Issue 149 of COAST Community News by Central Coast Newspapers

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January 12, 2017

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Mariners seek to transform stadium into a world-class entertainment hub

Issue 149

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ATO building clears final hurdle

he NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC), on Friday, December 16, dismissed an appeal by the Gosford Waterfront Alliance against the approval of an ATO building on the Gosford Waterfront.

The Gosford Waterfront Alliance (GWA) sought a Judicial Review in the LEC based on arguments relating to a jurisdictional error in the application of a clause in the Gosford Local Environmental Plan (LEP) concerning car parking, according to the LEC judgement. The Alliance argued that

the Joint Regional Planning Panel, when approving the ATO development, had failed to consider design excellence in relation to car parking. The case also argued that the JRPP had failed to provide its reasons for approving the development. The GWA wanted the Court to declare that

the determination of the JRPP on June 30, 2016, to approve the mixed use commercial and retail premises at 99 Georgiana Tce, Gosford, invalid, but in her judgement, Justice Nicola Pain, found against the GWA on all grounds. Continued page 10

$53 million Creighton’s development approved he $53 million Rola Property Group’s mixed-use development at 27 to 37 Mann St and 125 Georgiana Tce, Gosford, which included the heritage-listed Creighton’s Funeral Parlour, was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel on December 15, 2016.

T An artist's impression of the Central Coast Mariners' vision for Central Coast Stadium

s Coach Paul Okon works hard to lift the Central Coast Mariners towards their former League-winning status on the field, the local national A-League franchise has called on the Central Coast Council to lift its game and turn Central Coast Stadium into a best-practice venue.

The Central Coast Mariners are arguably the region’s only premier sporting side and have stuck with the Coast when other sporting codes have turned their backs on the region. The local club was a foundation franchise in the national A-League football competition and one of only two regional clubs remaining in the competition. It has been playing its home games at the stadium since 2004, but the only things to have changed at the venue during those 13 years have been the height of the palm trees, the stadium’s name, and the quality of the playing

surface. Coast Community News has been attempting for months to break the story about the Mariners’ armwrestle with Council to bring the stadium into the modern era, but both the Mariners and Council have denied any negotiations or the existence of any Mariners’ Master Plan for the venue. The Mariners have listened to the thousands of Coast families, youths and seniors, many paid-up club members, who sit in blistering heat in the northern and eastern grandstands (the cheaper seats) because TV broadcast deals mean most Central Coast games kick off at 5:00pm during

By a vote of three panel members to two (and one abstention due to a perceived potential conflict of interest), the Central Coast JRPP gave consent, signed off the following day by the Central Coast Council, for the demolition of existing structures, retention and adaptive reuse of the

Creighton’s Funeral Parlour heritage item and erection of a new 18-storey retail, commercial, restaurant and residential development with 132 units and 205 car spaces. The original development application was lodged with the former Gosford Council in August 2014 and was

resoundingly rejected by the community and other stakeholders, including the National Trust, for the DA’s failure to incorporate the preservation of the Creighton’s building. Continued page 4

the summer months. Those same fans stand in queues instead of watching the match they have paid to see, sometimes way past half-time, to pay $5 for a bottle of water (worth $2 in the supermarket and provided the vendors don’t run out) and even more for hot food or a cold beer. The Central Coast Mariners have unveiled their vision for Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium and formally presented it to Council, which is the Stadium’s current owner and operator. The vision is the football club’s bid to transform the venue into a world-class entertainment hub. Continued page 8

An artist's impression of the JRPP-approved mixed use development

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net Mobile Website: www.centralcoastnews.com.au

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GOSFORD LGA EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTORY

oast Community News and the Ettalong Diggers Memorial Club would like to offer readers the chance to win one of four double passes to Philippa Lee’s Psychic Reality Show.

Ambulance, Police, Fire 000 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Organisations Aboriginal Legal Service 8842 8000 Community Options 4351 3388 Bungree Aboriginal Association 4397 7700 Mingaletta 4342 7515 Aboriginal Home Care 4321 7215 Drug & Alcohol rehab 4388 6360 Respite Care Options 4351 3388 Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health 4351 1040 Darkinjung Local Land Council 4351 2930

Accommodation Dept. of Housing Gosford 4323 5211 Regional Youth Support Services 4323 2374 Coast Shelter 4324 7239 Neleh House 4340 1052 Elandra Women and Children’s Refuge 4396 4263 Kara Women and Children’s Refuge 4323 1709 Coimba Mens Refuge 4324 7239 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Wyong Youth Refuge 4351 1922 Youth Angle 4341 8830 Woy Woy Youth Cottage 4341 9027 Maya Young Womens Refuge 4323 1636 Pacific Link Com Housing 4324 7617 Rumbalara Youth Refuge 4325 7555 Samaritans Youth Services 4351 1922 Youth Angle • Woy Woy 4341 8830 Temporary Accommodation 1800 152 152

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daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and mail it to Coast Community News Psychic Reality Competition, PO Box 1056, Gosford, NSW, 2250 by 5:00pm on Wednesday, January 24. The winners of the Coast Community News Fluff reader prize were Samarah Livingstone of Avoca Beach and Debbie Durman of Narara.

Central Coast Newspapers is a local, family owned business that publishes and distributes three Central Coast Newspapers every fortnight. All staff are also locals and between them, the three papers cover the entire Central Coast. Each paper focuses specifically on an area bound by postcodes as follows:

Peninsula News Post Codes 2256 and 2257; Coast Community News Post Codes 2250, 2251, 2260; and Wyong Regional Chronicle Post Codes 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2263. All articles are sourced and dated so that readers will know when and where the information came from and where they can perhaps get more information. All articles are edited and given a heading and are often quite

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Family and Relationships Parents Helpline 132 055 Central Coast Family Support Service 4340 1099 Horizons (For men with children) 4351 5008 Interrelate - Family Relationships 1300 736 966 Uniting Care Burnside Gosford 1800 067 967

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gifted clairvoyant, psychic medium and astrologer for more than 20 years. Whether you are a believer or not, this is a fascinating and entertaining show and be prepared as she may connect with you. To win one of the four double passes to see Philippa Lee’s Psychic Reality Show, write your full name, address and a

Gifted clairvoyant, Philippa Lee, will bring her interactive show to Ettalong Diggers on Sunday, February 12 from 2pm. The live show takes the audience on a spiritual journey to communicate with their lost loved ones, validate the past and shine the light on the future. Philippa Lee has been working as a caring and

Phone services: Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 Beyondblue 1300 224 636 Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463 Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Griefline 1300 845 745 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Emergency Police Assistance Line 131 444 Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 Woy Woy Police Station 4323 5599 Energy Australia 13 13 88 Gas Emergency 131 909 Gosford City Council 4325 8222 Marine Rescue - Central Coast 4325 7929 SES - Storm and Flood Emergency 132 500

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Lifeline - 24 hr. 13 11 14 Suicide Helpline 1800 191 919 Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 Parents Helpline 13 20 55 Indigenous Call Centre 136 380 Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321

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Donnison St. Restaurant 4325 3510 Central Coast Family Support Services 4340 1585 Horizons Family Services 4351 5008 Meals on Wheels Gosford 4363 7111 Woy Woy 4341 6699 Department of Community Services Gosford - 4336 2400 The Salvation Army 4325 5733 Samaritans Emergency Relief 4393 2450 St Vincent De Paul Society HELPLINE 4323 6081

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Edition 407

28 November 2016

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December 6, 2016

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Issue 106

Auditor General asked to look into inexplicable selection of Kangy Angy land

he NSW A u d i t o r General, Ms Margaret Crawford, has been called on to investigate dealings surrounding the selection of land in Kangy Angy for the location of the Intercity Fleet Train Maintenance Facility.

The Westpac branch in West St, Umina, and (inset) the notice in the window announcing the closure

Another major bank withdraws from Umina Another of the big four banks in Umina will close its branch before Christmas this year, leaving just one major bank branch in Umina. The Umina Westpac Bank Branch will close its doors on December 9, due to steadily declining numbers in over-the -counter transactions. “Fewer customers are visiting our branches these days, as more and more people choose to use digital banking channels like mobile banking, internet banking and smart ATMs,” said Westpac Group spokesperson Ms Lucy Wilson. “With over-the-counter transactions accounting for less than ﬁve per cent of total transactions, we are closing the Umina branch and merging it with another Westpac branch at Woy Woy,” the spokesperson said. Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said the decision was corporate greed by one of the big four banks. “I am sick and tired of the big banks’ attitude to local retail centres and this decision by

Westpac reinforces my view that the big banks are out of touch with local communities,” Mr Wales said. “The Westpac regional manager Mr Adam Wilson has confirmed that the Umina branch will close in December, with all Peninsula banking operations being shifted to the Woy Woy branch in Blackwall Rd. “Unfortunately, I find it increasingly typical of the big banks that they seem to know best when it comes to customer service in main street shopping strips,” he said. According to Mr Wales, Westpac made the decision to close their Umina branch following a review that found the branch lacked sufficient customer support to justify keeping a shop front presence. “It is my view that once again the big banks are putting profits ahead of local services as a way of adding to the billions of dollars they already rake in from customers. “That’s all very good if you are a Westpac shareholder but the closure will leave Umina with one less bank, a vacant shop and the loss of a dozen jobs in the main

street. “The departure of Westpac will leave Umina with only the Commonwealth Bank and we now have grave concerns as to its future in the main street,” Mr Wales said. Mr Wales also said this was not the ﬁrst time Westpac had let down customers in Umina, having closed the Umina St George Bank branch when they took over the company in 2008. “When Westpac took over St George, it subsequently closed the Umina branch, stripping the main street of front line banking services and forcing St George customers to go to Woy Woy to do their banking. “Westpac assured the local business community that they would maintain a presence in Umina. “Now years later they are pulling the same stunt and forcing Umina customers to travel into Woy Woy to do their banking again.” Ms Wilson said that Westpac’s decision to close the branch was not made lightly. “The Westpac ATM at Umina will remain in place.

“In the meantime, we encourage customers to visit the branch to get a free demonstration from staff on how to use online banking and the ATM if they wish. “Customers can also still access free face-to-face banking services at the Umina Australia Post ofﬁce including the depositing of cash or cheques, cash withdrawals and balance enquiries.” Mr Wales said: “It is the height of arrogance to suggest that an automatic teller machine is sufﬁcient for local customers in what has become one of the busiest main street retail centres on the Central Coast. “I can only hope that Westpac customers will shift their accounts to the Commonwealth Bank and keep local dollars in Umina,” Mr Wales concluded. Westpac did not state whether or not Umina branch staff members would be redeployed or made redundant. Ettalong resident Mr David White, who has been banking with Westpac Umina for over 20 years, said the implications the branch closure would have on the Peninsula’s aged population were

huge. “It’s very inconvenient for me as a vehicle owner to have to make the drive to Woy Woy and deal with the trafﬁc in the area just to do my banking,” Mr White said. “So how inconvenient will it be for pensioners who rely on public transport to get around or who can’t use technology to do their banking? “I use a passbook. “I don’t own a credit card so I’m reliant on over-the-counter transactions to do my banking. “How many other people on the Peninsula are in this situation too? “It seems like Westpac just doesn’t care about its Umina customers. “The Umina Branch staff are very friendly and nice but the closure seems to be more about lining Westpac’s proﬁts then customer service,” Mr White said. Media release, 19 Nov 2016 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Interview and documents, 21 Nov 2016 David White, Ettalong Interview, 21 Nov 2016 Lucy Wilson, Westpac Group Reporter: Dilon Luke

THIS ISSUE contains 60 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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State Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan, said he had written to the NSW Auditor-General requesting that the state’s chief auditor looks into the dealings surrounding the Kangy Angy site selection process. The proposed site in Kangy Angy did not originally appear on the list of 24 sites considered by NSW Government, and was only selected after being floated as an alternative by the former Wyong Council, who did not wish to approve the sale of the land at the preferred site in Warnervale. Former councillors, residents and community leaders have all questioned the legitimacy of the Kangy Angy decision citing concerns about inaccessible flood prone land, cost blow outs and environmental impacts. The multi-criteria used to assess the original 24 sites contained key factors surrounding enabling works including impact on earthworks, and diversion of utilities, that was left out of the final assessment given to

While basic questions go unanswered, the Brisbane train maintenance facility (pictured) is similar to that proposed for Kangy Angy

Kangy Angy. “The Kangy Angy site would never have passed the government’s original criteria,” Mr Mehan said. “Moving the goal posts to fulﬁl the wishes of a council that no longer exists is unacceptable. “New designs now include a heavy duty overpass bridge, that could cost upwards of $50 million, to access land that is completely unsuitable for the site,” he said. Mr Mehan said there had been a complete lack of transparency from the NSW Government around the maintenance facility. “I’ve written to the Auditor-General to investigate the processes and costings surrounding this project to shed some

light on the Government’s dealings in this area,” he said. In his letter to Ms Crawford, Mr Mehan said: “I am concerned that the process used to select the preferred site for the facility, Kangy Angy, has been a poor process which will result in extra cost to the public and the environment. “Better sites are located nearby. “It is of particular concern that the site selected should be an inaccessible, ﬂood prone, and E2 and E3 zoned (Environmental Conservation and Management) piece of land, over accessible land zoned industrial. “Transport type projects are not permissible under the

current zoning. “The selection process was improperly impacted with threats by Council’s then General Manager to use ‘political level’ inﬂuence to oppose the site originally chosen by TfNSW,” Mr Mehan said, quoting from an article published in the Newcastle Herald prior to the Wyong Council resolution to sell its Kangy Angy land to TfNSW. “The multi-criteria used to assess Kangy Angy against Warnervale [TfNSW’s original preferred site] is not the same as the criteria used to assess the other sites,” Mr Mehan’s letter said. “Eight criteria are used to assess the other sites while only seven were used to assess Kangy

the additional footings required on such filled ground for buildings, heavy engineering facilities and overhead wiring structures; and the huge overbridge structure (capable of heavy vehicle access) that will be required to access the site from Enterprise Dve over the Main North railway lines. “It would not be inconceivable that these site-specific costs may exceed $30 to 40 million above the costs of building a similar facility on alternative land. “The additional costs and readiness to construct a bridge to access the maintenance site are particularly galling for local people given the two nearby railway crossings at Ourimbah are a narrow bridge which requires an upgrade and an underpass which regularly floods,” Mr Mehan’s letter said. According to the office of the NSW Auditor General, Mr Mehan’s request has been acknowledged and he will receive a more detailed response within a couple of weeks. That response will indicate whether or not the matter will progress to an audit.

Angy. “The criteria not used, enabling works, included impact on culverts, earthworks and diversion of utilities. “Since Kangy Angy will require major earthworks to bridge the railway line and raise the facility above the floodplain; impact existing culverts; and, require diversion of power lines; I suggest its inclusion would have resulted in Warnervale being found the better of Media release, the two. Nov 30, 2016 “In addition to the Peter Duggan, office of David Mehan above, construction on Letter, the Kangy Angy site Nov 29, 2016 will prove extremely David Mehan, NSW Member expensive because for The Entrance of: the quantity of Phone interview, Dec 5, 2016 imported fill required Barry Underwood, office of and its consolidation;

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

NSW Auditor General

The proposed redevelopment of the Patonga Hotel has been refused by the Central Coast Council. Council chief Mr Rob Noble has written to the proponent’s architects, CKDS Architecture, informing them that the DA for alterations and additions to the existing hotel and takeaway shop at 8 to 10 Patonga Dve has been refused. In his letter, Mr Noble listed seven reasons for Council’s refusal. “The proposal provides inadequate car parking for the proposed development and is not in accordance with the provisions of Gosford Development Control Plan (DCP) 2013,” Mr Noble said in his letter. “The proposal has provided insufficient information on the parking penetration of the proposed use or in relation to available car parking in the area,” the letter said. “The proposal would result in unacceptable parking and traffic impacts on surrounding residential areas, particularly during peak times,” he said. “The proposal would adversely impact on the amenity of the area through increased traffic generation and car parking congestions. “The proposal exceeds the allowed Floor Space Ratio for the land under Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014 and for which inadequate car parking is provided and in these circumstances a clause 4.6 variation to the provision would not be supported. “The scale and intensity of the proposed restaurant and wedding reception is, and associated impacts, is inconsistent with the character of the area and the objectives of the B1 Neighbourhood Centre Zone.” Finally, Mr Noble said: “Approval would not be in the public interest.” The applicant now has six months to ask for a review of the decision and/or appeal to the Land and Environment Court. Mr Ross Trembath, chairman of the Patonga Community Working Group which had campaigned

The Patonga Hotel

against the proposal, said: “The way in which Council addressed the difficult task of weighing up the merit of the proposal within the fragile Patonga environment will not be lost on the people who would be most affected by it.” A report written by Council’s Department of Environment and Planning to assess the application said it had proposed adding a restaurant and wedding reception facility on the first floor of the existing café building without providing any car parking, relying instead on on-street car parking in the vicinity of the Hotel. The report said the application had been the subject of a large number of objections from the local community, with 83 submissions and a petition with 89 signatures. “The key issues raised in submissions were the increased intensity of the use, impacts on local character, non-compliance with planning controls, noise and amenity impacts on adjoining properties, inadequate car parking, traffic generation, pedestrian safety and the permissibility of wedding receptions,” the report said. According to the report, the Parking Report submitted in support of the application relied

on parking surveys carried out over two days in August 2002 and observations made on October 25 last year. “Since the application was lodged the applicant has made several changes to the proposal to reduce impacts,” the report said. “These changes will reduce some of the intensity of the proposal, however on balance, the lack of car parking for the proposal, and lack of supporting information to determine parking impacts relevant to the proposed development means that Council is unable to satisfy itself that the proposal will not have an adverse impact on car parking in the Patonga area, including on surrounding residential streets. “Additionally, the intensity of the expansion has potential to adversely impact on the amenity and character of the local area. “Based on these concerns the application is recommended for refusal,” the report concluded. There have been a number of previous approvals applying to both buildings on the site. The hotel building (including two residential dwellings) was approved in March 2000 (DA22677) and there have been several modiﬁcations and

alterations since then. In September 2003, Gosford Council approved a modification (Part 2) to relocate the ground floor dwelling to the first floor and convert that area for dining use. This modification was supported with an offer of $20,000 from the applicant in lieu of a shortfall of six parking spaces arising from the proposal. In March 2010, Council consented to a modification (Part 9) to the hotel for the removal of five on-site car parking spaces and a loading area, and the conversion of this area to beer garden seating. “Council’s assessment at the time noted that the proposal resulted in a shortfall of 18 car spaces being for the five spaces lost and a further 13 spaces for the additional beer garden/ dining area. “The applicant did not agree with the extent of the shortfall, based on decreased demand from patrons travelling by boat, ferry or on foot, and based on the parking report submitted at the time. “Following consideration by Council and a number of section 82A reviews the Council agreed with an offer from the applicant for a Voluntary Planning Agreement for $75,000 to be applied to car

parking or foreshore works in and between the town centre area and the Dark Corner boat ramp, in lieu of the five lost car parking spaces,” the staff report said. The refused development application, lodged in December 2015, proposed to replace the hotel kitchen area with storage, cool rooms and cafe area; extend the ground floor hotel area approximately 2.5m to the east and in part 2.6m to the south, for reconfigured dining area and relocated toilets; provide a covered area of approximately 94 square metres over existing outdoor hotel dining areas on part of the front elevation; provide a small stage inside the hotel; extend the first floor verandah on the hotel on the front elevation; extend the first floor of the hotel by 6.5m to the east to accommodate new toilets to serve the proposed restaurant/ wedding reception area; demolish most of the seafood cafe building and first floor residence, and provide a new two- storey building with an expanded kitchen/ storage area at the rear and expanded internal seating area at the front on the ground level, the report said. “Council’s assessment has identified a number of concerns with the proposal, which primarily relate to the proposed use of the first floor of the takeway cafe building as a restaurant and for wedding receptions, the lack of car parking as required under GDCP 2013 and the impacts of the use on the character and amenity of the local area. “While the alterations and additions to the hotel and ground level takeaway store will have a lesser impact, overall the scale of the proposal is out of keeping with the desired future character of the area and the objectives of the B1 Local Neighbourhood zone. “Accordingly, the application is recommended for refusal pursuant to Section 80 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.” Letter, 28 Nov 2016 Rob Noble, Central Coast Council Statement, 29 Nov 2016 Ross Trembath, Patonga Community Working Group Assessment report, 24 Nov 2016 Scott Cox, Central Coast Council

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Edition 410

Bonython Property and Investments, the development arm of the John Singleton Group, is currently waiting for the Central Coast Council to approve a Section 96 application to amend the DA that was approved 12 months ago. Another developer owned the majority of the site (except for a small property at 163 Mann St), located in the same CBD block as the Imperial Centre, but it was acquired by Mr Singleton with the development consent. The original consent was for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a groundﬂoor tavern with 75 units of shop-top housing. The current Section 96 reduces the number of units and increases the number of parking spaces to 62. The ground ﬂoor tavern is replaced with commercial space and the property at 163 Mann St (subsequently acquired by Singleton) is included. According to the company’s website, Bonython Tower will be a “premium mix of luxury residential and commercial suites… offering spacious one and two bedroom apartments with sensational views and the convenience of the vibrant Gosford City at your door.” The building will also include three levels of

An artist's impression of Bonython Tower, to be built in Mann St

commercial space, the third incorporating an outdoor terrace. The recently-appointed Executive Chairman of Bonython Property and Investments is Mr Paul Anderson, former Chief Executive Ofﬁcer of Gosford

Council. The redesign of the project has been completed by East Gosford-based architect, Mr Cain King, from CKD Architecture. “We have been working closely with Mr Scott Cox [Central Coast Council’s

Group Leader Environment and Planning] and his team to ﬁnalise the matter [of the Section 96 application] as soon as possible,” Mr Anderson said. “The redesign was to create a beautiful building in the centre of the Gosford

CBD,” he said. “The design brief was to create a building that would stand the test of timelessness and illustrate the absolute beauty of the surrounds in which it is situated and the benefits of Gosford as a place to live, work and play. “Given its location, the building has to reflect modern but quality materials in its finishes and fittings and will be attractive to investors and home occupiers as it provides unsurpassed views of Brisbane Water. “It has close immediate access to the railway station and other transport nodes along with the benefits of CBD living with supermarkets and specialty stores at its doorstep,” he said. The new design incorporates a groundfloor restaurant café “within the building that will be as good as you experience in Melbourne or Sydney,” according to Mr Anderson. “The ground floor café/ restaurant will be to cater for the extra people living in the site both during the day but also in the evenings. “We are expecting a top class restaurant operator who will cater for commercial operations as well as restaurant trading.” Marketing and Sales for the development has been taken on by Mr Stephen Gittoes of Gittoes Real Estate in East Gosford. Expressions of interest have been invited over Christmas with the official marketing to commence early in the New Year. In terms of who Bonython Property and Investments sees as the target market for the apartments, Mr Anderson said: “We welcome aboard anyone who has a passion to live in ultimate luxury in the heart

of the Gosford CBD.” The detail of the Construction Certificate and building contracts are currently being completed, so pricing for residences in the new building is not yet finalised. “We anticipate demolishing the current buildings midway through 2017 and construction will commence immediately following that. “We should see a crane on site by the end of the 2016-17 financial year.” The building will take 19 months to construct, so completion is anticipated by late 2018 or early 2019. Mr Singleton has had a connection to the Central Coast stretching back over 60 years when he spent family holidays at Killcare as a boy. Mr Singleton is said to have “an absolute unsurpassed passion for the Coast and everything it has to offer from beach front living, coastal lifestyle, and hinterland and rural opportunities, and all of this within an easy hour and half from the Sydney CBD. Ultimately, after endeavouring to encourage the likes of Lend Lease, Meriton and many other large developers to take the place seriously, Mr Singleton has decided to “do it himself”. Mr Anderson said Bonython Tower would be the first of many Bonython Property and Investment developments to be undertaken on the Coast “to give back to the community good quality design and facilities that it so badly needs and deserves”. Email, Dec 12, 2016 Paul Anderson, Bonython Property and Investments Jackie Pearson, journalist

THIS ISSUE contains 59 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

9 January 2017

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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December 20, 2016

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he former W y o n g Council has been reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by the NSW Auditor General, Ms Margaret Crawford, for an investigation into possible corruption by the Council in pushing a site at Kangy Angy over Warnervale as the location for Transport for NSW’s new intercity rail maintenance facility. The Office of the NSW Auditor General responded to a request from the State Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan, by reporting the matter to ICAC and undertaking to “look more closely at the site selection process”. That process resulted in the newly-formed Central Coast Council selling flood-prone land to Transport for NSW to build the new inter-city rail maintenance facility. The Kangy Angy site was not originally considered by Transport for NSW until it was suggested by the former Wyong Council who did not want the facility built on land it had earmarked for other purposes at Warnevale. “Any significant issues identified will be included in one of my annual reports to Parliament

The Ourimbah rally and, inset, from left: Ms Michelle Nicholson and Ms Susan Zgraja

on transport, usually released in November or December each year,” Ms Crawford said. Mr Mehan said: “I welcome the Auditor General’s review into the selection process for the site of the facility and reporting any corrupt behaviour to ICAC. “I will be writing to the Secretary of Transport for NSW to ask for a review of the site selected,” Mr Mehan said. “I will continue to ﬁght for a sensible outcome to this matter which delivers the jobs the Coast needs on land better suited for the development,” he said. Meanwhile, the Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, Mr Josh Frydenberg, ruled out the need for an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to assess the

impact of the proposed (ORRA), attended by Trump, then they must facility on the Kangy around 150 concerned begin to sincerely listen and acquiesce to local Angy habitat of the locals on December 11. If local, state and demands,” Ms Zgraja nationally-threatened Regent Honeyeater and federal politicians wish said. “Groups like ours have to avoid “a Brexit or a Swift Parrot. The residents of Kangy Trump”, they need to had enough of political Angy have continued start listening to groups speak, weasel words and their campaign against like the Kangy Angy being patronised,” she the rail maintenance Residents’ Action Group said. “We live in a system where Councillors, “We live in a system where Councillors, planners and pollies automatically assume planners and pollies automatically status of expert, and assume the status of expert, and follow the the follow the principle that principle that we, the little people, don’t we, the little people, understand the complexities of issues.” don’t understand the complexities of issues. “I doubt if there is one facility since the Wyong (KARAG), according Ms action group that hasn’t Council announced its Susan Zgraja who spoke been told the decision intention to sell its Kangy on behalf of KARAG and made is for the greater Angy land to the NSW received cheers from the good. crowd at the rally. Government. “We the little “If Council, State people recognise an They were recently involved in a rally and, indeed, Australia’s inappropriately sized and organised by the Prime Minister, Mr positioned development Ourimbah Region Malcolm Turnbull, wish when we see it. Residents’ Association to avoid a Brexit or a “We are not against

development and socalled progress. “We are against decisions made through vested interest, ignoring costs to habitat, bad economic outcomes and the destruction of our quality of life. “There is always, always, an acceptable alternative. “Our problem is to have these alternatives accepted. “Why should Kangy Angy accept the desecration of a protected ﬂood plain, presenting many engineering problems making the project, not only an impending catastrophe, but hugely expensive, when there is a viable alternative sitting ready to go, with nothing like any of the problems exhibited at Kangy? “Why is it always so difﬁcult for sense to prevail? “When presented with arguments against these proposals, why is it not within the bounds of moral governance to accept that an error of judgement has been made, an acknowledgement that we the little people want alternative solutions and can often provide them. “It is precisely these scenarios that fuel Brexit and Trump responses. “You ignore us, fob us off and cheat us at your peril,” Ms Zgraja said.

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Continued page 4

Your independent local newspaper

Mariners seek to transform stadium T into a world-class entertainment hub

Issue 107

Council’s Kangy Angy land deal reported to ICAC T

FRE

January 12, 2017

23 December 2016

Issue 148

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Bonython Tower looks like being ﬁrst cab off the rank dvertising, media and p r o p e r t y entrepreneur, Mr John Singleton, has decided to kick-start the rebirth of the Gosford CBD with the development of the Bonython Tower at 155 to 163 Mann St, Gosford.

Edition 409

December 15, 2016

e Frkeeone!

FREE E FRE

12 December 2016

Council refuses Patonga Hotel proposal

Aerial view of the Australian Metal Reﬁnery site Photos: Statement of Environmental Effects, Cardno

Internal yard area and ofﬁce at the metal depot

Local graphic designer Ms Katherine Close with Central Coast Council administrator Mr Ian Reynolds in front of the new mural.

History mural installed at Woy Woy Oval A new 36-metre mural, which has taken more than eight months to produce and over six weeks to construct has been installed at Woy Woy Oval. The three metre high structure is made up of 24 colour printed steel panels that feature a pelican symbol surrounded by approximately 100 original photographs of the Peninsula’s sport culture over the past 65 years. The images, which were collected over six months through interviews with local sport

personalities, as well as through sporting organisations, Woy Woy Library, and from the general public. Central Coast Council administrator Mr Ian Reynolds said the decision to install the mural in Woy Woy was an important one and further enhanced the area. “Following Council’s recent investment into the $8.25 million redevelopment of Woy Woy Oval, it made sense to utilise this fantastic sporting arena and share the mural with the community,” Mr Reynolds said.

In February, more than 1200 primary school children from Woy Woy and Umina Beach Public Schools and St John the Baptist Catholic School came together on Woy Woy Oval to create the pelican symbol. American artist Daniel Dancer sketched the pelican on the grass, outlining where the children had to pose, and photographed the image from a 25 metre high cherry picker. Local graphic designer, Katherine Close, was commissioned to create the ﬁnal artwork.

Council leisure and lifestyle manager Mr Phil Cantillon said the new installation was dedicated to the community. “The aim of this artwork was to stand as an overarching symbol of unity, the pelican, and history of the 100 pictures of local sport. “The sporting community is a strong and vital part of the Peninsula community. “We wanted the installation to encapsulate the regular gathering of sporting teams and the community that occur throughout the year.

“The pelican was chosen to symbolise unity as they fly, feed and converge in groups all over the Coast’s foreshores, in the same way that our community unites in sporting arenas, like Woy Woy Oval, to watch or participate in a variety of sporting activities,” Mr Cantillon said. The installation will be fixed at Woy Woy Oval for at least five years. Media release, 14 Dec 2016 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council

THIS ISSUE contains 44 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

The metal depot has been operating on the site without Council approval for 30 months, according to documents lodged with Central Coast Council. Council had called on the land owner to take immediate steps to remedy the unlawful use of the premises and to remedy environmental issues raised. The application for the establishment of use was lodged on Wednesday, January 4, by Cardno NSW-ACT Pty Ltd on behalf of Peninsula Industrial Park Pty Ltd. If successful, the application will remedy the business’ unlawful use of the land. The environmental breaches were being addressed by the tenant under separate cover, according to the statement. According to a Statement of Environmental Effects, the site is located within the Peninsula Industrial Park, on the western outskirts of Woy Woy, adjacent to the main northern railway line and was previously known as the Woy Woy Abattoir which closed in 2004. “The site is now known as the Peninsula Industrial Park, which… occupies a space of approximately 12.5 hectare with a perimeter boundary of approximately

1.56km…enclosed by bushland to the north and west, a railway line to the south and Woy Woy Rd to the east…currently consists of industrial uses, cleared land and three dams. “Woy Woy Creek traverses the site.” A letter from Council to the landowner dated November 3 stated that an inspection had resulted in Council forming the view that, in addition to operating without approval, the business was not operating in an environmentallysatisfactory manner. “Batteries were not stored with adequate secondary containment to prevent ﬂuids from entering the environment should a leak, spill or escape occur. “Various leaks, spills and escapes of oil were located on the ground throughout the premises.” There was found to be “inadequate fencing to prevent waste from leaving the premises in the event of windy conditions”. “No protection exists on the stormwater inlet in close proximity to the premises. “A portion of the premises was dirt and not hardstand allowing for air pollution and water pollution risks. “Parts such as motors and radiators were stored without adequate bunding. “Unconsolidated waste material was littered throughout the premises on the ground.” The letter from Council to the land owner said: “A search of Council records has failed to

identify the required development application to change the use of the premises.” The land is zoned IN1 General Industrial under the Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014. The area subject to the application is known as Australian Metal Refinery and is near the entrance to the industrial park. The business is fenced on all sides with a lockable gate and occupies 1530 square metres of land. The area contains an office, three parking spaces, truck loading, machinery, ferrous metal piles and bins containing nonferrous metals. Another 10 parking spaces are located within the industrial park for use by Australian Metal Refinery, according to a Statement of Environmental Effects. According to the statement, no refining takes place at the site, which has operated from 7:30am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 7:30am to 11:30am on Saturdays for the past 30 months. The business proposes to store 600 tonnes per annum of nonferrous metals and 1200 tonnes per annum of ferrous metals for recycling as well as 15 tonnes of batteries for reuse and another five tonnes of batteries for recycling. The business employs four fulltime staff and two part-time. Ferrous metals are stacked in a pile at the site and collected by a third-party truck while non-ferrous metals are stored in bins and bought by a metal works.

The Statement of Environmental Effects concluded that: “The proposed development is local development under the terms of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (as amended) and has been assessed against the requirements of Section 79(c)(1) of the Act, Gosford LEP 2014, and Council’s Development Control Plan 2013. “The metal depot is permissible with consent within the IN1 General Industrial zone.

“In this regard, it is considered that the proposal satisﬁes the aims and objectives as well as the prescriptive requirements of the above controls. “The metal depot has been in operation at this site for 30 months and is situated within an industrial park. “Therefore, it is in keeping with surrounding uses. “Accordingly, Council’s favourable consideration for the ‘Establishment of Use’ is requested.” Website, 4 Jan 2017 Central Coast Council DA tracker, DA00051323/2017

Planning breaches are investigated, says council chief Allegations of businesses operating without approval are investigated when they are reported to Council, according to Central Coast Council chief Mr Rob Noble. He was responding to questions about how a metal depot had allegedly been able to operate for 30 months at the old Woy Woy abattoir site without approval.

Mr Noble said it was “not appropriate” for the Council to comment further on the metal depot’s operation “at this time”. “The business in question has now lodged a DA with Council and all matters relating to its operation will be considered in the assessment process.” Media statements, 5 Jan 2017 Rob Noble, Central Coast Council

THIS ISSUE contains 30 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Issue 149

Ph: 4325 7369

he NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC), on Friday, December 16, dismissed an appeal by the Gosford Waterfront Alliance against the approval of an ATO building on the Gosford Waterfront.

Application for metal depot at old abattoir site

A development application has been lodged with Central Coast Council seeking consent for the establishment of use of the old Woy Woy abattoir site at 170 Woy Woy Rd as a metal depot.

ATO building clears ﬁnal hurdle the Joint Regional Planning Panel, when approving the ATO development, had failed to consider design excellence in relation to car parking. The case also argued that the JRPP had failed to provide its reasons for approving the development. The GWA wanted the Court to declare that

T Above: An artist's impression of the Central Coast Mariners' vision for Central Coast Stadium and below: exterior of the eastern grandstand

s Coach Paul Okon works hard to lift the Central Coast Mariners towards their former League-winning status on the ﬁeld, the local national A-League franchise has called on the Central Coast Council to lift its game and turn Central Coast Stadium into a best-practice venue. The Central Coast Mariners are arguably the region’s only premier sporting side and have stuck with the Coast when other sporting codes have turned their backs on the region. The local club was a foundation franchise in the national A-League football competition and one of only two regional clubs remaining in the competition. It has been playing its home games at the stadium since 2004, but the only things to have changed at the venue during those 13 years have been the height of the palm trees, the stadium’s name, and the quality of the playing

By a vote of three panel members to two (and one abstention due to a perceived potential conﬂict of interest), the Central Coast JRPP gave consent, signed off the following day by the Central Coast Council, for the demolition of existing structures, retention and adaptive reuse of the

resoundingly rejected by the community and other stakeholders, including the National Trust, for the DA’s failure to incorporate the preservation of the Creighton’s building. Continued page 4

An artist's impression of the JRPP-approved mixed use development

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net Mobile Website: www.centralcoastnews.com.au

Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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Approval sought for a $20 million development in West Gosford n eight storey $20m apartment monolith could provide 80 apartments in West Gosford if approved by Central Coast Council.

Willana Associates prepared a Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) as part of the Development Application (DA) for 10-14 Fielder St, West Gosford. The DA in question proposes the demolition of existing structures on site to make way for the construction of an eight storey Residential Flat Building comprising of 80 apartments in a mixture of studio, one, two, three and four bedroom units with three levels of basement parking. According to the SEE, the DA proposed will consist of: three levels of basement parking; three studio units; nine, one bedroom units; 60, two bedroom units; two, three bedroom units; six, four bedroom units; outdoor communal areas;

Artist impression of the Fielder St Residential Flat Building

a swimming pool; and, lift and staircase access throughout. The site in question is legally identified as Lot B DP 354245, Lot 7B DP402003 and Lot 6B DP 376046, with

its frontage to Fielder St being 57.38m, an eastern boundary of 49.098m, a northern boundary of 56.87m, and a western boundary of 50.93m, totalling an area of 2,810

square metres. The SEE states that the proposed development is in accordance with the expansion of the residential zone within the Gosford City Centre and

will help accommodate the additional 10,000 residents in the area expected over the next 25 years. The SEE also states: “The site is suitable for the proposed development.

“In summary, suitability is achieved given: the proposed development is permissible and will be consistent with the relevant R1 Zone objectives; the development will respect the existing and desired future character of the immediate locality; considerable compliance is achieved with the relevant non-statutory controls, and in those cases of non-compliance, the relevant objectives are satisfied; likely impacts from the proposal are reasonable; and, that there are no prohibitive constraints posed by the site or those adjacent.” The SEE concluded that: “The proposal is permissible with consent and considerable compliance is achieved with the relevant statutory and non–statutory controls. “Accordingly, the development application warrants development consent.” Document, Jan 9, 2017 DA51240 Dilon Luke, Journalist

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$53 million Creighton’s building he $53 million Rola Property Group’s mixed-use development at 27 to 37 Mann St and 125 Georgiana Tce, Gosford, which included the heritage-listed Creighton’s Funeral Parlour, was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel on December 15, 2016.

From page 1

In September 2014, the then-acting CEO of the National Trust, Mr Graham Quint, said in a submission opposing the DA: “The National Trust does not have any particular issue regarding the proposed new building on this site, except insofar as the proposal fails to conserve what is acknowledged in the associated reports as an important historical and architectural building in Gosford. “The Trust is at a loss to understand how the proposal has been allowed to proceed to this extent, when the conservation of the Creighton’s Building does not appear to have been considered either by the proponent, its architects, or the officers of Gosford Council, despite the inclusion of the building on Schedule 5 of the Gosford Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014. “It should be understood that, as far as the Trust is concerned, the proposed retention of the façade (only) by demolition and ‘reconstruction’, is a ‘nonsense’ proposal which demonstrates a tokenistic attitude to heritage conservation. “In the Trust’s view, it represents a complete failure of the purpose and intent of heritage identification and legislation… especially when undertaken in as poor a manner as proposed by this development

application. “The Statement of Heritage Impact cannot be taken seriously in the light of some of its bizarre assertions such as ‘the interior of this building does not contribute to the heritage of the streetscape’… “The Trust is equally at a loss to understand the apparent acceptance of this proposed outcome in the Statement of Heritage Impact, especially as the accompanying Demolition Report identifies that the building has historical, associational, aesthetic and rarity values.” When the JRPP met on December 15, the decision to approve the DA was carried by Mr Lindsay Fletcher, Ms Abigail Goldberg and Mr Bob Ward (former Gosford Councillor). Mr Jason Perica and Mr Ken Greenwald (former Wyong Councillor) voted for refusal of the reworked DA. Another NSW Government-appointed member of the panel, Ms Kara Krason, declared an interest and did not sit on the matter. According to the JRPP Determination and Statement of Reasons, Ms Krason advised that she had previously sat on the matter, but was recently engaged on a project in Sydney with Phillip Grauss from Cox Architects who is the architect that was engaged by the proponent following the previous JRPP determination of the matter,

to address the concerns of the previous Panel. While not a pecuniary interest, the association may have led to a perceived conflict of interest, the Determination said. “The negative comments on the heritage impacts of the proposal from Council’s heritage adviser and the peer review noting concern were carefully considered, although there were positive aspects in terms of retention and adaptive reuse,” according to the JRPP’s Determination and Statement of Reasons. “The podium to Mann St complemented the retained building, the public domain was appropriately incorporated into the retained building/recessed ‘garage’ and the new building was separated from the retained building, with its curved shape helping to reduce the visual impacts of the proposed bulk and scale,” the Determination said. “While the new building would be considerably higher than the retained heritage item, this relationship was likely and reasonably foreseen from the applicable planning controls and, on balance, a good outcome was achieved.” The development application was approved subject to the draft conditions recommended within the Council staff Supplementary Assessment Report, with an additional

The JRPP-approved Rola development will incorporate commercial space and a residential tower

condition that stated: “An Interpretation Plan shall be prepared by a suitably qualified heritage consultant, to include appropriate measures to interpret the heritage significance of the building to be retained and adaptively reused, including measures for ongoing maintenance. “The Plan is to be submitted for approval and approval obtained prior to the approval of the Construction Certificate and approved measures shall be detailed in the application for the Construction Certificate.” The Panel also upheld

variations to maximum building height and Floor Space Ratio (FSR) under Gosford LEP 2014. The Panel “considered that compliance with the standards was unnecessary and/or unreasonable, and that there were sufficient environmental planning grounds to support the proposed variation. “In particular, the Panel considered the proposal was consistent with the zone objectives and consistent with the objectives of the height and FSR standards within Clause 4.3 and Clause 4.4 of GLEP 2014, and the non-compliance didn’t set

an adverse precedent, due to the unique nature of the site and the application of bonus provisions though the planning instrument.” The panel, according to its Determination, also gave “some consideration and weight” to the Central Coast Council’s current draft Planning Proposal to change zoning within the Gosford CBD which, it concluded, “affects the likely future character of the area”. “The approach by the applicant to distribute the bulk on the site had appropriate regard to both view impacts (particularly to

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development approved by JRPP the Broadwater residential building to the east) and heritage considerations,” those voting to approve the DA concluded. “In particular, the building … had less impacts on the views of the neighbouring building(s) than may occur with a complying building, due to the siting of the building towards the northwest and leaving a sizeable portion of the site well below the height limit (toward the south), where view corridors exist over the site.” The JRPP Determination and Statement of Reasons also spelt out how it believed the DA exhibited “design excellence” a matter recently unsuccessfully challenged by the Gosford Waterfront Alliance in its Land and Environment Court attempt to invalidate the JRPP’s approval of the Doma Tax Office building that will be located across Mann St from the Rola development. “The specific nature of the site, including the corner location, location of a heritage item, slope of the land and proposed

design measures resulted in a development that suited the site and did not cause any significantly adverse impacts on neighbouring land from the non-compliances,” the Determination said. In terms of other matters, the Panel generally concurred with the environmental assessment and balance of considerations within the Council staff assessment report, although it took the view that the proposed development warranted further regulation via the requirement of a Heritage Interpretation Plan. Mr Perica and Mr Greenwald held different views to those above. “They were of the view that the proposal had negative impacts on the setting and significance of the heritage item on the site due to the size, width, height and proximity of the proposed building to the retained building, which crowded and visually dominated the heritage item, thereby negatively affecting its significance.

The Mann St and Georgiana Tce elevations of the approved Rola development

“They noted the negative comments from two heritage experts engaged by Council regarding the proposal and were of the opinion that the proposal needed very strong reasons for support in light of such justified concern. “The height and proximity of the proposed building to the heritage item was also

considered to cause adverse visual impacts on the setting of the surrounding items and this was at least in part attributable to the noncompliances with the height and FSR. “It was also acknowledged that there were efforts to address view impacts upon a building to the east.

“However, view and heritage impacts should not be ‘traded off’ against each other, as both are environmental constraints applying to the site, and maximum standards cannot always assume to be achieved,” Mr Greenwald and Mr Perica argued.

Determination and Statement of Reasons, Dec 15, 2016 Jason Perica, Joint Regional Planning Panel Submission, Sep 15, 2014 Graham Quint, National Trust Website, Jan 11, 2017 Central Coast Council DA Tracker, DA46209/2014 Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Page 6 - Coast Community News - January 12, 2017 ADVERTISEMENT

Community Environment Network Looking back and looking forward....

2017 will mark 20 years since the Community Environment Network (CEN) was formed. Our beginning was a forum held at the Central Coast Leagues Club in May, 1997. The forum brought together individuals and groups from across the region (including Lake Macquarie and the Hunter) to share their stories and vision for the future. The forum was organised in part by the Brisbane Water & Gosford Lagoons Catchment Management Committee with support from the Department of Land & Water Conservation - both organisations have long since been absorbed into other entities. The energy and enthusiasm at the Forum was inspiring. At the end of the day, there was a consensus that this kind of gathering needed to continue - that there needed to be an over-arching network for the region - and so the journey began. At that time, we were the “Central Coast Community Environment Network” however, as our activities broadened, we became the Community Environment Network. 2017 will be about celebrating our 20 years but more importantly, it will be about bringing together individuals and groups that are working for the environment and their communities - renewing our efforts, both individually and together. The vision of CEN is about working for ecologically sustainable development (ESD), a concept that exists in legislation and that we believe is a model that will take us towards a just and sustainable society. ESD is not “antidevelopment” - it is about encouraging development that complies with 4 key principles: 1. Intergenerational equity 2. Precautionary principle 3. Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity 4. Improved valuation and pricing of assets and services (eg. “the polluter pays” principle). It would be nice if we could say that we were well on the path to achieving ESD, however, the challenges seem to be increasing. We invite you to join us, and many other Central Coast residents, to continue this work towards ESD. Let’s work together to achieve real progress in 2017! There are many ways of doing this—become a member, volunteer, attend one of our events... or contact us to find out what works best for you. Jane Smith, CEO

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Become a marine biologist by discovering our local rock platform animals. You’ll be amazed at how Come along to The Central Coast Wetlands, Pioneer Dairy special these creatures really are! on Saturday, 4 February to celebrate World Wetlands day 2017. Fri, 20 Jan - 8:00-9:00am As well as enjoying a delicious buffet breakfast, participants will Mon, 23 Jan - 11:00am- 12noon take part in activities such as talks about wetlands, water quality Wildwatch Activities monitoring, a bird spotting walk, dip-netting for water bugs, lucky door prizes and displays relating to local environmental projects. Suitable for children between 5-14 years of age. World Wetlands Day is celebrated on the 2nd of February each year and marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention Wed, 18 Jan - Birdwatcing for Kids! on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. - 9-10am, The Entrance The theme for 2017 is Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction. This Fri, 20 Jan - Dipnetting and Water theme is selected to raise awareness and to highlight the vital Testing - 10-12noon, Holgate roles of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on communities, Tue, 24 Jan - Dipnetting and Water Testing - 10-12noon, Ourimbah and in helping to build resilience. Breakfast with the Birds is organised by CEN’s Waterwatch Citizen Science - Rock program and supported by the Tuggerah Lakes Reserve Trust and Platform monitoring Birding NSW. The Central Coast Waterwatch Program is supported by Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Sat, 21 January - 9am-11am Come along to help us monitor Government. the diversity of life on Bateau Bay Registrations start at 8.00am with activities and breakfast rock platform. You will receive a running through till 11:00am. The cost for the event is $10 per adult and $6 for children (4-16 years) and this includes breakfast and briefing on the methods (using transects and quadrats) - and then site entry. we will work in teams to collect Numbers are limited and bookings are essential. For more data. information and to book - visit www.cen.org.au/events For many events there is a This event is supported by: small charge. These charges vary so please check the website for details. Bookings are essential FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK - VISIT

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Performing arts centre buck passing continues

$1.1bn worth of development applications processed he Central Coast Council used the end of the 2016 calendar year to celebrate strong post-merger development activity.

A combination of increased investment by applicants and decreased assessment times by council, has resulted in an overall approval of over $600 million worth of proposed investment into the Central Coast region since the new Council was formed in May. Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the latest figures were a promising sign of things to come in 2017. “These results are particularly pleasing, given all the hard work of our development assessment teams since the merger was announced in May,” said Mr Reynolds. “Amidst the many changes taking place internally, their commitment to getting the job done and facilitating appropriate development right across the region has been second to none. “In addition to the great results in 2016, there is currently over $500 million worth of development projects to go before the Joint Regional Planning Panel for their determination in the New Year.” Council’s Group Leader of Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, said that while the 2016 results were positive, there was always room for improvement. “This is the beginning of

a significant journey for us in development assessment, improving the way we operate and ultimately, promoting sustainable growth and investment right across the Central Coast,” said Mr Cox. “Since the merger announcement, Council had determined 1837 Development Applications - compared to 1600 in the seven months prior to amalgamation across the two former Councils. “We’ve also seen an increase in Section 96 determinations, with 396 applications processed post-merger. “The benefits of changes in our processes are already being realised with the median determination times down as the development teams come together. “Council’s current median determination time sits at 38 days, below the State Government benchmark of 40 days. “The largest Development Applications determined since amalgamation were for mixed use and commercial buildings in the Gosford CBD including Creightons, Ikon Tower, the Australian Taxation Office building and Duttons,” Mr Cox said. Media release, Dec 22, 2016 Central Coast Council media

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he buck continues to be passed between Central Coast Council, the NSW Government and the Member for Robertson over the best location for a regional performing arts centre in Gosford.

Ms Lucy Wicks, the Member for the Federal Seat of Robertson, and Mr Adam Crouch, the Member for the State Seat of Terrigal, have both said Central Coast Council has been responsible for stopping progress on the performing arts centre. Ms Wicks, whilst reiterating her commitment to deliver 600 jobs to the Gosford CBD as a result of having a new building for the Australian Taxation Office, also repeated her call for action from Council. “The Central Coast Council must once and for all announce where it’s putting the Gosford Regional Performing Arts Centre,” Ms Wicks said. “We have invested $10 million into this muchneeded cultural heart for Gosford,” she said. “December, 2016, marks six years since the State Labor Government decided to sell the old Gosford Public School site. “Labor has spent most of that six years campaigning for a Performing Arts Centre not on that site, but on

Gosford City Park also known as Poppy Park

Poppy Park, or Gosford City Park. “In six years in Government, they never delivered the funding either. “So let’s stop all the empty talk over false rhetoric, and let’s get on with the job of delivering more jobs,” she said. Central Coast Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said “We have met with Lucy Wicks several times on this and recently sent her a letter confirming we are actively investigating potential sites. “We regularly meet with Lucy and will continue to do so to progress this important

project,” Mr Reynolds said. “A report is due to come to Council early in 2017 outlining potential site options as the next step in the project,” he said. Given there are only eight Council meetings scheduled before the local government election in September, Coast Community News has asked Council to clarify what “early in 2017” means. Meanwhile, Mr Reynolds said he could confirm there were design plans under way for the regional library, which is to be located in Mann St on the old Caddy Club site next to the Council’s Gosford

Chambers. “Once that is done, it will come with costings as well,” Mr Reynolds said. “It is my understanding that there is funding put aside for the library,” he said. “However, we won’t know exactly how much is required until the design process is complete.” Media statement, Dec 14, 2016 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Media release, Dec 16, 2016 Tim Sowden, office of Lucy Wicks

I wish you all a prosperous New Year for 2017 and a happy Australia Day. Adam Crouch MP Member for Terrigal

LIBERALS

Get in touch with Adam (02) 4365 1906

Shop 3 Fountain Plaza, 148-158 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250

NSW

Terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Authorised by Adam Crouch MP, Shop 3 Fountain Plaza, 148-158 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250, using parliamentary entitlements.

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Mariners seek to transform Gosford Stad T F he Central Coast Mariners, the local national A-League franchise, has called on Central Coast Council to lift its game and turn Central Coast Stadium into a best-practice venue.

rom page 1

Above: Central Coast Stadium from Brian McGowan Bridge and below: the eastern grandstand from outside the stadium

Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year I would like to thank everyone for your well wishes and support throughout a trying year in 2016 and look forward to a successful 2017 working to improve our lifestyle here on the Central Coast.

Kathy Smith MP Member for Gosford

Mariners’ owner, Mr Mike Charlesworth, said he had concerns that the current business model for the stadium did not facilitate best practice, which contributed to the venue’s lack of growth and improvement. Central Coast Stadium was officially opened in February 2000 and has remained relatively untouched during its 17 years of existence, which has resulted in the venue becoming dated and in need of immediate attention, according to Mr Charlesworth. The Mariners’ have put forward a five-stage concept which was devised to ensure Central Coast Stadium met stadium best practice and became an all-weather friendly, football friendly and digitally connected stadium that could also facilitate Westfield W-League double headers and more. At the moment, the stadium does not even have enough change rooms to cater for more than two teams on any one occasion. Following the upgrades, Central Coast Stadium would be in contention to host concerts, bigger events and trade seven days a week through a café and retail precinct. The main components of the Mariners’ proposed stage-one upgrade for Central Coast Stadium included: dual big screens in the south-east and north-west corners of the venue; weather/sun protection over the northern grandstand; yellow seats; additional change rooms; wi-fi compatibility; a stateof-the-art sound system; upgrade of the corporate facilities (including a 100seat function room); and, a retail and café precinct. The Central Coast Mariners five-stage concept also included a hotel “with unmatched views of

Brisbane Water”. But the local soccer club has gone much further than calling on Council to lift its game in terms of the venue’s management and future. The Mariners’, whose fans have already been instrumental in bringing one Central Coast Mayor to power, have made their stadium concept part of a broader campaign that they have called #GrowthForGosford. Charlesworth said he encouraged all community leaders, politicians, developers and anyone that had an interest in the growth of Gosford to stand up and present their vision for a better Gosford. “The Central Coast Mariners’ next home game against Perth Glory on January 28 will be dedicated to the vision to grow Gosford, and the club has formally invited anyone who has a view for Gosford to be present at Central Coast Stadium on game day. “The aim is not only to present the Central Coast Mariners’ vision for Central Coast Stadium, but to unite all stakeholders who believe in #GrowthForGosford.” Central Coast Mariners’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Shaun Mielekamp, said he invited all community leaders to attend the match on January 28. He said that as the club continued to grow, the Stadium had to improve. “As the Central Coast Mariners continue to grow, Central Coast Stadium must grow with us,” Mr Mielekamp said. “A necessity for our region is the improvement of Central Coast Stadium that is the only flag bearer for major infrastructure development in Gosford’s CBD over the past 17 years,” he said. “Whilst there are certainly some hurdles ahead, we are confident that there are also solutions. “We cannot do this alone

and need the stadium and infrastructure to grow if we have any chance of fulfilling our potential. “New revenue opportunities presented by the stadium will empower us to invest long term towards our football resources. “Our football will reap the rewards of the club’s growth and it is important to understand that this is a long-term play for us to compete with the big-four clubs who are growing bigger and faster every day. “Whilst it is the small dayto-day things that hinder events at the stadium, such as a poor sound system, long bar and canteen lines, accessibility and weather protection, these frustrations, if unaddressed, are merely the tip of the iceberg. “The worst thing that can happen is nothing. “Our main priority is to drive change and growth. “If the Mariners aren’t going to do it, then who is? “The stadium is now and will always be our home. “Like any home, the stadium can get tired and need some love and energy injected to keep it thriving,” Mielekamp said. Central Coast Council welcomed the Mariners’ announcement that they would “finally submit a formal proposal” relating to management rights for the stadium. A Council media statement said: “Council took over management of the former Bluetongue stadium in February 2014 and is keen to see the facility reach its full potential. “Council enjoys a productive relationship with the Mariners and regularly discusses matters relating to the Stadium and promoting sport more generally on the Coast with the Mariners CEO. “Council will give due consideration to any formal proposal by the Mariners relating to the management

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ium into a world-class entertainment hub of Central Coast Stadium with a view to maximising the contribution the Stadium makes to the future of the Central Coast,â&#x20AC;? the council statement said. Mr Mielekamp said he had spent the past 18 months unsuccessfully working with the former Gosford Council and the new Central Coast Council to address the stadiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care and its future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Council has just been saying they will not formally reply on it, they will take care of it but the [audio] speakers havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been working properly the whole time I have been CEO of the Mariners,â&#x20AC;? Mr Mielekamp said. He said following the Central Coast Marinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; last home game on Sunday, January 8, the football club received complaints about long lines for service at food and drink vendors behind the eastern grandstand closest to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;concessionalâ&#x20AC;? membership seating and open ticketing areas. The Mariners have not been given a merchandise stand on the eastern side of the stadium because Council said it required all available vending outlets, although several have remained closed at recent home games. It also appears that the overall number of food vendors and bars operating in the eastern stand has been steadily reducing and EFTPOS is no longer available at all vendor cash registers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to pay for our

Mr Sean Mielekamp, Chief Executive Officer, Central Coast Mariners FC

small merchandise tent (in the north-eastern corner of the concourse) and we had to swap it for a bigger one,â&#x20AC;? Mr Mielekamp said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Council is running the venue and then it tenders out the rights to catering companies who are not invested in the event,â&#x20AC;? he said. The clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to provide cheaper refreshments for its fans in the form of a sausage sizzle have been rejected by Council, he said. Mr Mielekamp said he had been asking Council for its plan for the stadium for the past 18 months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There appears to be no plan,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t best practice management for a stadium, it is being managed like a community park rather than a business

opportunity, when it could be the showpiece of the Gosford CBD,â&#x20AC;? he said. Mr Mielekamp said he wished to emphasise that the current stadium management personnel were â&#x20AC;&#x153;not to blameâ&#x20AC;? and praised their performance given their limited resources. The CEO came to the Central Coast Mariners with venue management experience due to his time with the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Penrith Panthers. During his time at the Western Sydney Wanderers, he saw the Wanderers, the Parramatta Eels, the NSW Government, Western Sydney University and Local Council â&#x20AC;&#x153;come together and link arms to redevelop Parramatta Stadium and create a new multi-million dollar state-of-the-art

JA N U A RY

venueâ&#x20AC;?. The Central Coast Marinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Football Club has urged anyone with views or ideas to help Gosford grow to contact their office by phone or email for an opportunity to present at the next home game â&#x20AC;&#x153;and unite to make a differenceâ&#x20AC;?. Central Coast Taskforce Chair, Mr Chris Holstein, was quick to support the Central Coast Marinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; calls for the Stadium to be upgraded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Central Coast Stadium is in need of an upgrade to keep pace with the needs of the community and to enhance economic growth for the region,â&#x20AC;? Mr Holstein said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For 17 years the Central Coast Stadium has served the community with firstclass sporting events, but it now needs an urgent upgrade to allow that to continue, but also to grow,â&#x20AC;? he said. Mr Holstein said any revamp should include a new function area to complement the stadium

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There appears to be no plan.â&#x20AC;? and attract a diversity of events. Amenities upgrades were also needed to allow greater usage of the field, such as additional change rooms to allow female and male home matches on the same date. Having been instrumental in the funding and construction of the stadium, Mr Holstein said the community asset shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be taken for granted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like any asset, failure to maintain and renew it is a recipe for disaster,â&#x20AC;? he said. Mr Holstein said he called on the Central Coast Council and State Government to take immediate steps to address the stadiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs

for greater community and economic benefit. Local State politicians and other former Councillors have not yet commented on the Marinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; proposal. Media release, Jan 10, 2017 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners Media release, Jan 10, 2017 Chris Holstein, Central Coast Taskforce Interview, Jan 10, 2017 Shaun Mielekamp, Central Coast Mariners Media statement, Jan 10, 2017 Central Coast Council media Jackie Pearson, journalist

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ATO building on the Gosford Waterfront clears ﬁnal hurdle

From page 1

he NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC), on Friday, December 16, dismissed an appeal by the Gosford Waterfront Alliance against the approval of an ATO building on the Gosford Waterfront.

According to Justice Pain, “The scope of judicial review does not extend to consideration of the merits of the decision being challenged. “The task of a court in judicial review matters is to determine whether the decision under review was made according to law, not whether it was the preferable decision,” the judgement said. In her judgement, Justice Pain found that the Alliance’s arguments about the provision of car parking within the development, as opposed to on Baker St, were invalid. “The attempt by the applicant to suggest some textual indication of a relationship between provision of car parking and the proposed development is not borne out…” the judgement said. Arguments relating to design excellence also failed because they were predicated on a particular meaning being given to the provision of car parking spaces related to the development, Justice Pain said. In terms of arguments about the JRPP’s failure to provide reasons for its decision, Justice Pain said: “No statutory obligation under the EPA Act is imposed on the JRPP to provide reasons at all, or in a particular manner, for its decision to approve the development. Central Coast Council called the Land and Environment Court decision to allow the Doma development to go ahead in Gosford “a landmark

The ATO building is now a work in progress

ruling” that gave “the green light to the Australian Taxation Office proposed for Gosford.” “This will provide more certainty for employment prospects in the Gosford CBD,” a media statement issued by the Council said. “One thing I’ve never wavered on is my determination to see more local jobs in Gosford, to deliver the urgent economic boost that the Central Coast needs,” said the Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks. “While others talk and talk about 50 year old fake promises to our community, this is a Government that has remained firm on our commitment to deliver our plan for a stronger Central Coast where people can work locally,” Ms Wicks said. “Labor and Laboraligned advocates have been running a misleading campaign attacking our game-changing commitment to 600 new jobs. “But the news of the Court ruling in Doma’s favour, means we now have time to stop and realise that finally Gosford can unite behind our need for jobs that will help grow our city. “Labor and its advocates must accept the facts that this will generate hundreds

FREE

of local jobs, and they have got to stop ignoring the business community who have been calling for this vital injection of local jobs,” she said. On Monday, December 19, Labor Senator for NSW, Deborah O’Neill, formally requested that the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, urgently intervene to relocate the ATO building to the Gosford CBD. “Mr Turnbull has the opportunity to give the Central Coast community an early Christmas present by directing the ATO Commissioner to put the office in the Gosford CBD, where it will reinvigorate local businesses,” Senator O’Neill said. “During the election campaign, the Prime Minister clearly stated that the location of the ATO office was a ‘matter for the community’. “The community has spoken, Mr Turnbull, and they have said they want the waterfront to be a cultural and recreational precinct and not government offices. “The community has made two points very clear to the Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks,” Senator O’Neill said. “Firstly, that the ATO jobs will bring much-needed stimulus to the centre of Gosford where it is needed

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September 27, 2016

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Issue 101

October 25, 2016

Mines Subsidence Districts Boundaries reduced by 6,500 hectares

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Issue 103

November 22, 2016

Rally attracts over 1,000 people

he Wyong community will get a bigger and better hospital as a result of the

NSW Government’s FREEproposed public-

private partnership, according to the NSW Minister for Health, Ms Jillian Skinner.

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

Issue 102

November 8, 2016 201

Wyong Shire Structure Plan are proposed to be excluded from the Central Coast Mine Subsidence Districts. “It is estimated that 5,000 dwellings and 1,200 jobs will be created within these future employment and residential precincts. “This is particularly important due to the signiﬁcant amount of new investment which is proposed to occur in these areas over the coming decade. “Mine Subsidence Districts are also proposed to be removed from many established

Swansea, North Entrance and No 1 Extension Mines Subsidence District

suburbs as well, which will be redeveloped over time. “The proposed mapping amendment means that 6,500 hectares of land would no longer need to obtain Mines Subsidence Board approvals and would no longer need to meet the particular construction standards and materials speciﬁcations for development,” the report said. “The amendments proposed will have positive economic impacts in terms of facilitating orderly development and release

“It is for these reasons that the proposed amendments are supported by staff,” it said. According to the submission, the area identiﬁed to be removed from the Wyong Mine Subsidence District “will provide more certainty for development on land south of Yarramalong Rd. “Council is currently assessing a large rezoning proposal for a rural residential development, Old Farm at Old Maitland Rd, Mardi. “The removal of this site from the Wyong Mine Subsidence District (MSD) is supported,” the

Muck raking tabloid oid journalism at its worst orst W

Hue Hue Mines Subsidence District

North Entrance and also allow for the timing No 1 Extension Mine of land release to be Subsidence District are to re-examined in some be significantly reduced. locations. Parts of Kanwal, According to the he negative Wyongah, Gorokan, submission, coveragetheofremoval an Norah Head, Canton of land from the Hue Hue announcement Beach, Toukley, Subsidence District will Amphibian Budgewoi, parts of Bluethatprovide the Central Coast Haven, parts of LakeAerospace Council Industries with certainty relocate Munmorah, Frazer Park,(AAI) whenwould planning for the operations to Freemans and Wyburg areits development of a precinct Central proposed to be removed.theidentifi ed forCoast future “Urban land releasehasemployment, generating been described areas at Hamlyn Terrace,by purposes that isCoast expected Central Woongarrah and WadalbaCouncil to createCEO, 500 additional Mr are also proposed to beRobjobs in theas: next 10 years. Noble “Quite removed,” the submissionseriously muck raking Agenda item 4.1, said. tabloid journalism at2016 Sep 28, “The reduction in Central Coast Council its worst.” MSD boundaries will ordinary the meeting He described reduce development US-based AAI as a costs for subdivision and “burgeoning company”. “If that’s how every burgeoning company Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford that wants to move its Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 business to the Central Coast gets treated, then E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net they will soon realise this Website: www.centralcoastnews.net is not a region they want to come to.” Mr Noble said he was confident Council staff had done their due diligence thoroughly. “My understanding is AAI will be refurbishing planes and eventually The Albatross at sea and the $100 million factory proposed for Warnervale inset building new ones. According to the in the United States and privy to a great deal of will move its operations he “We are confident they that is not an easy thing information that was, for from the USA to a site Central Coast Council, il, have the wherewithal, to do. the present, commercial at Central Coast Airport the deal will create 240 40 the authorisation and the direct jobs in aircraft “Council’s senior staff in confidence, that would under a 40 year lease. aft legal capacity to do what have been working with demonstrate the flowNSW Premier, Mr manufacturing, as well as they have said they will this company for about a on benefits of Council’s Mike Baird, visited the thousands of indirect jobs bs do. Coast on September 27 in auxiliary industries agreement with AAI. year. es “This company has the parts supply, AAI is the Type to announce that AAI like “We are talking about Type Certifications for an 18,000 square metre Certificate holder to would become the first instrumentation, interior the Grumman amphibian hangar, it really is a major the HU-16 Models A-E transport category aircraft fitouts and avionics. aircraft from the Federal development. “This is a great day for and G-111 Albatross manufacturer to set up in Aviation Administration Mr Noble said he was Amphibian Aircraft, and Australia since the 1940s. the Central Coast; this

You Your You urr independent community u c newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

outique utique Wyongg Living vingg Pty P Ltd L has gaine gained ga Central ral Coast Council Counci C “My NSW Labor NSW,” Sen O’Neill support for asaid. proposal pport port proposa ell over 1,000 people attended the Wyong Hospital privatisation no certainty about their colleagues and I will “The to rezone Baird parts of community rally at Morrie Breen Oval on Sunday, October future. “There are areas stand with the community Government’s the Wyong hee former own Wyo W 17. within the health system every step of the way documents rm: ‘If Grove School Grooveconfi Public Scho of our community. Local Labor MPs who David Harris. are Central Coast Labor “This is not their where the public-private against the privatisation other projects addressed the rally said site R2 te from massessed R Low L able to deliver slammed the hospital to sell,” he said. partnership model is of Wyong Hospital,” Mr as being the turnout demonstrated announcement means MPs Density Residential to ity Resident de dential t Mehan said. … using this approach, Federal Member known to be inadequate. widespread thousands of jobs public for the NSW Health Minister, R3 Medium Density Medi D y “How do we know Federal Labor Senator, then partnerships will be concern abouta signifi the NSW significant ficant Ms Jillian Skinner, for for Dobell, Ms Emma region with Residential. Residential eside she ia said. this will not put more Deborah O’Neill, said looked into’,” Government’s decision to flow on to the Central invite operatorsMr to Coastprivate economy,” Baird said. upgrade and run Wyong Hospital. Central Coast Council “The Wyong Mr rally Ian is Administrator, Reynolds, said: “Bringing just the start, with a series of for jobsevents to thisplanned region and regional where a enablinglocations employment public-private partnership growth are some of the model will be considered key priorities of Central for Coasthospital Council. upgrades and“There construction,” said were a number Shadow Minister for of locations that AAI the Coast and was Central investigating and Member for Wyong, Mr we’re pleased to have successfully attracted AAI to the Central Coast,” he said. Mr Reynolds said the lease agreement with AAI is part of a wider vision to make the Airport a hub for light to medium commercial general aviation. “Having an anchor tenant like AAI at Central Coast Airport will help put our region on the aviation industry map,” Mr Reynolds said. “It will stimulate the Central Coast to become nationally recognised and help in attracting additional investment from related industries innovators and and growing our economy.

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Continued P3

Ms Skinner told the Wyong Regional Chronicle that the NSW Government would still spend its promised Issue 104 $200 million on the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital. “I would expect a private sector partner to add more money to the $200 million, but our commitment has not changed,” Ms Skinner said. Wyong Town Centre, and “Having a private this land is considered athe partner means reasonable expansion of community can get thea land lot use. more, including “The services, indicative extra a bigger development concepts hospital, and more staff,” accompanying the she said. planning proposalsaidare Ms Skinner she very basic and will need expected a redeveloped to Wyong be further developed Hospital to to address as becomematters a majorsuch maternity privacy, hospital overshadowing if the privateand visualpartnership impact,” the sector went report said. ahead. “Council’s Community The existing Wyong and Culturecurrently Unit has Hospital has advised the rezoning limitedthat birthing services. should progress Msonly Skinner saidon it thewould northern portion of the a take at least lot,year being the part whichthe to work through is not impacted by the compulsory acquisition proceedings. “Preliminary consultation has been undertaken with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (L&HC), which owns four properties directly abutting this site, and a further six properties situated nearby. “NSW L&HC supports the expansion of the R3 Medium Density zone (together with a 2:1 FSR) to apply to their landholdings. “Expanding the R3 Medium Density zone (together with a 2:1 FSR) for land on the eastern side of Owen Ave, north of Ingram St and south of Cutler Dve is not recommended. “It is considered preferable to restrict the proposed R3 zone to the area south of Ingram St.

Comprehensive Comp Co Com mpre preh pre ehhhensive Wyong Grove rezoning propo propos posall too go g to NS proposal NSW Department of Planning

Area to be retained Area to be removed

Areas to be removed from No1 Extension and included in Swansea North Entrance MSD Wyong Mines Subsidence District

residential and submission said. dwelling construction in NSW Government review of Central Coast Mines Subsidence of According to the these locations.” Districts Boundaries has received support from staff at Central employment land as well as removal of red tape. submission, the Swansea Their removal may Coast Council.

The new boundaries would mean that approximately 6,500 hectares of land would be removed from the Central Coast Mines Subsidence Districts. Staff of the Central Coast Council have made a submission in response to the Revised Mine Subsidence District Boundaries. According to a report to the Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, regarding the staff’s submission: “A number of development precincts shown in the NSW Government’s North

failing to consult with the community. “Throughout two elections, we did not hear a word from the Government about this plan,” Mr Harris said. “They have failed to treat our area with any respect or give us any say in decisions around our hospital. “I hope the Government is paying attention to the reaction

McBride joined the debate. “Having worked at Wyong Hospital for the past 10 years, I know how dedicated our health workers are and the strain they work under caring for us,” Ms McBride said. “They don’t deserve this. “It is unacceptable that local health workers have been put in a position where they have

rati “The Floor public space health ratio and ng he heigh heights system is notbuilding for sale. will ll also need to be “The community mended ended Wyong W rightlyamended believesin that Local ocal systemEnv Environm Environment our health is not Plan lann a2013 (WLEP), ((WLEP iif something government NSWa profi Planning l t from.” nii gives i can make consent nsent ent for a gateway gateeway way determinat ermination. Jointdetermination. media release,nOct 19, former A portion of the forme form mer 2016 Heather Robison, ofm s school hool ol siteofficeremains remain subject ubjectEmma to aMcBride compulsory compulso compul lsoryy Media release, Oct 19, 2016 acquisition isition iiti application applica n Scott Coomber, office of that was lodged lodggO’Neill ed bby thee Deborah former mer Wyong W journalist Council Counciil Jackie Pearson, and is expe expected ted to be concluded luded between November 22016 aand Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford January 2017. Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 At Council’s ounc ordinar ordinary Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 meeting ng on October 26, E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Council’s Council uncil s Administrator, Adminis Administrator Adm Website: www.centralcoastnews.net Mr Ian Reynolds, agreed M that thee latest la es rezoning rezonin rezoni zo proposall should h ld bbe sentt to the NSW Department of Planning for a gateway determination. Council will consult with landowners of surrounding properties to seek their support to be included in the revised planning proposal, as recommended by Council staff. If the proposal is successful, properties from 1 to 5 Ingram St, 1 to 17 Owen Ave and 1 to 5 North Rd, Wyong, will be rezoned for medium density residential

pressure on nearby public hospitals? “We have no information from the Government about how they plan to address these risks.” Member for the Entrance, Mr David Mehan said: “I am sure many more people will show their opposition to this Government and their unbridled attachment to privatisation.

the NSW Government’s own documents proved their privatisation model would be used for further hospital construction and upgrades. “The Government’s Public-Private Partnership approach, which will place Wyong Hospital in private hands, will potentially be used for other hospitals on the Central Coast and also affect all residents in

Issue 105 December 20, 2016

Public-private partnership will provide a better hospital

EE EE FRREE FRE

October 11, 2016

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

Th su The subject ubjec bjecctt site te ffor the rezoning proposal is edged e in red

development. developme developm dev ment ment. ntt. The sou southern so outhe uthern ern part of ern two lots aat 1 North N Nor orrthh Rd will retain their low density th l residential ident zoning. zoning zo ngg. The Th site is known as the Wyongg Grove Community Coommunity andd Cultural C Hub of Hub and is the the home h the h Wyong he W Wyong Drama D ma Dram ma Group and Musical Musicaal Theatre Company. Wyong Grove Public School closed in June 2013 and Wyong Council entered a two-year lease with the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) in May 2014. However, DEC sold the site in October 2015, and in December, the former Wyong Council resolved to acquire the front portion of the former school to retain it as a community hub, and council is still awaiting the outcome

of its application to app compulsorily acquire the site. A development a p p l i c a t i o n (DA/794/2016) was (DA/794/201 lodged with Council on 24 June 2016, for the 20 demolition of all the existing buildings on the buil site, but has not yet been determined. The applicant applic lodged a request for a pre-Gateway review in respect of this planning plannin proposal with the Department of Planning and Plann Environment in August. The pre-Gateway review is yet to be considered by the Department and the Joint Regional Planning Panel Pla (JRPP). A report from the Central Coast Council’s Department of Environment and Planning to the October

The portion of the site subject to the compulsory acquisition application is edged in yellow

26 ordinary meeting said: “It is recommended that the planning proposal be amended and progressed in the following manner: rezone the majority of the subject site and those sites east of Owen Ave and south of Ingram St, to R3 Medium Density Residential; apply a maximum height of 16m and maximum Floor Space Ratop of 2.0:1 to the rezoned areas; Retain the R2 Low Density Residential zone over the south-western portion of the site which is currently utilised as the Wyong Grove community and cultural hub and is subject of the compulsory acquisition proposal; and, apply a Land Reservation Acquisition layer to the southern portion of the site to facilitate purchase of this portion of the site by Council.

“The planning proposal has been informed by a series of preliminary technical studies/investigations and it is considered that there is currently adequate information to support a rezoning of the site for a higher density residential use. “Further detailed works would be required to progress the planning proposal should a gateway determination be given. “The proposal will provide for increased housing density and expand the housing choice within 800m of the Wyong Train Station and within walking distance of facilities and services of the town centre. “WLEP only provides for limited areas of medium density residential land around

Agenda item 3.4, Oct 26, 2016 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting

When asked if Health NSW would make the detail of the contract for the partnership available for public scrutiny, Ms Skinner said: “The public can already have a look at the details of the Northern Beaches Hospital arrangement and I can tell you that it will be saving tax payers $1.5 billion over 20 years,” she said. Ms Skinner argued that a partnership with the private sector would December 6, 2016 result in more jobs, not less, and that the contract could ensure conditions of employment, including superannuation, would be carried forward. “When we announced we were seeking expressions of interest for a series of sites, we said From left: Jilli Jillian Skinner NSW Minister for Health with we would not go ahead Premier Mr Mike Baird at the announcement of the Northern Beaches Hospital in 2014 heof no benefi NSW t to Hospital), if it was and by Healthescope, as the Beaches the organisations that had plan for the district, dis A u d i and t othe r be model for the public- the partner will have the community submitted mitted expressions of the operator would w and we have General, Ms interest, confi est, but confirmed firmed obliged to meet me those private-partnership being the option to continue, tax payer. already walked away Crawford, they proposed at Wyong. they had to have a proven requirements, but but if they don’t, the Margaret b frombeen one property,” called on she to She said she urged hospital returns to public has trackk record of running don’t have to stop sto there. said. investigate dealings “There is no limit to people to take a drive ownership,” she said. hospitals itals in Australia to Ms Skinner said Ms Skinner said surrounding what they can bid,” Ms past the new hospital qualify. ify. the claims that free public on Sydney’s Northern that would be the case selection “We We got numerous Skinner said. of land health care would not be She said op opening up Beaches. known irrespective of the level in wn private hospital Kangy for available at a Angy redeveloped “It is a beautiful of “value adding” the the and operators ators and nearly the development developm location of the Wyong Hospital, or all of the not-for-profit not-for-profi fit operation of the hospital hospital, much better than private operator had done Intercity that there Fleet would Train be no to a competitive operators,” ators,” she said. competitiv tender anything you would get on site. Maintenance Facility. NSW The for-profit emergency department, SW Health will process meant two tw parties out of public funding,” State Member for other Ms Skinner said. spendd the next four to fi ve could out-bid each and not-for-profit were “rubbish led by the five e The Entrance, Mr unions. The Minister said operators that submitted months ths working with the by committing to the David said “I met Mehan, with the unions she could assure public expressions of interest operators ators that submitted delivery of additional a he had written to the patients that they would will be required to meet and they told me that expressions essions of interest services. NSW Auditor-General “The Northern Beaches be cared for exactly as minimum requirements they had a philosophical to give ive them a clearer requesting that the state’s understanding documentation, problem with private rstanding of the Hospital ended up with a if they were in a public for chief auditor looks into hospital. Cardiac Catheterisation legal arrangement and sector involvement,” she Cathe the dealings surrounding “The government will financials before they said. Lab that was not n in the the Kangy Angy site original tender plan,” she pay for public patient are allowed to tender, as p selection process.Interview, care,” she said. the fine detail required in Nov 17, 2016 The proposed site “At the end of the the tender process could Ms Skinner referred Jillian Skinner, NSW in KangyMinister Angy for didHealth not to the Northern Beaches contract (20 years in cost any potential partner originally appearjournalist on the Jackie Pearson, the case of the Northern millions of dollars. Hospital, constructed co list of 24 sites considered by NSW Government, and was only selected after being floated as an Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 alternative by the former Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 Wyong Council, who E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net did not wish to approve Website: www.centralcoastnews.net the sale of the land at the preferred site in Warnervale. Former councillors, residents and community leaders have all questioned the legitimacy of the Kangy Angy decision citing concerns about inaccessible flood prone land, cost blow outs and environmental impacts. The multi-criteria used to assess the original 24 sites contained key factors surrounding enabling works including impact on earthworks, and diversion of utilities, that was left out of the final assessment given to

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Issue 107

Council’s Kangy Angy land deal reported to ICAC T

he former W y o n g Council has reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by the NSW Auditor General, Ms Margaret Crawford, for an investigation into possible corruption Issue 106 by the Council in pushing a site at Kangy Angy over Warnervale as the location for Transport for NSW’s new intercity rail maintenance facility.

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Auditor General asked to look into inexplicable selection of Kangy Angy gy land

While basic questions go unanswered, the Brisbane train maintenance facility (pictured) is similar to that proposed for Kangy Angyy

Angy. d, “The criteria not used, ed enabling works, included ts, impact on culverts, on earthworks and diversion of utilities. “Since Kangy Angy gy will require major or earthworks to bridge ge the railway line and nd raise the facility above ve the ﬂoodplain; impact act existing culverts; and, nd, require diversion of power lines; I suggest est its inclusion would have ve resulted in Warnervale ale being found the better of the two. “In addition to the he above, construction on the Kangy Angy site ite will prove extremely expensive because of: the quantity of imported ﬁll required and its consolidation;

The Office of the NSW Auditor General responded to a request from the State Member the additional footings for Theon such Entrance, filled required fi lled Mr DavidforMehan, by ground buildings, reporting the engineering matter to heavy ICAC and undertaking to facilities and overhead “look closelyand at the wiringmore structures; the site selection process”. huge overbridge structure That process resulted (capable of heavy vehicle in the newly-formed access) Coast that will be Central Council requiredflto access theland site selling ood-prone from Enterprise to Transport for Dve NSWover to the Main Northinter-city railway build the new lines. rail maintenance facility. “It would be The Kangy notAngy inconceivable these site was not that originally ficbycosts site-specifi may considered Transport exceed $30until to 40 itmillion for NSW was above the costs of suggested by the former buildingCouncil a similarwho facility Wyong did on alternative land. built not want the facility on “The land itadditional had earmarked costs for other purposes at and readiness to construct Warnevale. a bridge to access the “Any significant maintenance siteissues are identifi ed will galling be included for particularly in one of given my the annual local people two reports to Parliament nearby railway crossings at Ourimbah are a narrow bridge which requires an upgrade and an underpass which regularly fl oods,” floods,” Mr Mehan’s letter said. According to the offi fice of the NSW Auditor General, Mr Mehan’s request has been acknowledged and he will receive a more detailed response within a couple of weeks. That response will indicate whether or not the matter will progress to an audit.

The Ourimbah rally and, inset, from left: Ms Michelle Nicholson and Ms Susan Zgraja

impact of the proposed facility on the Kangy Angy habitat of the nationally-threatened Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot. The residents of Kangy Angy have continued their campaign against the rail maintenance

(ORRA), attended by around 150 concerned locals on December 11. If local, state and federal politicians wish to avoid “a Brexit or a Trump”, they need to start listening to groups like the Kangy Angy Residents’ Action Group

“We live in a system where Councillors, planners and pollies automatically assume the status of expert, and follow the principle that we, the little people, don’t understand the complexities of issues.” facility since the Wyong Council announced its intention to sell its Kangy Angy land to the NSW Government. They were recently involved in a rally organised by the Ourimbah Region Residents’ Association

(KARAG), according Ms Susan Zgraja who spoke on behalf of KARAG and received cheers from the crowd at the rally. “If Council, State and, indeed, Australia’s Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, wish to avoid a Brexit or a

Trump, then they must begin to sincerely listen and acquiesce to local demands,” Ms Zgraja said. “Groups like ours have had enough of political speak, weasel words and being patronised,” she said. “We live in a system where Councillors, planners and pollies automatically assume the status of expert, and follow the principle that we, the little people, don’t understand the complexities of issues. “I doubt if there is one action group that hasn’t been told the decision made is for the greater good. “We the little people recognise an inappropriately sized and positioned development when we see it. “We are not against

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Media release, Nov 30, 2016 Peter Duggan, offi office fice of David Mehan Letter, Nov 29 29, 2016 David Mehan, NSW Member for The Entrance Phone interview, Dec 5, 2016 Barry Underwood, office of NSW Auditor General

and, secondly, the people want our prime waterfront to be a world-class cultural and entertainment district. “The Liberals are out of touch and refuse to listen to the community, which proves that when the Liberals win, the community loses.” The LEC judgement gave the following summary of the development that is now underway: “A new building on the corner of Baker St and Georgiana Tce containing partly three and partly four commercial levels (based on the slope of the site), two levels of basement parking and a plant room on the roof top. “The gross floor area is approximately 8,190 square metres. “The two basement levels will provide 92 car parking spaces with separate access on each level. “Baker St, south of Georgiana Tce, is currently an unconstructed road. “It is to be constructed as part of the proposed development’s conditions of consent. “Thirteen parking spaces are to be provided in the new section of Baker St to be constructed as part of the …development. “On August 4, 2016, the First Respondent (TO Gosford Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Doma) was

informed by the Council that the conditions of deferred commencement had been satisfactorily completed and the consent was operative from that date.” In making its decision to approve the ATO development, the Joint Regional Planning Panel had stated its sympathy for a 2010 Gosford City Masterplan to designate the site as a future arts and entertainment precinct. However, it was unable to act on that sympathy because the Master Plan had not been carried through into the statutory planning framework. Former Wyong Councillor and JRPP member, Mr Ken Greenwald, voted against the granting of consent based on his belief that the car parking should be wholly provided in the site. Ms Claire Braund, GWA President, said the Alliance would continue its positive campaign to have Government offices located in the city CBD despite the recent legal setback. She said the LEC judgement was “disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. “As we feared during the proceedings, our substantial arguments were not enough to sway the judge, who reminded us that we could only object to the technicalities of the building, not the merits of its location,” Ms Braund said. “That was a matter for the previous council and state administration that facilitated the rezoning and the sale of the land, against its own award-winning masterplan, and the former Joint Regional Planning Panel that approved the development. “The ruling means the prime waterfront site will now be occupied by a building that utilises half of the available floor height, has an empty nonactivitated ground floor and is open for nine to five office workers on weekdays only... which makes absolutely no sense when there are so

many empty and derelict sites in the CBD crying out for redevelopment,” Ms Braund said. She stressed that the GWA had always supported the Federal Government decision to relocate an ATO to the Central Coast, but was opposed to the ‘quick and easy’ approach taken to its location. “Planning and development in Gosford should be based on the agreed masterplan, not on enabling politicians to meet their election promises. “Making this issue about jobs that could be located in a building in the CBD or even via working from home, has been a complete smokescreen for a disgraceful, ill-thought out planning decision.” Ms Braund said the GWA was continuing to talk to various State Government representatives about the remaining two-thirds of the site, which it is hopeful can be saved for a high quality mixed use development with a performing arts centre at its core. “We desperately need a senior Minister in the State Government and the Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, to take some leadership on this issue, convene a meeting of stakeholders and discuss an outcome that allows the Finance Office to be built in the CBD and frees up the waterfront for a better purpose,” she said. The GWA, on its Facebook page, thanked its members, donors and supporters across the region, barrister, Mr Matthew Fraser, and solicitors, Tennille Ferguson-Brown and colleagues. Media release, Dec 16, 2016 Tim Sowden, office of Lucy Wicks Media statement, Dec 16, 2016 Central Coast Council media Judgement, Dec 16, 2016 Land and Environment Court NSW, Gosford Waterfront Alliance Inc V TO Gosford Pty Ltd Media release, Dec 19, 2016 Scott Coomber, office of Deborah O’Neill Media release, Dec 19, 2016 Claire Braund, Gosford Waterfront Alliance That

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Examination of new council wards reveals anomalies M

any questions r e m a i n unanswered about the first election of the new Central Coast Council, now due in less than nine months. It is known that the new LGA has been divided into five wards, each with three Councillors. According to correspondence from the NSW Office of Local Government’s manager of Council Governance, Mr John Davies, the merged Council was divided into wards because one of the former Councils, Wyong, already had wards. An initial analysis of the five wards that make up the new Central Coast local government area has raised questions about the composition of the Gosford West and Gosford East wards. Based on two-partypreferred voting patterns from the July 2016 Federal Election, the Gosford West Ward would narrowly favour Australian Labor Party candidates. However, Gosford West is peculiarly large when compared with the other wards, both geographically and in terms of voter numbers. Dr Van Davy, who is a resident of Pearl Beach and ran in the Federal election as an independent candidate in the seat of Robertson, agreed to analyse the composition of the new Council’s wards for Coast Community News. He has declared that he will not be a candidate in the September Central Coast Council election. Dr Davy said the division of voters between the Gosford West and Gosford East wards was a “stand

out oddity” that “begged explanation”. The Gosford West ward, according to the NSW Government’s Stronger Councils website, encompasses the former Gosford local government area west of the Pacific Motorway as well as Kariong, East Gosford, Gosford CBD, West Gosford and all other residents between the western edges of Brisbane Water and Broken Bay, including the entire Woy Woy Peninsula from Booker Bay to Patonga as well as Hawkesbury River communities such as Mooney Mooney. According to Dr Davy’s analysis, the ward includes 38,000 voters as opposed to only 30,000 in neighbouring Gosford East. “Of the five wards, it appears the Liberals have a strong advantage in Gosford East, Labor a strong advantage in Budgewoi, with the remaining three wards a small two to three per cent leaning to Labor,” Dr Davy said. “Gosford East ward is solidly and safely Liberal but has been constructed to be oddly small and is kept small with an extraordinarily

irregular geometry to the electoral map which places, counter-intuitively, the Gosford city area and East Gosford area in the Gosford West ward,” he said. “If this oddity was evened out, one would expect Gosford West to drop to around 34,000 and Gosford East ward to rise to around the same figure. “This particular issue requires close examination because, on the face of it, the result looks very odd. “It could be argued it has been done deliberately to place more Liberal voters in Gosford West ward thus making that ward a ‘swing’ ward rather than a solid Labor ward, which it would otherwise be. “Everything about this is odd - the size of the voting population, the counter-intuitive shape of the electoral map, the placement of the CBD in a ward with vast areas of National Park, State Forest, agriculture and mining,” Dr Davy said. According to the NSW Office of Local Government’s John Davies, the Local Government Act 1993 requires that the number of electors in each

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ward must not vary by more than 10 per cent. The estimated 8,000 variation between Gosford East and Gosford West, if correct, would be greater than 10 per cent. Coast Community News sent questions to the office of the NSW Minister for Local Government, Mr Paul Toole, asking how the Government determined the ward boundaries. Mr Toole’s office sent the following statement in response: “New Council ward boundaries were authorised by the NSW Electoral Commission to ensure they complied with the 10 per cent variance rule. “In some instances major roads, residential roads, railways or parks were used as the boundaries for the wards to ensure the 10 per cent variance rule was met,” the statement from Mr Toole said. The Minister contends the new wards range in voters on the electoral roll from 48,400 to 49,500. The Minister’s Office then referred Coast Community News back to the NSW Electoral Commission for information about what data it used. The Commission said it used the NSW electoral roll and geo-spatial analysis tools to assess and review the number of voters in each ward. “The wards proposed for the Central Coast Council met this requirement at the time of the review.” According to Mr Davies, “The final number of electors in each ward will not be known until after the roll closing date, 40 days before the election”. The number of councillors to be elected in each ward will be three to make up

the total of 15 councillors across the Central Coast, which is one of the largest local government areas in Australia. According to the Stronger Councils website, candidates will not have to live in the ward to qualify to stand as a Central Coast Councillor in that ward. Coast Community News has asked the Liberal Party, ALP and The Greens to provide information about when and how they will be selecting candidates for the September Central Coast Council election. Independent candidates are also entitled to run for the new Central Coast Council. According to the NSW Office of Local Government, “anyone who is entitled to vote at council elections in NSW is also eligible to stand for election as a councillor. Under the NSW Local Government Act, the first elections of all new councils are to be conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission. Assuming the election goes ahead on September 9, residents who qualify to vote will have until July 31 to register with the Commission so that they are on the electoral roll. Nominations for Councillors open on the

same date that the Roll is closed, likely to be July 31. Nominations close 40 days prior to the election, likely to be August 9. According to Mr Davies, the proportional counting system will be used in the election, but the quota for each ward can’t be calculated until the number of voters is known, which will be after nomination day. Statements made in this article are based on an analysis of two party preferred voting patterns from every polling booth in each ward in the July 2016 Federal election. Figures are approximate and are based on publicly available information. It must also be acknowledged that voters may behave differently in a Federal or State election to how they would behave in a local government election. Email and Report, Nov 10, 2016 Dr Van Davy, Pearl Beach Website, Nov 10, 2016 NSW Office of Local Government Letter, Nov 22, 2016 John Davies, NSW Office of Local Government Media statement, Jan 11, 2017 NSW Electoral Commission media

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Planning proposal for the Gosford CBD raises many concerns

Having wards is counter to the reasons for amalgamation Holstein ormer Gosford Mayor and Member for the State Electorate of Gosford, Mr Chris Holstein, said he was not commenting at this stage on whether or not he intended to run as an independent candidate in the Central Coast Council election in September.

Council has argued the rezoning would centre the Gosford CBD around Kibble Park (above)

he Community Environment Network (CEN) has continued its opposition to the Central Coast Council’s current planning proposal for the Gosford CBD.

CEN’s manager, Ms Jane Smith, said the proposal was “alarming, it proposes heights in Gosford CBD up to 99 metres.” The planning proposal was exhibited in December (but not advertised in this newspaper), but after community feedback, the exhibition period was extended until January 20, and an information session (also not advertised in this newspaper) was held at the Gosford Council Chamber on Wednesday, January 11, (as Coast Community News was going to press), which CEN encouraged its members and supporters to attend. Ms Smith said she encouraged community members to ask Council staff basic questions including: “Why was the Statement of Strategic Intent (SOSI) adopted by Council without any public consultation? “What consultation

has taken place with developers as indicated in the documentation currently on exhibition? “Which developers, and are there minutes of those meetings? “Who gets to make the final decision; does it need to go back to NSW Planning or the Minister? “There is some confusion about this, although the Council’s website said that the Administrator, Ian Reynolds, had delegation to have the final say. “Why is Council intensifying high rise towards the waterfront end of town rather than near the transport hub around the train station? “Why is Council not protecting the southern end of Gosford CBD as a cultural precinct? “CEN believes that Council needs to consult on the principles that underlie this whole process. “They need to go back

to square one, not follow a Statement of Strategic Intent that was adopted by Council but never went on public exhibition,” Ms Smith said. CEN also asked community members who attended the drop in session for feedback about the questions they asked and the answers that they were given by Council staff. The draft proposals aim to shift the focus of the CBD from the train station to around Kibble Park, according to Central Coast Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds. “That is now seen as the commercial core of the CBD,” Mr Reynolds said. “We welcome community input on the draft proposals and have extended the exhibition period by a month to provide more time for people to examine the proposals,” he said. “The amendments will allow for taller slimmer

towers around Kibble Park while ensuring the Park still gets lots of sun during the day. “We are seeking to encourage creation of a distinctive skyline while preserving view lines to the ridge tops and activation of streets and public spaces. “We want to see the CBD realise its potential as the regional capital of the Central Coast. “It has also been given this status in the Regional Plan and that is what we are trying to achieve here. “Any development proposals that follow, under the amended planning controls, will be subject to community consultation so people can make their views known on specific development proposals as they arise,” he said. Email, Jan 9, 2017 Jane Smith, Community Environment Network Media statement, Dec 14, 2016 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council

“I am not ruling anything in or out at this stage,” Mr Holstein said. The Chair of the John Singleton-backed Central Coast Taskforce said he had “real concerns about the format the local government will have after the election. “We have gone from two councils to one to have unity and attract more government funding to the region, so I think it is very counter-productive to then divide the new Council into five wards,” he said. Mr Holstein said he believed the ward structure was more advantageous to the major political parties than it was to the community or future prosperity of the Central Coast. “Even when we had wards in Gosford we had parochialism…they can cloud the Councillors’ vision,” he said. According to the Office of Local Government, new Councils created in NSW as a result of the Fit for the Future reform process were required to have wards if one of the former Councils being replaced had wards. Thus, because Wyong Council had wards, the new Central Coast Council was required to have wards. Mr Holstein was dismissive of the Office of Local Government’s explanation of the need for wards within the new Central Coast Council. He said he would like to know exactly how many of the former NSW councils that have been

amalgamated had wards and whether all of the newly-merged Councils were subject to the same rules. “The time has come to look at the big picture,” he said. “Are you going to have lobbying between Councillors when they have to make those difficult decisions? “You are just replicating the very thing you are trying to get rid of in the first instance.” Mr Holstein was dismissive of questions about the status of Mr John Singleton’s property development interests. Developers are banned from making political donations in NSW. “It is difficult to be in public life for very long and not have relationships with people who have business interests. “I know John Singleton, I had a history with the Central Coast Mariners, I know a lot of people and it sounds like somebody is trying to thread together something against Chris Holstein,” he said. “How will elected Councillors who are members of the ALP, the Liberal Party or the Greens act on issues of public interest?” Mr Holstein asked. Interview, Jan 9, 2017 Chris Holstein, Central Coast Taskforce Jackie Pearson, journalist

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Traffic survey reveals unacceptably high volume of trucks volume haulage using the Mountain Districts’ roads and intersections is unsustainable and roads could not cope with any traffic increase, according to a local truck traffic study.

he of trucks

Mountain Districts Association (MDA) has received many complaints about the amount of heavy truck traffic coming to and from Sydney into the local area in recent months, according to Ms Marilyn Steiner, who conducted the traffic study. “We have particular concerns about traffic associated with the staggered four-way intersection in Central Mangrove, because of the threat of an extra 110-plus truck movements a day which will be permitted access to the Mangrove Mountain Landfill via Hallards Rd off Wisemans Ferry Rd, should the landfill operator obtain a licence from the EPA to renew operations,” Ms Steiner said. According to MDA, representatives from Central Coast Council asserted at a public meeting in September 2016, at the Mangrove

Truck traffic at the four-way intersection is of particular concern

Western end of Hallards Rd with GVM sign (middle right)

Mountain Memorial Club, that no landfill would be coming from the Council’s tips. “It can therefore reasonably be assumed that most trucks carrying waste would travel from Sydney on the M1, exit on Peats Ridge Rd and end up going through the Central

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Mangrove intersection via George Downes Dve onto Wisemans Ferry Rd and then Hansons Rd. “Our concerns about future truck traffic on Hallards Rd were conveyed to Central Coast Council representatives at the September public meeting. “We requested a proactive traffic management plan and traffic survey, but there has been a disappointing lack of follow-up from anyone in Council. “Consequently, the MDA decided to conduct its own survey to provide some baseline data in the hope of prodding Central Coast Council into action,” she said. Numbers of haulage trucks associated with the Central Mangrove intersection were recorded between 6:00am and 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 28, and again on Friday, December 9, 2016. The aim was to assess the likely additional impact of future landfill truck traffic associated with the

Mangrove Mountain Landfill on nearby Hallards Rd. Only haulage trucks capable of carrying fill were recorded. “The number of haulage trucks passing through the intersection, three quarters of which were double trucks, was deemed excessive at 710 trucks on November 28 and 675 trucks on December 9,” Ms Steiner said. “Most trucks (over 70 per cent) travelled along George Downes Dve, and probably accessed Hansons Quarry a few kilometres west. “The possibility of an additional 110 truck movements per day through this intersection raises many concerns, particularly among local residents who have no choice but to drive through there on their daily business. “Haulage trucks already constitute the bulk of heavy vehicle traffic (note other such vehicles were not counted). “MDA believes that Hallards Rd is not in a

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condition suitable for truck traffic of any description. “The access onto Hallards Rd from Wisemans Ferry Rd is narrow and lined with cars one side, with a bus stop on the corner which services the local schools. “It also has a three-tonne GVM limit on it for trucks. “Only two trucks accessed this road during our two day survey, with the landfill closed. “The recent upgrading of the Central Mangrove intersection has alleviated some of the safety issues relating to general traffic movement through this intersection, but improvements are still needed, particularly with the general increase in haulage truck traffic. “The stop signs are still often ignored. “It is not practical to stop truck traffic, but many of the complaints about trucks in the Mountain Districts relate to excessive speed, tailgating, not driving with due care and attention (including mobile phone use while driving), noise, dust and poor road conditions (crumbling edges, blind corners, narrow roads, frequent deterioration in road surface, and roads just not built for that volume and load of truck traffic). “There are ongoing complaints about the

amount of improper fill coming onto private property, with little or no oversight or follow-up when Central Coast Council or the EPA is contacted. “Rogue operators should be weeded out or discouraged by RTA inspection of licences and type of approved fill at weighbridges, and random police checks. “There is plenty of scope here for government agency intervention to make improvements relating to truck traffic in our area. “MDA looks forward to Central Coast Council conducting its own surveys and meeting with MDA and other residents to discuss viable options for management of haulage truck traffic in the Mountain Districts, and at Central Mangrove intersection and Hallards Rd in particular,” Ms Steiner said. A detailed report of the truck survey is available from MDA. The Mountain Districts Association (MDA) is a local community group covering the residents of Mangrove Mountain, Peats Ridge, Kulnura, Bucketty, Central Mangrove, Somersby and Calga. Report, Jan 9, 2017 Marilyn Steiner, Mountain Districts Association

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Building material recycling yard proposed for Somersby

Early detection fire monitoring cameras are now in place

proposal to develop a vacant lot in Somersby into a building material recycling yard is before Central Coast Council.

Mr Scot MacDonald (right) being shown Mt Poppong and Bucketty cameras in operation by RMTeK's Mr Brendan Doyle

ire monitoring cameras are now in place at Bucketty, above Central Mangrove, as part of the launch of new technology by the NSW Government for the early detection of bushfires.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, welcomed the recent announcement by NSW Deputy Premier, Mr John Barilaro, that remote camera monitoring technology was now deployed in early bushfire detection. Mr MacDonald said he visited the RM TeK facility at Armidale where this new innovative technology was developed. “To have such high tech and pertinent technology being produced in regional

NSW is fantastic, and speaks volumes of the skillset of our regional workers,” Mr MacDonald said. “Having this technology deployed in time for the bushfire season will give our emergency services a crucial head start in attending to any fire outbreak, and past bushfire experience has taught us that every minute counts,” Mr MacDonald said. “They allow for 360-degree views of bushland and national parks

with video images relayed to a web-monitoring platform, accessible via computer or mobile device,” he said. The cameras have a zoom viewing distance of up to 15 kilometres, allowing about 70,000 hectares to be viewed at each camera location and bushfire monitors log onto their local camera sites to check isolated areas for signs of smoke. Media release, Dec 23, 2016 Chris Sullivan, Office of Scot MacDonald MLC

The vacant 4,001 square metres industrial site is legally known as Lot 422 DP 1098005 with the street address of 66 Chivers Rd, Somersby. The allotment has a width of 39 metres and a depth of 100 metres that is relatively flat and clear of vegetation and structures. The site is located within the Somersby Industrial Park and obtains direct vehicular access to Chivers Rd, with access to all the required utilities for industrial activities. The surrounding development entails industrial development with pockets of remnant bushland on vacant lots that are located within close proximity of the M1 Freeway. The proposed development is for the establishment of a building material recycling yard with operations wholly contained within the cleared site zoned IN1 General Industrial under the Gosford LEP 2014. The proposal falls under the definition of general industry and as such the proposal is permitted with development consent within this zone. The facility would include the establishment of sorting areas on the site that would allow the owner of

Bliss Demolition to retrieve building materials that have been obtained from the demolition and removal of residential developments, primarily single dwelling houses and ancillary structures, and sort them on site. The proposed development has been designed as such that materials delivered to the site are recycled. Selected building materials would be stored in separated stockpiles until required for resale to other recyclers specialising in certain material recycling such as Sims Metal Management or OneSteel. Sorting areas would be delineated by their type, with reusable building materials to be sorted and stored for re-use for domestic scale construction. According to the Statement of Environmental Effects supplied with the Development Application, the proposed recycling yard would provide an effective means of reducing the total waste stream to landfill through recovery and recycling of waste from building construction and reconstruction projects in the Central Coast Local Government Area. The Statement of Environmental Effects

(SEE) also stated that: “The proposal would not result in any adverse environmental, amenity, social, or economic impacts to the site and surrounding area, and on the contrary, would uplift the surrounding street network, and also coincided with both the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 and the EPA Act. “The operations are considered rudimentary as far as resource recycling facilities can be operated. “The recycling operation would not include special waste, liquid, hazardous, general solid waste (nonputrescible) or chemical waste as defined by the EPA publication - ‘Waste Classification Guidelines Part 1: Classifying waste’.” The SEE concluded that this proposal met all planning strategies and controls applicable to the site and that it also had minimal detrimental impact on the environment or amenity of the site. The SEE stated positive social and economic benefits for the area if the proposal was approved and recommended council greenlight the recycling facility. Document, Jan 6, 2017 DA51310 Dilon Luke, Journalist

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Garbage collectors’ stop work meetings cancelled entral Coast Council has welcomed a decision by Remondis drivers to cancel a series of planned stop work meetings that may have disrupted local garbage collections throughout the Gosford City area.

“Council understands that the dispute between the drivers, represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), and Council’s waste contractor, Remondis, relates to their current enterprise agreement,” said Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds. Mr Reynolds said he was pleased that the parties involved had agreed to come to the negotiating table as it was important to ensure essential waste services to Central Coast residents were maintained. “Council is not a party to these proceedings,” he said. “We contract Remondis to deliver waste services to our residents and we expect that service to be delivered. “Remondis has acted quickly to stave off this potential action which could have affected bin services for a number of residents, and I am pleased the drivers are willing to return to the negotiating table. “This is where the TWU’s focus needs to be, on these negotiations and not on Council’s waste tender process. “We have met with them on several occasions and

made it clear that our role is to ensure our 331,000 residents get the most reliable and best waste services in the next waste contract that we sign.” The Transport Workers Union of NSW thanked Central Coast Council and Council Administrator Ian Reynolds for their statements but said they believed Council had left an important question unanswered. “Will Central Coast Council alleviate Remondis drivers’ concerns about possible losses of wages and conditions around any changes to the waste contract administered by the Council?” asked TWU NSW Secretary, Mr Richard Olsen. The TWU repeated its call for Central Coast Council to follow the lead of other Councils and include protections in new tender documents “for workers who just want what they already have to be maintained as contracts change. “Workers are not asking for a pay rise or anything else. “Drivers are questioning Central Coast Council as to why they have been refusing

to provide security for local workers and local jobs. “The TWU invites Council to advise us as to what protections for workers they are offering in their contract and soon. “Ian Reynolds, as the NSW Governmentappointed Administrator, has the power to put local jobs, local work and the safety of the local community into the new tender for the waste contract. “Council must commit to protecting these Remondis workers. “The waste contract is issued by Council and it appears that the Council Administrator is simply beyond caring about what happens to families on the Central Coast,” Mr Olsen said. The TWU also noted the response by the community on social media channels to a TWU Video about the issue and suggested that Council takes note of that response as well.

Above and below: Drone instructors holding and operating equipment

Drones being used for surf and rescue purposes entral Coast Surf Life Saving (CCSLS) is the first Australian surf branch to implement drones for surf and rescue purposes.

The drones will operate on a risk basis depending on surf conditions, weather conditions, time of year, tides and other factors. CEO of CCSLS, Chris Parker, said, “It’s very innovative for the Central Coast and it’s going to provide a huge additional rescue resource for our lifesaving services locally.” CCSLS currently have six operators in training, who have been flying the drones with the assistance of qualified aviators, thanks to a company called Little Ripper. “At the moment, what

they’re being used for across our beaches is an extra set of eyes. “We’ve got an influx of thousands of beach goers to the Central Coast over the six week school holidays and unfortunately, not everyone swims between the flags, even though we push hard and that’s our message,” said Mr Parker. Drone operators are able to radio through to patrols, who can then go and ask people to remove themselves from danger, and swim between the flags. The drones will also be able to act as an extra set

of eyes for shark spotting, and will also operate in surf lifesaving competitions to keep members safe. “They’ll be used for junior competition and nippers’ events, as an extra surveillance to keep an eye on our members and add to our members’ safety,” Mr Parker said. He said in early tests, sharks had been easier to track using the drones. Interview, Jan 5, 2017 Chirs Parker, CEO Central Coast Surf Life Saving Satria Dyer-Darmawan, journalist

Media release, Jan 6, 2017 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Media release, Jan 6, 2017 Colin Henderson, Transport Workers Union of NSW

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Edition 404

Edition 406

The man responsible for securing Liberal Government funding for the Rawson Rd level crossing replacement project, former Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein, has called on the State Government to justify abandoning the project.

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Mr Holstein, now chair of the Central Coast Task Force, said the Government needed to justify “canning” the project just days after Premier Mike Baird declared the state had billions of dollars for infrastructure. “I am seeking to remind the 31that October 2016 NSW Government when you make a commitment you honour it and here is a fine example of a commitment that was made that is not going to be honoured,” Mr Holstein said. He said the level crossing at South Woy Woy was “one of the most used level railway crossings in NSW”. “For 40 years politicians, council and residents have talked of improving the road at Bulls Hill and removing the unsafe rail crossing,” he said. “There have been numerous times, due to incidents at the crossing, accidents on Woy Woy A northbound train approaches the level crossing at Woy Woy Rd or on Brisbane Water Dve “Over two decades, the railway The recent announcement by Mr Holstein has been criticised that traffic has been diverted and caused traffic chaos on the for grossly under-estimating the the Minister for Roads, Maritime crossing has caused several cost of the project from the outset and Freight, Mr Duncan Gay, incidents and has been dangerous. Peninsula.” “Who from Council, our State According to Mr Holstein, the as progress drew to a standstill that no further funding would be available for the project, begged Members or the Chamber of idea of building a flyover was during the past year. Mr Holstein said State Members more questions than it answered, Commerce has been asking the explored in the 1990s but the Government for costings to justify concept was rejected by politicians, of Parliament were not responsible Mr Holstein said. The Rawson Rd Level Crossing at Woy Woyy “Is there still a need to improve its decision? for the in-depth costing of major council and residents. “Is somebody playing with the the road and remove the rail “In 2011, based on Gosford infrastructure projects. figures and saying the full cost of “We were in Opposition and crossing? Council’s estimated costings, I “Why, after five years of the closure of the railway line at sought funding from the incoming could not get any proper costings Liberal Government to address the from Railways or the department investigation and studies, which any given time is the cost of that issue with an expanded underpass and Council’s costings said very saw commencement, is it only now one project?” Mr Holstein said he did not at the base of Bulls Hill and was clearly they would need to be that the project is not worth it? “Why is the Peninsula Chamber know why the project had been successful,” Mr Holstein said, reviewed and investigated along referring to his campaign for the with the scope of the project,” he of Commerce running the blame abandoned. game rather than getting answers “I don’t know if it is because of seat of Gosford in the 2011 NSW said. “There was a review of costings from the Government? inflated costs, or that the seat of election. “Many more questions should Gosford is held by a member in He said he had tried to get the after the 2011 election and the replacement of the crossing on the scope of the project was reduced, be asked and answered but if Opposition.” Mr Holstein said the Member for agenda during previous attempts and we decided we would look at it the answer to the first question is yes – that the improvements are Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, should to run for parliament but only in stages,” he said. “For the next five years, studies needed and people’s safety is still also be asking questions of the succeeded in the 2011 campaign. The level crossing replacement were done, plans drawn, revised a concern – then why doesn’t the Government. “The majority of people, apart was key to his 2011 election funding was approved and works Peninsula deserve it?” Mr Holstein asked. commenced.” from Peninsula residents, that platform.

ak Ta T

Deﬁbrillator permitted at Pearl Beach

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

From left, Jayden Gordon holidaying at Pearl Beach is taught about a rescue tube by Mr Dave Kennedy Photo Patrick Everett

Government ent abandons level crossing project oject The State Government has abandoned the Rawson Rd level crossing replacement project. Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Mr Duncan Gay, announced the decision in answer a question from Mr Walt Secord in the Legislative Council on October 20. According to Mr Gay, the overpass project would now cost the NSW Government a total of between $80 million and $115 million. The NSW Government originally promised $30 million towards the replacement of the crossing in 2011 as a major component of Mr Chris Holstein’s campaign to be elected as the Liberal Member for Gosford. Since then, the cost of replacing the level crossing has been revised upward on several occasions. The level crossing replacement project has been at a standstill since the completion of the pedestrian underpass in 2015. At the opening of the new pedestrian underpass, I committed

an extra $7 million towards the council’s proposed upgrade of the level crossing,” said Mr Gay. “This increased the overall commitment of the New South Wales Government at this location to $52 million because a total of $45 million had been committed towards a pedestrian and road solution at the level crossing. “Unsurprisingly, the cost estimate to achieve a solution at the level crossing increased from $52 million, which increased from the original $30 million, to be between $80 million and $115 million. “Following the cost estimate increase, I wrote to the council and advised that no further funding would be available for the proposal, which the council admitted it could not possibly afford itself. “Taxpayers should not be forced to foot an even larger bill.” Mr Gay said the Government had no responsibility for the roads involved. “Woy Woy Rd and Rawson Rd are regional roads under the care and control of the Central Coast

Council, previously the Gosford Council. THIS ISSUE contains “In other words, they are not state owned or managed roads,” he said. “Since 2011, the New South Wales Government has committed more than $36 million in grant funding to Gosford City Council for the upgrade and repair of council owned and managed roads. “This is equal to a 27 per cent increase in the grant funding compared to what Labor spent in its last term of Government. “The New South Wales Government also spent $178 million upgrading the West Gosford interchange to address traffific demand on the Central Coast Highway and Brisbane Water Drive. “The latter is the key State road connection to the northern end of Woy Woy and this upgrade was open to traffi 2015,”” M Mr G Gay ffific iin 2015 said. Hansard, 20 Oct 2016 Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Reporter: Jackie Pearson More on level crossing - Page 13

THIS ISSUE contains 52 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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Edition 408

12 December 2016

Edition 410

9 January 2017

Council refuses Patonga Hotel proposal

Holstein questions level crossing decision

Central Coast Council administrator Mr Ian Reynolds has called for a review of Council’s decision to refuse approval for a publiclyaccessible deﬁbrillator to be installed at Pearl Beach along with rescue tubes and resuscitation diagrams.

decision did not take cognisance of the current state of defibrillator technology. “They are specifically designed for public access and to be used by untrained people,” he said. “The embedded system avoids misuse and danger to operators and defibrillators are being rolled out in public reserves around The Pearl Beach Progress Australia.” Association announced a Mr Christie said the drowning campaign to raise funds to of five-year-old Chayce Kelly at purchase a defibrillator for the Pearl Beach in 2014 had “triggered beach in December 2015. a whole lot of beach safety issues The goal was to have a including rescue tubes and angel defibrillator and rescue tubes and rings or life buoys as they used to resuscitation diagrams on the be called. beachfront and at the rock pool. “I have offered to meet with The response to the campaign council and bring a new-generation was so positive that the association defibrillator with me so they could was able to purchase four see it has been designed for public defibrillators. access,” he said. The Pearl Beach Safety Edition 405 “We have already had training Advisory Group, a working group for about 50-60 people in the of Pearl Beach residents with village but you turn it on and a TV professional backgrounds in health screen comes on and tells you and safety, was formed. what to do.” The Progress Association also There is already a defibrillator received support from the Member located at the Pearl Beach shop for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, but public access is limited to the From left: Mr David Kenny from the Pearl Beach Safety Advisory Group holds a rescue tube and Mr Ross Christie, who organised a grant of $8250 shop’s opening hours. President of the Pearl Beach Progress Association, holds a defibrillator under the Stronger Communities “I think they’ve got some Photo: Patrick Everett Program for a cabinet to house the misplaced concept of liability However, Pearl Beach resident life as a result.” places. defibrillator. The positive result was achieved Mr Dave Kennedy, a Safety “That is already happening in but there is no case law about Upon application, the Council Advisory Group member and because members of the public anybody ever getting into trouble Europe,” he said. declined to allow the devices to professional firefighter for Fire were able to use the defibrillators In an open letter to Mr Reynolds, by attempting to save a life.” be made available to the public at Rescue NSW, said the concerns on the cardiac arrest victims within Mr Christie said the progress Pearl Beach Progress Association the Pearl Beach beachfront or rock were unwarranted. the first five minutes of the attack. president Mr Ross Christie said the association wanted the equipment pool. They still dialled 000 but did not Council had placed impediments in place before the beginning of the He said: “I have undertaken A statement from Central over 100 rescues in the past 14 have to wait the 10 or more minutes in the way of improving safety at 2016-17 beach season. Coast Council on Wednesday, years as a professional council for the paramedics to arrive. “It is a very popular spot and Pearl Beach. October 12, said that Mr Reynolds lifeguard. heavily populated. Thevery Pearl Beach Progress community on installation details. “It is common knowledge that “I note that the Central Coast had received a letter from the “I would have that on “Council’s initial view was “As an example, saving a five- a person’s survival chances are Council has: failed to respond Association will thought be able association and had already asked year-old girl was made possible reduced by 10 per cent for every a sunny day 400 to 500 people to the report of the Coroner on to locate a defibrillator on centred around risk management Council staff to review the decision. with a rescue tube, and we need minute lost before resuscitation would be on Pearl Beach.” and I think the meeting on Friday the drowning of Chayce Kelly; the beachfront, That review is currently equipment on our beach to save begins,” Mr Kennedy said. Mr Christie said following former Gosford has satisfied staff that those issues refused permission for the Pearl negotiations with the Central underway, according to the lives.” can be managed. “If we can get that defibrillator on Beach Progress Association, at its councillor Mr Bob Ward had Coast Council. statement. Since moving to Pearl Beach them during the first five minutes expense, to establish a defibrillator agreed to make representations to Association president Mr Ross The association’s initial Christie said the meeting with “Council staff are more than about a year ago, Mr Kennedy, who their chances of survival shoot unit on the foreshore; failed to Mr Reynolds. application hadis been rejected by on happy to meet with the association is a qualified CPR trainer, offered through the roof,” he said. “There no doubt we are Council representatives had been reply to a June 20 letter appealing the council. to find the best possible solution to train community members as a positive. The Pearl Beach Progress against the decision of Council not the right side of history. The “It agreement came after for the community.” is just a question of an people “We had a meeting on Friday way of supporting the association’s Association has organised for their to allow the Pearl beach Progress open letter from the association morning and we got a letter of The statement said Council’s beach safety initiatives. defibrillators to be monitored by an Association, again at its expense, waking up to themselves. was published in the last edition and of approval reasons for declining to approve “We raised $26,000, I on Friday afternoon for a Mr Kennedy said he had no alarm company, in an attempt to to place rescue tubes and Peninsula News, the defibrillator had been outlined concerns about the defibrillators appease Council’s concerns. defibrillator on the beachfront,” Mr resuscitation charts on the beach would say $15,000 came from The defibrillator will be located Christie said. in previous correspondence to the being used by untrained Anyone needing to use the and near the rockpool; and not medicos and doctors who were adjacent to the amenities block. progress association. “Everybody is fine and happy individuals. device will have to call the alarm responded to repeated requests very supportive of the appeal.” Council administrator Ian2016 Email,Mr 11 Oct Those reasons included and negotiations are continuing “It is quite the opposite. They company first to receive a security to meet with you to discuss this Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Reynolds said Council staff and about the location of other safety “concerns about damage, are designed for use by members code. matter,” Mr Christie said. Progress Association community representatives held a equipment,” he said. vandalism, and equipment being of the public,” he said. “The user will need to call 000 “I trust that my file which Interview, 12 Oct 2016 meeting on the morning of Friday, used by untrained people. According to Mr Kennedy, then press the button on the device evidences unreasonable Christie, Pearl Beach “Unfortunately we needed a October 21, atRoss the waterfront. “The reserve they are talking Mosman Council had four and basically they will get someone public campaign to move things Progress Association impediments to improving beach “I had signalledInterview, my intention to2016 about putting the equipment in defibrillators located at Balmoral talking to them who gives them the along a bit,” Mr Christie said in 12 Oct safety at Pearl Beach never has review the decision and staff met received damage from storms Beach. David Kennedy, Pearl Beach relation to the Central Coast code. to be tendered to the Coroner with representatives ofAdvisory Progress previously and is exposed to Safety Group Council’s initial refusal. “They are public access devices “You will start seeing as evidence at some time in the AssociationMedia on statement, Friday at 12Pearl Oct 2016 impacts of environment,” the that have been used twice and defibrillators in train stations, Interview, Oct 24, 2016 future,” he said. Ian Reynolds, Central Beach,” Mr Reynolds said.Coast Council statement said. Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council both people were bought back to shopping centres and other public Mr Christie said Council’s Reporter: Jackie Pearson “We have agreed on a suitable Interview, Oct 24, 2016 Ross Christie, Pearl Beach location for the defibrillator,” he Progress Association THIS ISSUE contains 58 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info said. Reporter: Jackie Pearson “Staff will liaise further with the

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17 October 2016

Administrator to review Council deﬁbrillator refusal

use that road are coming from the electorate of Terrigal,” he said. Mr Holstein said he believed the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce was also “throwing up a smoke screen” instead of working on solutions. “We have a State Member. I haven’t seen her. And then we have a Chamber of Commerce that wants to play a blame game. “Council should be asking the government questions but we haven’t got any elected representatives to do that because we are in administration. “This issue has got to be answered. Edition dition 40 “It hasn’t407 been answered in my mind, and the people who should be asking for answers are not doing so.” Mr Holstein said that the former Member for Terrigal, Mr Chris Harcher, had acknowledged in 2011 that the railway crossing replacement would beneﬁt the people of the Terrigal electorate. In terms of whether funds put aside by the NSW Government for the abandoned rail crossing should be reallocated to other Peninsula projects, as suggested by the local Chamber of Commerce, Mr Holstein said: “I am sure the projects Matthew Wales talks about are worthy too, but why does he think the issue at the bottom of Bulls Hill has gone away?” Local Liberal Members of Parliament were not answering Mr Holstein’s questions last week. Member for Terrigal Mr Adam Crouch said that, because Rawson Rd was not in his electorate, he would leave comment to the Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald. A statement from Mr MacDonald’s ofﬁce said: “The Minister has answered these questions at length. “We have nothing further to add.”

The proposed redevelopment of the Patonga Hotel has been refused by the Central Coast Council. Council chief Mr Rob Noble has written to the proponent’s architects, CKDS Architecture, informing them that the DA for alterations and additions to the existing hotel and takeaway shop at 8 to 10 Patonga Dve has been refused. In his letter, Mr Noble listed seven reasons for Council’s refusal. “The proposal provides inadequate car parking for the proposed development and is not 28 November 2016 in accordance with the provisions of Gosford Development Control Plan (DCP) 2013,” Mr Noble said in his letter. “The proposal has provided insufficient information on the parking penetration of the proposed use or in relation to available car parking in the area,” the letter said. “The proposal would result in unacceptable parking and traffic impacts on surrounding residential areas, particularly during peak times,” he said. “The proposal would adversely impact on the amenity of the area through increased traffic generation and car parking congestions. “The proposal exceeds the allowed Floor Space Ratio for the land under Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014 and for which inadequate car parking is provided and in these circumstances a clause 4.6 variation to the provision would not be supported. “The scale and intensity of the proposed restaurant and wedding reception is, and associated impacts, is inconsistent with the character of the area and the objectives of the B1

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The We The W Westpac estpac branch in West St, U Umina, and (inset) the notice in the window announcing the closure

The Patonga Hotel

against nst the proposal, said: “The way in which Council addressed the difficult task of weighing up the merit of the proposal within the fragile Patonga environment will not be lost on the people who would ld be most affected by it.” A report written by Council’s Department artment of Environment and Planning nning to assess the application said it had proposed adding a restaurant aurant and wedding reception facility ity on the first floor of the existing ting café building without providing viding any car parking, relying instead ead on on-street car parking in the vicinity of the Hotel. The he report said the application had been the subject of a large number mber of objections from the local community, munity, with 83 submissions and a petition with 89 signatures. “The The key issues raised in submissions missions were the increased intensity nsity of the use, impacts on

Another An Ano A no no other major bank withdraws wit w wi with ithd hd draw from Umina d

Media release, 7 Nov 2016 Interview, 8 Nov 2016 Chris Holstein, Central Coast Task Force Email, 8 Nov 2016 Debra Wales, Ofﬁce of Adam Crouch Email, 8 Nov 2016 Chris Sullivan, Ofﬁce of

MacDonald Another nother of the Scot big four banks ban bank s Reporter: Jackie Pearson in n Umina will close its bran ch branch tthis year, yea year ar, lleaving eaving just one major bank b k ban branch h in Um Umina. Umina

before Christmas 52 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info

he Umina Westpac Wes ac Bank Ban Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford The Branch its doors on B nch will close clo do n Phone: 4325 7369 December 9, b 9 due d tto steadily steadi y Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 declining de ng numbers in over-the ov E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net -counter counter unter transactions. transaction t Website: www.centralcoastnews.net“Fewer Fewer customers t are visiting i it our branches these days, as more re and more e people choose to t use channels like se digital banking channel like mobile banking bile banking, internet inter b bankin g and sma smart ATMs,” said Westpac m Group Ms Lucy roup spokesperson spokesp Luc Wilson. Wilson Wilson over-the-counter “With transactions accounting for less than ﬁve per cent of total transactions, we are closing the Umina branch and merging it with another Westpac branch at Woy Woy,” the spokesperson said. Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said the decision was corporate greed by one of the big four banks. “I am sick and tired of the big banks’ attitude to local retail centres and this decision by

Westpa Westpac We acc reinforc rreinforces rcces my view that the eb big ban bank banks are e out of touch with communities,” llocal c commu ommunitie esss,” Mr Wales said. “The “Th The Westpac We Wes pacc regional manager Mrr Adam A am W Wilson Wilso on n has confirmed that the e Um U Umina mina a b branch will close December, in Decem December Dece ember embe er, with w all Peninsula operations banking g opera o ope peratio erat ation atio ns being shifted to branch the Woyy Woy W yb bra anch in Blackwall Rd Rd. “Unfortunately, “U “Unfortuna “Unfortunately Unfo f ately, t l, I find it typical increasingly creasi typ ypiical of the big seem banks nks th that they se eem to know best when it comes co to o customer service shopping in n main street st sho opping strips,” he said said. According to According t Mr Wales, Westpac p c mad made the decision to ma close their Umina branch following a review that found the branch lacked sufficient customer support to justify keeping a shop front presence. “It is my view that once again the big banks are putting profits ahead of local services as a way of adding to the billions of dollars they already rake in from customers. “That’s all very good if you are a Westpac shareholder but the closure will leave Umina with one less bank, a vacant shop and the loss of a dozen jobs in the main

stre street. “The departure of Westpac “T will leave Umina with only the Commonwealth Bank and we Com now have grave concerns as to its future in the main street,” Mr Wales futu said. said Mr Wales also said this was not M the ﬁrst time Westpac had let down customers in Umina, having closed cust the Umina St George Bank branch when they took over the company whe 2008. in 2 “When Westpac took over St “W George, it subsequently closed the Geo Umina branch, stripping the main Umi street of front line banking services stre and forcing St George customers go to Woy Woy to do their to g banking. ban “Westpac assured the local “W business community that they bus would maintain a presence in wou Umina. Umi ““Now years later they are pulling the same stunt and forcing Umina customers to travel into Woy Woy cust to do their banking again.” Ms Wilson said that Westpac’s decision to close the branch was not made lightly. “The Westpac ATM at Umina will remain in place.

huge. “It’s very inconvenient for me as a vehicle owner to have to make THIS ISSUE contains ns the drive to Woy Woy and deal with the trafﬁc in the area just to do my banking,” Mr White said. “So how inconvenient will it be for pensioners who rely on public transport to get around or who can’t use technology to do their banking? “I use a passbook. “I don’t own a credit card so I’m reliant on over-the-counter transactions to do my banking. “How many other people on the Peninsula are in this situation too? “It seems like Westpac just doesn’t care about its Umina customers. “The Umina Branch staff are very friendly and nice but the closure seems to be more about lining Westpac’s proﬁts then customer service,” Mr White said.

parking surveys carried out on par two days in August 2002 and over tw observations made on October 25 observa year. last yea “Since the application was “Sinc lodged the applicant has made several changes to the proposal to reduce impacts,” the report said. “These changes will reduce “The some of the intensity of the proposal, however on balance, proposa lack of car parking for the the lac proposal, and lack of supporting proposa information to determine parking informa impacts relevant to the proposed development means that Council develop unable to satisfy itself that is una proposal will not have an the pro adverse impact on car parking in Patonga area, including on the Pa surrounding residential streets. surroun “Additionally, the intensity of “Add expansion has potential to the ex adversely impact on the amenity adverse character of the local area. and cha

parking or foreshore works in and between the town centre area and the Dark Corner boat ramp, in lieu of the five lost car parking spaces,” the staff report said. The refused development application, lodged in December 2015, proposed to replace the hotel kitchen area with storage, cool rooms and cafe area; extend the ground floor hotel area approximately 2.5m to the east and in part 2.6m to the south, for reconfigured dining area and relocated toilets; provide a covered area of approximately 94 square metres over existing outdoor hotel dining areas on part of the front elevation; provide a small stage inside the hotel; extend the first floor verandah on the hotel on the Edition 409 front elevation; extend the first floor of the hotel by 6.5m to the east to accommodate new toilets to serve the proposed restaurant/ wedding reception area; demolish most of the seafood cafe building and first floor residence, and provide a new two- storey building alterations since then. In September 2003, Gosford with an expanded kitchen/ storage Council approved a modification area at the rear and expanded (Part 2) to relocate the ground internal seating area at the front on floor dwelling to the first floor and the ground level, the report said. “Council’s assessment has convert that area for dining use. This modification was supported identified a number of concerns with an offer of $20,000 from the with the proposal, which primarily applicant in lieu of a shortfall of six relate to the proposed use of the parking spaces arising from the first floor of the takeway cafe building as a restaurant and for proposal. In March 2010, Council wedding receptions, the lack of car consented to a modification (Part parking as required under GDCP 9) to the hotel for the removal of 2013 and the impacts of the use five on-site car parking spaces and on the character and amenity of a loading area, and the conversion the local area. “While the alterations and of this area to beer garden seating. “Council’s assessment at the additions to the hotel and ground time noted that the proposal level takeaway store will have a resulted in a shortfall of 18 car lesser impact, overall the scale of spaces being for the five spaces the proposal is out of keeping with lost and a further 13 spaces for the desired future character of the the additional beer garden/ dining area and the objectives of the B1 Local Neighbourhood zone. area. “Accordingly, the application is “The applicant did not agree recommended for refusal pursuant to Section 80 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act report submitted at the time.

www.centralcoastnewspapers.com

for metal depot at old abattoir site

ak Ta T

Letter, 28 Nov 2016 Rob Noble, Central Coast Council Statement, 29 Nov 2016 Ross Trembath, Patonga Community Working Group Assessment report, 24 Nov 2016 Scott Cox, Central Coast Council

59 artic articles cle es - R Read e ad m more or news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info

Media release, 19 Nov 2016 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Interview and documents, 21 Nov 2016 David White, Ettalong Interview, 21 Nov 2016 Lucy Wilson, Westpac Group Reporter: Dilon Luke

Aerial view of the Australian Metal Reﬁnery site Photos: Statement of Environmental Effects, Cardno

Internal yard area and ofﬁce at the metal depot

eee! Application Fre Fr o on ke ke A development application 1.56km…enclosed by bushland to December 2016 the north and west, a railway line has been 23 lodged with Central Coast Council to the south and Woy Woy Rd to seeking consent for the the east…currently consists of industrial uses, cleared land and establishment of use of the three dams. old Woy Woy abattoir site at “Woy Woy Creek traverses the 170 Woy Woy Rd as a metal site.” depot. A letter from Council to the

landowner dated November 3 stated that an inspection had resulted in Council forming the view that, in addition to operating without approval, the business was not operating in an environmentallysatisfactory manner. “Batteries were not stored with adequate secondary containment to prevent ﬂuids from entering the environment should a leak, spill or escape occur. “Various leaks, spills and escapes of oil were located on the ground throughout the premises.” There was found to be “inadequate fencing to prevent waste from leaving the premises in the event of windy conditions”. “No protection exists on the stormwater inlet in close proximity to the premises. “A portion of the premises was dirt and not hardstand allowing for air pollution and water pollution risks. “Parts such as motors and radiators were stored without adequate bunding. “Unconsolidated waste material was littered throughout the premises on the ground.” The letter from Council to the land owner said: “A search of Council records has failed to

THIS ISSUE contains 30 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Local graphic designer Ms Katherine Close with Central Coast Council administrator Mr Ian Reynolds in front of the new mural.

Ofﬁce: Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: E-mail: Website:

History mural installed ed at Woy Woy Oval A new 36-metre mural, which has taken more than eight months to produce and over six weeks to construct has been installed at Woy Woy Oval. The three metre high structure is made up of 24 colour printed steel panels that feature a pelican symbol surrounded by approximately 100 original photographs of the Peninsula’s sport culture over the past 65 years. The images, which were collected over six months through interviews with local sport

Ofﬁce: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

A frfree ee nnewspaper e sp spap aper er with itithh in iin-depth Peninsula Community news!

NEWS

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Facelift New environmental facility proposed for proposed on Aboriginal the Australian Reptile Park Land Council land remier Central Coast tourism destination, the Australian Reptile Park, has lodged a Development Application (DA) with Central Coast Council to erect a new exhibits building and upgrade other areas on site.

The parcel of land at Mangrove Mountain earmarked by the Darkinjung DA

arkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has lodged a Development Application to erect an environmental facility at Bell Rd, Mangrove Mountain.

The site contains 11 important cultural sites, some of which are registered on the AHIMS database, and forms part of a broader cultural landscape which links Darkinjung country with sites beyond. The purpose of the facility is to make the site more available to Darkinjung members and to house the community for connection with country and care sessions, as well as being available for groups, families and individuals to reconnect with their heritage. The development will include use of the land as an environmental facility, with minor works comprising the installation of an

environmentally friendly toilet facility, shelter and informal parking area. The proposal has been designed as a low impact development in direct response to the environmental and cultural value of the site. The subject site is located within the E2 Environmental Conservation Zone with the proposed development permissible with consent in that zone. According to the Statement of Environmental Effects submitted with the DA, the subject site consists of an irregular shaped piece of land with a total width of approximately 1.158km and a total depth

of approximately 1.356km. The site is vacant land consisting of natural vegetation and important cultural sites. The site forms part of a larger land holding owned by Darkinjung in the locality. The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) states: “The development will provide a site for members to experience the surrounding natural systems and allow for the passing down of stories and traditions important to the Darkinjung people.” The SEE also contains plans to incorporate: “The sensitive placement of walking trails; informal seating and displays;

construction of a shelter, being a prefabricated ‘car port’ style structure measuring approximately 5.5m X 8m x 2.7m, with adjacent water tank; informal car parking facilities, adjacent to the existing track to accommodate approximately 8-10 cars; and, installation of a compact, modular, p r e f a b r i c a t e d , environmentally friendly toilet facility measuring approximately 4.15m by 4.9m.” Based on supporting documentation and the cultural significance of the site, the SEE recommended council approve the DA. Document, Jan 9, 2017 DA51308 Dilon Luke, Journalist

The DA proposes a new exhibits building comprising of a steel structure, precast concrete walls and an insulated colorbond roof covering an area of 587.35m2 with two 10,000L water storage tanks. The new building will provide two new exhibit areas, a new covered picnic area and toilets. The proposed works include the demolition of the existing picnic area and an upgrade to the existing adjacent children’s play area, as well as a new 4.2 metre access road upgrade at the rear and associated landscape and drainage works. According to the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) presented with the DA, the proposed new building is to be located next to the Crocodile Pond, with construction having minimal impact on day to day operations or management. According to the SEE, the upgrade is necessary

to continue cultivating and promoting the Reptile Park as a world class tourism destination, and to continue to generate and support tourism on the Central Coast. The SEE concluded that the proposed development should be considered appropriate for the site and locality in that: “It is adequately serviced by existing roads, car parking, utilities and stormwater infrastructure. “The site is zoned to accommodate the proposal. “This is a minor addition/ upgrade to the existing development; and the proposal will generate employment during construction and ongoing increased operations.” The SEE recommended council consent to the proposal. Document, Jan 5, 2017 DA51294/2016 Dilon Luke, Journalist

An artist's impression of the proposed new exhibition and enclosed picnic building at The Australian Reptile Park

January 12, 2017 - Page 17 Share

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FORUM

Building heights and densities is too complicated a subject

Other Regional News - In brief Coast Community News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2250, 2251 & 2260. Given the advent of a Central Coast Council, following is

a summary of news articles published in the most recent edition of each of our sister Central Coast publications. The full articles and more, as well as all previously published editions, can be seen on line on our website

www.CentralCoastNews.net Copies of these other publications may be obtained from our offices in Gosford, by subscription, or from a myriad of locations in the areas covered by each publication.

FREE

he Community Environment Network is expressing concern about the new proposed height regulations in the Gosford CBD (“CEN calls for better community consultation on Gosford CBD proposal”, Coast News 12/12) because they might “significantly change the skyline of Gosford.” Leaving aside the fact that the skyline of Gosford could benefit from being significantly changed, the idea that increased community participation would lead to the best outcome in formulating new regulations is open to serious question. The subject of building heights and densities is a complicated one that laymen are incapable of understanding, so encouraging uninformed debate on this matter might only lead to confusion and dissatisfaction. The mere fact that, in 2004 (12 years ago now), a number of Gosford residents favoured a limit of 14 storeys doesn’t really carry significant weight. It would be a reasonable assumption that most of these respondents couldn’t tell you the difference between height and density, so any response could only have been based on some vague image of tall buildings (perhaps, photographs of the Gold Coast) and might well have been generated by the form of the question itself (not uncommon in these kinds of surveys). There are many factors about a building more important than the height, so how many of these were canvassed in the survey in which CEN puts such faith? It is also not clear that “intensifying commercial density around the transport hub” is the way to go, although it is almost certainly true that moving nonresidential development

FORUM towards the waterfront is a retrograde step. It might be more desirable to concentrate residential density within walking distance of the railway station (for access convenience) and near the water (for views) and push commercial development more to the fringes of the CBD. It should also be borne in mind that mixed-use buildings are so common in other countries as to be almost the norm, so making arbitrary distinctions between one building type and another is the kind of rigid thinking that needs to be avoided. Of course, a cultural precinct on the so-called waterfront is a bad idea, because cultural facilities do not need views and should be located where there is maximum regional access (not true of the Gosford waterfront). Where CEN is dead on the money is in querying the fact that a decision on the form of Gosford’s future buildings is being divorced from all the crucial supporting factors that go to make up a liveable/ workable environment. Contrary to the halfbaked approach of previous plans, this one needs to encompass an analysis of pedestrian/public-transport movements, open spaces, sun/shadow/breeze characteristics and precinct

linkages. There needs to be provision for car parking and for commercial transport routes that minimize conflict with residential amenity. Some things are too late to change, e.g., the ugly, over-bearing, badly located, under-utilized stadium, but there is still the opportunity to make central Gosford an attractive residential focal point. Nevertheless, any idea that the Gosford CBD will compete with Erina and Tuggerah as an important retail centre should be set aside as a pipe dream. We can, however, comfort ourselves with the thought that all the “decision-making” by the Minister and the council will eventually be superseded by the commercial interests of developers who will shape the form of Gosford to their own desires, “roughhew it as we will”. No official planning foresaw the establishment of Erina or Tuggerah, so the system is always playing catch-up with the real world, and the council will, as usual, be trailing along in the wake of decisions outside its control. This is one reason why the Central Coast Regional Plan, even ignoring its manifest technical deficiencies, will have no impact on the future of the region. Thank heavens. Email, Dec 13, 2016 Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

Wyong Regional Chronicle focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262, & 2263.

Glenning Valley Development objectors to get a public Council hearing The Say No to Glenning Valley Development group has succeeded in garnering well in excess of the 50 public objections needed to have the amended ...

Council’s Kangy Angy land deal reported to ICAC

Ourimbah boarding house developer’s appeal dismissed by Land and Environment Court

The former Wyong Council has been reported to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by the NSW Auditor General...

The NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) has dismissed an appeal by K and P Gregory, the developers of the Glen Road boarding house at Ourimbah.

Wallarah 2’s response to submissions slammed by Aboriginal Land Council Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) has slammed Wallarah 2’s response to submissions made as part of the assessment of the Amended Development Application for the State ....

Application lodged for aircraft hangar at Central Coast Airport Amphibian Aerospace Industries Pty Ltd (AAI) has lodged a Development Application (DA) for the ﬁrst stage of a new aircraft facility at Central Coast Airport.

The Greens NSW Mining Spokesperson, Mr Jeremy Buckingham, has called on the NSW Government to cancel the Wallarah 2 coal mine near Wyong.

Shots fired at The Entrance

Man crashes stolen car

Two more houses handed over at Menindee Ridge

Greens call for Wallarah 2 to be cancelled

State Member for Wyong, Just after 3am on December A man has been charged David Harris, had the honour 7, it is believed that a shot after crashing a stolen car at of handing over the keys to was ﬁred at a silver Mitsubishi Charmhaven on December four delighted new home Lancer parked in Tuggerah 13. owners at Darkinjung Local Pde, The Entrance. Aboriginal Land Council’s residential development.. The full articles and more can be seen on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net

e Frkeeone! Ta

Edition 410

9 January 2017

Peninsula News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2256 & 2257.

Application for metal depot at old abattoir site

Planning breaches are investigated, says council chief

A development application A Peninsula Village resident has been lodged with Central has celebrated her 103rd Coast Council seeking birthday at Umina recently. consent for the establishment of use of the old Woy Woy abattoir site at ...

House prices increase on Sydney demand

Police to investigate pelican deaths in dog attacks

The Peninsula is becoming At least ﬁve infant pelicans increasingly popular with were mauled to death by dogs Sydney home buyers paying at Blackwall on December 30. higher prices for local homes that are still within reach of the Sydney CBD, according to a Woy Woy real estate agent.

Channels, markers and speed limits change Boating skippers need to be aware of new speed limits, new channels and markers in Brisbane Water, according to boating safety ofﬁcer Mr Mark Raward at NSW Maritime.

Council to prepare plan for channel dredging A dedicated team at Central Coast Council will prepare and implement a plan of management for the Brisbane Water Channel, according to Member for Terrigal ...

Swimmers rescued from Ettalong sand bar Ocean and Umina Beach Surf Life Savers were tasked with rescuing a group of swimmers at the Ettalong Point sand bar on December 27 after a jetski ofﬁcer noticed the group was unaware of the changing tide.

Garbage service interruption averted

Free advice about lifejackets at boat ramp

A stop work meeting to be held by the Transport Workers’ Union that may have interrupted the Peninsula’s garbage collection services on January 10 has been averted.

A mobile van will provide free advice about modern life jackets and will exchange old lifejackets for new at a discounted price in Woy Woy on Sunday, January 22.

The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net They can also be seen on www.PeninsulaNews.info

FORUM

Page 18 - Coast Community News - January 12, 2017 7 Share

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Council election results are mostly predetermined n September 9 we will vote for 15 Councillors for the new Central Coast Council.

I will be overseas and not a candidate, but I am deeply worried about the self-serving plans the Big End of Town has for previously protected areas such as west of the M1, and the most beautiful aspects of our Central Coast: our public beaches; water access; lakes, bays, lagoons, creeks and rivers; National Parks, reserves, forests, our public roads, public hospitals, public schools, public everything, not to mention the absence of plans for Central Coast health, education, roads, transport. Why? Well, we know the twopronged pincer-movement from the Big End of Town is well-organised and cashedup. We know from the series of corruption scandals that the NSW Liberal Party has cash ready to go and that the previous Mayor of Wyong has recently rejoined the Liberal Party. We know that the mega-rich developer, John Singleton, has established a front-organisation which he calls the Central Coast Task Force with ex-Liberal Chris Holstein as its Chair, and masquerading as an “independent” champion of the Central Coast. In the up-coming election, each of the five wards will elect three Councillors, 15 in total. To stand for election, you need not be a resident of the ward in which you are a candidate. This favours candidates backed by Big Money such as a ‘task force’. It is now possible, with this awful rule, to have a group of developers, all living in multi-million-dollar splendour on beachfronts, backed by Singleton’s radio stations and Murdoch’s Express-Advocate, standing for election and drowning out the local candidates in Gosford West or Wyong wards. If there is a way to change this rule it should be changed. It is a rule which clearly empowers out-of-area

FORUM Letters to the editor should be sent to: Coast Community News PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 or mail@gosfordnews.org See Page 2 for contribution conditions powerful and megarich against those with local knowledge, local concern, local history, local commitment and loyalty. I regard this as a corruption, a manipulation, of the intent of local government. The principle should be local people in local government. Once the 15 Councillors are elected, they will then elect the Mayor. To be the Mayor, you will need eight votes. To understand the current voting intentions within each of the five wards, as best I can, I have done some research. Over the last few weeks I have taken the ‘two-party preferred’ 2016 Federal Election vote from each of the polling booths in Robertson, Dobell and Shortland, and transferred them to the boundaries of each of the five wards in the new Central Coast Council. The tabulated data is both interesting and available from me if anyone wants it (email van@vandavy.com). From this we can conclude: the Liberals have a strong advantage in Gosford East, Labor a strong advantage in Budgewoi, with the remaining three wards a small two per cent to three per cent leaning to Labor. If you were a powerfullymotivated developer wanting to profit from the unparalleled opportunities offered by the beauty of the Central Coast and you knew of the importance of local government to protect the environment and represent the interests of the Common Good, rather than your commercial interests, what

To reach out to a young person in need, donate online www.youthoffthestreets.com.au or call our donation hotline on 1800 06 22 88. *AIHW, 2008-2009.

Our kids need our protection now!

would you do? Well, you would look at the two-party-preferred vote and conclude that, probably, each of the five wards will elect one Liberal and one Labor representative as a given, irrespective of how clever, committed, or sensible they are. The system is loaded. Genuine independents don’t get coverage from commercial radio or TV, or the Murdoch ExpressAdvocate. Even the ABC has blacked out, zero reportage, zero interviews, independent candidates in the past. So, the two major parties, irrespective of the quality of candidate, will get elected: five Liberal and five Labor. That leaves another Councillor from each of the five wards and Singleton would know that. This is the ground for which “independents” will compete. In this space there will be: Green candidates; genuine independent candidates; single-issue independents; and, potentially, Holstein as independent and Chair of Singleton’s ‘task force’. This is where the competition will take place and this is where the game is loaded to favour Singleton and the developers. He ‘owns’ the mass media which will trumpet his candidates, while the independents will be starved of air space. He will probably have high-profile candidates not living in the ward. To elect Eaton and Holstein as Mayor and Deputy will require eight votes, five Liberal and three Singleton-backed candidates. In my opinion, the Central Coast Council is ripe for a take-over by bankrolled, Liberal-connected politicians and developers

posing as philanthropic, benevolent ‘independents’, but entirely committed to privatisation of public lands and assets and the personal wealth that that will generate for them. What is needed is a firmly-rooted communitybased array of genuinely independent candidates who are committed to the development of a comprehensive Central Coast grass roots Peoples’ plan. Such a plan, if developed with genuine input and goodwill from across the vast community-minded sector of the Central Coast people, would represent a Peoples’ preferred future and could become the centre-piece of a vigorous election campaign. Political parties, especially Labor and the Greens, would be required to acknowledge the plan and its widespread support. Independents, and potential independents, will want to identify with it and run with it. There may even be the possibility, as there is the technical certainty, of running a grass roots Peoples’ Plan Group with above-the-line status on the ballot paper, comprising a mix of independent candidates and existing party candidates. That, of course, would depend on the decisions of parties whether to run their own team of candidates, no matter what the quality or policy-base, or run their best in a team of the best candidates available. A Grass Roots Peoples’ Plan would need grass roots input and the weekends of February 4 and 5 and March have been put aside by me for this purpose. Email, January 9, 2017 Van Davy, Pearl Beach

New York City view raises questions over skyline itting in my hotel room on the 39th floor of a Manhattan high-rise, provides me with a reasonable perspective of what the Central Coast Council believes are appropriate building heights for Gosford’s CBD.

The Council’s planning proposal, massaged by developer interests, would forever alter Gosford’s skyline with buildings around 100 metres high. Quietly pushing the exhibition period through in the weeks leading up to Christmas demonstrates the Council’s hollow promises of better consultation with the community on significant planning decisions [note, the exhibition period has been extended to January 20, Editor]. The only real community consultation conducted on building heights, with over 55,000 community members, found that residents wanted buildings of less than 14 storeys. Since that time, the

FORUM Council has buried the survey and avoided any further serious consultations with the broader community, despite the relatively low costs of conducting followup surveys. I urge all residents to let the Coast Administrator, who is the sole individual making the final determination on Gosford’s building heights and excessive densities, know how you feel about the prospect of Gosford becoming a New York style urban landscape. Email, Dec 16, 2016 Tahir Turk, Gosford

Government office block with water views is a disgrace n April, Gosford City Council reaffirmed its decision not to build the Performing Arts complex on the waterfront Poppy Field site, as Council’s preferred location is the old Gosford Public School site.

Terrigal Member of Parliament, Mr Adam Crouch, and Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Scot MacDonald, are adamant that the Performing Arts Centre should be built on the Poppy Field, otherwise the State Government $12 million grant would be in jeopardy. Why? State Government can and has changed its mind on policy many times, for example, in relation to the greyhound racing industry. It is a disgrace that a sixstorey State government office block with waterside views will be built on this unique gateway site. Imagine from Vaughan Ave looking north, a

garden complementing tthe Poppy Field, an open air concert entertainmentt a area, area an appropriately designed building encompassing a 1000/1500 seating performance hall, conference centre, an acoustically designed 500 seat music/concert hall, conservatorium, restaurant and café with views to Brisbane Water plus a space for a performing art school to cater for the 300 plus students who now travel to Sydney or Newcastle. A concept plan would encompass all of this plus car, taxi and bus travel concerns.

FORUM

Letter, Nov 8, 2016 Malcolm Brooks, Gosford

Coast Community News - January 12, 2017 - Page 19 Co SShare

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Gosford thieves fail to crack safe

Three prison workers injured after intervening in a brawl

hree prison workers at the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre, Kariong, were injured after intervening in a brawl between detainees on January 7.

NSW Juvenile Justice confirmed that three employees had been injured in the altercation, with a spokesperson asserting that all Juvenile Justice staff were highly trained to defuse situations in custody. The same spokesperson confirmed that all three staffers were currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries and that one staff member had been hospitalised. “Juvenile Justice takes the safety and security of staff very seriously and will review the incident,” the spokesperson said. Public Service Association spokesman, Mr Stewart Little, said the incident highlighted the need for purpose-built facilities to house juvenile offenders with violent histories, and those that spark similar incidents. “Presently high-risk violent offenders are

among the general cohort of offenders in juvenile detention,” Mr Little said. “There is a clear need for purpose-built facilities and specified training to deal with high risk and violent offenders. “Staff deserve to feel safe in their own workplaces and the incident at Kariong proves they’re not,” Mr Little continued. According to Mr Little, the Kariong incident was just the latest in a string of assaults by high-risk offenders in juvenile facilities and that this was unlikely to change due to the Royal Commission currently investigating juvenile care in the Northern Territory. “It’s just simply not good enough to have violent offenders and offenders that have been charged with very serious crimes such as terrorist-related activity housed with the general juvenile facility,” Mr Little

said. “It’s especially frustrating when these facilities are not even that costly to produce and are being held up by an inquiry into a different state’s system. “They could be housed within existing facilities and this would separate highrisk offenders from the general ones and provide clearer expectations to staff about what to expect,” Mr Little said. Mr Little also said that one of the injured workers, whose leg was broken in the altercation, received emergency medical treatment in Gosford Hospital. Media statement, Jan 9, 2016 Louisa Dear, NSW Juvenile Justice Interview, Jan 9, 2017 Stewart Little, Public Service Association Dilon Luke, Journalist

Motorbike confiscated and licence suspended

The vehicle used in the botched robbery attempt inset: One of the men police are interested in speaking with

olice have released CCTV images of a vehicle and are appealing for information following a break and enter on Mann St, Gosford late last year.

Just before 1:00am on December 12, police were called to a business on Mann St following reports of a break and enter. It will be alleged the business and a safe was damaged before the offenders fled the scene empty handed. Officers attached to Brisbane Water Local Area Command established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.

man has had his motorbike confiscated, been fined more than $2,300 and had his license suspended, after he was allegedly detected travelling at 200km/h near Somersby.

Just before 3pm, January 4, officers attached to Brisbane Water Traffic and Highway Command were patrolling the Pacific Hwy, Somersby, when they detected a motorbike travelling 108km/h in a 60km/h zone. Officers attempted to stop the bike, however it accelerated away at 200km/h. A short time later, police located the bike and spoke to the driver, a 27 year old man.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 He was arrested and taken to Gosford Police Station where he was issued an infringement notice for

exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, which carries a $2,350 fine, and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous. The man’s BMW motorcycle was towed from the scene and will remain confiscated for three months. His driver’s license was suspended for six months. He will appear at Hornsby Local Court on January 25. Media release, Jan 4, 2017 NSW Police Media

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Police would like to speak to two men. The first man is described as being of Caucasian appearance and of an average to large build. He was last seen wearing a blue hooded jumper with a yellow logo on the front, with blue tracksuit pants, a white t-shirt and white joggers with blue markings. The second man is

described as being of Caucasian appearance with a thin build. He was last seen wearing dark khaki chino pants, a navy blue hooded jumper and black and white shoes. Police are also seeking information on a vehicle described as a dark blue or black Mazda 323 hatchback. Media release, Dec 13, 2016 NSW Police Media

Christmas Eve tragedy in Saratoga

woman died following a house fire in Saratoga in the early hours of Christmas Eve.

At about 2:00am on December 24, emergency services were called to a home on Mimosa Ave, Saratoga, following reports of a house fire. Police were told a neighbour attempted to enter the home after he noticed the resident, a 93 year old woman, hadn’t

evacuated, but he was overcome by smoke and unable to raise her. Fire fighters from Fire and Rescue NSW arrived and extinguished the blaze. The woman was taken

by NSW Ambulance paramedics to Gosford Hospital, where she later died. A brief of evidence will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. Media release, Dec 25, 2016 NSW Police Media

HEALTH

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Stephanie Foster is the 2017 Terrigal Woman of the Year

Concerns raised over the possible removal of Medicare rebates for after-hours GP services ederal Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, has denied that the Turnbull Government has plans to remove the Medicare rebate from after-hours GP services.

Stephanie Foster with Member for Terrigal Mr Adam Crouch

s Stephanie Foster has been named as the 2017 Terrigal Local Woman of the Year.

State Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, was joined by NSW Minister for Women, Ms Pru Goward, to name Ms Foster as the 2017 Terrigal Local Woman of the Year. “Steph was the first Breast Care Nurse for the Central Coast and was a founding member of the Breast Cancer Interest Group in Sydney and surrounding regions,” Mr Crouch said. “She always puts the patient and their family first

and guides them through an often difficult and confronting time in their lives.” Ms Goward said the Local Woman of the Year awards showcase inspiring women in their local community. “Every year I meet phenomenal women who do great work in their local communities,” Ms Goward said. “I congratulate Stephanie on her award and thank her for her outstanding service to her community in

Terrigal.” Local award winners will be invited to join their Member of Parliament at the 2017 Women of the Year Awards breakfast hosted by the Hon Mike Baird, Premier of NSW, on Wednesday, March 8, where the state-wide winners will be announced. Media release, Jan 6, 2017 Kerryanne Delaney, office of Adam Crouch

“There is no plan to remove after hours services from Medicare,” Ms Wicks said. “Claims that the Turnbull Government plans to remove the Medicare rebate from after-hours GP services are misleading our community,” she said. “A review of all the Medicare Benefits Schedule items has been initiated by the Government and is being conducted by independent medical experts. “The review is assessing concerns that some after-hours GP Medicare Items are being claimed inappropriately. “No recommendations have yet been made regarding after-hours GP services. “We have delivered record funding, and recordhigh bulk-billing rates. Ms Wicks made her statements in response to claims by the National Home Doctor service. “A push to remove the Medicare rebate for afterhours doctor home visits would impact at least 3,925 people in the Federal Electorate of Robertson who have used the National Home Doctor Service in the past financial year,” said Dr Umberto Russo, Chief Medical Officer of the National Home Doctor Service. “A decade after John Howard introduced afterhours doctor home visits to Medicare, the service is now being put under threat with calls for the Medicare rebate to be removed in the Government’s current Medicare Benefit Schedule review,” Dr Russo said. “Doctor home visits are an essential Medicare service which are vital for the most vulnerable people in our community, such as

children and the elderly,” he said. “In the federal electorate of Robertson, 41 per cent of home visit patients were children under 15 years of age. “Children and elderly family members can fall sick at any time of the day or night, not just in business hours when GP clinics are open. “If home visits weren’t available, more families would go to emergency departments for health problems that are not emergencies, but cannot wait for treatment until business hours. “For regional communities like those in the electorate of Robertson, getting health services when you need them is hard enough, but any cuts to this service will make things even harder.

“The cost to the health system of a doctor home visit is $128, while the cost to the health system of patient being treated in an emergency department is $368 on average, and much more when an ambulance is called. “A report by Deloitte Access Economics found that without access to afterhours doctor home visits to households and agedcare facilities, the cost to the health system would be $724 million higher over the four years of the budget forward estimates,” Dr Russo said. Media statement, Jan 10, 2017 Rebecca Johnstone, office of Lucy Wicks Media release, Jan 5, 2017 Leesa Maroske, National Home Doctor service Dilon Luke, journalist

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Gosford Relay for Life calling for entries ancer Council NSW and Gosford Relay for Life members are calling on the community to participate in 2017’s Relay for Life scheduled for March.

Gosford City Relay for Life is an 18-hour fundraising event where participants walk all night in relays to raise money to support local cancer patients and services. This event is held at Adcock Park Velodrome, West Gosford. It boasts a line-up of local entertainment as the participants walk around the track, as well as delicious food options and kids’ entertainment, including a Box Car Rally Lap, where children can create their own box cars to race. Chairperson of the Gosford City Relay for Life and cancer survivor, Ms Donna Robertson, said the relay provides something for everyone touched by cancer. “People relay for all different reasons. “Whether you are a cancer survivor like myself, or a carer, if you are still

fighting cancer or want to remember someone who lost their battle, or even if you just want to make a difference, the relay gives you that chance,” Ms Robertson said. “For me, to work alongside inspiring volunteers, the teams and participants that come out to this event, I feel lucky. “It is such an amazing feeling to see the community come together to make a real difference in the fight against cancer. “It gives me goose bumps,,” Ms Robertson added. “Cancer Council NSW representative, Ms Jayne Moloney, said Ms Robertson was a passionate ambassador, who works tirelessly to create the event. Media release, Nov 29, 2016 Jayne Moloney, Cancer Council NSW

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HEALTH

New Endoscopy Centre in North Gosford here will be more timely access to colonoscopies close to home thanks to the opening of a new Endoscopy Centre in North Gosford.

Healthe Care Australia CEO, Mr Steve Atkins, said the company was focussing on improving access to health services in regional areas with ageing populations. “This is particularly good news for the babyboomers and retirees in the community who Bowel Cancer Australia identifies as the age group most at risk,” Mr Atkins said. “Many people are already aware of the Australian Government’s national screening program for over 50s which aims to reduce bowel cancer through early detection, but positive home tests require further investigation, often recommended within 30 days,” he said. “The Gosford Private Endoscopy Centre will help meet this increasing demand for endoscopy services and reduce wait

The new facility at North Gosford

times on the Central Coast, which will hopefully save more lives through early diagnosis,” Mr Atkins said. Healthe Care Regional Manager for the Central Coast and Gosford Private Hospital CEO, Mr Matt Kelly, said the Endoscopy Centre had been purpose-built with two procedure rooms, seven first-stage recovery beds, and 11 second-stage recovery chairs, which can

cater for up to 50 patients each day. “Having a dedicated unit of this size will increase our capacity to perform colonoscopies and gastroscopies from 5,000 to 7,500 per year by 2020,” Mr Kelly said. “The state-of-the-art centre is also equipped with the latest in surgical visualisation technology to enhance our detection and

diagnosis capabilities. “Our highly skilled team of specialists, nurses and support staff will also provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services including upper endoscopy, polypectomy, stenting and more,” Mr Kelly said. Media release, Jan 2, 2017 Matt Kelly, Healthe Care

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$24,500 awarded in grants to 13 talented young artists S

h a k e s p e a re a n Actor and Director, and Chairman of the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts, Mr John Bell, recently announced the awarding of $24,500 in grants to 13 talented young artists from the Central Coast.

Mr Bell was speaking after a special awards ceremony at Wagstaffe Hall which preceded a fundraising concert featuring the host of the popular ABC Australia All Over radio program, Ian ‘Macca’ Mcnamara and his special guest, Melinda Schneider. “The amount of talent among young artists on the Central Coast is extraordinary,” Mr Bell said. “The Central Coast can be very proud of them.” This is the fifth year that the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts has announced its grants program. In that time, over 40 grants totalling $96,500 have been made to young artists under 25. “Not only is the depth of talent remarkable, but the range of artistic pursuits undertaken by these young people is both exciting and inspiring,” he said. We have been able to provide support to dancers, both contemporary and classical, musicians, a writer and, in the visual arts, a photographer, painters and a ceramicist. “The Foundation has adopted a structured approach to its grants program with the aim of both developing the talent of young artists and then supporting them as they consolidate their accomplishments into careers. “It is most gratifying to see that after five years this approach is working well.”

Mr John Bell front with 2016 Bouddi Foundation grant recipients

The 2016 Bouddi Foundation for the Arts Grants in the Gosford City area were as follows. Jasmine Baric, aged 16 from Narara has been playing the violin for 10 years and will be using the grant for Diploma of Music Course fees and to travel to Melbourne for development with the Australian National Academy of Music orchestra. Kimberly Gilbert, from Erina, also aged 16, is a student at the Central Coast Grammar School where she studies cello, and also studies piano at the Central Coast Conservatorium, where she has earned the conservatorium’s most prestigious piano award. Her grant will be used for travel to the US for one-on-one and masterclasses with the renowned

international Steinway artist, Eugene Alcalay, and other performers at the University of Azusa, Los Angeles. Jacinta Janik from Kariong has been classically trained with the Australian Ballet and is now pursuing contemporary dance at NAISDA. Her grant will be used to attend summer and winter dance intensives overseas. Ms Janik said her goal was to travel the world in dance and that she had been proud to learn more about her Aboriginal background which was shunned by her peers when she was growing up. “I am now proud to dance for my culture as well as being accepted into NAISDA,” she said. Jessica Pearson, also aged 16, from Point Clare, is

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passionate about performing musical theatre. She is studying dance, drama and voice at Newtown School for the Performing Arts, and her grant will be used for tuition, workshops and equipment. Locally, she is a Classique Dance student and is undertaking vocal tuition at Erina’s Elite Vocals Academy. Toby Wells, 17 years old, from Holgate, is a student at Narara Valley High School. He is also a seasoned song writer and singer whose ambition is to study contemporary music and become a professional musician. The grant will be used to buy quality equipment to support him in his busy performing and recording life. “My ultimate goal is to sustain a career out of writing, playing and recording my music,” Toby said. “I hope to make music that people can relate to and connect with; I want to make a difference to someone, anyone through my songs. “The high point for me so far was when my band, Stranger Than Paradise,

opened for Thirsty Merc on their 2016 Good Life tour. “The experience cemented in my mind that this was what I really want to do.” Amelia Lynch from Green Point, is 19 and took up pottery in 2012 after achieving notable success in textile arts and related genres. Now studying at the National Art School for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, her grant will be used for fees, workshops and materials. Harley Lynch, also from Green Point, aged 19, is enrolled in National Art School concentrating on photography and digital imaging. He will be using his grant to invest in upgraded photographic equipment. David Ramsden, aged 25 from Terrigal, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) from UNSW. Now working in Terrigal as a visual artist, illustrator and portrait artist, he will use the grant to invest in art materials. Claire Welch, aged 17 from Bensville, has explored various art techniques including digital creativity,

but finds traditional art practice more engaging and creatively satisfying. A student at the Central Coast Grammar School, her grant will be used for workshop and art courses at the National Art School. Claire said her goal was to finish her HSC and progress to study fine arts at a university level. “There is a wide world of art that I wish to explore; I’m thrilled to already have had contact with artists that love art,” she said. “I’ve worked really hard on my art in the last couple of years and it was amazing to receive such positive feedback and encouragement from the Bouddi Foundation and the panel that spoke with me. “The Bouddi foundation’s assistance will provide access to classes and materials that I would otherwise be without,” she said. Other award recipients came from the Woy Woy Peninsula and from Toukley. Media release, Nov 5, 2016 Joy Park, Bouddi Foundation

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Coast Community News - January 12, 2017 - Page 23 SShare

Elvis is on a roll for his birthday he Australian Reptile Park celebrated Australia’s crankiest crocodile Elvis’ 51st birthday on January 6, by entertaining crowds with his famous death roll.

The 500 kilo, 4.5 metre croc is famous for attacking a keeper’s lawnmower in 2011, and age hasn’t slowed him down. Keepers provided Elvis with his annual gift, comprising of a quarter of an animal carcass, which he chomped and dragged into the water, death rolled and then guarded. The superior hunter and predator possesses larger than average size teeth and a jaw capable of crushing the bones of large prey. Commenting on the extremely dangerous feeding procedure, Mr Tim Faulkner, General Manager at Australian Reptile Park, said: “Elvis is one cranky crocodile, a wound inflicted by this guy would be extremely severe. “Elvis came to us from the Northern Territory where he was causing havoc to fishermen’s boats. Our plan was to lure him out of the water with the carcass, which was tied to a tree, to demonstrate his pulling ability during the death roll. “Once Elvis grabbed

the carcass, there was no letting go. “The general process we follow is wait until he tries to drown the prey and leave it to rot, which is a traditional procedure in the wild, and grab what we can back from him. “We do this because eating the carcass all at once would have him in a hibernation state from food for at least eight weeks, which is not good for his feeding routine,” Mr Faulkner said. “Elvis the crocodile is a fine ambassador for his species. “Saltwater crocodiles were once hunted to the brink of extinction in Australia, but since their status was legally protected in QLD, NT and WA, their numbers have made a full recovery, and they are now listed as ‘least concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature,” Mr Faulkner added. Media release, Jan 6, 2017 Lizzie Doyle, Australian Reptile Park

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Special outdoor event on Australia Day he Rhythm Hut will celebrate diversity, peace and community through music with a special outdoor event on the January 26 public holiday.

The Special deck sessions, Soul Songs with Daphne Tse, Haitch, Bobby Parrs and friends, will be held from 6:00pm, and will be an opportunity to become immersed in the soothing sounds of mantrainfused world music, as the songs move from India to the Americas to Africa and beyond. “Be enchanted by the magical fusion of: Daphne’s soulful voice; Haitch’s entrancing Native American flutes, bamboo Suling, Didgeridoo, trumpet and vocals; infused with Bobby’s masterful guitar riffs,” said The Rhythm Hut manager, Ms Lou Sawilejskij. “Joining us to celebrate Haitch’s release of his new album, Ethereal, NSW’s stellar musicians, Emanuel Lieberfreund and Afro Moses, will ignite us with their incredible spirited and passionate sonic alchemy,” she said. Daphne Tse is a soulful singer/songwriter, originally from Texas, currently calling the world her home. Since her initial yoga class 15 years ago, she has merged her spiritual practice with her contemporary folk singer/songwriter style. She studied music at UT in Austin, The Old Town

Daphne Tse

School of Folk Music in Chicago and Kirtan music with Jai Uttal. She has released music on Shiva Rea’s yoga music compilations and has released three albums, Mata (recorded at Bali), Finding Water (recorded at Kaua’i) and Samahita Live (recorded at Samui). Haitch is a South East Queensland musician and composer. Bringing a fresh twist to the world music, devotional and yoga scenes, his style is expansive and deep. Looking to nature for inspiration and world cultures for instruments, his uniqueness lies in the moving fusion created with both uncommon and classical instruments including Native American

flutes, Yidaki (didgeridoo), slide didge, suling flutes, mellophone, trumpet, electric Indian zither, vocals and synthesisers. Haitch shares music and movement in Yoga Soundcapes classes, holds devotional Chanting to Bliss concerts, and facilitates Soundwaves sound healing journeys, several group workshops and private tuition and healing sessions. Bobby Parrs is a New York City native, guitarist/ producer and an active force in today’s music scene. A diverse seasoned musician and performer, Bobby has been touring for over 30 years performing at festivals throughout North America, Hawaii, Asia and Europe. Always on call, Bobby’s

supportive role as a player has earned him a chair with notable international artists, Jai Uttal, Jon Anderson, Daniel Paul, Dona De Lory, Zero, Fantuzzi, John Martyn and Pamela Polland. Emanuel Lieberfreund is passionate about the power of music to open the heart to a sense of the sacred. He studied jazz and classical flute at the Sydney Conservatorium and currently plays flutes, saxophones and percussion. Emanuel is best known for his contributions to world/jazz fusion, devotional music, and music for yoga and dance. His jazz trio, Flight, played for the World Air Cargo Awards in Shanghai. He was sponsored by the Brazilian government to play in East Timor with Jeanne Bastos; he toured northern China with the yogic devotional singer Carmella Gitanjali Baynie; and he has just launched his and Rosie Henshaw’s Eastmeets-West band, Shanti Fire, that features some of Sydney’s best jazz and Indian classical musicians. His world music ambience CD Atma’s Sphere was launched to a sold-out house in 2015. The album has been receiving airplay on Radio National, Eastside Radio, Northside Radio and Soultraveller Radio. Media release, Jan 10, 2017 Lou Sawilejskij, The Rhythm Hut

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Plenty to do at the Marine Discovery Centre

Highly successful Fair Go Talent Showcase held o celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD), Job Centre Australia, in conjunction with Regional Youth Support Services Inc, hosted the highly successful Fair Go Talent Showcase, at the Youth Arts Warehouse, Gosford, on December 5.

he Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre has announced its January school holiday activities.

The Centre features new layout and displays this holidays, including the new sea bird display, where visitors can learn all about the birds that call the Central Coast home and take an Ornithologist quiz. The Centre also has a new science lab activity for budding young scientists. which includes a new

Science Passbook filled with fun activities to check off. The Centre also has many Wild Watch and Rockpool Rambles scheduled for the month, where children can learn about marine biology in local rock platforms and also observe and experience nature. The Centre will also hold

fish feeding from 12:00pm every Tuesday and Friday, where visitors can come and watch volunteers feed the various aquaria that call the Centre home.

With over 200 spectators and 30 acts, the Fair Go Talent Showcase celebrated the creative talents and abilities of local youth with disabilities. Providing an opportunity to perform to a packed audience, the event attracted people from afar and included singing, dancing, monologues and rock bands. Each performance was unique, artistic and well supported, with immeasurable encouragement and respect shown to each routine. Organiser, Mr Andrew Paton, said: “Each and

every person who stood up on stage and performed did so well. “It was the first time that many of the performers have had the opportunity to participate in something like this, so there were a few nerves and lots of excitement. “Above all though, was the great spirit and encouragement coming from the crowd and fellow performers, for those on stage. “We have some amazing talent here on the Coast, and having a disability didn’t, and shouldn’t hold anyone back from having a go and

persuing their dreams.” With special guest judge, Tevita Strongwoman, on hand to present awards, a sausage sizzle supplied by Lions Club and Disability Support Services coming together as one, Mr Paton said Fair Go was a magnificent demonstration of the great community we live in and the abilities of the youth in our region. IDPWD is celebrated on December 3, each year. Media release, Dec 13, 2016 Amy Muldowney, Job Centre Australia

Media release, Jan 3, 2017 Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre

The Fair Go Talent Showcase was a huge success

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OUT & ABOUT

Valuable Besson tuba donated for use by youth bands

Central Coast International Women’s Day Expo to be held at Erina celebration of Central Coast women and their contribution and service to the region will be held at the Hive, Erina Fair, on March 4, as part of International Women’s Day (IWD).

The 2017 IWD Expo is a project of the Central Coast International Women’s Day Expo Committee. “This now annual familyfriendly event was previously held at the Ourimbah Campus of the University of Newcastle and in 2017 we are trying a change of venue,” said Event Chair, Ms Sally Jope. “Everyone, men, women and children, is invited to

come along to acknowledge the many achievements of women on the Coast, while we highlight their contributions to the social, economic, cultural and political aspects of our community,” Ms Jope said. The 2017 Expo provides opportunities for everyone to learn about local community groups and ways to get involved and to pledge their support to

accelerate gender equality. It will be run market style, with many stalls showcasing organisations relating to women’s welfare and health, education, volunteering and leisure activities, along with a series of presentations and entertainment on the main stage. Media release, Dec 16, 2016 Sally Jope, International Women’s Day Expo

Capture Central Coast Gala Photographic Exhibition at Point Clare

he Koolewong, Point Clare and Tascott Progress Association Inc and Gosford Regional Community Services have joined together to present the Capture Central Coast Gala Photographic Exhibition.

The Gala opening was held on January 6 and was officially launched by Joy Park from the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts, with the general exhibition

running from January 7 to 15, from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily, in the Point Clare Community Hall. The exhibition features the work of Mr and Mrs

Brendon and Jude Weston of Fine Art Photography Australia, and Mr Dale Montgomery of Dale Montgomery Photography. Entry to the exhibition is via a gold coin donation with all proceeds supporting Marine Rescue Central Coast. Media release, Jan 2, 2017 Wyoming Community Centre

Mr Harry Harman (left) Mr Graham Black (mid) and Ms Judith Paltridge (right) at Jazzleague with the donated tuba

enowned senior jazz musician, Harry Harman OAM, has donated his brass tuba to Central Coast Leagues Club’s Jazzleague.

Harman, who has been playing jazz for over 70 years, has been a Jazzleague member for many years, has enjoyed many overseas tours with highly respected jazz bands and is a patron of Sydney Jazz Club. Several months ago, Harman played his beloved Besson tuba at the Woy Woy Oyster Festival and a few hours later, played double bass at his regular three hour gig at Jazzleague from 2- 5pm. While at the gig, Harman spoke with Jazzleague youth coordinator, Mr Graham Black, and advised, as he was nearing 90 years of age, he had been thinking of giving up the tuba for several months, as he was running out of puff. He knew Jazzleague greatly supported young jazz bands by providing gigs and several scholarships for up and coming young jazz musicians and local schools, so he donated his very valuable tuba to

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