27 MAY 2022
ISSUE 343
News
Reid takes Robertson in Labor sweep of the Coast
The state’s first trial of a hydrogen-powered bus will begin on the Central Coast later this year, as the NSW Government transitions its fleet to zero emission technology. See page 2
Out&About
The Central Coast is set to benefit from almost $400,000 in funding granted to five charities and community groups by Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation. See page 13
The seat of Robertson has its first Labor MP in almost a decade, after Gordon Reid achieved a 7 per cent swing with preferences at the May 21 election to oust incumbent Liberal Member Lucy Wicks, who had held the seat since 2013.
Business
See page 8 Gordon Reid celebrates winning the seat of Robertson. Insert: Reid took to the street Sunday morning to thank his supporters
It’s official: water rate rise confirmed Water rates will rise on the Central Coast from July 1 by 17 per cent, with further rises of 6 per cent in 2023, 8 per cent in 2024 and 1 per cent in 2025 before inflation. The final decision of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) holds true to the rise suggested in its draft report, released in
March, but with a reallocation of percentage rises over the four-year period to allow for a slightly reduced initial increase. The 17 per cent rise in the first year is 2 per cent lower than the 19 per cent outlined in the draft report, with the subsequent rises replacing the former suggestion of 4 per cent rises in each of the succeeding three years. IPART chair, Carmel Donnelly,
said the price path would allow Central Coast Council to recoup the same amount of money over the four-year-period as if the tribunal had granted an immediate increase of 28 per cent from this year. Council originally applied for a 37 per cent (figure adjusted for inflation) rise from July 1 this year. Donnelly said a typical household bill would rise $183
in the first year (as opposed to $200 in the draft report), followed by $80, $106 and $9 in the subsequent years. The tribunal found an increase was necessary for Council to maintain the water-related infrastructure, with customers reporting persistent problems in parts of the water supply system. “The increases should enable Central Coast Water to improve
the quality of services its customers receive,” Donnelly said. “In response to the community’s concerns about affordability, we adjusted the price path (in the final decision) to slightly ease bill impacts in the first year of the determination period. Continued page 10
Draft Council plans go on exhibition - page 25
Kerry-Anne Blanket, director of the KAB Gallery at Terrigal, is the first on the Central Coast to trial NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). See page 21
Sport
Mariners rising star, Garang Kuol, stole the limelight from a long list of global soccer royalty on Wednesday night (May 25) playing for the A-League All-Stars against Barcelona FC. See page 32
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