Voice of the Peninsula 17 FEBRUARY 2022
ISSUE 047
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
News
Three podium places for Umina youth in ‘best of the best’ series
There may be a glimmer of light for local commuters who are wondering about the location of a new commuter carpark at Woy Woy Station, with fences constructed at an existing Transport for NSWowned carpark on Railway St. See page 5
Out & About
Umina Surf Life Saving Club’s youth squad achieved high placings in the Shaw and Partner’s Summer of Surf Series against the best of the best in Queensland last week.
After almost nine months of being in the dark due to COVID-19 restrictions, the lights will go back on at Peninsula Theatre when the hilarious comedy Spirit Level opens. See page 13
Business
See page 32 From left, Umina SLSC youth squad members Cashar Darwin, Ronnie Jordan, Hannah Stevenson, Lucy Marshall, Shannon Eckstein (Nutrigrain Ironman), Davara Marshall, Olivia Edwards and Coach Trevor Ge
“Sell more assets instead” – Chamber says NO to 10-year rate hike The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called on Central Coast Council to “think laterally” and sell off unproductive land assets to help pay down Council’s debt. The local Chamber has confirmed it will oppose the extension to Council’s Special Rate Variation which is currently being sought through IPART. “The Chamber will be making written submissions to the Independent Pricing &
Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) opposing Council’s request to extend the special rate increase that effectively subjects ratepayers in the south of the Central Coast LGA to rate hikes for 10 years,” Chamber President, Matthew Wales, said. “This is particularly unacceptable when we are told by the Council that the rate hike is necessary to simply maintain existing services and that no new works or infrastructure will be undertaken in the foreseeable future.
“Effectively, ratepayers in the south will be slugged an extra 30 per cent to 40 per cent over the next 10 years but get absolutely nothing new for it. “It is the Chamber’s view that this is an over-simplistic solution to the Council’s $565M debt problem as opposed to a more responsible approach to paying down its debt obligations.” IPART noted in a February 15 statement that Council’s application to increase rates was a “large increase”.
“Last year we received over 6,000 community submissions on special variation applications. “We also expect a high level of community engagement this year,” IPART Tribunal Chair, Carmel Donnelly, said. Council has applied for a 15.55 per cent single-year increase starting in 2024-25 which will be retained temporarily in the rate base for seven years until 2030-31. Council said, if approved, this application to IPART would
The Pearl Beach Café and Grocery Store has recently changed hands with boutique real estate agency, Coast Realty, now coming onboard in a bid to help support the local economy. See page 21
extend the previous temporary special variation and repay the outstanding balance of $150M in emergency loans obtained to resolve the financial crisis. The local Chamber has said that strategy was not good enough. “This comes at a time when suburbs like those on the Peninsula are falling into neglect with our local road network lacking kerb and gutter, stormwater drainage and footpaths,” Wales said. Continued page 4
Sport
A former Killcare sprint and beach relay legend has been instrumental in setting up a surf life saving beach education program in Dubai. 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.
coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net