10 DECEMBER 2021
ISSUE 322
News
Community and visitors invited to reIMAGINE Gosford
Rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Central Coast nurses and midwives as they gathered outside Gosford Hospital on December 8 to protest unreasonable workloads... See page 3
Out&About
Central Coast Council has a huge two months of events and activities planned to help bring Town Centres back to life with a new reIMAGINE Festival aimed to support local businesses and creatives.
Comedian Bob Downe will bring his high rolling cabaret Viva Bob Vegas! to the Laycock St Community Theatre in January. See page 17
Business
See page 5 Parkhouse at Kibble Park will be hosting a range of interactive art exhibitions with locally made products available for purchase
Community invited to give feedback on latest blueprint for the region The State Government has revisited its Regional Plan for the Central Coast and announced an updated vision for the next 20 years, focussing on what it is calling a “15-minute region”. The premise is to concentrate on taking a holistic approach to neighbourhoods and ensure that planning,job,infrastructure and housing decisions are coordinated with the aim of providing everything residents need withing a 15-minute walk, cycle or drive from their home. Building on the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036, which was
released in 2016, the government has widened the net and extended its vision in the Draft Central Coast Regional Plan 2041, largely influenced by changes in the way people work and live in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, launched the revised plan at Gosford waterfront on December 6, together with Business NSW Central Coast Regional, Director, Paula martin, and Chair of the Central Coast Chapter of Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), Caine King. The government is encouraging community
feedback on the revised draft plan before March 4 next year. “This is our blueprint to ensure the Central Coast prospers and the community’s feedback is critical to make sure we get it right,” Crouch said at the launch. “Tourism will play a major role in helping our region recover from the pandemic, which is why we proposed strategies to keep public transport operating later and allow bars and galleries to open longer in our tourist hotspots. “Housing affordability is a key priority and the Plan would set up a group of housing experts and service providers to track and supply the land, housing
and infrastructure needed for communities to thrive.” King said the Central Coast is unique in having one Regional Plan, one Local Government Authority and one Local Aboriginal Land Council. “We must capitalise on this opportunity to act in a cooperative manner to deliver the jobs and housing needed on the Central Coast,” he said. “Our members are up to the challenge of building smarter and more sustainable and compact communities, where daily activities are contained within a 15-minute walk or ride. “We need this strategic
planning developed for both future green field and brown field developments, to provide direction and confidence for the development industry.” King said the plan sets achievable targets for infrastructure and affordable housing which was really important. It also outlines the work that needs to be done to unlock land and make it developer ready, he said. Martin said the Central Coast is blessed with natural endowments, a talented workforce and an enviable lifestyle. Continued page 6
Workers on the Central Coast stand to benefit from the powering up of renewable energy projects, with registrations of interest now open... See page 25
Sport
A 1-0 loss and frustration met the Central Coast Mariners at Penrith Stadium on Sunday, December 5, against their undominant hosts, Macarthur FC. See page 38
Puzzles page 22
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