5 NOVEMBER 2021
ISSUE 317
New RYSS Centre officially opens
News
Giant Barred Frogs, Manning River Helmeted Turtles and Stuttering Frogs will be the first tenants at Conservation Ark, a new conservation and recovery facility for endangered wildlife. See page 3
Out&About
Fifteen Central Coast sculptors will exhibit in the outdoor art exhibition, Sculptures in the Garden, opening on November 6 in Mudgee. See page 19
Business Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) has officially opened its new centre in Gosford after a 12-month delay. See page 33
After savage job cuts, Council to create new jobs Months after finalising redundancy packages for hundreds of workers, Central Coast Council is planning to increase its work force in the water, sewer and drainage department by at least 72 full time equivalent positions. The total increase in the labour expenditure is estimated to be $32.7M over four years. This includes recurring allowances and on costs, Council said in its submission
to IPART for a 34 per cent price rise in water and sewer charges. The staff increases were not mentioned at the recent public hearing into the proposed price increase nor in the Council’s main IPART submission document. They were in one of 10 technical papers submitted along with the overview and summary of the proposal (still available on IPART’s website). According to Table 31 in Technical Paper 5 the additional employee costs are shown as
$7M for 2022-23, $9.7M for 2023-24 and around $10M for each of the next three financial years. Below the table, the Paper said: “Water and Sewer’s additional head count is on average 65 additional FTEs per annum from 2022-2026. This increase is expected to decrease by 2028 in alignment with resources transitioning to retirement (8-10%) from 2028. These resources will not be replaced. The largest portion of FTE’s age currently sits within the 56-65 demographic.”
CCN has asked Council to confirm that the increase in new full-time positions is not around 65 per year between 2022 and 2027 which is implied in the above statement. We have also asked for confirmation of the number of positions lost in water, sewer and drainage as a consequence of the recent redundancy program. We had not received a response at the time of going to press. The technical paper did note that the FTE number was
expected to decrease by 2028 in alignment with resources transitioning to retirement”. A resident who read the entire IPART proposal, and wishes to remain anonymous, pointed out the relevant information to CCN. They want to know why Council is proposing to increase staff in water and sewer by about 72 when 58 employees in that department recently took voluntary redundancy. Continued page 4
Coast Shelter has received goods and services valued at over $100,000 from the TOGA Group of businesses and Grace Group. See page 25
Sport
The Central Coast is mourning the loss of perhaps its most famous son following the death on October 30 of cricketing great, Alan Davidson, at the age of 92. See page 40
Puzzles page 22
It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.
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