Voice of the Peninsula 27 JANUARY 2022
ISSUE 044
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
Resident receives Council bill - from 2006
News
A group of local environmental activists met with Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, in Umina last week... See page 3
Out & About
A group of young people, who are living with low vision or blindness, and their families participated in a ‘What’s SUP’ beach day aimed at developing confidence and autonomy. See page 13
Business
When a Blackwall resident received a letter supposedly from Central Coast Council for $3093.54 for an overdue bill dated from 2015, he thought it was a scam. See page 3
Two outstanding Peninsula residents recognised
The Peninsula Business Chamber has questioned why central Coast Council has not flown the Australian flag along West St Umina in the leadup to Australia Day. See page 21
Two outstanding locals have received Australia Day honours in Central Coast Council’s 2022 Australia Day Awards for their dedication to community. Debbie Surnatha and Mitchell Gordon were recognised for their work in the environmental and business sectors. As a founding member of Grow Urban Shade Trees (GUST) Sunartha received the Environmental Award for her
contribution to the local environment. As part of GUST, the Peninsula resident has helped plant over 600 street trees in Umina, Ettalong and Woy Woy, and helped recently fund and project manage a park upgrade in Australia Ave, Umina, with the park now a native garden designed to support local wildlife and bees. “It warms my heart to know that we have so much support from the community,” Sunartha said.
“This award is further appreciation of the lead that we are taking in re-greening the Peninsula, providing shade, bird habitat and more liveable, cooler suburbs. “Having moved to Umina Beach from the leafy Hornsby Shire eight years ago, it has been my aim to plant trees to try and duplicate the shady streets of the northern suburbs. “My long-time partner Gary Machin and I began planting verge trees at a time when the Gosford Council gave these
away for free on request. “With that policy no longer in place, a few like-minded women got together to form [GUST]. “Another project of mine, with approval from council, was the formation of the South St Dunecare group which can boast a flourishing of native vegetation which now covers a large area of what was once a bare dune. “It gives me great joy to have the energy and capacity to be
able to make a lasting contribution to our local Peninsula environment. “All of these projects could not have been achieved without my right hand man, Gary, our GUST team of Jen Wilder, Michael Wilder, Mel Chandler, Jan Deighton and Lesley Harvey and a loyal band of volunteers who answer my call for help and have continued to plant, weed and water over many years.” See page 4
Sport
A group of residents have teamed up to create a beach safety brochure for swimmers at Pearl Beach... See page 32
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.
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