26 FEBRUARY 2021
ISSUE 281
News
Jemma lets it go
Aged care nurses and supporters protested in Gosford on February 24 to highlight the need for staffing ratios... See page 5
Out&About
Macmasters Beach artist and author, Nina Angelo, is currently showcasing her artwork series, Show & Tell, at Like Minds café at Avoca Beach. See page 19
The Coast’s own Jemma Rix is starring as Elsa in the hit musical Frozen at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre.
Education
See page 17
Online petition for judicial inquiry into Council reaches target An e-petition calling for a judicial inquiry into Central Coast Council has reached its target of 20,000 signatures and will now be debated in State Parliament. At 2pm on February 25, the number of signatures had reached 21,141, a day short of the petition’s February 26 deadline. Organised by two residents, Susan Greene and Marianne Hamilton, the petition asks the State Government to hold a judicial inquiry into the financial crisis facing Council, which has seen it argue it needs a rate rise of 15 per cent on top of rate harmonisation. It needed to attract 20,000 signatures by February 26 to ensure it is debated in Parliament and in less than three weeks achieved its target.
Petition organisers Susan Greene and Marianne Hamilton Photo: Merilyn Vale
The petition calls for an inquiry into how the financial crisis happened, who is responsible and what reforms are needed to the Local Government Act to protect the community in the future. It also asks what impact the amalgamation had on the problems and if councillors and senior staff were negligent in their duty to properly manage
the Council and whether they have been dealt with appropriately. The petition also requests the Minister for Local Government delay any application by the Council to IPART for a Special Rate Variation and any decision on the sale of Council assets until residents can consider the findings of the judicial inquiry and its recommendations.
Greene said she and Hamilton were thrilled at the community’s response. “It’s such an important thing to find out what’s been going on with our Council,” she said. “The message from the Administrator that we are so called shareholders and we are responsible for the debt of this Council - I think that really
shocked people. “And if that’s the case maybe Council shouldn’t be allowed to have debt.” Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, congratulated the women for their work in putting the petition together. “I think the Central Coast community has spoken very clearly about what they not happy with in regard to Council,” he said. “I welcome this petition. “I met with Susan and Marianne and encouraged them to do it; I think it’s a great opportunity to show what the Central Coast feels about this.” You can still add your name to, the petition at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ la/Pages/epetitions-list.aspx
To encourage teamwork and cohesion, Year 9 Advisor at Central Coast Sports College, Richard Moolman, took his students to complete the Raw Challenge to see how they went up against mud, obstacles and slides.
Terry Collins
See page 39
See page 35
Sport
Central Coast Crusaders’ small forward, Matthew Kenyon, has played a key role in the Australian Boomers win over New Zealand in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier.
Puzzles page 22
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