Adam Crouch

LONG TERM STABILITY FOR BUSINESS Coast rates will be maintained

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

Coast businesses face another seven years of paying for Central Coast Council’s financial implosion following an announcement by IPART.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Council’s 2022 Special Variation to maintain rates at their current levels for an additional seven years, equaling 10 years in total to 2031.

There is anger in business circles that struggling businesses hit by COVID lockdowns have to pick up the tab for the gross mismanagement of the Council.

It was compounded by the snubbing of the business community in the Public Inquiry into Council’s record fi nancial failure. This in turn has seen major Coast investors such as the Lederer Group sell up their Coast interests and reinvest elsewhere.

And international investors involved in major projects such as the Union Hotel site redevelopment have abandoned their Coast interests with the land placed on the real estate market.

However, the announcement at least gives business in the region some long term stability, which is vital for long term planning and budgeting.

The appointed administrators and management team were left with an almost impossible position when they took over. Any plan to save Council and reposition it on the long road to recovery inevitably meant higher rates.

Council’s Administrator Rik Hart said IPART’s determination supporting the continuation of Central Coast Council’s current rate structure for a further seven years was a sensible decision.

“This outcome allows Council to continue to maintain current service levels, comply with current banking requirements and most importantly, allows us to continue without interruption our 10-year long-term fi nancial plan that provides long-term fi nancial stability for the organisation,” Mr Hart said.

We’re in a unique situation

“It’s a decision that factors in the unique situation this Council was in and the recommendation made by the Public Inquiry Commissioner ‘for the Administrator to ensure the completion of the Business Recovery Plan as adopted and amended by Central Coast Council since October 2020.’

“It has taken time, but we now have two independent entities on the same page.

“We’ve achieved one of the most signifi cant fi nancial turnarounds of any organisation in under 12 months, with the current and forecasted surpluses repaying the emergency loans over the next 10 years.

“For the community – there is no increase to your rates. This is a continuation of the current rates you pay with the exception of the rate peg as determined by IPART every year.

“Now that we fi nally have an outcome, I have requested the CEO and senior staff to examine services where we’re not delivering to community expectations and refl ect this in future operational plans for an incoming Council to consider.

“I encourage the community to review the draft plan when it goes on public exhibition. Now is the time to provide feedback on where you want to see improved service levels,” Mr Hart said.

Council’s CEO, David Farmer said this major milestone would draw a line under the Council’s fi nancial crisis and the organisation can focus on consolidating and improving the performance of the organisation.

“We are currently performing better than budget, with a high level of staff vacancies, but we know this is causing diffi culty in our delivery of services to our customers in a number of areas,” Mr Farmer said.

“Now that we have longer-term stability for our rates revenue, we can carefully reinvest in services where we are not currently meeting community expectations of service levels, for example into our vast road network and vegetation management.

“I recognise this has been a diffi cult time for the community and I thank you for your patience, understanding, and for your comments and contributions about what needs to be done to improve Council and services,” Mr Farmer said.

The Draft Long Term Financial Plan and Delivery Program will be considered in the Ordinary Council Meeting on May 24 to be placed on Public Exhibition for public comment at yourvoiceourcoast. com.

For more information about the Special Variation process and submission, FAQs and information about hardship assistance, go to Council’s website.

Welcome to the land of potholes

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

POTHOLES could be the next big tourist attraction on the Central Coast judging by the effect they are having on the region’s long-suffering motorists.

There’s “the big dipper” in Toukley, “the kamikaze” in Killarney Vale and the “double whammy” in Wyoming Rd and they are destroying car tyres and suspensions all over the Central Coast.

Potholes! They are being photographed, name and shamed in Facebook pages and other forms of social media with. There is even a “Pothole hotline” at Council.

The Coast has more than 40,000 potholes, thanks to combination of a wet climate, unusual topography and poor roadmaking and repairs.

Now, the Member for The Entrance David Mehan has had enough. He said his offi ce had been inundated with complaints about local roads and footpaths across the region.

He has made representations to the Minister for Regional Roads and Transport as well as the Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport regarding the state of roads and footpaths on the Central Coast.

“Coast roads have become a pothole frenzy and safety is being compromised by motorists trying to avoid damage to vehicles,”

“My offi ce has been inundated with resident concerns about increased rates and decreased amenity. The State Government needs to provide any available funding to Central Coast Council to maintain its roads and fi x its potholes.”

Mr Mehan said the wet weather had also raised awareness of the lack of footpaths in the region.

“Footpaths are an essential amenity. Without them people are sinking into the mud.”

“Footpaths should be readily available across the Central Coast. The State Government should provide funds to ensure the construction of footpaths continues- it is imperative.”

MP David Mehan says Coast roads are a land of potholes.

High level of repairs

“The amenity across the Central Coast is diminishing due a to lack of funding. This should be addressed immediately.”

“The State Government needs to step up and assist Council in its ability to discharge its duty to residents of the Central Coast and any assistance I can provide in making this happen I will continue to do so.

“Our residents deserve better. They’re paying increased rates and at the moment receiving little return. This needs to change.”

However, Council claims there is fi nally light at end of tunnel for the marathon task of repairing potholes.

Since February, Council has fi lled 32,000 potholes that were a result of intense and continued rainfall which created an unprecedented number of potholes.

A spokesperson said only temporary repair works could be undertaken during wet weather, which is why potholes can reappear within only weeks of repair.

Despite the high level of repairs undertaken to date, as of the end of May approximately 8108 outstanding potholes were still waiting for repair across the region’s 2000km road network.

“As with other LGAs, the scale of the potholes occurring in such a short timeframe outstripped availability of Council’s resources of staff and equipment to service the repairs in a faster manner.

“Additional staff from other areas of Council, plus contractors, have been engaged to help undertake the work during and outside of business hours,” the spokesperson said.