9 SEPTEMBER 2021
ISSUE 026
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
News
Fast forward to normal
Central Coast Council’s water and sewerage business is expecting a loss of $11M this financial year. See page 5
Out&About
The third stage of a $1.4M project to upgrade Bouddi Coastal Walk has been completed and the new section is now open for locals to explore. See page 13
Health
Some of the Peninsula’s best known and loved business personalities have made a video together encouraging locals to get vaccinated so the community can get back to doing everything it loves sooner. See page 21 Ricky Zappavigna from Zapps in Booker Bay
Young workers feel left out Less than 50 per cent of Peninsula residents have received both doses of their COVID vaccine as we approach Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s September 13 promise of more freedoms for the fully vaccinated. The Premier announced those fully vaccinated would be able to participate in outdoor gatherings of up to five people who live in the same LGA from September 13. Approximately 70 per cent of Peninsula residents have received their first dose of vaccine but it appears to be young people who are continuing to miss out.
Young people are bearing the brunt of the Delta outbreak but they are being vaccinated at half the rate of the rest of the population according to NSW Health. It’s an issue that Taine Tepua, a local hospitality worker and university student, is facing. Taine said, as a worker at McDonalds Umina, he is concerned about being on the front line and exposed to the virus without a vaccine. “There has been a constant struggle to get a vaccine as I’m being told by some people, I am eligible, yet when I call nearby facilities, they say to wait a few weeks,” he said.
“There is a lot of confusion on ‘who’ different places are offering vaccines to. “A lot of my friends have faced these struggles as well – one of them even said that they had been put on hold five time and each time they were told to call back later. “I am concerned about being on the front line – we are facing adults who could possibly be carrying COVID-19 and aren’t actually being protected ourselves. “Any adult with COVID-19 could unknowingly risk all of our workers and that adult could have the vaccine and be fine, but for us workers, we
don’t have that protection. “I have been given an option from Erina to get the vaccine possibly within the month – the clinic told me to call them back in two weeks to see if there is any availability. “There is a lot of confusion for people who are aged 15+ working in hospitality and accessing vaccines. “I don’t think it helps that we had been considered as a part of Greater Sydney, however where almost everyone can get vaccinated in Sydney, it’s very hard for us on the Coast to get vaccinated due to lower supply.” The lack of Pfizer supply on
the Coast is also affecting local high school students as they face further uncertainty about being able to return to school with face-to-face learning expected to resume from November 8. Currently, students are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine if they are above 12 years old, and in a listed priority group according to NSW Health guidelines or are 16 years and older. However there have been widespread reports from local parents that these appointments have been near impossible to secure. Continued page 4
Today, Thursday, September 9, is R U Ok? Day – a day for the community to check in with friends and family. See page 25
Sport
Dylan Littlehales from Wamberal has just missed out on achieving an Olympic medal by finishing fourth place in the final of the Men’s Kayak Single 200m - KL3. See page 31
Puzzles page 18
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.