JULY 27, 2017
YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
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Belinda Neal expulsion delays Labor council candidate preselection
Terrigal Carpark being reopened
T
he Labor Party of NSW may not announce or endorse its local government election candidates until two days before candidate registrations close.
The Wilson Road Carpark is set to fully reopen in the coming weeks
T
he parking crisis gripping Terrigal could finally be broken with the reopening of the Wilson Road Carpark announced by Central Coast Council. The carpark will be reopened in stages commencing from Thursday, July 27, with levels 1 and 2 reopened to the public and with levels 3 and 4 scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, August 15 (weather permitting). Council has heralded the $2.3m carpark upgrade as a major boon for the tourism hotspot notorious for its painful congestion and parking track record. The project also includes the installation of a lift within the carpark, CCTV, and the provision of additional disabled spaces on each floor, enhancing the facility’s overall accessibility. Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said that an efficient program of works had assisted
the successful completion of this major infrastructure upgrade. “Despite the impacts of some inclement weather during the construction period, we have worked closely with our contractor to ensure the efficient completion of this project,” said Mr Reynolds. “We’re continuing to invest in Terrigal as one of the state’s premier tourist destinations, and infrastructure improvements such as this redevelopment will go a long way to supporting the ongoing growth of the area. “The addition of these 110 car spaces has been carried out in conjunction with upgrade works on the Scenic Hwy, improving the overall connectivity and access to the town centre,” said Mr Reynolds. Group Leader of Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Mike Dowling, said that the upgrade of the Wilson Rd Carpark was part of wider investment into the Terrigal region.
“This is an exciting time for Terrigal as it continues to grow in popularity, with significant investment in and around the area,” said Mr Dowling. “We’re continuing to work on catering for the needs of the region to complement this growth, and have plans to invest almost $2.2m through improvements to the area’s pedestrian and traffic flow, thanks to the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund. “Council will also be revitalising the Terrigal Lagoon Foreshore, with $825,000 invested into the redevelopment of the play space in Rotary Park, as well as the proposed construction of a skate park. “I would like to again extend my sincere thanks to the Terrigal community for their patience and understanding during the upgrade of the Wilson Rd Carpark,” Mr Dowling concluded. Source: Media release, Jul 24 Central Coast Council Media
ISSUE 163
The General Secretary of NSW Labor, Ms Kaila Murnain, announced, via Twitter, shortly after 9:00am on Monday, July 24, that former Gosford Councillor, NSW Legislative Council Member and Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Belinda Neal, had been expelled from the party. “The party officers today adopted the decision of the Internal Appeals Tribunal and resolved that Belinda Neal be expelled from NSW Labor,’ Ms Murnain’s tweet said. “The Internal Appeals Tribunal found that Ms Neal engaged in unworthy conduct and failed to support the Rules of the Labor party to the best of her ability,” NSW Labor said in a written statement. “The NSW Labor Internal Appeals Tribunal (IAT) instructed the Party Office to delay announcing the result of the public selection ballot for Central Coast Council. “The IAT received a number of challenges to the eligibility of voters for the pre-selection. “The result of the ballot will be provided to party members as soon as the Review Tribunal has met to consider the challenges. “NSW Labor is dedicated to ensuring that Labor candidates for Central Coast Council are out campaigning as soon as possible,” the statement said. Via text message, Ms Neal, who had stood for preselection at the Woy Woy CWA Hall on Sunday, July 23, made a statement at 11.45am on July
24. “I have been in hospital since 6:00am,” she said. “I have not seen anything but the media has rung. “The ALP Tribunal proceeded with a hearing in my absence when I had a medical certificate, so with only one side of the story being told, what would you expect? “The decision is subject to appeal to the review tribunal and I hope that they will deal with the claims fairly,” she said. Labor Party preselection for the Gosford West and Gosford East Wards took place at Woy Woy, whereas the party ballot for the other three wards was held at Ourimbah. It is understood the preselection votes were counted in the Wyong, The Entrance and Budgewoi Wards. Lead candidates were Lisa Matthews in The Entrance, Doug Vincent in Budgewoi and newcomer Kyle MacGregor in the Wyong Ward. Participants in the Gosford West and Gosford East ward preselection ballots were told ballot boxes would be sealed and taken to Sydney for counting. One former senior Labor official who took part in the ballot said he believed the sealing and removal of ballot boxes was unprecedented in the party’s history.
He said he believed the treatment of party members in the two wards had been “disgusting” and that he believed there was no legitimate reason votes could not have been counted at Woy Woy as “all disputes had been settled the night before”. The former party official said he believed the expulsion of Belinda Neal and delay of vote counting was the continuation of an ongoing power struggle between the “Deborah O’Neill camp and the Belinda Neal and John Della Bosca camp that has been going on for years”. Ms Neal had told Coast Community News on Thursday, July 22, that she was standing for preselection in West Gosford Ward. She was in hospital on Saturday with an illness, attended the preselection ballot at Woy Woy on Sunday, and then returned to hospital on the Monday morning. Her husband, former NSW parliamentarian, Mr John Della Bosca, attended the preselection ballot using a walking frame, as it is understood he had a hip surgery in the days prior to the vote. Coast Community News has requested interviews with Ms Murnain but she has been “unavailable”. Senator Deborah O’Neill, who is junior vice president of NSW Labor, would not comment on internal party matters. Source: Media statement, Jul 24 David Dobson, NSW Labor Media statement, Jul 24 Belinda Neal, Woy Woy Bay Jackie Pearson, journalist
More Election Pages 8 to 11
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