Coast Community Chronicle 193

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COAST COMMUNITY tVheoicneorofth 17 JUNE 2020

ISSUE 193

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Historic war memorial may be saved

News

About 30 properties along North Entrance beach have been battered by wild seas over the past couple of months, causing severe erosion and unstable sand dunes in front of houses. See page 5

Out&About

Secretary of Ourimbah Sub-branch Barbara McNab, (left), Sub-branch President, Dave Pankhurst, The Entrance MP David Mehan, Director Heritage Stoneworks at NSW Government Finance, Services and Innovation Dept, Troy Vanderplas and Sub-branch Grants Officer, Sandra Elsley.

Ourimbah RSL Sub-branch has met with Transport for NSW staff in a bid to save the historic war memorial from removal as part of the railway station upgrade. A meeting was held at Ourimbah station on May 27, when Sub-branch Secretary, Barbara McNab, lobbied to make sure the memorial was protected. The memorial was built in the 1920s and displays the names of Ourimbah locals who served during the First World War. An archway opens to a garden and is an important part of the local heritage. The Entrance MP, David

Mehan, who also attended the meeting, said plans released by Transport for NSW for the station upgrade would lead to the destruction on the war memorial. “Plans indicate that the eastern wing wall of the memorial archway will be removed to accommodate a wider pathway to lifts which will be installed on the existing footbridge,” he said. “While the station upgrade and lifts are welcome, the destruction of the war memorial is not,” Mehan said. “Local heritage protection is important for our Ourimbah community, which already

resisted efforts by Transport for NSW to demolish the station master’s residence in 2016. “The new lifts and pathway can be accommodated without the need to remove part of the memorial,” Mehan said. A statement from Transport for NSW says the current concept design for the upgrade includes a connecting path for access to the new lift which might require a small section of the dwarf wall to be relocated. “Transport for NSW understands that the eastern dwarf wall is an important part of the World War I Memorial Garden and is committed to working with Ourimbah RSL to

develop a strategy to avoid potential impacts to the monument while this important upgrade work is completed,” a spokesperson said. It was indicated that the potential for design amendments would be investigated, in consultation with Ourimbah RSL, during the detailed design stage of the project. Key features of the access upgrades being planned at Ourimbah station also include a new station entrance from the Pacific Highway, new stairs from the footbridge to Platform 2, stairs from the Pacific Highway bus stop to Platform 2

and a new access ramp from the Shirley St commuter car park. Work planned also includes platform resurfacing, improved amenities, lighting and CCTV for security and safety. Community feedback on the project, which closed on June 3, is now being reviewed by the project team and will be responded to in a Determination Report to be published on the Transport for NSW website. Source: Media release, June 11 The Entrance MP, David Mehan Media statement, June 12 Transport for NSW Reporter: Sue Murray

Ferry sank on its mooring The privately owned 18m former Stockton commuter ferry remains where it sank on its mooring at Gwandalan Bay. The vessel is being monitored by NSW Maritime and salvage plans are underway to remove it. NSW Maritime issued a clean-up notice to the owner, requiring the removal of the boat and all associated equipment from the water at the owner’s cost, under NSW legislation. Acting Executive Director of NSW Maritime, Alex Barrell,

said fines of up to $7,500 could be issued for polluting the State’s waterways under NSW pollution laws. Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called on Thursday, June 11, and spent most of the day containing a fuel spill from the boat. Booms were laid around the boat to contain the 100 litres of fuel leaking from the vessel. Barrell said NSW Maritime’s Investigations Unit would lead an investigation into the incident. Source: Media statement, Jun 16 NSW Maritime

Central Coast residents have enjoyed even more freedom over the weekend, after the NSW Government’s latest lot of easing of COVID-19 restrictions came into effect on June 13. See page 13

Education

Gorokan Public School students are spoiled for choice when it comes to keeping fit and healthy this winter, with the school opening a handful of new active facilities in June. See page 27

Sport

The AFL Hunter Central Coast Board has confirmed starting dates for the 2020 senior AFL season. See page 29

Puzzles page 19

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au


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