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April 7, 2016
Your independent local newspaper
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Issue 130
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Joint council meeting to discuss merger
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osford councillors met with their Wyong colleagues at Wyong on March 29 to discuss merger transition plans.
The timing of any dissolution of Gosford and Wyong Councils to form a new Central Coast Council is still unknown but considered highly likely. The joint meeting was chaired by Wyong mayor, Cr Doug Eaton OAM. Both Cr Eaton and Gosford mayor, Cr Lawrie McKinna said the priority was to ensure the community get the services they need from day one. “There’s no doubt these are uncertain times,” Cr McKinna said. “It’s also a difficult time for the over 1,900 staff at both Councils who we depend on to deliver the community’s vital services, but it’s reassuring to know that a number of protections are in place for them.” Deputy mayor of Gosford, Cr Craig Doyle said the joint meeting had highlighted the presence of “exceptional fractures within Wyong Council”. Cr Doyle said that, in his role as chair, Cr Eaton had ruled questions out of order “if other people had opposing views or wanted more information which didn’t fit the agenda. “He can’t necessarily do that with us [the Gosford councillors] because we don’t know what the internal politics are up there.” According to Cr Doyle, fortnightly meetings held between the two mayors have “nothing to do with the amalgamation. “No steering committee has been set up on behalf of the councillors at all, no matter what Doug [Eaton] says. “That has not happened and is not happening and hence the call for another monthly meeting. “The majority of the two councils want to work
positively... and there are enough strong, positive people that aren’t going to be led around by the horns. Cr Hillary Morris said she had made it clear that she though the joint meetings were an excellent idea. “I made it very clear that I absolutely do not support a Warnevale Regional Airport,” Cr Morris said. She said she understood that the next meeting was be held at end of April in Gosford and that Cr McKinna would be chair. Councillors were briefed on a future delivery model that would bring tourism in house to a new Council by June 2017, the Draft Central Coast Regional Plan, Warnervale Airport, the Gosford Regional Library Plan and rural fire service arrangements in a new council. In response to comments made after the meeting, Cr Eaton said: “It is true that at the joint meeting there were a few councillors who were generally opposed to the merger, who took the opportunity to do some political grandstanding. “So I did say something along the lines, ‘everyone knows that there are some here who are against the merger, but I see no point in having joint meetings if they degenerate into political point scoring’,” Cr Eaton said. “In terms of my regular meetings with Cr McKinna, they are all about the merger ,” Cr Eaton said. Media release, Mar 30, 2016 Wyong Council media Interview, Apr 4, 2016 Craig Doyle, Gosford Council Hillary Morris, Gosford Council Jackie Pearson, journalist
A view of the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre from the adjoining lawn
Potential heritage listing further complicates theatre’s future he potential heritage listing of the Avoca Beach Picture Theatre by Gosford Council has opened another chapter in the ongoing struggle over the future of the theatre.
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Theatre owners, Beth and Norman Hunter continue to ask patrons to support their proposal to expand the theatre. Gosford Council refused the Hunter’s development application in 2015 but the couple resubmitted an amended proposal in December, 2015. However, Gosford Council recently included the theatre on a list of potential sites to be considered for local heritage listing. As a result, Friends of Avoca Beach Theatre, Old and New is asking community members opposed to the expansion of the theatre to write to Gosford Council’s heritage officer, Rebecca Cardy, arguing in favour of its
heritage listing. “There is no doubt that the theatre deserves this listing,” said the Friends of Avoca Theatre Old and New facebook page. “The most prestigious heritage firm in New South Wales, Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners, was asked to review the application and concluded that the theatre is of great heritage value. “The National Trust, which has been involved in protecting the theatre since 2001 when they first classified it as important, has recently written to the general manager of Gosford Council, urging that it now be government listed. “The Trust goes even further to say that it should be listed at the more
important state-level. “They point out that Avoca theatre: is the only surviving beachside single screen in NSW; that it’s only one of two which is still owned and operated by the same family for 65 years; and that its Panastereo, a surroundsound system, has historic significance. Norman and Beth Hunter, on the other hand, argue that to keep the theatre operating in an area with such high land holding costs means it has to expand. “The proposal has always retained the existing theatre,” a flyer distributed to theatre patrons by the Hunters said. “All our plans continue to include the existing theatre building as is. “It remains a single storey
theatre with the auditorium intact and the lawn area remaining beside it, albeit smaller. “We will build, beside the theatre, three new small auditoriums seating between 31 and 55 patrons and another auditorium seating 161 people, each with comfort and great viewing paramount. “This will be a two-storey building. “Behind the theatre there are five units each with their own underground parking. “We know that as a single screen we cannot continue. “The sensible financial decision would be to close. “We hope that with the proposed extensions we will be able to continue to serve many more generations.” Facebook, Apr 3, 2016 Friends of Avoca Beach Theatre Old and New Flyer, Mar 2016 Save me a seat at Avoca
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