21 FEBRUARY 2020
ISSUE 230
YOUR REAL INDEPENDENT WEEKLY LOCAL NEWS
News
Portaloos bring relief Davistown Progress Association will approach Central Coast Council to provide a “big fix” to ongoing sewerage problems, after the township’s sewer service experienced major flooding following the storm event on February 7-9. Association President, Jenny McCulla, said that service to more than 400 homes was affected, as stormwater runoff flooded the system and Portaloos had to be rushed in. “Major problems started to become apparent on February 10 and 11, and it became a serious health issue,” McCulla said. “I called Council and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, on the morning of February 12, and I have to say the response was very quick. “Council already had lots of trucks in the area pumping and vacuuming,and they responded immediately to our request for Portaloos for the areas worst affected. “By February 13, there were lots of trucks at work in the area, and the Portaloos remained throughout the following weekend.” By the afternoon of February 15, 70 percent of the affected homes had had their sewer service restored, with the final mop up concluding early the following week. A small number of Portaloos
Bill Konigsmark said he and his wife had endured an eight-day nightmare
were left in place at various locations in the township, with more severe weather conditions predicted. Residents, Bill and Dianne Konigsmark, said that they had endured “an eight-day nightmare”.
Recently returned from a stay in hospital, Bill Konigsmark said Council had had to pump out his home system four or five times over the eight days, with extended periods when the couple were left high and dry.
“There was one period of four days straight when we couldn’t use the toilet or even take a shower,” he said. “We had to make several dashes to the public facilities at Pirate Ship Park in Pine Ave.
“One of these was very late at night, when my wife and I had to walk with torches to the park. “It was a dangerous time of night to be out walking and I ended up covered in mosquito bites.” Konigsmark said this was the second time he and his wife had experienced sewerage problems in the two years they have lived at Davistown. “You don’t expect this sort of conditions in 2020,” he said. Portaloos have now been left outside the couple’s home, but they are hopeful that they will not have to use them. Dianne Konigsmark said she was angry that her husband, still weak from his stay in hospital, had had to make the walk to the park to use facilities after midnight. “Some of the neighbours, who were not as badly affected, offered us the use of their facilities, but you can’t go knocking on doors at midnight,” she said. McCulla said Council staff were “magnificent” in keeping residents up to date and answering questions, and there had been a letter box drop of brochures from NSW Health. “But we never want a repeat of this,” she said. “We will be calling for a major overhaul and audit of the sewerage system.” Continued page 8
Call for Mayor to resign As the clean-up continues following the devastating storms earlier this month, Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews, is weathering a storm of her own. A motion going before Council at its February 24 meeting calling for her to resign due to an “unprecedented collapse in community confidence in Council”.
The motion will be brought by Councillors Bruce McLachlan and Greg Best, as a community campaign brews on social media to start legal class action against Council to compensate for damage caused to properties during the flooding of Tuggerah lakes which started on February 8.
Power has finally been restored to most suburbs on the Central Coast following the huge storm event. See page 3
Business
After 10 years at the helm, Take 3 co-founder Tim Silverwood will step down as the group’s Chief Executive Officer. See page 15
Editorial
As a conservative, I have enormous faith in the power of markets. They unleash innovation, propel investment, spur jobs and foster prosperity. See page 14 Woy Woy Philosophy Society
The Confessions of St Augustine of Hippo
Its Chromefest weekend and I’ve never seen Robbo so busy. If he’s buffed the bumper bar on his Hilux once, he’s buffed it a thousand times. See page 33
Continued page 6
Puzzles page 26
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