15 MAY 2020
ISSUE 242
YOUR REAL INDEPENDENT WEEKLY LOCAL NEWS
Coast re-opens ... slowly
On The Beat
A 10-year-old boy is recovering in hospital after he was hit by a mini-bus whilst riding his bike in Gosford. See pages 10
Editorial
As Australia commences its return to normality, the internet is already abuzz with questions about the return of employees to their workplaces.
The Bon staff in Gosford are happy to be coming back at work.
See page 12
Out&About
Their cafe will open for limited services Friday and their restaurant from Monday
NSW Government to relax social restrictions from May 15 see page 6
Small parks and playgrounds at risk Five years after thousands of residents stood up against Gosford Council's planned sell-off of 25 local reserves and playgrounds, community group Save Central Coast Reserves is afraid many of the region’s play spaces are once again at risk. Group founder Sue Chidgey said an item in Central Coast Council’s Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), now on public exhibition, had raised a red flag with community members. The item calls for an audit to review the use of small parks and engagement with the community in consultation on how they might be better used. “The way communities use open space is changing,” the draft plan says. “Multi-use destinations that
East Gosford Reserve was one of those saved in 2015
cater to a broader spectrum of the community are increasingly popular. “Many small, single-use destinations are now ageing and underutilised in some areas. “Opportunities to consolidate our open space assets should be considered in areas where
other opportunities for parkland exist.” Chidgey says if the draft goes through, specific parks could be targeted. “I just want to nip that in the bud, so we don’t have a repeat of what we went through to save those 25 parks in 2015,” she said.
“My worry is that they’re considering taking away the suburban small-pocket parks to replace them with large regional playgrounds. “I believe there should be adequate green spaces and playgrounds within each suburb and a mum should be able to put her child in a stroller
and walk to a green space.” Chidgey said she had written to all councillors outlining her concerns. “There’s high-rise and medium density in so many suburbs now we just have to protect and maintain what we’ve got,” she said. “In a lot of cases we need to improve the green spaces we have. “When we won that campaign in 2015, we managed to have one reserve renamed and it now has tables and benches and $150,000 was spent on a new park at Bensville. “I want residents to be aware that they need to cherish what they’ve got so they don’t lose it. “Community assets are so important and once we lose them we’re not going to get them back.” Continued P8
In response to COVID-19, the NSW Government is supporting Creative Kids providers pivot from face-toface classes to online learning. See page 13
Business
The NRMA is rallying around the community in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, including helping Meals on Wheels to deliver healthy food to elderly and disabled residents. See page 22
Puzzles page 19
Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au
