19 NOVEMBER 2021
ISSUE 319
News
Copa’s colourful Remembrance Day
The State Government will pay for the clearing of a privately-owned section of the Springfield Wetland, which has been a point of community contention for years. See page 10
Out&About
At 11am on November 11, the Copacabana community paused for a minute’s silence to mark 76 years since the guns fell silent at the end of WW11 and 103 years since the end of WW1.
The Federal Government’s promise of more charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) cannot come soon enough... See page 18
See page 5
Business
Minister stands by ‘open and transparent’ response to Council crisis Several submissions to the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council have asked why Local Government Minister, Shelley Hancock, never delivered on the assistance she promised the day the Council realised it faced immediate and serious liquidity issues in October 2020. But the Office of Local Government (OLG) told Coast News this week that it stands by its “swift and decisive action in response to the crisis”. On October 6, 2020, Minister Hancock instructed the OLG to appoint an independent financial expert and a Human Resources (HR) adviser to ascertain Council’s true financial position and to identify
options to address the issues as quickly as possible. The two experts never arrived. On October 12, the Councillors agreed to ask the Minister for permission to use restricted funds to maintain Council’s cash flow. It reckoned it needed up to $60M to cover costs while the 100-day recovery plan did its work. Council had more than $360M in restricted funds that were invested but only the Minister could approve spending it for unrestricted purposes. The Councillors also asked the Minister for confirmation on the timing and scope for the arrival of the financial and HR experts. Three Liberal councillors –
Jilly Pilon, Troy Marquart, and Rebecca Gale – and two independents – Greg Best and Bruce McLachlan – voted against these decisions. Their own notice of motion later in the meeting, which eventually was also adopted, asked for the OLG, the Audit Office and the Minister to step in and assist Council. Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, issued a press release on October 14 saying the State Government would not bail out the Council. “I have spoken extensively with the Minister for Local Government and the Government will not be strongarmed into taking responsibility for Central Coast Council’s failings – there will be no state
funding or legislative exemptions,” he said. He said the OLG had written to Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee’s (ARIC’s) independent chairperson, Col Gellatly to request that he play a key role in advising Councillors. On October 19, the Councillors unanimously adopted their 100-day plan. On the same day Mayor, Lisa Matthews, requested an urgent meeting with the Minister. She received no response. On October 20, the Councillors met again and resolved to make “urgent representations” to the Minister seeking permission to use restricted funds to pay staff for the week saying that “should the
Minister’s permission not be forthcoming, 2,157 Council staff may not be paid”. On October 21, the Mayor again requested a meeting with the Minister. Again she got no response. The Minister issued a press release on that day which said the local community was sick of excuses from Council. “In the two weeks since Council’s financial dire straits came to light, all Council has done is write letters, issue media releases and set up a finance committee,” she said. “To use its own staff as bargaining chips is reprehensible from a governing body that has failed to address its own financial failings. Continued page 4
More than 50 business leaders from all over the Central Coast heard about new trade opportunities opening up... See page 25
IN THIS EDITION Edition 001 / November 17
The Best of The Beach, Bush & Bay
VILLAGE MAGAZINE Free in every issue. Our new colour magazine launches today, celebrating the people and places of the region we love.
Puzzles page 22
Crystal, Gems, Jewellery & Craft Festival
19-21 November - Gosford Showground
• Crystals • Gems • Jewellery • Fossils • Rocks • Minerals • Australian Geology • Opals • Beads and Metorites Adults $10.00 - Under 12 free - Friday 12pm-5pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday 9am-4pm
Crystal Festivals Australia - crystalfestivalsaustralia@gmail.com - Phone: 0405 904 881