of dollars they already rake in from customers.

“That’s all very good if you are a Westpac shareholder but the closure will leave Umina with one less bank, a vacant shop and the loss of a dozen jobs in the main

street.

“The departure of Westpac will leave Umina with only the Commonwealth Bank and we now have grave concerns as to its future in the main street,” Mr Wales said.

Mr Wales also said this was not the first time Westpac had let down customers in Umina, having closed the Umina St George Bank branch when they took over the company in 2008.

“When Westpac took over St George, it subsequently closed the Umina branch, stripping the main street of front line banking services and forcing St George customers to go to Woy Woy to do their banking.

“Westpac assured the local business community that they would maintain a presence in Umina.

“Now years later they are pulling the same stunt and forcing Umina customers to travel into Woy Woy to do their banking again.”

Ms Wilson said that Westpac’s decision to close the branch was not made lightly.

“The Westpac ATM at Umina will remain in place.

“In the meantime, we encourage customers to visit the branch to get a free demonstration from staff on how to use online banking and the ATM if they wish.

“Customers can also still access free face-to-face banking services at the Umina Australia Post office including the depositing of cash or cheques, cash withdrawals and balance enquiries.”

Mr Wales said: “It is the height of arrogance to suggest that an automatic teller machine is sufficient for local customers in what has become one of the busiest main street retail centres on the Central Coast.

“I can only hope that Westpac customers will shift their accounts to the Commonwealth Bank and keep local dollars in Umina,” Mr Wales concluded.

Westpac did not state whether or not Umina branch staff members would be redeployed or made redundant.

Ettalong resident Mr David White, who has been banking with Westpac Umina for over 20 years, said the implications the branch closure would have on the Peninsula’s aged population were

huge.

“It’s very inconvenient for me as a vehicle owner to have to make the drive to Woy Woy and deal with the traffic in the area just to do my banking,” Mr White said.

“So how inconvenient will it be for pensioners who rely on public transport to get around or who can’t use technology to do their banking?

“I use a passbook.

“I don’t own a credit card so I’m reliant on over-the-counter transactions to do my banking.

“How many other people on the Peninsula are in this situation too?

“It seems like Westpac just doesn’t care about its Umina customers.

“The Umina Branch staff are very friendly and nice but the closure seems to be more about lining Westpac’s profits then customer service,” Mr White said.

Media release, 19 Nov 2016 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Interview and documents, 21 Nov 2016 David White, Ettalong Interview, 21 Nov 2016 Lucy Wilson, Westpac Group Reporter: Dilon Luke

S Aerial photograph of the CBD

planning proposal, intended to reshape the Gosford CBD, and started by the former Gosford Council, is being taken to its next stage by the Central Coast Council.

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The proposal, new draft planning controls and a new Voluntary Planning Agreement Policy, aim to realign zoning within the CBD, and then to use incentives to encourage development to revitalise the city’s new Commercial Core.

According to the proposal, $750 million worth of DAs for the Gosford CBD were lodged in the 201516 financial year, but most were in B4 Mixed Use zoned land, surrounding the city’s Commercial Core.

“Consultations with owners of the main … redevelopment sites have indicated that, having regard to depressed city property prices and the difficulties … in accessing development finance, development incentive measures are required to encourage any substantial redevelopment

within the Commercial Core area,” the draft planning proposal said.

According to Council’s Group Leader of Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, “the proposed rezoning and amendments to the Gosford Development Control Plan (GDCP), seek to create a distinctive skyline while preserving view lines to the ridge tops and activating streets and public spaces”.

He said the amended plan would ensure the building design for the Gosford CBD reflected its status as the region’s capital.

“We have a vision of what the future built form of the CBD could look like: taller, slimmer buildings around the new Commercial Core of the CBD, Kibble Park, with activated public spaces so people can live and work in the city centre,” Mr Cox

said.

The proposal’s aim “is to amend Gosford LEP 2014 by rezoning certain land within the Gosford City Centre from B3 Commercial Core to B4 Mixed Use, and certain land from B4 Mixed Use to B3 Commercial Core.”

The amendments will “provide development incentives for land zoned B3 Commercial Core within the City Centre by introducing …a time-limited bonus ‘pool’ of floor space and/or increased height” for DAs that meet certain site and design criteria.

Current GLEP 2014 height and floor space controls will remain the “base” controls, but a pool of 150,000 square metres of bonus additional gross floor area would be available to any B3 applicant.

o m e r s b y residents are campaigning against an application for the importation of 140,000 cubic metres of Excavated Natural Material (ENM) to the Rindean Quarry at 620 Wisemans Ferry Rd.

The 240,000 tonnes of excavation soil, according to the Section 96 application currently before the Central Coast Council, would be used to build acoustic

bunds, rehabilitate and cap former tailings ponds and construct a road and wheel wash facility.

Somersby resident, Ms Lynn Cowie, said: “This will increase the number of trucks to exponential levels, potentially 9,000 trucks along Wisemans Ferry Rd, as they only have four weeks to build the noise bunds.

“There is no traffic management plan or mention in the Environmental Impact Statement about importing nearly a quarter

of a million tonnes of earth onto the site,” she said.

“The soil they are importing is not virgin soil but excavated material from Sydney infrastructure projects and construction sites.

“Rindean Quarries stand to make more money importing this ENM material opposed to Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) and more money than selling the excavated sand it has approval to export.

Continued P3

Continued P5 A peaceful gathering at Somersby

THIS ISSUE contains 60 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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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Quarry seeks approval for 2,250 truckloads of fill per week for four weeks rom P1

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“All soil being imported onto the site will need to be tested so it is not contaminated, but the company that does the testing is a NATA registered soil testing facility and the director of Rindean Quarries is also a director of that company.

“It will be up to the general public to monitor what is happening on the site because the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t regularly check the material.”

Ms Cowie said Somersby residents were concerned that it would be impossible to monitor activity on the site once the four to six metre noise bunds were built.

She said the 38 acre property has underground springs and creeks running through it.

“One creek runs through Strickland State Forest to Narara Creek, so if contaminated soil made its way onto the site, it could pollute the waterways and get into the Central Coast drinking water supply,” Ms

Cowie said.

“We question why Rindean Quarries required 240,000 tonnes of ENM to be imported onto the site.

“We question why there is no traffic management plan, no noise report and no air quality report,” she said.

The sand mine, which is now known at Rindean Quarries, has not operated since 2004, based on Central Coast Council documents.

Gosford Councillors voted against the quarry when DA42409 was considered in 2012.

The matter went to a Land and Environment Court mediation in 2014, and a Section 34 agreement was entered into between the quarry and Gosford Council to allow the extraction of up to 150,000 tonnes per year of washed, and dry screened unwashed, sand in five stages over 20 years.

The 20 years was to start from the date extraction physically commenced, and the quarry operator was also required to provide a $240,000 bond in the form of a bank guarantee, indexed by CPI, from the

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date of commencement to the closure of the quarry as insurance.

The NSW EPA defines Virgin Excavated Natural Material, in accordance with the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act), as: natural material such as clay, gravel, sand, soil or rock fines that has been excavated or quarried from areas that are not contaminated with manufactured chemicals, or with process residues, as a result of industrial, commercial, mining or agricultural activities, and

that does not contain any sulfidic ores or soils or any other waste, and includes excavated natural material that meet such criteria for virgin excavated natural material as may be approved for the time being, pursuant to an EPA Gazettal notice.

“Virgin excavated natural material (VENM) is a waste that has been pre-classified as general solid waste (nonputrescible).”

The EPA defines ENM as: “naturally occurring rock and soil, including but not limited to materials such as sandstone, shale, clay and soil, that has: been excavated from the ground, and contains at least 98 per cent (by weight) natural material, and does not meet the definition of Virgin Excavated Natural Material in the Act. “Excavated natural material does not include material located in a hotspot that has been processed, or that contains asbestos, Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS), Potential Acid Sulfate soils (PASS) or sulfidic ores.”

Rindean Quarries

Director, Mr Laurie Spiteri, said he would not answer questions in relation to the plans for the Somersby operation.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got approvals to do a quarry there; we have spoken with the EPA, we have spoken with the residents and the Council, and at the end of the day, we have got the licence to quarry there,” Mr Spiteri said.

The consent authority for the Section 96 application is the Central Coast Council, but it is a designated development that requires approval from the EPA. Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Section 96 application would be “assessed on its merits”.

He said the section 96 did not seek approval to alter the approved use of the property from the consent given for the 150,000 tonne per year to be quarried over 20 years.

Continued P4

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Quarry seeks approval for 2,250 truckloads of fill per week for four weeks rom P3

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“The approved use does require an Environment Protection Licence under the act, so the matter has been referred to EPA for review and that is where we sit at the moment,” Mr Reynolds said.

“Council has asked for further information from the applicant and we are looking to the EPA for their review,” he said.

A letter from Down to Earth Geotechnical and Environmental Pty Ltd to the Central Coast Council said: “Fill material required for surface preparation will, as far as possible, be acquired from on site.

“However, at present, stockpiles and overburden material is estimated to be approximately 10,000 cubic metres only.

“The quantity of overburden and coarse reject material available immediately will not be sufficient for the initial earthworks phase, therefore expediting construction of establishment works will not be possible, as the balance of material required for initial

visual inspection only, and not specified in the Land and Environment Court documents.

The Down to Earth letter said importing ENM would ensure “all fill material imported into the site will be tested at a NATA approved laboratory for chemical and physical properties to confirm that it is, in fact, clean spoil.

“By importing ENM, greater opportunities for sourcing suitable fill material can be afforded, which in turn will allow establishment works to be completed quickly with reduced disturbance to neighbouring properties.”

Submissions close on Monday, December 5.

earthworks (approximately 140,000 cubic metres) will need to be sourced from an external location,” the letter said.

The letter stated that the 2014 Land and Environment Court orders did not “mention the type and quality of material required

for importation to complete earthworks”.

According to the letter, the Central Coast Council recommended that Virgin Excavated Natural Material (VENM) be imported, however, Down to Earth suggested it was difficult to source, subject to

Email, Nov 28, 2016 Lynn Cowie, Somersby Websites, Nov 28, 2016 EPA NSW, VENM and ENM definitions Interviews, Nov 28, 2016 Lawrance Spiteri, Rindean Quarries Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Jackie Pearson, journalist

Speculation continues over Mariners’ plans for Central Coast Stadium ystery surrounds any future involvement of the Central Coast Mariners Football Club in the running of Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium.

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The Central Coast Mariners have said that all questions about proposals relating to the stadium should be directed to Council.

In a media statement, Central Coast Council said: “Council continues to be bewildered by rumours that a proposal has been presented to Council from the Mariners with regards to the potential purchase of Central Coast Stadium.

“As late as last Friday (November 25), Council met with the Central Coast Mariners around their future vision for their development

at Tuggerah, and again at no time during those discussions did the Mainers put forward any proposal,” the statement said.

Despite Council’s denials, Coast Community News understands that discussions have taken place between Mariners’ senior management and Council about making improvements to stadium infrastructure based on a long-term management agreement.

Email, Nov 30, 2016 Central Coast Council media

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Planning proposal redefines city’s new Commercial Core and offers new incentives rom P1

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A minimum site width of 40m and minimum site area of 2,800 square metres would be site requirements.

To protect views of the ridge line, the maximum height will be RL 99 for any development wishing to apply for additional floor space.

Applicants will also have to comply with design excellence development controls and provide significant public benefit.

Council wants to encourage Commercial Core DAs that don’t result in building projects being commenced but not completed, by putting two year time limits on activation and development consents in exchange for the additional floor space and/or height.

If development had not commenced and/or a consent condition relating to the provision of public benefit was not complied with, the consent would lapse, and any bonus floor space would be returned to the “pool” for use by other applicants.

The planning proposal involved the re-alignment of the CBD away from the

train station and towards the waterfront.

“In the 1960s to 1980s, lot sizes, ownership patterns and a range of other decisions led to the major retail focus being around Kibble Park.

“The development of significant administration buildings … during this period, further drew the focus of the centre of the city away from the railway.

“This trend has continued with the State Significant Site … at the southern end of the city… and several recent large development proposals which include more traditional city centre uses such as retails, commercial, cinemas/auditorium, hotels etc being located away from the station.”

Council proposes to rezone the area currently zoned B4 Mixed Use on blocks bounded by Henry Parry Dve, Donnison St, Dane Dve and Georgiana Tce to B3 Commercial Core.

Street blocks bounded

by Erina St, Albany St, Donnison St and Henry Parry Dve would also be rezoned from B4 mixed use to B3 Commercial Core.

Blocks bounded by the railway, Erina St, Henry Parry Dve and Faunce St would be rezoned from B3 to B4

Mixed use.

A number of significant land parcels are already located in the proposed new B3 area, including the Imperial Centre, Kibbleplex, Union Hotel, Waterside etc.

“These lots are better placed to act on any bonus incentive controls and assist with Council’s aim of centre revitalisation in the short time.”

The proposal undertakes to ensure: taller buildings are located appropriately for view corridors, view impacts and “in a manner that is complementary to the natural topography of the area”; and that buildings and public areas continue to receive satisfactory exposure to sky and sunlight.

Design excellence includes “a high standard in urban design and landscape design, interior design, construction and historic preservation”.

Following submissions received during the first public exhibition of the proposal, it will now allow for minor variations to height for Architectural Roof Features on certain projects.

“Taller buildings should be considered in terms of their design and consequent impact within the broader context, their immediate

surroundings, the site, the building itself and how they interact with the street at a human scale,” the proposal said.

“It is therefore proposed to prepare development controls based on design excellence which will apply to all development applications proposing to utilise the Commercial Core Incentives Clause.”

For instance, it is proposed that taller towers would be located along Mann Street, with surrounding streets decreasing in height.

The amalgamation of lots “to facilitate quality urban design outcomes and transitions to surrounding development” would also be encouraged.

Overshadowing and wind impacts would be minimised and sunlight and sky views protected for streets, parks, public and private open space.

Relationships to other taller buildings would be considered, including the cumulative effect of multiple towers on solar access, views, amenity, comfort and a quality public domain.

According to the proposal: “Applicants seeking to utilise the proposed clause will receive significant capital value uplift through

the increased heights and densities available under the clause.

“Council intends to ensure that part of this capital uplift is shared by the whole community …via the significant public benefit requirement of the proposed clause.”

The draft Voluntary Planning Agreement policy is also available online.

Any agreed public benefit would have to be provided prior to the issue of a construction certificate.

“If this condition is not complied with within the two year consent period, then the development consent would lapse.”

Council would review the bonus provisions clause when development approvals for bonus floor space within the B3 Commercial Core zone made since May 2015 reached 120,000 square metres.

Any bonus floor space already granted for the Mariners Plaza 108-118, 120A Mann St, Gosford (DA 46256/2014) and the Waterside development 5070 Mann St (DA47046/2015) will be deducted from the available pool.

Any other development approved prior to the adoption of the proposed

provisions would be treated in a similar manner.

Written submissions may be made to Council before 5:00pm on December 16.

Submissions will be considered by Council between December 2016 and February 2017 and a plan submitted to the NSW Department of Planning to finalise in March so the amended plan should be in place by April 2017.

The draft planning proposal and Gosford DCP amendments can be viewed online at haveyoursaycentralcoast. com.au, under Items on Public Exhibition.

The item is called Planning Proposal for Gosford City Centre Bonus Incentives Amendment to Chapter 4.1 Gosford City Centre of Gosford Development Control Plan 2016 and Voluntary Planning Agreements Policy for Gosford City Centre.

Media release, Nov 21, 2016 Central Coast Council media Website, Nov 30, 2016 Haveyoursay centralcoast.com.au /items on public exhibition Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Gosford City Farmers’ Market will feature a wide range of fresh vegetables, fruits, primary produce including gourmet jams and preserves, olive oil products, pestos, macadamia nuts and fresh home made products. The market will include other food related items as well as high quality “foodto-eat” vendors. Flowers, plants and trees will also be available for sale.

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Gosford City Farmers’ Market Gosford Racecourse, 4 Racecourse Rd, Gosford West

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Interim amalgamated Development Control and Local Environmental Plans being prepared

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he Central Coast Council is moving to standardise planning and development controls across the whole region before the next local government election in September 2017.

Preparation of a consolidated Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) for the whole Central Coast Council will commence following the adoption of a resolution at the Council meeting on Wednesday, November 23.

The LEP and DCP are the main planning controls used at local government level to determine how land is zoned, used and developed.

The consolidated LEP will not be the same as the Comprehensive LEP which will be put together after the September 2017 council election.

The Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds’, decision to prepare a consolidated LEP

and DCP is at odds with the NSW Government’s Proclamation, the legal mechanism that dissolved the Gosford Council and created the new Central Coast Council.

The proclamation stated that planning controls for land subject to merger proposals would stay the same until new comprehensive LEPs were prepared.

Both Mr Reynolds and his CEO, Mr Rob Noble, have said no major changes would be made to planning instruments before the Central Coast had its next local government election.

The Central Coast community was led to believe that the planning controls of the former

Gosford and Wyong Councils would remain in place until the region’s elected local government representatives were replaced via an election.

They were removed and substituted with a NSW Government-appointed administrator in May. Mr Reynolds has now adopted a resolution to allow the preparation of a planning proposal to consolidate the Wyong Local Environmental Plan 2013, the Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014, Interim Development Order 122 and the Gosford Planning Scheme Ordinance.

“This will result in the creation of an interim consolidated Local

Environmental Plan for the Central Coast local government area that will enable Council to administer its planning functions in a consistent way across the Central Coast region until such a time as a comprehensive LEP is developed,” a report from Council’s Environment and Planning Department to Mr Reynolds said.

An interim amalgamated Development Control Plan would be prepared “to complement the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan”.

Mr Reynolds’ adoption of the report’s recommendations will result in a planning proposal being forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to request a Gateway Determination.

Community and public

authority consultation will need to be undertaken in accordance with the gateway determination requirements and the amalgamated DCP will be exhibited at the same time as a draft LEP. Mr Reynolds also adopted a recommendation to commence investigative studies to support a future comprehensive LEP. According to the staff report, a NSW Department of Planning and Environment “Guidance for Merged Councils on Planning Functions” recommended that the Council analysed the differences in local planning controls and ensured a consistent approach to zone and land use permissibility across the newly-created council”.

In fact, Table 9 on page 21 of that Department of

Planning and Environment document said: “After the September 2017 elections, councils will need to be ready to present planning proposals to the newly-elected council to harmonise comprehensive LEPs. “This will not necessarily need to involve a new comprehensive LEP, as an existing LEP can be expanded to become the principal instrument for the area.

“There is no need to amend LEPs immediately if no inconsistencies exist.

“The creation of new council-wide LEPs is not required until a newlyelected council is in place to work with the community.”

The report that Mr Reynolds adopted on November 23 said: Continued P8

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Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 7

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Interim amalgamated Development Control and Local Environmental Plans being prepared rom P6

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“The consolidated LEP/DCP project will not be initiating major policy or making major changes to strategic frameworks.

“The proposed outcomes of the project are: a consistent approach to zone objectives, principles and application across the local government area; consistency in permissible land uses across similarly zoned lands within the former Gosford and Wyong LGAs; rezoning of deferred lands within the Gosford LEP to zones used by the standard template; retention of current development standards mapped within

the Gosford LEP 2014…; and, development of an amalgamated Central Coast DCP to support the consolidated LEP. “More significant policy and strategic issues will be addressed through the Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan Project … after the Council elections in September 2017, and … informed by the Community Strategic Planning Process and Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 (CCRP), and the development of urban planning strategies to support the future planning for housing, population and economic growth on the Central Coast over the next

20 years.

“The development of a Consolidated Local Environmental Plan for the Central Coast Council is a priority project to facilitate the transition from the former Councils to the new merged Council.

“Budget and staff resources required to complete the project will be identified within the Project Initiation stage.”

Mr Reynolds said: “We have effectively been given the green light to align the zonings and development controls across the Coast.

“This will mean a consistent approach to rezoning proposals,

development assessments and building certification and compliance.

“It will also help build a stronger economy and support our community,” Mr Reynolds said.

“This is just confirming a process we have already started as we know a consistent approach to planning will help improve our local environment and encourage investment, create new jobs and quality housing for our community.

“We want to keep appropriate development moving on the Coast.

“We are open for business and developers can be assured they can approach

Council as they always have to seek professional advice.”

Since the formation of the Central Coast Council, over 1,650 development applications worth more than $460 million to the local economy have been determined.

“It will be some time before there is a new single Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that covers the whole Central Coast as this will take a great deal of consultation and planning – which is why we are starting this process now.” Mr Reynolds added.

“A stand-alone Central Coast LEP will be one of the

key decisions of the newly elected Council and we are ensuring they have the tools and information they need to get it right.”

Agenda item 2.7, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Document, May 2016 Guidance for merged councils on planning functions, NSW Planning and Environment Media release, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council media Jackie Pearson, journalist

Community Environment Network 2016 BAT Awards CEN is pleased to honour the efforts of a number of individuals and groups that have contributed to making the Central Coast a better place.

Each year, CEN calls for nominations and gives out the BAT Awards - based around a cricket theme that reflects the need for us to “Be A Team”. Our Awards presentation was held on 24 November with the 2016 BAT Award going to Lisa Wriley for her outstanding efforts in driving the Kariong ecogarden and her work on the campaign to reduce plastic pollution and introduce container deposit legislation.

Other Award recipients included: • Rookie of the Year - Kylie Boyle. Kylie galvanised the Berkeley Vale community to raise the alarm about the impacts of proposed development of Glenning Valley.

• Best 12th Man - Maurean Baxter, who has volunteered for over 12 years monitoring water quality in creeks in the Blue Haven area.

• Most Outstanding Community Group - Save Our Central Coast Reserves. Sue Chidgey brought together many local communities to oppose the Gosford Council sell off of local parks, reserves and green space...... and they were successful!

• Special Recognition: Geoff Preece - acknowledging Geoff’s contribution to the Central Coast from the “Go Green” shop, as President of of ACF Central Coast, former Gosford Council Councillor and Chairman of Kariong EcoGarden.

• Special Recognition: Outstanding Campaign - Morry Breen - Recognising Morry’s incredible efforts in the 1970’s in preventing the sandmining of North Entrance, the knockback of the earlier Chittaway based power station and as the leader in the green ban on Riley’s Island.

We thank all our members, supporters and friends for their efforts throughout the year. We wish you all a happy, healthy healthy and peaceful holiday season!

Jane Smith, CEO

CEN calls for better community consultation on Gosford CBD proposal The Central Coast Council currently has a planning proposal on exhibition that is alarming— it proposes heights in Gosford CBD up to 99m (approximately 30 stories). Not only will this significantly change the skyline of Gosford but it goes against sound planning logic.

Instead of intensifying commercial development around the transport hub of the railway station—the proposal is to move this commercial activity down toward the waterfront - one of our most valuable areas for lifestyle and recreation uses.

Significantly, the proposal is only on exhibition for 4 weeks with submissions closing on Friday, 16 December, just over a week before Christmas. The Council is not proposing any presentations to the community or public meetings to provide information about the proposal.

In contrast, the consultant’s report indicates that they have “undertaken consultation with Council’s internal teams and members of the local development industry arranged by Council”. It almost sounds like the proposal has been written with the developers in mind – not the residents and ratepayers!

In 2004, a poll was taken at the local government elections that included a question on what heights residents of Gosford Local Government Area wanted for the CBD. Over 55,000 voters participated in the poll with Gosford Council concluding that the majority of residents of Gosford wanted less than 14 storeys. Since then, the results of this poll have very quietly been buried.

What does it matter if we have high rise in Gosford?... Aside from the aesthetic issues (yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder) and social issues ... perhaps the biggest issue is transport.

The current planning proposal does not address the increased transport issues. Instead it states that: “Transport for NSW in conjunction and Council and other transport stakeholders are currently undertaking a wider review of Gosford City Centre Precinct with regards to major infrastructure projects and the need to improve parking and movement throughout Gosford – the Gosford City Centre Strategic Transport Plan. Any improvements required to the road network, public transport and pedestrian and cycle infrastructure required as a result of the planning proposal will be included as part of this process.” So addressing transport chaos is being deferred until later.

Who will make the decision?.... The Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, has delegated the decision to council. So, one person, the Central Coast Administrator, Ian Reynolds, will make the decision on whether this planning proposal goes ahead or not.

Make a submission on the Gosford CBD Planning Proposal before Friday, 16 December.

For more information - visit www.cen.org.au

Our Central Coast - Worth Protecting The Community Environment Network (CEN) is an alliance of individuals and groups that work for ecologically sustainable development.

Support CEN - Become a member - Volunteer - Make a donation

www.cen.org.au

Ph: 4349 4756

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Central Coast Tourism required to submit an Expression of Interest if it wants to continue he long-awaited shake up of tourism management on the Central Coast has commenced, with Central Coast Tourism being told it will have to submit an Expression of Interest if it wishes to manage and deliver destination marketing for the region after July 1, 2017.

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Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, resolved at the November 23 Council meeting that expressions of interest be invited from suitably-qualified external organisations to manage and deliver its destination marketing in collaboration with the tourism industry.

Mr Reynolds also resolved that funding from Council for tourism management would be increased to $800,000 per year.

This is despite Central Coast Tourism providing a proposal to Council outlining options for it to continue managing the destination in collaboration with Council for the next three years.

The resolution was based on a report from Council staff that recommended that Council continue to fund Central Coast Tourism at existing levels until June 30, 2017.

The report, prepared by the Central Coast Council’s Connected Communities Department said: “Tourism is important to the Central Coast economy and is recognised as requiring a focussed approach to help drive economic returns for the region.”

In fact, it is estimated to contribute around $912 million to the region’s economy annually.

“Visitor expenditure has experienced year on year growth, however the growth rates are below what is being achieved elsewhere in NSW and nationally, indicating the potential of a far greater capacity than is currently realised on the Central Coast,” the report said.

Central Coast Tourism had been funded by both Gosford and Wyong Councils since 1998 and had been responsible for marketing the region and facilitating industry relationships.

It developed Destination Management Plans (DMP) as required by Destination NSW to access funding through the Regional Visitor Economy Fund.

According to the report to Mr Reynolds, the current DMP runs through to 2017 and consultation around an updated plan for the region will commence shortly.

According to the report, the models used by different local councils to manage tourism include taking on the overall active delivery themselves, facilitating external organisations to do this, or combinations of both, with some activity conducted by on-theground local tourism committees.

“Regardless of the models, there is generally an expectation that local government contribute financially to support tourism development and marketing in their region,” it said.

In March 2016, both former Gosford and Wyong Councils resolved to continue funding arrangements for Central Coast Tourism at the same levels as 2015-2016 ($566,210) until June 30, 2017.

“Major change has occurred in the operating environment on two levels; the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong Councils to one regional Central Coast Council in May 2016, and DNSW’s new regional tourism model of Destination Networks announced in July 2016 to replace the current Regional Tourism Organisation structure.

“Both changes provide an opportunity to review the current status of tourism management and consider the most effective model to help drive economic returns for the Central Coast region.”

The impact of the NSW changes are yet to be realised, but the Central Coast will now be part of Destination Sydney Surrounds North with the Blue Mountains, Penrith, Hawkesbury, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter region.

“The funding of any DNSW driven marketing

campaigns for the Central Coast region, or availability of marketing funding for application to the revised Regional Visitor Economy Fund are unknown,” the report said.

“Council proposes that the responsibilities of providing visitor information services, developing a major events strategy and leading the implementation of, and developing any future destination management plans will be fulfilled by Council.

“This proposal is about reviewing the mechanism of how Council approaches the significant investment of public monies in tourism to ensure the best return on this investment for the Central Coast community.

“The Expression of Interest will seek responses to demonstrate this, inclusive of how marketing will be delivered in collaboration with industry and other partnerships; and that activities can meet performance indicators around visitor growth rates,

intentions to travel and industry satisfaction.

“Central Coast Tourism Incorporated has met with Council staff and presented their options for the continuation of their role in tourism management.”

Mr Reynolds said that the timing was right for Council to examine its approach to tourism.

“Destination NSW’s new regional tourism model and the projected population growth expected on the Central Coast has changed the tourism landscape,” Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Reynolds added that Council was not waiting for the impacts of recent changes to Destination NSW’s regional tourism model to take effect, but was going to act in the best interests of the Central Coast now.

“The roll-up of the Central Coast into a collection of visitor destinations that includes the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Hawkesbury, Newcastle and Penrith for consumer marketing activities, gives even more impetus for the Central Coast to continue its own strong positioning and capitalise on the projected

visitor growth being driven

by Destination NSW,” Mr Reynolds said.

“I encourage the tourism industry to get involved in helping build the Destination Management Plan and help better shape the tourism potential of the Central Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.

The expression of interest for tourism marketing and management is open to all suitably qualified organisations, including Central Coast Tourism.

Coast Community News understands several local consortia are already being formed to bid for the lucrative EOI. In a statement, Central Coast Tourism said its Board “is intending on completing the proposed Expression of Interest to continue to lead marketing on behalf of the local tourism industry.

“Central Coast Tourism is a non-for-profit membership organisation with a long history of 22 years, marketing the destination and adapting its structure, membership and activity, based on the ever changing business environment,” the statement said.

“In 2010, Central Coast Tourism was one of the first regional tourism

organisations in the State to use a Destination Management Plan to grow the Visitor Economy, now mandatory by Destination NSW to access funding.

“Since the release of the 2013-2017 Destination Management Plan, the Visitor Economy has grown by over 40 per cent, from $631 million to $891 million.

“Central Coast Tourism will continue with our planned destination marketing activities and run the Gateway Visitor Information Centre at Kariong and Gosford.

“The marketing activities will include the launch of the new Destination Conference message in February, 2017, and a push to drive leisure visitors with a Consumer Marketing Campaign in March, 2017,” the statement said.

Agenda item 4.6, 23 Nov 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Media release, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council Media Media statement, Nov 21, 2016 Leeanne Dyer, Central Coast Tourism Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Minister to discuss the Extended deadline importance of an infrastructure for council audit does plan for the region not imply anything T untoward

he NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Rob Stokes, will be asked to meet with Central Coast Council to discuss the importance of an infrastructure plan for the region and will be asked for input into its content and expected release.

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he Central Coast Council has applied to the NSW Office of Local Government for an extended deadline to audit the former Gosford Council’s accounts for the period July 1, 2015 to May 12, 2016.

As part of the amalgamation process, Council was directed by the NSW Government to put out a tender for one audit firm to look at the finances of both Gosford and Wyong Councils.

Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) were awarded the tender and started work in June.

The NSW Government required both sets of books to be audited by December.

The former Wyong Council finances were presented to Council on Wednesday, November 23, highlighting a $26.7 million surplus for the reduced 2015-16 financial year.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said that while the report highlighted a healthy surplus, it needed to be kept in perspective in light of the cut-off date for the merger.

“The financial year for the former Wyong Council was cut off on May 12, so it effectively means 12 months of revenue were matched with 10 and a half months of expenses,” Mr Reynolds said.

“That should not take away though from the great

work Wyong Council did to get their finances in order to be able to deliver valuable services to residents,” he said.

Following the meeting, both Mr Reynolds and Central Coast Council’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Stephen Naven, scotched rumours about the reasons behind the request for an extended deadline for the Gosford Council audit.

The former Council had reported a small surplus for the 2014-15 financial year.

Mr Reynolds said Price Waterhouse Coopers were familiar with Wyong Council’s books because they had been the council’s previous external auditor.

“They were not familiar with the structure at Gosford Council, so they had to ask lots of questions and staff have been answering those questions,” Mr Reynolds said.

He said Council was in the process of writing to the NSW Office of Local Government (OLG) to request an extension on the deadline for the audit of the Gosford accounts and that he had already spoken to the OLG about the need for

more time.

Mr Reynolds said Gosford Council was a “new world” for Price Waterhouse Coopers and they needed “time to really understand the different systems”.

Those differing systems and structures included information technology and ledger structures.

Mr Naven said he expected the audit to be complete by February or March.

He confirmed the accounts of both former councils were governed by the same Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting.

It was too early for anyone to be making suggestions about the outcome of the Gosford Council audit, he said.

“The auditors are doing their assessment testing now and the same process will happen as has happened with the Wyong Council accounts.”

Interviews, 23 Nov 2016 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Stephen Naven, Central Coast Council Reporter: Jackie Pearson

The resolution to call for the Minister’s input and backing for an infrastructure plan was made by Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, at the ordinary council meeting on Wednesday, November 23.

Council’s Department of Environment and Planning presented Mr Reynolds with a report responding to the NSW Government’s Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 and Implementation Plan, which were released in October.

According to the report: “There are nine priority actions identified in the Implementation Plan to be overseen by the Central

Coast Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee.

“Direction 17 of the Plan is to align land use and infrastructure planning.

“In order to achieve this, it is recommended that an Infrastructure Plan be prepared to ensure that the roll out of infrastructure is aligned to land use priorities.

“To facilitate this, it is recommended that discussions be held with the Minister and State Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) to determine Council’s role in the preparation of an Infrastructure Plan for the Central Coast.

“The Central Coast

Regional Plan 2036 and accompanying Implementation Plan 2016-18 will provide the framework for land use planning decisions in the region.

“It is essential that Council ensures that it has a strong role on the Delivery, Coordination and Monitoring Committee.

“Council also needs to play a strong role in preparing an Infrastructure Plan for the Central Coast,” the report said.

Agenda item 2.6, 23 Nov 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

Submissions sought for driver education enquiry ederal Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch announced the Stay Safe Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety has agreed to hold a public enquiry into “Driver Education” including the Coast’s own young drivers.

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“Given the recent tragic incidents on Central Coast roads, this highlighted the need for NSW State Parliament to hold a public inquiry into this issue, and I am proud to say

that our community and organisations will have the opportunity to make submissions to the public enquiry, Mr Crouch said.

“I encourage the public and stakeholders to make

their submission to the enquiry by February 20, 2017,” Mr Crouch added.

Media release, November 17, 2016 Debra Wales, Office of Adam Crouch MP

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NBN satisfaction survey shows mixed results n independent audit of c o n s u m e r experiences with the National Broadband Network on the Central Coast has turned up mixed preliminary results.

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Connecting to the region’s largest single infrastructure investment, estimated to be worth at least $350 million, has been an unsatisfactory experience for one third of survey respondents.

However, 40 per cent of respondents said they were happy with their experience in moving over to the NBN. The audit was conducted

by Coastal Connexions, the Central Coast’s digital industries group.

Previous calls for an audit fell on deaf ears during the recent Federal election campaign, despite widespread community and media support.

“Discussions of the NBN rollout have been a hot topic for years within our group,” said Co-convenor, Mr Tim Willcox.

“Our members, by definition, rely heavily on top quality broadband to run their organisations.

“Many have done very well using the NBN infrastructure, though many have had some equally

Coastal Connexions at the announcement of the preliminary NBN audit report

shocking stories,” he said.

The preliminary report focusses on the data collected about the state of the NBN rollout in the region.

The report’s chief coordinator, Mr David Abrahams, said he was pleased with the level of participation by residents,

businesses and community sectors.

“We have received a large amount of quality feedback about the rollout directly from the community,” he said.

“There are both good stories and absolute shockers.

“This gives us a unique opportunity to point to the bad issues and adopt the lessons, something that could vastly, ultimately, improve the rollout,” he said.

Some of the base data details presented to the group were: 255 detailed submissions were collected across the region; 81 per

cent of respondents were residential; 17 per cent were business, the remainder institutions; 76 per cent had an active NBN connection; and, 24 per cent did not have a connection for a variety of reasons.

Sixty three per cent of NBN connected respondents had Fibre to the Node connections, 26 per cent had Fibre to the Premise connections, with the remainder using wireless, satellite or unsure.

Around 22 per cent of connections subscribed to 100/40mb/s speeds, 28 per cent to 25/5-10 Mb/s, and 10 Mb/s the remainder on other plans; 44 per cent

rated reliability as excellent or very high, while 32% said reliability was either poor or very poor.

In terms of happiness with their NBN experience, 26 per cent of respondents were very unhappy, while 24 per cent were very happy.

Submissions relating to getting connected from the audit reflected the diversity of experiences, Mr Abrahams said.

One respondent wrote: “My entire suburb is connected except our street

and cannot get any half decent response from NBN. “They blame it on the contractors and know absolutely nothing.

“Our street has been completely forgotten about, and our suburb was connected in November 2015”.

Another commented on the lack of internet availability at the Somersby Industrial Estate, which does not have access to ADSL2 or NBN. Further analysis of the data over the summer is expected to reveal important patterns both geographically, managerially and technically.

“The Central Coast is effectively the broadband laboratory of the nation.

“We think there will be important lessons that emerge for the NBNCo and their installers across the country,” Mr Abrahams said.

The audit survey was entirely funded/ resourced by local industry group professionals and businesses.

No government, agency or ISP funding was received.

The full report will be published in the New Year after more detailed analysis and data collection is completed.

Media release, Nov 29, 2016 Tim Wilcox, Coastal Connexions

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Planning proposal rejected despite land being offered to COSS

Sewerage Project completion for Cockle Bay residents was a pipe dream ver 200 property owners, including some in Bensville and Kincumber South, are breathing a sigh of relief as they say goodbye to their on-site sewage management systems, thanks to Central Coast Council’s Cockle Bay Towns Sewerage Project.

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Vegetation on the site

planning proposal for a five lot residential subdivision at 20 James Norton Rd, Bensville, has been refused by Central Coast Council based on a recommendation from its Environment and Planning Department.

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A report presented to Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, at the ordinary meeting on November 23 recommended the refusal of a request for an amendment to Interim Development Order 122 (Gosford).

Mr Reynolds acted in line with the staff recommendation.

The application was made by Highlight Consulting on behalf L and G Wright and J Miller.

The land is currently zoned for conservation and scenic protection, with a mixture of rural small holdings and conservation uses allowed.

The reasons for the

Green Planet Electricity

refusal were stated as: the land contains environmental attributes suitable for conservation but unsuitable for small rural holdings.

“The planning proposal will adversely impact on the biodiversity of the locality as it would facilitate significant vegetation removal to establish access, services, construction and bushfire asset protection,” the report to Mr Reynolds from Council’s Environment and Planning Department said.

Other reasons for the refusal were: “The planning proposal would include land identified as being high hazard landslip in a zone that permits more intensive development.

“The proposed outcome of the planning proposal to create a five-lot subdivision would result in development that adversely affects the environmental value of the site and create future residential sites in high risk (bushfire and landslip mapped) areas.

At the Council meeting, Ms Helen Monks spoke on behalf of Highlight Consulting.

Ms Monks said the staff report omitted critical information and claimed a geotechnical risk without providing evidence.

She also questioned why Council would refuse the proposal which included a gift of five lots of land to the Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS).

“Twenty two acres of land have been offered to COSS, do you want it or not,” Ms Monks said.

“The proposal delivers more housing land and housing choices, the proposal delivers protection of sensitive land in perpetuity and advances many Council strategies,” she said.

Agenda item 2.2, Nov 23, 2016 Meeting notes, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Jackie Pearson, journalist

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This $11 million project has been in the pipeline since the 1990s, when un-sewered areas in the Cockle Bay catchment were deemed high priority for improved sewerage services, due to the sensitivity of local waterways and ecology, and potential public health risks posed by unsustainable onsite sewage systems.

Council’s Group Leader Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Mike Dowling, said Cockle Bay residents had finally achieved their pipe dream.

“Connection to the sewer has been sought by residents in the area for a while now, and we’re pleased to say it has arrived,” Mr Dowling said.

“The delivery of this sewerage scheme has been well received by the community,” he said.

“Not only will over 200 properties connect over the next few months, but an additional 80 properties have had infrastructure installed on their property so that if connection is required at a later date, it can be arranged easily and economically.

“Connection to the sewer

issues are lessened and it’s also great for our local environment.

“Traditional gravity sewer systems can involve a wide construction footprint in flatter areas.

“PSS have much lower impacts during construction, particularly because trenchless techniques can be utilised.

“This means we have been able to minimise disruption to both the sensitive surrounding environment and the community.

“For Cockle Bay Towns’ PSS, council has elected to include remote monitoring of the status of each unit.

“If anything goes wrong, council will be able to resolve the issue in the most cost-effective timeframe having historical and current data at hand.

“We would like to thank all residents in the Cockle Bay Towns Sewerage Project service area for their patience as this essential work was undertaken and invite them to reap the rewards.”

Media release, Nov 28, 2016 Mike Dowling, Central Coast Council

Land description to be acquired by council for roundabout corrected and for a proposed roundabout on the corner of Dandaloo St and Woy Woy Rd, Kariong, will be acquired by Central Coast Council for road widening.

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The Crown Reserve land will be acquired for road widening in accordance with the requirements of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

The former Gosford Council, at its meeting held on 13 May, 2014, resolved in part to acquire land from Lot 442 DP 755251

at Kariong for the purpose of road widening to allow construction of a single lane roundabout with potential for a future upgrade to a two lane roundabout at the intersection of Woy Woy Rd, Langford Dve and Dandaloo St, Kariong.

The resolution of the former Gosford Council incorrectly identified Lot 442

as a Council Reserve.

Therefore, a report has been prepared to correct the land description as Crown Reserve for adoption

by Council.

Agenda item 4.1, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

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will free up land currently used for on-site sewage management.

“For many residents, this will mean the end to soggy front and backyards, overflows, pump outs and maintenance.”

The majority of properties in the service area are being serviced by a pressure sewer system (PSS), whilst a small number of properties are being serviced by a gravity sewer system.

A sewage pumping station has been installed on the corner of Wards Hill Rd and Empire Bay Dve, Empire Bay. According to Mr Dowling, PSS are extremely popular internationally, and have been used throughout Europe and the US for approximately 30 years.

The trend to use pressure sewer technology in Australia is rising, with water authorities, councils, developers and individuals from across the country getting on board.

“Pressure sewer is an innovative piece of technology, offering a range of benefits,” Mr Dowling said.

“Not only is it costeffective and reliable, odour

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Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 13 C SShare

Planning proposal for rezoning of Wamberal land initiated

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NEWS

102 lot subdivision at Forresters Beach approved Proposed Site

planning proposal will be initiated by Central Coast Council for the rezoning of land on Reeds Rd, Wamberal, from Conservation and Scenic Protection (Rural Small Holdings) to a zoning that would permit low density residential development.

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The applicant was Doug Sneddon Planning on behalf of Reads Group Pty Ltd. The rezoning would take the land from its current minimum lot size of 2 hectares to a minimum lot size of 1,850 square metres.

The applicant had proposed a minimum lot size of 550 square metres, but Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, elected for the staff’s recommendation of 1,850 square metres when he considered the matter at the Ordinary Council meeting on November 23.

The planning proposal will be sent to the NSW Department of Planning with a request for a gateway determination and, if granted, public consultation would follow.

The former Gosford Council approved a childcare centre (constructed and operating) and a house (not constructed) on the site in 2013.

The site adjoins Conservation and Scenic Protection land to the north, west and south, but land to the east and on the other side of Reads Rd is zoned R2 Low Density Residential.

A report from Council’s Environment and Planning Department said the applicant’s proposal was “excessive”.

“However, the site could act as a transition zone between the residential lands on the eastern side of Reads Rd (south of Ocean Palms Cls) and the surrounding rural residential lands west of the site, if the

number of potential lots was reduced…to two,” the report said.

The applicant’s aim was to secure six lots on the land.

“The lot does not contain environmental criteria that would satisfy the requirements of an Environment Protection Zoning, but reflects an urban character similar to that of the adjoining residential land,” the report said.

Council staff said several studies should be undertaken once the Gateway Determination was given to ensure the land is suitable.

“The outcome of the planning proposal, as amended, would be the retention of the existing childcare facility and the ability to subdivide the remaining vacant land to accommodate two future dwellings,” the report said.

The report concluded that the rezoning would be an appropriate response to the current land use, its location and its role as a transition between traditional residential and rural land that would enable economic and orderly use and development for additional housing.

Agenda item 2.3, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

A street view showing developments close to the subdivision site

102 lot subdivision to be developed over two stages at The Entrance Rd, Forresters Beach, has been given deferred commencement consent by the Central Coast Council.

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The applicant and owner was Allam Forresters Beach Pty Ltd, and the 55,420 square metres, partially zoned Low Density Residential, and partially E2 Environmental Conservation land, is located at 995 to 997 The Entrance Rd. Stage 1 of the subdivision will comprise of 59 lots and would involve construction of three part roads, drainage and nutrient control facilities, and an upgrade of the intersection at the Central Coast Highway.

Stage 2 would comprise 43 residential lots, construction of the balance of four roads and the dedication of land for drainage and nutrient control facilities.

Proposed residential lots would vary in size from 405 square metres to 961 square metres, and a proposed E2 Environmental Conservation zoned lot would have an area of 3,220 square metres.

The property shares a common boundary with an existing retirement village to the north and is bounded by Bakali Rd to the west, which is an unconstructed road.

The proposal retains vehicle access to the retirement village at the

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submissions have been addressed as conditions of consent.

“The issues alone do not warrant refusal of the development application.

“The application is recommended for approval via a deferred commencement consent, subject to the conditions.”

As a result of the consent, Council has also undertaken to review its current contributions framework

Agenda item 2.8, Nov 23, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

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north east corner of the site.

Land to the south contains houses and is subject to a planning proposal for rezoning to low density residential.

A major drainage system runs across the north east corner of the site, taking water from the Central Coast Highway.

It is also in the Wamberal Lagoon catchment area and is identified as bushfire prone.

The Rural Fire Service has issued a bush fire safety authority subject to conditions.

The Land and Environment Court gave consent for a retirement village on the site in 2007.

Development under that consent had commenced, so the applicant would be required to surrender the consent if the current application was approved.

The application was placed on public exhibition in March and 85 submissions were received, 35 per cent of which from residents of the adjoining retirement village.

A Council staff report to Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said: “The issues raised in public

to ensure that appropriate development contributions are collected toward the provision of essential infrastructure to support the incoming communities across the Central Coast.

Amendments to the existing contributions plan will be prepared and placed on public exhibition (if necessary).

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Page 14 - Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 16 Share

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Worrying and uncertain times for council employees

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he restructure required to complete the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong Council has reached the stage where some unit and service managers may be displaced.

“The e s no doub ha n an ama gama ed Counc he e won be a need o as many manage s as be o e ” sa d Cen a Coas Counc s CEO M Rob Nob e “So he e s a need o go h ough a me -based ec u men p ocess o ge he bes peop e n p ace o each managemen o e ” M Nob e sa d “Fo hose who w sh o s ay he e s a o e o hem ” he sa d “ us may no be he des ed o e bu hey can s con bu e pos ve y ” he sa d One o wo Un ed Se v ces Un on USU o fic a s wo k ng w h he Cen a Coas Counc o ensu e a smoo h ans on o he new s uc u e M Pau Sansom sa d we ove 50 a ec ed emp oyees wou d have ece ved a e e say ng he pos on n he new s uc u e may we no be he e n s cu en o m “ hey can ge a e a y ans e ed ac oss hen may we go o an exp ess on o n e es o an n e na ob app ca on ” M Sansom sa d A med a s a emen sa d Counc was do ng s bes o ook a e he needs o s a du ng he pe od o change “Ea y on a Consu a ve Comm ee was es ab shed made up o un on de ega es execu ve and human esou ces s a o gu de he p ocess ” he s a emen

sa d “S a have access o an ex e na and confiden a emp oyee ass s ance p og am we be ng p og ams and a n ng n CV p epa a on and ob n e v ew sk s “Pe manen s a a so have a ob gua an ee o h ee yea s ” Acco d ng o he s a emen he new Cen a Coas Counc cu en y emp oys a ound 2 200 s a and has a na u a a on a e o app ox ma e y 7 pe cen M Sansom sa d he e was a g ea dea o unce a n y wh e he new counc pu s new o gan sa ona s uc u e oge he “To ge a new s uc u e n p ace s a a y mass ve ask and we a e wo k ng w h Counc o ensu e ou membe s a e p o ec ed as pe he Loca Gove nmen Ac ” M Sansom sa d “The e a e emp oymen p o ec ons n he e o a pe od o h ee yea s a e he ama gama on da e so he e a e no o ced edundanc es w h n ha pe od “The e s a p ocess Counc s unde ak ng o move emp oyees om he o d s uc u es o he new s uc u e “Some c ed has o be g ven o he sen o managemen and CEO ha hey a e y ng o keep emp oyees as n o med as poss b e as he new

s uc u e s un o d ng ” M Sansom sa d he new Counc was pu ng s o gan sa ona s uc u e n p ace om he op down and was now ook ng c ose y a he m dd e managemen anks “They a e now ge ng down o he se v ce manage and un manage eve s and hen w cascade down o owe emp oyee eve s whe e we w have mo e dense un on membe sh p “We a e wo k ng o ensu e he p ocess s done co ec y so by he me ge s down o he ank and fi e he p ocess s as smoo h as poss b e ” he sa d A hough many un manage s and se v ce manage s wou d be cove ed by he Loca Gove nmen Ac and he NSW Loca Gove nmen Awa d was pa o he o gan sa ona s uc u e whe e he e was a h gh eve o unce a n y acco d ng o M Sansom “ H s o c a y managemen pos ons po en a y can be seen as he g ea es po en a dup ca on a hough he e has been a s a emen made ve y ea y n he p ece ha counc was o he op n on ha he e shou d be a o e n he new counc s uc u e o eve yone ” He confi med ha he e had been no compu so y edundanc es made a he new Cen a Coas Counc bu sa d vo un a y

All aspects of small building work and property maintenance

edundanc es we e he unce a n a ea “We have deve oped a ou s ep p ocess ha we have d ven o ensu e peop e a en pu n he p ace o ook ng a edundancy un he ve y end ” M Sansom sa d he ou -s ep p ocess nc uded emp oyees be ng d ec y ans e ed om he o d Counc o he same ob w h n he Cen a Coas Counc The nex s ep was a a e a ans e whe e hey may epo o a d e en manage bu wou d expe ence m n ma change o he pa cu a o e Redep oymen o ano he o e w h n he new Counc was he h d s ep and edundancy he ou h and fina op on “The e shou d be ve y ew any ha w have o go ” he sa d When asked how a h gh eve o ob e en on a he new Cen a Coas Counc was compa b e w h he NSW Gove nmen s cos cu ng ob ec ves M Sansom sa d “They a e ook ng o cos sav ngs bu we a e y ng o m n m se he hu o ou membe s and any adve se mpac on ou membe s so we a e ensu ng ou membe s have he bes poss b e chance o e a n a pos on a Cen a Coas Counc “The d ficu y s ha he wo counc s have had h s mposed upon hem by he NSW Gove nmen “The USU has been h ough h s be o e n 2004 so we have been e ng he Counc ha we have been h ough h s be o e e us e you wha wo ked be o e and wha d dn wo k so we don make he same m s akes aga n ”

he Community Environment Network (CEN) has renewed its calls for Central Coast Council to fight for an appropriate zone for land in the Gosford region s unique Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS).

T

Ms Jane Sm h CEO o he Ne wo k sa d he ama gama ed Counc was “ob ged o con nue o figh o an E5 zone as p om sed by he s a e gove nmen and on he books as a eso u on o he o me Gos o d Counc ” “The mos ecen pos on om he NSW Gove nmen was yes we wou d ge ou E5 zone o COSS ” Ms Sm h sa d The zone wou d a ow he p ese va on o COSS as and n pub c hands ha s no o be deve oped Ms Sm h sa d “The L be a Gove nmen ag eed o an E5 zone pu n on pub c exh b on and ook subm ss ons ” she sa d “The Env onmen Comm ee o he o me Gos o d Counc wh ch was d sso ved a ong w h he Counc and has no been ep aced hen kep ask ng ques ons abou he s a us o he E5 zone and appea ed ha he NSW Gove nmen was no do ng any h ng bu he Counc wou d have a e e om he D ec o Gene a o he NSW P ann ng Depa men s a ng ha he e wou d be an E5 zone o COSS ” The env onmen a zones cu en y ava ab e a e E1 o na ona pa ks and E2 wh ch o e s he h ghes eve o p o ec on ava ab e bu pe m s dwe ngs wh ch a e no wan ed on COSS and When he new s a ew de zon ng emp a es we e n oduced Gos o d Counc dd cons de zon ng he COSS and as Rec ea ona bu changed s m nd because wou d have a owed uses such as

n erv ew Nov 21 2016 Pau Sansom Un ed Serv ces Un on Med a s a emen Nov 21 2016 Rob Nob e Cen ra Coas Counc Jack e Pearson ourna s

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August 30, 2016

Now servicing Gosford and surrounding areas

COSS land still does not have an appropriate zoning

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November 22, 2012

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The Central Coast

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Issue 13

s Marlene Pennings of The Entrance North was named Wyong Shire’s Citizen of the Year at the Wyong Council Civic Centre on Thursday, January 24.

The evening also paid time for many other Volunteer Award went tribute to other members community causes to Mr Allen Currie of the Wyong Shire including the Wyong and the Youth of the community who have Shire Community Year award went to Ms aided others through a Nursery, Tuggerah Rachel Davis. service.

Lakes Reserve Trust, Other winners Guests heard that, Wycare-CEN Liaison included Brackets and over the past 12 Committee, Landcare, Jam event stalwart Ms years, Ms Pennings the steering committee Julie Smith in the Arts was responsible for for Empowering and Culture division, obtaining almost $1 Aboriginal Women and martial artist Mr John million in grants to help Wyong Shire Council’s Gill in the Sportsperson the community.

Vision Committee. of the Year category, Mr Ms Penning’s work Last year Marlene was Tim Silverwood from has included driving included on the Hidden the Take 3-A Clean roles with Coastcare Treasures Honour Roll, Beach Initiative won the The Entrance North, the organised by the NSW Environment Award and Tuggerah Lakes Estuary, Department of Primary both the Central Coast Coastline and Flood Industries to highlight Outreach Service and Plain Management the work of outstanding TNC Lakes Food Care Committee, The volunteers in regional shared the honours for Entrance Community and rural areas. outstanding Community Precinct Committee, Wyong Shire service organisation.

The Entrance North Council’s Australia Day Media release, Progress Association award for a Business 25 Jan 2013 and Wycare.

Person went to Mr Don Wyong Council Media Ms Pennings has Dagger. also volunteered her The Community

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Issue 25

It is envisaged the see how this satellite to create a vibrant education, students.

It would also see development would city is thriving with cinct at Warnervale, capable of ourses to 7,000 students and 1,500 the co-alignment of employ 1,500 staff plus the energy of all those

“Even if the council to the proposed be a Class One and will he developer of a proposed 264-lot residential subdivision at be dealt with, at least Glenning Valley has lodged a Deemed Refusal application with was going to refuse or development. pass the development all “The communityThe at initially, by a mediator, the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Media release, 11 Jul 2013, Wyong Shire Council

University city in Wuhan China, a model for the proposed Warnervale university

along, they can look like the good guys if the Land and Environment Court makes the decision,” she said.

Following the announcement of the Deemed Refusal application, protestors and residents again rallied peacefully at the edge of Glenning Valley’s bushland on August 14 to show their opposition

Glenning Valley willCentral notCoastbut the community group stand down,” Ms Boyle has been given no details said. about what will take place “We are prepared to on September 29. fight and do whatever “I have had other it takes to stop this developers tell me they development. would not touch that “We are hoping thethat land because it is so Wyong Shire ecologically Council will represent sensitive,” us and stand with us in Ms Boyle said. saying no at the meeting on to purchase land Media Release, Aug 15, 2016 controversy with the LEC,” sheed insaid.

Kylie Boyle, Glenning Valley According to Ms Boyle, the matter will FREE

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Issue 37

for Life’ members arrested

Images from the ‘Brothers for Life’ arrest

More images from the ‘Brothers for Life’ arrest on Page 8

The 27-year-old was Guildford, one was in ged three members of ‘Brothers group.

He was refused bail, charged with: Attempt Auburn and one was in om the Wyong LGA, following a Sydney and the Central Coast on appeared at Wyong Local to possess unauthorised Kellyville.

The operation was Attempt to Court on Thursday, pistol; unauthorised part of an ongoing January 9, with the case possess firearm; investigation by Strike adjourned to March 7; he prohibited North West charged with a variety Two counts of supply Force Sitella, which Northern of offences, before was again refused bail.

The 29-year-old was prohibited drug (Large was formed by MEOCS executing being refused bail to warrants at appear before court on charged with: possess Commercial Quantity); to investigate a number unauthorised pistol; Supply prohibited drug of shootings in Sydney ydney and Thursday, January 9. unauthorised (Indictable Quantity); during the second half of ast.

Quami was charged possess Participate in 2013. firearm; and lt of the with two counts of possess prohibited Strike Force Sitella hree men unauthorised pistol; two counts of supply criminal group.

He was refused has resulted in police including possess unauthorised prohibited drug (Large Commercial Quantity); bail and appeared in arresting eleven people g leader prohibited firearm; preferring 73 supply prohibited drug Parramatta Local Court and Farhad two counts of supply (Indictable Quantity); on Thursday, January 9. charges, as well as Chittaway prohibited drug (Large Of the seven search seizing three handguns, and knowingly direct ar-old man Commercial Quantity); shotguns and criminal activities of warrants executed by two ; and a supply prohibited drug police, three were in quantities of illicit drugs. group. man from (Indictable Quantity); Media release, 9 Jan 2014 He was also refused Wyong, one was in and knowingly direct NSW Police Media Villawood, one was in men were criminal activities of bail.

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Issue 49

earlier meeting in Wyong clearly blown away by with Assistant Minister our overall vision for for Infrastructure and the managed growth of Regional Development this region and we’ve Jamie Briggs. been very pleased with “The Federal the support for the Government’s support for proposed regional airport the regional airoport will expressed by both levels be essential to getting it of government,” Cr Eaton built and operational by said.

Gosford Council’s 2020 and we had a great meeting in Canberra CEO Mr Paul Anderson last week with senior said that establishing a officials and the Chief of new regional airport was Staff for Federal Minister a very important part of for Infrastructure and the Central Coast’s future.

“There’s no doubt that Regional Development, Warren Truss,” said having an airport built and operating here in our mayor Cr Eaton.

Warner Business Park Jilliby Land “They were very region would be a major, he biggest “The Woodbury Park investment of ratepayers’ supportive of our regional long-term boost for the ding in the land is adjacent to the money, and knowing the airport plans and we local economy,” Mr site,” said Freeway Link Rd at Terrace Towers company are to write to them to Anderson said. n. the northern boundary as I do, you can rest “Not only will an trigger Federal assistance this land of the Shire and will assured that they wouldn’t regarding planning and airport help us tackle the ow serious provide opportunities be selling their prime land technical approvals in huge demands facing the stablishing for future employment holdings for less than ort by 2020 and environmental offset they were worth,” said line with the Coalition’s Central Coast’s transport systems in coming years, the local lands,” Cr Eaton said.

Cr Graham, who voted election commitment.

“They also saw the but it will also deliver boost jobs “Both holdings are against the motion along airport as being eligible positive flow on effects important for sustainable with Crs Lisa Matthews, for federal funding for local jobs, tourism and ral Coast economic development in Doug Vincent and Ken through RDA grants in other investment. ort will be the Shire,” he said.

Greenwald.

“Along with Wyong upcoming years and we usiness and “I will be calling for However, Cr Bob will be looking at all Shire Council, we were ry precinct Graham said the $17 a thorough investigation avenues for public and very pleased to be able change in million could be better into this wastage of private funding,” he said. to highlight this regional portunities spent on a multitude of ratepayers’ money and to Last month council priority at the national e, and will projects throughout the what could possibly be also met with NSW level during meetings her airport Shire including the Arts the true motive for this Premier Mike Baird and with federal government he Sydney Centre, the restoration cosy arrangement with Central Coast Minister ministers in June,” said castle,” he of Tuggerah Lakes, Terrace Towers,” said Cr Rob Stokes and took Mr Anderson. roads, kerb and gutter, Graham. them on a visit to the will also drainage and sporting and The decision to Media release, 26 Jun 2014 ver 144 recreational facilities. purchase the land proposed airport site and Wyong Council Media other projects in the north Email, 26 Jun 2014 land at “I question the followed a lobbying Warnervale area.

Bob Graham, Wyong Council 7 million. wisdom of this so called visit to Canberra and an “The Premier was

the Wyong Shire

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 e University campus Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 sed for Warnervale E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

November 7, 2014

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Issue 57

Wyong Council mayor Cr Doug Eaton joined members of the Wyong District Museum and Historical Society to turn the first sod that will restore the Homestead to its former glory and re-establish its heritage status as a dedicated museum and learning centre.

Mayor Cr Eaton said council had worked closely with the Historical Society to come up with the right plans for the restoration.

“The Historical Society has been behind this project

We

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Issue 61

n (centre) with Wuyi University president Zhang to his right and vice president Wurren to his left with members of the Ames Foundation

“At the moment, a strong Doug Eaton is currently in China progress interest and investment they have interests in supporting

record in and making connections. overseas The Wyong Education universities in Ottowa education,” said mayor and Business Precinct has and New York.

Cr Eaton. been identified by council population Wyong Shire.

“This will be a first The campus would as one of 39 key projects Mayor Cr Eaton for Wyong and Australia cater for 7,000 students requiring investment and llion) on ary 12, to said president Zhang if they get on board and and create 500 permanent funding from the state interest in was enthusiastic about I am really hoping they jobs and include a and federal governments working with council to will.

SMARTS Hub knowledge to create more jobs and ersity has develop a university in “Wuyi is great fit and community centre for opportunities for Wyong ents and the Wyong Shire. for Wyong and not just students and the broader Shire residents.

“Wuyi University ngineering because it starts with W. community to assist in ogy, key is looking to expand Media release, 13 Jan 2015 “They have the developing their skills, Wyong Council media f which its current cooperation expertise in the technical supporting employment pportunity agreements with overseas subjects we need and and business initiatives his time in campuses.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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Issue 73

h boarding house proposal to o JRPP without proper debate

25 years bu d ng exper ence

we have been told that we would need a minimum of $50,000 to take it there and we have nothing of that kind at the moment,” he said.

Member for Dobell, Ms Karen McNamara attended the Council meeting as a show of support for the Ourimbah residents.

Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan has also expressed support for the Ourimbah residents and is expected to speak at the JRPP in opposition to the boarding house development.

An artist's impression of the proposed Glen Rd boarding house as it will be presented to the JRPP Mr McGill said the Mr Greg McGill or not they supported s reviewed wells and storage.

Stop Glen Road Action The proposed building from the Stop Glen the development,” Mr Group did not believe nter Joint ning Panel will house 87 single Road Action Group said McGill said. that the developer had He said the outcomes ear which units, 10 doubles, three residents present in the met the six conditions ermination accessible units and the public gallery for the of the focus groups set out by the JRPP in Council meeting were chaired by Mr Thompson rovision of manager’s unit. relation to its concerns Each unit would “very, very disappointed” had been used as part of nformation about the bulk and scale contain an en-suite, that the issue was not the developer’s social of the development. nge. impact statement in its l DA was kitchenette, robe and debated.

“One floor has come Mr McGill said he was development proposal to ion of two desk. off the top but there is an The landscaping plan surprised that several incorrectly demonstrate additional wing to be built lings and declared community support for and they have reduced the of a four- has been revised with councillors ng house extensive landscaping conflicts of interest based the development. size of the rooms to just The Stop Glen Road 4 rooms, proposed within the front on connections with above the state minimum residence, setback and in communal former federal member Action Group is also requirements,” Mr en space. areas, according to the for Dobell, Mr Craig seeking advice as to McGill said.

Thompson. whether Mr Cox is an application latest report to Council.

In the speech he did Unless Mr Cox decides Mr McGill said he appropriate person to not get to present to the hree-storey use with to make alternative believed Mr Thompson, make submissions to the meeting, Mr McGill with former JRPP given that he was the manager’s submissions to the along said the group would be rking and JRPP, it is expected that Wyong councillor and author of the first report to detailing the issues that the report submitted mayor Mr Neil Rose, Council recommending it believed the developer the Wednesday, had been employed by the original development a thorough to had failed to address to ssessment, July 8 meeting will be the developers K and application. the JRPP meeting.

According to Mr ation is forwarded to the Hunter P Gregory, to chair the group for Central Coast JRPP for focus groups and lobby McGill, Meeting transcript, report said. determination on Friday, current ALP councillors will be “up the creek 8 July 2015 Business paper, 8 July 2015 to support the proposed without a paddle” if version of July 16.

Wyong Council In other words, the development. the JRPP approves the he building ordinary meeting “We believe the current version of the creased at outcome from Wyong Interview, ntage, and Council to the JRPP will councillors used their development application.

9 July 2015 es include be a report supporting the declared conflicts at “Our only avenue Mr Greg McGill, Save Glen Road Action Group recreation approval of the proposed the meeting to get out would be the Land and Jackie Pearson, journalist level, light development. of declaring whether Environment Court and

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Issue 85

ity members dig channel

Cr Lloyd Taylor with residents who dug the channel on Australia Day

Y

oung and old turned out on Australia Day at The Entrance to dig a channel at least one-metre wide from the ocean to the lake.

h shovels in hand

“All too often we have the better the health of Wyong councillor Lloyd Taylor said: “It flooding around the lake the lakes, the better our demonstrates the level of edge and opening the lifestyle.

“What we saw on community commitment mouth of the channel will to get the channel opened reduce the likelihood of Australia Day was the the flooding we saw as silent majority coming and a break-wall built.

“We have all had recently as January of this out in force for a solution to save Tuggerah lakes. enough of talk; now we year.

“I call on the rest of “The community know want action,” Cr Taylor what they want and we, the community to stand said.

“Before the last as their representatives, up and support this election, we had support need to support them in community initiative,” he said. from the local member, this.

“Our lifestyle revolves Mr Chris Spence and the Media release, Jan 27, 2016 the lakes, Liberal Party, but that all around Lloyd Taylor, Save Tuggerah seems to have faded,” he foreshore and waterways, Lakes Party so it is only logical that said.

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Issue 97

h 2 coal mine decision now ly a few weeks away The Greens NSW no future, that Mike mining spokesperson, Baird should knock on Mr Jeremy Buckingham, the head.

“The proposed coal has called on NSW belt and premier, Mr Mike Baird, conveyor to intervene to stop the coal loading area are Wallarah 2 underground unacceptably close to the existing residential coal mine project.

“The Coalition made neighbourhood of Blue a solemn promise not to Haven and may impact on allow the Wallarah 2 coal plans by the Darkinjung mine to go ahead,” Mr Local Aboriginal Land Council for residential Buckingham said.

“Former premier, Mr development in the area.”

Central Coast Council Barry O’Farrell, told a crowd that the mine concerns about the effect would not go ahead ‘no on the drinking water ifs, no buts, a guarantee’. catchment, environment “Yet years later, and residential areas, will the NSW Coalition be central to its review Government has failed to of modified plans for the implement this promise,” Wallarah 2 Coal Project.

The former Wyong Mr Buckingham said.

“This coal mine is Shire Council opposed a risk not only to the the mine in February water catchment of the 2014 due to the potential The latest plans include a relocated rail loop (shown in purple) Central Coast, but to the impacts on the drinking could be plans. the main access to the credibility of the Liberal water catchment areas.

The former Gosford Party when it makes Mr Hayes said the new development.

Council also concerns development proposal Mr Hayes said that in commitments to the City opposed the project in mine’s would see the conveyor 2014, Dr Peter Lewis, electorate.

“It should fulfil those March 2014. e Central belt transporting coal 200 the clinical director of the Council has stated r supply, metres from the south- Central Coast integrated commitments and reject it intends to closely the health western boundary of the care program, said the the mine.

“The Korean review the revised plans dust.

Blue Haven residential expected mortality rate has with a view to lodging a ung Local area and as far north as for coal dust related to the Government nd Council Wyee.

Wallarah 2 mine could be announced a restructure submission.

Council has also of its state owned resource ter to the “Tooheys Rd would one on 100,000.

“Wyong CBD is five companies that will see encouraged community nvironment disappear because that ruled that road does not have a wide kilometres from the them withdraw from members to take this resource opportunity to have their ld not go verge on either side and proposed coal handling international permission KORES doesn’t own any facilities, Blue Haven projects, so it is unclear voice heard.

Information regarding Darkinjung land in that area, so they and Lake Haven are why the government would be wanting the even closer, and there should approve a mine the project is available posal does conveyor to run along the are schools, hospitals and plan for a company likely from NSW Planning’s major projects website.

Darkinjung carriage way,” Mr Hayes aged care facilities,” Mr to leave the market.

“There is no need to Hayes said. said.

Media release, Jul 26, 2016 Darkinjung “The Planning build this coal mine.

The Darkinjung “The community are Central Coast Council media an Gordon, Local Aboriginal Land Assessment Commission Media release, Jul 26, 2016 comment Council already has has rejected four coal bitterly opposed.

Max Phillips, office of “The company doesn’t the latest approval for a 500 lot mines already this year Jeremy Buckingham Interview, Jul 29, 2017 posal may residential sub-division because of their proximity want to build it, it just Coal Darkinjung that would be impacted to residential areas,” he wants an approval to sell. Alan Hayes, Australian Alliance “It’s a dud mine, with velopment because Tooheys Rd is said.

Jackie Pearson, journalist

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

0414 486 515 NSW Bu d ng L c #215846c

he negative coverage of an announcement that Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI) would relocate its operations to the Central Coast has been described

by Central Coast Council CEO, Mr Rob Noble as: “Quite seriously muck raking tabloid journalism at its worst.”

100 ED T ONS NS

He described the US-based AAI as a “burgeoning company”.

“If that’s how every burgeoning company that wants to move its business to the Central Coast gets treated, then they will soon realise this is not a region they want to come to.”

Mr Noble said he was confident Council staff had done their due diligence thoroughly.

“My understanding is AAI will be refurbishing planes and eventually building new ones.

“We are confident they have the wherewithal, the authorisation and the legal capacity to do what they have said they will do.

“This company has the Type Certifications for the Grumman amphibian aircraft from the Federal Aviation Administration

B

outique Wyong Living Pty Ltd has gained Central Coast Council a proposal “My NSW support Labor for NSW,” Sen O’Neill said. ell over 1,000 people attended tended the Wyong Hospital priva privatisation no certainty about their rezone “The parts of colleagues and to I will Baird community rally at Morrie Breen Oval on Sunday, O October future. the former Wyong Government’s own “There are areas stand with the community 17. within the health system every step of the way Public documents confirm: ‘If Grove School community of our community. otherR2 projects are assessed site from Low no their where the public-private against the privatisation “This is not as being abletoto deliver Mr Residential Density hospital to sell,” he said. partnership model is of Wyong Hospital,” … using this approach, Mehan said.

R3 Medium Density Federal Member known to be inadequate. then partnerships will be “How do we know Federal Labor Senator, flow about on to the the NSW Central Ms Jillian ian Skinner, for for Dobell, Ms Emma concern Residential. arris.

Local Labor MPs who David Harris. announcement means Central al Coast Labor addressed the rally said thousandsdemonstrated of jobs for the MPs slammed the the turnout region with a signifi cant NSW Health Minister, widespread public

Coast economy,” Government’s decision toMr failing too consult with the Baird said.operators to community. nity. invite private Central CoastWyong Council “Throughout two ughout upgrade and run Administrator, Mr Ian elections, s, we did not Hospital.

Reynolds, said:rally “Bringing “The Wyong is hear a word from the to this ment about this just jobs the start, withregion a seriesand Government enabling employment of events planned for plan,” Mr Harris said. growth are some of the “Theyy have failed to regional locations where a key priorities of Central public-private partnership treat ourr area with any Coast Council. model “There will bewere considered a number respect or give us any say ions around our for ofhospital locations upgrades that AAI in decisions and was construction,” investigatingsaidand hospital. hope the Shadow we’re Minister pleased to for have “I successfully attracted AAI to the Central Coast,” he said.

Mr Reynolds said the lease agreement with AAI is part of a wider vision to make the Airport a hub for light to medium commercial general aviation.

“Having an anchor tenant like AAI at Central Coast Airport will help put our region on the aviation industry map,” Mr Reynolds said.

The Albatross at sea and the $100 million factory proposed for Warnervale inset “It will stimulate the According to the Central Coast to become in the United States and privy to a great deal of will move its operations that is not an easy thing information that was, for from the USA to a site Central Coast Council, nationally recognised the present, commercial at Central Coast Airport the deal will create 240 and help in attracting to do. direct jobs in aircraft additional “Council’s senior staff in confidence, that would under a 40 year lease. investment NSW Premier, Mr manufacturing, as well as from related industries have been working with demonstrate the flowthis company for about a on benefits of Council’s Mike Baird, visited the thousands of indirect jobs and innovators and Coast on September 27 in auxiliary industries growing our economy. agreement with AAI. year. parts supply, AAI is the Type to announce that AAI like “We are talking about an 18,000 square metre Certificate holder to would become the first instrumentation, interior Continued P3 hangar, it really is a major the HU-16 Models A-E transport category aircraft fitouts and avionics.

“This is a great day for and G-111 Albatross manufacturer to set up in development.

Mr Noble said he was Amphibian Aircraft, and Australia since the 1940s. the Central Coast; this

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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McBride joined the joine debate.

“Having worked at wor Wyong Hospital for the past 10 years, I know how dedicated our ou health workers are and the t strain they work under unde caring for us,” Ms McBride McBr said.

“They don’t deserve this.

“It is unacceptable unac that local health workers

Deborah O’Neill, Floor said looked space into’,” ratioshe said.

“The heights public health the NSW Government’s and building for sale. own documents will provedalsosystem need istonotbe “The their privatisation amended model in Wyongcommunity believes that would be used for Local further rightly Environment health system is not hospital construction Planand2013our(WLEP), if somethinggives a government upgrades.

NSW Planning can make a profit from.”

“The Government’s consent for a gateway P u b l i c - P r i determination. vate media release, Oct 19, Partnership approach, A portionJoint of the former 2016 which will place school Wyong site remains Heather Robison, office of Hospital in privatesubject hands, to a compulsory Emma McBride will potentially be used Media release, Oct 19, 2016 The subject site for the rezoning proposal is edged in red acquisition application Scottby Coomber, that was lodged the office of Deborahdevelopment.

O’Neill of its application to former Wyong Council Jackie Pearson, journalist The southern part of compulsorily acquire the and is expected to be concluded between two lots at 1 North Rd will site.

A development November 2016 and retain their low density Office: a p p l i c a t i o n residential zoning.

January 2017.

Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: was The site is known (DA/794/2016) At Council’s ordinary Mail: meeting on October 26, as the Wyong Grove lodged with Council on E-mail: Council’s Administrator, Community and Cultural 24 June 2016, for the Website: Mr Ian Reynolds, agreed Hub and is the home of demolition of all the that the latest rezoning the Wyong Drama Group existing buildings on the proposal should be sent and Musical Theatre site, but has not yet been determined. to the NSW Department Company.

The applicant lodged a Wyong Grove Public of Planning for a gateway School closed in June request for a pre-Gateway determination.

Council will consult 2013 and Wyong Council review in respect of with landowners of entered a two-year lease this planning proposal surrounding properties to with the Department with the Department Planning and Education and of seek their support to be of included in the revised Communities (DEC) in Environment in August.

The pre-Gateway planning proposal, as May 2014.

However, DEC sold review is yet to be recommended by Council by the the site in October 2015, considered staff.

If the proposal is and in December, the Department and the Joint successful, properties former Wyong Council Regional Planning Panel from 1 to 5 Ingram St, 1 resolved to acquire the (JRPP).

A report from to 17 Owen Ave and 1 to front portion of the Central Coast 5 North Rd, Wyong, will former school to retain the Department be rezoned for medium it as a community hub, Council’s density residential and council is still of Environment and awaiting the outcome Planning to the October

this will not put more pressure on nearby public hospitals?

“We have no information from the Government about how they plan to address these risks.”

Member for the Entrance, Mr David Mehan said: “I am sure many more people will show their opposition to this Government and their unbridled attachment to privatisation.

Issue 105

When asked if Health NSW would make the detail of the contract for the partnership available for public scrutiny, Ms Skinner said: “The public can already have a look at the details of the Northern Beaches Hospital arrangement and I can tell you that it will be saving tax payers $1.5 billion over 20 years,” she said.

Ms Skinner argued that a partnership with the private sector would result in more jobs, not less, and that the contract could ensure conditions of employment, including superannuation, would be carried forward.

“When we announced we were seeking expressions of interest for a series of sites, we said we would not go ahead if it was of no benefit to the community and the tax payer. and we have already walked away from one property,” she said.

Ms Skinner said claims that free public health care would not be available at a redeveloped Wyong Hospital, or that there would be no emergency department, were “rubbish led by the unions.

“I met with the unions and they told me that they had a philosophical problem with private sector involvement,” she said.

Ms Skinner told the Wyong Regional Chronicle that the NSW Government would still spend its promised $200 million Issue on the 104 redevelopment of Wyong Hospital.

“I would expect a private sector partner to add more money to the $200 million, but our commitment has not changed,” Ms Skinner said.

From left: Jillian Skinner NSW Minister for Health with “Having a private Premier Mr Mike Baird at the announcement of the Northern Beaches Hospital in 2014 Wyong Town Centre, and partner means the Hospital), this land is consideredtheaorganisations that had plan for the district, and by Healthescope, as the Beaches community can get expressions of the operator would be model for the public- the partner will have reasonable expansionsubmitted of a lot more, including interest, but confirmed obliged to meet those private-partnership being the option to continue, the land use. extra services, a bigger but if they don’t, the they had to have a proven requirements, but they proposed at Wyong.

“The indicative hospital, and more staff,” track record of running don’t have to stop there.

She said she urged hospital returns to public development concepts she said. hospitals in Australia to “There is no limit to people to take a drive ownership,” she said.

Msaccompanying Skinner said she the Ms Skinner said what they can bid,” Ms past the new hospital planning proposal qualify. are expected a redeveloped “We got numerous Skinner said. on Sydney’s Northern that would be the case very basic and will Wyong Hospital to need irrespective of the level private hospital She said opening up Beaches. to be further developedknown to become a major maternity “It is a beautiful of “value adding” the and nearly the development and address matters suchoperators as hospital if the privateall of the not-for-profit operation of the hospital hospital, much better than private operator had done privacy, overshadowing sector partnership went she said. to a competitive tender anything you would get on site. and visual impact,” operators,” the ahead.

The for-profit NSW Health will process meant two parties out of public funding,” report said. Wyong The existing and not-for-profit spend the next four to five could out-bid each other Ms Skinner said.

Hospital“Council’s currentlyCommunity has The Minister said operators that submitted working with the by committing to the andbirthing Culture Unit months has limited services. operators that submitted delivery of additional she could assure public expressions of interest that said the rezoning Msadvised Skinner it patients that they would will be required to meet expressions of interest services. should only progress on would take at least a to give them a clearer “The Northern Beaches be cared for exactly as minimum requirements northern portion year the to work through the of the documentation, understanding of the Hospital ended up with a if they were in a public for lot, being part which Expression of theInterest legal arrangement and commitments that would Cardiac Catheterisation hospital. not impacted and isTender processesby the “The government will financials before they be expected of them if Lab that was not in the compulsory necessary to findacquisition a they were to participate original tender plan,” she pay for public patient are allowed to tender, as proceedings.

Interview, suitable private sector care,” she said. the fine detail required in in the tender process. said.

Nov 17, 2016 partner.“ P r e l i m i n a r y Jillian Skinner, NSW “At the end of the the tender process could “The tender Ms Skinner referred consultation The Minister for has The portion of the site subject to the compulsory Minister for Health specifications will to the Northern Beaches contract (20 years in cost any potential partner been undertaken Health would not name with Jackie Pearson, journalist acquisition application is edged in yellow include a clinical services Hospital, constructed the case of the Northern millions of dollars. the NSW Land and 26 ordinary meeting said: “The planning nning Housing Corporation “It is recommended that proposal has been (L&HC), which owns the planning proposal be informed by a series es of four properties directly Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford amended and progressed preliminary technical hnical abutting this site, and Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 in the following manner: studies/investigations ns and a further six properties Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 rezone the majority of it is considered that there situated nearby.

E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net the subject site and those is currently adequate quate Website: www.centralcoastnews.net “NSW L&HC supports sites east of Owen Ave information to support port a the expansion of the R3 and south of Ingram St, rezoning of the site for a Medium Density zone to R3 Medium Density higher density residential ential (together with a 2:1 Residential; apply a use.

FSR) to apply to their “Further detailed maximum height of 16m tailed landholdings. and maximum Floor works would be required quired “Expanding the R3 Space Ratop of 2.0:1 to to progress the planning nning Medium Density zone should the rezoned areas; Retain proposal a (together with a 2:1 FSR) on be for land on the eastern the R2 Low Density gateway determination Residential zone over the given. side of Owen Ave, north “The proposal will of Ingram St and south south-western portion of the site which is currently provide for increased eased of Cutler Dve is not utilised as the Wyong housing density and recommended.

Grove community and expand the housing using “It is considered cultural hub and is choice within 800m of the preferable to restrict the subject of the compulsory Wyong Train Stationn and proposed R3 zone to the acquisition proposal; and, within walking distance stance area south of Ingram St. apply a Land Reservation of facilities and services rvices Agenda item 3.4, Acquisition layer to the of the town centre.

Oct 26, 2016 “WLEP only provides southern portion of the ovides Central Coast Council limited site to facilitate purchase for areas ordinary meeting medium density of this portion of the site of residential land around

by Council.

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Comprehensive Wyong Grove rezoning oning proposal to go to NSW Department of Planning

Muck M k raking tabloid journalism m at its worst W T

education with training support services and students and how this providers and business- retail providers. flows on to stimulate the ternational the development would industry groups, as well On a recent delegation local economy,” Cr Eaton f o c u s e d include a university as the establishment of a to China, Cr Eaton visited said. such as campus for 7,000 students business/industrial park the largest university “The spin offs extend y in South- with an emphasis on which would integrate city in the world in to the tourism sector, with nd and the science, engineering and with the university Wuhan, home to multiple increased visits from the y in Qatar, technology based studies, campus and explore university campuses and families of students and s creating a residential college for linkages for employment a total student population prospective students and significant 1,500 students and retail, generation and research of over one million. university-based events.” elopment. sport and recreation and and development.

“It was incredible to The initial driver for onents of language facilities for investment in the proposed Warnervale precinct will focus on securing a university to anchor the development and attract complementary service providers and businesses.

“On this front, we are already looking good with council having already received an expression of interest from a reputable international investor, which I think demonstrates that this is a viable project,” Cr Eaton said.

“I’m very optimistic that we have the right conditions to transform higher education on the Central Coast.”

An economic feasibility study will be completed by September 2013.

him at a Community Environment Network meeting,” Ms Boyle said.

The Central Coast Council has not announced any intentions in relation to the position it will take on the future of the development when it reaches the Land and Environment Court.

“They are sitting on the fence,” Ms Boyle said.

November 8, 2016

W

Chinese Theme being resolved between agreement.

Park representative Council and Australia The terms of the Ms Amanda Lee Theme Park Pty. agreement identified that addressed the meeting The site, at Lot 3 Council grant ACCFI a and explained how the Warren Rd, Warnervale, non-exclusive licence to venue would provide has a total area of enter the land for the sole purpose of carrying out jobs for residents of 179.277 Ha. Wyong Shire and would The site includes investigatory works to be a boost for the local Warnervale Airport and support the development economy. a portion of Porters of the project.

The period of the Ms Lee said while Creek wetland. the majority of the The village would be agreement was from revenue for the theme a working village with Friday, July 1, 2011, to park would come from accommodation, shops, Thursday, June 30, 2012, private proprietors, the restaurants, galleries and with the agreement Chinese Government tourist accommodation. having now lapsed.

During the period of was supportive of their The proposal is plan to construct in expected to cost in the the agreement ACCFI consultants Warnervale. vicinity of $500 million engaged It was resolved at the making it one of the Cardno to undertake desktop review meeting that the mayor largest private sector a environment, and general manager developments in Wyong of and urgently negotiate Shire and the Central engineering planning constraints with Australia Theme Coast.

Park Pty Ltd with the In March last year with regard to the objective of achieving Council considered proposed development.

The review identified an agreement for sale a Mayoral Minute in of the proposed site relation to the proposal that the current zoning of where Council’s risks from Australia China the property as Industrial and liabilities would be Cultural Foundation would not permit all minimised and where a Incorporated (ACCFI) of their proposed uses, satisfactory sale price to develop a Chinese however, this matter with particular emphasis received a conditional on the site that will be was offered by the Theme Park on could be addressed by being placed on the offer to purchase the site used to guide future models for $10 million from the decision making on this purchaser.

Council owned land at making a submission to financial rezone the land to permit available to this project. Australia Theme Park site Council has received Warnervale.

In August this year, Pty Ltd. The mayor and general a number of visits and Council resolved the proposed land use The conditions manager of Council documents from Chinese among others matters to through the exhibition an offer to purchase the site from Council imposed inappropriate have been requested to delegates during the past enter into a co-operation period of LEP 2012.

The cost of this review was received from Mr risk and obligations on report the outcomes of two years, with many agreement to continue to undertaken by Cardno Zhong, however, this Council and as such the the negotiations at the influential businessmen progress the project. and Government This agreement was is reported to be in the offer was considered offer was rejected and next ordinary Council unacceptable to Council the Australia Theme meeting on Wednesday, officials indicating formally entered into vicinity of $250,000.

At a councillor with a response being Park Pty Ltd was advised November 28. support for the project. on Monday, August detailing accordingly.

All support is 15, 2011 with mayor briefing session held forwarded Council Agenda, Council staff are dependent upon the Cr Doug Eaton and the in June of this year, an Council's position in the 14 Nov 2012 currently preparing a issue of land tenure President of ACCFI, Mr update of the current matter.

7.4, Wyong Council In October, Council land economics report and zoning issues Bruce Zhong signing the situation was presented

The Central Coast

ennings is Citizen of the Year

mayor Cr Doug Eaton

“While Sydney Government proposing Airport asset is being “We will not support Airport is a matter for a NSW joint approach fully utilised,” said does not a proposal that dumps aviation Mr Hartcher. the Commonwealth, we addressing noise on ond airport aircraft want to see maximum capacity and operational ney basin the families of the Media release, efficiency achieved improvements.

17 Jan 2013 Wilton, Central Coast.

“The NSW at the facility because Caroline Hutcherson, “The NSW ek or the the economy of NSW Government does not Office of Chris Hartcher MP st,” said Government announced depends on it. support an airport on the plans late last year

Court to consider the DA. Ms Kylie Boyle from the ‘Say No to Glenning Valley Development’ group said the first Land and Environment Court date was September 29.

“We found out about the Deemed Refusal directly from the Central Coast Council Adminstrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, when we met

T

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Issue 102

Issue 9

a day spa, restaurant for day and night time influenced by studies for over a year now in qm. and from around Australia the development of the pment has and bar, surrounded by a entertainment and internationally concept for the site”, d by one landscaped and treed roof relaxation.

A proposed Novotel whereby best practice said a spokesperson for s leading garden environment.

The position on Hotel would comprise architectural designs Wyong Council Media. firms to “The recently adopted de position the fourth floor of the 220 plus rooms, an have been ‘cherry picked’ outstanding building would offer 800 seat conference and integrated into the master plan for the entrance town centre was ocean and uninterrupted views out and function centre, design”. to the lake and coast, yet introducing The Entrance The Entrance Chamber prepared in conjunction of Commerce president their concept.” velopment would enable the roof to thousands of visitors.

Both towers would Mr Wes Newman said the “Council has received rovide for garden to still feel part of be in an elliptical shape, development was positive a planning proposal for undercover the town.

At ground level, the designed to offer 360 for The Entrance. spot rezoning of the rking for “To get this far has lakeside plaza site, which d visitors piazza has been designed degree views, allowing to become the town wind to pass, avoiding the been a great achievement is currently being assed.” g of the square, providing open down drafts associated and is very positive for create an space and amenities, with more conventional The Entrance,” said Mr Magazine, 1 Jul 2012 Newman. protected surrounded by restaurants, designs.

Lakeside Plaza “We have been working Edgar Adams, Central Coast and rain cafes, hospitality venues Business Review rth level, and specialist retail that proprietor Mr Bob Dunnet closely with the owners 8 Aug 2012 Wyong Council Media l facilities, would make it popular said “The design has been and their representatives Wy

Photo courtesy of Ben Dunnet

he Wyong community will get a bigger and better hospital as a result of the NSW Government’s proposed publicprivate partnership, according to the NSW Minister for Health, Ms Jillian Skinner.

yong Council received an updated report on the status of the proposed site for a Chinese Cultural Theme Park on Warren Rd, Warnervale, at its ordinary meeting of Wednesday, November 19.

“The NSW Central Coast which is t Mr Chris Hartcher has rejected to increase capacity has why we need to ensure rt on the Central Coast, including at Sydney Airport to Government written to the Federal the existing Sydney boost efficiency.

Ridge in Wyong Shire.

The developer has taken the step because Central Coast Council took longer than the 40 to 60 days it is legally given to consider a development application.

By dragging its feet, Central Coast Council has given the developer, GV Nominees, the opportunity to ask the Land and Environment

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Public-private partnership will provide a better hospital

Council in negotiations with developer over proposed $500M Chinese Theme Park

tral Coast airport ruled out

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November 22, 2016

Issue 103

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October 11, 2016

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Issue 1

on Precinct Preliminary Members of the Say No to Glenning Valley Development group held a peaceful vigil after learning the DA was now in the hands of the Land oject and Court PlanEnvironment endorsed

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Rally attracts over 1,000 people

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impression released for de Plaza redevelopment

M

October 25, 2016

M

Developer goes to Land and Environment Court because Council was too slow

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n erv ew Nov 29 2016 Jane Sm h Commun y Env ronmen Ne work n erv ew Nov 28 2016 an Reyno ds Cen ra Coas Counc Jack e Pearson ourna s

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spo ng fie ds Ms Sm h sa d p e m na y wo k unde way

by Counc on a new Loca Env onmen a P an and Deve opmen Con o P an o he who e oca gove nmen a ea needed o cons de COSS “On y 70 pe cen o COSS and has been acqu ed so bonus o p ov s ons ha enab e he acqu s on o and o COSS need o be kep ” Counc s Adm n s a o M an Reyno ds d ew a en on o he “o d p ann ng ns umen s ha we e s n use n Gos o d he Novembe Counc mee ng “ s p e y ea y days n p epa ng he new LEP” M Reyno ds sa d when asked abou h s commen s “Gos o d Counc wan ed a spec fic p an o ecogn se COSS and he s a e wasn n a pos on o have a spec a zone “The sae asked he counc o so ou he de e ed ma e n a spec fied amoun o me wh ch hey d d no do “ has been e o he Cen a Coas Counc o dea w h hose e ove ma e s ” he sa d “The p o ec on o COSS ha po cy pos on hasn changed ” M Reyno ds sa d

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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FORUM

Bigger councils are not necessarily better rom Last Edition

F

The key value this small council delivers costs nothing, and that’s the intimate contact between community and council.

Morin Heights is not an exceptional example.

Across the developed world, our level of local government is probably among the least local.

Urban areas like Auckland, with its super council, and Montréal, with its mega council, serve similar numbers of people to the 330,000 the Central Coast Council now covers, but they all seem to have well-thought-out local entry points, lower doorways, to counter the bigness.

In France, each small town has its own mayor and council.

French mayors are real forces in their community who make sure community character and heritage are protected.

The mayors of small French communities come together at a higher level to deliver the more expensive services like roads, water, and waste disposal.

The ratio of local government officials to citizens is something we can only dream of.

New Zealanders also are much closer to their local government than we are, especially outside the cities.

New Zealand is divided into districts, such as the Waipa district on the North Island.

It covers an area with 48,000 people, has a mayor and 12 Councillors, each councillor being elected from a ward.

Thus the pretty town of Cambridge, with a population of 12,000, has four ward councillors, each representing just 3,000 people.

The Waipa Mayor gets over $100,000, while the councillors are on around $35,000 each.

I suspect good representation and good pay

FORUM go together.

Such pay rates probably mean there’s less chance that people run for council for reasons other than service, to push development agendas, for example.

Each large town in the Waipa district has a lower level of local government, an elected and salaried community board.

The Cambridge board has a chair and four members, plus two councillors, all of whom are paid.

The chair gets $17,000 a year and each of the board members gets $8,000.

The town board is often the first port of call for anyone in the community with a question or a concern.

The board is tasked with conveying these concerns, especially about planning issues, up to the next level of local government where such decisions are made.

The town board meets monthly and the first halfhour of the meeting is allocated to the public.

Conflicts are rare with this easy access to local government through these two portals, the board and the District Council.

It is not obligatory in New Zealand to have community boards.

In other districts, the lowest level may be what’s called the Community Committee, an unpaid honorary body.

These committees are official council bodies with much more up-reach and influence than the community associations we have in most towns on the Central Coast.

This all brought to mind my frustration of the last weeks, trying to get a straight answer from the new Central Coast Council about the heritage status of the Avoca Theatre.

For 12 years, the National Trust and various community heritage experts, have all been pushing Gosford

Council to heritage list the theatre at the local level.

The state government heritage body got involved too, and urged the council to do the same.

Nothing happened year after year until the state government heritage office in 2015 finally placed an Interim Heritage Order over the theatre for a year, starting in March 2015.

They hoped this would move council to action, but it did not, and the year passed with Council doing nothing except further investigation.

These last weeks, a report appeared in the Express Advocate, revealing that council had decided the theatre was after all of “low heritage significance”.

When I tried to get confirmation that this depressing news was indeed council’s verdict, it was impossible to get through.

Emails and phone calls to the Heritage Officer were not answered for more than a week, even though she is well aware that this is an extremely stressful matter for the community.

When she finally got back to me, she said she could not tell me if what the paper reported was in fact their position.

The matter of the theatre now heads to the Land and Environment Court, potentially a massive expense for Council, and one which could have been avoided by early effective council action.

I also don’t understand why so many important decisions in our lives on the Coast are being made by non-elected bodies which we have looming over us, like the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation (CCRDC) and the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP), the latter ruling on all significant regional development applications.

Email, Nov 15, 2016 Mike Rubbo, Avoca Continued in the next edition

Other Regional News - In brief Coast Community News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2250, 2251 & 2260.

Given the advent of a Central Coast Council, following is

a summary of news articles published in the most recent edition of each of our sister Central Coast publications.

The full articles and more, as well as all previously published editions, can be seen on line on our website

www.CentralCoastNews.net Copies of these other publications may be obtained from our offices in Gosford, by subscription, or from a myriad of locations in the areas covered by each publication.

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November 22, 2016

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Issue 105

Wyong Regional Chronicle focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262, & 2263.

Public-private partnership will provide a better hospital

Concerns raised over consultation quality in Wyong Hospital plan

Fishing industry inquiry open for submissions

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Tuggerah Lakes commercial fisherman and other members of the public have until December 9 to make submissions to a new inquiry into the NSW ...

Council workers make bullying claims

Warnervale town centre is still a long way off

Proposed Toukley service station not welcomed

Three former Wyong Council employees have written to the Member for Wyong, Mr David Harris, claiming they are being bullied to leave their jobs at the new Central Coast Council.

UrbanGrowth NSW has announced the sale of its 134lot residential development site but the development of a long-awaited new town centre at Warnervale is not likely to emerge for at ...

Toukley residents and shop keepers cannot understand why the Central Coast Council would consider approving the development of a service station at 356 to 358 Main Rd that is completely at ...

Post code areas make top 10 for wrong reason

Attempted assault of a woman at Buff Point

Man arrested after lighting a fire in scrubland

A man appeared in court on November 14 after allegedly lighting a fire in scrubland near Soldiers Beach, Norah Head, on November 13, despite a total fire ban in place due to ...

The full articles and more can be seen on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net

Three northern Central Coast post codes are in the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) top 10 areas for complaints across Australia in 2016.

Detectives investigating the assault of a woman at Buff Point have released a likeness of a man they believe can assist police with inquiries.

e Frkeeone!

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Edition 407

28 November 2016

Peninsula News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2256 & 2257.

Wet weather speed limit for Woy Woy Rd

Another major bank withdraws from Umina

Opposition calls for clarity on underpass future

Another of the big four banks in Umina will close its branch before Christmas this year, leaving just one major bank branch in Umina.

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Government to clarify what the future is for the Woy Woy rail underpass project.

Roads and Maritime Services has advised motorists that a reduced wet weather speed limit will come into effect from Tuesday, December 6, on a section of Woy Woy ...

Woy Woy supermarket to close

Historic water tanks discovered at hotel site

Wicks speaks of need for mobile coverage

A Woy Woy supermarket has Extensions to a Woy Woy confirmed that it will close hotel have been delayed as major obstacles were next month. discovered during the groundwork stage.

Inquiry into fishing industry welcomed

Peninsula left exposed to bushfires, union claims

Broken Bay and Brisbane Water commercial fisherman and other members of the public have until December 9 to make submissions to a new inquiry into the NSW Government’s proposed ...

The Peninsula will be left exposed to bushfires at the peak of summer due to the loss of the National Parks regional manager for the Hunter Central Coast, Mr Geoff Luscombe, ...

Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks has spoken in Federal Parliament about the need for better mobile phone coverage in the area.

Community housing provider starts affordable studio apartments project The construction in Woy Woy of modern and affordable studio apartments owned by a community housing provider is well under way.

The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net They can also be seen on www.PeninsulaNews.info

FORUM

Page 16 - Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 16 Share

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Promised Brisbane Water Dr improvements not forthcoming

Regional plan criticisms welcomed rarely find myself in agreement with Mr Chris Holstein, so it is encouraging to see that the Central Coast Taskforce has had the nous to point out some of the particular inadequacies of the nowadopted Central Coast Regional Plan (“Analysis paralysis continues - Central Coast Taskforce”, 17/11/16).

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While approving the “motherhood” elements of the document, which largely consisted of pious hopes about employment, housing and environmental protection, the Taskforce has rightly focussed on the total lack of implementation mechanisms, the emphasis on co-ordinating, encouraging, enhancing, facilitating, improving, managing and reviewing, rather than actually doing anything, and the call for more analysing of problems that anyone with half an eye can recognise without any further study, and that have been well ventilated in multiple reports over the past decade.

My congratulations to Mr Holstein’s team for presenting these criticisms.

However, I depart from Mr Holstein on the question

FORUM Letters to the editor should be sent to: Coast Community News PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 or mail@gosfordnews.org See Page 2 for contribution conditions of Central Coast Wards.

In fact, it is my opinion that there should be 15 wards, with one councillor from each, to maximize the ease of communication between residents and their representatives.

Given that non-parochial decisions have not been a hallmark of either previous council, I see no great danger that ward representatives will singly

worsen the situation, as he fears.

I should go further and say that I would like to see some kind of requirement that councillors live in the ward they represent (not a condition now), although I recognise that the present legislation not only allows out-of-ward representation but doesn’t even require that a councillor live on the Central Coast.

It is to be hoped that, when candidates are nominated for the next election, there will be town-hall-type meetings at which all candidates from a ward will front the voters together to present and be questioned about their policies and credentials.

Email, Nov 21, 2016 Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

Waterfront is being turned into a parking lot hilst the Doma Group’s Mr Gavin Edgar may well argue the zoning and use of the Baker St extension across Gosford City Park to Vaughan Ave (‘”Lucy’s Lane” is a gazetted public road’, CCN November 17, 2016), it should be remembered that this unformed public road was intended for use as a pedestrian boulevard linking the Gosford CBD to the arts and entertainment precinct and waterfront under the Our City, Our Vision Masterplan (2010).

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After widespread community and stakeholder consultation in its preparation, The Masterplan was adopted by Gosford City Council.

Somehow this boulevard is now being developed as a two-lane public road with parking either side, and some of the street parking has been ‘allocated’

FORUM to accommodate office building parking spaces that should have been provided within the building design.

How has this been allowed to happen?

The waterfront is being turned into a parking lot.

The Liberal Member for

Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, and the NSW Government have a lot to answer for with the illogical location of the Tax Office and NSW Finance office building on the former school site.

Email, Nov 25, 2016 Enn Karm, Gosford

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he West Gosford intersection was opened 12 months ago, and to the government’s credit, it has been operating effectively.

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But the works that where to flow on from the completion of West Gosford have not been started.

Along Brisbane Water Dr various traffic flow measures were to be considered and implemented in light of the improved traffic movement due to the intersection upgrade.

These traffic measures were to improve traffic flow

FORUM and safety at a number of locations along the drive.

These included turn/ holding lanes for Sunnyside Ave, Jirrah Ave, Koolinda Ave (access to Fagan Park and Orana Care Facility) and Scott and Takari Aves.

These traffic treatments

were to improve not only access, but safety for residents of adjoining streets and the general community.

We’re 12 months on and the official response is, ‘RMS is reviewing’.

Email, Nov 21, 2016 Chris Holstein, Central Coast Taskforce

Time to move on Senator hat is Senator, Ms Deborah O’Neill, really on about with the whinging about a Gosford location for the performing arts centre, whinging about the ATO relocation, and now whinging about an access road across the Leagues Club oval and calling it Lucy’s Lane (CCN Issue 145, November 3)?

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Could it be Ms O’Neill, the previous Member for Roberson back in the Rudd/ Gillard years, has never got over losing the seat to Ms

FORUM Lucy Wicks. the current

member for Robertson?

Move on.

Email, Nov 16, 2016 Murray Stocks, Somersby

Liberal politicians accused of lack of vision

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ll three of our Liberal politicians, the Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, and Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, seem to be having two bob each way on the location for a Performing Art Centre.

There is no doubt a majority of the community want an iconic building on the old primary school site.

A Performing Art Centre would fill that role, not office blocks or residential units.

Sydney has the Opera House, Gosford could have a mini Opera House, attracting thousands of visitors, just what is needed to revive the Gosford CBD.

FORUM Our politicians either lack vision or are driven by bureaucracy.

I urge Adam, Scot and Lucy to get behind the community and secure the old primary school site for a Performing Art Centre, as identified in ‘Our City/ Our Destiny’ master plan

which was approved by the Council and State Government.

As the public’s representatives, please take these old words to heart: ‘Government of the people, for the people, by the people’.

Email, Nov 25, 2016 Malcolm Brooks, East Gosford

Coast Com Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 17 SShare

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Man on strict bail following fire

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bout 2:05pm, emergency services were called to Faunce St, Gosford, following reports of a garage fire.

Officers from Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze.

Police from Brisbane Water Local Area Command arrested two males, aged 18 and 12, a short distance away.

They were both taken to

Gosford Police Station.

The 12-year-old boy was released pending further inquiries.

The 18-year old man was charged with damaging property by fire and trespass.

He was given strict conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, November 29.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Media release, Nov 15, 2016 NSW Police Media

Hydroponic setup found inside a home in Narara

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Truck crash causes major traffic delays

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olice are investigating after a truck crash on the M1 Pacific Hwy.

Just before 5:30am on November 21, emergency services were called to Jolls Bridge, just near Mooney Mooney, following reports a truck had hit a rock wall.

The driver, a man believed to be in his late 30’s, was pulled from the truck by a number of motorists as the truck caught fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW attended the location and extinguished the blaze a short time later.

The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being airlifted to

wo people have been charged after police located and dismantled an alleged hydroponic setup inside a home in Narara following a call to Crime Stoppers.

On October 31, officers from Brisbane Water Anti Theft and Target Action Group executed a search warrant at a home on Narara Valley Dr, Narara.

A 29 year old woman and an eight month old child were in the home.

Police allegedly located cannabis, cannabis resin, and several cannabis plants in a hydroponic setup.

The plants and other items were seized for

forensic examination.

On November 1, a 22 year old man attended Gosford Police Station and spoke with investigators.

On November 2, officers issued the woman a Future Service Can for the offence of possess prohibited drug and the man a Future Service Can for the offence of enhanced indoor cultivate

Name suggestion for ATO building

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ON THE BEAT & FORUM

he Australian Taxation Office building on the old Gosford Public School site will be unwanted and out of place.

Nonetheless, the building needs a name and one reflecting its genesis, size and likely outcome.

May I suggest “Lucy’s

White Elephant”?

TO DONATE GO TO SALVOS.ORG.AU/SAFE

Email, Nov 28, 2016 Dave Horsefall, North Gosford

prohibited plant-expose child.

Both will appear at Gosford Local Court on December 20.

Two children, aged eight and nine, also live in the home.

Officers from the Department of Family and Community Services have been notified of the incident.

Media release, Nov 2, 2016 NSW Police Media

FORUM Letters to the editor should be sent to: Coast Community News PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 or mail@gosfordnews.org See Page 2 for contribution conditions

Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

Officers attached to Northern Region Highway Patrol and Brisbane Water Local Area Command attended the scene and commenced an investigation.

The accident caused extensive delays for Central Coast commuters with both southbound lanes closed while emergency services worked to assist the driver and put out several fires that erupted following the

collision.

Traffic was delayed for more than two hours in a traffic jam estimated to be at least eight kilometres long, before lanes were reopened with motorists also feeling the aftermath through Gosford, Lisarow and Ourimbah, when the M1 was closed off at Gosford and traffic was diverted onto the Old Pacific Hwy to ease the congestion on the M1.

Media release, Nov 21, 2016 NSW Police Media Journalist: Dilon Luke

Baker St South Rd was set aside as open space he old Baker St South Rd, which ran along the western edge of the Gosford Public School site, when closed, was absorbed into Leagues Club Field, and an integrated public Crown Land recreation zone was made.

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Gosford Council as Trustee (refer council minutes) resolved it should become part of Leagues Club Field Crown Land, preserved as open space for public recreation, and it was set aside as open space.

Just because it used to be a road is no reason to reopen it to traffic.

It is being done by Mike Baird, with the support of Adam Crouch, not to facilitate a public purpose such as the promised cultural -precinct of Our City Our Destiny Master Plan, as promised, but to sell to private developers for privately owned tax and

FORUM finance buildings (leased by government for 10 years) on the site reserved for an Arts and Cultural precinct.

Furthermore, the Baird Government intends to allow Doma to meet its Tax Office parking requirements by building them a public road.

Where else do developers get a chance to purloin part of an alleged public road as development required public parking?

Much used and needed public open space, as part of Leagues Club Park, is

being stolen by Mike Baird to sell off to the private sector.

Moreover, the biannual circus revenue raiser for Council will no longer be available, creating a further drain on ratepayer funds to maintain Leagues Club field.

The Crown Lands Office advises this land is leased to Gosford Leagues Club until 2023.

Did the Council as Park Trustees allow this development, and if so by what process?

Email, Nov 19, 2016 Kay Williams, Pearl Beach

HEALTH

Page 18 - Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 16 Share

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World leading clinical trials conducted by graduates

Shocking local domestic violence statistics reflect the national data police vehicle will respond to a domestic violence call on the Central Coast every two hours on average, according to a speech made in Parliament by Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks.

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“Not every two weeks, not every two days, but every two hours,” she said.

Ms Wicks delivered the speech on White Ribbon Day, on November 25, where she said the shocking local statistics reflect the national data.

“In an effort to change the conversation, Brisbane Water Local Area Command have led the community to plant white poppies in the shape of a ribbon at The Skillion in Terrigal this year”, she said.

“Similar to a sea of red poppies earlier this year as we commemorated ANZAC Day, these white poppies

honour the thousands of victims of domestic and family violence,” Ms Wicks said.

It took volunteers hundreds of hours to hand make the 55,000 poppies for the display, which was three years in the making.

Brisbane Water LAC partnered with Zonta, an international women’s empowerment and advocacy group, to make the display a reality.

Central Coast Council contributed $6,000 for materials to make the poppies, while local business Burson Auto Parts in Gosford donated

screwdrivers on short notice after volunteers arrived at The Skillion to discover the ground was too hard for the wooden poppy stems.

Ms Wicks commended Brisbane Water LAC Superintendent Danny Sullivan and his team, and encouraged the community to join them in walking up The Skillion on November 27, in a statement to condemn the actions of those who commit domestic violence.

Speech, Nov 25, 2016 Lucy Wicks, Federal Member for Robertson

Brooke Wilson, Christopher Lee and Ali Saunders-Mills

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wo radiotherapists from the Central Coast Cancer Centre were presented with graduate certificates by the Crestani Foundation’s Scholarships in Radiotherapy program recently.

The graduation ceremony at the Centre gave Ms Brooke Wilson and Ms Ali Saunders-Mills the opportunity to present their research findings on the diagnosis of bowel and lung cancer.

The Cancer Centre’s Senior Physicist Dr Christopher Lee, who mentored the two graduates, said he thanked the Crestani family, the Scholarships in Radiotherapy fundraising team, and the members of the public who generously donate to the centre.

He said the clinical trials conducted at the Centre, such as those undertaken

by Ms Wilson and Ms Saunders-Mills, were “world leading”.

“The small trials aim to provide the community with the best radiography service possible,” Dr Lee said.

“We offer all graduates the opportunity to do small research projects to get an appreciation of the data available,” he said.

Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, said the work carried out at the Central Coast Cancer Centre, represented by the presentations from the two graduates, was world class.

“We talk about a world class medical research institute coming to

Gosford in 2019 that will have connections with Cambridge and Oxford and Harvard, but we are already leading the world in many ways, we are already here, already hearing about world-class research that is contributing to longer, better and healthier lives for the people of the Coast,

and it also demonstrates the growing impact of the Crestani Foundation and the Scholarships in Radiotherapy,” she said.

Event notes, Nov 18, 2016 Syd Fabri, Scholarships in Radiotherapy Jackie Pearson, journalist

Veterans affairs card holders welcome

Dr Michael Kotis (BDS SYD UNI)

Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 19 Coa SShare

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HEALTH

White Ribbon Day celebrated to make a stand against domestic violence he Gosford area remains overrepresented in Domestic Violence crime statistics according to White Ribbon Day Ambassador and Brisbane Water Local Area Commander, Superintendent Daniel Sullivan.

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Domestic violence remains a growing problem in NSW and the Central Coast is not immune.

The latest crime statistics showed a 32 per cent increase in family violence in the Gosford area, in 2016.

Supt Sullivan made his statements on White Ribbon Day, November 25, a global movement of men and boys working to end male violence against women and girls.

The scale of the problem is large and the Central Coast community is overrepresented, he said.

“We need to ask what we, the police, are doing about it, and what should we, as the community, do about it,” Supt Sullivan said.

“From a police perspective, in NSW in 2016, there has been an enormous seismic shift in the way we approach domestic violence,” he said.

“Now we are turning to the perpetrators of the crime and holding them accountable for their behaviours.

“Key for us is engaging young boys around appropriate behaviours to ensure they don’t fall into this trap in their relationships with women.”

According to Supt Sullivan, NSW police introduced video statements

Photo: Noel Fisher

at domestic violence crime scenes, called Domestic Violence Evidence in Chief (DVEC), in June 2015.

These videos give courts direct insights into the situation and give police the power to target the perpetrator directly.

Supt Sullivan’s Brisbane Water Local Area Command is the largest user of these new laws.

NSW Police launched the ‘No Innocent Bystanders’ campaign on Tuesday, November 22, that said when it comes to Domestic Violence, there are no innocent bystanders.

Supt Sullivan said it was part of Australian culture that domestic violence was a private matter best left to family.

“If people saw someone stealing a car, they would take action and call the police.

“We ask the community to bring that stolen car attitude to Domestic Violence, because that call could be the call that saves one of those lives,” Supt Sullivan

said.

The Brisbane Water LAC’s ongoing work with the Central Coast Liquor Accord has been another attempt to reduce alcohol-related family violence.

“They’ve partnered with us in an innovative campaign to specifically target men in relation to this issue, another great sign of a community partnership,” Supt Sullivan said.

The Central Coast Community marked White Ribbon Day 2016 by placing more than 50,000 white poppies at The Skillion at Terrigal.

Supt Sullivan said he was proud of the community’s effort into placing the white poppies at Terrigal.

“These kinds of efforts show that we are prepared to come together to make a stand as a community.

“On Sunday, November 27, we walked as a community from Terrigal to the top of The Skillion as a tangible sign of our stand as a community that we are against all violence, in

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particular men’s violence,” Supt Sullivan said.

The current state of Domestic Violence shows that one in three women above the age of 16 in Australia, will experience sexual and physical abuse.

One in four children will witness domestic and family violence in their lifetime, and 68 women’s lives have been lost to Domestic Violence this year, with NSW contributing 30 lives to that figure.

Compared with the same time in 2015, NSW has seen

a 40 per cent increase in the level of intimate family violence.

In the lead up to White Ribbon Day, the NSW Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, encouraged the community to support the day.

Mr MacDonald called on men in the community to take the oath on White Ribbon Day to make a stand to prevent violence against women.

“White Ribbon challenges men to stand up, speak out and act to prevent violence against women being perpetrated by men,’ Mr MacDonald said.

“I encourage all men in the community to consider taking the oath and show your friends, family and colleagues that you will not stand for any form of violence against women,” he said.

Mr Crouch said, “Community involvement is critical in order to reduce domestic violence of all forms.

“We need to work together and encourage our neighbours, family, friends, colleagues and the corporate section to all play their part in reducing the crime that is domestic violence,” he said.

Interview, Nov 25, 2016 Daniel Sullivan, Brisbane Water LAC Media release, Nov 25, 2016 Chris Sullivan, office of Scot MacDonald Jarrod Melmeth, journalist

EDUCATION

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Annual interactive Road to Bethlehem program is open to all

Schools Spectacular broke Guinness Record tudents from Wamberal and Kincumber Public Schools, and Narara Valley and Terrigal High School, returned home still on a high, after their final performance in the 2016 Schools Spectacular, on November 26.

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Schools Spectacular Executive Producer, Jane Simmons, said everyone should be proud to share in the triumph of the 2016 show.

Ms Simmons said Central Coast schools joined talented students from across the state in the show which broke the Guinness Record title for Largest Amateur Variety Act. “The event lived up to its theme, ‘Dream Big’”, she said.

“Schools Spectacular 2016 was amazing,” Ms Simmons said.

Photos; Noel Fisher

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he Central Coast Adventist School will host the annual interactive Road to Bethlehem program at its Erina campus.

December 11 to 13 will see the school grounds transformed into a bustling Middle Eastern village that allows people to follow in the steps of Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem on the first Christmas over two thousand years ago.

The popular, dramatised event takes about an hour

with guides transporting visitors back to a time of Roman soldiers, street markets and beggars.

Visitors can experience firsthand what it was like to ride a camel, or visit one of the many food stalls, as they prepare for a journey back in time.

Mr Brenton Luchow,

Community Relations Officer, said: “Road to Bethlehem is an event like no other here on the Central Coast.

It is one of the larger Christmas events on the Central Coast, over 6,000 people attend Road to Bethlehem each year, and many families use

the event to kick off their Christmas celebrations as they remember the birth of Jesus.

“There is so much to see and do that many choose to attend over a few nights to pace themselves, enjoy everything on offer and make the most of this unique, annual experience.”

“Tax collectors will relieve you of a gold coin donation as you enter the ancient city of Jerusalem, via the time portal in Karalta Lane Erina”, he said.

Tours depart every 10 minutes and due to the popularity of the experience, free tickets can be booked online through Eventbrite, or picked up at the gate.

“The event is a joint initiative of Central Coast Adventist School and the Adventist Churches of the Central Coast and is our Christmas gift to the Central Coast Community each year,” Mr Luchow said.

Article, Nov 28, 2016 Noel Fisher, journalist

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“With more than 5,000 performers and hundreds behind the scene it was an unbelievably massive show and the audiences were thrilled.

“Every single performer, the incredible teachers and staff who brought it all together at the arena and at school, the students’ parents and all who contributed deserve huge applause for the incredible efforts.”

Media release, Nov 28, 2016 Grant Hatch, Education NSW

This year’s Schools Spectacular was the biggest-ever show ederal Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, congratulated local performers who participated in this year’s Schools Spectacular, on being part of the biggestever show in the entertainment icon’s 33 year history.

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Mr Crouch said performers from the electorate of Terrigal were joined by more than 5,000 students from some 500 public schools from all over the state on the QUDOS Bank Arena stage at Sydney’s Olympic Park over four shows on November 25 and 26.

“This year’s Schools Spectacular theme was ‘Dream Big’, which is appropriate, because it was the biggest show ever produced”, said Mr Crouch.

“Schools Spectacular has already forged a reputation as a state significant event, and this year’s offering took it to a whole new level.

“Congratulations to all participating students, I know that both students and

teachers work incredibly hard throughout the year to ensure the high quality of the performances,” Mr Crouch said.

Kincumber Public School, Terrigal High School and Wamberal Public School all participated in the event.

Students from the Terrigal electorate shared the stage with some of the state’s most talented young performers, including a 2,700 strong choir; 2,300 dancers; an 80-piece symphony orchestra; a world-class stage band, and nearly 40 outstandingly talented solo performers.

Media release, Nov 28, 2016 Debra Wales, Office of Adam Crouch MP

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Our kids need our protection now!

Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 21 C SShare

Mathematics programs pay off in competition incumber Public School again received sensational results in this year’s Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition, with 84 per cent of students who entered, receiving either a High Distinction, Distinction or Merit award.

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Entered by almost 19,000 students from 337 schools across regional NSW, the competition tests student’s numeracy and problem solving skills.

Mr Merv Curran, competition coordinator, said this year’s examination paper was much more difficult for students than previous years, and continues to stretch students across all levels of ability.

Kincumber Year 6 student, Gary Palmer, was Kincumber Public School’s highest achiever, ranking in the 99.7 percentile range

and receiving a prestigious District award for the Central Coast Region.

Ms Trish Peters, Principal of Kincumber Public School, said the school’s success in Mathematics has been a focus in recent years, with Mathematical programs like TEN and TOWN being implemented across the school.

“There are always, however, exceptional students with innate abilities like Gary, who require extension beyond the curriculum in order to support their talents.

“We are very proud to see

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Central Coast.

“Fire fighters are asking schools to drop gifts in to their local fire station, however, fire fighters can pick up the gifts, if dropping them off is an issue,” he said.

Newsletter, Nov 29, 2016 David Stitt, Narara Public School

School seeks roadies for end of year concert ur Lady of the Rosary (OLR) Catholic Primary School at Wyoming is seeking helpers to assist with the end of year concert.

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Between December 12 and 16, OLR is looking for people to lift, load and move stage boxes from and to St Edwards College.

Our Lady of the Rosary,

Wyoming’s end of year concert is called “The Peace of the Child”.

The school children have been practising in music lessons for the concert,

Chertsey wins School Environment Awards

Email, Nov 21, 2016 Jade Hollman, Kincumber Public School

tudents at Narara Public School have been invited to contribute to the annual Central Coast Fire and Rescue NSW Christmas appeal. station will be a collection point,” Mr Stitt said.

“The appeal will begin on Thursday, December 1, and run through to Wednesday, December 21.

“We ask that gifts provided be for children up to 13 years.

“All gifts will be passed on to deserving kids on the

EDUCATION

Gary achieve success and know that he will continue to achieve outstanding results as he progresses with his education,” Ms Peters said.

Public Schools NSW Director, Mr Andrew Eastcott, attended the presentation of the major awards on November 2, and stated that Mathematics is the single academic subject that will give students the widest range of career opportunities.

Students contribute to Christmas appeal Fire and Rescue NSW collect gifts for children on behalf of the Salvation Army, and the children at Narara Public School have been invited to contribute.

“This appeal has become a vital part of the Salvo’s collection each Christmas,” said Principal, Mr Dave Stitt.

“Every FRNSW fire

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

which will be held on Thursday, December 15.

Newsletter, Nov 23, 2016 Rosemary Mallam, Our Lady of the Rosary, Wyoming

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Environmental prize winners

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he winners of the 2016 School Environment Awards for the former Gosford Local Government Area (LGA) were announced on November 25 at Laycock Street Community Theatre.

Chertsey Public School won School of the Year – Large Schools, for its work around the theme “the drain is just for the rain”, and Holgate Public School took out the top honour of School of the Year – Small Schools.

Chertsey Primary School also received the Council Award for Performing Excellence.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, thanked all the schools involved for their contribution to environmental education.

“With 22 schools participating in this year’s program, I would like to recognise all of the principals, teachers, parents and students for their commitment to improving our environment and continuing environmental education within our community,” Mr Reynolds said.

“This year’s theme focused attention on the issue of stormwater and the importance of keeping it clean.”

“As it is estimated that

80 per cent of marine debris comes from land-based sources, and given the many beautiful waterways, lagoons and beaches in our region, this topic is of special significance for everyone living on the Central Coast.”

Council’s Program Coordinator and Environmental Education Officer, Ms Anni Griffiths, said the awards were a celebration of the year’s activities and an opportunity to recognise the schools, students and teachers that are doing great things to care for our planet.

“In addition to the 22 schools participating in the School Environment Program, we had 10 schools take part in Council’s Wise About Waste program, and another 10 schools involved in the Take 3 for the Sea Green Sea Turtle Project, as well as hundreds of students entering the individual project component of the Greenhouse Program,” Ms Griffiths said.

“Students involved in environmental education programs learnt about

stormwater pathways in their schools and local areas, and the impact on ocean life, other animals and people, if stormwater is polluted or full of litter.

“Students took part in hands-on activities including waste audits, litter removal and education campaigns, beach cleanups, and audits of items that may become litter from school canteens.

“These awards acknowledge the amazing work being done to take care of our environment on a local level.”

A number of special awards were also presented at this year’s ceremony including: Most Involved in the Theme – Wyoming Public School; Most Improved – Central Coast Grammar School and Copacabana Public School; Waterways Care – Gosford Public School; and Most Student Involvement – Point Clare Public School.

Media Release, Nov 25, 2016 Mathew Townsend, Central Coast Council

For FITNESS, FUN and FRIENDSHIP GOSFORD SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS holds a class every Wednesday from 7 to 10pm at the Church of Christ Hall, Henry Parry Drive, Wyoming

No partner necessary No special clothes - just soft shoes Lively music New dancers welcome

Janice on 4388 2253 Sandra on 4392 8716

$7 per Night Come and join in on the fun!

OUT&ABOUT

Page 22 - Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 Share

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Australian Reptile Park wins top tourism award t the 2016 NSW Tourism Awards, set amongst the finest calibre of attractions in tourism the state has to offer, Australian Reptile Park, Somersby, has achieved the most honourable recognition of all, taking out Gold in The People’s Choice Award, as the number one publicly voted tourism attraction in the state.

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The wildlife park, renowned to be The Best Family Fun Day Out, also took home bronze in the Major Tourism Attractions category, selected by a judging panel for exceptional contribution to the NSW Tourism Industry.

In this category, Australian Reptile Park was flattered to be on the podium alongside Sydney Bridge Climb and the Australian National Maritime Museum, who took out first and second consecutively.

To the park itself, the

Mr Tim Faulkner with the Reptile Park's awards

biggest accolade was winning the peoples vote.

“It’s a proud moment for all of us at Australian Reptile Park,” said Mr Tim Faulkner, Park General Manager.

“Australian Reptile Park ingrains a memorable experience to our guests from the first time they visit, whether they’re a child or adult, and these memories

carry on for a lifetime.

“We pride ourselves on personalised service with hands-on animal interaction, entertaining and educational shows, and the promise of an experience guests will want to return to enjoy again and again.

“It’s most satisfying to all staff that the people recognise our passion and

commitment to tourism and animal welfare by voting for Australian Reptile Park as People’s Choice Gold Winner.

“We cannot thank all the voters enough, from all of us at the park we pass on a warm and big hearted thank you,” Mr Faulkner said.

The NSW Tourism Awards took place at Luna Park, led by the tourism industry, a division of the NSW Business Chamber and supported by Destination NSW. The awards are a submission and inspectionbased program that encourage businesses to meet and aim to exceed industry standards.

The People’s Choice Award recognises the winner of The People’s Choice on-line poll.

The finalist with the highest number of votes by the public takes out the honour, which Australian Reptile Park dominated at this year’s awards.

Media release, Nov 25, 2016 Lizzie Doyle, Australian Reptile Park

Fair Go Talent Showcase at Youth Arts Warehouse o celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), Job Centre Australia, in conjunction with Regional Youth Support Services Inc, will present the Fair Go Talent Showcase at the Youth Arts Warehouse, Gosford, on December 5 from 10am.

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Featuring over 20 performances by local youth with disabilities, the Fair Go Talent Showcase is a celebration of creative talent and ability in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Special guest judges, including Tevita Strongwoman, will be on hand with prizes to be awarded for the best singer, dancer, media, dress and act.

IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that

aims to increase the public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability, and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disability.

IDPwD is held annually on December 3.

All funds raised will go toward improving services for youth with disability on the Central Coast.

Media release, Nov 16, 2016, Job Centre Australia Marketing

A FREE EVENT IN GOSFORD CITY FRIDAY 2 DEC 2016

Y T I C E H T N I C I S U LIVE M EER B T F A R C NES & I W E U Q I BOUT

OOD F L A N O I T TERNA N I T E M R GOU

!

E R O M & S T S I T R A T STREE Proudly supported by: Proudly brought to you by:

tel: 4322 7726 • e: info@gosfordcity.com.au • www.gosfordcity.com.au

Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 23

PRESENTS

Christmas Lights in the Gardens 9-13 December 2016 6pm-9.30pm

Come along to see the themed interactive lights display on the Central Coast.

• Outdoor movie at 8pm ‘Christmas With The Kranks’ featuring Tim Allen • Take your photo with Santa from 6pm nightly • Meet Elsa from Frozen and other fun characters • Support the Ronald McDonald Family Room with a scavenger hunt and BBQ • Plus jumping castles, food vendors, carols and more! $25 PER FAMILY (2 adults and up to 3 children aged 16 or less). $10 per adult. $5 for additional children. Children 3 and under are free.

Buy your tickets on trybooking.com (Christmas Lights in the Gardens) or at the gate: Parklands Rd, Mt Penang Parklands, Kariong.

Follow us on Facebook for updates: Facebook/Mt-Penang-Gardens-Event-Park

Supported by

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

Santa

OUT & ABOUT

Page 24 - Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 Share

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Allen Family Scholarships awarded

Laycock Street announces its 2017 season aycock Street Community Theatre announced its much anticipated 2017 season at a VIP launch night, unveiling the national productions and professional theatre on offer to Central Coast audiences in the year ahead.

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Finalists from L to R Sam Kelly, Tiana Young, Jade Jiang, Kimberly Gilbert and Noah Peres

tudents of the Central Coast Conservatorium and their families gathered at Greenway Memorial Chapel on November 20, to hear the five finalists in the Allen Family Scholarship perform.

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They were Jade Jiang (piano), Sam Kelly (Marimba), Noah Peres (piano), Tiana Young (vocal) and Kimberly Gilbert (piano).

The standard was extremely high, with Kimberly Gilbert being the first prize winner on the day.

She performed three pieces from Rachmaninoff, Bartok and Ravel with skill and great emotion, and the adjudicator, Ms Charmian Gadd, a violin teacher and performer with over 40 years’ experience, was highly impressed with Gilbert’s preparation and

presentation.

Gilbert will receive $2,000 from the Allen Family for her scholarship to further her musical studies.

Gilbert is already planning a trip to Los Angeles to study with Dr Eugene Alcalay, who included Gosford on a world tour as part of the Conservatorium’s 2016 professional concert series earlier in the year.

Second place went to Sam Kelly, who has been studying percussion at Central Coast Conservatorium under Sean Steele.

The Rhythm Hut Christmas Party

FRIDAY 9th DECEMBER

Kelly performed three mesmeric pieces on the marimba to the delight of the audience of over 100 people.

Having just completed his HSC, Kelly is also to be commended on his dedication to his musical practice.

He takes away $1,000 from the Allen Family to further his musical career, and hopes to continue studying music at a tertiary level.

Third place went to Noah Peres, who channelled Beethoven and Liszt with his passionate performance.

Peres has been playing the piano for 13 years and completed his Amusa in 2013.

Peres also plays oboe in the Central Coast Youth Orchestra and has been kept very busy as accompanist for rehearsals for Central Coast Opera’s 2017 production of Carmen.

He received $500 as third place from the Allen Family.

Jiang and Young were highly commended by the adjudicator for their efforts on the day.

Mr Patrick Brennan,

Artistic Director and CEO for Central Coast Conservatorium, said that all the contestants performed extremely well in the finals and he is very proud of all their achievements.

“The Allen Family Scholarship is our top award in both financial terms and in esteem,” he said.

“The family’s continued support of the Conservatorium is highly valued by our management and students alike.

“Every year this scholarship gives our senior students something to aim for, and such lucrative prize money really assists our students who are finishing their secondary schooling and looking at options for tertiary education.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them personally and from our Management Board, who are also very appreciative,” Mr Brennan said.

Conservatorium students also received their AMEB (Australian Music Examination Board) certificates and winners of 2017 general scholarships were also acknowledged.

Media release, Nov 23, 2016 Lisa Kelly, Central Coast Conservatorium

Council’s Section Manager, Arts and Culture, Mr Chris King, said “the sparkling new season is designed to connect audiences with live theatre in a meaningful and exhilarating way.

“The 2017 season brings together acclaimed touring productions, household names and quality children’s theatre, to engage and provoke audiences of all ages, backgrounds and inclinations,” said Mr King.

“From trailblazing Bell Shakespeare’s uncompromising production of ‘Merchant of Venice’, to twisted tales of drama and gothic horror when Dracula swoops the region, contrasted to the beauty and intrigue of Melbourne City Ballet’s interpretation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, to the comedy genius of Shirley Valentine and the glitz and glamour of Prada’s Priscillas, our 2017 season offers something for everyone.

“Laycock is also delighted to applaud Gosford Musical Society’s productions for 2017, which include Broadway favourites ‘Evita’ and ‘Chicago’, and for younger patrons ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Bring it On’.

“If you love theatre, you’ll love Laycock’s 2017 season,” he added.

Mr King said Laycock is proud to be presenting three highly respected singer/ songwriters in its 2017 season.

“For those fortunate

Media release, Nov 21, 2016 Central Coast Council Media

Different stalls alternate weeks New stalls welcome Live music & pony rides Call Ryan on 0405 416 289 or Margaret on 4374 1255

19-TWENTY + GUESTS LIME & STEEL + NIGHT KITE THE RHYTHM HUT 135 Faunce St, Gosford Tickets on sale now. All info at www.therhythmhut.com.au

enough to attend Lior’s previous solo performance at Laycock, his return show in early February 2017 will bring an extra dimension to his astounding vocals, with the backing of a string quartet drawn from Sydney’s finest orchestral players,” said Mr King.

Two of Australia’s most loved female artists, songstress, Katie Noonan, and classical guitarist, Karin Schaupp, are teaming up once again for ‘Songs of the Latin Skies’, an enchanting journey through the great South American songbook of bossa nova, samba, salsa and tango.

Mr King said Laycock is committed to introducing children to the wonder of live theatre at an early age, and in 2017, three professional productions promise to delight and enthral young minds. “’Hold on to your nose, Mr Stink’, from the phenomenally successful award-winning book comes to (very smelly) life on stage.

“We’ll be meeting Mothball, the naughtiest wombat in Australia with the delightful ‘Diary of a Wombat’, and settling in for the classic retelling of ‘We’re Going on a Bearhunt’, with little people invited to bring their own teddies to Laycock for this intrepid adventure,” he added.

BE A LEADER

EVERY MONTH ALL WEATHERS

Join scouts

2ND & LAST SUNDAY EACH MONTH

For information call 1800 SCOUTS (1800 726 887) or go to www.scouts.com.au

Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 25 C SShare

Rotarians celebrate 100 years of doing good

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OUT & ABOUT

Chantelle reunited with parents thanks to Lucy

entral Coast Rotarians were joined recently by Rotarians from the Blue Mountains and Northern Beaches to acknowledge and celebrate 100 years of the Rotary Foundation.

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Members also recognised the benefits of the Foundation that have helped Central Coast Rotary Clubs achieve their goals.

According to Ms Annona Pearse from the Rotary Club of Erina, in 1917, the Rotary Foundation began with a donation of just US$26.50.

“From that initial amount, the Foundation has grown to be one of the most trusted charities throughout the world,” Ms Pearse said.

“The Rotary Foundation is probably best-known for its quest to end polio, a quest that is almost complete, with only 32 cases reported in the world to date this year,” she said.

“Many Central Coast Rotarians have travelled to polio-affected areas to

take part in national polio vaccination days.

“Local Central Coast projects have also benefited from the Rotary Foundation.

“The Rotary Clubs of The Entrance and WyongTuggerah raised funds for their Smart Pup for Kyle project, and they were helped by the Rotary Foundation with extra grant money to complete the purchase and training of an autism assistance dog for a young Central Coast boy.

“The Rotary Foundation was implemented to do good in the world, and 100 years later, it continues to do so,” she said.

Media release, Nov 24, 2016 Annona Pearse, Rotary Club of Erina

Nav Davis and friends enjoying Chantelle

ederal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, has helped locate a Copacabana community bench, affectionately known as “Chantelle” by the group of young people who constructed it.

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Mr Nav Davis, of Copacabana, and one of the young men who built Chantelle, contacted Ms Wicks through her official Facebook page demanding answers to where the beloved bench seat had gone.

“You see this afternoon, I made my way down to my local beer box at Copacabana, like I usually do of an afternoon, and I noticed that our community chair, that me and my buddies had built, had been taken away.

“Now the thing is, you are having breakfast down in Copa this weekend to discuss your actions on how you are cleaning up Copacabana, but I don’t see how taking our beloved Chantelle (that’s what we named our seat) out of Copa is in any way cleaning up our streets,” he wrote.

“You see Chantelle was born one night through the blood sweat and tears of me and my pals, and she took a lot of time, love and effort to create, not to mention that one of the boys acquired all the ingredients to bake up this two legged wonder himself, and you think it’s fine to just take her straight from her home.

“So if you think that putting cameras up around Copa (and I know that’s just to perv on all us hot boys getting changed for a surf), is more important than promising the safety and return of our daughter (Chantelle, the seat that we crafted) then I think you are the equivalent to Donald Trump to us in Copacabana,” Mr Davis wrote.

Despite being compared to the lowest of the low and perverts, Ms Wicks got behind Mr Davis’ cry to return Chantelle to her rightful place, contacting

both local police, Central Coast Council, and even addressing Federal Parliament regarding the disappearance.

Ms Wicks wrote on her Facebook page that local police were looking into the incident and that council had denied any involvement in the removal of Chantelle.

Ms Wicks also started the social media hashtag

BringBackChantelle, with her address to Federal Parliament regarding roads, crime and Chantelle racking up more than 12,000 views on her Facebook page.

Further posts from Ms Wicks revealed that Chantelle was found in Council’s Erina depot even though they had denied any involvement in her kidnapping.

“Chantelle has been found,” Ms Wicks wrote.

“A massive thank you to Central Coast Council who contacted us with the whereabouts of this famous seaside bench.

“I’ve been assured she is in a stable condition.

“But an even bigger thank you to Nav Davis and all of Copa who have been behind this,” Ms Wicks wrote.

Website, Nov 26, 2016

FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

RESIDENT BAND

BLUESANGELS Special guest artists every month

7pm till 11pm

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS DIRECTORY ARTS & CULTURE

Page 26 - Coast Community News - December 1,, 2016 Share

Gosford North Probus Club

Meets 4th Tuesday at the Grange Hotel for more Art Studios Gallery & information contact Craig Cooperative 43225560 Artworks by members and local Monthyl meeting 4th artists through solo and group Tuesday Grange Hotel 10am exhibitions and community events. Classes available.

4339 3349 www.artstudioscooperative.org

Central Coast Art Society Lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Weekly paintouts Tuesdays 4349 5860 for locations Workshops - 4363 1156 9.30am - 12.30pm 1st and 3rd Wed Social Meetings 1.30pm 4th Wed Gosford City Arts Centre.

4325 1420 publicity@artcentralcoast.asn.au

Central Coast Handweavers, Spinners and Textile Arts Guild Spinning and weaving, patchwork and quilting, felting and other fibre and fabric crafts, community quilting bees - Day and Night Groups 4325 4743 www.cottagecrafts.net.au

Fellowship of Australian Writers A friendly and supportive group for new and old writers.

Encouragement and critique of work. Workshops and competitions 10am 3rd Sun Conference rm. Gosford Hotel 4363 2627 centralcoastfaw@live.com

COMMUNITY GROUPS ABC - “The Friends” Support group for Public Broadcaster.

Aims. safeguard ABC’s independence, funding, & standards. Meetings through the year + social afternoons Well-known guest speakers 4341 5170

Northern Settlement Services - Volunteers Volunteers needed for friendly visits to the elderly in nursing homes.

People with a second language encouraged to apply.

Training support provided 4334 3877 cvscc@nsservices.com.au

Probus Club of Avoca 10.15am 3rd Mon Avoca Beach Bowling Club www.probussouthpacific.org/ microsites/avocabeach

4382 3372 Seniors Computer Club Central Coast Inc. Classes Mon to Fri for over 50 Basics: Mon , Tues and Thurs 10am to 12noon Different programs every day, 10am - 12noon or 1-3pm Apple-Mac: Mon, Tues, Wed All at Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre 02 4369 5692 Terrigal Wamberal RSL Sub-Branch At Breakers Country Club pension and welfare officers available to assist with DVA compensation claims and benefits Wed & Fri 10am – Midday Meetings 2nd Sat 10am 43842661 rsl@breakerscc.com.au

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

COMMUNITY CENTRES Coimmunity Centres provide the local community with a meeting place and hub for groups, services and information.

Gosford 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre Handicraft, Painting, Knitting, Tai Chi, Scrabble, Darts, Table Tennis, Indoor Bowls, Patchwork, Yoga, Fitness, Gentle Swimming, Line Dancing, Cards, Variety Social, Womens Group, Zumba, Crochet, Computers 4304 7065 Gosford-Narara Neighbourhood Centre School Holiday activities, playgroup, multicultural programs, community activities - Rooms for Hire admin@gnnc.com.au

4329 4477 Green Point Community Centre OOSH cave, exersize classes, school holiday programs, playgroup, arts & craft, room hire, and much more.

4367 7591 Kariong Neighbourhood Centre Early childhood clinic, free family law advice, active playgroup, computer classes, OOSH services, fitness classes, arts & crafts, over 50’s friendship group, youth group, social groups and many more services.

4340 1724 wwww.knc.net.au

U3A Central Coast Kincumber Mature age people are invited Neighbourhood Centre to participate in a wide range of courses to broaden the mind • Exercise classes • Yoga for adults and children and make new friends • Community eco garden 0408 704 701 • Room hire www.centralcoast.u3anet.org.au www.fabcnsw.org.au • Health support groups • Counselling Gosford Gumnuts Big Futures in school • After school activities Playgroup mentor program 4363 1044 Parents and children meet Become a volunteer mentor www.kincumber.nsw.au socially. Make friends, learn 2 hrs/ week, Free Training, No more about parenting. 0 to 5 yrs qualifications needed Mingaletta Aboriginal Wed - Fri 10am-12noon Be a young persons champion Torres Strait Islander Gosford Uniting Church Hall 0413 624 529 Corporation 129 Donnison St Gosford www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/ A meeting place and referral bigfutures 4325 3695 hub for education, health, wellgumnutsguc@gmail.com being and cultural programs Central Coast through consultative services Volunteering Community and community programs.

Central Coast Legal Centre Mon-Fri 9am-4pm Refer potential volunteers to Not for profit org in Wyong 6 Sydney Ave Umina community organisations. providing free legal advice.

4342 7515 Provide support to volunteers

Intake times for legal advice Monday to Friday 9am-5pm 4353 4988 centralcoast@clc.net.au

Central Coast Social Group Social contact, entertainment events, new friendships, for 30’s-60’s Live music, house parties, dinners, BBQs, picnics, trips away etc.

Monthly Meet & Chat 0422 243 101

and community organisations.

Provide training to volunteers and managers of volunteers Information sessions “Bridge to Volunteering” held regularly.

4329 7122 recruit@volcc.org.au

Providing practical experience and confidence Learn the benefits to hearing aids 4321 0275 www.centralcoast. betterhearingaustralia.org.au

Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Gosford) Meet last Friday Month Terrigal Uniting Church 380 Terrigal Dre, Terrigal 9.30am to 12 noon 4367 9600 www.pcfa.org.au

Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Wyong) Meet last Monday Month Toukley RSL Club Homes Ave Toukley 10.00am to 12 noon 4356 9300 www.pcfa.org.au

Dying with Dignity NSW, Central Coast Working to give those suffering unrelievedly from terminal or incurable illness the legal right to request & receive medical help to die Quarterly Meetings 4369 8053 Gambling Solutions Counsellors provide free, confidential, professional service to gamblers, family and friends. Woy Woy, Kincumber, Gosford, The Entrance.

4344 7992 GROW Support Groups Small friendly groups formed to learn how to overcome anxiety, depression and loneliness and to improve mental health and well-being. Anonymous, free and open to all. Weekly at Woy Woy, Bateau Bay and Wyong 1800 558 268 www.grow.org.au

Meals on Wheels Delicious meals delivered free Join us for a midday meal Help with shopping and cooking classes 4363 7111

HISTORY GROUPS Central Coast Family History Society Inc. Help and advice with your family history research. Tue to Fri, 930am to 2pm Lions Community Hall, 8 Russell Drysdale St, E. Gosford. www.centralcoastfhs.org.au

admin@mingaletta.com.au

4324 5164

Terrigal Fifty Plus Leisure and Learning Centre Activities include fitness, yoga, bridge, mahjong, zumba gold, line dancing, tai chi, painting, craft and computer classes.

Please phone 43845152 for more info

Brisbane Water Historical Society • Coach tours • School educational tours • Annual Street Stalls • Participation in History Heritage Week Celebration Margaret Pearce 4325 2270

iiw.au.gosfordnorth@gmail.com

Soundwaves

Inner Wheel Club Men’s acapella 4 part harmony of Terrigal chorus - all ages 7pm Mon Central Coast Leagues Club Share friendship, social activities as well as fundraising for local, Kieran - 0407 267 675 national and international khutton58@gmail.com projects. 3rd Mon, 12noon jbthomson51@gmail.com Terrigal 50+ leisure centre, Duffy Rd Terrigal Sydney Welsh Choir 4369 0302 - 4384 1490 Cultural organisation performing terigalinnerwheel@gmail.com at various venues to promote the Welsh culture with singing, Lions Club of Woy Woy Also performing for charity fund 1st and 3rd Mon. Woy Woy raising.

Leagues Club 4369 3378 Make new friends and have fun Tempo Terrific Community while serving your community.

0478 959 895 Showband Active showband available Rotary Club of to play at your community Gosford North function. Wide ranging repertuore. Always seeking new Active community minded club.

Many projects focussed on members, come and have assisting youth. Support our fun with music. Follow us on Facebook - Every Mon 5 - 7pm great projects, get involved with our fun club. Graham Black Kincumber Uniting Church 0410 509 071, 4365 4414 www.tempoterrific.com tempoterrific@live.com

grahamblack@iprimus.com.au

Rotary Club of Tuggerah Lakes Showband Kariong/Somersby Play brass instruments, meet International service club every Tues & Thurs to rehearse . improves lives of communities crowd-pleasing music and play in Australia and overseas. Funat community events filled activities, fellowship and Park Rd Band Hall friendship breakfasts. Phillip Tues 7.30pm Thur 6.30pm House, 21 Old Mount Penang 0407 406 669 Rd (opp Shell) - Fri 7:15am 4340 4529 POLITICAL PARTY kersuebay@philliphouse.com.au

Central Coast Greens The Central Coast Greens For a fairer, more transparent and accountable government based on democratic principles Local, state-wide, national and international issues and campaigns - Council and parliamentary representation Developing a new economy Protecting our environment Peaceful conflict resolution Community participation We meet monthly every 3rd Thu - Details and info: centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au centralcoastgreens@gmail.com

Australian Labor Party Ourimbah/ Narara Branch Discussion/action community issues - 3 levels of Government Niagara Park Primary School 7.30pm 1st Mon each month 0410 309 494 kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com

Politics in the Pub Central Coast Discussion of important political, social, economic, education, and philosophy issues in a non partisan manner - The Grange Hotel 4th Thur besides Dec

PUBLIC SPEAKING Develop confidence by improving your speaking skills.

Meetings are entertaining and educational.

SPECIAL INTEREST Brisbane Water Caravan Club located on the Central Coast and looking for new members www.bwcaravanclub.wix.com/bwcc

4344 4363 Biz Plus Networking Association Attention business owners - if you keen to grow your business and in the process build worthwhile relationships, attend a Biz Networking breakfast.

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

CCLC Bridge Club Duplicate Bridge-partner not required for most sessions.

Central Coast Leagues Club 12.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri. Sat 1.30pm Wed 7.15pm Mon 4325 9854 www.cclcbridgeclub.asn.au cclcbridgeclub@westnet.com.au

Central Coast Cake Decorators Guild Sugarcraft demonstrations conversation and lunch Visitors welcome 4th Sat - 10am 50+ leisure and Learning Centre Gosford 4382 6236 lsroe@bigpond.com.au

Central Coast Lapidary Club Minerals & Gems Brisbane Waters Breakfast Learn silverwork, Cabochons, Toastmasters Club Fellowship of First Wyoming Faceting, Enamelling, Stone 8:30am-10:30am Provide resources for Fleeters Central Coast Community Centre Field-trips & fossicking 2nd and Last Sat - The Hive communication. Special guests, For anyone interested in early Yoga & Zumba classes, Art Weekly Workshops and Library, Erina Shopping community involvement, history or early family histories. and Craft classes, Playgroup Tues and Thurs 8.30am Centre heritage, diversity, education, Don’t need to be a First Fleeter. & Vacation Care, Support 2.30pm. Thurs 6-10pm 0459 240 183 safety and small business Wyong RSL Club groups, Book Club, Community email cco30s@live.com.au 10 Ourimbah Creek Rd opportunities.

2nd Sat 10:30am Garden, Rooms for Hire, Work Ourimbah Blue Gum Flat Point Clare Community Hall - Development Orders, Centrelink 4311 6254 Central Coast 50+ Singles 4362 2246 Toastmasters 2nd Thurs Bi Monthly.

Volunteer hours Social Group MUSIC Mthly meetings 1st and 3rd 0412 462 218 4323 7483 Invites Ladies & Gents for Central Coast Mon 7.15-9.30pm reception@wyomingcc.org.au dinner, dancing - BBQs & Soaring Club Inc Ourimbah RSL Wildlife ARC Brisbane Water Brass socialising each w/e.

Gliding Club, Learn to fly, HEALTH GROUPS 4362 7227 We rescue and care for Brass Band entertainment Friendly group monthly Instruction FREE to members for the community playing injured and orphan native programme all areas SERVICE GROUPS 14 and up for Training all types of popular music animals. 24hr/day, 7days/ Alcoholics Anonymous 4396 3640 Flying at Bloodtree Rd Rehearsal every Tues. meet every Wed 12.30pm 0437 699 366 week. Come join us.

Mangrove Mountain Thur, Sat, Inner Wheel Club of 7.30pm-10pm 50pssg@gmail.com Someone cares Gen Meeting 3rd Sun Sun ( weather permitting) 0419 274 012 Gosford North Inc Anglican Church 0412 164 082 Wyoming Community Community minded women 3 Mann St Gosford Central Coast 0414 635 047 Centre, Maidens Brush Rd who enjoy fundraising for 4323 3890 JAZZLEAGUE www.ccsoaring.com.au Sunday Lunch Bunch Wyoming at 10am local, national and international Live Jazz Bands Come to (Singles over 55) 02 4325 0666 projects listen, Come to dance Better Hearing Central Coast Pension & Luncheons Regular social outings.

Free - Every Sun Welfare Officer Network 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly Australia Central Coast 2nd Wed 7pm Central Coast Leagues Club Group of Volunteers, trained by at various licensed venues Hearing loss management 21 Old Penang Rd Kariong Gosford 2-5pm DVA, to look after servicemen 43321 695 (after 2pm) Support and educational group www.jazzleague.net 4362 3139 & women. Ourimbah RSL Club 7 groups across the coast

Koolewong, Point Clare & Tascott Progress Association

10:30am 2nd Fri - Feb to Nov 4322 1505 National Parks Association Central Coast Twice weekly bush walks, varying distances and grades of difficulty. Explore, enjoy scenery, fauna, floral, history. Keep fit and make friends.

4389 4423 or 4332 7378 Spirituality in the Pub A forum with Q&A and two speakers prompt conversations within to encourage dialogue about spirituality.

1st Tues March to October 2nd Tues November 7.30 to 9pm Grange Hotel Wyoming 4328 2596 - 0498 588 261

WOMEN’S GROUPS BPW Central Coast Empowering women of all ages in the areas of work, education, well-being and friendship.

Monthly dinner meetings and speaker.

Community transport available to and from centre Chris Levis 0438 989 199 bpwcentralcoast@hotmail.com www.bpw.com.au/central-coast

Brisbane Water Evening View Club Social activities, outings and functions monthly.

Tours, Dinners, Lunches, Theatre/Cinema, fashion parades Dinner meeting with guest speaker 4th Tues 4325 1688 or 0466 513 600 Country Women’s Association (CWA) Quilting, patchwork, spinning, knitting, crochet and more 9am-2pm Every Fri, Opposite Terrigal Bowling Club 4385 9503 or 4384 3696 Gosford RSL Sub-branch Women’s Auxiliary Raise money for the welfare of veterans and their families. RSL Club West Gosford 4th Mon 2pm 4323 7336 Central Coast Women’s Health Centre Counseling, therapeutic and social groups, workshops, domestic violence and abuse issues. All services provided by women for women 4324 2533 www.cccwhc.com.au

Soroptimist International Brisbane Water Soroptimists speak for women and girls of all nations through awareness advocacy and action by supporting national and international programs 2nd Thur 6:45pm - Breakers Country Club, Dover Rd Wamberal 4367 6331 sibrisbanewater@siswp.org

WOWGIRLS Wave of Wisdom Inc WOWGIRLS Wave of Wisdom connects women and local businesses around a common theme of well-being. to share wisdom and explore life’s potential.

Regular Powwows, WOW Wisdom gatherings, WOW days and WOW courses check our website for activities. www.wowgirls.com.au info@wowgirls.com.au

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here, call us on 4325 7369 or see www.centralcoastnewspapers.com 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. Australia Post is about to increase their postage rates by over 42% and we can no longer continue to absorb these increases. Subscription rates have therefore needed to be increased from $50 to $75 for 25 editions.

Coast Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 27 C SShare

Free exhibition commemorates Dirk Hartog landing in Australia

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free exhibition will be held in the Erina Library to commemorate 400 years since the landing of Dutch explorer, Dirk Hartog, at Shark Bay WA.

The exhibition will run from December 9 to January 20.

The board of the Dutch Australian Cultural Centre will be presenting a display of 30 full size replicas of 17th century Dutch maps that illustrate the progress of early Dutch mapping of the Australian coastline by VOC mariners and cartographers.

Most of the originals of these maps are kept in the

National Library but are rarely exhibited publicly.

All of this mapping was done 130 to 150 years before James Cook sailed into Botany Bay in 1770.

The Great Southland’s mapping by Europeans makes very interesting history, according to the Secretary of the DACC, and Pearl Beach resident, Mr Klaas Woldring.

Mr Woldring will be

available on Thursdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm to provide further information.

Group presentations can also be arranged and relevant written information and publications will be available as part of the free exhibition.

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au/out-and-about

OUT&ABOUT

Free language festival at Erina

T

he Language Festival Association is hosting a free language festival at Erina Fair on December 3.

The purpose of this language festival is to promote awareness of language diversity, by providing tasters of multiple languages and cultures in a fun environment.

A highlight will be a fascinating presentation

by Australian linguist, Dr Gregory Cooper.

In the early 1980s, Dr Cooper travelled to remote north-western Pakistan to study an as-yet unwritten language.

Just by interacting directly with the native speakers, he was able to learn the language

(Kalashamondr), create a system of writing for it and teach it to the Kalasha people, who are now recording and publishing their own stories and songs.

Also presented will be Esperanto, the world’s most successful international language.

Apart from its role in neutral and equitable communication, Esperanto can also be useful as a springboard language, because its simple rules have virtually no exceptions, and because its grammatical structure is always clear.

Starting with Esperanto

can give one the confidence and solid grounding that are so important in language learning.

Some other languages to be presented at the festival include: Korean, Japanese, Farsi, German, French, Dutch, Lithuanian and Russian.

The Festival will be held at the Erina Centre, Erina Fair, from 12:00pm to 5:30 pm.

Media release, Nov 22, 2016 Jonathan Cooper, language Festival Association

Media release, Nov 24, 2016 Klaas Woldring, Dutch Australian Cultural Centre

Potters’ Christmas exhibition and sale

The Gosford Diary For events in post code areas 2250, 2260 and 2251

If you’ve got something happening in Gosford LGA area over the next few weeks, let us know about it and we’ll list it here for you, for free. Contact details are on page 2.

See the Peninsula News for events in post code areas 2256 & 2257 and the Wyong Regional Chronicle for events in post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 & 2263 Friday, Dec 2

Tuesday, Dec 6

Saturday, Dec 31

Live from 5 at Kibble Park, Gosford from 5:00pm to 8:00pm Central Coast Potters’ Society Christmas Exhibition and Sale, Community Gallery, Gosford Regional Gallery, until December 14, 9:30am to 4:00pm daily New Horizons exhibition of recent works by Kadira Jennings, Ruby Samadhi Gallery, Cochrone St, Kincumber, official opening December 11 at 2:00pm, until December 31

Ben Woodham on Star 104.5 from 6:00pm

New Year’s Eve Juicy Red Apple Over 30s Night, Central Coast Leagues Club, Scenic Lounge Gosford Races, Gosford Racecourse, gates open 12:00pm, first race 1:30pm GBID presents Mars Foods New Year’s Eve Festival, featuring Mumma Jane’s Blues Band, fireworks at 9:15pmGosford Waterfront Central Coast Mariners versus Melbourne City, Central Coast Stadium, kick off 7:00pm

Saturday, Dec 3 Raw Food Workshop, Point Clare Community Hall, from 10:00am, bookings essential Extra Juicy Red Apple Over 30s Night, Central Coast Leagues Club Scenic Lounge First Saturday Blues featuring BluesAngels, Johnny Devilseed and Old Man Rubes at Hotel Gosford from 7:00pm Central Coast Mariners versus Western Sydney Wanderers, Central Coast Stadium, gates open 4:00pm, kick off 5.35pm

Friday, Dec 9 Mount Penang Gardens Christmas Lights Display, from 6:00pm to 9:30pm until December 13

Saturday, Dec 10 The Floating Landcare barge will travel to Bar Point from Deerubbin Reserve boat ramp at Mooney Mooney from 8:30am

Friday, Dec 16 Guide Dog fundraising stalls at William St Mall from 9:00am to 2:30pm BluesAngels, Eleanor Plummer and Little Quirks at Brackets & Jam, Kincumber Mtn from 7:00pm

Saturday, Dec 17 8 Ball Aitken and Band, Central Coast Leagues Club, Scenic Lounge from 8:00pm

Sunday, Dec 18 Central Coast Mariners versus Brisbane Roar, central Coast Stadium, kick off 5:00pm

Sunday, Jan 8 Central Coast Mariners versus Sydney FC, Central Coast Stadium, kick off 5:00pm

Friday, Jan 27 Musicians Making a Difference Access All Areas Conference featuring L Fresh the Lion, Mirrah and MK-1, The Lounge Room, Mann St, North Gosford until January 28

Saturday, Jan 28 Central Coast Mariners versus Perth Glory, Central Coast Stadium, 5:35pm

T

he Central Coast Potters Society (CCPS) will hold a Christmas exhibition and sale at the Community Gallery, Gosford Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, from December 2.

This exhibition will include a variety of handmade ceramics, both decorative and functional, plus some local artist’s artworks for sale.

The Society holds two exhibitions and sales events at the Gallery each year.

CCPS offers classes, workshops and demonstrations for anyone interested in ceramics, as well as member-only activities, annual raku firings and pit firings.

Active members range in age from ‘20-somethings’ to ‘80-somethings’, with more and more men joining up.

As well as the two exhibitions, CCPS holds an Open Day each August which provides an opportunity for the local community to see what’s happening in their local potters’ workshop, and get their hands dirty playing with clay.

The exhibition will conclude on Wednesday, December 14 and will run from 9:30am to 4:00pm daily.

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Not For Profit Organisations Not for profit organisations’ advertisements are subsidised.

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Each additional cm costs $6.60 as does colour, and a photograph or a logo.

Private advertisements need to be paid for at the time of booking.

Business rates A one off advertisement only costs $40 + GST in mono and an extra $8 + GST for colour, a logo or a photograph.

Advertising on an ongoing basis attracts discounts if paid for in full in advance.

3 months $215 , 6 months $385 + GST, 12 months $700 + GST – Approximately $14 per week.

Having the same advertisement in one of the other Central Coast Newspapers as well attracts an additional 10% discount for those advertisements.

If in the third paper as well, it will attract a 15% discount which drops to $11.50 + GST per week in that paper.

Artwork is free and advertisers are encouraged to change their advertisements frequently.

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Online only GosfordClassifieds.com.au is one of a network of 10 websites which form one of the largest independent online classifieds network in NSW with over 350,000 annual visitors, over 80,000 online advertisements and over 15,000 business advertisements.

A premium VIP online business advertisement on GosfordClassifieds.com.au only costs $299 for 3 months, $399 for 6 months and, $499 for 12 months.

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Having a Gosford classifieds premium on line advertisement plus a printed advertisement in one newspaper will only cost $495 for 3 months, $695 for 6 months and $999 for 12 months.

Having it in two newspapers as well as online costs $595 for 3 months, $995 for 6 months and $1499 for 12 months.

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Coast C Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 29 SShare

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SPORT

International Tennis School Roger Rasheed Festival unveils several champions of Tennis held

International Tennis School students were big winners at the Pennant Hills tennis event this month

tudents from the International Tennis School, Gosford, have blitzed through seven days of intensive competition at the Schoolboys’ and Schoolgirls’ Event at Pennant Hills Tennis Club in November.

S

The school had wins through multiple age brackets and categories as follows.

Open Team Champions: Rhys Searant, Jock Lummis, Cooper Griffiths and Zac Matthews.

Open Teams Runner Up: Oliver Ryan, Riley Courtney, A J Foster and Keanu Vique.

Primary Mixed Teams Champions: Liam Wade and

Paris Cagney.

Primary Mixed Teams Runners Up: Nick De Vivo and Sarah Mazaraki.

Year 10 Girls Doubles Champions: Breelyn Bessant and Maddy Bowron.

Year 8 Boys Doubles Champions: Riley Courtney and Cooper Griffiths.

Open Girls Doubles Runners Up: Maddy Bowron

Subscribe now and don’t miss an edition Peninsula Community Access

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Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

and Breelyn Bessant.

Year 10 Boys Doubles Runners Up: Jock Lummis and Zac Matthews.

Year 9 Boys Doubles Runners Up: Cooper Roger Rasheed (front centre) with Roger Rasheed Cup participants Griffiths and A J Foster.

Year 6 Girls Doubles ro tennis coach, Mr Roger Rasheed, concluded a week long Runners Up: Paris Cagney coaching stint on November 18 at the International School of and Sarah Mazaraki.

Tennis, based in the Gosford Tennis Centre.

The stellar effort comes off of the back of the Mr Rasheed has the Roger Rasheed Festival working closely with school’s coaching festival mentored some of the of Tennis, by getting to students and staff to provide with international tennis sports greats, including know his new athletes and strength and conditioning coach, Mr Roger Rasheed. home grown hero Lleyton prepping them for the Roger training, motivation and techniques and Rasheed Cup Event, through drive Website, Hewitt, Mr Rasheed kicked off an intensive workout, similar movement patterns.

Nov 25, 2016 International Tennis his coaching gig, known to that used by top 10 ATP Website, School Facebook page throughout the school as players.

Nov 18, 2016 Question and answer International Tennis sessions were a common TUITION - DANCE WANTED School Facebook page theme throughout the Festival, with Mr Rasheed

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Gosford Scottish Country Dancers hold a intermediate class on Wednesdays from 7 to 10 pm at Wyoming It’s an excellent form of exercise which brings men, women and young people together socially, learning new and old dances in a very friendly relaxed atmosphere No experience or partner necessary All ages welcome Cost $7.00 per week Contact Janice on

4388 2253

The Shame File

CASH PAID for good quality Swords, Knives and War memorabilia.

For large collections home visit available

Shop 12 - Ebbtide Mall 155 The Entrance Rd The Entrance

4333 8555

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.

• Renotek, Tascott

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• Michelle Umback - 2 • AAA Coastal Painting Funky, Terrigal Service, Greg Sutherland, North • Shelley Walker Gosford Previously trading as Headmasters Hair • Ezy Homes - Freddies Design, Park Plaza Warehouse, Gosford Gosford Central Plaza • Jessica Davis - A1 Cleaning Services, Erina • Tony Fitzpatrick trading as Futurtek Roofing • Inspire P/L trading as CUP Computers formerly of Gosford • Modern Asian Cuisine, Victoria Street

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• Ashley’s

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• Decorative Fabrics & Furnishings - Steve McGinty

SPORT

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Mariners break their drought

Paul Izzo, Central Coast Mariners' goalkeeper punches away a shot from a Perth Glory corner

Photos: Noel Fisher

Gosford Kariong Storm Rugby League club held annual presentation he Gosford Kariong Storm Rugby League club held its annual presentation afternoon at the Central Coast Leagues Club on Sunday, October 16, with a large crowd packed into the Parkview Room, which was festooned with purple, gold and blue balloons.

T

Scott Galloway

T

The Roy O’Donovan goal

he Central Coast Mariners enjoyed their first home game win since New Year’s Eve 2015, when they beat Perth Glory 2 to 0 at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium on November 25.

The match ended the Mariners’ horror record of 36 games without a clean sheet.

Paul Okon’s team managed to get their second

win of the season at Central Coast Stadium thanks to goals from Harry Ascroft and Roy O’Donovan.

Okon rewarded Ascroft with his starting debut

T ide Char T FORT DENISON

LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000 Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

Time - Height(m) Add one hour to the times below when Daylight Saving is in force

1 THU

4

0335 0.54 1009 1.80 1644 0.39 2243 1.37

2 FRI

0413 0.57 1045 1.79 1723 0.40 2324 1.35

0008 1.33 0056 1.32 0534 0.65 0622 0.69 1202 1.72 MON 1246 1.66 1847 0.44 1935 0.46

5

SUN

0248 1.35 0820 0.74 WED 1435 1.56 2121 0.45

7

10 SAT

13 TUE

0545 1.65 1153 0.56 1756 1.52

8 THU

11 SUN

0349 1.42 0930 0.72 1542 1.52 2217 0.43

SAT

6 TUE

9 FRI

0452 0.61 1123 1.76 1803 0.42 0149 1.32 0717 0.72 1336 1.61 2027 0.46

Website, Nov 24, 2016 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners

0449 1.52 1044 0.66 1650 1.51 2312 0.39

0003 0.36 0055 0.33 0637 1.78 0729 1.90 1258 0.44 MON 1357 0.32 1857 1.53 1956 1.54

0145 0.32 0236 0.33 0819 2.00 0910 2.06 1452 0.23 WED 1546 0.17 2053 1.54 2149 1.53

14

3

this season, with Ascroft returning the favour, scoring a swift volley from his left foot, as a result of a defensive lapse by Perth Glory during a corner in the 30th minute.

A fortunate miss hit from Coast captain, Nick Montgomery, turned into a perfect ball, which was controlled by O’Donovan, who slotted home the Mariners’ second goal, oneon-one with Glory’s keeper, Liam Reddy, in the 63rd minute.

Paul Izzo, also showed why he should be the number one goalkeeper for the Mariners, pulling off a variety of saves to keep the clean sheet.

Connor Pain, who claimed man of the match for

the Mariners, also showed his flair and creativity and was unfortunate to not get a goal, after hitting the crossbar with a rocket of a shot with his left foot.

The Thursday night game was attended by over 5,000 fans, who backed their team to the hilt and witnessed a win at home for the first time since New Year’s Eve 2015 against Wellington Phoenix.

In his press conference Paul Okon said. “The goal is to be in the top six at the end, when we started out, we spoke to all the players and that’s the goal we set.”

“We have two wins now and we just want to continue and win football games.”

12

15 THU

0327 0.37 1000 2.08 1638 0.16 2245 1.50

that broke the stranglehold on this award held by Samantha Taylor and Vanessa Bird dating back to the 2012 season.

Andrew Stark walked away with the Clint Gosper Memorial Award as Club Person of the Year, while the young tyros from the Under 8s and Under 9s were up on stage as joint winners of the Mini Team of the Year Award.

The Coach of the Year Award went to club stalwart and former President, Eddie Johnson, who was in charge of three sides during the season; the Under 8s, Under 9s and Open Grade.

Eddie first won the award back in 1981; when footballs were brown, scrums were fair dinkum and the Gosford club was still known as the Townies.

His remarkable achievement of claiming the same award, three and a half decades apart, must surely rank as a record, unmatched throughout all football codes.

Under 13s players, Blake Taylor and Preston Bierton were honoured for notching 10 years of service, while the 2016 Best & Fairest Awards went to: Toutai Aho (U16s); Byron Buckley (U15s); Sebastian Burke (U14s); Jake Martin (U13s); Luke Jacobs (U12s); Travis Burgess (U11-1s); Rylee Oakes (U11-3s); Benji Keene-O’Keefe (U10s); Taye Royal-Kier (U9s); Dylan Wade (U8s); and Coen Draper (U7s).

Media release, 17 Oct 2016 Andrew Stark, Gosford Kariong Storm RLFC

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

Club secretary, Ms Renee Martin, was in fine form as she oversaw proceedings: a huge table weighed down by trophies, slowly cleared during an hour and a half of warm applause.

The Storm’s eleven season veteran and Under 16s representative back rower, Logan Campbell, was the big winner of the day as he claimed the Presidents Player Award as well as the Cameron Delehunt Memorial Award as Senior Player of the Year.

The latter trophy was named in honour of former Gosford player, Cameron Delehunt, who was a previous winner of this award himself, and who tragically lost his life during 2015.

Talented Under 12s prop forward and general helper around the club, Jake Sutherland, was a most worthy recipient of the Junior Player of the Year Award.

The ever cheerful Cathy Habkouk claimed the Manager of the Year Award for her tireless work with the Under 16s; a result

WAR MEMORABILIA WANTED

Coast C Community News - December 1, 2016 - Page 31 SShare

Mariners plan more of the same for Wanderers strong home crowd and the combined attacking force of Trent Buhagiar, Connor Pain and Roy O’Donovan could make “anything possible” in the Central Coast Mariners’ home match against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, December 3, according to midfielder Harry Ascroft.

w www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

SPORT

Walk of Fame launched

A

“They are a very good team,” Ascroft said of the Western Sydney Wanderers, who have been playing well but not managing to get the points in the 2016-17 A-League competition to date.

He complimented the Wanderers’ foreign players including Japanese signing Jumpei and midfielder Emilio Martinez.

“Martinez is very good on the ball, so they will be very dangerous,” he said.

“The results haven’t gone their way, so they will be looking to change that this weekend, but hopefully we will put on another performance like we did last week, and we will come away with a clean sheet and three points again.”

Commenting on the Central Coast Mariners’ 2 to 0 win at home against Perth Glory on November 24, Ascroft said: “It was very good, a good return, a good 90 minutes personally, and as a team, a great performance, we kept a clean sheet, and of course, the three points is fantastic.”

Ascroft and roommate Jake McGing “went viral” when their victory celebration, after Ascroft’s goal in the Glory game, resulted in McGing giving him a “love bite”.

“Any publicity is good

Central Coast Mariner Harry Ascroft pleased with the outcome of the game against Perth Glory

publicity.

“It went pretty viral and it is pretty funny because he is my roommate.

“We laugh about it now, so it is all good.

“We know each other really well, we room together, so there is that partnership there, and of course last season we played a lot of games together, and we have only just grown with experience.”

The midfielder had praise for coach Paulo Okon and the style he has been building at the club.

“Every game we’ve played, I think we have dominated possession, and I think that is the way he wants to play.

“We’ve had multiple entries into the box and we just have to finish them more, and get more chances, and I think it is working very well.”

Captain Nick Montgomery also earned some positive feedback from Ascroft.

“He is absolutely fantastic, he leads from the front, he is an absolute workhorse, he won’t stop running and he is a pleasure to play with.”

In terms of where the Mariners still have work to do, Ascroft said: “We definitely need to increase our ball speed and move

the ball faster along the pitch, and when we get those chances, we need to be clinical and finish them upfront, and obviously, some more clean sheets would be nice.

“Our passing has been on point, we dominate, we like to dominate possession and get chances into the box, and it is clicking, there is still a lot of work to do, but it is going well.

“We’ve got some absolutely fantastic players, Connor has been doing really well, Trent as you know was lightning on the weekend, and Roy is clinical with his finishing.

“If we get the ball to those three and they come up with what they do, anything is possible.”

He said the home crowd at the game against Perth was “amazing”.

“The crowd was fantastic and they pushed us through, and thanks to them, and hopefully they will come out in numbers this weekend against the Wanderers.

“We will get a big turnout and hopefully we will get the same result,” he said.

Audio recording, Nov 28, 2016 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners

Mr Sheldon Kidd, Ms Lucy Wicks, Mr Kerry Ruffles, Ms Alison Broadbent and Mr Ian Reynolds outside the Central Coast Stadium, starting place for the Sporting Walk of Fame

T

he Central Coast Sports Federation launched a Walk of Fame at Central Coast Stadium on Friday, November 25, with funding from the Stronger Communities Programme.

Construction of the walk has not commenced, but the launch was to celebrate securing up to $20,000 in funding needed to complete the project.

Mr Sheldon Kidd said he had been working towards the project since 1998.

“It’s been 20 years in the making, working alongside the Sports Federation to get this walk underway,” Mr Kidd said.

“We have 20 plaques at the moment honouring people such as 1975 Sportsperson of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, golfer Billy Dunk, and Vicki Roycroft, an equestrian who competed at three Olympic Games,” Mr Kidd said.

He said plans for another 40 plaques, extending the path even further, were in the works.

“It will start at the stadium and make its way through Gosford CBD,” he said.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian

Reynolds, said discussions on the direction of the route had been held and once plans were finalised, the aim was to have the walk constructed in 2017.

“The route’s placement and construction are paramount to ensuring the Central Coast Sporting Walk of Fame best represents these amazing athletes and importantly, allows the Sports Federation to add new inductees and extend the walk over the coming years,” Mr Reynolds said.

Wamberal resident and former Sydney Swift, Ms Alison Broadbent, attended the launch to show her support for the walk.

Ms Broadbent was the 2004 sportsperson of the year and Hall of Fame inductee who represented Australia in 35 netball tests.

Sports Federation Chair, Mr Kerry Ruffels, said the walk was a fantastic way to pay tribute to this region’s most outstanding

sportspeople.

“The pathway to the stadium will feature our current Hall of Fame athletes and each individual plaque will remind us of their fabulous careers,” Mr Ruffels said.

Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, said with the funding and the support from Central Coast Council, the Walk of Fame could be brought to life.

“This project is an exceptional way to honour our local heroes who have represented our community on a national and global stage,” Ms Wicks said.

Interview, Nov 26, 2016 Sheldon Kidd Media release, Nov 25, 2016 Tim Sowden, office of Lucy Wicks Media release, Nov 24, 2016 Kerry Ruffels, Sports Federation Jarrod Melmeth, Journalist

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