NEWS

Mariners for sale, owner bales “ Would we struggle to ever get a national team again? Probably – and that would be a

tragedy.” Th ere has been a long-standing ball fan and player, I love sport in general, “If that happened, then we would lose feeling across the league that the lack but I have always recognised that the our only national team, the youth struc- David Harris. of political support and funding for the Mariners’ franchise was an opportunity ture and our ticket to the national media

Onation’s most participated sport is one of to sell the Central Coast on the national and sporting stage. WNER Mike Charlesworth is sellthe factors contributing to the stagnation and global stage. “Before the Central Coast Mariners, ing Central Coast Mariners after an of the A-League. “Th e Coast needs the Mariners much who had heard of the Central Coast in unsuccessful stint as owner of the A Member for Wyong David Harris is a more that the Mariners needs the Coast. Asia and even parts of Australia? League bottom dwellers. strong supporter of the Mariners. A new buyer could relocate the franchise “Would we struggle to ever get a

Th e future of the Mariners is now “Th e decision of current majority tomorrow to Canberra or Southern national team again? Probably – and that highly uncertain aft er long-term owner shareholder, Mike Charlesworth, to sell Sydney. would be a tragedy.” Mr Charlesworth put the club up for sale. his stake in the club, is partly because of While FFA still have an element of control over franchise decisions - although they are increasingly taking the fi nancial commitment to own and run a football club, partly because of COVID-19 and the economic hit, but Boost for biking, surfing a backseat towards an independent A-League - the decline in both club fortunes and supporter base has had a signifi cant impact on the club. also because there has not been a commitment from organisations like Central Coast Council to develop a meaningful partnership,” Harris said. “I’m not saying Council should M OUNTAIN biking and surfing will get a major boost if Central Coast Council goes ahead with exciting new proposals under review. Council has backed mountain biking as a sport and is awaiting a report on it potential and operation while surfers are excited about the commit millions of dollars of ratepayers’ potential of artifi cial reefs proposed to Protect Wamberal and North Entrance. money to prop up the club, but I do think Similar reefs have worked in Sydney and on the Gold Coast and a byproduct that there is not a willingness to properly is an increase in the lucrative surfi ng and scuba diving operations. explore options that could benefi t rateMember for Wyong David Harris has taken the matt er to State Parliament payers and the community. and is a strong supporter of mountain biking’s potential. “I’m a season ticket holder, I’m a foot

 Bryce Weick’s impressive photo shows

the sea wall being built at Wamberal to protect waterfront homes from being threatened by fi erce storms.

CONTENTS

NEWS 2 EMMA MCBRIDE 6 BUSINESS AWARDS 7 ADAM CROUCH 8 TECHNOLOGY 11 TRAVEL 13 CORONAVIRUS 22 FAMILY BUSINESS 25 GAMES CROSSWORDS 29 AUTO 30

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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2020

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Work starts on the Archibald

WORK is well underway on the

construction of the Archibald, a futuristic two tower project in the site of the historic old Union Hotel.

Th e site at the corner of Mann St and Donnison St has traditionally been the gateway to Gosford.

It Is seen by many as the next major step in the revitalisation of the Gosford CBD with the three tower “Waterview” set to start along with the Leagues Club redevelopment..

First approved in 2015 by the Joint Regional Planning Panel as Mariner’s Plaza, the development has seen several changes, with the fi nal modifi - cation approved last November under Section 4.55 by Central Coast Council.

Macarthur Projects Managing Director Greg Walker said the $400m development would feature two towers of 26 and 27 levels respectively in a world class urban precinct overlooking Brisbane Water.

Th e development is named aft er Archibald Acheson, the second Earl of Gosford from the 1830s.

It features 289 apartments, a rooftop bar on the eastern tower, a public bar on the Mann St promenade, a wine bar and boutique retail on the ground level and 800 car parking spaces.

Th e Eastern Tower will be a 167- room, 4 star hotel with a conference facility and a day spa. Level 5 will have pools for both residents and hotel guests along with a gym.

Artist impression of the project.

How Coast creatives can activate our towns

COUNCIL is calling on Central Coast individual vifrom individual artists, collectives or community groups boost to the local economy by helping to create vibrant sual artists or creative groups to submit their interest wishing to use these places to create art, showcase their town centres brimming with cultural vitality to att ract in utilising a variety of spaces in several town centre work or run community workshops.” both residents and visitors,” Mayor Matt hews said. locations for creative endeavours. Expressions of interest are being sought from creIn the meantime, Council has been working with

Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie atives of any visual medium - including arts and craft s, commercial property owners and real estate agents to Vaughan said the local creative and arts industry has ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textile decorate vacant shop windows with creative decals been signifi cantly impacted by COVID-19 and this and fashion, fi lmmaking, and other innovative visual art which visually highlight the area’s key features and initiative will provide much needed support. installations. att ractions.

“Council is actively developing a number of initiaTh ese spaces are in high traffi c areas and available on Residents may have already spott ed these displays at tives to support and sustain the Central Coast’s creative a ‘pop-up’ temporary, casual or semi-permanent basis. Woy Woy, Th e Entrance, Wyong, Gosford and Budgecommunity and this one has the added benefi t of activatMayor Lisa Matt hews said this project is a chance woi. ing town centres which also supports local businesses,” for creatives to develop their practice and take up this Ms Vaughan said. opportunity to create, display and promote their work in For more information on the creative activation of vacant spaces

“Council is investigating opportunities to provide acthe parameters that COVID-19 restrictions allow. and to submit your expression of interest, please contact Greg cess to a variety of places and spaces in our town centres “Th is Council initiative will not only support our Combes at Council by email gregory.combes@centralcoast.nsw. to support creative practitioners and would like to hear local artists and creative industry but will also provide a gov.au or call 0408 807 758.

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The great sea wall of Wamberal

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

URGENT work on the construction of the sea wall at Wamberal is well underway, but the team at the site is keeping one eye on the weather maps as they battle to get it finished before the next East Coast Low.

It is critical to the future of the seaside suburb that the wall not only stops destruction of 44 homes hanging by threads, but also saves the low-lying suburb behind the massive sandhills.

An East Coast Low right now would be the worst possible outcome for the construction teams.

Teams representing NSW Government agencies and Central Coast Council are continuing in response to coastal erosion at Wamberal.

Local Recovery Coordinator Lee Shearer said a total of 44 properties had been evacuated following the signifi cant coastal erosion event in mid-July.

“Th e evacuation order on all aff ected properties has now been lift ed, excluding one home which is still considered atrisk,” Ms Shearer said.

She said 1800 tonnes of rock and 1720 tonnes of rock bags had been placed on Wamberal Beach.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said Ms Shearer was providing an independent link between the NSW Government, Central Coast Council and the aff ected Wamberal community.

“We are now pivoting from the recovery phase to the long-term planning phase with Dr Phil Watson appointed as Chair of the Wamberal Taskforce,” Mr Crouch said.

Building the sea wall atWamberal.uilding the sea wall at Wamberal.

Photo by Bryce Weick Photographyhoto by Bryce Weick Photography

Governmenttaskforcetodrivelong-termplanning,recoveryovernment taskforce to drive long-term planning, recovery

“Th e Taskforce’s fi rst meeting was held on August 11 and we’re off to a fl ying start.

“To complement the Taskforce’s work, the NSW Government is requesting that Council employ a dedicated Project Manager to provide day-to-day oversight and ensure planning for the long-term solution remains on track.

Taskforce work

“Building a sea wall is absolutely essential to protect the hundreds of millions of dollars of public and private assets along Ocean View Dve.”

Following the cessation of Ms Shearer’s role as the Local Recovery Coordinator, Central Coast Council has established a Local Recovery Coordination Committee to oversee the remaining emergency works and address any residual issues.

Members of the Taskforce will include: • Dr Phil Watson, Independent chair; • Adam Crouch MP, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal; • Gary Murphy, CEO of Central Coast Council; • For the duration of her appointment as Local Recovery Coordinator, Lee Shearer APM, to ensure a seamless transition from the recovery phase; • A representative from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (Energy and Science Group); • A representative from the Department of Planning, Industry

and Environment (Planning and

Assessment); and • A representative from Department of Planning, Industry and

Environment (Crown Lands).

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the Government is committ ed to helping councils respond to existing and future challenges arising from coastal management.

“Th e Government has already provided $213,118 for Council to develop plans for a long-term solution for Wamberal, and we stand ready to assist Council further,” Mrs Hancock said.

With Wamberal declared a Signifi cant Open Coast Location, Council can apply for funding to implement actions in its Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) at any time.

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C LCOASTAIRPORTENTRA L COAST AIRPORT SITUATIONNOWFARCICALITUATION NOW FARCICAL

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

The future of Central Coast Airport has become a game of political football with the Government’s Adam Crouch having the infamous WAR act repealed only to see council deliberately downgrade its own asset in retaliation.

Former Mayor Jane Smith chaired the recent council meeting which was set to discuss a detailed Notice of Motion from former Wyong Mayor and airport proponent Cr Greg Best when she ambushed the topic with a sudden Amendment.

Backed by all ALP councilors, she pushed the controversial amendment through the chamber and basically turned the Central Coast Airport into a “landing area”.

Current maintenance works at the Airport will continue, however no new works will be permitt ed that expand its operations.

Th e impasse means Council has deliberately downgraded its own asset, spending millions tearing up contracts and stopping progress for no apparent reason.

Council’s treatment of its Airport in the three years it has been in power has been nothing short of “diabolical” in business terms according to busines people. It ignored many serious expressions of interests from major aviation businesses keen to relocate to Warnervale and then tried to “hush up” its deal with Amphibian Aerospace Industries.

Access was the only Coast media outlet to pursue the AAI payout because we believed ratepayers should know how much it cost us. Council has now all but decided it will release details of the deal.

Of the almost 1000 submissions received for the WAR Act review, 75% were in favor of axing it, proving there was overwhelming support for the future development of the community owned asset.

Council chose to ignore the public and community will now have to wait until the next election to rectify the problem and get the airport back on track. Central Coast Aero Club is recognized as one of the best training facilities in Australia and desperately needs more hanger facilities and bett er clubrooms for classes.

NEWSBYTES

A huge day for Bradd Allan recently when he passed his Australian Commercial pilots Licence flight test and can now work in the Australian Aviation Industry as a member of professional Air Crew.

WHAT THE AERO CLUB SAYS:

Andrew Smith, President of Central Coast Aero Club Board told council:

‘Th e Central Coast Aero Club has always maintained that it is of paramount importance that the Airport environment at Warnervale not move outside of the current fenced boundary.

We believe that the protection of the Porters Creek wetlands and surrounding environmental conservation lands is very important, and should be recognised in future planning by council.

We also recognise that there are very high unemployment levels on the Central Coast, particularly in the North, and particularly amongst our youth.

Th e Central Coast Airport stands ready to alleviate this unemployment problem.

Th e fi gure quoted in the report and by senior staff is 5000 jobs if stages 1-5 of the Airport Hub master plan are realised.

It is our understanding that stages 1 to 5 can be completed with no expansion outside of the current fenced airport boundary.

Aviation businesses are very low impact and by their nature, are generators of highly skilled employment.

Th ey also generate synergies in other sectors and can be a boon for existing Central Coast businesses.

Th e Master Plan expression of interest period generated 137 expressions of interest; our understanding is that this included many varied businesses from within the technological, aero-medical, education and corporate spaces.

Imagine what this sort of infrastructure could do for the future employment prospects of the youth of the Central Coast.

Councilors, this is a situation in which we truly can hav e our cake and eat it too.

Appropriate planning protections are already included which make destruction of the surrounding conservation lands very diffi cult.

Central Coast Council, as the region’s largest employer, has access to an army of committ ed, hard-working people who have the ability to craft a solution which contains both the Wetlands and the surrounding environmental lands and a job-generating Airport.

Th e Airport and the Wetlands have existed symbiotically for over 40 years, and limited, sensible development of the Airport site will continue this tradition.

Councilors, it is important to note here that the Central Coast Aero Club has nothing to gain from this submission itself; however we feel that allowing the public to comment on the usage of the site is the right thing to do by our community, irrespective of the increased competition we would inevitably face.

Th e terrible COVID-19 crisis which has brought the world to a standstill has required that every region has a hard look at its various spheres of opportunity and reassess what needs to be done to stop our economy falling into recession, or worse, depression.

Th e livelihoods of Central Coast residents are worth something, more than something and this project appears to be ready to go and promises to realise huge gains both fi nancially and on the jobs front.

Th e CCAC believes that Central Coast Council owes it to its constituents to at least have a proper look at this reduced version of the original plan, and allow the people to have their say over such a hugely consequential and possibly very important part of the Central Coast’s future.

For clarity, the CCAC opposes any lengthening of the existing runway, any extension of the Airport site beyond the current fenced boundaries, and any industry which could cause issues to the surrounding sensitive environmental lands.

We do believe in helping to stave off recession, provide more jobs for the people of the Central Coast and creating a region which is seen as desirable by the rest of our country.

Th is plan has a very good chance of realising all the goals stated and the Central Coast community deserves the right to be able to formally comment on it via a formal public submission process.’

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Some defi nitions from Google show that Council has made a mistake in renaming its facility :

Airport: a complex of buildings and a runway or runways for takeoff , landing and maintenance of civil aircraft .

Landing strip/area: a runway for aircraft , especially one that is auxiliary or temporary.

New jobs at Kangy Angy

NINETY new jobs are on off er aft er major construction fi nished at the NSW Government’s multi-million dollar Kangy Angy Rail Maintenance Facility. Th e purpose-built facility will service and maintain the New Intercity Fleet trains, with around six kilometres of electric rail lines – seven-tracks across at its widest point – a new rail bridge, access roads, offi ces and amenities. Minister for Transport Andrew Constance says testing of the facility will continue ahead of the introduction of the New Intercity Fleet later this year. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said substantial landscaping had taken place around the development. common themes that emerged from its interactive map and online survey. Stakeholders can register their interest in a meeting through the Panel’s website www.tuggerahlakes.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/expert-panel. Th e meetings will be hosted om Zoom.

Shark drone coverage on Coast

RESIDENTS and tourists will be bett er protected against shark att acks this summer, with the NSW Gov

Online meetings an opportunity

THE Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel will host a series of online meetings to learn more from the community about key issues with Tuggerah Lakes. Following the successful conclusion of phase one of the engagement strategy the panel will take a closer look at some of the CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS ACCESS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2020 ernment expanding drone coverage to two Central Coast beaches. Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the shark-spott ing drones form one part of the NSW Government’s $8M investment in world-leading shark management technologies. Drone operations will start at the beginning of the 2020/21 summer season. For more information, go to: www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au.

Parthenium weed found on the Coast

PARTHENIUM weed has recently been found in a Ravensdale chicken yard on the Central Coast. Th e weed causes health problems in humans and livestock, reduces carrying capacity of farmland, and contaminates grain. Central Coast Council Unit Manager of Environmental Management, Luke Sulkowski said that although the weed is uncommon in NSW, we need to be vigilant. NSW DPI State Priority Weeds coordinator, Nicola Dixon said with 20 infestations this year, NSW has had the highest number of parthenium incursions since 1999. 5