18 DECEMBER 2020
ISSUE 273
News
A Santa for all
Cycling enthusiasts who need assistance are now able to jump back on a bike, with the Central Coast Bicycle User Group (CCBUG) re-starting its tandem RidesAssist program. See page 10
Out&About
He has a busy week ahead of him, but Santa Claus managed to find time to pop in to the Australian Reptile Park on December 16 to enjoy cuddles with the animals and hand out some Christmas treats.
Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, now known as Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, will hold a series of art workshops over the summer by award-winning Aboriginal artist, Garry Purchase. See page 17
Santa was even brave enough to take on 35 American alligators as he jumped into the lagoon to feed them snacks but the feisty reptiles chased Santa out as soon as he delivered their presents.
Education
Rates could go up by 15 per cent Central Coast residents could be looking at a 15 per cent rate rise next year, with Council Administrator Dick Persson announcing he will apply to the Independent Pricing and Regularity Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation. This supersedes a rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November. Persson shared the news with a group of protesters outside Wyong Chambers before heading into the December 14 meeting and made the official announcement. Harmonisation of the rates between the two former council areas would result in the former Gosford area paying about $7 a week more while the former Wyong areas would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.
Residents protested a mooted 15 per cent rate rise ahead of Council’s December 14 meeting
These are average payments. Persson said further work has been done forecasting the reductions in the levels of service to achieve sustainable long term financial plans and repay the restricted reserves debt. “As a result, it is now apparent
that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain a similar level of service,” he said. The increase, if granted, would be permanent. “In considering a possible rate variation, I have looked at the rate levels for neighbouring
Councils,” Persson said. “It is clear from this information that residential ratepayers on the Central Coast pay less in rates than (in) neighbouring Council (areas) of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock – all of whom currently have special rate
variations applying.” Lake Macquarie pays 34 per cent more; Newcastle 42 per cent more and Cessnock 13 per cent more than the average rates a Central Coast resident pays. Persson said COVID-19 resulted in a loss of income to Council. “I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment,” he said. “I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.” Persson said the money Council spent on infrastructure, although a flawed decision, was well spent. Merilyn Vale
Central Coast Sports College Year Nine student, Paige Stanford, has held a sleep out for her peers to highlight the plight of homelessness. See page 35
Sport
Four young mountain-bikers from Killcare, calling themselves the Four Mulleteers, journeyed to Rydal in NSW to take on the best riders in the state last weekend (December 12-13) in the Rocky Trail Jet Black 24-hour Race. See page 40
Puzzles page 22
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