Edgar Adams’ Editorial

We had it all in 2020

AS EVERYONE WILL attest, 2020 was a year full of surprises although one surprise was not a surprise at all. The shenanigans at Central Coast Council could only end one way and those who did not see it coming weren’t taking notice.

The year started with bushfires and the Central Coast certainly dodged a bullet as they were extinguished before they got a hold on what could have seen a total disaster.

It was then storms and floods but they happen on a regular basis.

By March COVID-19 had become an issue and for many businesses only JobKeeper and sundry state and federal grants kept most going.

It has been a tough time but, anecdotally we are hearing that most businesses are doing well. With international travel banned, those who would spend all their money in Bali or somewhere like that are spending it on the Central Coast.

We hear that our manufacturing sector is going flat chat and so is our building industry.

One area which is of concern is the property development sector where Central Coast Council has been ideologically opposed to all forms of development.

It goes beyond that and DA’s for factories on industrial zoned land are being stopped because vegetation has to be removed.

In addition this thinking has permeated the deliberations of the Local Planning Panel which is supposedly made up of independent experts that determined DA’s.

Two major developments slated for Gosford CBD were approved subject to unrealistic conditions that have put these projects on hold.

Meanwhile unemployment on the Central Coast continues to run at around 5.5% (preCOVID) compared with a state average of 4.3%.

Commercial real estate agents tell us that enquiry coming out of Sydney from businesses looking to relocate is strong and has only become more so with the opening of NorthConnex.

The big problem for our region is that there is very little undeveloped industrial land and much of what has been zoned industrial is not serviced. It has been an issue for close to ten years.

The environmentalists think this is great but they have no interest in economic growth and the employment of people, especially our young people where unemployment is close to 15%.

And then there was the surprise that wasn’t really a surprise with the Minister for Local Government suspending Central Coast Council and appointing an Interim Administrator for three months on the basis the Council had run out of money and couldn’t pay the wages.

Within weeks the Administrator had terminated the employment of the CEO and presented his 30 Day Report which showed, among other things, that Council had accumulated losses of $232 million and was heading $115 million operating loss this financial year.

He also found that staff numbers had increased by 242 when it would be expected with the amalgamation of the two councils that staff numbers would be less.

As a result he is undertaking a major sell-off of Council properties, increasing rates by 15% and reducing staff by 300 with the aim of balancing the operating budget in FY2022.

One positive is that the University of Newcastle remains committed to establishing a Campus in the Gosford CBD. The Federal Government supports this and we are hopeful that the State Government will see its value and allocate funds to buy the land in the New Year.

As you read through this Year Book you will see that it has not been all doom and gloom with investors continuing to invest in the region and businesses moving to the region.

With the NSW Premier bringing in the Greater Sydney Commission to bring together key stakeholders in the region to identify new opportunities for economic and employment growth a renewed focus and first-of-its-kind strategy for the region’s future and this is expected to be announced early in 2021.

“The Central Coast is a unique region and requires unique solutions, and that’s why a team from the GSC will be specially tasked with developing this Strategy,” said the Premier Edgar Adams – Editor

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