Issue 009 of COAST Community News

Page 1

Gosford Central Community News

June 6, 2011

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Local Environment Plan forwarded to the Minister

Issue 009

Councils argue for F3 link osford and Wyong Council’s have both passed resolutions to form a whole of government regional partnership to argue for the long-awaited F3 to M2 link which is currently on hold by the NSW Liberal Government.

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Aerial view of Gosford and the surrounding area

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osford Council has adopted the Gosford Draft Local Environment Plan 2009 (DLEP) at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 31.

The plan has attracted high interest from all parts of the community over the past three years, receiving more than 1500 submissions during the public exhibition period. The adopted plan will now be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for Ministerial approval. Mayor of Gosford Cr Laurie Maher praised the extensive work by Council staff in developing the LEP and also acknowledged the role of widespread community consultation and public exhibition as to why such a favourable result had been achieved for the City of Gosford. As a result of the public exhibition period from February 10, 2010, to April 8, 2010, submissions were grouped into four themes comprising environment, business, community and

miscellaneous. “Council staff have worked tirelessly over a number of years through the community consultation process to allow our community to help create the blueprint for the direction of the entire Gosford LGA. Deputy mayor Cr Craig Doyle said the LEP has been a “very trying process and I’m very glad it’s over”. “The last time one of these was done was 1979 so it’s been a long time since we’ve gone to such depth from my point of view,” he said. “It’s not the ultimate solution it’s probably maybe a 90 per cent solution. “We’ve still got a few things that we need to review and do. “It will be an ongoing change, for such a significant document. “It’s been four years in the making it’s a great relief

in its current state to have it forwarded to the minister,” said Cr Doyle. “We’re not going to make everybody happy with this. “There are winners and there are losers,” he said, Cr Chris Holstein agreed that “not everyone will be satisfied but that was always going to be the case”. “These zoning changes started by former planning minister Frank Sartor several years ago has raised much debate in that time. “I believe council did well on a very difficult and complex issue,” he said. Mayor Cr Maher said the document is a great outcome for the Gosford Local Government Area and a significant achievement for Council. “I look forward to seeing the benefits for both the community and local environment,” he said. Gosford City Council’s

Director of Environment and Planning Ms Colleen Worthy-Jennings said the plan will focus on a number of key areas, while still protecting our natural environment. “The adoption of the LEP will focus employment opportunities around centres and industrial areas to cater for future growth, whilst reinforcing the protection of Gosford’s unique environment and in particular the Coastal Open Space System (COSS). The plan will provide to the community a modern document in a format consistent with other Councils,” added Ms Worthy-Jennings. Council Agenda ENV 34, 31 May 2011 Media Release, 31 May 2011 Media Statement, 2 June 2011 Chris Holstein Media Statement, 2 June 2011 Craig Doyle

The move was welcomed by member for Dobell Mr Craig Thomson and member for Robertson Ms Deborah O’Neill. Ms O’Neill said she is looking forward to working with her Central Coast colleagues at all levels of government to make sure the F3 to M2 Link gets priority for future funding. “Craig and I understand how important the F3 is in the daily lives of Central Coast commuters and the key role it plays in our regional economy. “A strong alliance across the Central Coast, Northern Sydney and beyond gives us the best chance of ensuring the F3 to M2 Link doesn’t get overlooked when the O’Farrell Government decides its infrastructure priorities,” said Mr O’Neill. Ms O’Neill is urging Central Coast commuters to join her in pressuring the O’Farrell Liberal Government to do its fair share to deliver an F3-M2 Link. “On Sunday 15 May the Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said he would seriously consider any proposal the NSW Government put forward to him on an F3 to M2 Link,” said Ms O’Neill. “Sadly, Liberal representatives across the Central Coast have backed away from taking their fair share of the load,” she said. To kick off her campaign Ms O’Neill held a community meeting on Saturday, May 28, at Kariong

Neighbourhood Centre. “Central Coast residents don’t have time for a blame game,” said Ms O’Neill. “We need this critical piece of infrastructure. “Every hour on the road is an hour away from family, friends and our Coast lifestyle,” said Ms O’Neill. “For a massive $5 billion project like the F3-M2 Link, the only way we can move forward is by locking in state funding and private funding, as well as federal funding. “That’s why I was alarmed to hear the Liberal Minister for the Central Coast, Chris Hartcher’s comments on the F3-M2 issue. “He said: ‘The F3-M2 Link is a federal responsibility’. “In light of Mr Hartcher’s denial of responsibility, it is clear to me that someone on the Coast needs to take the lead in getting this important infrastructure project on track. “That’s why over the coming weeks I will work to form an F3-M2 Alliance with like-minded people from the Central Coast, Northern Sydney, transport and commuter groups, with a view to getting the NSW Government to take this project seriously,” she said. Media Release, 26 May 2011 Matt Pulford, Office of Deborah O’Neill MP Media Release, 22 May 2011 Matt Pulford, Office of Deborah O’Neill MP

See page 5 for opposition response


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