24 JULY 2020
ISSUE 252
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
Editorial
Man vs Ocean
Since JobKeeper was announced on the 30th March it has provided a massive economic and psychological boost to the nation. See page 16
Out&About
The Australia Reptile Park gave visitors a front-row seat to the milking process of five of Australia’s most venomous snakes. See page 19
Business
Photo: Klayte McSweeny, Photoslog
Residents from 18 beachfront homes at Wamberal remain locked out of their properties as the State Government and Central Coast Council install emergency measures to prevent even more erosion after heavy seas battered the coastline last week. State-appointed Local Recovery Coordinator, Lee Shearer, has been assigned the task of working with the community on recovery. See our full coverage on pages 4-6
JobKeeper extension brings happiness to the arts and hospitality sectors For many Central Coast businesses, an extension of the JobKeeper program announced this week by the Federal Government could prove to be the difference between staying afloat and going
under. The payment is set to continue at its current level until September 27, after which it will be extended for a further six months at a reduced rate. From September 28 until
January 3, 2021, it will drop to $1,200 per fortnight and $750 per fortnight for employees who worked less than 20 hours a week in the month of February preCOVID-19. Continued page 25
What might self-driving cars do for people with a disability in places like the Central Coast? See page 29
Council Watch
When Council discussed the proposal for a new regional library at its July 13 meeting, Cr Bruce McLachlan asked whether the community really wanted a new $30M library. See page 31
Puzzles page 23
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