16 MARCH 2022
ISSUE 280
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
News
Big plans afoot for Norah Head Lighthouse
The new Rural Fire Service station at Warnervale Road opened last weekend Saturday (12 March) with a celebration honouring 14 of its volunteers. See page 5
Out&About
Two music icons. Two grand pianos. Two of the world’s most accomplished tribute artists. See page 13
Business
After two years of having its lights eclipsed by COVID, the beacon at Norah Head Light House is set to shine brighter with an injection of funding and some big, bold plans. See page 11 Norah Head Lighthouse
IPART releases draft decision on proposed water rate rise Water rates look set to rise on the Central Coast from July 1 this year, but by less than the 34 per cent Central Coast Council had applied for in its submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). IPART has released its draft decision on the proposed rises and is inviting consumer feedback until April 14. Council, as the region’s water authority, had applied for a 34 per cent annual increase, effective from this July, which
IPART estimated at an average annual rise of $360 per household. Under IPART’s draft prices, a rise in water rates would be phased in over four years, with the combined yearly bill for a typical household increasing by around $200 (19 per cent) on July 1 this year and thereafter increasing by around $49 (4 per cent) per year, before inflation, until 2025-26. IPART Chair, Carmel Donnelly, said the draft decision recognised the genuine need to invest in quality water services on the Central Coast, but it was
critical they were accompanied by improvements to Council’s water performance and accountability. “Our role here is to protect customers from excessive prices but at the same time to recognise people do need good drinking water and good waste-water management,” she said. “The decision was made considering the minimum necessary for a water authority to meet standards.” Donnelly said IPART had found there was a genuine
need for the Council to invest in its water and waste-water systems to improve performance, with the decision heavily influenced by customer feedback on problems with water quality and reliability. She said 89 per cent of those who responded to IPART’s request for feedback on Council’s submission said they would prefer any increase to be phased in. “We also heard disappointment and distrust in Central Coast Council from some people in relation to previous financial management
issues, including the running of CCC Water,” she said. “The tribunal decided it is crucial that CCC Water is more accountable and transparent and be held to account that it spends the increases on improving performance.” Donnelly said the draft decision was accompanied by several papers suggesting ways of monitoring Council’s performance in the area of water management. Continued page 6
Leading global agricultural sciences company, FMC Corporation, welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison to its Wyong plant on March 14. See page 21
Sport
Registration is open for skaters and scooters who are keen to take part in the Central Coast Series Skate and Scooter Competition 2022.
See page 31
Puzzles page 18
It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.
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