Issue 151 of COAST Community News by Central Coast Newspapers

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

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ISSUE 151

A report on the future of the Regional Library to be presented to February Council meeting She said a development on the Broadwater site would be “in excess of what we’ve got funding for”. An alternative site is also under consideration for the library, according to Ms Vaughan. “This is part of consolidating a lot of the former projects,” she said. Ms Vaughan said a report would be presented to the February Council meeting, but that negotiations were still being finalised, and the high political interest in the project meant she needed to be cautious about what she could say publicly at this stage. “The $7 million Federal funding means the government requires us to deliver on this project, and there have been many promises for many years, but not much has been delivered.” Ms Vaughan said the $8.1 million raised via a rate payer levy was “still committed”. She said the draft designs put forward by Gosford Council were “pretty pictures, but not necessarily what was ever going to be an affordable design. “The report will identify the next steps, but we are still concurrently trying to keep the commitment of the Federal Government. “We don’t want to make any more broken promises and this review is part of the due diligence required,” she said.

Prior to its dismissal by the NSW Government in May 2016, Gosford Council had resolved to build a regional library on the council owned Broadwater Hotel site, next door to Gosford Council Chambers on Mann St. Draft plans were drawn and a public tender was advertised (but not in this newspaper) for an architectural consultancy and detailed design services. In a confidential Central Coast Council meeting on January 24, Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, resolved to withdraw that public tender. The reasons for the withdrawal have remained confidential, but are understood to be “procedural”. “Council will now seek an extension for the $7 million grant under the Community Development Grants Program,” Central Coast Council confirmed in a written statement issued in response to questions from Coast Community News. “[This will] enable Council to settle on a suitable location for the Gosford Library site with a report to be brought back to Council on the matter,” the statement said. Gosford Councillors voted in 2015 to move ahead with plans to build a new library in Mann St after the State Library of NSW reviewed nine possible options. The draft design was described in February 2016 as a collaborative effort between Gosford Council and leading

The last concept plan for the regional library has been described as “pretty pictures” but not necessarily affordable

architects Clare Design and Hill Thalis, which Gosford’s former mayor, Mr Lawrie McKinna, said was a “concept plan that boasts something for everyone. “There are still plenty of details to work through, but this current concept truly captures our vision of having a state of the art community hub right in the heart of the Central Coast’s capital,” Mr

McKinna said at the time. The concept plan for the Broadwater site included a ground level café and children’s area, three levels dedicated to exhibitions, library collections and an auditorium, as well as four more levels devoted to a smart work hub, a seniors’ centre and a university presence.

It appears Council amalgamation also resulted in the development application to demolish the current Council-owned building on the site never being lodged. Council’s Group Leader Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the purpose of the report that was considered by Mr Reynolds in January was to “tidy up the tender process” which,

she said “fell way outside local government requirements” in terms of timing. Ms Vaughan said the work done by the NSW State Library was still being considered but questions remained about the suitability of the Broadwater Hotel as the best site for the state-of-the-art library that the region required.

Media statement, Jan 30, 2017 Central Coast Council media Interview, Feb 8, 2017 Julie Vaughan, Central Coast Council Media Release, Feb 22, 2016 Gosford Council media Jackie Pearson, journalist

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.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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Weber’s Juggler, Cody Harrington, won the junior world juggling championships in Las Vegas, and juggles no less than nine rings, which is a feat in itself. The show also incudes silks, hula hoops, Spanish web, line dancing, and much more.

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Edition 410

January 12, 2017

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

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9 January 2017

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Issue 149

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.

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

Internal yard area and ofﬁce at the metal depot

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

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.

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

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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

Council has done nothing to generate employment - Mehan

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.

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

The proposed development looking down Beach Pde

Application lodged for iconic development at Canton Beach A

$22.5 million application has been lodged with Central Coast Council for the construction of a ﬁve-storey shop top h o u s i n g development on the corner of Beach Pde and Crossingham St, Canton Beach. Until recently the land, located at 5 to 7 and 8 Beach Pde, has been used as a caravan park, but is currently vacant, according to the Central Coast Council’s Wyong DA tracker. According to a Statement of Environmental Effects

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

(SEE) submitted in support of the DA: “The proposal … includes a contemporary building that comprises one basement level containing 68 car parking spaces (49 residential, 10 commercial and 8 visitor with five accessible, to be confirmed), four commercial units at ground level and 36 units on the upper levels.” According to the SEE, the development will include 24 two bedroom units and 12 threebedroom units, including four adaptable units. “Council has identified the subject site as part of a key site … prescribed for significant uplift in height and floor space

ratio,” according to the SEE. “This is reﬂected in the development standards applied to the site by the Wyong Local Environmental Plan (WLEP) 2013… intended to stimulate the redevelopment of the Canton Beach foreshore as a tourist precinct, to provide active street-frontage uses and to supply additional residential accommodation. The provisions of the WLEP also required the preparation of a Development Control Plan (DCP) for any redevelopment of the site. However, in this

instance, a DCP has not been prepared because the applicant’s proposal “does not rely on the key sites’ provisions and instead is predicated on the development standards that would otherwise apply under the WLEP. “As Council has identiﬁed the subject site as a key site, its redevelopment for higher scale development is not only appropriate, but is anticipated by Council and residents. “The key sites’ controls seek design excellence, encourage amalgamation, Continued P5

he new Central Coast Council must develop the Wyong Employment Zone (WEZ) at Warnervale if it is serious about i n c r e a s i n g employment on the Coast, according to the State Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan.

Mr Mehan made his statements about the WEZ in response to questions about the poor recent performance of the tourism industry on the Central Coast. “The tourism industry is over-rated as a local employer,” Mr Mehan said. “The biggest employer on the Central Coast is retail, followed by health, and then community services,” he said. “We should make sure all employment opportunities are fully promoted and I think Council is doing the right thing with its current review of how it spends to promote the region,

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Issue 108

January 17, 2017

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but we haven’t had a big employer move to the Coast since Woolworths opened its distribution centre at Warnervale in 2009-10. “The major problem is that Council has not gone ahead with the Wyong Employment Zone in the manner in which it should have. “The former Wyong Council held it back in favour of its own pet projects, such as the idea we were going to get a new university there, and it seems that everything the former Wyong Council wanted to do in that northern area is still being supported by the Central Coast Council,” Mr Mehan said. Mr Mehan said he believed, in terms of the WEZ and the generation of local employment opportunities, the new Central Coast Regional Plan “throws it all back on Council” to get anything done. “But Council has done nothing to generate employment.

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

Continued P3

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Issue 109 January 31, 2017

Edition 411

23 January 2017

Rail crossing death

Edition 412

JANUARY 27, 2017

YOUR INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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oastal Residents Incorporated has called on the NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Rob Stokes, to delay the introduction of the new Coastal Zone Management Act and associated reforms until accurate mapping is made available to the public.

C The ramp to the pedestrian underpass

Elderly man hit by train An elderly man on a mobility scooter has died after being hit by a train at the Rawson Rd level crossing in Woy Woy. Police said inquiries were continuing and a report was to be prepared for the Coroner. Sydney Trains reported at 11:17am that trains had been suspended between Hawkesbury River and Gosford stations due to the fatality. Police at the scene said the man went on to the crossing after the boom gates went down and the lights started ﬂashing. It was around 11am when he was hit by the northbound interurban passenger train.

Passengers, adults and children, had to be evacuated by emergency service personnel and passengers were transferred to buses. Police said the man somehow became stuck or found himself in the middle of the rail crossing as the train approached and sustained fatal injuries. Crime scene unit detectives and representatives from Sydney Trains were on the scene soon after the incident occurred and remained there for some time following the fatality. Forensic experts were on site investigating why the man was in the path of the train and had not used the nearby pedestrian underpass.

The pedestrian underpass had been opened to the public in 2015 as stage one of the Rawson Rd Level Crossing Replacement Project, a project of the former Gosford Council with funding from Transport NSW. The Public Transport Command of the NSW Police Service stated that due to formal identiﬁcation issues and issues around the circumstances of such a serious accident, the name of the victim could not be formally released. The Public Transport Command was in charge of the ongoing investigation into the incident. Interview, 17 Jan 2017 Duty ofﬁcer, NSW Police Media Interview, 19 Jan 2017 Bruce Coates, Brisbane Water LAC Reporter: Jackie Pearson

Accident highlights ‘unresolved issue’, says chamber Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has described the railway crossing accident as “a tragedy”, and the Government’s attitude as “an embarrassment” and “not good enough”. Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales said: “What it has done is serve to highlight the unresolved issue of what happens to the level crossing. “At the moment, the State Government has walked away from this location because in their view it is cost prohibitive,” Mr Wales said. “The chamber’s position is simply that this is not good enough,” he said. “We have to sit down with both the State Government and the Central Coast Council and ﬁnd the solution to the replacement of the level crossing especially after the fact that they have spent $6.2 million on the pedestrian underpass that hardly anybody uses because it is easier for them to walk straight across the level crossing at the existing pedestrian gates. “Until the level crossing is completely closed and the only access available is via the new

pedestrian underpass and an alternative vehicle underpass, there will always be a level of risk at that level crossing. “The safety risk is compounded by the intersection of Rawson Rd with Station St which is suffering from increased usage and creating its own safety issues. “Our position is that the Government has to come up with a solution and put aside its concerns over the previous costings and ﬁnd a way forward in consultation with the local community and the Council so that this gets resolved. “Whether you build an underpass at existing crossing or another one down at Bulls Hill, I don’t care. “They have to come up with a plan. “If it means the Government has to allocate funds over a period of time let’s do it, but putting it on the backburner is not going to solve the problem. “Once again, are we the last cab off the rank as we are so often? “It’s an embarrassment,” Mr Wales said. Interview, 18 Jan 2017 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Reporter: Jackie Pearson

Passengers had to be evacuated from the train following the fatality and moved onto buses

THIS ISSUE contains 51 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 150

Lack of accurate mapping has resulted in residents being misled

Mr Pat Aiken, Secretary of Coastal Residents Inc, said the Act was passed by the NSW Parliament in June 2016 and was waiting to be proclaimed immediately after the close of consultation for the new Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) which ended on January 20. “The consultation period ended despite just one short information session and the lack of critical detail in the form of promised maps that would explain how many people would be affected if sea levels rise to the heights claimed by local government,” Mr Aiken said. “They don’t want people to know,” he said. “The vital Coastal Vulnerability maps promised in Parliament have not been made available. “Most people who would be affected do not understand the implications of this omission. “It means the owners and families of 14,000 properties on the Central Coast do not understand that the NSW Government is about to proclaim legislation that will allow councils to impose a range of development constraints.” Mr Aiken said those development constraints would include “planned retreat” in the form of timed development consents. If development consent was given for 40 years, for instance, the development would have to be removed from the land at the end of that period. “The use of timed consents would mean temporary buildings, temporary use of land and the use of ambulatory boundaries would override current Torrens Title

A beachfront property at Wamberal where residents are attempting to protect their properties from current coastal hazards

and allow submerged lands to automatically revert to the Crown with no compensation,” he said. “This directly affects more than 10 per cent of the Central Coast population. “In Sydney the Coastal Zone extends up to 200 metres from tidal waters but on the Central Coast it is 1,000 metres so the impact on Central Coast residents is far greater,” he said. On January 18, Mr Aiken wrote to Mr Stokes “to confirm certain critical errors in the consultation mapping documents for the Central Coast … has led to residents and property owners in large numbers … being misled as to whether the proposed reforms affect them.” Mr Aiken said maps used during the consultation period for the Draft SEPP misrepresented to

“tens of thousands of property owners” including those on the Central Coast, that their properties were not affected by the proposed reforms. “Residents have been misled and don’t understand they are affected by a draconian framework of legislation that enforces planned retreat and will result in the expropriation by government of land affected by current and future coastal hazards.” Mr Aiken said the risk of inundation and flooding in low lying suburbs had not been identified in the Draft SEPP mapping because that mapping did not show current hazard levels. “Of the 59,000 coastal properties affected by the Draft Coastal Management SEPP, it is estimated that at least 14,000

of those properties are on the Central Coast – they are affected by the current and future coastal hazards of tidal inundation and combined catchment and storm surge flooding. “It is a case of negligence or incompetence that the NSW Government has failed to include this readily-available information with the Draft SEPP mapping of coastal hazards,” Mr Aiken said. Mr Aiken said once the “flawed” SEPP is proclaimed, all other components of the new NSW Government Coastal Management legislative framework will come into play. “It does not go back to Parliament, but I hope it can be delayed so more debate can be allowed when Parliament resumes,” he said. He said the NSW Office of

Environment and Heritage (OEH) had been a key stakeholder in the development of local government Coastal Zone Management Plans and Floodplain Risk Management Plans. The office had representatives on the council committees that developed those plans and the comprehensive mapping of coastal hazards. The NSW OEH has been virtually the sole provider of the funding used to develop these coastal management plans, he said. “Without the substantial grants of funds for such projects, there would be no mapping and no plans,” he said. “It is either disingenuous or due to a lack of capability that the NSW State Government now suggests that the flawed content and omissions of the Local

Government Hazard Mapping is entirely the responsibility of local government. “Our association does not accept this repeated claim by the NSW Government. “The consultation process is flawed in material and misleading ways. “Residents have been misled,” he said. Mr Stokes and other state MPs had promised that the new Coastal Zones Management Act wouldn’t come into force until there had been full consultation and public participation with all the mapping available for all residents to view. “We are also very concerned that a large part of the exhibition period has occurred during a traditional period of holidays for most Australians,” he said. Mr Aiken called on Mr Stokes to delay implementation of the Coastal Management Act and associated reforms until all mapping associated with the Draft CM SEPP was completed to a standard acceptable for consultation and public participation. He asked that “accurate mapping for all coastal hazards be prepared and put on exhibition for comment and that all other mapping should be carefully checked with a particular emphasis on littoral forest and wetland mapping”. Mr Aiken said he believed demand by purchasers for properties affected by vulnerability mapping would decline as, once the new framework is implemented, notations will be included on S149(2) Planning Certificates explaining that a property is affected by current and future coastal hazards. Emails, Jan 23 and 24, 2017 Pat Aiken, Coastal Residents Inc Letter, Jan 18, 2017 Pat Aiken, Coastal Residents Inc Jackie Pearson, journalist More on pages 3 and 4

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The need for break-walls at The Entrance Channel highlighted R

esidents from across the Central Coast came together on Australia Day to stage the second annual The Entrance Channel dig out. The aim of the dig out is to draw attention to the myriad of issues facing the channel including flooding, water quality and water recreation. Mr Peter White, a representative from The Tuggerah Lakes Flood Mitigation Action Group, said the dig out was also staged to highlight the need for break-walls at The Entrance Channel. According to Mr White, the 2016 dig out attracted 120 volunteer “diggers” who were all behind the break-wall idea. Mr White also said that 2016’s dig out attracted attention from the former Wyong Council, members of the Save Tuggerah Lakes Party and Members of Parliament from across the Wyong Local Government Area. “The aim of our 2017 dig out was to escalate the event to a State Government level where the need for break-walls needs to be recognised and hopefully funded,” Mr White said. Mr White said the installation of break-walls along the channel would improve water flow in and out of the lake, improve the water quality and alleviate flooding from low lying areas around

the lake. Poor tidal and weather conditions did not deter the 40 strong group from the dig out, which commenced at 10am. Mr White offered his thanks to the group who braved the conditions, and the members of the public who turned out to see what was happening. “We had a few people just turn up to see what our group was doing, and

once we told them, they grabbed a shovel and got to digging,” Mr White said. According to Mr White, there is a large part of the community that wants to see break-walls included on Central Coast Council’s and the State Government’s radar. “Government focus has been on The Entrance Beach Groyne, which will ultimately have

no positive impact on the channel, which is frustrating, because there are so many positives for The Entrance and Tuggerah Lakes if a breakwall was to be built,” Mr White continued. Mr White said other than general water quality improvements, a break wall could revitalise The Entrance as a boating and ﬁshing hub, which would stimulate the tourist

economy of the region, by effectively making the channel a “boat haven” if water ﬂow was stabilised by break-walls. “The channel has the potential to attract larger pleasure and recreational boats and to be a boat shelter during storms and rough seas. “This could bring so much to The Entrance and attract much more boating and water

recreation to Tuggerah Lakes. Additionally, Mr White said more stable water ﬂow would see residents regularly effected by ﬂooding no longer suffering a poorer quality of life for their lake views.

Continued P3 Photo: Noel Fisher

6 February 2017

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Council renews commitment to crossing outcome Central Coast Council has renewed its commitment to work with Transport NSW and the Roads and Maritime Services to achieve a “positive outcome” with the Rawson Rd rail level crossing. The level crossing was the site of a fatality on January 17 which highlighted the decision made by both Central Coast Council and Transport for NSW to shelve plans to replace the level crossing. The Central Coast Council released a statement renewing its commitment to ﬁnding a solution for the community. “The State Government originally committed $52 million in funding for the removal of the rail level crossing at Rawson Rd and to provide a new road underpass at the base of Bulls Hill,” the statement said. The plan was to connect Woy Woy Rd to Nagari Rd. The trafﬁc underpass was proposed in addition to the construction of a pedestrian underpass from Railway St to Waterview Cres. “The original design for the underpass was rejected by Transport for NSW, due to the impact the works would have on the northern rail line,” the statement said. “Intermittent closures were required for critical construction works scheduled over several weekends,” the statement said. “The pedestrian underpass was completed by Council as part of this project in 2015 and taken over by the Transport NSW to be managed by the RMS. “An alternate design, for the underpass was developed by Transport NSW and costed $115 million.” The Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said the recent fatality on the level crossing would not affect what, if any, next steps would be taken by the NSW Government or Central Coast Council. A major stumbling block continued to be that both Railway St and Rawson Rd were not state but local roads. “In terms of any State roads, I

am happy to put my hand on my heart and say we will have more state road funding go into this area,” Mr MacDonald said. “But that was a local government road and the Council came to us for help and the costing went up to $115 million and that wasn’t satisfactory from any point of view,” he said. Mr MacDonald said in order to argue for any sort of upgrade to the intersection or solution for the level crossing within the NSW Cabinet, he needed to see leadership from Central Coast Council. “For me, it is very much about I need a helping hand from Council to say this is what we want to do and this is the final contribution we need from State Government and not something that is going to blow out. “I have not got a confidence about that figure of $115 million. “I don’t know whether the scope of works was final and I don’t know whether RMS has got any confidence about that figure.” It is unlikely for local roads to be reclassified as State roads, he said. He said the best strategy available to the Central Coast Council would be to strike up a memorandum of understanding with the State Government for funding based on the road being a significant transport and rail corridor. Mr MacDonald said it was Council’s responsibility to ensure adequate infrastructure was in place as the Peninsula’s population grew through the redevelopment of areas from low- to medium-density residential. “I would hope Council would be very mindful that they have adequate road capacity or that they have spoken to the State Government for support. “If they are local government roads then they have to have the developer contributions to build up that infrastructure. “If they haven’t got those developer contributions, it is a failure of planning. Media statement, 24 Jan 2017 Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council Interview, 2 Feb 2017 Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Reporter: Jackie Pearson

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ISSUE 151

They wrote a joint submission to Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, following their meeting with him on January 19. Representatives from Coastlaw, David Kelly lawyers, Ryan and Seton, Tonkin Drysdale Partners and Central Coast Community Legal Centre, had earlier written individual letters in response to the proposal. Mr David Kelly from David Kelly Lawyers said: “The closure of Woy Woy Local Court will prejudice our clients who reside on the Peninsula. “The majority of our clients are based at the lower end of the socio economic spectrum. “The closing of Woy Woy Local Court will impact on their ability to access a proximate court and place further burdens upon them both ﬁnancially having to either travel to Gosford or Wyong Local Court. “The Woy Woy Local Court is a valuable and practical asset. “It should not be closed,” Mr Kelly said. Mr Michael Seton of Ryan and Seton Lawyers wrote to the Central Coast Law Society to state that his ﬁrm “wholly and unreservedly”

opposed the proposal. Mr Seton said he wished to clarify that his firm would financially benefit from the proposed changes but remained opposed to them. “The Peninsula community will lose its sole avenue for efficient, affordable and accessible justice,” Mr Seton said. “This will be the case for civil and criminal litigants, including victims, alike. “It is the vulnerable people in the community that will suffer first and suffer greatest with this proposal,” he said. Mr Paul Mereniuk from Peninsula Law wrote directly to the Chief Magistrate: “We would say that the proposal of cessation of the Adult List Day at Woy Woy Local Court will result in a 25 per cent increase in the work load at Gosford Local Court.” Mr Mereniuk said he disputed claims that the changes would result in 12 extra adult sitting days in Gosford, arguing instead that the total would be eight. “The Gosford Court House facility struggles to accommodate the stakeholders it currently services for both the District and Local Courts,” he said. “The proposed increase work load has not been met by any increase in rooms available for conferencing clients or for accommodating victims of domestic violence.

She said a development on the Broadwater site would be “in excess of what we’ve got funding for”. An alternative site is also under consideration for the library, according to Ms Vaughan. “This is part of consolidating a lot of the former projects,” she said. Ms Vaughan said a report would be presented to the February Council meeting, but that negotiations were still being finalised, and the high political interest in the project meant she needed to be cautious about what she could say publicly at this stage. “The $7 million Federal funding means the government requires us to deliver on this project, and there have been many promises for many years, but not much has been delivered.” Ms Vaughan said the $8.1 million raised via a rate payer levy was “still committed”. She said the draft designs put forward by Gosford Council were “pretty pictures, but not necessarily what was ever going to be an affordable design. “The report will identify the next steps, but we are still concurrently trying to keep the commitment of the Federal Government. “We don’t want to make any more broken promises and this review is part of the due diligence required,” she said.

Woy Woy Court House in Blackwall Rd

Lawyers write to keep local court

Peninsula lawyers have written collectively and individually seeking the retention of the Woy Woy Local Court.

“This will also result in security issues and the need for conferencing of clients in public as opposed to private spaces. “This is totally inappropriate,” he said. The partners of Tonkin Drysdale also wrote to the Chief Magistrate and described his proposals as “unfathomable”, pointing to the Peninsula’s long history of a Local Court service to a growing population. “The cessation of the criminal, family and civil jurisdictions of the Local Court will be a great loss and shock to the community. “It will lead to signiﬁcant negative outcomes for the administration of, and access to, justice on the Peninsula. “The only argument that could realistically be claimed by our political masters to improve services to a community by actually taking away the service is a perception of cost-saving, perhaps more correctly described as cost-shifting. “It is a fallacy.” Letter, 13 Jan 2017 Darrell Pannowitz, Paul Tonkin, Paul Quinn, Lee Pawlak, Tonkin Drysdale Partners Letter, 13 Jan 2017 Paul Mereniuk, Peninsula Law Letter, 19 Jan 2017 Michael Seton, Ryan and Seton Lawyers Letter, 19 Jan 2017 David Kelly, David Kelly Lawyers

THIS ISSUE contains 46 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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A report on the future of the Regional Library to be presented to February Council meeting

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

he long-promised regional library for Gosford has been delayed again, putting at risk a $7 million Community Development Grant, and begging questions about the status of around $8.1 million raised over 15 years from a ratepayer levy. Prior to its dismissal by the NSW Government in May 2016, Gosford Council had resolved to build a regional library on the council owned Broadwater Hotel site, next door to Gosford Council Chambers on Mann St. Draft plans were drawn and a public tender was advertised (but not in this newspaper) for an architectural consultancy and detailed design services. In a confidential Central Coast Council meeting on January 24, Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, resolved to withdraw that public tender. The reasons for the withdrawal have remained confidential, but are understood to be “procedural”. “Council will now seek an extension for the $7 million grant under the Community Development Grants Program,” Central Coast Council confirmed in a written statement issued in response to questions from Coast Community News. “[This will] enable Council to settle on a suitable location for the Gosford Library site with a report to be brought back to Council on the matter,” the statement said. Gosford Councillors voted in 2015 to move ahead with plans to build a new library in Mann St after the State Library of NSW reviewed nine possible options. The draft design was described in February 2016 as a collaborative effort between Gosford Council and leading

The last concept plan for the regional library has been described as “pretty pictures” but not necessarily affordable

Media statement, Jan 30, 2017 Central Coast Council media Interview, Feb 8, 2017 Julie Vaughan, Central Coast Council Media Release, Feb 22, 2016 Gosford Council media Jackie Pearson, journalist

www.gosfordnews.org 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.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Performing Arts Centre key stakeholders receive Council update entral Coast Council is holding a meeting with key stakeholders to provide an update on the Regional Performing Arts and Conference Centre project.

Council contacted identified key stakeholders via email to invite them to the meeting, to be held on February 9, in the Laycock St Community Theatre’s Don Craig Room. According to Council’s invitation, the meeting agenda includes: An overview of the project; a project site investigation; clarity on the project’s next steps; and further input from stakeholders regarding the project. Key stakeholders identified by Council include: Regional Development Australia, Gosford Musical Society, Woy Woy Little Theatre, Friends of the Performing Arts Precinct, Conservatorium of Music, Youth in Performing Arts, Central Coast Dance Festival and NAISDA.

Council’s Group Leader of Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the meeting is being held as a courtesy to those stakeholders who had already been working with Council on the Regional Performing Arts Centre. “It is literally being held, just in good spirit, to test our thinking with those stakeholders,” Ms Vaughan said. She acknowledged that both the Federal and State Government funding for the project could be placed in jeopardy because “there has not been a lot of delivery on promises”. Ms Vaughan said she had been involved in the development of The Art House theatre in Wyong, and expected the February 9 meeting to be one small step in many stages on community consultation. She said she hoped the community would understand that the scope of the Regional Performing Arts Centre project was at least double that of The Art House and that a great deal of work needed to be done to hit

a n o i F with

upon a project with the scope that would deliver both affordability and creativity for the community. “We know this has been going on for years, and during that time, multiple sites have been identified, none of which has met the needs of a regional Performing Arts Centre,” she said. “The message we want to get across about this project is that we want to start to rebuild the community’s confidence and the government’s confidence. “In every element of the Council’s executive team, our focus is to be open and transparent,” Ms Vaughan said. “This is good news; there is a long way to go, but we have clear ways forward with the RPAC,” she said. Email, Feb 7, 2017 Phil Cantillon, Central Coast Council Interview, Feb 8, 2017 Julie Vaughan, Central Coast Council

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NEWS PAGE 3

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Fears grow that PAC could lose State funding s the long awaited Performing Arts Centre for Gosford remains in limbo, fears of $12 million in State Government funding being pulled from the project grow.

It has been over a year since the Federal Government, under the National Stronger Regions fund in December 2015, pledged its funding, and Council still has not revealed details surrounding the project’s location, let alone anything else. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said the State Government pulling the funding from the project was a very real prospect unless Council got its act together. “I reckon you have got a window of about a year, and if it does not happen, I would say it will be off the table, and you would have to start from scratch again, which would be deeply disappointing for everyone,” Mr MacDonald said. “I think it is about finalising the location, whether it be Council land or something in tandem with developers, all we can say is there is the money, and we believed it

was appropriate for the PAC to be located at Rotary Park. “My fear is, I have lost a couple of champions for the PAC from cabinet, including Mike Baird and Rob Stokes, except as a senior cabinet minister, Rob Stokes doesn’t have a role in it at the moment, so it is really that the voices pushing for it aren’t there so much anymore,” Mr MacDonald said. The site for the Centre was originally earmarked for Gosford City Park, but opposition from the community kept Council away due to its significance. Ms Margaret Hardy, of the Multi Arts Confederation, said there have been numerous surveys where Poppy Park was said to be the location for the Centre, but the community had said no, due to it being reclaimed and heritagelisted land. Ms Hardy said she “is disgusted that all parties involved are allowing this issue to continue lingering on. “We love our city and we want to improve the quality of life for our region and the many people who have to travel to Sydney or Newcastle to access what we should already have.

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“It’s like the government are blackmailing us, saying we will hold the money until the community comes to its senses. “A performing arts centre is such a benefit to the region; it’s just crazy, there is no logic and no appreciation of the arts. “Everyone needs to get their act together and consider the people of Gosford,” Ms Hardy said. The Multi Arts Confederation are prepared to keep fighting for the PAC with plans to pursue the new NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, who, Ms Hardy hopes, “has more sense than the rest of them”. Negotiations between the Multi Arts Confederation, Gosford Waterfront Alliance, Friends of the Performing Arts Precinct, and Central Coast Council continue, with hopes Council will buy and allocate the remaining land from the Gosford Public School site afor the Performing Arts Centre. Interview, Feb 2, 2017 Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Interview, Feb 7, 2017 Margaret Hardy, Multi Arts Confederation Central Coast Jarrod Melmeth, Journalist

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FEBRUARY 9, 2017

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Gallacher calls for reset button to find a viable long term solution to beach erosion ong-term Terrigal resident and NSW Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Mike Gallacher, has decided to champion the cause of Wamberal residents who are fighting to protect their properties from coastal erosion.

Mr Gallacher said he was willing to work with NSW Ministers to bring about a short- and longterm solution. “There is the local issue with the revetment wall, and then there is the greater issue of peoples’ property rights,” Mr Gallacher said. “I haven’t been to Collaroy, but there seems to be a disparity between the way the erosion was rectified and the way Wamberal

Mr Michael Gallacher MLC with Wamberal residents near The Ruins on Wamberal Beach

residents were treated,” he said. Mr Gallacher said he was confident that the new NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Anthony Roberts, would be supportive of finding a viable long-term solution for the affected property owners.

“I have spoken to the Minister reset button. and residents and I am confident “Consider taking a step a meeting will take place that will back from the proposed State bring about a resolution,” he said. Environmental Protection Plan “What I am asking for in the era (SEPP) for the coastal zone. of the new Berejiklian Government “We need to take one huge step is that we consider hitting the ADVERTISEMENT

back because people are talking about property rights and once you start to put lines on maps, you’re not just going to affect the million-dollar beachfront properties, you are going to affect the battlers around Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes. “What about we get a wiggle on and get some protections in place,” he said. Mr Gallacher said he had stayed out of the public eye for the past three years because he had been implicated in the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) Operation Spicer. “It is my intention to recontest the 2019 NSW election,” Mr Gallacher said. “I have advocated for the Central Coast for over 20 years in Parliament and I feel that I have more to give. “I thought the treatment of

me [by ICAC and the media] was appalling, humiliating, embarrassing and false. “I find it offensive that I was called untruthful and I will fight to continue to reclaim the reputation I’ve built in 37 years of public life. “The allegations were reported, but there was no mention of the things that were unable to be proved by ICAC. “I know this area like the back of my hand and my objective is to make the Central Coast a priority again and win back seats again, because working class conservatives need to be heard,” he said. Interview, Jan 31, 2017 Mike Gallacher, NSW Member of the Legislative Council Jackie Pearson, Journalist

Community Environment Network School is in!... Time to book your excursion The Community Environment Network is pleased to support a range of school education programs through our projects and partner organisations. The Central Coast provides many opportunities to get students outdoors, undertaking field work and collecting first hand data. Here is just some of what is on offer: • the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre (CCMDC) delivers a range of programs. This might include a visit to the CCMDC at Terrigal, field work at a site around the Central Coast or a visit to your school. • Involve your students in Citizen Science initiatives that contribute real data that scientists can use. This might be water testing, monitoring rock platforms, collecting marine debris ....just to name a few. • our partner, Kariong Eco Garden, provides activities related to waste, recycling and sustainable living. • Central Coast Waterwatch is part of a national water quality monitoring program that has supported schools in our region for 20 years. • we can visit your school to provide talks and in-school programs. Become a Wildwatch school - engaging your students in monitoring wildlife and activities to care for the local environment.

Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre We provide engaging excursions where your students will gain hands on experience and collect first hand data. A typical program runs from 9:30am to 2pm. Our programs range from K-12 and are designed to meet syllabus needs - especially in Geography, Science and Marine Studies. If we don’t have a ready made program that suits your unit of work - then we can work with teachers to develop a field work program and resources. (*We encourage government schools to contact Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre in the first instance to discuss their field work needs). The CCMDC is located at Terrigal however, many of our field work programs are conducted at different locations around the Central Coast. We can also provide talks or lessons within your school. For more information: visit www.ccmdc.org.au or email: schools@ccmdc.org.au The CCMDC is supported by the University of Newcastle Member of Marine Discovery Centres Australia

Register for Waterwatch in 2017 Waterwatch is a national water quality monitoring and catchment education program involving schools, community groups and landholders. The Waterwatch program offers plenty of ways that your school can get involved with links to both the Geography and Science syllabuses. We provide:

• training session with teacher + students • assistance with water bug surveys • P-day participation & support • assistance in obtaining a Waterwatch Kit (some kits are available for loan)

• access to the online database

Schools can book students in for SORT (Student Organics Recycling Training) - a 2 hour session run each term on a Monday to help student leaders who are looking after school compost and worm farm systems or who want to get them started. Cost: $10/student. Maximum: 20 students with accompanying teacher or parent volunteers. New Program! Inviting Expressions of Interest for ECO ART excursion working with natural materials and industrial discards to create artworks in the Eco Garden, the bush and the Arts Barn. Cost: $300 for up to 60 students, with 4 adults. 10am-2pm.

• teacher manuals & resources • support visits as needed • a range of excursion programs. Find out more! Email: waterwatch@cen.org.au CEN's Waterwatch program is supported by Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government.

For more information email: kariongecogarden@gmail.com

For more information about any of these programs - email schools@cen.org.au (Note: All our educators have completed a Working with Children Check and have current First

Jane Smith, CEO

Our Central Coast - Worth Protecting The Community Environment Network (CEN) is an alliance of individuals and groups that work for ecologically sustainable development.

Support CEN - Become a member - Volunteer - Make a donation

www.cen.org.au

Ph: 4349 4756

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PAGE 5

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Failure of Coastal Panel to New 48 unit North Gosford respond to rock wall application development approved deemed as a refusal he Land and Environment Court case to determine whether or not six residents at Wamberal can build a rock wall to protect their properties from erosion may be resolved by mediation.

The Central Coast Council is not a party to the case, because it was not the consent authority for a development application lodged following the June 2016 storms. The case is between the engineer representing six residents, Mr Peter Horton, and the NSW Coastal Panel, which is the consent authority. The reason why the Central Coast Council was not the consent authority was because it has not yet resubmitted its Coastal Zone Management Plan to the NSW Department of Planning for certification. The six residents seeking consent to build a rock revetment between their properties and the ocean ended up in the Land an Environment Court because the Coastal Panel failed to respond to their application. An initial hearing of the Land

and Environment Court (LEC) on December 21 determined that the Panel’s failure to respond to the application was legally deemed to be a rejection of that application. A further meeting was held

It is understood the six residents wishing to build the revetment are those south of the site called The Ruins, on Ocean View Dve. The three blocks that make up The Ruins included those where

The six residents seeking consent to build a rock revetment between their properties and the ocean ended up in the Land an Environment Court because the Coastal Panel failed to respond to their application. in the back yard of one of the affected properties on February 1, where there was an open discussion followed by a confidential hearing attended by residents, representatives of the Coastal Panel and the LEC. Mr Horton said he was subject to a sworn confidentiality agreement which prohibited him from providing any information about the case. He said he was able to confirm that the proponents were able to submit a revised application which would be the subject of another LEC mediation meeting on March 15. It is hoped the parties can come to a mutually agreeable outcome.

houses were lost in the 1978 storms. That land is now owned by the State Government and is believed to have been filled with tonnes of road base to stabilise the dunes at that time. Email, Dec 21, 2016 Eugene Marchese, Wamberal Phone interview, Feb 7, 2017 Pat Aiken, Coastal Residents Inc Phone interview, Feb 7, 2017 Peter Horton, Horton Coastal Engineering Jackie Pearson, journalist

new 48 unit residential flat building is set to add to the influx of highly anticipated, condensed multistorey developments sprouting around Gosford City.

The development, which is poised to revamp housing opportunities in Range Rd, North Gosford, is one of four major housing approvals announced over the summer. The five storey, $12 million development, will join Bonython Tower (155-163 Mann St), the Creighton’s building (27-37 Mann St and 125 Georgiana Tce) and the Residential Flat Building planned for West Gosford (10-14 Fielder St), in refocusing the region’s property market on apartment style living. According to the Development Application’s Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE), the development proposes to demolish existing structures at the site (14-16 Range Rd) to construct the 48 unit Residential Flat Building and 68 car spaces. The site comprises two allotments with a universal area of 1,897 square metres, with a front boundary consisting of 35.44m,

a rear boundary of 33.53m, a western boundary to Dunbar Lne of 62.89m and an eastern boundary of 50.47m. The SEE describes the locality of Range Rd as a hot bed for development, with a variety of existing dwellings being replaced with contemporary, medium density, unit accommodation. The SEE also suggests that despite the grandiose nature of the development in comparison to other completed developments neighbouring the site, it still aligns with both the desired future character of the locality and Council’s planning controls, with other planned developments of similar height and capacity poised for development in the locality. The building floorplan submitted along with the DA outlines: Two basement levels set aside for mixed use parking and storage; split use ground floor plan containing parking and four different styles of units; 14 bicycle spaces and five different styles of units for Level 1; 10 different styles of units for Level 2; nine units for Level 3; 11 for Level 4; six different style of units and a communal open space rooftop terrace for Level 5 and a similar terrace and two units on Level 6. Designated unit styles include: studio, one bedroom, two bedroom

and three bedroom units. The plans state Council should approve the RFB development because: “The proposal complies with the above objectives by contributing to a range of housing to meet the needs of existing and future residents, provide a trip generating use in a location accessible to transport and centres, and to provide a high standard of urban design.” Plans also state the site coincides with Gosford’s General Residential Zone, established to accommodate the forecasted surge in residency for the region over the next 25 years. In relation to public interest, the SEE states: “The proposed development is of a high quality architectural design and has been designed to relate well to its site, adjoining sites and to the streetscape in terms of appearance, envelope, setbacks, bulk and scale. “The proposed development will be in the public interest, as it will provide a more appropriate building form and will protect the residential amenity of adjoining properties.” Document, Feb 1, 2017 DA49542/2016 Dilon Luke, Journalist

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PAGE 6

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

NEWS

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Solutions implemented to beach front erosion have only been short term solution to the longterm erosion of Wamberal Beach does not appear to be getting any closer.

Central Coast Council, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Wamberal land owners do not seem to be any closer to a resolution about the future management of the area’s beach erosion, according to Mr Doug Lord, principal with Coastal Environment Ltd. In a presentation to a Coastal Conference in November, Mr Lord said Wamberal had long been a “battleground between the forces of nature and development. “Wamberal-Terrigal Beach has been severely affected by coastal erosion over the approximately 100 years since the first subdivision,” he said. “Wamberal experienced severe erosion and loss of residential dwellings in 1974 and 1978. “The 1.5 kilometres of beach between Terrigal Lagoon and Wamberal Lagoon entrances was again severely eroded between June 4 and 6, 2016.” Mr Lord said Wamberal was one of the most intensively-studied beaches in Australia, “yet the community appeared largely unprepared for the inevitable storm outcome. “A key question remains: why were we so unprepared?” he said. “This erosion severely damaged public amenity and private property. “The resulting instability of the beachfront posed an ongoing risk to persons and property, and was susceptible to prevailing weather conditions prior to natural recovery or remediation work.” Central Coast Council was criticised by property owners and the media for appearing to be too slow to respond, particularly when compared with the enormous

response to similar damage at Collaroy. “Council was keen to restrict immediate remedial work to the public beach area, while ... approaching individual property owners to undertake clean-up and remediation where the erosion was within the private property boundaries.” According to Mr Lord, the erosion was focussed in the centre of the beach between 21 Pacific St and north to 97 Ocean View Dve, impacting 40 properties. “Many of the more recentlyconstructed dwellings were founded on deep-seated piles in accordance with a policy implemented by the Gosford Council in the early 1990s. “These dwellings were not considered at risk of loss or damage as a result of the storms. “Five older residences on surface footings and in close proximity to an active escarpment were rated as at medium risk. “The erosion escarpment fronting 12 properties was identified as posing a high risk to public safety, in some cases having a steep and unstable slope. “Public safety was the immediate Council priority and

a clean-up of the entire beach frontage was recommended and commenced.” According to Mr Lord, Central Coast Council considered multiple strategies for stabilising the scarps immediately after the storm. The first step was to remove all foreign material, Mr Lord said. The next step could have been to artificially flattening the slope but that was generally not acceptable to landowners because it can push sand landward, he said. “It may also result in the further loss of landscaping, fencing and in the worst cases, undermining of paving, decking or the dwelling on the allotment. “The toe of the slope can be armoured and the risk of slippage failure reduced by ...placing rock or other equally bulky material and/or reducing the loading at the top. “Again this option is unsuitable at Wamberal Beach, as any shortterm works, sufficient to hold and protect the slope, are likely to interfere with the implementation of any future holistic management strategy,” he said. The third option was through sand placement against the slope

through nourishment or beach scraping. “This simply speeds up the process of natural beach recovery and has recently been applied by Central Coast Council at other beach locations. “To fill up to five metres depth at the back of the beach, would require a volume of at least 35 cubic metres to 60 cubic metres per metre of beach, or around 28,000 cubic metres of sand, as a minimum over the 800 metre length of beach most severely affected at Wamberal.” For the 12 properties designated high risk, a further detailed geotechnical and coastal engineering assessment was undertaken. “It was recommended that as a first step, an on-site inspection of these allotments should be undertaken in conjunction with an appropriate coastal, geotechnical and possibly structural engineer. “Council was further advised that should further erosion of the scarp occur with large seas or tides, the level of risk to these properties could change quickly. “Council carried out actions in line with the adopted WamberalTerrigal Beach Coastal Erosion

Emergency Action Sub-plan.” Council liaised with property owners to outline permissible responses. Following the storms, many beachfront owners legally commenced the process of design and approval for works. In contradiction to clear direction and communication from government(s), some property owners adopted approaches “that increase risk in the future to beach users, neighbours and Council. “There are numerous incidences of unauthorised works being undertaken at Wamberal Beach. “They include construction of private access, footings, pouring of concrete and construction of gabion rock protection works, mostly located on public land. “They are likely to increase risk to the public and neighbours due to design deficiencies. “Council has the responsibility to ensure development activities are undertaken in an appropriate manner and consistent with relevant NSW legislation. “Council adopted a Coastal Frontage Development Control Plan (DCP) in December 2015, which now requires development to be founded on deep piles behind a coastal building line. “The emergency response adopted following the June 2016 storms did not address the longerterm security of development currently landward of Wamberal Beach. “They were short-term emergency response measures only. “Council has, over several years, pursued the development and implementation of a more robust beach management strategy covering the whole beach. “A draft Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan (GBCZMP) has been adopted by Council and has been forwarded to the Minister for certification.

“An integrated range of development control measures have been developed to continue managing risk at this location until protection works are in place. “The preferred long-term management strategy emanating from that process should be pursued as a priority as the risk to development has not passed. “We cannot just develop, but need to implement viable management strategies that address both the immediate and increasing future risks. “Many things remain undone. Through the inability to implement forward planning that is cognisant of the changing coastal risks, we have failed to minimise the increase in assets at risk at present and into the future. “We have increased reliance on emergency response, rather than pursuing sound planning and development controls to minimise impacts on both development and the natural beach environment. “This is becoming the management approach of first resort, subsequently facilitating ill-considered and localised protection options to be constructed during and post storm. “Such works, which may only provide temporary relief, can transfer adverse impacts alongshore and likely increase risk to beach users. “A longer-term view to Coastal Zone Management is required. “Do we want to continue increasing expenditure, resource commitment and community angst associated with unforeseen disasters and increasing emergency management? “Or are holistic, longer term strategies feasible, and if so, what is blocking them?” Presentation, Nov 2016 Doug Lord, Coastal Environment Ltd

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PAGE 8

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

NEWS

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Merged Central Coast Council is here to stay despite calls for a plebiscite

he amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong Councils will stay in place, according to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald. Ms MacDonald was responding to calls from the NSW Labor Opposition for the new Premier, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, to give residents in merged local government areas the opportunity to vote on whether or not they wanted to remain in an amalgamated Council. Mr MacDonald said he would be prepared to help microcommunities argue for changes to the five wards used to divide the new mega-local government area, but not for another four years. “Central Coast Council will stay,” Mr MacDonald said. “It is viewed as being one of the successful mergers,” he said. “Yes there is still a lot of work to be done, and we don’t dispute that, but it is fair to say the NSW Government is committed to this one and I see no prospect of plebiscites or de-mergers.” Mr MacDonald said he believed the Central Coast Council was held up as the model merger because “it was a good geographic fit and a good cultural fit. “It had been looked at for a long time, over 20 years, by different governments. “I think by and large, people didn’t use it as a political plaything and it came together well.” He said he believed any attempt at a de-merger would be “a retrograde step, create a lot of

uncertainty, something we don’t need.” The ward structure within the new Council was something that could be reviewed, Mr MacDonald said. “There is always scope in the legislation to relook at wards and, if particular communities feel they have been disenfranchised, I am happy to take that forward, but it would be four years after the September election before it would have any effect.” The size of the Central Coast Council, as one of the state’s largest, meant it was up to staff and councillors to rise to the challenge of making sure they were engaged with all communities across the area through good communication and consultation. Mr MacDonald said he believed that the community would be satisfied that the costs of the amalgamation, if weighed up against the “service delivery efficiencies” it would deliver, would be outweighed by the benefits. When will the community be informed of those costs and benefits so it can make up its own mind? “Come the September election, my expectation is the Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, should be able to report to both the Government and the community to say these are the savings we have made,” Mr MacDonald said. “We [the Government] have the belief that it is going to be delivered, but the community want to know,” he said. Residents should be given a plebiscite to determine whether

or not the Gosford and Wyong councils de-merge, according to the NSW Shadow Minister for Local Government, Mr Peter Primrose. Mr Primrose said he called on the new NSW Premier, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, to fix the “dog’s breakfast” of forced council mergers left behind by her predecessor. “The Government’s failed policy of forced council mergers has caused great angst in the community and resulted in former Minister Paul Toole losing his portfolio,” Mr Primrose said. Mr Primrose said he called on Ms Berejiklian to immediately: allow communities in forcibly merged councils to voluntarily demerge; release the secret $400,000 KPMG report used by the former Premier to justify his forced council mergers; legislate for spending caps for candidates in council elections; and, restrict the decisions of Administrators that should properly be the responsibility of elected councillors. “Communities with forcibly merged councils should also be given the opportunity to hold plebiscites to allow voluntary demergers,” he said. “The Liberal-National Government local government policy is a dog’s breakfast. “The new Premier and her new Local Government Minister now have the perfect opportunity to start cleaning it up. “Forcibly merged councils should be able to voluntarily demerge if this is supported by the majority of their local community. “Council elections must be held

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this year so the community can exercise its democratic right to choose who represents them. “The justification for forced mergers has been a political fix from day one. “The Government must release the KPMG report and stop avoiding scrutiny. “The next Labor Government in New South Wales will legislate to allow local communities to determine their future.” Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris, said he supported Mr Primrose’s call for a plebiscite and said it could be held in September as part of the local government election. “I’ve called that we be allowed to have a plebiscite in September to ask residents,” Mr Harris said. “From what I can see, people were full of hope for the new Council, but their hopes have been dashed,” he said. If the Central Coast Council moves beyond the September election as a fully-merged local government, the Peninsula will be included in the Gosford West Ward, with communities as diverse as the Gosford CBD and Mangrove Mountain. Media release, Jan 31, 2017 Peter Primrose, Shadow Minister for Local Government Interview, Jan 31, 2017 David Harris, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast Reporter: Jackie Pearson Interview, Feb 2, 2017 Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Jackie Pearson, Journalist

Australian Local Government Women’s Association calls for a stop to council amalgamations he NSW Branch of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) is urging Premier Gladys Berejiklian to put a stop to council amalgamations.

State President of ALGWA, former Gosford Councillor, Ms Vicki Scott, said the Association had urged Ms Berejiklian to cease current legal actions with those affected councils who are fighting forced amalgamations, immediately halt any further action on amalgamated councils, hold plebiscites as soon as possible, prior to an election, to determine the community’s preferences regarding all of those amalgamated councils, regardless of their location, which have already been formed. Finally, ALGWA has called on the Premier to ensure that residents in affected areas can go to election as soon as possible to elect their democratic representatives. “Our organisation has serious concerns about the numbers of women in Local Government being further impacted by the amalgamations (both elected representatives and senior employees),” Ms Scott said. “No consideration or plan was ever made by the Baird Government to address that in this amalgamation process,” she said. “Women in communities around the State are concerned about the effect amalgamation will have on their families.

E K A M , D EN I R F A E B . E C N E R E A DIFF

“It has already had a dramatic effect on: elected representation for residents; council staff and their families; and the availability of local jobs. “ALGWA understands that a number, if not all, of the new amalgamated councils: are still operating under separate budgets; are still operating separate workloads (ie, under the old LGA areas); and, will not be ready for the proposed local government elections in September this year. “With separate council budgets and working procedures still in place for amalgamated councils, and an apparent delay in elections, the merger process needs to cease immediately. “Services for local areas would not be impacted, local government would remain local and community engagement returned with elected Councillors. “A huge democratic issue in this process is the continued lack of elected representatives in 19 Local Government areas across the State. “Inadequate planning and public consultation has meant that the whole amalgamation process has been a shambles and has only succeeded in upsetting a large portion of NSW’s residents. “This needs to be addressed quickly and smartly.” Media release, Feb 7, 2017 Vicki Scott, Australian Local Government Women’s Association, NSW Branch

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FORUM

PAGE 9

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

State Minister for Planning declares passion for the Central Coast

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.

Issue 109 January 31, 2017

Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369

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

Mr Anthony Roberts, NSW Planning Minister

r Anthony Roberts made his first visit to the Central Coast in his new role as State Minister for Planning, on Friday, February 3.

Mr Roberts was a guest of Gittoes Real Estate and Bonython Property and Development at the grand opening of their display suite for the Bonython Tower. The East Gosford display suite in Adelaide St replicates a unit in the Bonython Tower development in Mann St, Gosford, including a typical view. According to Mr Paul Anderson, Managing Director of Bonython Property and Development, the two penthouses and a number of other residential units have already been sold off the plan. Mr Roberts said during the evening that the Central Coast had been neglected for far too long and that he was passionate about the area. He said he felt that in his new role as Minister for Planning, he would be able to make sure in Cabinet that the area received the

support from Cabinet it needed to reach its true potential. Anthony Robert’s introduction to political life began in 1995 when he was elected to Lane Cove Council, serving two terms as a Councillor, including two years as Mayor. Between 1996 and 2003, Roberts became an advisor to Prime Minister John Howard. His State Shadow Portfolios included Emergency Services, Juvenile Justice, Citizenship, Volunteering and the Arts. As Minister for Fair Trading, from 2011-2013, he achieved reform in the following areas: the State’s fifty year-old strata and community title laws; the home building sector; the retirement village industry; the motor vehicle industry; and, the residential land lease communities sector. In 2013, he was Minister for Resources and Energy, and Special Minister of State, where he focused on energy market reforms, including deregulating electricity prices and announcing a market-led rollout of smart electricity meters.

It was here he delivered the NSW Gas Plan, facilitated land access reforms, and commenced the first NSW Minerals Industry Action Plan. On top of his existing portfolios, in 2014, Roberts accepted the role of Leader of the House in the NSW Legislative Assembly and was responsible for the Government’s legislative agenda. Twenty years after he began his political career, in 2015 Roberts was appointed Minister to the newly created Ministry for Industry, Resources and Energy. He led the cluster agency, Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development and the NSW Government’s commitment of creating 150,000 new jobs over four years. Event notes, Feb 3, 2017 Paul Anderson, Bonython Property and Development Anthony Roberts, NSW Planning Minister Newsletter, Feb 7, 2017 NSW Department of Planning and Environment media

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The need for break-walls at The Entrance Channel highlighted Residents from across the Central Coast came together on Australia Day to stage the second annual The Entrance Channel dig out.

Council defies Tribunal ruling to provide open access to a confidential report The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruling to allow a Central Coast ratepayer access to a previously conﬁdential airport feasibility study has been ﬂouted by Central Coast Council. Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee to be established by Council

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Water, sewerage and drainage rates to remain unchanged until June 2019 Central Coast Council has welcomed the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) decision to defer the next review and determination of water, sewerage and ...l

Legal advice clinic to be held twice as frequently

Lester Pearson is now our sung hero The Central Coast’s unsung heroes were recognised at the annual Australia Day Awards ceremony on January 20.

Fifty expressions of interest in regional tourism marketing received

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

Council renews commitment to crossing outcome Central Coast Council has renewed its commitment to work with Transport NSW and the Roads and Maritime Services to achieve a “positive outcome” ...

Lawyers write to keep local court

Court workers given 25 hours to respond

Peninsula lawyers have Local lawyers, police, legal written collectively and aid workers and workers in individually seeking the government agencies were retention of the Woy Woy given just 25 hours to provide Local Court. feedback about planned closure ...

Water rate review deferred 12 months

New government asked to address Peninsula roads

Central Coast Council has welcomed the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal decision to defer the next review and determination of water, sewerage and drainage prices for 12 months.

Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris, has called on new NSW Premier, Ms Gladys Berejiklian, and members of her new Ministry, to address the unacceptable condition of the Peninsula’s roads.

New ferry services ‘urgently needed’, says Chamber

Rock pool contamination denied

Permission sought for above-ground diesel tank

New ferry services between the Peninsula and the Northern Beaches and Sydney Harbour are urgently needed as “alternative transport routes”, according to the Peninsula Chamber ...

A member of the Pearl Beach Progress Association has rejected online comments that the Pearl Beach Rock Pool was contaminated and making swimmers sick as “completely unfounded”.

Permission has been sought from Central Coast Council to install a new, 30,000 litre above-ground diesel tank at a service station in Memorial Ave, Blackwall.

The Department of Justice has conﬁ rmed that the Chief Magistrate, Judge Graeme Henson, was responsible for decisions about sittings at Woy Woy Courthouse.

Good old ffashioned ash hioned service with a smile

Mixed messages are being delivered by the Central Coast Council about the future of plans to develop a regional airport at Warnervale.

Council to acquire Aero Club land but terms remain a secret Land currently owned by the Central Coast Aero Club at Warnervale will be acquired by Central Coast Council.

search for an An Audit, Risk and Lawyers providing free legal The to deliver Improvement Committee help for people who are organisation Coast Council’s will be established by the sleeping rough or at risk Central Central Coast Council with of becoming homeless will regional tourism marketing three independent members double their efforts in San and industry services has taken another step. to be appointed by an open Remo. recruitment process. The full articles and more can be seen on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net

Court arrangements ‘decided by Chief Magistrate’

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The future of Central Coast Regional Airport still unclear

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

PAGE 10 FEBRUARY 9, 2017 FORUM

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Labor too busy peddling its Development decisions need latest scare campaign to include preservation of the t was obvious in the last Coast Community News that while much of the publication highlighted positive local news and achievements, Labor was too busy peddling its latest scare campaign.

Quite frankly, the Central Coast has had enough of Labor’s negative lies. Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill was again the one caught out, this time over school funding claims. Contrary to the advertisement, authorised by Senator O’Neill, the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools, Quality Outcomes policy will deliver record funding to schools. There are no cuts. This record funding is needsbased and tied to evidence-based initiatives that will lift outcomes for Australia’s children. Simply, schools funding under the Turnbull Government will grow

FORUM Letters to the editor should be sent to:

COAST COMMUNITY

NEWS PO Box 1056 Gosford 2250 or editorial@centralcoastnews.net

See Page 2 for contribution conditions from already-record levels. The investment in schools will grow from $16 billion in 2016 to $20.1 billion in 2020, on top of more than $14 billion the Coalition has been delivering for regional and remote schools since we came to office in 2013. That is funding above inflation and above enrolment growth projections. Our funding growth means there’s no reason schools won’t be able to continue to support

teachers and new or existing initiatives, such as specialist teachers or targeted intervention programs. While funding matters, what you do with it matters even more. The Turnbull Government will tie our future funding to more than a dozen evidence-based ‘back to basics’ reforms in schools proven to boost student outcomes, such as minimum literacy and numeracy standards, recognition for teachers based on competency and achievement, and early intervention for struggling students. As a former teacher, and mother of two school-aged children, I know this means a lot to local families. If only Labor would learn its lesson and stop talking down our region with its desperate scare campaigns. Email, Jan 30, 2017 Lucy Wicks, Federal Member for Robertson

Unique environment not being maintained at Point Frederick

note with interest that Gosford Council is committed to maintaining our unique environment (Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, in Coast Matters, January). Nice words, but difficult to believe, especially if you live in Point Frederick. Attracted by its unique

FORUM environment, I moved here in the middle of last year. I anticipated that, over time, there would be a gradual increase in medium density housing. Instead, I find that I am surrounded by building projects for multiple high-rise towers, turning a quiet, convenient location into what looks like being

a construction zone for the next 10 years, with ever-increasing noise and traffic congestion. A selfish concern I know; there are many more troubling issues in our world. But let’s be honest about what is happening. I ask once again that building in the area be limited to three storeys. At the very least, could Council mandate that substantial planting of native trees be part of any development? The Administrator further adds Council’s commitment to enhancing community facilities, developing open space and recreation assets. So why is a tax office being built on prime land, land considered too valuable for a primary school, rather than a community facility such as a performing arts centre? Email, Feb 6, 2017 Libby Checkley, Point Frederick

environment he Koolewong and Point Clare-Tascott Progress Association hopes that the decisions made by the Central Coast Council on behalf of the residents and ratepayers of Gosford West Ward have undertaken to preserve the environment which we the residents and ratepayers appreciate and enjoy day by day.

FORUM This association understands that the Gosford CBD needs to be upgraded from the area of Baker St, moving to the north along Mann St to the Train and Bus Precinct. After attending the information forum on Wednesday, January 11 and visualising the sight lines displayed looking back to the waterfront which have been taken into consideration in the planning, and being apprehensive about

leaving the safety of our vehicle outside the remnants of the old Froggy’s building, it is apparent that quality residential and commercial building works have to begin to regain the history of Old Gosford City without infringing on the public’s due course of right of way to the Gosford Waterfront Precinct. Email, Jan 20, 2017 Helen Orchard, Koolewong and Point Clare-Tascott Progress Association Inc

New traffic management and sea level rise plan needed for the entire CBD he initial Central Coast Regional Development Corporationcommissioned (CCRDC) traffic study for the Gosford waterfront development, commissioned Cardno to report on traffic projections involved, assuming nil growth outside the area.

Not with-standing this, we have seen in the immediate vicinity, projected very significant growth in traffic relating to: the three towers-Froggy’s [Waterside Towers] development; the heritage hotel development; Creighton’s development; the tower behind the old post and telegraph office; Singleton’s hotel development [Bonython]; the Lederer-Kibbleplex and Imperial Centre development; and now, Council plans to develop a car park in upper Georgiana Terrace (just for starters); not to mention the tax office; the finance building; the projected sale of the rest of the old PS complex; the calls for the Performing Arts Centre; the popup restaurant complex in Alfred Higgs Pl; and, Charlesworth’s visions for an enhanced stadium and for further development of a major hotel to the west of the stadium, beside the railway line, to name

FORUM some. Where is the integrated traffic study to accommodate all this development plus increases in the daily shopping, visitor, commuter and tourist traffic, from Sydney to East Gosford, (with its approved high-rise developments) Avoca, Copacabana, Erina, Wamberal and The Entrance Road? The one thing Cardno did warn about was that sea level rise projections would see an increase in water levels around the Broadwater, such that the sandstone barrier there needed to be raised by 1.25 to 1.5 metres before any development commenced. Where would this sandstone wall stop and start? Presumably it would have to wrap around into Narara Creek and end where the land rises at Point Frederick? How will it be paid for? Alternatively, Cardno stated that the Highway needed to be raised by a similar height around the Broadwater. What planning is in place to accommodate this before the suggested expansions of Crown Land development on

reclaimed Crown Land around the Broadwater, at the pie shop caravan, at Leagues Club Field and Iguanas, to name some sites? Where are, not only the feasibility studies, but also the plans to resolve the issue of sea level rise? It appears that it is not only until after each individual development is approved by JRPP that the process of exploring such matters begins, and then only on a development-bydevelopment basis, not looking at the cumulative impacts and integrated planning. Central Coast Council needs to immediately, publicly release, not a revised plan for the CBD, but an integrated traffic management and sea level rise plan for the entire CBD, accommodating all DAs already approved as well as rising sea levels. Central Coast Council, squeezed between the State Government’s development policy and developer aspirations, also needs to note and respond to John McInerney’s warnings about a wall of high rise towers across the waterfront, blocking the southerlies and creating a heat sink for both the CBD and suburbs beyond. Beyond that it needs to show how it intends to protect Gosford’s single most important historic precinct, the heritage listed buildings of South Mann St, with historic buildings by three prominent early architects, Mortimer Lewis, James Barnet, and Edmund Blacket, as well as our 1887 War Memorial Park and Poppy Park. This precinct is becoming a casualty of Council’s failure to take action to protect it. Email, Jan 26, 2017 Kay Williams, Pearl Beach

79-year-old man charged with indecent assault n Erina man will face court after allegedly indecently assaulting a woman in a local shopping centre.

Police have been told a man entered a supermarket on Terrigal Drive, Erina, about 8:30am on Sunday, February 5, and approached a female staff member. It will be alleged he began talking to her, before indecently assaulting her. Officers attached to Brisbane Water Local Area Command

Anyone with information about these incidents should call

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: http://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/ Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

attended the location and commenced an investigation.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

ONTHEBEAT PAGE 11 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Do you know this person?

Following inquiries, police attended a home on Karalta Rd, Erina, and arrested a 79-year-old man about 5:00pm. He was taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with assault with act of indecency. The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, February 28. Police encourage any person who has been a victim of sexual or indecent assault to make a report at any police station. Media release, Jan 6, 2017 NSW Police Media

Police would like to speak with the woman present in this image

risbane Water Police are currently investigating a stealing incident which occurred at a licensed premise in East Gosford at approximately 8:21pm on

two vehicle collision on the Central Coast Hwy at Kariong brought westbound traffic to a standstill on January 25.

The incident brought all uphill traffic to a halt with westbound traffic becoming sandwiched between the incident and

incoming traffic attempting to utilise the Kariong Hill. Westbound traffic remained at a standstill while emergency services attended the scene. Eastbound traffic was also affected, with the road being closed in both directions while

emergency services and traffic crews worked to free a person trapped in their vehicle. All lanes were reopened just after 9:20am with Roads and Maritime Services cautioning motorists to take extra care in the heavier traffic. Website, Jan 25, 2017 Live Traffic NSW

Police are seeking the assistance of the community to identify the person of interest depicted in the

Website, Feb 1, 2017 Central Coast Incident Alerts

Traffic delays at Niagara Park

A police vehicle attempts to navigate traffic to the scene of the incident Photo: Murray Clarkson

Central Coast Highway closed in both directions

January 26.

supplied image who is described as a female, approximately 35 years of age, small build, brown hair, wearing pink singlet, black cardigan and white shorts.

motor vehicle accident on Newling St, Niagara Park, caused minor delays for Central Coast motorists when a van ended up on its side.

Traffic was able to move around the upturned van while emergency services and traffic crews attended, with minor delays incurring when police closed the

shortly after 8:30am.

Pacific Hwy to remove the vehicle from the road. Traffic flow returned to normal

Website, Jan 25, 2017 Central Coast Incident Alerts

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PAGE 12 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

HEALTH

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Riding for the Disabled receive donation

Wyoming Community Centre to run fitness classes wo senior fitness classes and a Zumba class will be running at Wyoming Community Centre.

Seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Fitness will run on Fridays, starting on February 10, with a second class running on Mondays, from February 14.

The classes involve a range of exercises designed to improve balance and posture, prevent falls, decrease pain, and improve general fitness. Healthy Living for Seniors will run at Wyoming Community Centre on Wednesdays. Participants in this class will go on excursions, do arts and craft

and learn new skills. Zumba will be running every Tuesday. This calorie-burning class requires gym clothes, water and a towel. Newsletter, Feb 1, 2017 Gosford Regional Community Services

School attempts to create infection free environment The cheque presented to the Riding for the Disabled by members of the Lodge Saratoga

entral Coast Riding for the Disabled, Somersby, has received a donation of $4,000 from the Lodge Saratoga Freemasons.

The cheque was presented on December 11. The donation will be used to provide the upkeep for a horse for two years. Horses are ridden by special needs children from the Central

Coast Region and the branch is manned by a group of dedicated volunteers. Email, Jan 25, 2017 Andrew Kfoury, Freemasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lodge Saratoga

n its second newsletter for the year, Narara Public School has advised its school community of a serious health risk to a student.

probability of contact between the at risk student and the afflicted. Notification can then be given to the appropriate parents, carers and medical specialists.

A student undergoing cancer treatment is at a serious risk from infectious disease such as chicken pox, mumps and measles. The school has advised parents and carers that if they or their children suspect they may be afflicted with one of these illnesses, that they refrain from attending school. The school has also advised parents and carers of the importance of keeping their child out of school until they are no longer contagious, should they fall ill. The school community has also been advised on the importance of contacting the school should a child be found to have any of the aforementioned illnesses as the school will need to assess

Newsletter, Feb 1, 2017 Lynda Brogan, Narara Public School

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Fairhaven has a new CEO s Monique Cardon has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Fairhaven Services, a local provider of disability support and services on the Central Coast.

Interim CEO, Mr Tony Anderson, said that Ms Cardon’s experience and values made her a “terrific fit” for the role. “I know that she will contribute

to the growth of Fairhaven Services during the new phase of development for the organisation within a period of significant change in the disability sector,” Mr Anderson said. Ms Cardon has over 25 years of experience in the not for profit sector. She has worked at the national level in children’s services, locally with aged and disability services, and with many not for profit organisations as a consultant.

The meetings will be run by WayAhead Mental Health Association and will take place on the third Saturday of every month. The free support group meetings are open for people over the age of

HEALTH PAGE 13 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Twiddlemuffs give people with restless hands something to fidget with

“Working with the participants of our services to ensure they have choice and control over their lives is something I am passionate about,” Ms Cardon said. “I feel incredibly honoured and humbled to lead the Fairhaven team and thank the Board for the opportunity.” Media release, Feb 2, 2017 Tracey Honig, Fairhaven Services

Free support group for people suffering from anxiety disorders support group for people suffering from anxiety disorders will be held at Wyoming Community Centre.

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18 living with an anxiety disorder and their family and friends. Newsletter, Feb 1, 2017 Gosford Regional Community Services

The craft group with some of their twiddlemuffs

craft group from Forresters Beach Retirement Village have been knitting hand muffs to help calm people who suffer from restless hands.

The designs, called Twiddlemuffs, are made from soft, multi-textured wool and decorated with buttons, flowers, pom poms, ribbons and zippers.

The Twiddlemuffs give people with restless hands something to fidget with. Group member, Ms Noelene Hudson said: “We embraced the idea immediately and we already have orders from local aged care facilities.” The craft group have now knitted over 50 pairs, and the Twiddlemuffs have proved to be popular with patients suffering from dementia, and with children

with autism. Village Manager, Mr Colin Smith, praised the women for their sense of community. “They are young at heart and enjoy fundraising and socialising together,” Mr Smith said. The Twiddlemuffs are available at the Forresters Beach Lakeside Café. Media release, Feb 7, 2017 Marie McGrane, RetireAustralia

PAGE 14 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

EDUCATION

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Lauren is Trainee of the Year

Workshops at Kariong

auren Hughes, a Narara Valley High School student, has been awarded Central Coast Group Training’s School Based Trainee of the Year Award.

variety of community workshops and gatherings are planned at Kariong Neighbourhood Centre in the weeks ahead.

A ‘Transition to School’ workshop has been designed for children who are preparing for school to extend their basic skills and gain practice and understanding of

Hughes, is studying a Certificate III in Allied Health to work towards her goal of becoming a nurse. “I always knew I wanted to work in health. “I want to help educate other young people about the inequalities Aboriginal people face and I want to help people improve their health,” Hughes said. Hughes is actively working towards this goal, having helped develop an information booklet to assist Aboriginal people with diabetes improve their understanding and management of their health. Newsletter, Feb 6, 2017 Dr Andrew Montague, Central Coast Local Health District

The ‘book worms’ are to be rewarded for their part in the Council Libraries’ Summer Reading Competition. Council’s Group Leader of Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the competition allowed kids to develop a love

The ‘Empowering Women Together’ workshop encourages people to learn self-love, establish boundaries and be less critical. This program will occur on Fridays from March 3 and will run for four weeks. Media release, Feb 6, 2017 Fiona Simpson, Kariong Neighbourhood Centre

School receives $8,000 grant ur Lady of the Rosary, Wyoming, has successfully secured an $8,000 grant through

O Narara Valley High student Lauren Hughes

Reading competition entrants invited to awards ceremony ver 160 Central Coast children who entered a Council reading competition have been invited to attend an awards ceremony at Erina Library on February 14.

what is expected in the 1st year of school. This single event will be held at the beginning of second term and will run for 1.5 hours featuring two trained childcare workers. Art and craft lessons will also be held each Monday at the Centre, where newcomers are encouraged to come along and learn beading, card making, and collages.

of reading as well as important literacy skills. She said educational activities like the reading competition helped prepare young people for life and the work force. More than 48,000 children entered the competition across Australia, with over 15,000 of those in NSW, including 163 from the Central Coast. Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said he believed the students would benefit from improved literacy skills. He said he was delighted to report that council libraries were

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seeing many voracious young readers. He said: “Literacy skills are so important, and inspiring a love of reading in young people is the passionate goal of our libraries and librarians. “The summer reading competition provides a structured way in which children learn to engage with libraries and library collections and discover the joy of reading.” Media release, Jan 31, 2017 Central Coast Council media

the NSW Government’s Community Grant Scheme and the efforts of Ms Tanya Chalker-Holz.

Welcome BBQ at Our Lady of the Rosary ur Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Wyoming, will host a welcome barbecue on February 10.

The BBQ will be held on the school’s grass area and will feature a free sausage sizzle. The Parent Council will also be selling snow cones on the day. Parents and carers are encouraged to bring their own food and drink as well as picnic gear. There will also be a free jumping castle for the kids. The school hopes this BBQ will help new and old families to

the school mingle as the school community welcomes in a new year at Our Lady of the Rosary. Newsletter, Feb 1, 2017 Frank Cohen, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School

The grant will be dedicated to finishing off the surface of the school’s new multipurpose court. Through the efforts of the current Parent Council, the school already had $7,000 dedicated to finalising the court. The school now has $15,000 to invest in appropriate sponge technology and line marking to maximise the court’s appearance and functionality. To raise further funds towards the court’s completion, the school will be hosting a School Fun Run and Tabloid Sports Day towards the end of Term 1. The school is calling on local businesses to get behind these initiatives and donate incentive prizes for students to win. Newsletter, Feb 1, 2017 Frank Cohen, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School

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Terminated vocational education providers named and shamed ccording to the Shadow Minister for Skills, Ms Pru Car, the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government is jeopardising the future of Central Coast students by refusing to name the vocational education providers that have had their funding suspended after misconduct and quality control failures.

Ms Car said the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disdain for transparency has placed thousands of Central Coast students enrolling in new vocational education courses at risk of signing up to a course with a potentially dodgy provider. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite the potential for these students to suffer heartache and stress at the hands of failed providers, the Government is refusing to name the VET providers that have had their funding suspended and are under investigation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The refusal to name the providers comes after the Government fought vehemently against a NSW Labor campaign to reveal the names and the impact failed providers were having on students in NSW,â&#x20AC;? Ms Car said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign of freedom of information requests and courtroom battles in the NSW Civil Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) finally forced the Government to reveal a list of the 11 terminated providers and the courses that were being targeted, but was unable to force the release of the suspended providers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The in-depth investigation uncovered that more than 240 students in the Central Coast have already been devastated by terminated or suspended providers; a number that will balloon with more students unknowingly signing onto suspended providers,â&#x20AC;? she continued. Ms Car also alleges Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation revealed the Central Coast suburbs that are being

targeted, with more than half of the top 10 worst effected suburbs falling into the former Gosford LGA. In order of most effected students, these included: Gosford, Woy Woy, Umina, Avoca and Terrigal. The governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Smart and Skilled program offers funding to private vocational education providers offering Certificates and Diplomas in various trades and skills. Ms Car said that many of the courses are offered at exorbitant prices which are unaffordable for most people, and that the program also acts as a gross reduction in funding for public vocational education providers like TAFE, forcing course prices there to climb, student enrolments to plummet by 126,000 places, and 5,200 teachers and support staff losing their jobs. NSW Opposition Leader, Mr Luke Foley, announced Laborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Private Provider Investigation Unit policy to help weed out shonky providers during his budget reply speech. The investigation unit would investigate dodgy training providers and ensure that taxpayer money is only given to reputable providers. Ms Car also named and shamed a list of terminated providers which included: ASA (Australian Sports Academy) Pty Ltd, terminated for providing incorrect information in the application. Australian Vocational Training Academy Pty Ltd, terminated for: failure to provide compliant Training and Assessment Strategies, non-compliance with record keeping requirements; and failure to provide records and evidence to the Department upon request. Careers Australia Education Institute Pty Ltd, terminated for: failure to properly train and assess students in accordance with training package requirements, non-compliance with record keeping and failure to provide records and evidence upon request.

Careers Australia Institute of Training Pty Ltd, terminated for: failure to properly train and assess students in accordance with training package requirements, non-compliance with record keeping and failure to provide records and evidence upon request. Industry Education and Training Services Pty Ltd, terminated for: providing incorrect information in the application. Seluna Pty Ltd, terminated for: failure to comply with training and assessment requirements of the VET Quality Framework, and submitting training activity and receiving subsidies for learners where there was no evidence of commencement. Western Institute of Technology Pty Ltd, terminated for: providing incorrect information in the application. Wise Education Group Pty Ltd, terminated for: failure to meet Standards for RTOs 2015 and non-compliance with record keeping requirements. Group314 Pty Ltd, terminated for: Termination of S and S due to previous termination of APL; and, Donna Mere Morrell-Pullin, terminated for: providing incorrect information in the application. Media release, Feb 8, 2017 Aaron Duke, Office of Pru Car, Shadow Minister for Skills

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EDUCATION PAGE 15 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Alive Plant Based Festival to be held in Kibble Park

Animal liberation will be supported by the Alive Plant Based Festival

vegan, plant-based, festival will be held in Kibble Park, Gosford, on Saturday, March 25.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our aim is to bring a positive light onto the vegan lifestyle by showcasing the best in vegan food and products,â&#x20AC;? said Mr Ricky

Simoes, Organiser of the Alive Plant Based Festival. Mr Simoes said visitors could bring a picnic blanket and make a day of the event, which runs from 10:00am and will include live music and entertainment. Vegan cupcakes, plant-based facial products, vegan delicacies,

vegan shoes, plant based makeup, and recycled clothing are just some of the vegan and plant-based products that will be available on the day. Email, Feb 6, 2017 Ricky Simoes, Alive Plant Based Festival

Girrakool Blues Festival is now a two day event he second Girrakool Blues Festival and Barbeque is set to be bigger and better with a line-up of over 20 bands, including four international acts.

The two-day music festival will feature the Hot 8 Brass Band and Eugene Hideaway Bridges, both from New Orleans, Piedmont style Harmonica virtuoso, Phil Wiggins, playing with the Backsliderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dom Turner, and world blues ex-pat, Harper with his American band,

Midwest Kind. Festival Director, Mr Bruce Johnson, said the success of the 2016 event meant an even bigger and better 2017 event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been able to secure four of the best touring international blues bands, which pushes Girrakool into a realm of standing alongside the best of the best music festivals in Australia,â&#x20AC;? Mr Johnson said. The festival will also explore culture and history, with a collaboration between Arts Central, National Aboriginal and

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PAGE 16 FEBRUARY 9, 2017 OUT&ABOUT

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Unique Aboriginal Corroboree and Cultural Festival to be held

Harvest Festival is planned to showcase hinterland full of hidden treasures entral Coast Council has called on local farmers, businesses and event organisers to be a part of a new festival that focuses on the Coast’s valleys and mountains.

An Aboriginal Corroboree and Cultural Festival will be held at Calga

he Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park will be hosting the Central Coast’s first Aboriginal Corroboree and Cultural Festival.

The festival will have a variety of workshops which will include stone tool making, wood and tool making, fire making, and reserved workshops that talk about issues such as mental health. Traditional dancing, didgeridoo music and clap sticks will also be on display as well as a wellbeing workshop by Paul Callaghan, the author of the Dreaming book, Iridescence. Tim Selwyn, the organiser for the Aboriginal Corroboree and

Cultural Festival said he was excited to teach the people of the Central Coast about the society and culture of the Darkinjung and Guringai tribe in a way that engages members of the local community. “The Central Coast is one of the fastest growing Aboriginal cultures in Australia. “This festival is very much directed at showcasing our culture and showing people the continuation of our culture rather than looking at a museum or Google, or studying from a book. “It’s a continuation of our culture that is alive,” Mr Selwyn said. The festival will be held at night under the stars of the wildlife sanctuary, and is set to attract hundreds of people.

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“It’s on in the night time because we will be talking about the stars and the constellations and the stories in relation to that. “We’ve got people coming from the Blue Mountains, and we’ve got people coming from the Shoalhaven area as well to participate, as well as the Central Coast mobs and Newcastle,” Mr Selwyn said. The festival will be a familyfriendly event, and providing the event is successful, it may be held monthly. “I’d like to make this at least an annual event where the profit that we make goes back into the Aboriginal charity or group at the time, that’s the whole idea behind this little festival, to put money back into the community,” Mr Selwyn said. People will also be afforded the opportunity to meet the animals as the bush wakes up when the sun goes down. Mr Selwyn emphasised the importance of forming a connection through the community in the Aboriginal Corroboree and Cultural Festival. “There can never be enough education with Aboriginal knowledge, its endless. “It’s all about inclusiveness and sharing our knowledge and sharing stories really. “I think that Aboriginal people in particular are starving to reconnect, families want to have a look for their connection, their grounding. “We need to find our roots, our feet, we need to be solid again, we need to go back to our community basis,” Mr Selwyn said. The event will be held on February 18 from 6:30pm and 10:00pm. Flyer, Feb 6, 2017 Sheila Molloy, Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park Interview, Feb 7, 2017 Tim Selwyn, Aboriginal Corroboree and Cultural Festival Satria Dyer-Darmawan, journalist

The Harvest Festival is planned for May-June and will celebrate the region’s food, people and culture. Council’s Connected Communities Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the festival will be the first of its kind on the Central Coast. “This event is designed to encourage festival-goers to follow a specially designed trail, visiting

local farms and event hubs – culminating in a major event on the final day,” Ms Vaughan said. “The Harvest Festival will showcase the diversity we have in suburbs like Peats Ridge, Mangrove Mountain, Kulnura, Yarramalong and Somersby, through a range of events and activities. “It could be as simple as an open farm gate sale, art installations, and community or music events – there are a number of opportunities for residents to get involved. Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Harvest Festival is a great way to showcase what our picturesque valleys and

mountains have to offer. “While the Central Coast is well known for its beaches and waterways, we are also surrounded by hinterland full of hidden treasures,” Mr Reynolds said. “The Harvest Festival is one way to activate these areas and showcase the potential they have to build community capacity and drive economic and tourism objectives. “That’s why we are encouraging local food businesses, farmers, markets, social entrepreneurs and innovators to get on board.” Newsletter, Feb 3, 2017 Central Coast Council media

Kariong butcher is a National Sausage King finalist ariong butcher, Mr Jake Forbes, is set to sizzle on stage as Australia’s best butchers prepare to battle it out for the 2017 National Sausage King title in Hobart on February 18.

Mr Forbes is one of 31 finalists who won their way through regional and state rounds. The annual event will be contested across six categories: Traditional Australian, Traditional Australian Pork, Poultry, Australian Lamb/Open Class, Continental and Gourmet/Open Class. Judges will score both raw and cooked sausages, grading them

for flavour and texture as well as shrinkage, splitting and crinkling. Contestants must also ensure that their sausages meet Australian Food Standards Code by containing at least 50 percent fat free meat. Organised by the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) the competition attracts huge interest from the nation’s 3,200 independent butchers and is widely regarded as the meat industry’s premier competition. “Every year we are amazed at the interest we receive from butchers across Australia, from country towns to capital cities,” said AMIC Executive Director, Mr Paul Sandercock. “It’s an event that gets bigger

and better and shows that butchers still play an important role in the community.” And the statistics prove it: each year, Australians spend $660 million on about 94 million kilograms of sausages and despite the growing popularity of gourmet varieties, the traditional beef banger remains the most popular. While a new National Sausage King will be crowned, the weekend will also include the Best Butcher’s Burger contest and the awarding of the acclaimed AMIC National Apprentice of the Year. Media release, Jan 22, 2017 Gergoina McGuinness, McGuinness Media

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Boy injures himself on seed pod sculpture n abstract art sculpture has been removed from Gosford’s Kibble Park after a boy was allegedly injured by the sculpture during Australia Day Eve celebrations.

The metallic sculpture was shaped to represent the spikey liquid amber seed pod. Details of an incident where a boy became “caught on a metal statue in the park” were posted on social media by his mother at about 7:00pm on January 25. The boy was in the park playing an organised game with beanbags and parachutes, when, according to the author of the post, the statue “sliced through his groin muscle and tissue”, requiring surgery. The sculpture was less than a metre from the ‘kids’ zone’ sign

where children’s activities were being held. Central Coast Council responded to the incident, erecting a safety fence around the sculpture before it was removed on January 30. A Council statement said: “Council will be providing no comment at this time. “Council has temporarily removed the sculpture from the park, while it undertakes an investigation into the incident,”. The sculpture has also been previously used as a Pokestop for the popular mobile app Pokémon Go, where players walk around trying to catch various Pokémon. The young boy was discharged from Gosford Hospital on Friday, January 27. Media statement, Jan 30, 2017 Central Coast Council media Jarrod Melmeth, Journalist

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 17 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Nicole is a finalist in the Ms Earth Australia competition errigal’s Ms Nicole Siaplepata is preparing to represent the Central Coast against big city representatives as a finalist in the Ms Earth Australia competition.

The competition is a pageant for married, single, divorced or widowed women who have a genuine desire to save the environment and help those in need. When it comes to helping those in need, Ms Siaplepata is no stranger, volunteering as a ranger at the Australian Wildlife Walkabout Park and as a youth worker at Coast Shelter. At Coast Shelter, she is developing a program for young females who have come out of a violent situation by engaging the women in the outdoors and establishing a cultural and environmental grounding for them. “It creates some self-worth, which is important, and brings them back into the social and safe community they once had, or may never have had,” Ms Siaplepata said. Growing up in Christchurch, New Zealand, Ms Siaplepata described her upbringing as “great, but living in poverty did bring hardships and pressures” to her family, which ended in a broken home and members of her family leaving. Having also been a victim of domestic violence, Ms Siaplepata lost her path at a young age, but soon got back on track after she got involved in a local youth group. “We did so many awesome

things in the community and outdoors like camping and hiking, and socialising with other young people. “I had made a decision then that I want to be that person that they were to me, that beacon guiding young people to a brighter clear path to being their true content self,” Ms Siaplepata said. By the age of 19, Nicole was left homeless after the Christchurch earthquakes. This prompted her move to Kariong after a generous family took her in. About a year ago, Ms Siaplepata

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hesitantly started doing pageant work thinking it was not for her due to the stereotypical American pageants she had witnessed. ”They were all so thin, tall and absolutely gorgeous women only. “At my first pageant, I remember being told: ‘you can be whoever you want, we do not discriminate against size, colour, tattoos or height’. “This was amazing to hear, and then I came across the Ms Earth pageants and I spoke to

the director and she said the very same thing to me. “Again I was so happy that I could be me because I wanted to be a role model for young women out there and to inspire them to be who they are and give power to them and their self-worth,” Ms Siaplepata said. Interview, Dec 9, 2016 Nicole Siaplepata Jarrod Melmeth, Journalist

PAGE 18 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS DIRECTORY

ARTS & CULTURE ART STUDIOS GALLERY & COOPERATIVE Artworks by members and local artists through solo and group exhibitions and community events. Classes available. 4339 3349 www.artstudioscooperative.org

CENTRAL COAST ART SOCIETY Lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Weekly paint-outs Tuesdays 4349 5860 for locations Workshops - 4363 1156 9.30am - 12.30pm 1st and 3rd Wed Social Meetings 1.30pm 4th Wed Gosford City Arts Centre. 4325 1420 publicity@artcentralcoast.asn.au

CENTRAL COAST HANDWEAVERS, SPINNERS AND TEXTILE ARTS GUILD Spinning and weaving, patchwork and quilting, felting and other fibre and fabric crafts, community quilting bees - Day and Night Groups 4325 4743 www.cottagecrafts.net.au

FELLOWSHIP OF AUSTRALIAN WRITERS A friendly and supportive group for new and old writers. Encouragement and critique of work. Workshops and competitions 10am 3rd Sun Conference rm. Gosford Hotel 4363 2627 centralcoastfaw@live.com

COMMUNITY GROUPS ABC - “The Friends” Support group for Public Broadcaster. Aims. safeguard ABC’s independence, funding, & standards. Meetings through the year + social afternoons Well-known guest speakers 4341 5170 www.fabcnsw.org.au

BIG FUTURES IN SCHOOL MENTOR PROGRAM Become a volunteer mentor 2 hrs/ week, Free Training, No qualifications needed Be a young persons champion 0413 624 529

Luncheons 1st and 3rd Sundays monthly at various licensed venues 43321 695 (after 2pm)

GOSFORD NORTH PROBUS CLUB Meets 4th Tuesday at the Grange Hotel Monthy meeting 4th Tuesday Grange Hotel 10am 43225560

Not for profit org in Wyong providing free legal advice. Intake times for legal advice Monday to Friday 9am-5pm 4353 4988 centralcoast@clc.net.au

CENTRAL COAST SOCIAL GROUP Social contact, entertainment events, new friendships, for 30’s-60’s - Live music, house parties, dinners, BBQs, picnics, trips away etc. Monthly Meet & Chat 0422 243 101 cco30s@live.com.au

CENTRAL COAST 50+ SINGLES SOCIAL GROUP Invites Ladies & Gents for dinner, dancing - BBQs & socialising each w/e. Friendly group monthly programme all areas 0412 200 571 0437 699 366 50pssg@gmail.com

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School Holiday activities, playgroup, multicultural CENTRAL COAST PROSTATE programs, community activities - CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Rooms for Hire NORTHERN SETTLEMENT (WYONG) 4329 4477 SERVICES - VOLUNTEERS Meet last Monday Month admin@gnnc.com.au Volunteers needed for friendly Toukley RSL Club visits to the elderly in nursing Homes Ave Toukley GREEN POINT COMMUNITY homes. People with a second 10.00am to 12 noon CENTRE language encouraged to apply. 4356 9300 Training support provided OOSH cave, exersize classes, www.pcfa.org.au 4334 3877 school holiday programs, cvscc@nsservices.com.au playgroup, arts & craft, room hire, DYING WITH DIGNITY NSW, and much more. CENTRAL COAST 4367 7591 PROBUS CLUB OF AVOCA Working to give those 10.15am 3rd Mon suffering unrelievedly from Avoca Beach Bowling Club KARIONG NEIGHBOURHOOD terminal or incurable illness 4382 3372 CENTRE the legal right to request & www.probussouthpacific.org/ Early childhood clinic, free family receive medical help to die microsites/avocabeach law advice, active playgroup, Quarterly Meetings computer classes, OOSH services, 4369 8053 SENIORS COMPUTER fitness classes, arts & crafts, CLUB CENTRAL COAST INC. over 50’s friendship group, youth GAMBLING SOLUTIONS group, social groups and many Classes Mon to Fri for over 50 Counsellors provide free, more services. Basics: Mon , Tues and Thurs confidential, professional service 4340 1724 10am to 12noon to gamblers, family and friends. wwww.knc.net.au Different programs every day, Woy Woy, Kincumber, Gosford, 10am - 12noon or 1-3pm The Entrance. Apple-Mac: Mon, Tues, Wed KINCUMBER 4344 7992 All at Kincumber Neighbourhood NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE Centre • Exercise classes GROW Support Groups 02 4307 9421 • Yoga for adults and children Small friendly groups formed to • Community eco garden learn how to overcome anxiety, TERRIGAL WAMBERAL • Room hire depression and loneliness and to • Health support groups improve mental health and wellRSL SUB-BRANCH being. Anonymous, free and open At Breakers Country Club pension • Counselling to all. Weekly at Woy Woy, Bateau and welfare officers available to • After school activities 4363 1044 Bay and Wyong assist with DVA compensation www.kincumber.nsw.au 1800 558 268 claims and benefits www.grow.org.au Wed & Fri 10am – Midday Meetings 2nd Sat 10am MINGALETTA ABORIGINAL 43842661 MEALS ON WHEELS TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER rsl@breakerscc.com.au Delicious meals delivered free CORPORATION Join us for a midday meal A meeting place and referral hub U3A CENTRAL COAST for education, health, well-being Help with shopping and cooking classes Mature age people are invited and cultural programs through 4363 7111 to participate in a wide range of consultative services and courses to broaden the mind and community programs. make new friends Mon-Fri 9am-4pm 0408 704 701 6 Sydney Ave Umina www.centralcoast.u3anet.org.au 4342 7515 CENTRAL COAST FAMILY

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admin@mingaletta.com.au

GOSFORD GUMNUTS PLAYGROUP

Parents and children meet socially. Make friends, learn more about parenting. 0 to 5 yrs Wed - Fri 10am-12noon Gosford Uniting Church Hall www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au/ 129 Donnison St Gosford bigfutures 4325 3695

CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE

Indoor Bowls, Patchwork, Yoga, CENTRAL COAST PROSTATE Fitness, Gentle Swimming, Line CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Dancing, Cards, Variety Social, (GOSFORD) Womens Group, Zumba, Crochet, Meet last Friday Month Computers Terrigal Uniting Church 4304 7065 380 Terrigal Dre, Terrigal 9.30am to 12 noon GOSFORD-NARARA 4367 9600

gumnutsguc@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERING CENTRAL COAST Refer potential volunteers to community organisations. Provide support to volunteers and community organisations. Provide training to volunteers and managers of volunteers Information sessions “Bridge to Volunteering” held regularly. 4329 7122 recruit@volcc.org.au

WILDLIFE ARC We rescue and care for injured and orphan native animals. 24hr/day, 7days/ week. Come join us. Gen Meeting 3rd Sun Wyoming Community Centre, Maidens Brush Rd Wyoming at 10am 4325 0666

TERRIGAL FIFTY PLUS LEISURE AND LEARNING CENTRE Activities include fitness, yoga, bridge, mahjong, zumba gold, line dancing, tai chi, painting, craft and computer classes. 43845152

WYOMING COMMUNITY CENTRE Yoga & Zumba classes, Art and Craft classes, Playgroup & Vacation Care, Support groups, Book Club, Community Garden, Rooms for Hire, Work Development Orders, Centrelink Volunteer hours 4323 7483 reception@wyomingcc.org.au

HEALTH GROUPS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meet every Wed 12.30pm Someone cares - Anglican Church 3 Mann St Gosford 4323 3890

BETTER HEARING AUSTRALIA CENTRAL COAST

Hearing loss management Support and educational group 7 groups across the coast Providing practical experience COMMUNITY CENTRES and confidence provide the local community with a meeting place and hub for Learn the benefits to hearing aids 4321 0275 groups, services and information.

COMMUNITY CENTRES

CENTRAL COAST SUNDAY LUNCH BUNCH

GOSFORD 50+ LEISURE AND LEARNING CENTRE

(Singles over 55)

Handicraft, Painting, Knitting, Tai Chi, Scrabble, Darts, Table Tennis,

www.centralcoast. betterhearingaustralia.org.au

HISTORY SOCIETY INC. Help and advice with your family history research. Tue to Fri, 930am to 2pm Lions Community Hall, 8 Russell Drysdale St, E. Gosford. 4324 5164 www.centralcoastfhs.org.au

BRISBANE WATER HISTORICAL SOCIETY • Coach tours • School educational tours • Annual Street Stalls • Participation in History Heritage Week Celebration Margaret Pearce 4325 2270

FELLOWSHIP OF FIRST FLEETERS CENTRAL COAST For anyone interested in early history or early family histories. Don’t need to be a First Fleeter. Point Clare Community Hall 2nd Sat 10:30am 4311 6254

MUSIC BRISBANE WATER BRASS Brass Band entertainment for the community playing all types of popular music Rehearsal every Tues. 7.30pm-10pm 0419 274 012

SOUNDWAVES Men’s acapella 4 part harmony chorus - all ages 7pm Mon Central Coast Leagues Club Kieran - 0407 267 675 khutton58@gmail.com jbthomson51@gmail.com

SYDNEY WELSH CHOIR Cultural organisation performing at various venues to promote the Welsh culture with singing, Also performing for charity fund raising. 4369 3378

TEMPO TERRIFIC COMMUNITY SHOWBAND Active showband available to play at your community function. Wide ranging repertuore. Always seeking new members, come and have fun with music. Follow us on Facebook - Every Mon 5 - 7pm Kincumber Uniting Church 4365 4414

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF TERRIGAL

NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION CENTRAL COAST

Share friendship, social activities as well as fundraising for local, Twice weekly bush walks, varying national and international distances and grades of difficulty. projects. 3rd Mon, 12noon Explore, enjoy scenery, fauna, Terrigal 50+ leisure centre, floral, history. Keep fit and make Duffy Rd Terrigal friends. 4369 0302 - 4384 1490 4389 4423 or 4332 7378 terigalinnerwheel@gmail.com

LIONS CLUB OF WOY WOY 1st and 3rd Mon. Woy Woy Leagues Club Make new friends and have fun while serving your community. 0478 959 895

ECUMENICAL & INTERFAITH SPEAKERS FORUM & Q&A with focus on developing understanding and encouraging dialogue about spirituality through people sharing their life journeys. 1st Tues March to October 2nd Tues November 7.30 to 9pm Grange Hotel Wyoming 4328 2596 - 0498 588 261

Rotary Club of Gosford North Active community minded club. Many projects focussed on TUGGERAH LAKES assisting youth. Support our great SHOWBAND projects, get involved with our fun Play brass instruments, meet club. Graham Black every Tues & Thurs to rehearse . 0410 509 071 crowd-pleasing music and play at BPW CENTRAL COAST grahamblack@iprimus.com.au community events Empowering women of all ages Park Rd Band Hall in the areas of work, education, ROTARY CLUB OF Tues 7.30pm Thur 6.30pm well-being and friendship. KARIONG/SOMERSBY 0407 406 669 Monthly dinner meetings and International service club speaker. improves lives of communities in Australia and overseas. Fun- Community transport available to and from centre filled activities, fellowship and CENTRAL COAST GREENS Chris Levis 0438 989 199 friendship breakfasts. Phillip The Central Coast Greens bpwcentralcoast@hotmail.com For a fairer, more transparent and House, 21 Old Mount Penang Rd www.bpw.com.au/central-coast (opp Shell) Fri 7:15am accountable government based 4340 4529 on democratic principles COUNTRY WOMEN’S kersuebay@philliphouse.com.au Local, state-wide, national ASSOCIATION (CWA) and international issues and Quilting, patchwork, spinning, campaigns - Council and knitting, crochet and more parliamentary representation 9am-2pm BIZ PLUS NETWORKING Developing a new economy Every Fri, Opposite ASSOCIATION Protecting our environment Terrigal Bowling Club Attention business owners - if Peaceful conflict resolution 4385 9503 or 4384 3696 you keen to grow your business Community participation and in the process build We meet monthly every 3rd GOSFORD RSL worthwhile relationships, attend a Thu - Details and info: SUB-BRANCH Biz Networking breakfast. centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au centralcoastgreens@gmail.com WOMEN’S AUXILIARY Every Thur 7:15am - 9am Erina Leagues Club Raise money for the welfare of Geoff Neilson veterans and their families. RSL AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY network@bizplus.com.au Club West Gosford OURIMBAH/ NARARA 4th Mon 2pm BRANCH 4323 7336 CCLC BRIDGE CLUB Discussion/action community Duplicate Bridge-partner not issues - 3 levels of Government required for most sessions. CENTRAL COAST WOMEN’S Niagara Park Primary School Central Coast Leagues Club HEALTH CENTRE 7.30pm 1st Mon each month 12.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri. Counseling, therapeutic and 0410 309 494 Sat 1.30pm Wed 7.15pm Mon social groups, workshops, kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com 4325 9854 domestic violence and abuse www.cclcbridgeclub.asn.au issues. All services provided by POLITICS IN THE PUB cclcbridgeclub@westnet.com.au women for women CENTRAL COAST 4324 2533 Discussion of important political, www.cccwhc.com.au CENTRAL COAST CAKE social, economic, education, DECORATORS GUILD and philosophy issues in a non SOROPTIMIST Sugarcraft demonstrations partisan manner - The Grange conversation and lunch INTERNATIONAL Hotel 4th Thur besides Dec Visitors welcome BRISBANE WATER 4th Sat - 10am 50+ leisure and Soroptimists speak for women Learning Centre Gosford and girls of all nations through 4382 6236 Develop confidence by improving awareness advocacy and action lsroe@bigpond.com.au your speaking skills. Meetings are by supporting national and entertaining and educational. international programs CENTRAL COAST LAPIDARY 2nd Thur 6:45pm - Breakers CLUB MINERALS & GEMS Country Club, Dover Rd Wamberal BRISBANE WATERS Learn silverwork, Cabochons, 4367 6331 BREAKFAST Faceting, Enamelling, Stone sibrisbanewater@siswp.org TOASTMASTERS CLUB Field-trips & fossicking 8:30am-10:30am Weekly Workshops WOWGIRLS WAVE 2nd and Last Sat - The Hive and Tues and Thurs 8.30am OF WISDOM INC Library, Erina Shopping Centre 2.30pm. Thurs 6-10pm WOWGIRLS Wave of Wisdom 0459 240 183 10 Ourimbah Creek Rd Ourimbah connects women and local 4362 2246 businesses around a common BLUE GUM FLAT theme of well-being. to share TOASTMASTERS CENTRAL COAST wisdom and explore life’s Mthly meetings 1st and SOARING CLUB INC potential. 3rd Mon 7.15-9.30pm Gliding Club, Learn to fly, Regular Powwows, WOW Wisdom Ourimbah RSL Instruction FREE to members gatherings, WOW days and WOW 4362 7227 14 and up for Training courses check our website for Flying at Bloodtree Rd Mangrove activities. Mountain Thur, Sat, Sun ( weather www.wowgirls.com.au info@wowgirls.com.au permitting) INNER WHEEL CLUB OF 0412 164 082 GOSFORD NORTH INC 0414 635 047 www.ccsoaring.com.au Community minded women who enjoy fundraising for local, national and international projects CENTRAL COAST PENSION Regular social outings. & WELFARE OFFICER 2nd Wed 7pm NETWORK 21 Old Penang Rd Kariong Group of Volunteers, trained by 4362 3139 DVA, to look after servicemen www.tempoterrific.com tempoterrific@live.com

WOMEN’S GROUPS

POLITICAL PARTY

SPECIAL INTEREST

PUBLIC SPEAKING

SERVICE GROUPS

iiw.au.gosfordnorth@gmail.com

& women. Ourimbah RSL Club 10:30am 2nd Fri - Feb to Nov 4322 1505

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here, call us on 4325 7369 or see www.centralcoastnewspapers.com Entries in the Not For Profit Community Organisations Directory are free. However, we require each organisation to subscribe to each newspaper to ensure that someone from that organisation keeps their entry up to date. Australia Post is about to increase their postage rates by over 42% and we can no longer continue to absorb these increases. Subscription rates have therefore needed to be increased from $50 to $75 for 25 editions.

Henry Kendall’s life explored he Brisbane Water Historical Society will present an exhibition exploring the life of Henry Kendall from March 1 to May 31.

It will be run in conjunction with the 2017 National Heritage

Festival and will be held at the Historical Society’s Henry Kendall Cottage and Museum, West Gosford. The exhibition, titled Names Upon a Stone, will explore how Henry Kendall found true friendship. An Open Day will run on Saturday, April 22.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

OUT&ABOUT PAGE 19 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Metal mariachi and progressive folk return to Gosford

Michael Wilding, Author, and Emeritus Professor of English and Australian Literature at the University of Sydney, will be guest speaker. Media release, 1 February 2017 Shirley Rider, Brisbane Water Historical Society

Spirituality in the Pub to explore its 2017 theme pirituality in the Pub will be exploring its 2017 theme in the Grange Hotel Function Room, Wyoming, from 7:30pm on March 7.

Spirituality in the Pub (SIP) Central Coast is an ecumenical and interfaith speaker’s forum with a question and answer type discussion. The 2017 theme is “My spirituality: Influence on the way.” The focus of SIP is on developing

understanding of and encouraging dialogue about spirituality through the sharing of one’s own experiences. This session will feature Ms Peatrea Lambert and Father Roger Zohrab as speakers. Ms Lambert is a television producer and volunteer project organiser for service projects abroad and nationally. Ms Lambert ran an indigenous women’s centre in the Simpson Desert for three years and has worked as a television and

photographic producer for 12 years. Fthr Zohrab moved to Australia in the 1960s where he was ordained in 1983 and has since served in metropolitan and rural parishes alike. Fthr Zohrab is also the current Anglican Chaplain and Pastoral Care Coordinator for John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle. Media release, Feb 2, 2017 Maryke Keulemans, Spirituality in the Pub Central Coast

Kallidad will bring their headbanging mariachi to Gosford

he Rhythm Hut, Gosford, will welcome back Mexican metal band, Kallidad, on February 10.

T The Gosford Diary For events in post code areas 2250, 2260 and 2251

If you’ve got something happening in Gosford LGA area over the next few weeks, let us know about it and we’ll list it here for you, for free. Contact details are on page 2. See the Peninsula News for events in post code areas 2256 & 2257 and the Wyong Regional Chronicle for events in post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 & 2263 Support Society (CISS) meeting, Arts and Crafts Centre, Bellbird Dve (off Maidens Brush Rd), Wyoming, Speaker Rose Barbourtis of the Healing Oil Company, 7:00pm

Thursday, Feb 9

Monday, Feb 13

Graeme Innes speaks about his memoirs at Kincumber Library Didgeridoo Sound Healing workshop, The Rhythm Hut, Faunce St, Gosford, 7:30pm to 9:00pm, bookings essential

Drumming classes resume for 2017 at The Rhythm Hut, Faunce St, Gosford Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course commences at Wyoming Community Centre, 147 Maidens Brush Rd, Wyoming, for 10 weeks to April 3 including a full day retreat on March 26, bookings essential

Gosford Bush Poets, Gosford Hotel, cnr Mann and Erina St, Gosford

Thursday, Feb 16

Thursday, Feb 23

Friday, Feb 10 Australian Plan Society meeting, Phillip House, 21 Old Mount Penang Rd, Kariong, 7:30pm, native bees

Ben Woodham, RSL, 6:00pm

Davistown

Wednesday, Feb 22

Manpower Australia Girls Night Out, Central Coast Leagues Club

Saturday, Feb 11 Ben Woodham, Kincumber Hotel, 7:00pm Fellowship of First Fleeters will meet at Point Clare Community Hall, speaker Karl Blimm, 10:30am

Sunday, Feb 12 Sam Bannerman, Gosford RSL, 12:00pm Hugging Workshop with The Hug Academy, The Rhythm Hut, Faunce St, Gosford, 4:00pm to 5:03pm Open Mic Night, The Rhythm Hut, Faunce St, Gosford, from 6:00pm

Friday, Feb 17

Friday, Feb 24

Dying with Dignity Meeting, non-members welcome, end of life choices, palliative care and voluntary assisted dying, speakers Peter Cleasby of Palliative Care NSW and Ian Wood of Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia, Room 3, The Hive, Erina Fair, 10:00am to 12:00pm

Ben Woodham, Erina Leagues, 6:30pm

Saturday, Feb 18 The Rewbies, Avoca Beach Hotel, 8:30pm

Monday, Feb 20 Cancer

Information

and

Saturday, Feb 25 The Rewbies, Avoca Beach Hotel, 8:30pm

After a few festivals in the local area, and a support slot with Tijuana Cartel, Sydney’s Kallidad is returning to one of the band’s favourite venues, in a real homecoming style concert. Kallidad combines flamenco, rock and mariachi music into an intoxicating instrumental mix. Together with the band’s infamous ‘Day of the Dead’ face paint, the result is a live spectacle that has been drawing audiences across Australia, Asia and Europe, including major festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, and events as diverse as bush doofs, metal gigs and family folk picnics. Somehow, the three amigos have created a sound and energy that touches literally all demographics, without compromising their sound one iota. Kallidad released their second full length album ‘The Awakening’ in mid-2016 and are touring extensively to support the release, which combines their trademark ‘thrash flamenco’ sound with branches stretching further into their roots in every direction. The group spent July and August 2016 in Europe, and later in the year they visited Japan and

Indonesia as well as extensive touring within Australia. Supporting Kallidad on the night is Vanishing Shapes. Vanishing Shapes are a five piece progressive folk band from Newcastle. Their high energy, eclectic and experimental amalgamation of folk music is interlaced with influences from well outside the folk realm such as progressive metal and art music. This unique blend of styles results in live performances featuring narrative driven songs

that bounce between being playful, harrowing and ethereal, producing moments for dancing, internal reflection and escaping to other dimensions. The band’s main instrumentation features flute, clarinet, classical guitar, viola and double bass, but many members play second instruments such as piccolo, charango, mandolin, electric bass and vocals. Media release, Jan 31, 2017 Lou Sawileskij, The Rhythm Hut

Kariong Quality Come in and see Jake Forbes and team for all your award winning sausages and quality meat.

Try some of our new sausage varieties available every week Mon - Fri 6.30am - 6.30pm Sat - Sun 6.00am - 4pm 4340 1064 - 1 Arunta Ave. Kariong

Wednesday, Mar 1 Names Upon a Stone, exhibition exploring the life of poet Henry Hendall by Brisbane Water Historical Society, at Henry Kendall Cottage and Museum, West Gosford until May 31

Dirty Tiles & Grout? ...Forget Pointless Scrubbing! crubb We Clean, Seal & Re-colour Tile & Grout Call now for your nearest GroutPro Specialist!

Tile Re-Grouting Tile Repairs Shower Glass Tile Anti-Slip Treatment Silicone Replacement

Call Paull at GroutPro GroutPro Gosford on 0452 540 054 • Franchises Available • www.groutpro.com.au

10OFF% Expiry 1/2/17

PAGE 20 FEBRUARY 9, 2017 CLASSIFIEDS ADULT SERVICES

Love & Lust Adult Shop 156 Mann St Gosford

4324 5569

CLEANING

Window cleaning. High pressure cleaning. Tile cleaning, indoor and outdoor. External house wash. House cleaning. Affordable prices.

0421 493 447

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YOUR LOCAL

Gosford 4323 6367 Woy Woy 4344 4414 Warnervale 1800 244 456 0412 685 555

ELECTRICIAN Same day service Guaranteed Lighting, Power Points, Phone & Data, Fault Finding,

No job too small. Seniors Discount. Lic number 265652C

PLASTERERS

Your local plasterer

Carpet and upholstery cleaning.

ELECTRICIAN

Installations & Tuning New home specialist Credit cards OK HAYWARD VIDEO All areas

ENTERTAINMENT

Unique cleaning and floor restoration

ANTENNAS

Antenna & Digital

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The Troubadour Folk and Acoustic Music Club

SAT Feb 25 at 7pm Sancha and the Blue Gypsies CWA Hall Woy Woy Tickets 7PM $10/13/15 www.troubadour.org.au

Gyprock plasterboard, small jobs, walls, ceilings and cornices. Over 30 year’s experience. No jobs over $1,000. Ph: Neville 0417 426 254

Galapagos Tortoise enjoys daily sprinkler spray downs

PLUMBER

YOUR LOCAL PLUMBER

4342 6716

Same day service Guaranteed

FITNESS

Blocked drains, Leaking taps and toilets, Hot water and all aspects Of pluming drainage and gas fitting.

Self Defence 4346 4057 Real solu ons Lic number 265652C

4308 6771

Classifieds advertising rates in print and on-line Classified advertising is the cheapest form of newspaper advertising. This newspaper is published on line on the night before publication date, and is read that way by hundreds of people. All advertisements, including these classified advertising pages, appear in full on-line as an additional benefit for free. See www.CentralCoastNewspapers.com or www. CentralCoastNews.net Central Coast Newspapers’ advertising rates are relatively much lower than in other newspapers and at the same time much larger than in other newspapers, with the minimum size being 500mm X 420mm. Approximately 16,000 copies of each newspaper are printed and distributed every fortnight. Coast Community News also has a website especially designed for use on the latest mobile phones – www. CoastCommunityNews.com.au Classified advertisements in Coast Community News will also appear in a directory on that mobile website for free, with up to two live links to phones, websites, or email addresses for each advertisement. The mobile website has over 40,000 regular users and 10,000 unique readers every month.

Not For Profit Organisations As Central Coast Newspapers are community newspapers, the cost of advertising not for profit organisations’ events is subsidised. This makes them the same rate as non-business advertisements. A mono 5cm advertisement only costs $40. Each additional cm costs $8 as does colour, and/or a photograph or a logo. Private advertisements need to be paid for at the time of booking.

Business rates The minimum size of 5cm X a single column only costs $50 + GST in mono and an extra $8 + GST for colour, a logo or a photograph, every two weeks. Most businesses choose to advertise on an ongoing basis and discounts apply for multiple bookings, if they are paid for in full, in advance. Having an advertisement run for 3 months only costs $275 + GST, for 6 months it is $495 + GST, and for 12 months advertising, the total cost is only $940 + GST – Approximately $18 per week. Artwork is free and advertisers are encouraged to change their advertisements frequently.

to real threats Krav Maga Proven to work

www.closecombat.com.au

KITCHENS

Quality Laminate Benchtops supplied and seconds for sale

R&J Benchtops Gosford

0456 884 545 PAINTER

BUCELLO’S

SAFES

Secure your valuables by installing a Fire & Burglar resisting Safe. We have Safes for both Home & Business security

call us on 0409 040 980. www.thelachlansafecompany.com.au Master Licence No. 000 101 886.

SEPTIC TANK CLEANING

WARD SEPTICS SEPTIC TANK CLEANING SMALL PUMP OUT TRUCK GREAT PUMP OUT RATES

Painting Services

*AND EVEN CHEAPER RATES FOR

• Residential and Commercial • Interior and Exterior • New Work and Repaints

0438 315 514

Free Quotes All work guaranteed

0410 404 664

YOU WITH A NEIGHBOUR

www.septiccleaning.com.au

TILING

hile Sydney endured a heat wave week, Australian Reptile Park’s Galapagos Tortoise, Hugo, is enjoying daily sprinkler spray downs by his favourite keeper, Ms Renee Gomez.

Soaking up every drop on his sensitive shell, Hugo’s facial expressions are of exhilaration, as he is treated to his very own day spa. The 66 year old Galapagos tortoise has a life expectancy of 150 years.

TUITION - DANCE

Gosford Scottish Country Dancers hold a intermediate class on Wednesdays from 7 to 10 pm at Wyoming It’s an excellent form of exercise which brings men, women and young people together socially, learning new and old dances in a very friendly relaxed atmosphere No experience or partner necessary All ages welcome

He came to Australian Reptile Park in 1963 at the age of 13 and he now weighs in at 165 kilos. Ms Gomez said Hugo has the personality of a giant teddy bear. His diet consists of lettuce and Lucerne hay. His special summer treats are carrot, sweet potato, apples, prickly pear cactus and hibiscus flowers. Visitors to Australian Reptile Park can see Hugo walked daily by keepers, it’s just at a very slow pace. Media Release Jan 12, 2017 Australian Reptile Park, Lizzie Doyle

VENTILATION

Solair Roof, Sub-Floor, Solar Ventilation Commercial, Warehouses, Residential Call Today

43678252 WANTED TO BUY

Cost $7.00 per week Contact Janice on

4388 2253

PHOTOGRAPHY

CENTRAL COAST EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Tiling Wall & Floor Property

TUITION - MUSIC

Learn to play harmonica at your own pace at my place or Skype at yours

CASH PAID

www.valspix.com

www.harmonicatom.com.au phone 02 4324 2801 email tom@tomflood.com.au $40 hr or $25 1/2 hr

Shop 12 - Ebbtide Mall 155 The Entrance Rd The Entrance

0418 600 436

Skyperharp: pay by PayPal SPRINGFIELD, NSW

4333 8555

corporate – website – events a one stop solution for all your photographic needs

VALSPIX

Maintenance 0439 589 426 homes2nv@gmail.com

Please donate to buy beds for Ted. Call 1800 151 045 or visit www.noffs.org.au

for good quality Swords, Knives and War memorabilia.

For large collections home visit available

To advertise here call us on 4325 7369

Free activities at Kariong Eco Garden s Kathy Potter, from the Frog and Tadpole Society (FATS), will be visiting the Kariong Eco Garden on Sunday, February 12.

On that day, Kariong Eco Garden will also be planting seasonal vegetable seedlings in their rejuvenated raised beds. Ms Potter will share her knowledge of frogs with members of the community and will bring some along to show.

Kariong Eco Garden will present its summer Four Seasons for Art and Film night on Saturday, February 18. Ten to 15 short films will be screened at the garden’s pedalpowered cinema on February 18 and the audience can vote for the People’s Choice Award. All are welcome - with or without a film to share, and whether or not you want to help pedal. Local Aboriginal Elder, Mr Gavi Duncan, will open each evening this year with his Welcome

to Country, stories, song and didgeridoo playing. The Four Seasons event will include a barbecue, local musicians Mollie Emery and Friends, nature play and treasure hunt, and pedal powered short films. The Kariong Eco Garden is located on the corner of Dandaloo St and Woy Woy Rd.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

OUT&ABOUT PAGE 21 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Brackets and Jam returns to Kincumba Mountain

Media release, Feb 3, 2017 Lisa Wriley, Kariong Eco Gardens

Two gatherings at Henry Kendall Cottage wo gatherings celebrating Australia’s history were held at

the Henry Kendall Cottage and Historical Museum in January.

T Subscribe now and don’t miss an edition Peninsula Community Access

News

1 Year (25 editions) to Peninsula News $75

Members of the Brisbane Water Historical Society attended the venue for their summer gathering on January 21. Ms Cathy Cole, who is writing a book on the upcoming centenary of Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club, addressed the crowd of 20 to 25 on the valuable role women played in surf lifesaving during World War II. Her talk, which focused on Terrigal Surf Lifesaving Club, was said to be an “enthralling story”. The Gosford Probus Blue Waters Group held an Australia Day celebration in the grounds of the cottage on January 26.

1 Year (25 editions) to Coast Community News $75

Media release, Feb1, 2017 Shirley Rider, Brisbane Water Historical Society

The Love Handles

rackets and Jam will return to Kincumba Mountain Kiosk on February 10.

February’s Brackets and Jam will feature the musical stylings of Chelsea Berman, Johnny Devilseed and Old Man Rubes, and The Love Handles. Starting out in the live music scene 5 years ago with her duo, Just Between Us, Berman decided to take her love of country music and song writing to the next level by starting her solo career. An experienced performer and vocalist, Berman has been singing since she was 8-years- old. Her song writing is catchy and

oozes early Taylor Swift. Berman has been a finalist at the Australian Songwriters’ Association Competition in 2015 and 2016, and won the Homegrown Songwriting Competition in 2015. With her duo, she was nominated for a MO Entertainment Award in 2014 and 2015. Formed in late 2010 by guitarist Hayden Maskey and blues harpist Paul (Old Man Rubes) Rubie, the Johnny Devilseed duo have been doing the rounds about town. With a huge repertoire of original songs, ranging from the old timey era to the modern blues of today, their shows have been described by many as a, “full on, hard-core, foot to the floor, theatrical blues

extravaganza.” In March 2014, the blues duo released their debut EP “John the Revelator” to much critical acclaim and have performed at many prestigious festivals up and down the East Coast of Australia. Having opened for local and international acts such as Dead Kennedys, Ash Grunwald, Johnny Diesel, Phil Jamieson and Claude Hay, the Johnny Devilseed Duo has certainly carved a unique sound and reputation with their gravelly voiced, fast paced, blues tunes. Media release, Feb 5, 2017 Noel Plummer, Brackets and Jam South

1 Year (25 editions) to Wyong Regional Chronicle $75

Phone: 4325 7369 120c Erina Street, Gosford To order online

www.duckscrossing.org/shop Name: Ph:

Let your community know about: • Weddings • Engagements • Special Birthdays • Special Anniversaries • New Born Babies • Special Achievements

Email:

• Renotek, Tascott

Address:

Credit Card Number: ___________________/___________________/ ______________________________________/

Exp: ______/______ Please complete credit card details or send a cheque or money order payable to

Central Coast Newspapers, PO Box 1056, Gosford NSW 2250

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

The Shame File

Central Coast Newspapers has a very liberal credit policy for advertisers and realises that from time to time, people, businesses and organisations get into financial difficulty and may need assistance and time to get things back on track. However, some people, businesses and organisations take advantage of this generosity they use advertising but simply don’t pay their account after several months and need to be taken to court to do so. From time to time, as necessary, we will name these people, businesses or organisations as a warning to our readers so that they will be wary when dealing with them.

Send us a photo and information Details on page 2 - 4325 7369

Sutherland, Gosford

North

• Michelle Umback - 2 • Ezy Homes - Freddies Funky, Terrigal Warehouse, Gosford • Shelley Walker Central Plaza Previously trading as James Headmasters Hair • Thomas Trading Design, Park Plaza Clinton, as TMA Products & Gosford AthroBalm & Effective • Jessica Davis - A1 Business Solutions of Cleaning Services, Ettalong Erina • Ashley’s Family • Tony Fitzpatrick Restaurant, Gosford trading as Futurtek George Nouri Roofing • Decorative Fabrics & • Inspire P/L trading Furnishings - Steve as CUP Computers McGinty formerly of Gosford • Dean Lampard • Modern Asian Trading as Lampard Cuisine, Victoria Street Painting East Gosford • Peter Rogers • AAA Coastal Painting Penrose Garden & Service, Greg Aquarium - Erina

PAGE 22 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

SPORT

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

CycloX event to take place at Holgate

Academy of Sport has promised 2017 will be a year of unmatched significance he Central Coast Academy of Sport has promised 2017 will be a year of unmatched significance for the Academy, with new programs on the horizon, and old favourites returning as cornerstones of the organisation.

Members of the Central Coast Cycling Club are gearing up for their first 2017 CycloX event

he Central Coast Cycling Club’s first CycloX event for 2017 will take place at Matcham Valley Pony Club, Holgate, on February 10.

The event consists of two laps around a 1.5km circuit with novice, fast and fastest grades for entrants. The event, which is free to enter, is only available to current 2017 CA or MTBA license holders, and

requires a either mountain or CX bike to compete. Website, Feb 8, 2017 Central Coast Cycling Club Facebook page

Skye O’Mara is Junior Lifesaver of the Year

Tide Chart

FORT DENISON LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000 Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

Time - Height(m) Add one hour to the times below when Daylight Saving is in force

0119 0.42 0748 1.86 THU 1430 0.26 2029 1.44

0212 0.38 0839 1.90 1516 0.22 2115 1.49

0348 0.36 0432 0.39 1010 1.86 1052 1.78 SUN 1639 0.25 MON 1715 0.30 2243 1.52 2323 1.51

0002 1.49 0042 1.47 0600 0.51 0644 0.57 WED 1209 1.57 THU 1246 1.45 1825 0.45 1859 0.52

15 18 SAT

21 TUE

10 FRI

SAT

TUE

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0301 0.36 0926 1.90 1559 0.22 2200 1.51

kye O’Mara has been awarded the Newcastle Permanent Junior Lifesaver of the Year.

Ms O’Mara is a member of the Terrigal Surf Life Saving Club. She will now go on to represent Surf Life Saving Central Coast at the Surf Life Saving New South Wales Junior Lifesaver of the Year event in Sydney in March Website, Jan 5, 2017 Facebook, Central Coast Surf Lifesaving

Plans for 2017 include a revamped Gosford RSL Cycling program, led by high profile coach, Mick Curren. Mick Curren is well known in international cycling ranks and the Academy hopes his involvement will propel the program to new heights. The introduction of Individual Performance Plans in the program will be a central theme, where an athlete’s primary coach is encouraged and supported against the state’s performance plan. The re-introduction of a tennis program is also under development. Changes to the governance and operational structures at Central Coast Tennis have been met with considerable applause, and another high-profile coach is earmarked to join the ranks of the Academy. The Greater Bank Netball Program was recently launched and has been modified to cater for pathway support to the spot’s representative team, Central Coast Heart. Jessica Morgan’s appointment as the Head Coach is another major coup for the Academy. The new plans and scheduling

around this program will see it regain its rightful position as a leading Academy program within NSW. The Head Coach of the ClubsNSW Basketball program will ensure this program starts the year with a bang. Will Granger has assumed the Head Coaching role following his appointment as the Head Coach of the 2017 NSW Country U16 men’s team. Mr Granger’s enthusiasm is contagious and no doubt he has his eyes on these squads playing well at the upcoming ClubsNSW Academy Games. The Crowne Plaza Surfing program remains a cornerstone program for the Academy. Led by Marcus Davidson and Sandra English, these two coaches are simply unmatched in qualifications, commitment and experience. Occurring weekly, some modifications to program content will see this program continue its upward trajectory. The current results of former CCAS Female Athlete of the Year, Surfer Macy Callaghan, is testament to the quality of the athletes who are and have been involved with this program. The Academy always looks to surfing for those quiet achievers and 2017 promises to be the same. Graeme Carroll is a world renowned coach; his laid-back manner hides a determination that ensures the Mingara One Swimming program is guaranteed continued success. Graeme. who has coached at an

0516 0.44 1131 1.68 1751 0.37 0123 1.44 0731 0.64 1328 1.34 1937 0.58

0209 1.42 0303 1.40 0405 1.41 0828 0.69 0933 0.71 1048 0.70 1417 1.25 SUN 1520 1.18 MON 1636 1.16 2023 0.64 2120 0.68 2227 0.70

0509 1.44 0607 1.51 0025 0.62 1157 0.65 1252 0.57 0656 1.58 1749 1.18 WED 1846 1.24 THU 1337 0.49 2330 0.67 1932 1.31

APPROX. TIME LAG AFTER FORT DENISON Ettalong 40 min, Rip Bridge 2hrs - Wisemans Ferry 2 hrs 30 min, Koolewong 2 hrs 10 min

In view of the variations caused by local conditions and meteorological effects, these times are approximate and must be considered as a guide only. They are not to be relied on for critical depth calculations for safe navigation. Actual times of High and Low Water may occur before or after the times indicated

WAR MEMORABILIA WANTED

Olympic and World Championship level, still finds time for the athletes on the Central Coast. The Tenpin Bowing Program, now underway, is a pilot program and is designed to grow in the ensuing 12 months. The program is coached by another high performing former athlete, Mark Booker, who is charged with the primary responsibility of working within the TPB pathway to advance Central Coast Athletes in their pursuit of higher representative honours. The Callaway Golf Program is set to be super charged with new coach, Nat Whittington, joining the program. Nat Whittington will be assisting Peter Cliff in the delivery of technology into the program. Nat’s a wizard with ‘Trackman’, and his involvement promises to add another dimension to the program, otherwise not available. In April, the ClubsNSW Academy Games will again be held at multiple venues across the region. Preliminary plans indicate more than 850 athletes will converge on the Coast to contest the games. The ClubsNSW Academy Games is another key sporting event for the region and the Central Coast Academy of Sport will be looking to achieve back-to-back awards with the Central Coast Sports Foundation, where the 2016 ClubsNSW Academy Games secured the sporting event of the year award. Media release, Feb 6, 2017 Central Coast Academy of Sport Media

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

SPORT

PAGE 23 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Gosford hosts close National Youth League grand final

James Koch was the man of the moment at lifeguard challenge

Braedyn Crowley

he best of Central Coast Council’s lifeguard service battled it out on Terrigal Beach in January for top honours in Central Coast Council’s new look lifeguard challenge.

The annual challenge required a new approach following the amalgamation of the former Gosford and Wyong Councils in May 2016. Competitors contended individually in the Howard Jones Memorial Mission, and in teams to take out the coveted Cook Cup trophy. Council’s Connected Communities group leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the competitive spirit was still there under the new format. “Thirty of our finest lifeguards took part in the two events that demonstrated their experience, skill and talent,” Ms Vaughan said. “Our lifeguards do a great job keeping our beaches safe every summer and certainly showed off these skills at the challenge.” The Howard Jones Memorial Mission is an individual event consisting of an 800m run, 400m

swim, 800m run and 600m board paddle. The Cook Cup is a team event which saw 10 teams of three compete in an 800m run, 400m swim and a 600m board paddle. Shelly Beach’s James Koch was the man of the moment taking home both the Howard Jones Memorial trophy as well as the Cook Cup. The top five place getters in the Howard Jones Memorial Mission were: James Koch, Brad McCloghry, Zak Van Dartel, Tom Simpson and Tom Lennox. The winning team in the Cook Cup was James Koch, Zak Van Dartel and Jack Waddell. The champion lifeguards will now form one team to compete in the annual Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association’s Inter-Council Lifeguard Challenge at Bondi Beach on Saturday, February 11. The team will take on some of the best lifeguards from the East Coast, including the popular Bondi Lifeguards. Media release, Feb 2, 2017 Central Coast Council media

Photo: Melbourne City Supporters Facebook page

elbourne City FC were crowned the National Youth League 2017 Champions after a thrilling 3 to 2 win over defending champions Sydney FC in the season decider at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday, January 28.

A penalty from Braedyn Crowley, with literally the last kick of the game, decided the result, to give Melbourne City FC their second Foxtel National Youth League title. In an enthralling end to end encounter, Melbourne City FC dominated the opening 45 minutes, but only had a one goal advantage to show for it at half time, when Crowley timed his run to perfection to latch onto Daniel Arzani’s cross and beat Mitchell Evans in the Sky Blues’ goal in the 22nd minute. Melbourne City FC would be made to rue their missed opportunities as Sydney FC drew level, when George Timotheou was credited for poking the ball home, although City defender Ruon Tongyik appeared to turn a Cristian Gonzalez free kick into his

own net. The goal seemed to energise the Sky Blues, and when substitute, Charles Lokolingoy, curled a cracking shot into the top corner in the 68th minute, Sydney FC were in front and dreaming of claiming back-to-back Foxtel National Youth League titles. But the twists and turns continued, as Melbourne City

FC won a penalty for a handball with ten minutes to go, Arzani converting from the spot to set up a grandstand finish. Both sides continued to create and spurn quality chances as cramp started to settle in on a number of players feeling the effects of the warm Gosford afternoon. Then just as extra time

beckoned, Sydney FC substitute Liam McGing was adjudged to have handballed in the penalty area from a corner, and with the resultant spot kick, Crowley made no mistake to etch Melbourne City FC’s name on the trophy. Media release, Jan 28, 2017 Nick Kerber, Football Federation Australia

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