Issue 110 February 14, 2017
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Confidential airport Berejiklian refuses to feasibility study confirm September recommended sale council election of the land N
ew South Wales Premier, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, during her visit to the region for a Community Cabinet meeting, was not prepared to confirm that the Central Coast would have a local election in September.
Mr Laurie Eyes attended the Wyong chamber to access the airport feasibility study
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he former Wyong Council and the current Central Coast Council have continued to spend rate payer money on the expansion of the airport at Warnervale when a 2013 feasibility study recommended the sale of the land.
The study, which has been kept confidential by both Wyong and Central Coast Councils since 2013, concluded that the sale of the airport land at Warnervale could fetch around $7.7 million, depending on market conditions. It also argued that the sale could result in an
ongoing revenue stream back to Council through land rates. The 2013 feasibility study concluded that an upgrade of the Warnervale airport was not viable, as the costs were considered “prohibitive” and significant effort would be required by Council to attract aviation-related businesses to the site. Since abandoning its plans to develop an airport at Kiar Ridge, the Wyong Council and the Central Coast Council, have pursued an expansion of the airport into a general aviation hub. Since 2013, the former and current Council have spent at least $7
million at Warnervale airport, including on a runway upgrade without Ministerial permission, as is required by specific legislation, and on land acquisitions. At the same time, it has kept confidential the feasibility study which clearly showed the best course of action available to the Council was to sell the airport land and turn it into rateable industrial lots. Those lots would also generate employment as per the intent of its classification as a State Significant Site and the objectives of creating the Wyong Employment Zone (WEZ). Continued P3
Wyong Regional Chronicle asked Ms Berejiklian to confirm that the first election for the Central Coast Council would occur in September. The Premier said: “We know, the feedback I have been getting is, that people are so happy with the current arrangements up here on the Coast. “The merger has gone extremely well, that is the feedback I have been getting, not just from the local members, but also from the community, and people want to ensure that continues,” she said. When asked if she would rule out an extension of the current Administration period for the Central Coast Council, Ms Berejiklian said: “No, I’m not ruling anything in or out. “All that I am saying is the feedback we
Premier Gladys Berejiklian shakes hands with the Central Coast Photo: Noel Fisher
have had is that it is an extremely positive experience and we are seeing a difference on the ground. “We are seeing less time taken to approve developments. “You’ve got to remember this is about the local community, it is not about how governments work, and what I have seen is really positive.” Ms Berejiklian has been under pressure to reconsider the
Government’s position on Council mergers since taking over as NSW Premier from Mr Mike Baird. For example, the State Member for Wyong, Mr David Harris, who is also Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, has called for a plebiscite to give the Central Coast community the opportunity to decide whether or not it retains the two old councils or continues with a single Central Coast Council.
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