Issue 132 of Wyong Regional Chronicle by Central Coast Newspapers

Issue 132 December 19, 2017

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Councillors want to consult with the community over the airport C

ouncillor Greg Best, with the support of Clrs Bruce McLachlan and Jilly Pilon, planned to overturn the resolution made by Council at its November meeting, to suspend works and stop further development at the Central Coast Airport.

The three Councillors lodged a Rescission Motion, in an attempt to reverse a motion put by Clr Doug Vincent and adopted by Central Coast Council, at its ordinary meeting in Wyong, on November 27. The Rescission Motion was to be debated at the final ordinary Council meeting for 2017, in the Gosford Chamber on Monday, December 18. Rather than debate a recommendation from staff, that would have resulted in the public exhibition of a draft Central Coast Aviation Hub Concept Plan and supporting documents, Clr Vincent put an alternative motion. As a result, Council resolved to fully support the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act (WAR Act) (1996). The adopted motion also resolved that Council would not approve any development at the Warnervale Airport which is not consistent with the WAR Act (1996), and that Council would not immediately extend or

Three Councillors called for the decision to stop work on the airport expansion to be reversed remove the current 1,196 meeting for approval of fundamental obligation asset servicing some metre runway. the strategy. to consult with its 350,000 coast residents The Council also Council also resolved community and that this and that, it is with understanding, resolved not to alter the to maintain the current corner stone of good this Council now position, length, width, site zoning, unaltered, governance is enshrined that engages formally with thickness or strength and not approve rezoning in regulation.” of the current runway, to SP2. Clr Best’s motion also its community for the and immediately to called upon his fellow first time on this issue The resolution was also suspend all works, intended to permanently Councillors to note that through an independently land acquisitions and protect all of the Porters community consultation conducted, statistically expenditure on the Creek Wetland, owned had been a principle valid, survey seeking and better Central Coast Airport, by Council, and south that was of significant direction except where those of the current runway, community interest and a u n d e r s t a n d i n g community works are required by from development for key contributor in the lead on law, or the suspension biodiversity, emergency up to the 2017 Council expectations.” of those works would drinking water supply and elections. If Clr Best’s motion put Council in breach protection of the water was adopted, prior to Clr Best was on the of existing contractual quality into the Tuggerah former Wyong Council, conducting any such obligations and/or Lakes Estuary. process, which held the majority consultation expose Council to claims all survey questions At the December of its discussions about for damages or variation 18 meeting, Clr Best its future plans for the would be the subject of under any such contract. planned to move that airport in confidential a full Council briefing Council also voted the resolution carried sessions, and did not with selected survey on November 27 to at the previous ordinary release key documents specialists. reallocate the budget for meeting be rescinded. into the public domain. Subject to the the Airport of $6 million to survey Clr Best’s motion called independent Should the rescission employment generating motion have been carried, for the new Central Coast results, Council would projects across the Clrs Best, McLachlan Council to “recognise formally reconsider its former Wyong Shire, with and Pilon then intended that the new Central position with a view to staff to prepare a strategy to move a motion “that Coast Airport is of exhibiting the current and report to Council by Council recognises its regional significance and Central Coast draft airport the February 12, 2018, is now an infrastructure masterplan, or move for

a total cessation of all uncontracted activities/ obligations at the airport. Prior to the meeting, Clr Kyle MacGregor said: “I think the motion at the last meeting was pretty unequivocal and well in line with what has been happening, and I think the original motion should stand and not be rescinded.” He said he believed Council needed to release the 2013 report that “talked about the industrial use of the land” which has never been made public. “I’d say that the best thing to do is to have things out in the open and made public, and if someone is not adhering to that, you have to consider why and what is their motivation,” Clr MacGregor said of the secrecy with which the former Wyong Council had made decisions about the airport. “The airport was one of the first things that people in the area raised with me, well before the election, and people were not in favour of it,” he said. “As I said at the last meeting, the only real support for the airport seems to be coming from inside the [Council] building.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Source: Agenda item 8.1, Dec 18 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Interview, Dec 15 Kyle MacGregor, Central Coast Council Interview, Dec 12 Greg Best, Central Coast Council Jackie Pearson, journalist

INFO

Page 2 December 19, 2017

Video News: Shearer has the power

CHANCE TO WIN! he Wyong R e g i o n a l Chronicle and Crown and Andrews have a Christmas treat to give away consisting of four fun new games: Zoom Ball Hydro, Rubik's Race, Shark Bite & Googly Eyes.

you in water, suitable for ages 8-plus. Rubik’s Race is a fun new puzzle game that combines the strategy of the Rubik's Cube with face-to-face play. Shark Bite is the awesome new game where you need to snag the fish to be the winner, but if the shark jumps, you’ll be his dinner. Googly Eyes has the perfect formula for family fun as it is a twist on the classic

Zoom Ball Hydro provides H2-OH so much summer fun. Hold on to one set of handles, while your friend holds the other, then open your arms quickly to send the Zoom Ball over to your friend. You never know when the balloons will pop, and soak

he NSW Minister for Planning described Central Coast’s Coordinator General, Ms Lee Shearer, as a “head kicker” who will get things done for the Coast.

game where a team member draws an object and the others guess what it is but it includes visionaltering glasses. For your chance to win the Crown and Andrews four-game pack, write your full name, address and daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and mail it to Wyong Regional Chronicle Crown and Andrews Competition, PO Box 1056, Gosford, NSW, 2250 before 5pm on Friday, January 19. The winner of the Wyong Regional Chronicle Celtic Woman competition was Mr Leo Thornton of Gwandalan.

In Central Coast Newspapers’ latest video news, Ms Shearer explains her powers to senior journalist, Jackie Pearson. “The Planning Minister, Anthony Roberts, appointed me in April this year because he formed the view that a real

Central Coast Newspapers is a local, family owned business that publishes and distributes three Central Coast Newspapers every fortnight. All staff are also locals and between them, the three papers cover the entire Central Coast. Each paper focuses specifically on an area bound by postcodes as follows: Peninsula News Post Codes 2256 and 2257; Coast Community News Post Codes

2250, 2251, 2260; and Wyong Regional Chronicle Post Codes 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2263. Coverage takes in the entire ward of Budgewoi and major parts of The Entrance and Wyong Central Coast Council Wards. It also takes in the entire State seat of Wyong, and parts of the State seats of The Entrance and Swansea, and the entire Federal seat of Dobell and part of Shortland All articles are sourced and dated so that readers will know when and where the information came from

focus from State Government needed to be in place for delivery on the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036,” Ms Shearer said. She said the NSW Government’s 20year blueprint for jobs and housing was about “developing

The complete video news interview with Lee Shearer can be seen at coastcommunitynews.com.au/video-news/

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Prize winners may be required to pick up their prize from our Gosford office. Entries may be passed on to prize providers for marketing purposes.

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the region and its beautiful attributes so more people can stay here, live work and play. “I don’t think there is any other Coordinator General in NSW,” she said, but added that she didn’t believe she was appointed because the Coast was seen as a basket case needing special care. “In all honesty, the Central Coast was seen to have suffered at the hands of many, many plans over the time, plans that in some way delivered, but in many ways didn’t,” she said.

Next Edition Deadline: December 19

Publication date: December 23

Wyong Regional Chronicle covers: Alison, Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Colongra, Crangan Bay, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Gorokan, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Kingfisher Shores, Lake Haven, Lake

and where they can perhaps get more information. All articles are edited and given a heading and are often quite different from what was originally received. Contributions are welcome and are preferred in email form, ideally with any relevant photographs attached. Contributions must include the contributor’s name, address and phone numbers. This is not for publication but name and suburb will be published and anonymous contributions will not be included.

Munmorah, Lemon Tree, Little Jilliby, Long Jetty, Magenta, Mannering Park, Mardi, Moonee, Norah Head, Noraville, Ourimbah, Palmdale, Palmgrove, Point Wolstoncroft, Ravensdale, Rocky Point, San Remo, Shelly Beach, Summerland Point, Tacoma, Tacoma South, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Toukley, Tuggerah, Tuggerawong, Tumbi Umbi, Wadalba, Wallarah, Warnervale, Watanobbi, Woongarrah, Wybung, Wyee, Wyee Point, Wyong, Wyong Creek, Wyongah, Yarramalong

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Edition 433

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

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Demolition work constantly delayed by asbestos removal

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Long Jetty Street Festival draws huge crowds T How Central Coast voted

he results are in on the Same Sex Marriage Survey, with 61 per cent of Australians voting to expand the deﬁnition of marriage to include two consenting adults, regardless of gender.

Rubble on the site of the former Gosford Youth Centre on the corner of Baker St and Georgiana Terrace where more asbestos has been found Photo: Justin Stanley

entral Coast’s Deputy Mayor, Clr Chris Holstein, wants Council staff to explain why the demolition of the Waterside development site that spans Gosford’s Baker St, Mann St and Georgiana Terrace has continued to be such a stop-start affair. “We are asking questions now on why, on the old Spurbest site, there is a stop and start on the demolition,”

Clr Holstein said. “I saw a couple of months ago they started to demolish and that has now stopped,” he said. “I have asked the staff why. “Is this stop and go a delaying tactic to put back doing something with the site?” he said. Mr Cain King from CKDS Architectural services said the demolition delays were due to the discovery of asbestos. “It hasn’t stopped, but we have needed to attend to WorkCover and Council

requirements to remove the asbestos, and that has been causing the delays,” Mr King said. “It seems like each step uncovers more asbestos on the site and I would not expect WorkCover or Council to behave with any less than due diligence about its removal,” he said. “The demolition work has uncovered more asbestos in the Froggys site and in the former youth centre building,” he said. Continued P6

Central Coast voters put in a 65.7 per cent yes vote compared to a NSW average of just 57.8 per cent, making both the Central Coast federal electoral divisions of Dobell and Robertson among the more pro-equality electorates in the State. The largest pro vote in the state of NSW was Sydney CBD, where 81 per cent of voters voted ‘yes’, while, in a surprising result, Parramatta

was among the electorates that recorded a 61 per cent ‘no’ vote. All states and territories recorded a majority ‘yes’ response: 133 of the 150 Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority ‘yes’ response, and 17 of the 150 Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority ‘No’ response. Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, indicated that she would respect the vote of her electorate, despite voting ’no’ in the survey. In a twitter question with local SeaFM radio journalist, Emma Horn, Ms Wicks tweeted: “Hi Emma, you’re right, I voted no. “After 10:00am, if the Australian people say yes, I will respect and reﬂect the decision and say yes to facilitate a bill

through Parliament,” Ms Wicks said. “I’d ask others to respect the result too - whatever way Australia decides.” The national participation rate was high, as nearly 8 out of 10 eligible Australians (79.5%) expressed their view. The survey was undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) rather than the Electoral Commission, as it is ofﬁcially a non binding survey rather than a binding plebiscite. The link to the ABS website for the marriage survey is marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au/ results/ Source: Website, Nov 15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Twitter account, Lucy Wicks Dave Abrahams, data analysis

The Human Rainbow at the Terrigal Skillion

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Edition 434

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

65.7 per cent of Central Coast voters put in a yes vote

he highly anticipated Long Jetty Street Festival was back for its third instalment on Sunday, November 19. With the huge amount of support received to date from the local community and beyond, the organisers saw the need to extend the site to cater for extra festival goers, with more than 15,000 people in attendance. There was plenty more in store for families, music and art lovers, foodies, skaters and so on, thanks to the creative network of folk from across the Coast that helped bring the event together. Invited back for the second year in a row by Central Coast Council, #LJSF17 was proud to be the closing event of the The Lakes Festival Program. Music and culture were at the very heart of the Long Jetty Street Festival (LJSF), with the Six String Stage again curated by local music scenesters, Mountain Sounds Presents, and headlined by the Central Coast’s own golden girl, Kasey Chambers. Other popular acts on the main stage

Crowds at the Street Festival Photo: Satria Dyer-Darmawan

were Sydney girl gang, Rackett, and locals, The Sea Gypsies, Ivy and Tiger Town. Local acts who took to the Lake Stage on the day included Little Quirks, Chelsea Berman and The Fields Project. The Art Precinct once again offered a collection

of some of the Coast’s freshest and eclectic art, live art expos and performances, and featured works from established and up and coming local talents. It was curated by, Ms Bonnie Gray, and Mr Grant Molony, both of whom created unique

moveable pieces within the Art Precinct on the day. Central Coast alumni, Mr Brent Smith, ‘Welcome to Long Jetty’ mural co-contributor, completed the wall mural, as part of the official LJSF programme. Other artists included:

Mr Jack Barnes, Ms Grace Agnus Vuetaki, Ms Diem James and Mr Joel Picklum. The Kidz Zone upped the ante this year with Dress-Up Attack’s entertainment booker, Ms Loren McHenry, curating the festivities. The Kidz Zone

kept young Coasties entertained with an array of hands-on activities including interactive instrument activation, courtesy of Bangin’ Buses, a Musical Sensory Tree, A really big lakeside Slide, Blackboard Draw Disco, Sand Art and a hay bale Bowling Alley. New attraction, the “Book Nook”, featured a variety of local guest readers, including Melbourne based author, Mr Andy White, who presented his children’s books, ‘My Daddy’s Got Tattoos’ and ‘My Mummy’s Got Tattoos’. The 2017 Green Zone, sponsored by Long Jetty and Avoca Produce Swaps, saw produce swaps, workshops and information sessions with local backyard BeeKeepers, Worm Farmers, Permaculturists and green-thumbs. Foodies were also well catered to on the day with stalls from Gourmet Gozleme, El Poco Loco, Hunter Ice Cream, Fritz’s Weiners, Diego’s Donuts, Viet Yum, Donnie Eats and an abundance of other stalls and displays to enjoy.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Source: Website, Nov 20 Long Jetty Street Festival Facebook page

Woy Woy police station may get officerin-charge It is unclear whether Woy Woy police station will get its own officer-in-charge and local police assigned to the station under “a new policing model for regional NSW”. Under the changes, the Brisbane Water Local Area Command will be renamed Brisbane Water Police District. Police Districts will have a district superintendent with varying spans of control, while each district will incorporate an officer-in-charge model for each of its police stations, according to an announcement by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys. Deputy Commissioner Worboys said regional and rural communities wanted to know who their local police were and importantly who was in charge of their police station. “We will see a return to the officer-in-charge model throughout

regional police stations overseen by a commander at the district ofﬁce,” he said. “This model allows for a more dynamic and ﬂexible approach to investigations, proactive operations and focussing on important community issues like domestic and family violence and mid-level drug supply. “Police who live and work in regional towns are often heavily involved in the local community. “Their job is enhanced by being part of that community.” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said he would detail local arrangements in each of the new Police Districts as they commence under the new structure. Peninsula News has requested further information about how the new policing model will affect the Peninsula. SOURCE: Media release, 23 Nov 2017 Gary Worboys, NSW Police

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ISSUE 172

Prime Minister inspects almost-complete Taxation Office P The land on the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St, Woy Woy

Nursing home refusal to be reviewed A proposal to build a nursing home in Hillview St, Woy Woy, has been revived, with an application being submitted for the review of the Council’s previous refusal. Central Coast Council refused the $27.8 million application that sought to modify a development approved over a decade ago. Following a Land and Environment Court hearing in 2006, an application was approved in 2007 for a 37-unit seniors living development but the new “amended” proposal was for a 160bed aged care facility. Council refused the latest application on the basis that it was not substantially the same development that had originally been approved and modiﬁed. “The proposal involves radical transformation from that

approved,” an assessment report prepared by Council staff stated. On November 22, three months after the refusal of the application, community members who wrote submissions received notiﬁcation that Council had received an application “to review the determination of refusal” of the proposal. “The applicant has submitted additional information aimed at addressing the previous reasons for refusal,” the letter stated. Submissions can be made on the proposal from Thursday, November 30, until Thursday, December 21. The application for the review was made by planning consultant Doug Sneddon Planning Pty Ltd under Section 82A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which enables the applicant to ask for a review of Council’s “determination of

refusal to the proposed Section 96 Amendment – Building Modiﬁcations to Enable Use as Residential Care Facility and Section 96AB Building Modiﬁcations to Enable Use as Residential Care Facility”. “If your submission is an objection, any grounds of objection must be clearly stated and should not include references of a personal nature,” the letter stated. Although the letter stated the additional information would be available online it could not be accessed by Peninsula News at the time of going to press. As previously reported in Peninsula News, the site of the proposed development includes a conservation zone for a gazetted Ecologically Endangered Community of Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland. SOURCE: Letter, 22 Nov 2017 K Common, Central Coast Council

rime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Gosford on Wednesday, November 29, to inspect progress on the Gosford ATO building and to meet with local business owners who have successfully expanded into the international market through the Coalition Government’s Free Trade Agreement with China. West Gosford bedding manufacturer, Bambi Enterprises, was the Prime Minister’s ﬁrst stop, where he was joined by Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks. Mr Turnbull and Ms Wicks made the trip to West Gosford to meet with the local family behind Bambi Enterprises, the Witneys, tour their factory, and congratulate them on their successful deal with Chinese eCommerce giant, JD.com. Through Bambi, Mr and Ms Peter and Jan Witney supply a range of luxury and natural ﬁbre products to some of Australia’s leading retailers including Snooze, Harvey Norman and 40 Winks. It is understood the Witneys had been in negotiations with JD.com for some time, having hosted a delegation from the Fortune Global 500 online retailer earlier in November. Since that meeting, JD.com has ordered 1,500 quilts from Bambi and the Witneys have set their sights on further expansion into the Asian market. Peter and Jan began Bambi

Above: ofﬁce space on the ﬁrst level of the new ATO building in Gosford. Below: Prime Minister Turnbull and Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, pose for a photograph with an ATO employee

35 years ago, making seat covers in their garage in Tascott, and have since grown from strength to strength, employing over 30 people at their factory to deliver their luxury line of eco products, and are already planning to expand both their premises and their staff numbers. “The Prime Minister has joined me here in Gosford today to talk about the importance of local jobs here on the Central Coast,” Ms Wicks said. “People in my electorate always talk to me about the importance of local jobs, and we know this because one of our core commitments here on the Central Coast was the delivery of 600 new jobs, and today, the Prime Minister and I will meet some of these ﬁrst

new employees. “This is a fantastic example of how the Coalition has delivered on every single one of our commitments to the people here on the Central Coast,” Ms Wicks continued. “But we know that at the end of the day, business creates jobs, and that is why fantastic local businesses like Bambi, and families like Jan and Peter’s, are so important. “The Witneys are an example of how the Coalition’s policies can enable small businesses to grow to create more jobs and new opportunities right here on the Central Coast,” Ms Wicks said. The Prime Minister then joined Ms Wicks at the new Australian Taxation Ofﬁce building in Gosford, to meet

with new employees from the Coalition Government’s promised 600 new jobs to boost the Central Coast region. “Lucy Wicks is a tireless advocate for the Central Coast, and together we are working to create jobs and grow the local economy. “This new ATO facility is a vital part of that plan,” the Prime Minister said. “Our policies are designed to get more people into work in this region, and put more money back into people’s pockets.” Ms Wicks and Mr Turnbull met with the first group of recruits already in the building, with more staff starting in the coming weeks, while the bulk of new jobs will be flowing into Gosford throughout 2018. “We are now seeing a real game changer for Gosford come to life, delivering opportunities for locals to be able to both live and work in the best region in Australia,” Ms Wicks said. “These 600 jobs for the region will have a significant flow-on impact within the community, which is great news for local businesses like the many cafes that are just a short walk away in Gosford CBD. “We’ve also seen a boost of over $7.5 million dollars into the local economy, with most of the construction being done by local contractors,” Ms Wicks concluded. Source: Press conferences, Nov 29 Malcolm Turnbull and Lucy Wicks, West Gosford Dilon Luke, journalist

THIS ISSUE contains 52 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Issue 132 December 19, 2017

27 November 2017

ISSUE 171

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Council aims to change rail facility location to Warnervale despite key contract being let T

ransport for NSW will receive a letter from Central Coast Council requesting that the site of the rail maintenance facility for the Central Coast be changed from Kangy Angy to Warnervale. However, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said work on the facility at Kangy Angy would begin in early 2018 to prepare for the arrival of the state-of-the-art $2.3 billion New Intercity Fleet. “We have awarded a key contract for the detailed design and construction of the new maintenance facility to service trains at Kangy Angy,” Mr MacDonald said. “Infrastructure and property group, John Holland, will now begin pre-construction activities, with major construction expected to start early in 2018.” “The project is expected to generate 300 jobs on the Central Coast, including local apprenticeships, during construction, and 200 jobs ongoing, once in

operation.” In 2014, a Transport NSW consultant report recommended that land adjacent to Link Rd, Warnervale, was the ideal site for the facility instead of the current location at Kangy Angy. Mayor Jane Smith said Council was supportive of a rail maintenance facility for the local jobs that it would create, but wanted to ensure that it was in the right location on the Central Coast. “Warnervale is where the growth on the Coast

Flood prone land under water at Kangy Angy Ms Susan Zaranja said will be, where there is the space and industrial she believed the recentlyCouncillors land to accommodate elected a facility of this size and had been mandated to scale,” Mayor Jane Smith seriously consider the will of the electorate. said. She said to have “The State Government has changed its mind on transparency of operation other key issues for the within Council was both State, and we are asking laudable and essential. for them to make the right With that in mind, she decision for the Central said she believed the Coast,” she said. community considered Two members of the it essential that the new Kangy Angy Residents’ Central Coast Council Action Group (KARAG) review the decisions addressed the Council of the previous Wyong meeting on November 27, Council, and called the in favour of the Mayoral selection of Kangy Angy for the proposed NSW Minute.

Government inter-city fleet rail maintenance facility a “hot spot” worthy of review. She said the selection of Kangy Angy was riddled “with inconsistencies and obfuscations from the word go” and was “not fit for purpose, compared with the eminent suitability of Warnervale”. Issues including unsuitable topography, the volume of infill required, flooding issues, the need to build a $50 million bridge, difficulties in finding a solid base for the required footings,

along with the threat to rare and endangered species, and the close proximity to existing residents, made the site unsuitable. “Warnervale has none of these problems, so it beggars belief why Kangy Angy has favour over Warnervale,” she said. “There will undoubtedly be serious repercussions for you to solve if this project goes ahead.” “Right a terrible wrong that has been committed. “We need you to stand up and take the necessary steps against this disaster. “If you achieve nothing else in your tenure, you will be worthy of our vote.” Mr Alton Caldersmith said: “Most of the Councillors here tonight were not part of the Council when the decision was made to recommend to the railways that they use Kangy Angy as the location.” Mr Caldersmith said that before Wyong Council intervention, Transport for NSW had decided the maintenance facility needed to be North of Wyong and South of Wyee.

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Continued P4

11 December 2017

Sporties advertises for merger, as developer joins board Sporties at Woy Woy has advertised through Clubs NSW for expressions of interest from registered clubs to explore the possibility of an amalgamation or merger. However, the move was not mentioned at the Woy Woy Bowling Club’s annual meeting held just days earlier, where a second director of redevelopment company Woy Woy Holdings, Mr Tony Altavilla, was elected to the Sporties board, joining Mr Rod Chippendale. It was described as “a complete surprise to club members” by Woy Woy Men’s Bowling Club life member Mr Ken Dixon. “The Expression of Interest wasn’t even raised at the meeting, which is mysterious,” Mr Dixon said. He said Sporties had circulated a statement on the back of the expression of interest document from its general manager, drawing members’ attention to the decision made by the Board of Directors to advertise for expressions of interest. The Clubs NSW Circular calling for expressions of interest stated: “In accordance with regulatory requirements, initial preference will be given to expressions of interest received from registered clubs located within a 50km radius. “However, this does not preclude expressions of interest from registered clubs located outside the 50km radius also being taken into consideration,” it said. “The club leases the 7500 square metre property from a private owner. “It currently has 900 members and 26 gaming machines. “The club is about to enter a period of renewal with the landlord awaiting approval for a DA for the club site. “The DA will turn the club’s current premises into an over55’s residential development with provision for a club.

“The proposed club house will feature a bar, function room, restaurant with kitchen, outdoor dining, outdoor and indoor gaming and administration ofﬁces. “It is also proposed to have an eight-rink, fully enclosed and climate controlled synthetic green and parking for 130 vehicles. “Construction, pending DA approval, is expected to commence within the next 12 months and be completed within the next two years. “During construction of the new clubhouse, there will be no ability to operate out of the Brick Wharf Rd site and as such, an ideal amalgamation partner will be able to accommodate the club’s members during this time.” Clubs interested in expressing interest were told to contact Sporties at Woy Woy general manager Mr Kevin Jenkins. The closing date for expressions of interest was Sunday, December 31. The annual meeting saw the current chair Ms Di Elsom, deputy chair Ms Gaye Scarfe and treasurer Mr Rod Chippendale reelected unopposed and two other nominees, Mr Eddie Burgess and developer Mr Tony Altavilla, elected unopposed. Two other directors, Mr Jim Cassidy and Mr John Hughes, were elected from the ﬂoor. Mr Cassidy was a former president of the registered club and current chairman and life member of the Men’s Bowls Club. Mr Hughes was also a former director of the registered club. The bid for election by Mr Ross Cochrane was unsuccessful, missing out by just three votes. SOURCES: Interviews, 7 Dec 2017 Ken Dixon, Woy Woy Men’s Bowling Club Ross Cochrane, Save Woy Woy Waterfront Amalgamation EOI Circular, 5 De 2017 Anthony Ball, Clubs NSW Reporter: Jackie Pearson

DECEMBER 14, 2017

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ISSUE 173

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Mayoral minute calls for a new strategic approach

Councillors want to consult with the community over the airport ouncillor Greg Best, with the support of Clrs Bruce McLachlan and Jilly Pilon, planned to overturn the resolution made by Council at its November meeting, to suspend works and stop further development at the Central Coast Airport.

Aerial view of development site

Planning failure used to justify non-compliance An application to build three townhouses that do not comply with planning guidelines is being justiﬁed on the basis that the council has not followed the guidelines “on numerous occasions”. “It is clear that the numerical standards set out in the Development Control Plan have not been complied with on numerous occasions as there is strong demand for the availability of more affordable housing,” the application for the development in Augusta St, Umina, has stated. “There is a lack of large sites and development is constrained to smaller sites where setback requirements are difﬁcult to achieve with economic yield of dwellings. “Consequently, the numerical standards may be viewed as overly restrictive for satisfactory medium density development to take place. “It is therefore argued that the proposed development should be considered an acceptable proposal as it is in keeping with the Plan objectives.” The application claimed that the council had recently approved similar non-complying developments on the same basis.

“Recently, the adjacent property (DA52076/2017) has been approved for a multi-unit development with similar design, setbacks and site cover. “This application relied on previous precedents, where the setback standards were not complied with in the Umina and Woy Woy areas.” The three townhouses, costing $700,000, would replace a single brick house. The first townhouse would include a side entry on the ground floor, which would also accommodate the kitchen, dining, living, master bedroom, laundry, guest toilet and storage. The first floor would include a lounge room, three bedrooms, linen and bathroom. A ground floor courtyard would be accessed from the living room and the townhouse would also have two covered car parking spaces in a double garage. The second townhouse would have one less bedroom, all three bedrooms would be located on the first floor and there would only be a single garage attached. Townhouse number three would have the same four-bedroom layout and the first. The proposed development, according to documents provided

in support of the application, does not comply with the Gosford Development Control Plan 2013 for ceiling heights and setbacks. The 2.7 metre ceiling heights on the ground ﬂoor were described as a “minor departure” from the DCP. The setback variances are of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent. The developer has justiﬁed the variations by stating: “The proposal is in keeping with the DCP setback objectives, the LEP zoning objectives and Gosford Affordable Housing Strategy 2005. “The proposed development will make available affordable mediumdensity residential housing for the community. “The proposed setbacks are the most suitable solutions to the existing site constraints. “The proposal will rejuvenate the site and complement the desired form, orientation and scale of surrounding properties.” The documents submitted to Central Coast Council to support the construction of the townhouses also argued the proposed development was compatible with the predominant existing and desired character of the locality. SOURCE: Gosford DA Tracker, 7 Dec 2017 DA5346/2017, Central Coast Council

THIS ISSUE contains 48 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

The sky of Gosford City Centre dotted with cranes Photo: Justin Stanley

entral Coast to have a look at some of that Mayor, Jane Smith, planning,” Clr Smith said. “What I would like to see is wants a new strategic approach to some good strategic planning the future development that looks at the capacity of the CBD in terms of its population of the Gosford CBD and activity capacities, and that includes trafﬁc looks at the transport needs of management, transport the population,” she said. and parking. “That may mean improving

To that end, she has prepared a Mayoral Minute for the consideration of her fellow Councillors when they have their ﬁnal 2017 meeting on Monday, December 18. “I will be putting up a Mayoral Minute this week to ask that the Gosford CBD Local Environmental Plan goes back out on exhibition, with the Development Control Plan (DCP), in keeping with the Administrator’s decisions in that area that the new Council should have the opportunity

cycleway access, enouraging public transport providers to improve services, and strategies around how we manage trafﬁc ﬂow,” she said. “I am very determined that the transport issues need to go hand in hand with what we do in the CBD, it needs to be a liveable and sustainable city.” According to Clr Smith’s Mayoral Minute, on July 26, the Administrator resolved that Central Coast Council support an amended planning proposal (78/83/2015) called Gosford

City Centre Commercial Core Bonus Incentives. Mayor Smith, in an interview with Coast Community News, said: “Council staff are still working on the DCP for the Gosford CBD.” According to her Mayoral Minute: “The final planning proposal varies to the guidance provided in the Gateway Determination issued by the Department of Planning and Environment, specifically with regards to the application of Clause 4.6 and the provision of solar access to public spaces. “As part of the resolution of July 26, the Administrator also resolved: “That Council request that the Department of Planning and Environment and the Minister for Planning not finalise their consideration of the matter until the newlyelected Council considers

its position in relation to the proposed Gosford Development Control Plan amendments to be exhibited.” According to Mayor Smith, Gosford is located in a narrow valley bordered by two hills, Rumbalara Reserve and Presidents Hill, and the waterbody, Brisbane Water. She said Direction 1 in the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 was to “grow Gosford City Centre as the region’s capital”. Gosford City Centre is also part of the “Southern Growth Corridor” linking Somersby to Erina in the NSW Government’s Regional Plan for the Coast. “Although these priorities provide signiﬁcant opportunities for the renewal of Gosford City Centre, they also provide challenges,” she said.

“The future development of Gosford City Centre requires strategic planning with regards to trafﬁc management, transport and parking. “It also provides an opportunity for Gosford CBD to become a case study in sustainability that could demonstrate best practice initiatives in the growth of an urban centre,” Mayor Smith said. Accordingly, when Council meets on December 18, Mayor Smith will formally move that Council re-exhibit the Planning Proposal Report -78/83/2015 Gosford City Centre Commercial Core Bonus Incentives, with the draft Development Control Plan when it is ﬁnalised, for exhibition. If carried, the minute will also result in Council preparing and

also exhibiting, concurrent with the LEP and DCP: a Trafﬁc, Transport and Parking Management Strategy for the Gosford City Centre; an Emergency Management Plan for the Gosford City Centre; a City Activation Strategy considering incorporating the use of public spaces and Council assets; and, a report outlining sustainability initiatives to be incorporated into the Gosford City Centre, including, but not limited to, initiatives and benchmarks related to water, energy, waste and open space. It is the Mayor’s intention, if her Minute is supported, to conduct at least two community presentationinformation sessions on the proposals, including day and evening sessions. Continued P3

Three Councillors called for the decision to stop work on the airport expansion to be reversed remove the current 1,196 meeting for approval of fundamental obligation asset servicing some the strategy. to consult with its 350,000 coast residents metre runway. Council also resolved community and that this and that, it is with The Council also understanding, resolved not to alter the to maintain the current corner stone of good this Council now position, length, width, site zoning, unaltered, governance is enshrined that engages formally with thickness or strength and not approve rezoning in regulation.” Clr Best’s motion also its community for the of the current runway, to SP2. and immediately to The resolution was also called upon his fellow first time on this issue suspend all works, intended to permanently Councillors to note that through an independently land acquisitions and protect all of the Porters community consultation conducted, statistically expenditure on the Creek Wetland, owned had been a principle valid, survey seeking Central Coast Airport, by Council, and south that was of significant direction and better except where those of the current runway, community interest and a u n d e r s t a n d i n g community works are required by from development for key contributor in the lead on law, or the suspension biodiversity, emergency up to the 2017 Council expectations.” If Clr Best’s motion of those works would drinking water supply and elections. put Council in breach protection of the water Clr Best was on the was adopted, prior to of existing contractual quality into the Tuggerah former Wyong Council, conducting any such process, obligations and/or Lakes Estuary. which held the majority consultation expose Council to claims At the December of its discussions about all survey questions for damages or variation 18 meeting, Clr Best its future plans for the would be the subject of under any such contract. planned to move that airport in confidential a full Council briefing Council also voted the resolution carried sessions, and did not with selected survey on November 27 to at the previous ordinary release key documents specialists. Subject to the into the public domain. reallocate the budget for meeting be rescinded. survey the Airport of $6 million to Clr Best’s motion called independent Should the rescission employment generating motion have been carried, for the new Central Coast results, Council would projects across the Clrs Best, McLachlan Council to “recognise formally reconsider its former Wyong Shire, with and Pilon then intended that the new Central position with a view to staff to prepare a strategy to move a motion “that Coast Airport is of exhibiting the current and report to Council by Council recognises its regional significance and Central Coast draft airport the February 12, 2018, is now an infrastructure masterplan, or move for

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

www.wyongnews.org

Page 3 December 19, 2017

NEWS

Proposed new conservation lands’ protection zone supported

motion moved by Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, that enjoyed unanimous support at the NSW 2017 Local Government Conference, could see the expansion of the former Gosford Council’s Coastal Open Spaces System (COSS) to the whole Central Coast. Central Coast Council’s motion calling on the NSW Department of Planning to create a new zone to protect conservation lands, has been unanimously endorsed at the 2017 Local Government Conference. The motion suggests a new Zone E5 Public Conservation to apply to public land assigned for conservation which is not an identified as State National Parks and nature reserves. The proposed zone would prohibit all forms of residential accommodation.

INSTA LL IN A D ED AY! *

Sensitive Wyong land could become part of COSS “We can now go to valuable contribution that Government’s Regional the NSW Department of the land makes to the Plan, and this proposed Planning with a united Local Government Area new zone approach can voice and say we want (LGA) as a whole,” she ensure that can happen,” she said. to see conservation said. lands protected for our “This vote supports Currently in Local community and future the formalisation of Environment Plans generations,” Mayor the characteristics and (LEPs), there is an E2 Smith said. zoning, protection of the Coastal Conservation “This new zone would Open Space System but it has a broad ensure that identified (COSS), a former Gosford definition that is open to land under the ownership Council initiative, across interpretation, and the proposed new zoning of a local council can be the Coast and NSW. protected and managed “The validation of the would offer additional and for the purposes COSS is a recognised permanent protections to intended, and reflects the action of the State public land.

Mayor Smith said Council was leading the way in the protection of environmental lands and it was pleasing to have the unanimous endorsement of Councils across NSW. The COSS consists of over 70 natural reserves which are set aside for plants and animals, and nature-based recreation which preserves the bushland character of the Central Coast. COSS includes woodland ridgelines, gallery rainforests, steep cliffs, wetlands and creeks. Following a request and lobbying from the former Gosford Council, the former Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DP&I) released a policy statement in May, 2012, that proposed to introduce a new conservation zone into LEPs. A number of Councils and organisations, including the former Gosford Council,

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Sutherland Shire Council and the Environmental Defender’s Office, responded positively to the introduction of such a zone by way of submissions to DP&I. The motion that was unanimously endorsed by members of the Local Government Conference will be sent to the State Government for consideration. The Local Government Conference was held on December 4 to 6, in Sydney, and was attended by representatives from Councils across the State. During a visit to the Central Coast on Friday, December 15, the NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Anthony Roberts, said the Planning Department would be looking at the consequences of introducing the E5 zone. Source: Media release, Dec 14 Central Coast Council media Interview, Dec 15 Anthony Roberts, Minister for Planning Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Page 4 December 19, 2017

436 hectares of unlined ash T

he unlined, 40-year-old, ash dams at Munmorah and Vales Point Power Stations, cover a total of 436 hectares but, according to the NSW EPA, they are monitored carefully.

Mr Gary Blaschke, from the Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct, has called for an environmental and health audit, and argued that the ash dams pose a risk to both. The EPA confirmed that it had met with a representative of the Norther Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct, and said that they would be happy to do so again. “When coal is burnt to generate electricity, the residual ash is collected,” a written statement from the EPA, responding to questions from the Wyong Regional Chronicle, said.

An EPA supplied map showing the location of the ash dams near Vales Point Power Station and the former Munmorah Power Station “Much of this ash is EPA through Environment the EPA in 2016, the process. reused in the cement Protection Licences composition of coal ash Fly ash is the particulate industry, but the held by power station varies, depending on the matter produced in composition of the coal gas streams from the remainder is disposed operators.” of in ash dams,” the combustion process and According to an burnt. statement said. environment compliance Ash is produced from captured by electrostatic “Coal ash disposal is report on coal ash dams two sources in the precipitators or fabric carefully regulated by the in NSW, produced by electricity generation filters.

Bottom ash is the ash extracted from the bottom of the boiler. “Ash is composed of modified coal mineral matter, primarily compounds of silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, sodium and titanium, which form a matrix for traces of compounds of other metals. “Ash composition depends on the coal properties, combustion technology and combustion conditions. “The ash is transported to ash dams as a slurry or paste,” the audit report explained. According to the EPA, Vales Point Power Station’s ash dam covers 360 hectares, and is located to the west of the Power Station. Munmorah Power Station’s ash dam covers 76 hectares, and is located to the north of the Power Station.

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Page 5 December 19, 2017

NEWS

dams require constant monitoring While Munmorah ceased operation in 2010, the EPA is still regulating the site, including the ash dam, the statement said. “Both Vales Point and Munmorah Power Stations have used ash dams since they commenced operation in the 1960s. “Due to their age, the ash dams are not lined and, as is standard practice with unlined ash dams, the EPA requires monitoring of surrounding groundwater. “In 2011, there was an unauthorised discharge of water from the Vales Point Ash Dam. “Delta undertook additional earthworks to minimise the risk of further overflows, and following an EPA investigation and assessment, the EPA modified the Environment Protection Licence.” Wyong Regional Chronicle has

subsequently asked the EPA to clarify how the licence was modified. “In 2013, a high pH discharge from the Vales Point Ash Dam occurred during extreme wet weather. “At the time, the EPA was already considering a request from Delta to increase the pH discharge limit, which was approved, after the EPA was satisfied that the environment and community’s health would be protected.” In other words, Delta was allowed to discharge to a higher pH limit without it being considered unacceptable by the EPA. Monitoring of surface water discharges from the Vales Point Ash Dam (Mannering Lake), shows minimal impact on Wyee Creek, according to the EPA. Monitoring of the Munmorah Ash Dam (known as Colongra Lake), before Munmorah

Power Station closed, showed that discharges from the ash dam were not impacting on the Tuggerah Lakes, the statement said. During high flow periods, discharge from the ash dams flows into Lake Macquarie. “Discharges during high flow periods have been assessed as having minimal environmental impact on Lake Macquarie,” the EPA statement said. All discharges from the Vales Point Power Station licence are monitored closely and assessed for environmental impact, the statement said. Delta Electricity’s licence was transferred to Sunset Power International Pty Ltd, on December 8, 2015. The EPA removed a Pollution Reduction Program from the licence in August, 2016, as Delta had met the requirements of the program in October, 2015.

The licence was also varied to permit small increases in water temperature that could be discharged to Lake Macquarie from the Vales Point Power Station following assessment of the likely impacts on seagrass. There have been various other administrative changes to the licence since it was transferred to Sunset, according to the EPA. EPA guidelines recommend final capping of landfills, include a layer of 600mm of compacted clay, to prevent infiltration of rainfall. When asked whether the EPA considered annual monitoring sufficient, it responded: “The monitoring requirements are appropriate for their purpose. “Vales Point Power Station is required to monitor some air quality parameters annually, but other parameters are

monitored more often. “For example, groundwater quality around the ash dam must be monitored every quarter.” The EPA regulates ash dams across NSW under the conditions of Environment Protection Licences, rather than bonds, to ensure that the surrounding environment is protected. “As such, no bonds or rehabilitation costs have been collected under the licence for Vales Point.” Wyong Regional Chronicle asked the EPA for access to the results of seagrass monitoring over the past decade, as a way to verify its statements about the impact of the ash dams on the local ecology. The EPA responded: “Monitoring data, which is required as part of Vales Point’s Environment Protection Licence, shows no significant change in the overall area of seagrasses from summer, 2009, to

summer, 2015, within the vicinity of the Power Station’s inlet or outlet canals. “Copies of seagrass monitoring may be available under GIPA.” A compliance audit of the Vales Point Power Station’s coal ash dams was conducted in August 2016. According to the EPA: “The audit found that water levels in the dam were not being managed as efficiently as they could be, and Vales Point have since developed an action program to address all identified non-compliances.” The EPA decided to audit the state’s coal ash dams following changes made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In December, 2014, the US EPA released a set of standards covering ash dams used to store coal ash from power stations in the United States of America.

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NEWS

Page 6 December 19, 2017

436 hectares of unlined ash dams require constant monitoring rom P5

The standard was initiated after a large coal ash spill in 2008 at a power plant in Tennessee. The spill flooded more than 300 acres of land, destroying houses and releasing coal ash into waterways. “Considering this rule, the NSW EPA determined it would be appropriate to review the management of coal ash dams… in NSW. “Coal ash dams and emplacements have not previously been audited under the EPA’s sector based audit program, or been included in recent focused compliance audit programs,” the audit report said. It described coal ash dams as essentially tailings dams. “The primary objective is for the ash and stored water to remain contained,” the report said. The Australian National Committee on Large

Gary Blaschke says the ever-increasing number of trees dying within the ash dams is an indicator of soil leaching Dams (2012) outlined the However, the dams on by collapse or failure of The audit report primary objectives for the the Central Coast, due the dam embankment; concluded that the ash design of a tailings storage to their age, are unlined, uncontrolled release dams involved in the facility as including: so their ability to contain of pollutants through study had an 86 per cent the safe and stable tailings and contaminants discharge over the compliance rate. containment of tailings is questionable. spillway or seepage; Of the nonand contaminants; the “ E n v i r o n m e n t a l operational failure, such compliances, 2 per safe management of harm associated with as through pipe burst cent were code orange, decant and rainfall runoff; tailings dams includes: or pump failure; and, which meant they had and, the management of uncontrolled release of emission of dust,” the either a high or moderate seepage. the tailings and/or water audit report said. environmental impact,

SCHOLTEN

and a likelihood of environmental harm, ranging from low to certain. Another three per cent of the non-compliances found during the audit were rated code yellow, meaning their environmental impact was rated low or moderate, and their likelihood of causing environmental harm ranged from likely to less likely. Nine per cent of the breaches were code blue, which meant they related to administration or processes that did not have an environmental impact, but endangered the integrity of licence compliance. The audit report did not name the breaches found at specific sites. Source: Media statement, Dec 14 NSW EPA Public Affairs Environmental Compliance Report, 2016 Coal Ash Dams and Placements, EPA NSW Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Page 7 December 19, 2017

NEWS Page 8 Wyong South Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade completed December 19, 2017

Twelve community consultation committees to be established he new Central Coast Council was expected to reinstate up to 12 c o m m u n i t y consultation committees when it held its last ordinary meeting for the year on December 18.

T Mayor Smith with Council's Senior Manager of Water and Sewer, Ms Bileen Nel at Wyong South Treatment Plant entral Coast this will increase as our further,” he said. The upgrade works Council’s $15 community grows,” said Mr Dowling. involved emptying, million upgrade to “Undertaking this cleaning, refurbishing and the Wyong South upgrade ensures that refi tting mechanical and Sewage Treatment the treatment plant electrical components in Plant is complete. will be able to handle the four aeration tanks, Council’s Director, this growth without new decanters on two Assets, Infrastructure compromising the quality tanks, the construction and Business, Mr of water returned to the of a new electrical switch Mike Dowling, said the environment. room, inlet structure and upgrade to this essential “The plant uses organic the odour control system. service would benefit materials to remove the Central Coast Mayor, residents now and into majority of odours from Jane Smith, said the the future. the inlet works in a newly project was another “Wyong South constructed hybrid bio example of Council Treatment Plant receives trickling filter system. delivering services for the the equivalent of around “Any remaining community. four and a half Olympic emissions are being “The Wyong South size swimming pools of treated with activated Sewage Treatment sewage every day, and carbon to reduce them Plant upgrade is a great example of Council getting on with the job and ensuring that these much needed investments in our infrastructure are completed,” Mayor Smith said. “The benefits for our Coast hit by severe storm cell Council aims to change rail Long Jetty Street Festival facility location to Warnervale community are real. draws huge crowds despite key contract being let “Improved effluent quality, now and into the future as the treatment plant handles the increased waste entering the system is important. Wyong Regional Chronicle is your paper, focussing “Sewage treatment entirely on the former Wyong Shire. plants are not something Keep fully informed of all activities affecting where most of us think too you live. much about, but they are 17,000 copies are published every two weeks, on essential to the health of alternate Tuesdays, and distributed to hundreds of our community and the locations throughout the area. environment. If you live in or are interested in post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 or 2263, Wyong Regional Chronicle “Residents can be is the paper for you. confident that we have a facility that will service Full colour tabloid newspaper with all the latest our community as the news areas that feed into the plant continue to grow,” Generous multiple booking and multiple Mayor Smith said. publication discounts available to advertisers The Wyong South Special discount arrangements apply to not for Sewage Treatment Plant profit organisations receives sewage from Watanobbi and Wadalba A All editions complete with photographs and in the north, to Ourimbah advertisements are published on-line in the south, and to Berkeley Vale and Tumbi Free event diary, tide chart, not for profit Umbi in the east. organisation directory and emergency contact

CHRONICLE WYONG REGIONAL Issue 129

Issue 130

November 7, 2017

across the Coast in an easterly direction, just after 2:00pm. Initial reports on the storm suggest that Toukley may be one of the worst effected areas, with online reports and videos of the aftermath showing trees down across roads, intense winds and large hailstones. Motorists also reported being trapped on Main Rd after the initial storm surge brought down trees and power lines, creating a hazardous zone that brought trafﬁc to a complete standstill. Local artist, Ms KellyAnne Love, was one of the motorists trapped. “Far out hail blizzard and now caught in fallen trees and a web of live wires both ends, outside

Photo: Scott Corcoran

Colourbond blown over power lines

Steer Rite Motors - Toukley

Photo: Peter Yates

More than 1,000 homes and businesses in parts of Toukley, Noraville and Canton Beach had their power cut. Downed power lines and trees were to blame and caused heavy congestion around Main Rd and Cross St, near Toukley Public School. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for severe thunderstorms, hail and damaging winds just after 1:00pm on November 6, with the storm battering

Photo: Scott Corcoran

Photo: Peter Yates

Toukley Public,” Ms Love wrote on her Facebook page. “Safe and sound now, police, ambos and ﬁreys were into it and got us out of the dangerous trap,” she wrote. Local storm chaser, Mr Scott Corcoran, braved the wild weather to capture the carnage. Mr Corcoran documented the aftermath, with roofs off houses, trees uprooted and debris littering the streets. Central Coast Council also issued a public notice through their Facebook page listing areas most effected by the storm. “The storm has caused some major damage on the Coast with a number

of trees and power lines down”, the Council statement said. “Crews are in place or on the way but are struggling to get through in some places. “There is a tree across the road on Bumble Hill Rd, Yarramalong, and one across the road at Dickson Rd in Jilliby. “Trees are down in Noraville and Toukley, mainly in Evans Rd, with power lines down in other streets. “Please be patient and take extra care on our roads as our crews, SES and Ausgrid get to work,” Council wrote. The SES was unavailable to discuss the storm clean up at the time of publication.

December 5, 2017

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

Steer Rite Motors - Toukley

he intense storm cell expected to break over the Central Coast on November 6 has come to pass, with the northern end of the Coast the most effected.

Issue 131

November 21, 2017

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

Toukley Public School students were affected, with parents needing to collect students from Kooloora Rd as emergency services worked to clear debris at the front of the school. Businesses in the area also felt the brunt of the storm, with Steer Rite Motors on Main Rd losing a wall and its ceiling on the verge of collapse. Mr Peter Yates, from Steer Rite, said the devastating storm swept through in a matter of minutes. “The wind swept through the roller door and just blew the back wall out. “Luckily our hoist was up, and now, it’s holding up our ceiling.

“Our back neighbours now have half a workshop on their property. “The main road’s a mess, the town’s a mess, there’s quite the clean up ahead,” Mr Yates said. Authorities urged all non-residents to avoid the area as Main Rd was blocked off by fallen trees and trafﬁc remained heavily congested for some time, building up as far back as the Wyong Leagues’ roundabout.

Photo: Chynna Kamieniecki

Source: Websites, Nov 6 Central Coast Incident Alerts Kelly-Anne Love, Facebook post Scott Corcoran, Facebook post Interview, Nov 6 Peter Yates, Steer Rite Motors Dilon Luke, journalist

Photo: Scott Corcoran

he highly anticipated Long Jetty Street Festival was back for its third instalment on Sunday, November 19.

With the huge amount of support received to date from the local community and beyond, the organisers saw the need to extend the site to cater for extra festival goers, with more than 15,000 people in attendance. There was plenty more in store for families, music and art lovers, foodies, skaters and so on, thanks to the creative network of folk from across the Coast that helped bring the event together. Invited back for the second year in a row by Central Coast Council, #LJSF17 was proud to be the closing event of the The Lakes Festival Program. Music and culture were at the very heart of the Long Jetty Street Festival (LJSF), with the Six String Stage again curated by local music scenesters, Mountain Sounds Presents, and headlined by the Central Coast’s own golden girl, Kasey Chambers. Other popular acts on the main stage

Crowds at the Street Festival

Photo: Satria Dyer-Darmawan

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Source: Website, Nov 20 Long Jetty Street Festival Facebook page

ransport for NSW will receive a letter from Central Coast Council requesting that the site of the rail maintenance facility for the Central Coast be changed from Kangy Angy to Warnervale.

However, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said work on the facility at Kangy Angy would begin in early 2018 to prepare for the arrival of the state-of-the-art $2.3 billion New Intercity Fleet. “We have awarded a key contract for the detailed design and construction of the new maintenance facility to service trains at Kangy Angy,” Mr MacDonald said. “Infrastructure and property group, John Holland, will now begin pre-construction activities, with major construction expected to start early in 2018.” “The project is expected to generate 300 jobs on the Central Coast, including local apprenticeships, during construction, and 200 jobs ongoing, once in

Government inter-city fleet rail maintenance facility a “hot spot” worthy of review. She said the selection of Kangy Angy was riddled “with inconsistencies and obfuscations from the word go” and was “not fit for purpose, compared with the eminent suitability of Warnervale”. Issues including unsuitable topography, the volume of infill required, flooding issues, the need to build a $50 million bridge, difficulties in finding a solid base for the required footings,

Continued P4

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Source: Media release, Dec 7 Central Coast Council Media

All committees of the former Wyong Council were abolished when the Council was dismissed, amalgamated with Gosford Council, and placed under Administration as the Central Coast Council in May, 2016. Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, moved in a Mayoral Minute, that Council establish a range of advisory committees and trust committees. A total of 12 Advisory Committees were proposed in the Mayoral Minute. The twelfth proposed advisory committee was the Gosford CBD and Waterfront Advisory Committee. The Mayor also moved to reinstate three trust committees of the former Gosford Council. Mayor Smith formally moved: “That Council invite stakeholder representation, as appropriate, and advertise for community representatives on the proposed Advisory Committees.” Councillors will be invited to nominate which committees they wish to participate in. The first meeting of each committee would review its terms of reference, additional stakeholder representation, code of conduct and frequency and timing of meetings. Council’s CEO was to identify appropriate staff to participate in each committee. Administrative staff

will be provided to take the minutes of each committee meeting and those minutes, including recommendations, will be reported to Council meetings. The Mayoral Minute outlined the purpose for establishing each of the committees. The Arts Advisory Committee would be charged with providing advice and input on Arts activities and providing advocacy support for the theatres and theatre programs. The principal role of the Catchments and Coast Committee would be to assist Council in the development and implementation of Coastal Management Plans. The Waste Committee will review strategies for the management of waste and consider and recommend strategies to minimise waste. The Coastal Open Spaces System Committee, previously confined to the former Gosford Council, has many stated purposes including a review of the COSS boundaries. The Employment and Economic Development Committee will provide input for the planning, implementing and monitoring of strategies

to promote jobs and economic development, with a focus on emerging and sustainable industries and jobs. The Environment and Climate Change Committee also has multiple stated purposes including providing input into Council’s plans, strategies and activities relating to the local environment. A Floodplain Risk Management Committee has been established to assist Council in the development and implementation of floodplain risk management plans. The new Heritage Advisory Committee will provide a forum for community consultation on heritage matters and support Council to achieve its heritage objectives. A Social Inclusion Committee will consider plans, priorities and actions on equity and diversity issues. The Water and Advisory Committee will provide input to Council for the planning, implementation and monitoring of strategies to provide sustainable water and sewer service to the area’s growing population. Source: Agenda item 2.1, Dec 18 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

The team at would like to take this opportunity to thank our thousands of readers and advertisers for your interest and support over the past 17 years. We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Our office will be closed on December 22, 2017 and will remain so until January 10, 2018.

Page 9 December 19, 2017

Central Coast will fall under the new Primary Production SEPP

arliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, had a follow-up meeting with farmers on the Central Coast to discuss the proposed Primary Production and Rural Development State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).

The meeting took place at Somersby on Monday, December 18. Mr MacDonald said a number of farmers from the Central Coast attended a forum earlier in December, in Cessnock, on the review of NSW Planning Guidelines for rural areas.

The meeting was to review the changes, and specifically the removal of Clause 11 of Sydney Regional Environmental Plan 8, Central Coast Plateau Areas. The Central Coast will fall under the new Primary Production SEPP. Rather than planning guidelines in clause 11 of SREP8, land use in the Central Coast will be guided by the Council’s LEP, the Central Coast Regional Plan and Ministerial Directions (section 117). The proposed Primary Production SEPP considers: right to farm issues; housing in rural areas; subdivisions and farming fragmentation; aquaculture; intensive livestock operations; and,

identification of important state significant agricultural lands. “Farming remains an important part of the culture and economy of the Central Coast,” Mr Macdonald said. “The Regional Plan identifies land west of the M1 as continuing to have an ongoing role in primary production,” he said. “I want to see agriculture on the Coast considered and appropriately protected in local and state planning.” Submissions to the proposed Primary Production and Rural Development SEPP close on January 15. Source: Media release, Dec 13 Kit Hale, office of Scot Macdonald

Lake Munmorah’s Carters Rd needs to be prioritised M ember for Swansea, Ms Yasmin Catley, met with Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, where she again raised ongoing concerns around pedestrian safety on Carters Rd, Lake Munmorah.

Carters Rd is a no through road, which provides access to two high schools, two primary schools, and a preschool. Ms Catley has been

lobbying both Council and the State Government for a solution for Carters Rd since she was elected in 2015, and launched a community petition in August this year, calling on the Council to fund a solution to the ongoing traffic issues at Carters Rd. “I was pleased to hear Mayor Smith say recently that the $65.4 million in surplus would be spent directly on essential services that our community expects, including better roads. “Carters Rd was

identified as a key infrastructure priority in 2015, by the former Wyong Shire Council, but has not received any capital funding since then. “I’m committed to working with Central Coast Council to fix Carters Rd, and to making sure that the residents in the northern suburbs of the Central Coast are not forgotten,” Ms Catley said. Source: Media release, Dec 11 Yasmin Catley MP

NEWS

Tuggerah Station lift funded then cancelled

Mr Harris and Mr Mehan with protesters on the Tuggerah Station ramp he Members for Minister, and has never people who came to the The Entrance and provided a reason,” he station today and deliver this essential project Wyong met with a added. for our community,” Mr The rally was attended group of protesters Harris said. by a diverse range of at Tuggerah Station “This is simply not good commuters who raised on December 12. their concerns about enough,” Mr Mehan said. The group is disability access and the The funding and campaigning for a lift to length of the ramp. infrastructure was be installed at the station, “Residents that prepared in 2011, yet following concerns about attended made it very there is still no lift and no access for the disabled clear that the community reason as to why, by the and those with mobility needs and wants a lift at government. issues, claiming that the Tuggerah Station. “I have had residents current access ramp did “The government has so inform me that they travel little to help the disabled far failed to acknowledge to Wyong Station for ease and elderly navigate the the concerns of locals, of a lift, even if Tuggerah station in time to reach despite the fact that the Station is closer. connecting trains and Central Coast is home “The Government buses. to a high proportion of needs to fess up to the “Tuggerah Train elderly and disabled fact that they just don’t Station is one of the people,” Mr Mehan said. care about the residents busiest stations on the “This lift was stolen of the Central Coast and Central Coast, and it has from us, construction aren’t willing to provide been neglected by this had begun before this the infrastructure to government for too long,” Government was elected improve the lives of Mr Harris said. in 2011, and they haven’t many in our area,” he “The Premier, the gotten any commitment concluded. Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, or apology since. Source: cancelled a proposed lift “The government Media release, Dec 12 upgrade in 2011, when needs to listen to all the Peyton Roberts-Garnsey, she was the Transport Office of David Harris MP

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DAVID MEHAN MP MEMBER FOR THE ENTRANCE P:4334 1012 YASMIN CATLEY MP MEMBER FOR SWANSEA P: 4972 1133 DAVID HARRIS MP MEMBER FOR WYONG P: 4352 2711

Your local voices on the Central Coast! Authorised by David Mehan, Yasmin Catley & David Harris. Printed using parliamentary entitlements.

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Page 10 December 19, 2017

Proposed advisory committees would cost over $425,000 per year T

he advisory committees that Mayor Jane Smith wants to establish are costly and timeconsuming for staff, according to Mr Brian Glendenning, Executive Manager of Governance at Central Coast Council.

â€œIf Council were to proceed with the establishment of 15 Advisory Groups, as proposed in the deferred Mayoral Minute, the estimated annual cost is $425,000 per year,â€? Mr Glendenning said. Mr Glendenning submitted a report in response to Mayor Jane Smithâ€™s call for the establishment of new

advisory committees to replace those dissolved during the Councilâ€™s Administration period. Mr Glendenningâ€™s report was submitted to the December 18 meeting to â€œoutline the resource and financial implications of the establishment of Council Advisory Committees or Groups and Trust Committees. â€œThis report also sets out some considerations for Council in determining how such Committees or Groups may be established and managed to ensure appropriate levels of support, accountability and transparency,â€? Mr Glendenning said. The Mayoral Minute debated on December 18 was a deferred item from the November 27

meeting. According to Mr Glendenning, a briefing was conducted with Councillors on Monday, December 11, to discuss advisory committees. â€œCouncil advisory committees, advisory groups and trusts committees require significant staff resources to ensure consistent and effective operation,â€? Mr Glendenningâ€™s report said. â€œThis includes the preparation of agendas, minutes and action logs for the Advisory Group, and preparation of reports to the Council on the activities and resolutions of that Group,â€? he said. â€œThere is also a need for administrative tasks to be undertaken during the meetings of those

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Groups. â€œFurther, there are also â€˜sunk effortsâ€™ relating to the establishment of such Groups, including the recruitment and induction of non-councillor members. â€œIn 2015, the former Gosford City Council undertook a review of Advisory Committees. â€œThat review included workshops with Committee members and relevant staff of that Council. â€œThat review identified that effective support of those Committees, including regular and clear communication, had a correlation to their effectiveness and the level of participant engagement and satisfaction. â€œAs such, it was concluded that reducing the administrative support and subject matter expert support for those Advisory Committees would reduce their effectiveness and represent a false economy. â€œBased on an assumption of three-hour meetings held four times a year, it is estimated that the meeting related costs for an individual Advisory Group of Council would be approximately $26,000 per annum, plus an aggregate sunk cost of $35,000 per annum for up to 20 such Groups. â€œIf there are more than 20 such groups, then the aggregate sunk cost will

be greater. â€œA key assumption in these costs is that meetings are conducted within standard work hours and do not attract penalty rates to which staff would be entitled under the Local Government (State) Award 2017. â€œIf meetings were held outside of standard hours, the cost per meeting would increase and there would be industrial considerations that would need to be taken into account. â€œThe adopted budget for the 201718 financial years does not include funding for the establishment and support of Advisory Groups. â€œIf such Advisory Groups are formed during that period, then it will be necessary for Council to resolve to adjust the adopted budget to provide the resources needed to support those Advisory Groups. â€œIf Council determines to proceed with the establishment of Advisory Groups, it would be appropriate for consideration to be given to the establishment of consistent, articulated Terms of Reference. â€œAs part of the 2015 review of Advisory Committees at the former Gosford City Council, Committee members identified the need for clear and articulated roles and goals to ensure

CENTRAL COAST

the effective operation of their Committee. â€œThe recruitment of members and the process used for that recruitment has a significant impact on the diversity and skill set of those who participate in Advisory Groups. â€œAs such, Council may wish to give consideration to how the selection of non-councillor members of these Groups is to be undertaken, to seek to engage with an appropriately representative section of the Central Coast community. â€œCouncil should also consider how Advisory Groups form, or do not form, part of Councilâ€™s Engagement Framework. â€œA further report to Council may be able to address this consideration, as well as provide details of other engagement methods that may complement or replace some, or all, of the proposed Advisory Groups. â€œGiven the above operational considerations, if Council determines to establish Advisory Groups, it may be appropriate to resolve that a further report be provided to Council in early 2018 to cover these operational issues,â€? Mr Glendenningâ€™s report said. Source: Agenda item 5.3, Dec 18 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

coastcommunitynews.com.au

Page 11 December 19, 2017

Wallarah Creek floodplain risk management study funded C

entral Coast Council has received $86,666 from the NSW Government to conduct a Wallarah Creek floodplain risk management study and plan.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said the funding would help protect the community from flood risks. A Wallarah Creek floodplain risk management study and plan would guide land use planning, development control, and prioritise the critical trunk drainage infrastructure for upgrade.

â€œThis funding helps reduce the impacts of flooding on communitiesâ€? Mr MacDonald said. â€œWe want to help Council protect residents and their properties from the impact of flooding.â€? Council Director, Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Mike Dowling, said he welcomed the funding for flood studies in key areas on the Coast. â€œWe are grateful for the support offered through the NSW Governmentâ€™s Floodplain Management Grant program, which will allow Council to consider options to better manage overland water flow issues on the Coast,â€? Mr Dowling said.

â€œThis funding will help Council identify and investigate various options to best manage the areas that are experiencing localised and other flooding. â€œCouncilâ€™s goal is to have plans in place to help us to make good decisions about how to best manage flood prone lands. â€œThe main outcome will be to prioritise capital works projects and to develop smart planning controls to better inform future planning of infrastructure upgrades and further development.â€? Source: Media release, Nov 20 Kit Hale, office of Scot MacDonald

NEWS

Premier inspects completed rock groyne P

remier Gladys Berejiklian was in The Entrance on December 19 to inspect work on the recently completed rock groyne.

The completed rock groyne will help retain sand along The Entrance Beach and reduce the potential for sand to move into The Entrance Channel from the south. â€œWeâ€™ve delivered on our election commitment to improve conditions in The Entrance Channel, particularly for swimmers,â€? Ms Berejiklian said. â€œThis work has been completed just in time for the school holidays, a busy time for locals, visitors and The Entrance SLSC. â€œBy helping to prevent sand moving into the

channel from the south, tidal flow is maintained and water quality improves. â€œSwimmers on the Entrance Beach will also benefit, as the groyne will help prevent erosion,â€? she said. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said the beach had often been closed due to severe erosion. â€œThis rock groyne will keep sand on the beach for longer and improve conditions for visitors, particularly in front of the Surf Club,â€? Mr MacDonald said. â€œMore than 6,000 tonnes of rock were used to build the 100-metre groyne, which took just three months to build.â€? The work included relocating the Surf Life

Saving Clubâ€™s observation tower to allow for a view of The Entrance Beach as well as the channel foreshore area. The next stage of the project involves dredging up to 15,000 cubic metres of sand from The Entrance channel and renourishing the beach to the south of the rock groyne. It is expected the rock groyne will help retain the dredged sand on the beach for around five years, before the beach will again need renourishing. The Department of Industry, Lands and Water is planning to start the next phase of work around April to avoid the peak swimming season. Source: Media release, Dec 19 Kit Hale, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC

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Page 12 December 19, 2017

Noraville major intersection work has commenced oads and M a r i t i m e Services have started work to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Wilfred Barrett Dve and Bungary Rd, Noraville.

“Work will involve installing a concrete pedestrian refuge on Wilfred Barrett Dve, south of Bungary Rd, installing connecting footpaths to the refuge and bus shelter on the western side, and between the cycle path and pedestrian refuge on the eastern side,” the spokesperson said. “The NSW Government allocated $500,000 for pedestrian and cyclist safety improvements at the Wilfred Barrett Dve and Bungary Rd intersection.

Feedback from the community and stakeholders was considered in the final design of the project, which is now ready to go ahead. “There will also be a dedicated northbound lane on Wilfred Barrett Dve to assist motorists turning right out of Bungary Rd. “Works will include replacing and improving drainage pits.” The spokesperson said that to allow the pedestrian refuge to be installed close to the intersection, northbound motorists will no longer be able to turn right into Bungary Rd from Wilfred Barrett Dve. “Permanent signage will be installed at Denison St to advise motorists to turn right at the Denison St intersection if they are

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travelling to Norah Head. “Also, in response to community feedback and further investigations, a dedicated left turn lane for vehicles turning into Bungary Rd is no longer included in the project.” Work is scheduled to start on Wednesday, November 29 and will be carried out on weekdays between 7:00am and 6:00pm. Some work may need to occur at night between 6:00pm and 5:00am and on Saturday between 8:00am and 1:00pm. No work will be carried out Friday, December 22 to Monday, January 8, 2018. Roads and Maritime Services invited comments on the proposed project in September and thanked the community and stakeholders for providing feedback. Source: Media release, Nov 27 Roads and Maritime Services Media

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Councillors stymied by bureaucracy T

hree months after the local government election, Central Coast Councillors are encountering what they consider to be barriers to performing their duties properly.

Clr Lisa Matthews, of The Entrance Ward, has been the first to speak on the record about her experiences as a Councillor, before and after amalgamation. “Staff have got themselves into a bureaucratic mindset,” she said of her short experience on the newly formed Central Coast Council. According to Clr Matthews, comments made by Interim CEO, Mr Brian Bell, to the Wyong Regional Chronicle’s sister publication, Coast Community News, that Councillors are able to contact senior managers and unit managers in the Environment and Planning Directorate, don’t tell the whole story. “Councillors can only call Directors and Executive Managers,” Clr Matthews said. “I have been told by managers when I have called them that

they can’t answer my question. “Even if it would only take one minute, I have to put it in writing,” she said. “I can’t be with a rate payer, make a quick call to the right manager and get a quick answer.” Clr Matthews said that was not the way things worked at Wyong Council before amalgamation. “History has a bit to do with it, because it was a bit of a free-for-all under the last Wyong Council, but this is a new mob and they do not intend to waste staff time.” Clr Matthews, who was an employee of Wyong Council and then an elected Councillor, said that she had not experienced such high restrictions on her ability to serve the community in her 17-year association with local government. “Why can’t I call a manager and ask when are they going to replace a bit of orange plastic fencing around a playground because it is a safety issue? “I have to put it in writing and then wait a week, not a day, for a response, while the ratepayer who is concerned about the issue is calling me daily, and I cannot give her an answer,” she said.

According to Clr Matthews, the 15 newlyelected Central Coast Councillors have not received a complete organisational chart below the executive level. In other words, they don’t know which managers are responsible for which units within each directorate. Again, this was not the case prior to amalgamation, she said. Clr Matthews said she believed Councillorrepresentatives needed to be reinstated to both the Traffic Committee and the Consultative Committee, both of which had been in operation throughout Amalgamation. “The Consultative Committee is made up of staff and the seven unions that represent Council employees, so they discuss important issues, and Councillors had always been on that Committee until Amalgamation,” she said. “Also, it is frustrating when you have been sitting in six-hour Council meetings, but the real stuff has not been dealt with,” she said. Source: Interview, Dec 18 Lisa Matthews, Central Coast Council Jackie Pearson, journalist

Fifteen projects share in $300,000 grant funding T

he Entrance has s e c u r e d $300,000 for 15 projects under the 2017 Community Building Partnership (CBP) program.

The funding aims to create more vibrant and inclusive communities, and deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes. “This well-needed

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funding will directly benefit our community, and will deliver vital new infrastructure, and help pay for muchneeded improvements to schools, community groups and local clubs in the electorate, which would not otherwise be funded,” Mr Mehan said. “I congratulate all those organisations that were successful in their applications,” he said. Source: Media release, Dec 12 David Mehan MP

Page 13 December 19, 2017

NEWS

Councillors seek recision of a motion Marriage related to tipping fees for asbestos equality survey result noted by T Council wo rescission motions were debated at the final Central Coast Council meeting for 2017.

he historic result of the marriage equality survey, with 61 per cent support for the enactment of marriage equality, has been noted by Central Coast Council.

Labor Clr Kyle MacGregor moved a motion for the survey result to be noted by Central Coast Council at its November 27 ordinary meeting. Liberal Clr Rebecca Gale Collins attempted to have Clr MacGregor’s motion changed to record that marriage equality was a federal matter and not within the realms of local government. Clr MacGregor refused her suggested change to his motion and Clr Gale Collins did not move a formal amendment. Clr Jilly Pilon also noted that the marriage equality postal survey was a

national issue. The motion was carried. Clr MacGregor said the local electorates of Robertson, Dobell and Shortland had voted overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality. He moved, and Councillors voted in support of: “affirming its support of the principles of equality and social justice and that all are welcome to our Council area regardless of their sexuality, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender or religion”. The resolution also included preparation of a briefing for Councillors by staff on the potential social and economic benefits of the enactment of marriage equality for the Central Coast community. Source: Agenda item 6.4, Nov 27 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

The first concerned the Council’s November 2017 determination to cease the development of a general aviation hub at the Central Coast Airport in Warnervale, and the second related to a moratorium on tipping fees for asbestos. The asbestos rescission motion was put by Clr Greg Best, and supported by Clrs Jilly Pilon and Troy Marquart. According to Clr Best, “While thousands of Australians struggle with mesothelioma, and hundreds die each month, the new Central Coast Council says it’s confused,” Clr Best said, after his motion to explore a moratorium on household asbestos dumping fees was defeated at the November 27 meeting. “This is the latest excuse offer on the back of one of the most disrespectful and embarrassing votes I have ever witnessed in all

my 21 years on Council,” he said. “For the regional council to actually vote down my community motion that simply sought information around improving asbestos handling is an utter disgrace. “It’s a real slap on the face for sufferers. “The motion was so innocuous that even James Hardy would have voted for it, but no, not the ALP or the Greens. “In my view, they simply tried to play party politics and it backfired. “This is a critical issue and I will not be silenced. “To this end, I have resubmitted my motion, calling for a fair go on the safe disposal and reduced tipping cost for each and every ratepayer.” Clrs Best, Pilon and Marquart moved on December 18 that the resolution declared lost at the November 27 meeting be rescinded. That resolution read: “That in the knowledge that asbestos has now killed many thousands and is predicted to kill thousands more over the

next 20 years, Council now takes a leadership role and consider its options to better meet this public health epidemic. “That Council also questions the conventional wisdom of charging significant amounts to dispose of this deadly material and notes that this approach appears to be fuelling further public health issues as illegal dumping escalates. “That Council recognises there will be some administrative and regulatory challenges around this progressive initiative. “However, the alternative, to accept the current situation playing out over the next 20 years, is unacceptable. “That staff report on the innovative initiative that Cumberland and Parramatta councils currently conduct around ‘residential asbestos removal’, and that the report include protections against out of region capitalising on this initiative, and that further, staff report on how Council can facilitate more flexible access

arrangements to council’s waste management facilities.” The three Councillors then intended to move a motion which stated: “that this Council redouble its efforts and recognise the importance of effective management of residential asbestos waste; that Council congratulate staff for their outstanding initiatives around conducting the recent asbestos awareness campaign, that of ‘asbestos November’; and that council requests the CEO to report to council around recent progressive asbestos removal initiatives currently being conducted at our sister councils Cumberland and Parramatta.” Labor Councillors were expected to have prepared amendments to the proposed motion, and appeared to have softened their position on the issue, given their party’s historical strong support for the safe disposal of asbestos. Source: Agenda item 8.2, December 18 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

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Page 14 December 19, 2017

Norah Head Village Masterplan needs to be funded and have land rights issues resolved T

he Norah Head Village Masterplan may have been adopted by Central Coast Council at its meeting on December 18, but it will not be implemented until it is funded and resourced “within Council’s delivery program”.

In discussions with the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council (DALC), it was identified that a number of sites are currently subject to outstanding Aboriginal land claims. “Recent discussions by staff with the Department of Lands have indicated that the Aboriginal land claims are still outstanding, with no timeframe for determination,” a staff report to the December 18 Council meeting said. “Given that the land claims impact a large portion of the study area, and the uncertainty of the future ownership and use of this land, it may be prudent for Council to defer the implementation of the Masterplan until the Aboriginal Land Claims have been determined,” the report said. “There is currently no funding available for the implementation of the Masterplan in the 2017/2018 Capital Expenditure Budget. “Funding ... could come from: General Revenue;

or, State and Federal Government Grant funding. The staff report recommended “that implementation of the Norah Head Village Centre Masterplan, including funding and resourcing, be included in a Council Delivery Plan, subject to resolution of the Aboriginal land claims within the study area.” The Toukley Planning Strategy (TPS) was adopted by the former Wyong Council in 2010, and one of its recommendations was to develop a detailed masterplan for Norah Head Village. When funding is made available, implementation of the masterplan will include 51 projects, which have been assessed as low, moderate or high priority. Seven high priority actions have been identified for the first stage of implementation: provision of pedestrian

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links between the Village Centre and Mazlin Reserve at the intersection of Mitchell St and Bungary Rd; construction of a new amenities building within Mazlin Reserve; selective removal of vegetation and additional plantings in Mazlin Reserve; investigation into options to stabilise the cliff along the eastern edge of Mazlin Reserve to prevent further land slippage; construction of a 2.5m wide shared pathway along Bungary Rd, from the existing cycleway at Dennison St to the existing cycleway at Victoria St; street tree planting, parking realignment and kerb extensions for Bungary Rd; and, street tree planting, angled parking, a pedestrian foothpath, kerb and guttering along Soldiers Point Dve. It was estimated by the consultant who prepared the Masterplan, Moir Landscape Architecture, that approximately $2 million would be required to fund the implementation of the first seven high priority actions. Wyong Council commenced the preparation of a Masterplan in March 2016. From opportunities and issues identified in a community workshop, the Masterplan was given the following key objectives: strengthen the Village Centre and reinforce the role of Mitchell St as a hub; encourage safe pedestrian movements; create safe and cycling connections; incorporate legible and consistent signage; enhance existing open space and streetscape improvements; identify and strengthen visual links; investigate traffic

management options and explore opportunities to improve car parking; improve connectivity and way finding; and, create opportunities to interpret the history and heritage of the area. The key locations included the Village Centre, Cabbage Tree Bay, Rock Pool, boat ramp, Mazlin Reserve, Sportsground, Bush Street Reserve and Young Street Reserve. The Masterplan proposes to undertake streetscape improvements to define the Village Centre through street tree planting, upgrade of footpaths, street furniture and directional signage. Improved parking is located along Mitchell St and Bungary Rd, and new outdoor dining areas are identified along Bungary Rd. The Masterplan proposes to incorporate new amenities and a new viewing platform at the end of Mitchell St. “Selective removal of vegetation will create a visual link back to the Village Centre and reinstate open space,” according to a staff report to Council’s December meeting. “A new district level playground is proposed alongside a shared pathway and new formal space at the corner of Mitchell St and Bungary Rd. The Masterplan proposes to retain the sportsground as an open lawn area for passive recreation and sports, but incorporate trees for shade, a new exercise station for active recreation, a multi-use stage with services, and an amenities building for community events

such as markets, small concerts and a moonlight cinema. The addition of formal seating under the trees, and a vehicle barrier to double as informal seating around the perimeter of the sportsground, will bring amenity to the space. It proposes to establish a raised platform style pedestrian access from Bald St Car Park to Cabbage Tree Bay. The existing viewing platform, Rosetti Lookout, will be upgraded to include wheelchair access, seating and interpretive signage. Parking along Maitland St is to be formalised with clear signage to Cabbage Tree Bay. The Masterplan proposes to provide a new footpath from Bush St car park to Norah Head Nature Trail, and a shared pathway from the car park to the rock pool and Cabbage Tree Bay, and also to the Norah Head Lighthouse. Upgrades are proposed to the existing playground, with new large BBQ shelters with seating in the Young St Reserve. New cycleway rest areas are proposed in Mazlin Reserve and Young St Reserve. The Masterplan proposes to include directional signage for pedestrian/cyclists and

motorists to direct visitors through the Village. A new proposed interpretive trail through Mazlin Reserve will include public art and historical information. The existing Headland Trail to the Lighthouse will be upgraded to include public art elements to interpret local cultural and natural heritage. Pedestrian and cyclist friendly streetscape improvements will be provided to Bungary Rd, Soldiers Point Dve, Mitchell St, Maitland St, Bush St, Young St and Victoria St. The Norah Head Ratepayers’, Residents’ and Coastcare Association praised Council for the extensive engagement undertaken with the community on this project. As a result of the exhibition of a draft plan, minor changes were made to address concerns raised in submissions. The main changes proposed included new recommendations to upgrade the alfresco area in front of the Ark Café, provision of free Wi-Fi in the Village Centre, and the removal of Norfolk Island Pines from the approved plant species list. Source: Agenda item 4.3, Dec 18 Central Coast Council

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Page 15 December 19, 2017

NEWS

Audit Risk and Improvement Committee recommendations adopted C

hanges to C o u n c i l ’s investment policy recommended by its newly-formed Audit Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) have been adopted unanimously.

The Policy for Investment Management and Guidelines was adopted by the former Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, in April, and then referred to the ARIC for review. ARIC recommended that Council reduce its maximum exposure to BBB category investments from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, it’s allowable maximum counterparty exposure from 100 per cent from 20 per cent for AAA securities, and from 30 per cent to 20 per cent for AA securities. Counterparty risk refers to the total percentage of Council’s investments

that are in the hands of any single financial institution. A report from Acting Chief Financial Officer, Ms Viv Louie, recommended that Council adopt the ARIC recommendations. The report noted: “Investment earnings are a material source of revenue for Council, and it is important that returns are maximised while risk is minimised. “Council has sufficient cash available to meet its obligations and investments are managed in accordance with the relevant legislation. “The reduction in exposure in BBB category investments, whilst reducing risk, will have an impact on investment earnings. “Typically BBB rated investments pay a higher return to compensate for the lower credit rating.” The monthly investment report for October showed that 39.04 per cent of Council’s

investment portfolio was within the BBB credit rating category, as reported previously in Coast Community News. “This is as a result of downgrades to the credit rating of Bendigo Bank and Bank of Queensland in May. “Council staff will continue to monitor the portfolio and manage investments taking into consideration credit ratings of financial institutions, interest rates offered for the maturity dates required, and the amount of our investment portfolio already held with each financial institution. “It is expected that this process will rebalance the portfolio as investments mature and counter the impact of these downgrades, and we will be below 20 per cent in the BBB category by March 2018.” Source: Agenda item 3.6, Nov 27 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

Other Regional News - In brief Wyong Regional Chronicle focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262, & 2263. Given the arrival of new Central Coast Council, following is a summary of news articles published in

the most recent edition of each of our sister Central Coast publications. The full articles and more, as well as all previously published editions, can be seen on line on our website www.CentralCoastNews.

net Copies of these other publications may be obtained from our offices in Gosford, by subscription, or from a myriad of locations in the areas covered by each publication.

e Frkeeone! Ta

Edition 434

11 December 2017

Peninsula News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2256 & 2257.

Sporties advertises for merger, as developer joins board

Planning failure used to justify non-compliance

Sporties at Woy Woy has advertised through Clubs NSW for expressions of interest from registered clubs to explore the possibility of an amalgamation or merge

An application to build three townhouses that do not comply with planning guidelines is being justifi ed on the basis that the council has not followed the guidelines “on numerous

Tesch backs dredge costsharing

Dot Devine turns 104 Umina nursing home resident Ms Dot Devine turned 104 on Friday, celebrating with friends, family and staff. Dot has lived through the

King tides prompt renewed call Sporties proposal attracts more to upgrade wharf than 50 objections

Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch has called for costsharing between Central Coast Council and the State Government to keep the Ettalong Channel open.

Recent king tides which have left Woy Woy wharf under water have prompted Central Coast Ferries to renew calls they have been making since 2010 for the upgrade of the wharf.

More than 50 submissions have been lodged with Central Coast Council objecting to the proposal to redevelop Sporties at Woy Woy on the corner of Brick Wharf Rd and North Burge Rd, Woy Woy.

Umina oval community garden to involve students

Radiotherapy scholarships presented

Laine nominated as Volunteer of the Year

The operator of the kiosk at Umina oval has taken the initiative to involve young people with landscaping the area.

A Woy Woy resident has presented research scholarships on behalf of a foundation established by her father.

Woy Woy resident, Ms Laine Edwards, has been nominated for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award for 2017.

The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net They can also be seen on www.PeninsulaNews.info

DECEMBER 14, 2017

YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

PH: 4325 7369

ISSUE 173

Coast Community News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2250, 2251 & 2260

New regional library and a Selection process for new Mayoral minute calls for a new regional performing arts centre Council CEO underway strategic approach are closer to fruition Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, It has been a big year for the The process has commenced for wants a new strategic approach Gosford CBD and Central Coast the selection of a new CEO for to the future development of the Mayor, Jane Smith, has hinted that Central Coast Council. Gosford CBD that includes traffi two major civic projects may take c management, transport and big steps forward in 2018. parking. Financial reports for Development at Mount Penang Call centre staff will be the amalgamated Council referred questioned in Parliament largest group of ATO employees to external audit Greens Member of the NSW Client engagement and call centre The financial reports for Central Legislative Council, Mr David staff will be the two main groups Coast Council, from amalgamation Shoebridge, has asked questions of ATO employees to occupy the until June 30, were referred in Parliament about the proposed new Gosford waterfront tax office, to external audit, following an subdivision and development of according to Deputy Commissioner, Extraordinary Meeting held on land within the Mount Penang Ms Sue Sinclair. Thursday, December 7.

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Revised Council Code of Meeting Practice on public exhibition Community members have until January 22 to make comments on Central Coast Council’s revised Code of Meeting Practice.

Sydney Regional Environmental Plan 8, Central Coast Plateau Areas is under review Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, is encouraging the Central Coast community to engage with the proposed State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), Primary

Lucy Wicks voted no in the plebiscite and yes for the legislation In a speech to Parliament, following the results of the Same Sex Marriage Survey, Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, thanked Central Coast residents who reached out to her regarding

The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.centralcoastnews.net Coast Community News focusses on news specifically related to post code areas 2250, 2251, 2260 and articles can also be read and shared on your mobile phone by going to www.coastcommunitynews.com.au.

FORUM

Page 16 December 19, 2017

The north has third world infrastructure A

n attempt by NSW Planning Minister, Mr Anthony Roberts, to supply straight answers regarding the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 has appalled us at the Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct Committee. We are effectively no further advanced on each of the issues raised by us with the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036. Mr Roberts spruiks that 40,500 homes will be needed to cope with projected population growth to 2036 in areas “with sufficient infrastructure to support the growth, such as Doyalson, the Lake Munmorah corridor and southern shores of Lake Macquarie”. Unless I am mistaken, as a resident living in one of, and close to all, these suburbs, I believe that our infrastructure in the north of the Central Coast

is close to third world, considering we live one hour from Australia’s largest city. We have no access for over 32 per cent of our residents having a disability, mobility, or aging issue, not including mothers with prams and visitors with luggage, needing to traverse the 82 steps of our closest railway station, being Wyee Station. I have raised this issue with the Premier as former Transport Minister, Yasmin Catley MP and Greg Piper MP, on many occasions, plus our poor public transport, lack of medical services and such simple issues as poor television and radio reception that Federal Member, Pat Conroy MP, has identified. Our roads are poor, we have close to complete suburbs without kerb and guttering, our water supply is being threatened by further mining, our homes are continually under threat

Letters to the editor should be sent to:

Wyong Regional

Chronicle PO Box 1056 Gosford 2250 or editorial@wyongnews.org

See Page 2 for contribution conditions

FORUM of mine subsidence and we have massive human health and environmental issues, which are being swept under the carpet by most politicians at all levels. This especially includes, Mr Scott Macdonald, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and the Central Coast, who seems to be intent in wanting the PFAS issues at Lake Munmorah and Colongra Bay to just go away. Unfortunately, we will make sure they don’t. Air pollution continues to create health issues, with only one official EPA monitoring station on the

Central Coast. We have a University Cancer Cluster study and report identifying the Northern region of the Central Coast as having cancer rates 20 per cent above the State’s average. We have the equivalent of 455 Olympic swimming pools of stored toxic Fly Ash that is creating environmental issues outside the 50 year old, unlined dam walls, and we have the Planning Minister writing off our concerns for the mining and extractions of coal, gas, petroleum, sand, sandstone, gravel and clay, identified in the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036, by stating that the “mining will continue to deliver positive economic outcomes for the region in line with the plan’s goals”. Our organisation and regional residents would love to know what these positive economic outcomes are and what Mr Roberts would consider to be the negative outcomes of such destructive processes. As for the proposed housing crisis, he and NSW Planning recently announced a new suburb for the Badgerys Creek

home and business deliveries have commenced – Inserts welcome Following seven years of publishing a separate newspaper focusing on postcode areas 2250, 2251 and 2260, Central Coast Newspapers has decided to take Coast Community News to its next natural stage, and set up a home delivery arrangement. The program commenced on November 16, and the print run for Coast Community News increased initially to 24,000 copies. As more walkers come on board, the print run will increase by 300% to 44,000 copies, 42,000 of which will be hand delivered to letterboxes in 26 suburbs in those postcode areas. This has made it possible to have brochures and catalogues included within the newspaper to help pay for the increased print run and high distribution costs. Despite the 300% increase in the print run and associated distribution costs, advertising rates have remained unchanged, making advertising better value than ever. Additionally, advertisers that take advantage of the new insert offer, receive a free advertisement in the paper to support their insert. A full distribution entitles the advertiser to a full colour, half page advertisement at no additional cost. A part distribution entitles the relevant business to a proportionally reduced

Mr Robert’s and his Department’s obvious ignorance towards the massive human health and environmental issues that either were not identified in any of the regional plans, past or present, or are again politically swept under the carpet, is testimony to his lack of concern for the Central Coast and its residents. I have personally met with both Monica Gibson, former Director of the Gosford Branch of the NSW Planning Department, and, Lee Shearer, Co-ordinator General, about the forcing of the Central Coast Regional Plan (CCRP) 2036 onto the 355,000 residents of the Coast. Unfortunately, Monica Gibson was so far out of her depth, that she wrote the entire CCRP 2036 off as nothing but a blueprint. Lee Shearer had her opinion, yet was not willing to listen to the residents’ issues and quite arrogantly and abruptly ended our meeting by walking out of the cafe where we met at Wyong. Email, Nov 26 Gary Blaschke, Lake Munmorah

Case for airport should be closed

size advertisement. Papers are not thrown into gutters or on driveways or lawns, but are being placed in letterboxes or, if delivering to a business, they are hand delivered to the reception area. There should be no wet weather issues unless letterboxes are not waterproof. As the newspaper is highly regarded, after having built a loyal following on the Coast over 7 years, it is not being seen as junk mail and therefore reaches more homes than other catalogue distributions in those same areas. Inserts benefit from being included in such a highly respected publication. In another novel move, the cost of inserts reduces for each other insert that is also included in the same distribution. This discount can be up to 33% off the single insert price. At least 40 walkers are being employed to complete the distribution, as well as drivers to deliver bulk quantities to selected locations. Well over 120,000 readers will now be better informed than ever by having this highly respected newspaper delivered to their home. If you would like further information or wish to take advantage of this vast home delivery, feel free to contact me.

area. This new suburb will be to the tune of 30,000 new homes (not the 40,500 proposed for just a few suburbs of the Central Coast) with new road upgrades as part of the $3.6 billion road building program in the area. It seems he has recently become a Greenie, by committing 150,000 new trees to complement this new land release, whilst we in the north of the Central Coast have our bushland systematically destroyed by uncontrolled housing, mines and toxic environmental disasters such as the PFAS issues at Lake Munmorah and Colongra Bay. The Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct Committee Inc is very concerned that the NSW Planning Minister and our state representatives may be receiving incorrect information on the human health and environment of this region. Mr Roberts has failed to identify building sites, raising issues under the North Wyong Structure Plan which mooted only 20,000 new home sites, and failed miserably to identify the locations of all proposed mineral extraction processes.

he Central Coast Airport continues to be debated into its third decade, and although I generally favour aircraft and airports, I do not favour ratepayers having to foot the bill for such a project at Sparks Rd.

In Mr Codrington’s statements, there is still no indication of what 20-40 seater aircraft can work off and be financially sustainable. Of course there are short take off and land

FORUM (STOL) aircraft, but their commercial usefulness is ending. Mr Codrington rules out 100 seat plus being types and this is elementary. The car I drive was imported in knocked down form and assembled here, a long time ago. This process can still apply to aircraft imported from the USA. This could happen at Albion Park, Scone, Temora or Tamworth; or it could happen in

any factory bay here in Wyong or Gosford. If the Central Coast Airport is such a great investment, then why isn’t private enterprise offering to buy out city hall? If such enterprise was to be listed on the stock exchange, any prospectus could not pass SE requirements. Case closed please Mr Codrington. The Business Chamber worries me and it should know better. Letter, Dec 16 Graham Hansen, Lake Munmorah

Page 17 December 19, 2017

Image released well after a robbery

Convicted paedophile and former priest to be released on parole T

he Bishop of Broken Bay, Mr Peter Comensoli, has warned parishioners in The Entrance of the impending release of c o n v i c t e d paedophile, former priest, Mr Finian Egan.

Mr Egan is due to be released from Long Bay prison on Tuesday December 19, after serving four years of an eight-year sentence for sex offences committed against girls aged between 10-17, between 1962 and the 1987. These offences took place across Sydney and at The Entrance. Catholic Bishop Comensoli wrote to parishioners following the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child abuse, and expressed both his sympathies for those affected by the news of Mr Egan’s release, as well as outlining some of the conditions surrounding his return to society. “The pain and complexity of the matters detailed in the Royal Commission have reached deeply into our lives in many different ways,” Bishop Comensoli wrote. “I recognise the dreadful wounds experienced when trust has been betrayed in our local

Anyone with information about these incidents should call

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: http://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/ Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

faith communities, and I am determined to right the wrongs for victims, survivors, families and faith communities, and to work for their healing. “I acknowledge, quite plainly, my responsibility to do all that we can to ensure the safety of everyone in our Diocese. “The recommendations of the Royal Commission will significantly aid me, and my key leadership team, in this task. “I want to acknowledge one local situation which will enter a new phase this week. “Finian Egan, formerly a priest of the Diocese of Broken Bay, is to be released on parole. “This development will occasion different reactions and emotions for many of you, even distress, especially for those who may have known Finian, and most particularly for those who have been offended against and hurt by him. “Given the various reactions people will experience to this news,

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I wish to share with you some of the conditions that surround his return to society,” the Bishop wrote. According to the Bishop, Mr Egan has been permanently removed from Ministry, and following his release, prison authorities have organised accommodation for him outside of the Broken Bay Diocese. “We understand that the nature of his parole will also entail certain restrictions, particularly around matters of association, and as his Bishop, I have also placed certain additional restrictions upon Finian,” Bishop Comensoli wrote. These restrictions include: Never exercising priestly ministry whatsoever; never referring to himself as a priest or in any way imply to be a priest; never seeking accommodation in any area in which he has ministered previously; and never presenting himself in person to any diocesan or parish site of the Diocese of Broken Bay, including any presbytery. Mr Egan, now 81-yearsold, was granted parole by the Parole Authority, which deemed him no longer a risk to the community. Source: Letter, Dec 16 Rev Peter Comensoli, Bishop of Broken Bay

ONTHEBEAT

olice have released CCTV images of a man they believe can assist with inquiries following a robbery at The Entrance earlier this year.

Between 8pm and 9pm on Sunday, July 30, a man approached a 32-year-old woman and demanded her phone, before she was assaulted. The woman gave the phone to the man and

he left the area, she sustained minor injuries. The man was last seen on foot at Oakland Ave, The Entrance. Police from Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command commenced an investigation and are seeking assistance from the public. Officers wish to speak to the man depicted in the CCTV images.

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, slim build, about 35 to 45 years old, about 183cm, and shaved head. He is shown in the images wearing a white hat, t-shirt and tracksuit pants. His left arm is covered in tattoos. Investigations are continuing. Source: website, Dec 18 Tuggerah Lakes LAC Facebook page

Man arrested for indecent assault

olice have charged a man with numerous offences, after he allegedly indecently assaulted a door to door saleswoman in Bateau Bay.

At about 2:30pm, on Wednesday, December 13, an 18-year-old woman was working as a sales representative in the Bateau Bay area when she knocked on the front door of a home on Sabrina Ave. A 47-year-old man answered the door and asked the woman to come inside. The woman declined and started walking away from the premises. The occupant allegedly grabbed the woman and pulled her inside the home, where he indecently assaulted her, not allowing her to leave. After a struggle, the woman managed to flee from the home and reported the incident to police. On Thursday, December 14, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command attended the Sabrina Ave home and arrested the

occupant. He was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was questioned and later charged with detain person with intent to obtain advantage,

assault with act of indecency, intimidation and command assault. He was refused bail and appeared in Wyong Local Court on Friday, December 15. Source: Media release, Dec 14 NSW Police Media

HEALTH Page 18

December 19, 2017

International Day of People with a Disability celebrated

Black Tie Ball raises nearly $5,000 for geriatric rehabilitation T

he Freemasons of Lodge Wyong Tuggerah Lakes, held a Roaring 20’s Black Tie Ball at Soldiers Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

ob Centre Australia hosted the second annual talent showcase, in celebration of the International Day of People with a Disability, at the Wyong Race Club, on Tuesday, December 5. The event attracted a crowd of more than 280 people, including people from local schools and

Family Business

NDIS providers. There were 25 performances that ranged from singing, dancing and monologues to original compositions. There were also a number of inspirational speeches, which enabled young people to share their stories with the community. “The crowd really got behind everyone that performed, regardless of their level of skill,” Marketing

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and Communications Manager for Job Centre Australia, Ms Michelle Weaver, said. Member for Gosford and former Paralympic Gold Medallist, Ms Liesl Tesch, attended as a special guest, and was well received by those who attended. “She was really inspirational, and what she said really resonated with the crowd,” Ms Weaver said. “It was great to have her there as a champion of people with disabilities,” she said. Whilst it was difficult to decide on a winner, the Response Service Band was awarded first place, after their performance of ‘Never Tear Us Apart’, by iconic Australian band

WYONG DENTURE CLINIC

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Source: Media release, Dec 1 Job Centre Australia Interview, Dec 14 Michelle Weaver, Job Centre Australia Olivana Smith-Lathouris, Journalist

Source: Media release, Dec 13 Chris Matthews, Freemasons Lodge of Wyong Tuggerah Lakes

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INXS. The Lions Club provided a barbeque, and Bunnings and Woolworths supplied lunch, as well as popcorn and slushies. Ms Weaver said the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “It was a really inclusive event and it gives people that opportunity to jump on stage and do something they probably wouldn’t normally do,” she said. The event is expected to occur again in 2018 for its third consecutive year.

The night was well supported, both by local businesses in the area, and Freemasons on the Central Coast and their wives/partners and friends. The entertainment was provided by Lucky Starr and his band. The ultimate aim of the evening was to fundraise, and $2,350 was raised on the night. This sum was matched dollar for dollar by Masonicare, making a total of $4,700, which was then handed over to the Geriatric Rehabilitation Ward at Wyong Hospital. These funds provide inpatient care to those 65 years and over who present as the result of an incident or illness that requires hospital care. Many of these patients are admitted with agerelated chronic diseases that, as well as requiring rehabilitation, results in a

complex, lengthy stay in hospital. Items purchased from previous donations include a refrigerator, television, DVD player and a Nintendo Wii. These items are fundamental in assisting staff, particularly occupational therapists, to assist patients in their treatment to achieve a positive outcome in their rehabilitation by working on a patient’s stability and control of posture whilst moving and doing other tasks. This training is essential to assist in functional independence and to gain confidence before returning home, which is the ultimate goal of therapy. “Central Coast Local Health District has a long association with the Freemasons on the Central Coast and we look forward to continuing for many years to come,” the Lodge’s Mr Chris Matthews said.

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EDUCATION

Page 20 December 19, 2017

School in limbo awaiting Crown Land decision

Gorokan raises $3,800 in World’s Greatest Shave T

he Tuggerah Public School community has been let down by the NSW Government, according to the Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan.

orokan High School students participated in the 2017 World’s Greatest Shave.

The students registered a group, ‘Team Gorokan

High School’, and were able to raise more than $3,800 over a three-week period. School Captain, Jacqui Chapman, and Student Council President, Georgi Mauger, led the team

as they rallied staff and students to join them in raising funds through donation, or signing up to shave. Source: Newsletter, Dec 8 Erin Osborne, Gorokan High School

University teachers and students visit Budgewoi PS to work on project E ight students and teachers from the University of Sydney visited Budgewoi Public School on Thursday, November 30, to work with Year 6 students.

The lesson the students were involved in was called ‘Floating Houses a Science’. It was based on civil engineering activity, where students use the concepts of buoyancy

to create a structure that floats and holds weight while using minimal material. Source: Newsletter, Nov 27 Kim Moore, Budgewoi Public School

“When I first got elected, one of the first schools to approach me about an issue was Tuggerah Public School, because the school doesn’t have enough playground space,” Mr Mehan said. “The community learned many years ago that there was Crown Land next door, and they have been asking the NSW Education Department to claim that land for the school,” he said. According to Mr Mehan, the Education Department has made some attempts to claim the land. “Those attempts have gone nowhere so far, because there is an undetermined Aboriginal Land Rights Claim over that land,” Mr Mehan said. NSW Aboriginal Land Rights claims are determined solely by the Lands Minister, working on advice provided by the Crown Lands unit. In June, 2016, Mr Mehan was advised that the Land Claim Unit had prioritised the claim. “But since June last year, the school community has had no indication from the Minister or the Education Department that they are still interested in the

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Christmas Services All Saints Alglican Church

289-291 The Entrance Road, The Entrance

land,” he said. Tuggerah Public School’s P&C and Mr Mehan have written letters to both the Department and the Minister. “The simple way for the Land Claim to be determined is for the Education Department to tell the Minister they want the land.” Mr Mehan said that he did not know why the Education Department was not taking positive steps to secure the land. “I can speculate, and the speculation is along the lines that they don’t like the cost of developing the land for the school. “I am not sure if that is a valid argument. “The school does have land, but it is on a steep slope that would be very difficult and costly to develop. “This Crown Land is on the same level as the existing school. “It is right next to the highway. “The school doesn’t necessarily have to bulldoze the whole long for an oval, it might have different play spaces, it might have a bush trail, but the important thing is the additional space. “The school has no ability to plan without the certainty over the land. “All the Education Department has done

locally is to talk to the school about reducing its numbers and heavily come down on rostering playground time,” he said. The current student population at Tuggerah Public School is 500 and it is reasonably stable after years of significant growth. Mr Mehan said the Department had been arguing that the school has too many out of area enrolments. “That is not an excuse. “Even if you got rid of the out of area children, there is still not enough play space. “We want the Minister for Education to provide information to allow the Lands Minister to determine the claim in favour of the school. “This land should not be allowed to be handed to Darkinjung, they have claimed all the Crown Land on the Central Coast and they don’t need this, in my view. “They should consider the interests of the school community and withdraw their claim.” Mr Mehan said Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) was aware of his position. Source: Interview, Dec 18 David Mehan, Member for The Entrance Jackie Pearson, journalist

Do yourself a favour and help save good journalism Does unsolicited advertising that appears on your screen whenever you are using the internet, YouTube, Facebook etc. annoy you? That unsolicited advertising is funded by revenue that has left traditional mediums, such as newspapers, magazines, radio and free to air television, and gone to multinational conglomerates. This has resulted in the loss of many jobs, including those of hundreds of journalists, and the demise of some traditional mediums, even though the effectiveness of this unsolicited advertising is dubious. If you want to do something to help save good journalism, and to stop the annoying, unsolicited advertising popping up on your screen, install the free app, Ad blocker or similar, and do everyone a favour. It only takes about 10 seconds to do so. Help share this message with everyone you know, and before too long, we will start seeing advertising revenue return to traditional mediums and many jobs restored. Brought to you in the interests of saving good journalism by Central Coast Newspapers

Page 21 December 19, 2017

Dangerous toy ordered off the shelves

dangerous toy which could kill or injure children has been ordered off the shelves in Westfield Tuggerah, Minister for Fair Trading, Mr Matt Kean, said. Mr Kean said NSW Fair Trading inspectors had identified the toy during a pre-Christmas safety blitz. This yearâ€™s preChristmas blitz saw NSW Fair Trading inspectors visit 903 businesses across NSW, and inspect 10,727 individual products, with a focus on toys aimed at small children, aquatic toys and projectiles. Mr Kean said that across the State, 41 toys had failed safety testing, including the Light Up Squeaky Balls which were found in Tuggerah. Fair Trading ordered the balls be withdrawn from sale because they included small parts which could choke a

EDUCATION

New 5,000 litre rainwater tank to help preschool T

child. â€œAll the toys identified in the blitz have been removed from sale and Fair Trading will take immediate action against those traders,â€? Mr Kean said. â€œDuring their testing, Fair Trading inspectors use a tube the same size as a small childâ€™s oesophagus to see if there is a choking risk,â€? he said. Under Australian Consumer Law, customers who have inadvertently purchased an unsafe toy are entitled to a refund of the purchase price. Source: Media release, Dec 8 Brooke Eggleton, Office of Matt Kean

he Wallarah 2 Coal Project is helping Toukley P r e s c h o o l Kindergarten in their â€œKids Being Water Wiseâ€? project, with a c o m m u n i t y foundation grant to purchase and install a new 5,000 litre rainwater tank.

Toukley Preschool is a not for profit educational centre, caring for 80 children, aged 3-6 years, each week. The preschool has been established for over 50 years, and currently employs 13 educators. A committee, consisting of parents and community members, oversees the management of the preschool, in consultation with the Centre Director, Ms Dianne Rayner. â€œOur preschool is thrilled to receive this grant from Wallarah 2, which will allow us to install a new 5,000L

Ms Jacqui Hocking, Mr Peter Smith from Wyong Coal and Ms Dianne Rayner â€œAdding the tank to Grant, in fact the children rainwater tank, to provide water for our staff toilets our toilet facilities also are still using the iPads and to use for water play, reduces our water usage. that were purchased with and watering gardens in â€œIt is also envisaged grant proceeds two years our backyard,â€? said Ms that the tank would be ago, and we are very Rayner. used in the future to fortunate to, once again, â€œOur current water tank service the childrenâ€™sâ€™ receive funding through is old and small. toilets as well, as money the program this year,â€? Ms Rayner concluded. â€œThe children love to becomes available. â€œThis is not the first play with water and we Source: would like to continue time that Wallarah 2 have Media release, Nov 23 Peter Smith, Wyong Coal offering them this activity. helped our Preschool with a Community Foundation

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OUT&ABOUT Page 22

December 19, 2017

Special holiday show and workshop for young inventors and creatives A

special holiday show for young inventors and creatives is coming to The Art House in January. ‘Journey to the world of Loose Ends’, is a wild and wonderful children’s show with poetic gadgets, naughty puppets and circus tricks that pop up when you’re least expecting it. This is a world where music appears from lemons, carrots and bunny’s bums, monsters go crazy, and birthday parties are ferociously celebrated. Loose Ends tells the story of a man who can’t cope with the world and the people outside his door. So, he creates a strange secluded universe filled with cardboard boxes. Boxes for everything: nails, shoes, plants, but also courage, fun or pain.

Everything is under control and all he needs can come out of a box. One day, he decides to create a friend, and then another one, and suddenly he finds himself all mixed up in emotions of friendship, betrayal, loyalty and jealously, catapulting him to the

need of a big final decision between managing life on his own and the value of a real connection. In a funny and mesmerising show combining custombuilt contraptions, puppetry, circus, shadow projection, music and transformed objects,

Loose Ends is a touching story about friendship, loyalty and inventiveness Loose Ends has toured Adelaide Fringe, and appears at The Art House as part of a national tour. In conjunction with Loose Ends, The Art House will also be running a special holiday workshop for creative kids. The Wacky Lolly Shooting Workshop will take place on January 16 and 17 at The Art House. Science, fun and construction go handin-hand as kids get introduced to the world of chain reactions and create a room-sized Lolly-Shooting machine out of recycled materials. In a one-hour workshop guaranteed to make science fun, kids aged 8-12 are introduced to the physics behind contraptions, learning about gravity, machines and chain reactions. The children are split into groups and start transforming a pile of apparent random stuff into a working component of a whole ‘Wacky Lolly Shooting Machine’. Once all assembled and connected, the inventors sit back and watch as the chain reaction is triggered. Introducing kids to basic concepts of physics, while having fun, the workshop goes handin-hand with Loose Ends. Source: Media release, Dec 5 Emily Miller, The Art House

A hive of activities over the holiday period

he holiday spirit comes alive this summer as Central Coast Council delivers activities and events at The Entrance, from Christmas Eve through to Australia Day.

Central Coast Council Director, Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said The Entrance is set to shine with a fun packed summer of events aimed at entertaining the whole family. “The annual Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve celebrations at The Entrance are the perfect opportunity to bring family, friends and the community together to celebrate the end of another year,” Ms Vaughan said. “Join in the magic of Christmas with a visit from Santa, and special guests performing favourite Christmas Carols, live on stage, on Christmas Eve. “The Entrance is a favourite holiday spot for residents and visitors alike, and Council is pleased to activate the area this summer with a range of free activities for the whole family.” Carols by Candlelight will take place on Sunday, December 24. “Bring a picnic rug and your best singing voice to Memorial Park, from 6pm, and join in an evening singing along to the Christmas classics,

followed by a spectacular fireworks display at 9pm,” Ms Vaughan said.. “There will be special appearances by Elmo and the Cookie Monster, Spencer Jones, and the jolly man himself, Santa. “Relax again in Memorial Park, from 6pm on New Year’s Eve, with free live entertainment from headlining ARIA award winner, Sarah McLeod, Bravo Victor, and Central Coast all-girl trio, Little Quirks. “Don’t miss another fireworks display at 9pm,” Ms Vaughan said. There will also be a food alley, where visitors can sit, dine and take in the festive atmosphere. Road closures and traffic diversions will be in place from 3pm to 11pm. From January 10-12, Nick Jr.’s PAW Patrol Ready for Action Show is coming to Memorial Park, with daily shows at 11am, 12pm and 1pm. From January 1517, there will be seven Sand Sculpture Activity Workshops each day along the Waterfront Plaza from 10am. From January 19-20, Sand Sculptures will be on display in the Waterfront Plaza. On Australia Day, January 26, Memorial Park will be the place to be seen with heaps of free activities from 12pm9pm. Source: Media release, Dec 15 Central Coast Council Media

THE GRAND PAVILION Terrigal 4385 8892 9/17 Church St, Terrigal Lunch: 11:30 – 2:00pm (Mon – Sun) Dinner: 5:00 – 10:00pm (Sun – Thur) Dinner: 5:00 – 10:30pm (Fri – Sat)

Page 23 December 19, 2017

$25,000 top A prize lay unscratched and unnoticed

OUT&ABOUT

Resident opens community library for young readers

Chain Valley Bay resident has opened a new community library for young readers.

n Instant Scratch-Its ticket hiding a $25,000 top prize, lay unscratched and unnoticed in a Central Coast woman’s purse for weeks before she discovered the happy news for herself. The woman originally bought the $2 Instant Scratch-Its ticket at Killarney Vale Newsagency. Speaking to a NSW Lotteries official about her win, the happy winner described how she revealed her instant windfall one day at work. “Oh my gosh, it just made my life,” she said. “It’s come at an awesome time. “I bought it ages ago and I was having morning tea at work, saw the ticket and scratched it. “I went ‘nah, that can’t be right’.

“I didn’t tell anyone as I thought it was a lie. “I just kept checking the ticket. “I went to the newsagency and asked them to check it. “They said I was a winner and I just started crying. “I’ve never won anything in my life,” she said. The winner plans to celebrate the windfall by dining out and having a wonderful Christmas with her family. Killarney Vale Newsagency owner, Ms Karen Batman, said she was thrilled that one of her customers won a top prize. “It’s been a while since we last sold a top-prize winning Instant ScratchIts, so it’s great to see a win back in the store.” Source: Media release, Dec 7 Matt Hart, NSW Lotteries

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Ms Veronica Wilding has opened the Chain Valley Bay Children’s Library on Scaysbrook Ave, Chain Valley Bay South, to share her love of reading with her community, and to help foster better literacy skills. “The idea to open the children’s library stemmed from my love of helping children to read and write,” Ms Wilding said. “This idea popped into my head and I thought why not give it a go, if I can support one child, then mission accomplished. “In Chain Valley Bay there are many young families with children and some may find it difficult to buy books as they can be quite costly, while for others, the commute to the other libraries on the Coast might be a struggle, especially for those without transport. “Therefore, having the library at the local Community Hall makes great sense. The library is specifically designed to meet the needs of children aged 0-17,” Ms Wilding explained. The endeavour was truly a community one, with Ms Wilding enlisting the help of community members, Council and

Chain Valley Bay Children's Library is now open to the community’s delight other community run libraries. “I went to the Chain Valley Bay General Store to speak with Mr and Ms Rod and Lyn Axford, telling them about my idea. “They were most supportive and recommended that I attend some local meetings and share the idea with other respected committee members and representatives. “Clr Doug Vincent suggested that it would be worthwhile visiting Halekulani Library and talking with Ms Fay Gyde,” Ms Wilding said. Ms Gyde told Ms Wilding about how she first took over the library in 2000-2001, and how she has kept its doors open by taking on a large portion of the managerial work herself. “Lyn, Doug and I met

LOOSE ENDS TUES 16 - THUR 18 JANUARY Get your little inventors tangled up in a wild and wonderful children’s show with crazy gadgets, naughty puppets and circus tricks that pop up when you’re least expecting it!

up at the Halekulani Library to find out more about how the library is managed, operated and funded. “Halekulani Library is run solely through dedicated volunteers on a part time basis and is funded through raffles, selling handmade crafts, two annual fetes, and is given small grants from time to time. “Fay is certainly inspiring and her enthusiasm and dedication, I believe, is the driving force behind Halekulani Library’s longevity and success,” Ms Wilding said. “On the opening day of Chain Valley Bay Children’s Library, I was very excited, yet at the same time couldn’t believe it was really happening. “It was a fun day had by all and to have the

RAYMOND CROWE

support from my family, as well having friends to turn up on the day was wonderful. “My vision for the future is to continue supporting children’s literacy skills in an environment where they feel welcome and have the resources and professional guidance to learn and develop as confident readers. “In an age of technology, I am aware that children also need access to appropriate online learning materials. “For now, I am very grateful for what I have, and that is a cupboard of beautiful books, many of which have been kindly donated from members of the community,” Ms Wilding concluded. Source: Interviews, Dec 2 Veronica Wilding, Chain Valley Bay Children’s Library Dilon Luke, journalist

TOM BURLINSON

THE UNUSUALIST

NOW WE’RE SWINGIN’

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 7:30PM Magician, comedian, inventor, master of illusion, ventriloquist, shadow and mime artist - don’t miss this multifaceted Aussie genius.

SATURDAY 3 MARCH 8PM Come fly with Tom Burlinson and a fabulous band of top musicians as Tom salutes the masters of vocal swing: Frank Sinatra, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Dean Martin and many more.

OUT&ABOUT Page 24

December 19, 2017

Community Library receives community grant

a l e k u l a n i Community Library has been operating in B u d g e w o i Community Centre since 1989.

The library is completely volunteer run, with a small group of dedicated ladies and their families, giving up their time and effort to keep the doors open and the shelves stocked. Library Co-ordinator, Ms Fay Gyde, explained that without the help of these volunteers, their library wouldn’t exist and they would not be able to

lend to the senior citizens and others who cannot travel to Lake Haven or Toukley. “Audrey Pike, one of our longest standing volunteers, passed away recently. “Audrey was 92 and had been volunteering at our library for almost 25 years, which is a wonderful achievement”, said Ms Gyde. “We rely heavily on our volunteers and also on community grant programs such as the Wallarah 2 Community Foundation.

“We wouldn’t be able to provide members of the community the resources and services we do without this funding. “These funds will assist us to keep our library well stocked with new authors as they come to hand, and to offer some of the latest books to our almost 2,000 members. “We are delighted to be selected by Wallarah 2 as one of this year’s successful grant recipients,” Ms Gyde said. Source: Media release, Nov 23 Peter Smith, Wyong Coal

The Greens The Entrance - Warrigal St, The Entrance NSW 2261 - 02 4332 5955 www.thegreenstheentrance.com FB - www.facebook.com/thegreenstheentrance

Tidy Towns asks litterers to be a bit more responsible T

oo many streets in our local neighbourhoods are littered with rubbish, which does nothing for our local pride, let alone the value of your home, or the potential pollution of our waterways, says Tidy Town’s representative, Mr Mike Doyle.

“Lake Haven has even been called ‘the rubbish capital of Australia,’” he added. Tidy Towns is a group of volunteers who go out every week picking up

other people’s rubbish, and the Central Coast group would love to have some extra hands to help with the task. The local organiser, Ms Christine Burnham, said, “You can tell how long it takes to eat a KFC or a McDonald’s burger, because that’s where the worst of the rubbish tends to get thrown out of the car window.” She made this plea to residents: “Don’t be so lazy, and be a bit more responsible, and take your rubbish home. “For local residents, if you find some rubbish

outside of your home, please do your bit and pick it up, and pop it in your rubbish bin.” The volunteers have already made a significant contribution since starting late last year, collecting on average about four giantsized bags of rubbish each week from just one small area. Tidy Towns is an initiative by the Central Coast Council and supported by their Landcare Program. Source: Media release, Dec 14 Mike Doyle, Tidy Towns Central Coast

Page 25 December 19, 2017

Council announces Christmas closures T C entral Coast Council offices and a number of services will close from midday Friday, December 22, for the annual Christmas closure, and reopen on January 2, 2018.

This includes Gosford and Wyong Offices, Libraries and works depots. Essential services will continue throughout the closure period, including residential waste collection, water treatment, and lifeguards will patrol beaches. All Council run leisure facilities will be closed on Christmas and Boxing

Day, but will be open other days, with the exception of Lake Haven Recreation Centre, which will also be closed on New Yearâ€™s Day. Gosford Regional Gallery will be closed on the designated public holidays. Buttonderry Waste Management Facility will also be closed on Christmas Day and New Yearâ€™s Day, but open on the other days for waste disposal. Council will have emergency and essential services available. Source: Media release, Dec 18 Central Coast Council Media

â€œJesus the Game Changerâ€? documentary

esus the Game Changer has appeared on a billboard at the roundabout where the Pacific Hwy turns right across the railway line at Watanobbi. â€œJesus the Game Changerâ€?, a new documentary chronicling the impact of his teachings on Western society, shares how the life and teaching of Jesus changed the world, and why it matters. In the lead up to Easter 2018, Australian churches, including St James in Wyong, are joining together to share this message with their communities and view the documentary.

In this documentary series, host, Mr Karl Faase, travels to the UK, USA, Singapore, India and Australia, interviewing authors, academics and modern-day game changers about how the life and teaching of Jesus changed the world and why it matters. The content of the series is balanced between historical information, cultural insights and retelling the stories of modern day game changers. â€œJesus the Game Changerâ€? begins on Sunday, February 25, 2018, and runs over six Sundays, leading up to Easter. Source: Media release, Dec 15 Rev Kevin Wares, Wyong Anglican Church

OUT&ABOUT

Trees probably poisoned

he death of a stand of 80-yearold Norfolk Pine Trees at Cabbage Tree Bay, and of vegetation in Mazlin Park, has been drawn to the attention of Central Coast Councillors.

Mr Tony Booth sent photos of the dying trees to local Councillors. Mr Mark Smith of Noraville had posted the photos on Facebook and said he believed the trees had been deliberately poisoned. â€œIt is not a result of dieback or any other phenomena,â€? Mr Booth said. Wyong Regional Chronicle has asked Central Coast Council for more information about the trees and the Mazlin Park vegetation. Clr Kyle MacGregor said: â€œThese reports of very mature or significant trees being removed, interfered with and cut down are concerning and this is an issue that has been raised across many suburbs. â€œIt needs to be taken seriously, investigated and addressed by the relevant authorities. â€œI am contacted daily by residents concerned about tree issues, bush and environmental management and we need to respond as a Council to the serious concerns of residents and ensure that we are responding in a timely and effective manner to their concerns about these issues. â€œWe must ensure that we treat the land that we live on with respect

and that we are acting in a responsible and sustainable manner and that includes the trees that provide shade and wind protection, help reduce erosion, provide us with oxygen and help provide habitat for native fauna. â€œI anticipate that with many of the new Councillors taking a keen interest in environmental issues and our Mayor

having a background in that area that we will be able to respond to these issues both collectively and progressively as the new Central Coast Council. â€œI believe Councillor Greenaways motion at the previous council meeting regarding the tree policy may be a signal that the wind is now blowing in a new direction in this policy

area,â€? Clr MacGregor said. He added that the new Norah Head master plan includes a focus on planting native trees specific to the region rather than the Norfolk Pines that have previously been grown. Source: Email, Dec 8 Tony Booth, Norah Head Media statement, Dec 15 Kyle MacGregor, Central Coast Council

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Page 26 December 19, 2017

COMMUNITY GROUPS Bateau Bay Men’s Shed Environment for mature aged men to repair items, share and learn skills and socialise 9am to 1.30pm Tue to Thur 1 Bay Village Road, Bateau Bay 0435 807 633 bateaubayshed@gmail.com

Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre Financial Counselling, Tool Library, Computer Hub and Computer Lessons, Private Art Therapy Sessions, Homework Help, Self Esteem Group, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Group, EAPA-Energy Accounts Payment Assistance, Early Links Outreach Worker, Tax Help, Holiday activities for kids and young people, Community Garden, Events, Referral Services, Op Shop and Food Store. Community BBQ on first Thurs 4332 7450 http://bbnc.org.au

dinners, BBQs, picnics, trips Volunteering away etc. Central Coast Monthly Meet & Chat Refer potential volunteers 0422 243 101 to community organisations email cco30s@live.com.au and provide support to volunteers and community The Creative organisations. Compassion Centre Inc. Training for volunteers and Secondhand Shopping, managers of volunteers Upcycling Minimalism, Information Sessions held Creativity, Community regularly across the Coast Lounge Area, Free Wifi, or a 4329 7122 cuppa and chat, call in recruit@volcc.org.au and see us at 5/22-32 Pacific Highway Wyong Neighbourhood (Next to BYO Cellars) Centre Opening hours Supporting disadvantaged Mon-Sat 9-4pm vulnerable and isolated 0437 048 815 members of our community offering a range of Gambling Solutions community services, events, Gambling help counsellors projects, workshops, arts providing free confidential programs and an open professional service to community garden. gamblers, family and friends 4353 1750 Woy Woy, Kincumber, Gosford and The Entrance Wyong Toastmasters 4344 7992 Club Wedding speeches, work Freemasons presentations, Annual event 4th Thurs in put your butterflies into May each year formation. Regular event 4th Thurs monthly We are here to assist from 10am 10.30am - 1st, 3rd & 5th Ladies are invited Friday Wyong RSL Anzac Morisset Masonic Centre Avenue Wyong Westlake Daylight 0415 158 733 Masonic Lodge wyongtoastmasters@gmail.com 5 Yambo Street Morisset Jack Harris 4392 1231

Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre Indoor bowls, mahjong, walking for pleasure, Lake Munmorah Senior slimmers support, hand and Citizens Club foot Bolivia cards, Toy library Computer Classes, dancing, and community garden exercise, pilates, yoga, craft, 4388 5801 carpet bowls and Tai Chi. manager@bvnc.org.au 4358 8390 www.bvnc.org.au

Diggers Toastmasters Club 2nd & 4th Monday Diggers@TheEntrance Club Improve your confidence in communication Meetings are interesting, informative and fun. Contact Ron 0419 766 502 ron@ihold.com.au Central Coast Community Legal Centre Not for profit service providing free legal advice. Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

4353 4988 centralcoast@clc.net.au

Central Coast 50+ Singles Social Group Invites Ladies & Gents for dinner, dancing - BBQs & Socialising each w/e. Monthly programme for all areas of the coast 0412 200 571 0437 699 366 50pssg@gmail.com

Central Coast Social Group Social contact, entertainment events, new friendships, for 30’s-60’s Live music, house parties,

Long Jetty Senior Citizens Club Computer classes, line dancing, tai chi and zumba gold - M-F, 9am to 3pm for full list of activities 4332 5522 Long Jetty Over 50s Club Indoor bowls, computers, exercises, yoga, linedancing, tai chi and more 9am to 3pm 4332 5522 Mingaletta Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Corporation Meeting place and referral hub for education, health, well-being and cultural programs through consultative services and community programs Mon-Fri 9am 4pm 4342 7515 admin@mingaletta.com.au

The NSW Justices Association Inc Seeking volunteers for 8 community JP Desks in Wyong Area Free Insurance and training provided 0418 493 388

GARDEN CLUBS

Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Club 3rd Sat 1 to 3.30pm Plants for Sale, Raffles, afternoon tea Charmhaven Community Centre 0401 544 052 4399 2420 Central Coast Permaculture meet friendly like minded people at our information night held at Tuggerah Community Hall on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. 6:30 for 7pm start Bob on 0412 133 808

HEALTH GROUPS Better Hearing Australia Central Coast Hearing loss management Support and educational groups providing practical experience and confidence Learn the benefits of hearing aids 4321 0275 Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Gosford) Meet last Fri Terrigal Uniting Church 380 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal 9.30am to 12 noon 4367 9600 www.pcfa.org.au

Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Wyong) Meet last Mon Toukley RSL Club, Holmes Ave Toukley 10.00am to 12 noon 4356 9300 www.pcfa.org.au

Warnervale Branch - NSW Labor Party To support and promote NSW Labor within the Warnervale area. 3rd Tue 7pm Hamlyn Terrace Community Centre 0419 128 497

Northern Settlement Services - Volunteers Friendly visits to the elderly in nursing homes. People with a second language encouraged to apply. Training & support provided 4334 3877

warnervale.labor@gmail.com

cvscc@nsservices.com.au

Central Coast Soaring Club Inc Gliding Club, Learn to fly, Instruction FREE to members. 14 Y/O and up for Training Thur, Sat, Sun (weather permitting) Bloodtree Rd Mangrove Mountain 0412 164 082 0414 635 047

GROW Support Groups Marine Rescue Small friendly groups Tuggerah Lakes www.ccsoaring.com.au formed to learn how Volunteers wanted, Toowoon Bay to overcome anxiety, challenging conditions, Probus Club Bridge Club depression and loneliness interrupted meals, early Morning tea, guest speakers Social bridge Tues, 9.45amand to improve mental starts, breathtaking talking on topics relevant to 1pm health and well-being. Tuggerah Lakes views. Seniors, as well as regular The Greens The Entrance Anonymous, free and open Rewards: - Saving exciting social events. 4th (with or without a partner) to all. Weekly meetings at distressed boaters or maybe Thur 10am. Len 4332 6989 Bateau Bay and Wyong saving a life Anglican Church Hall, David 4392 0606 1800 558 268 0488 442 051 Cnr Brooke Ave & Eastern www.grow.org.au uc.tuggerahlakes@marinerescuensw. Rd., Bateau Bay Tuggerah Lakes U3A com.au 4334 3979 Long Jetty - Discussions, play reading, cryptic SPECIAL INTEREST Soundwaves Tuggerah Combined crosswords, talks, readers Men’s acapella 4 part Biz Plus Networking Probus Club Inc group, Mahjong harmony chorus - all Association Toukley - Creative writing, Meet new friends and enjoy ages 7pm Mon Grow your business French conversation social events. Central Coast and in the process build Berkeley Vale - Music 2nd Thur., 10:30am, guest Leagues Club worthwhile relationships. Appreciation speakers. John 0413 276 698 Biz Networking breakfasts Chittaway Bay - Movies Social outings 3rd Thur. jbthomson51@gmail.com Every Thur 7:15- 9am 4390 2451 Woodbury Park Community www.tugglakesu3a.info Erina Leagues Club Hall, Mardi Coastal a Cappella Geoff Neilson 4351 0450 Dynamic award winning Mingara Indoor network@bizplus.com.au women’s a cappella chorus Bowls Club new members Central Coast Tenants’ Daily competition (singles, always welcome. pairs & triples) Winner’s Advice and Advocacy Inner Wheel Club Music eduction provided Prize Strongly social. Sun Service Wyong Lots of Performance 9.30am- Noon. Free telephone advice and Women’s club with the opportunities, or hire us Mon 6.30–9pm. advocacy for all tenants common interest of giving for your next event. Wed 9.30am-2pm as well as residents in back to the community 0412 948 450 Ray 4389 2567 residential parks while developing lasting coastalacappella@gmail.com Mingara Club 4353 5515 friendships. 4349 7799 cctaas@hotmail.com 7.00 pm 3rd Wed Wyong raymurphy1935@hotmail.com Uniting Church Australian Labor Party National Parks 4393 2755 Ourimbah/ Narara iiw.au.wyong@gmail.com Association Branch Central Coast KI-DO Mingara Judo Discussion/action The Lions Club of Twice weekly bush walks, Academy community issues varying distances and Wyong Inc Junior boys and girls 3 levels of Government grades of difficulty. 47 years supporting Mon and Wed Two classes Niagara Park Primary Explore, enjoy scenery, local activities School 7.30pm 1st Mon 6-8.30pm from 7yrs Kangy fauna, flora, history. Keep Join us - Meet new friends 0410 309 494 Angy fit and make friends 4th Tues Monthly 6:30pm kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com 0413 237 010 4389 4423 & Don Small / Lions www.kidomingarajudo.com.au Central Coast Greens 4332 7378 retirement village The Central Coast Greens WOMENS GROUPS Call James For a fairer, more transparent Naval Association 0415 909 269 BPW Central Coast and accountable government www.wyong.nsw.lions.org.au of Australia Empowering women of all based on democratic principles Tuggerah Lakes SS ages in the areas of work, Local, state-wide, national The Rotary Club Meeting of serving and and international issues and education, well-being and of the Entrance Inc. ex-serving naval personnel campaigns - Council and friendship. A small, friendly and male and female who will parliamentary representation Monthly dinner meetings, have an interest in naval effective club supporting Developing a new economy two course meal and ways and discussing the many local organisations, Protecting our environment speaker. ways of the present Navy and international Rotary Peaceful conflict resolution 2nd Sat monthly at Diggers Community transport avail. Community participation Activities. Chris Levis We meet monthly every 3rd Club, The Entrance Meetings 6.30 pm Tues 0438 989 199 Thu - Details and info: 4389 4004 Mingara Recreation Club bpwcentralcoast@hotmail.com centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au 0409 449 498 www.bpw.com.au/central-coast centralcoastgreens@gmail.com Central Coast Lapidary rotarytheentrance@gmail.com Club Minerals & Gems Northern Women’s NSW Labor Party Learn silverwork, Torchbearers for Health Centre The Entrance Day Branch Cabochons, Faceting, Legacy Toukley Family law advice, Monthly meetings to Raising funds for Brisbane Enamelling, Stone Fieldtrips counselling, therapeutic and discuss and debate policy & fossicking Weekly Waters Legacy. Harry social groups, workshops, as well as campaign for Workshops Tues and Thurs Moore Golf Day, Garage domestic violence and local labor candidates and 8.30am-2.30pm markets and street stalls. abuse issues. Members of Parliament. Thurs 6-10pm 10 Ourimbah All services are provided by 2nd Mon 9.30am Norah 2nd Mon 2pm The Creek Rd Ourimbah Head Legacy women for women Entrance Leagues Club 4362 2246 0414 701 489 4351 1152 4332 2907

PROBUS CLUBS

MUSIC

SERVICE GROUPS

POLITICAL GROUPS

SPORT

hartas@bigpond.net. aurotarytheentrance@gmail.com

cclapidary@optusnet.com.au

www.cccwhc.com.au

benefits@nswja.org.au

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here, see www. duckscrossing.org or www.centralcoastnewspapers.com for the forms or contact Central Coast Newspapers on - 4325 7369

Entries in the Not For Profit Community Organisations Directory are free*. *However, we require each organisation to subscribe to each newspaper to ensure that someone from that organisation keeps their entry up to date. Australia Post is about to increase their postage rates by over 42% and we can no longer continue to absorb these increases. Subscription rates have therefore needed to be increased from $50 to $75 for 25 editions.

Page 27 December 19, 2017

SPORT

Grant delayed by inability to complete a lease he latest community organisation to find itself stuck in funding limbo due to inaction by Central Coast Council, is the Charmhaven Tennis Centre.

Spokesperson for the Centre, Mr Brett Beven, said it was formerly operated as a 355 Committee of Wyong Council, but a community association was formed two years ago that has taken over its management. Prior to the 2016 Federal Election, the Liberal Member for Dobell, Ms Karen McNamara, secured $200,000 Commonwealth Government funding to build a new clubhouse at the centre. “We met all the conditions, but the lease period needed to be for more than five years,” Mr Beven said.

“We started negotiating our lease extension with Central Coast Council in February, to run until October 1, 2025, but it has now been nine months, and Council hasn’t progressed the matter,” he said. “We will not get the funding released to us until the lease has been fixed, but now Council is saying that there needs to be a period of 28 days’ public exhibition for a lease over five years. “If that’s the rule, I don’t have a problem with it, but it wasn’t picked up for eight months and it still hasn’t been advertised. “The last time I asked where it was up to, I was told the draft notice was with management and my requests for information from the Director, Mr Mike Dowling, have been ignored. “Some of the departments within Council have been great to deal with,” he added.

According to Mr Beven, the tennis centre has grown to be the biggest not-for-profit tennis centre on the Coast, and the third largest in the State, with 180 active students and a total membership of 468. “In the past two years, we have fully funded, independent from Council: $36,000 for upgrading the internals of the existing clubhouse; $25,000 for a new court surface; $24,000 for new landscaping; and $7,000 for building a new path,” he said. “Council has invested $38,000 in this centre since 1960, and we have spent $168,000 in two years,” he said. Wyong Regional Chronicle has asked Central Coast Council to respond. Source: Interview, Dec 8 Ben Beven, Charmhaven Tennis Centre Jackie Pearson, journalist

The Wyong Diary For events in post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2263

Tuesday, Dec 19 Inflatable FunMingara Aquatics, Mingara Recreation Club, until Jan 25, closed public holidays, entry fee

Thursday, Dec 21 Ben Woodham Duo, Wyong Races, 1:00pm

Friday, Dec 22 Ben Woodham, Mingara Recreation Club, 7:30pm Kids Christmas Disco, Mingara Recreation Club, 6:00pm, booking essential

Saturday, Dec 23 Ben Woodham, Sails Stage, The Entrance, 11:00am Crawfish Stew, The Lakes Hotel, The Entrance, 8:30pm The Search Party, Diggers at The Entrance,

8:30pm Boom! Shake Shake the Room 90’s Night, Mingara Recreation Club, 8:00pm

Carols in Memorial Park, The Entrance, 6:00pm

Entrance, Memorial Park including Little Quirks, Bravo Victor, Sarah McLeod, fireworks at 9:00pm, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Fleetwood Nicks show, Diggers at The Entrance, 9:00pm Roll Again, The Coast Hotel Budgewoi, 9:00pm

Monday, Dec 25

Saturday, Jan 6

Christmas Lunch and Budi Bone performance, Diggers at The Entrance, 11:30am to 2:00pm, bookings essential Christmas Day Buffet Breakfast, Maximilians and The Beachcomber Hotel, 7:30am, bookings essential

Paints of War, Tuggerah Library Wyong Farmers Market, Wyong Racecourse Howarth St, Wyong, 7:30am to 1:00pm

Sunday, Dec 24

Saturday, Dec 30 Most Wanted 80’s Tribute Show, Diggers at The Entrance, 8:30pm

Wednesday, Jan 10 Nick Jr’s PAW Patrol Action Show, The Entrance Memorial Park, 11:00am, 12:00pm and 1:00pm, until Friday, Jan 12

Sunday, Dec 31 New Year’s Eve at The

See the Peninsula News for events in post code areas 2256 & 2257 and the COAST Community News for events in post code areas 2250, 2260 and 2251 If you’ve got something happening in the Wyong Region over the next few weeks, let us know about it and we’ll list it here for you, for free. Contact details are on page 2.

The association has improved facilities at the centre

WYONG SERVICES

DIRECTORY Ambulance, Police, Fire 000 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Organisations Aboriginal Legal Service 8842 8000 Community Options 4351 3388 Bungree Aboriginal Association 4397 7700 Mingaletta 4342 7515 Aboriginal Home Care 4321 7215 Drug & Alcohol rehab 4388 6360 Respite Care Options 4351 3388 Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health 4351 1040 Darkinjung Local Land Council 4351 2930

Accommodation Dept. of Housing Wyong 4352 4400 Regional Youth Support Services 4323 2374 Coast Shelter 4324 7239 Neleh House 4340 1052 Elandra Women and Children’s Refuge 4396 4263 Kara Women and Children’s Refuge 4323 1709 Coimba Mens Refuge 4324 7239 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Wyong Youth Refuge 4351 1922 Youth Angle 4341 8830 Woy Woy Youth Cottage 4341 9027 Maya Young Womens Refuge 4323 1636 Pacific Link Com Housing 4324 7617 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Samaritans Youth Services 4351 1922 Youth Angle • Woy Woy 4341 8830 Temporary Accommodation 1800 152 152

Indigenous Call Centre 136 380 Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321 Family Drug Support 1300 368 186 G-line - Gambling Helpline 1800 633 635 Credit Helpline 1800 808 488 Child Support Agency 13 12 72 Australian Injury Helpline 1800 223 363 Veteran Affairs Network 1300 551 918 Mens Domestic Violence 1800 000 599 Sexual Assault Resource 1800 199 888 Gay and Lesbian Counselling 1800 184 527 Gay and Lesbian Support 1800 249 377 Youth Sexuality Network 4320 2856 Vietnam Veterans 1800 043 503 Victims Support Services 1800 633 063 Translation and Interpreting Service 13 14 50

Family and Relationships Parents Helpline 132 055 Oasis Youth Centre 4353 9799 Horizons (For families) 4351 5008 Interrelate - Family Relationships 1300 736 966

Health Wyong Hospital 4394 8000 Cancer Hotline 131 120 Mental Health info Service 1300 794 991 Beyond Blue (Depression) 1300 22 4636 Community Women’s Health Centre 4351 1152

Legal Legal Aid 4324 5611

Animal Rescue

Problems, Habits & Addiction

Wires 1300 094 737

G-Line Telephone Counsel 1800 633 635 Gamblers Anonymous 9726 6625 Alcoholics Anonymous 4323 3890 Narcotics Anonymous 4325 0524 Quitline 131 848

Counselling Mensline - talk with a bloke 1300 789 978 Lifecare Family Services 1300 130 225 CatholicCare: 4356 2600 Relationship Australia: 1300 364 277 Interrelate: 1800 449 118

Emergency Police Assistance Line 131 444 Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 Wyong Police Station 4356 6099 Energy Australia 13 13 88 Gas Emergency 131 909 Wyong Shire Council 4350 5555 Marine Rescue - Central Coast 4325 7929 SES - Storm and Flood Emergency 132 500

Crisis Services and Helplines Lifeline - 24 hr. 13 11 14 Suicide Helpline 1800 191 919 Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Parents Helpline 13 20 55

Phone services: Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Beyondblue 1300 224 636 Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463 Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Griefline 1300 845 745 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Welfare Services Coast Community Centre 4325 3510 Horizons Family Services 4351 5008 Meals on Wheels Wyong - 4333 6942 Department of Community Services Wyong 4352 6500 The Salvation Army 4325 5733 Samaritans Emergency Relief 4393 2450 St Vincent De Paul Society HELPLINE 4323 6081

also, see the Not for Profit organisations directory inside

CLASSIFIEDS ANTENNAS A Better Picture

Antenna & Digital Installations & Tuning New home specialist Credit cards OK HAYWARD VIDEO All areas Gosford 4323 6367 Woy Woy 4344 4414 Warnervale 1800 244 456 0412 685 555

Page 28 December 19, 2017

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Central Coast Academy of Sport now looks after over 250 elite athletes

T Folk and Acoustic Music Club

ASBESTOS

Fully licensed and insured asbestos removals from houses, garages, sheds, bathrooms etc.

ENTERTAINMENT

PLUMBING

he 2017 sporting year has lived up to expectations for the Central Coast Academy of Sport.

The uptake of new sports into the Academy’s offerings has set new standards, since the first program was offered in 2004. For those into history, the first sporting program launched by the CCAS was golf, launched in July 2004. Since that time, golf has been a sport delivered annually on the program calendar. Fast forward to 2017, and new sports of AFL (24 athletes), a pilot program for junior athletes, Touch Football (34), Hockey (19) and Tennis (15), have all made entry to the market. These new sports, along with those returning sports, will have seen the CCAS provide opportunities to over 250 athletes in 2017. In addition to the new sporting programs,

TILING

Classifieds advertising rates - in print and on-line Classified advertising is the cheapest form of newspaper advertising. This newspaper is published on line on the night before publication date, and is read that way by hundreds of people. All advertisements, including these classified advertising pages, appear in full on-line as an additional benefit for free. See www.CentralCoastNewspapers.com www.CentralCoastNews.net

Central Coast Newspapers’ advertising rates are relatively much lower than in other newspapers and at the same time much larger than in other newspapers, with the minimum size being 50mm X 42mm. Approximately 16,000 copies of each newspaper are printed and distributed every fortnight.

Non Business and Not For Profit Organisations As Central Coast Newspapers are community newspapers, the cost of advertising not for profit organisations’ events is subsidised. This makes them the same rate as non business advertisements. A mono 5cm advertisement only costs $33. Each additional cm costs $6.60 as does colour, and/or a photograph or a logo. Private advertisements need to be paid for at the time of booking.

Business rates The minimum size of 5cm X a single column only costs $40 + GST in mono and an extra $8 + GST for colour, a logo or a photograph, every two weeks. Most businesses choose to advertise on an ongoing basis and discounts apply for multiple bookings, if they are paid for in full, in advance. Having an advertisement run for 3 months only costs $215 + GST, for 6 months it is $385 + GST, and for 12 months advertising, the total cost is only $700 + GST – Approximately $14 per week. Artwork is free and advertisers are encouraged to change their advertisements frequently

YOUR LOCAL Tiling Wall &

Blocked drains, Leaking taps and toilets, Hot water and all aspects of plumbing drainage and gas fitting.

Floor Property Maintenance 0439 589 426

Lic number 265652C

4346 4057

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The Shame File CENTRAL COAST NEWSPAPERS has a very liberal credit policy for advertisers and realises that from time to time, people, businesses and organisations get into financial difficulty and may need assistance and time to get things back on track. However, some people, businesses and organisations take advantage of this generosity they use advertising but simply don’t pay their account after several months and need to be taken to court to do so. From time to time, as necessary, we will name these people, businesses or organisations as a warning to our readers so that they will be wary when dealing with them.

• Golden Scissors • Darren Rucker, Tiler Hairdressing, Wyong Killarney Vale Fitzpatrick Futurtek

• Bakefresh, Wyong

POSITIONS VACANT

WANTED

•

Thomas James Trading Clinton, as TMA Products & AthroBalm & Effective Business Solutions of Ettalong

• Frazer Park Pty Ltd formerly trading as The Big Prawn at Crangan • Lee Critchley of Lake Munmorah, currently Bay trading at Lakehaven • David Hill, Long Jetty Shopping Centre • Jessica Davis of Erina • Gary Rudge of Midea Air- trading as A1 cleaning Conditioning, Budgewoi • In Style Real Estate, Long services Jetty • Rattananporn Massage, Wyong

Source: Media release, Dec 1 CCAS Media

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they do. “We’re very grateful to our new and returning coaches and managers who have helped so much this year, as we’ve seen the introduction of new programs and initiatives. “It has been a hectic time leading into Christmas for our small team of staff, but 2018 looks very promising, as we continue to grow and strengthen our sports programs. “We are currently finalising another new program with Girls AFL now open for applications, taking our intake of new sports to five.”

& 17 Church Street, Terrigal

PLUMBER

• Tony trading Roofing

the CCAS will deliver programs in: Athletics (14), Basketball (32), Cycling (8), Future Stars (8), Golf (14), Netball (26), Indigenous Talent ID (20), Surfing (15), Swimming (20) and Tenpin Bowling (4). Mr Mark Tipple, part of the team responsible for this incredible growth, said: “2017 has been a fantastic year for the academy team and its athletes, and it’s great to look back on the progress that has been made across our sports programs. “We couldn’t operate without the help of our coaching staff, who volunteer their time to ensure that all sports programs run as well as

Experienced

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For large collections home visit available

Shop 12 Ebbtide Mall 155 The Entrance Rd The Entrance

4333 8555

POSITIONS VACANT

Walkers wanted for home delivery of COAST Community News Earn decent money while keeping ﬁt. Bonuses paid for inserts. Must be put in le er boxes and not thrown onto driveways, gu ers or front lawns. Need to be available fortnightly Thursdays, rain hail or shine and possible Fridays

Email contact details to: manager@centralcoastnews.net or call 4325 7369

Page 29 December 19, 2017

SPORT

Mariners’ Youth team lose to Sydney FC in a tight battle T he Central Coast Mariners’ Youth team ended a tough battle with a 1-0 loss to Sydney FC, courtesy of a goal to, Jeremy Cox, in the 65th minute.

It was a tight affair at the Central Coast Mariners’ Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah on December 17, contested by an unfamiliar looking Mariners’ outfit, where the likes of Hyundai A-League players: Josh Bingham, Adam Berry, Kye Rowles, Adam Pearce and

Trent Buhagiar, granted invaluable game time. It took just three minutes for the Mariners’ Youth to create their first chance of the match, when, Lachie Wales, crossed in expertly from the wing, Bingham let rip on a vicious header that was just over the crossbar. Six minutes later, Sydney FC produced a chance of their own, but, Adam Pearce, did well in goals to keep the scores locked at 0-0. The young shot stopper was on hand again to

make another crucial save in the 23rd minute. Then, in the 28th minute, another ball from, Lachie Wales, almost paid dividends, which this time found Buhagiar, who fired a shot that was deflected wide. Wales was having a hand in everything in the game. Another ball from the exciting winger found the feet of, Matias Paz, who shot just wide of the target, which saw the sides hit the sheds locked a 0-0. Adam Berry looked to

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take the game into his own hands five minutes into the second half, with a vicious strike from distance, but the Sydney FC keeper was up to the task. He followed that up with another long-range strike, just five minutes later, which thumped off the crossbar. In the 55th minute, Bingham tried his luck with a free-kick, but the Sydney FC keeper made another save at 0-0. Despite numerous chances to bag the opener, the away side snatched the lead in the 65th minute, when, Jeremy Cox, found the back of the net for Sydney FC, which was the final score for the afternoon. Full attention has now turned to Saturday, December 30, for Wayne O’Sullivan’s Youth Team, who host the Newcastle Jets with a 10:30am kick-off at the Mariners’ Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah.

Mariners’ Y-League side narrowly defeated

Subscribe now and don’t miss an edition

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners

Peninsula Community Access

PAT132

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SPORT

Page 30 December 19, 2017

Tide CharT FORT DENISON

LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000 Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters Add one hour to the times below when Daylight Saving is in force

19 TUE

22 FRI

25 MON

28 THU

31 SUN

3 WED

6 SAT

9 TUE

12 FRI

15 MON

18 THU

21 SUN

Time - Height(m) 0345 0.53 0309 0.52 1017 1.75 0942 1.75 1619 0.38 WED 1655 0.38 2251 1.32 2213 1.33 0013 1.29 0501 0.58 0544 0.62 1130 1.69 SAT 1209 1.64 1811 0.42 1852 0.45 0242 1.32 0147 1.29 0822 0.70 0722 0.69 1338 1.52 TUE 1432 1.45 2115 0.48 2023 0.48 0532 1.58 0437 1.47 1153 0.54 1043 0.64 1644 1.39 FRI 1751 1.40 2356 0.40 2302 0.44 0141 0.34 0048 0.37 0812 1.96 0719 1.84 1356 0.29 MON 1451 0.19 2049 1.48 1952 1.46 0419 0.34 0326 0.32 1047 2.05 0956 2.07 1636 0.09 THU 1728 0.12 2331 1.48 2238 1.50 0120 1.44 0025 1.46 0706 0.52 0609 0.45 1230 1.84 SUN 1321 1.69 2000 0.36 1909 0.27 0411 1.43 0313 1.42 1023 0.68 0913 0.66 1513 1.39 WED 1615 1.29 2230 0.56 2140 0.52 0009 0.58 0600 1.52 0647 1.57 1237 0.62 1820 1.22 SAT 1329 0.56 1913 1.24 0213 0.53 0134 0.55 0846 1.72 0810 1.68 1449 0.44 TUE 1525 0.39 2116 1.33 2038 1.30 0404 0.50 0327 0.50 1033 1.75 0958 1.76 1633 0.35 FRI 1708 0.36 2305 1.36 2229 1.36 0026 1.38 0524 0.53 0608 0.56 1146 1.68 1819 0.39 MON 1226 1.61 1858 0.42

0422 0.55 1053 1.73 THU 1732 0.40 2330 1.30 0058 1.28 0630 0.65 SUN 1251 1.58 1936 0.47 0339 1.38 0930 0.69 WED 1536 1.41 2208 0.47 0627 1.71 1257 0.42 SAT 1853 1.43

29 1

4 7

30 2 TUE

5 FRI

0233 0.32 0904 2.04 1544 0.12 2144 1.50 0514 0.38 1139 1.97 1818 0.18

0215 1.42 0806 0.60 MON 1415 1.53 2049 0.45 0508 1.47 1133 0.67 THU 1720 1.23 2320 0.58 0053 0.56 0730 1.63 SUN 1411 0.49 1958 1.27 0250 0.51 0922 1.75 WED 1559 0.37 2152 1.35 0444 0.51 1109 1.72 SAT 1743 0.37 2345 1.37 0111 1.39 0658 0.60 TUE 1310 1.53 1941 0.45

APPROX. TIME LAG AFTER FORT DENISON

Ettalong 40 min, Rip Bridge 2hrs - Wisemans Ferry 2 hrs 30 min, Koolewong 2 hrs 10 min In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated

VAR controversy spoils V

ideo-Assistant Referee (VAR) controversy was the major talking point after the clash between the Central Coast Mariners and the Western Sydney Wanderers, on Saturday, December 16, where the visitors emerged 2-0 winners over a brave Mariners’ team reduced to nine men. The Mariners welcomed back Spanish striker, Asdrubal, but were still missing the midfield mastermind, Tom Hiariej, who succumbed to injury last week. Western Sydney Coach, Mr Josep Gombau, elected to keep captain, Robbie Cornthwaite, on the bench, after he missed a training session earlier in the week, which saw, Mark Bridge, wear the captain’s armband. The Mariners started strong in the first half. Barely two minutes passed before, Andrew Hoole, made an ambitious run up the middle, but his strike was denied by a last-minute clearance from, Aspropotamitis, who came across in cover defence. “Hooley” had a hand in the next opportunity for the Yellow and Navy, a scramble by the post between Asdrubal and Hoole, which was scooped up by keeper, Janjetovic. Reminiscent of the Mariners’ last home game against Perth Glory, Jake McGing was a revelation on the right. From there, the Wanderers regained the

Photo CCMFC

momentum that they had been missing in the Sydney derby the week before, taking control of possession, and a quick counter attack allowed, Brendon Santalab, to fire home from outside the area. A meeting between these two teams is always fiery, and the first half had bookings to match the physicality of the game. Santalab and Risdon each received a yellow card, and Liam Rose was the first Mariner with a booking. The Yellow and Navy continued to press for opportunities as the first half drew to a close. Fancy footwork from Hoole in the middle of the park, found McGing on the right wing, whose perfect cross to the far post came just a second too soon for, Danny De Silva, and an exceptional save from the Wanderers keeper denied, Connor Pain, from sending a neat chip curling into the top corner. With the Mariners’

opportunities going unrewarded, they headed into the sheds at half time trailing 1-0. Returning in the second stanza, the Wanderers did not delay in doubling their lead. Five minutes into the second half, another Red and Black counter attack culminated in a sharp finish from Spanish striker, Cejudo. In response, Asdrubal teamed up with, Danny De Silva, sending through a brilliant pass to give the number 10 an opportunity in front of goal, but De Silva couldn’t quite bend the ball inside the far post. From the 55th minute, the game became dominated by yellow cards. Across the second half, referee Alex King handed out a total of five yellow cards, all to Western Sydney players: Bonevacia, Llorente, Cejudo, Riera and Bridge. However, the talking point of the second half was undeniably the VAR.

In the 61st minute, Wout Brama was awarded a yellow card for a challenge on Bonevacia, but the decision went to the VAR for review, where it was decided to instead issue the Mariners’ Dutch midfielder a straight red card, much to the disbelief of Mariners’ fans. Then tragedy struck for the Central Coast again, in the 77th minute, when a yellow card given to McGing for a challenge on Baccus, was sent for video review, and the referee made the decision to again upgrade the yellow card for a red. Now down to nine men, the Central Coast rallied for the last minutes of the game. Captain, Alan Baro, took a fierce long-range volley that deflected for a goal kick, and, Josh Rose, capped off an ambitious run with a powerful shot that just curled over the crossbar.

Norah Head, New South Wales December 2017 Daily Weather Observations Date

Day

Temps Min Max °C

°C

Rain

Evap

Sun

hours

1 Fr 19.4 26.5 0 2 Sa 18.4 24.9 0 3 Su 16.1 26.9 28.0 4 Mo 17.3 19.3 0 5 Tu 16.6 21.8 4.8 6 We 17.0 26.4 0 7 Th 17.1 31.8 0.4 8 Fr 17.7 26.9 0 9 Sa 18.5 24.9 9.2 10 Su 17.2 24.8 0 11 Mo 17.7 27.1 0.2 12 Tu 19.1 27.1 0 13 We 19.2 27.9 0 14 Th 19.4 26.5 0 15 Fr 19.5 23.9 0 16 Sa 19.7 26.6 0.4 17 Su 19.6 0 Statistics for the first 17 days of December 2017 Mean 18.2 25.8 Lowest 16.1 19.3 Highest 19.7 31.8 28.0 Total 43.0

Max wind gust Dirn Spd Time

Temp

Cld

km/h

°C

eighths

NE NNE NNW SSW S SW NNE S S ENE ENE NE NE NNE SSW NE

NNE

57 48 28 46 63 50 41 50 43 26 35 41 52 67 52 35

local

17:46 13:22 10:01 22:53 16:33 15:01 18:21 14:47 01:29 17:40 15:13 20:04 16:21 20:17 05:47 16:12

9am Dirn

Spd km/h

3pm Dirn

MSLP

Temp

Cld

hPa

°C

eighths

Spd km/h

MSLP hPa

22.7 19.5 21.4 19.3 18.7 18.9 26.3 23.3 20.1 22.0 24.0 25.3 24.2 24.4 21.1 21.0 22.3

80 91 61 90 88 78 53 55 71 77 75 66 74 77 96 100 94

NNE NNE NW SSW SSW WNW NNW SSW S SSW NNE NE NE NE SSW N SSW

22 35 11 17 31 2 7 6 26 7 13 9 9 19 26 22 15

1015.7 1006.9 1007.2 1010.1 1007.0 1003.7 1006.8 1009.5 1019.4 1023.0 1020.5 1019.3 1014.4 1009.1 1012.5 1014.3 1015.5

23.7 20.1 22.2 16.9 20.7 22.2 25.7 24.1 23.1 23.6 24.4 25.0 24.4 24.3 22.8 25.9 25.2

74 87 66 100 81 56 62 68 58 65 67 71 74 76 85 72 76

NE NNE ENE SSW SSW N ENE SSE SE E ENE ENE NE NNE S ENE SE

43 24 22 26 28 33 22 30 20 15 26 24 35 19 19 26 19

1011.5 1003.5 1005.4 1009.1 1004.4 1000.4 1004.6 1009.0 1019.1 1021.2 1017.5 1016.4 1010.9 1005.7 1011.7 1011.6 1014.2

22.0 18.7 26.3

78 53 100

WNW NNE

16 2 35

1012.6 1003.7 1023.0

23.2 16.9 25.9

72 56 100

E NE

25 15 43

1010.4 1000.4 1021.2

Page 31 December 19, 2017

SPORT

Mariners’ home game against Wanderers Despite their best efforts, a severely depleted Mariners squad couldn’t fight their way onto the scoresheet, and the Wanderer’s held onto their 2-0 lead until the final whistle. Santalab’s first goal in the 27th minute saw the Wanderers merciless on the counter attack. Keeper Janjetovic sent the ball out to, Mark Bridge, who fed to the top of the box, where Santalab was waiting to shoot past Kennedy into the bottom right hand corner. The Red and Black struck on the counter again at the 57th minute, when Baccus charged through the midfield and played onto Santalab, who slid a tidy ball across for Spanish Cejudo to finish. Central Coast Mariners’ Coach, Mr Paul Okon, was visibly distraught about the VAR in his postgame interview. “I just don’t understand it [VAR],” Mr Okon said. “If both challenges were violent, I think we would have seen protests from the Wanderers’ players or the Wanderers’ bench, and they were in front,” he said. “There was no reaction, the reaction came from the gentleman sitting upstairs. “I can’t logically explain it. “If you came to this game tonight, and you left no longer in love with football, who could blame you. “I don’t want to take anything away from the Wanderers, but it was disappointing.

The game against Wanderers at Central Coast Stadium was marred by VAR delays and controversy Photo CCMFC

“Before VAR wasn’t there, everyone wanted it, everyone was for it, but if you’re going to get it wrong, consistently, then I don’t know. “I think it’s probably what everyone is talking about. “If you’re going to send off players for those two challenges, you’d be sending players off every minute of the game. “Roly falls over, Baccus falls over, but the reaction of the Wanderers’ players and the Wanderers’ bench, they were bemused as to why the game wasn’t restarting. “There wasn’t one protest. “I have to thank our fans for their support. “Even when we lost one player, we kept going, and when we lost two, it was impossible. “We still had moments,

and we had a big opportunity to score with Daniel. “We were still in the game, we had the better chances, I can’t remember Ben Kennedy having to make one save. “The real upsetting thing is we lose these two players for our next game, which is totally unfair, so hopefully the FFA will review it, and admit that they weren’t deserving of a send-off, and allow those two players to play in our next game away to Adelaide. “Hopefully the people who hold the power will bring it to justice. “We’re disappointed with the way we gave away the two goals, we needed to be better. “It’s those key moments of the game that you need to deal with. “I’ve got no arguments

regarding that, we were poor in those two moments. “Other than that, I think we probably could have handled the ball better in the first half, they applied a lot of pressure on us, so I give credit to them. “Every time we managed to keep the ball we looked dangerous and managed to create opportunities. “We tried and tried, and kept going with nine men, but it was always going to be difficult,” Okon said. In response to the controversy caused by the VAR at the MarinersWanderers’ clash, the FFA released a statement from the Head of Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League, Mr Greg O’Rourke. “We accept that issues related to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

are currently taking focus off the football, and needs to be much better,” Mr O’Rourke said. “As part of the worldwide trial of introducing the VAR to our game, the Hyundai A-League has been challenged by consistency of its application,” he said. “Whilst the protocol framework is clear that it is to be only used in four areas, namely Red Cards, Penalties, Goals and Mistaken Identity, it does not eliminate the need for interpretation in many of those cases. “The case for its introduction is reinforced when the replays show clear errors, like when the ball crossed the goal line on Friday night, or when players are offside, like a number of the incidents that have been corrected, but is less clear when we

get to poor tackles and deciding on whether it should be a yellow or red card. “Some are very clear but others less so. “The VAR is set to be introduced in more global leagues around the world next year, and it is a case of getting it right, rather than walking away from the trial. “Most other Australian sports have been using technology and referees and umpires in the stands or central hubs for many years, and have taken time to improve the systems. “We are rightfully impatient as a sport to see this perfected much quicker, and that is our aim as well. “We will make some more changes to the way we approach the use of VAR in time for the next round. “Contentious decisions by referees have always been talking points, and will continue to be to some degree, with or without VAR, but it is important that game changing decisions have the benefit of the same reviews that the audience have in the stadiums, or at home, to improve accuracy. “We are all looking for the same thing and that being that Football and our players remain the focus, and not the VAR. “We intend to deliver on that,” Mr O’Rourke said. Source: Media release, Dec 16 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners Media release, Dec 17 Adam Mark, FFA

Santaâ€™s coming... Santaâ€™s coming...

This December Santa is visiting Village Central Wyong December is the visiting on his travelsSanta around world.Village Central Wyong

Saturday 9th Santa11:30am - 3:30pmVillage Central Monday Wyong 18th This December is visiting Sunday 10th 11:30am - 3:30pm Tuesday 19th onWednesday his travels 13th around 11:30am the world. - 3:30pm Wednesday 20th Thursday Tuesday Friday Wednesday Saturday Thursday Sunday

14th 19th 15th 20th 16th 21st 17th

12:00pm - 6:00pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 11:30am 3:30pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 12:00pm - 6:00pm 11:30am - 3:30pm

Thursday Friday Friday Saturday Saturday

21st 22nd 22nd 23rd 23rd

11:30am - 3:30pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 12:00pm - 6:00pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 11:30am - 3:30pm 11:00am 5:00pm 11:00am - 5:00pm

BYO camera for FREE Santa photos.

Carols in store: Wednesday Thursday Friday

Day

Village Central Wyong 18-34 Alison Road, Wyong (02) 4353 5500

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 1st

December December December December December December December December December December December December January

20th 21st 22nd

11:00am - 2:00pm 11:00am - 2:00pm 11:00am - 2:00pm

Centre*

Coles

9:00am - 5:30pm 9:00am - 9:00pm 9:00am - 9:00pm 9:00am - 5:00pm 9:00am - 4:00pm CLOSED CLOSED 9:00am - 5:30pm 9:00am - 5:30pm 9:00am - 9:00pm 9:00am - 5:30pm 10:00am - 4:00pm CLOSED

7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 6:00am - 10:00pm 6:00am - 10:00pm 8:00am - 8:00pm CLOSED 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm 7:00am - 10:00pm