28 MAY 2021
ISSUE 294
15,000 people attend Coast Air Show
News
An endangered green sea turtle rescued by a diver from (AASRCC) has been released back into the ocean after a month of rehab. See page 10
Business
The $172M Northside Private Hospital at West Gosford has been approved by the State Government. See page 25
Education The air show held at Central Coast Airport last weekend was a resounding success, attracting an estimated 15,000 people from near and far over the two days of May 22 and 23. “It was a great economic boost for the region, the weather was perfect for both pilots and the spectators, everything flowed smoothly
and all in all it was an enormous success,”said John Codrington, Chairman of Your Central Coast Airport Association. “We haven’t got the economic figures in yet but there were many local businesses benefitting from the air show, both the vendors on site and the money flowing around the businesses off-site such as those around the parking areas
at train stations and other locations. “The shuttle buses from the off-site parking areas worked pretty much perfectly and feedback on social media was saying how well organised the event was. “We were very thankful to local landholders who allowed us to use their property for spectator car parking, so we
need to give a shout out to them as well,” Codrington said. He said community support was exceptionally good. “It certainly demonstrates that we have the capacity to put these shows on for the benefit of the Central Coast and that the airport is truly a community infrastructure. “As a way of giving back to the Central Coast, we would
Photo: Allan Cooper
like see this type of event to be held on a regular basis,” Codrington said. One of the major events at the show was the RAAF display, the formation displays of the Air Force Roulettes and it was the first time an F-35A fighter jet had been on display in an air show like this one. See page 4
Surf Life Saving NSW’s Australian UAV Service (AUAVS) has partnered with She Maps and launched a drone program for school students in Years 5 to 9. See page 34
Council moves to recover unpaid rates Central Coast Council has moved to recover more than $1.7 million in unpaid rates and charges. Council has exhausted all other avenues to recover these rates available under the Local Government Act and will now move to sell 123 properties by public auction. Council Administrator Rik Hart said the sales were the option of last resort. “We understand that some members of our community are
suffering from genuine hardship, and for those behind on rates in that circumstance our teams have worked with them to plan repayments,” Mr Hart said. “However, more than half of the properties targeted in this sale have outstanding rates for more than five years, and all other attempts for Council to address this has failed. “It also includes 50 vacant properties that are more than one year in arrears and have not provided an application for
genuine hardship or entered into an arrangement that meets Council guidelines for payment. “In such a dire financial situation, we can no longer expect other ratepayers to subsidise these unpaid properties.” Council said it would not proceed with the sale of any land owned by pensioners but it noted that pensioner land meeting the criteria for sale for rates equal the value of $2,249,609. Council said collections for
unpaid rates follow two processes: Internal collections for unpaid rates start at 15 days in arrears for amounts over $10. Unpaid rates balances that exceed $2,000, inclusive of both water and rates charges, are outsourced to a legal services provider for recovery at two or more quarters in arrears (about 6-7 months overdue). There are several strategies that are used by the legal service provider to settle
arrears with rate payers with starts with a contact letter and moves on to a notice of legal action and many steps later it may end with a recommendation for sale. Council requires that arrangements to pay must not exceed nine months, inclusive of new bills, unless supported by an application for genuine hardship. Source Press Release; Central Coast Council Meeting Highlights Email May 25.
Sport
In the first home game for the Sydney Ice Dogs at their new home venue, the Erina Ice Arena, the team has recorded its first win. See page 37
Puzzles page 22
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