Coast Community News 273 by Central Coast Newspapers

18 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 273

News

A Santa for all

Cycling enthusiasts who need assistance are now able to jump back on a bike, with the Central Coast Bicycle User Group (CCBUG) re-starting its tandem RidesAssist program. See page 10

Out&About

He has a busy week ahead of him, but Santa Claus managed to find time to pop in to the Australian Reptile Park on December 16 to enjoy cuddles with the animals and hand out some Christmas treats.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, now known as Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, will hold a series of art workshops over the summer by award-winning Aboriginal artist, Garry Purchase. See page 17

Santa was even brave enough to take on 35 American alligators as he jumped into the lagoon to feed them snacks but the feisty reptiles chased Santa out as soon as he delivered their presents.

Education

Rates could go up by 15 per cent Central Coast residents could be looking at a 15 per cent rate rise next year, with Council Administrator Dick Persson announcing he will apply to the Independent Pricing and Regularity Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation. This supersedes a rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November. Persson shared the news with a group of protesters outside Wyong Chambers before heading into the December 14 meeting and made the official announcement. Harmonisation of the rates between the two former council areas would result in the former Gosford area paying about $7 a week more while the former Wyong areas would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.

Residents protested a mooted 15 per cent rate rise ahead of Council’s December 14 meeting

These are average payments. Persson said further work has been done forecasting the reductions in the levels of service to achieve sustainable long term financial plans and repay the restricted reserves debt. “As a result, it is now apparent

that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain a similar level of service,” he said. The increase, if granted, would be permanent. “In considering a possible rate variation, I have looked at the rate levels for neighbouring

Councils,” Persson said. “It is clear from this information that residential ratepayers on the Central Coast pay less in rates than (in) neighbouring Council (areas) of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock – all of whom currently have special rate

variations applying.” Lake Macquarie pays 34 per cent more; Newcastle 42 per cent more and Cessnock 13 per cent more than the average rates a Central Coast resident pays. Persson said COVID-19 resulted in a loss of income to Council. “I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment,” he said. “I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.” Persson said the money Council spent on infrastructure, although a flawed decision, was well spent. Merilyn Vale

Central Coast Sports College Year Nine student, Paige Stanford, has held a sleep out for her peers to highlight the plight of homelessness. See page 35

Sport

Four young mountain-bikers from Killcare, calling themselves the Four Mulleteers, journeyed to Rydal in NSW to take on the best riders in the state last weekend (December 12-13) in the Rocky Trail Jet Black 24-hour Race. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

PAGE 2

18 DECEMBER 2020

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Coast Community News is published weekly on a Friday by Central Coast Newspapers Pty Ltd (CCN), a local, family-owned business. CCN publishes three local, independent newspapers – Coast Community News, the Coast Community Pelican Post and the Coast Community Chronicle – distributed via more than 450 distribution points right across the Central Coast. Most of our stories, as well as our digital programs such as “Friday 5@5”, can be viewed online at www.coastcommunitynews.com.au CCN aims to serve the interests of the community in three important ways: 1. To serve the ultimate purpose of the free press in a democracy, that is, to hold powerful interests to account through high-quality, independent journalism without fear or prejudice; 2. To provide an affordable medium for local businesses to advertise their products and services, including discounted rates for eligible not-for-profit organisations; and, 3. To keep the community informed about local issues and ensure that important public notices are available to ALL members of the community irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances. Our content is originated through both our own team of local journalists as well as external

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Coast News would like to offer three lucky readers the chance to win a family pass to Taronga Zoo Sydney. The summer holidays are almost here and whether your family craves an action-packed day of fun or is looking for an escape, Taronga Zoo Sydney has something for you! Did you know a lion’s roar can be heard more than 8km away?

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challenges facing these iconic species in the wild. For your chance to win, write your full name, address and daytime telephone number on the back of an envelope and mail it to Coast Community News Taronga Zoo Competition PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250, before 5pm on December 22. The winner of the PETstock Competition was Robyn Kinder of Davistown.

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Next Edition: Coast Community News 274

If you dare, stop in and meet three-year-old Lion brother’s Lwazi and Ato at the recently opened African Savannah precinct. Here, guest are instantly transported to the heart of Africa on the edge of Sydney Harbour, and can come eye-toeye with an array of incredible African wildlife including Lions, Fennec Fox, Meerkats, Giraffes and Zebras, all whilst learning about the conservation

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Deadline: December 22 Publication date: December 24

2250 - Bucketty, Calga, Central Mangrove, East Gosford, Erina, Erina Fair, Glenworth Valley, Gosford, Greengrove, Holgate, Kariong, Kulnura, Lisarow, Lower Mangrove, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, Matcham, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mount White, Narara, Niagara Park, North Gosford, Peats Ridge, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Somersby, Springfield, Tascott, Ten Mile Hollow, Upper Mangrove, Wendoree Park, West Gosford, Wyoming 2251 - Avoca Beach, Bensville, Bouddi, Copacabana, Davistown, Green Point, Kincumber, MacMasters Beach, Picketts Valley, Saratoga, Yattalunga 2260 - Forresters Beach, North Avoca, Terrigal, Wamberal

Publisher: Ross Barry - CEO: Cec Bucello - Design & Production: Justin Stanley, Lucillia Eljuga Journalists: Terry Collins, Merilyn Vale, Dilon Luke, Jacinta Counihan, Hayley McMahon, Maisy Rae, Haakon Barry - Head of Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff ISSN 1839-9045 - Print Post Approved - PP100001843 - Printed by Spotpress Marrickville

4 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 271

Budget black hole • Central Coast Council has racked up a massive $565M debt since 2017 and is looking at a deficit this year alone of $115M.

News

With the new $10M Leagues Club Field regional play space set to open to the public during summer, work is well underway on installing sandstone animal islands in the park.

9 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 218

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Foreshore reserve rejuvenated

News

ISSUE 272

The end of an era for youth services hub

News

See page 6

ISSUE 219

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Rebikes reinvigorated

News

18 DECEMBER 2020 17 DECEMBER 2020

ISSUE 004

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

News

Smith takes out Single Ski

A letter asking for national leadership on beachfront coastal erosion is being penned by Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson...

See page 3

Out&About

16 DECEMBER 2020

Professional Central Coast surfer Adrian “Ace” Buchan added his voice to growing chorus of opposition to the renewal of the PEP 11 licence for offshore gas exploration.

Construction of Elsie’s Retreat, the Coast’s first dedicated inpatient palliative care unit, is poised to begin.

See page 4

• Administrator Dick Persson will seek a three-month extension of his original three-month term.

11 DECEMBER 2020

Out&About

ISSUE 273

News

A Santa for all

Cycling enthusiasts who need assistance are now able to jump back on a bike, with the Central Coast Bicycle User Group (CCBUG) re-starting its tandem RidesAssist program.

A house in Umina Beach has brought festive cheer to locals with a spectacular lightshow that is free to all each night of the week.

See page 10

See page 6

See page 8

Out&About

• The contract of CEO Gary Murphy had been terminated. • Council will start selling off assets, with the first list of proposed sale sites now available.

A friendship established with a customer while she was working as a door greeter at Kmart...

Education

The halls aren’t the only things that have been decked this festive season, with Busways Central Coast rolling out some specially decorated buses to spread holiday cheer and raise funds...

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has urged beach-goers to keep their distance from a large Australian fur seal which has been spotted sunbaking at Forresters Beach over the past week. The bull seal was attacked by a dog at Long Reef north of Sydney early in November and has been trying out a few beaches heading north ever since. Ronny Ling from Central Coast Dolphin Project said NPWS had been following the movements of the seal, nicknamed Reg because of his tendency to regulate his temperature by warming up when he hauls onto the sand, by putting his flipper in the air. “He is identifiable by the big notch which has been taken out of his front

flipper,” Ling said. “He also has a small injury on his chin.” Ling said it was important to give the seal space and not walk in between the seal and the water, as that is his escape route and he may feel threatened. People must keep back at least 40 metres from the seal, not walk between the seal and the water and keep their dogs on-leash. They are also urged not to attempt to feed Reg. But residents are urged to report a sick, injured or distressed seal to NPWS on 13000 PARKS (1300 072 757) or ORRCA on (02) 9415 3333. Source: Media releases, Nov 28 NPWS and Central Coast Dolphin Project

Nathan Walker and his friends have raised $10,000 for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, after holding their second Smeethy Cup in honour of a friend who has passed away. See page 35

Sport

Jono Cooper once again showed his power and class to take out the Open Men’s Single final of the Gosford Tennis Club (GTC) 2020 Open Club Championships in a strong field of 44 players. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Workforce at Central Coast Council to be slashed by 242 The workforce at Central Coast Council will be slashed by 242 in the wake of its financial crisis, to return to the number of staff at the time of amalgamation. Staff costs have risen by 43 percent since amalgamation, using a normalised cost of $154M as the starting base, while revenue has risen by only six percent, the Administrator, Dick Persson, stated in his interim 30-day report delivered to the public on December 2. He also mentioned the “substantial costs” of $25M from an industrial dispute concerning 38/35-hour week

negotiations as well as unifying the salary scale and harmonisation costs. The nine directorates making up the senior leadership team has been reduced to five long term. A sixth directorate is short term, which is Malcolm Ryan, who has been engaged short term as Chief Operating Officer to assist the interim Administrator and Acting CEO deal with issues such as improving processes and structures. Council has earmarked $45M in its current budget for organisational restructuring costs including staff

redundancies. It then adds another $5M for the recruitment of critical or revenue generating positions. Acting CEO, Rik Hart, proposed the new organisational structure and the Administrator, Dick Persson, adopted it at the November 30 meeting. The revised Senior Staff Structure will consist of a director for water and sewer, community services, environment and planning, infrastructure, and corporate affairs. The senior staff roles that no longer form part of the executive structure are the Director Governance, which is

currently vacant, the executive manager People and Culture; executive manager Innovation and Futures; and the chief information officer, which is currently vacant. It is unclear whether these four roles will be cut or simply demoted. Persson flagged that the next level of management, the 37 unit managers, would also be substantially cut. CEO, Rik Hart, has called a series of staff information sessions throughout the day on December 9 to include all staff, including those at work depots. United Services Union representative, Luke

Hutchinson, said he has had numerous meetings with the CEO about proposed workplace changes and staff levels. “Discussions I’m having with Council are in relation to a voluntary redundancy program and to limit the loss of rank and file or operational jobs or essential workers, which I think would be disastrous for delivery of services on the Central Coast,” he said. “The Union has been working with Council through all the staff changes and what we’re trying to achieve is that any of these changes don’t impact the community,” Hutchinson said. Sue Murray and Merilyn Vale

The Central Coast’s very own opera company, Coast Opera Australia, is launching a new post-pandemic program, with Opera Afloat planned for February 2021. See page 17

Education

The bicycle boom was one of the most unexpected impacts of COVID-19, but it’s a welcome surprise for Alison Homestead Men’s Shed members, Kerry Braslin and Ken Johnson.

Compass Housing has teamed up with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Cerebral Palsy Alliance to build and plant-out a wheelchair accessible sensory garden... See page 31

Sport

Wyong, Northern Power and Lisarow-Ourimbah White claimed the points in Round 5 of Central Coast Cricket Association’s Women’s A Grade Competition.

See page 39

Puzzles page 23

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Acting CEO Rik Hart

It appears this may have led the Council to believe it had more cash reserves than it actually did. A significant issue for the new Council was the way auditors suggested they account for restricted funds at the beginning of 2017, when the Council was still under administration from the merger. Council’s Acting CEO, Rik Hart, said there was a note to the accounts in the 2016 financial year saying the department had a voluntary policy on how to account for restricted funds. “This was done at the time allegedly under the advice of the auditors,” Hart said. The policy made it appear that the Council had an extra

$88M as cash that could be spent. Hart said that elsewhere in the annual report, the funds appeared as restricted funds. “These were published numbers, they were there if you knew where to look,” Hart said. The reporting of the restricted funds as cash meant the Council, at the beginning of the 2017 financial year, thought it had $93M in cash when in fact it only had $5M. At the end of the financial year, the Council had saved $65M from income thanks in part to $80M in operational grants from the State Government. So, it had total cash of $70M only, not the extra $88M of restricted funds mentioned at the start of 2017 in the published accounts. But even with only $70M in cash, Council started the 2018 financial year in great shape. That was July 2017 and the

See page 17

A local fire brigade has swapped Santa’s sleigh for a sidecar at its annual threeday Santa run which started on December 10.

Peninsula local Jemma Smith took out the Female Single Ski event in round three of the Envirobank Super Teams Series at Umina Beach on December 5.

Education

See page 17

Education

See story page 39

He has a busy week ahead of him, but Santa Claus managed to find time to pop in to the Australian Reptile Park on December 16 to enjoy cuddles with the animals and hand out some Christmas treats.

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, now known as Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, will hold a series of art workshops over the summer by award-winning Aboriginal artist, Garry Purchase. See page 17

Santa was even brave enough to take on 35 American alligators as he jumped into the lagoon to feed them snacks but the feisty reptiles chased Santa out as soon as he delivered their presents.

Education

Jemma Smith winning the Female Single Ski

Auditors in Council’s sights Auditors are in the sights of Central Coast Council about advice provided on the reporting of restricted funds.

Kanwal’s Grace Evans has taken out this year’s Dobell Christmas Card competition.

Continued page 14

See page 4

Reg the seal hauls out on Forresters Beach

After 20 years, tenants in the Gosford Parkside building are having to relocate to make way for the construction of Central Coast Council’s Gosford Regional Library.

See page 17

Health

Doreen Vandersteen, Lyn Clark-Duff, Janet Clark-Duff and Jenny Sullivan at the mural walls in tribute to the namesake of Ashley Chapman Reserve at Budgewoi

Full report, pages 6-7

CCN

Over the past 18 months, a small group of Budgewoi locals have been rejuvenating a small foreshore reserve at the end of Noela Pl, bringing it back to life, firstly with a proud new name, Ashley Chapman Reserve, as well as wall murals in tribute of its namesake.

See page 17

• Other mitigation measures will include further borrowings, an increase in some Council charges and huge staff cuts which will see more than 200 go.

Unauthorised outdoor dog kennels approved in secret council was still under administration. The councillors were not elected until September 2017. “$70M was a sound amount to have as a cash buffer for unexpected expenses and to cover for fluctuations in cash flow,” Hart said. But once the councillors were elected, the Council started spending way more than it earned in income. By the end of financial year 2018, the deficit was $22.7M. By the end of financial year 2019, another $5M was added to the accumulating deficit. Also looming by then was a $39M cut in income from the IPART decision to lower water and sewer rates for the Central Coast. By the beginning of 2020, the figures were showing that income was decreasing and costs increasing. Continued page 3

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch is encouraging Central Coast young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply for scholarships now... See page 35

Sport

Avoca Beach will play host to a world-class surfing competition next year, with the Vissla Central Coast Pro set to be held from 2 to 7 March 2021. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

A dog boarding, training and breeding business, operating without consent at Palm Grove and strongly opposed by neighbours, was approved behind closed doors by Central Coast Local Planning Panel on Wednesday, December 9. There was no public announcement of the meeting, which ran from 10.05am to 10.14am, nor was it livestreamed online, as Panel meetings usually are. The supplementary meeting, held one day before the Panel’s regular meeting, was to consider a further report to the development application which the Panel requested when it deferred the matter in October. The Panel decided on a 15-month trial period with a maximum 30 dogs, and then the owner, Mr K Lewis, must submit a new development application for approval to continue business at 604 Ourimbah Creek Rd. After the 15-month period,

The unauthorised outdoor dog kennels and evening house

operations must cease until further development consent is given. The owner must also submit a Building Information Certificate application by the end of 2020 in relation to the unauthorised outdoor dog kennels. Another requirement of approval is an independent acoustic assessment in January 2021 to compare operational noise levels to predicted noise levels, as well as identifying any further noise mitigation

measures. The Panel said the Council must prepare a policy on complaints handling and dispute resolution and maintain a complaint register and actions taken. Another approval condition was that the business must appoint a manager who is contactable 24/7, and the manager’s phone number be supplied to adjoining neighbours in order to address an immediate concern regarding use of the

property for dog boarding, training and breeding. In July 2019, Council received complaints about the unlawful use of the 7ha site and about intrusive noise from barking dogs. Council found the business, including the construction of outdoor dog kennels, was operating without development consent and issued noncompliance notices. However, for some time, Lewis continued business until a

Penalty Infringement Notice was issued, which led to Lewis’s development application 97/2020. TheDAreceived45submissions of objection including the absence of development consent, cleaning methods of the dog runs with the possibility of waste washing into Ourimbah Creek, noise impact from dogs barking, concerns for animal welfare, dog breeding not fitting the character of the area, the noise and smell of a large number of dogs driving away wildlife, and no confidence that a set number of dogs would be abided by the owner. The Local Planning Panel’s unanimous decision of approval included that subject to the conditions imposed, the business was not expected to have an adverse social or economic impact. Sue Murray See also comment from the community in Forum

Rates could go up by 15 per cent

Rates could rise by 15 per cent Budgewoi Public School students have ended their school year on a colourful high, following the school’s inaugural colour run. See page 34

Sport

God, family and good ole hard work, that’s what’s going to get Tacoma’s Anita FaimasuiBrown to the 2021 Rugby World Cup.

Peninsula residents could be facing a 15 per cent rate rise next year, following an announcement at the Central Coast Council meeting on December 14. A proposed rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November has now risen to a proposed 15 per cent. Administrator Dick Persson announced Council would write to the Independent Regularity and Pricing Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation. Harmonisation of the rates between the former Gosford and Wyong council areas would see Peninsula residents paying about $7 a week more while residents to the north of the region would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.

Residents protested a mooted rate rise ahead of the Council meeting on December 14

These are average payments. Persson said further work has been done in forecasting reductions in levels of service to achieve sustainable long term financial plans and repay

the restricted reserves debt. “As a result, it is now apparent that a larger increase needs to be considered in order to maintain a similar level of service,” he said.

The increase, if granted, would be permanent. “In considering a possible rate variation, I have looked at the rate levels for neighbouring councils,” Persson said.

See page 38

Puzzles page 23

“It is clear from this information that residential rate payers on the Central Coast pay less in rates than neighbouring councils of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Cessnock – all of whom currently have special rate variations applying.” Persson said COVID-19 had resulted in a loss of income to Council. “I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment,” he said. “I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.” Merilyn Vale

CWA of Umina Beach members donated home knitted hot water bottle covers to children in war-affected countries on November 18. See page 35

Sport

It was a historic day for a local cricket club last month when the family of a late player pitched on the field named in his honour. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Central Coast residents could be looking at a 15 per cent rate rise next year, with Council Administrator Dick Persson announcing he will apply to the Independent Pricing and Regularity Tribunal (IPART) asking for permission for an increase of 13 per cent plus another two per cent for inflation. This supersedes a rate rise of 10 per cent signalled in November. Persson shared the news with a group of protesters outside Wyong Chambers before heading into the December 14 meeting and made the official announcement. Harmonisation of the rates between the two former council areas would result in the former Gosford area paying about $7 a week more while the former Wyong areas would pay about $3 a week less than they are paying now.

Residents protested a mooted 15 per cent rate rise ahead of Council’s December 14 meeting

Central Coast Sports College Year Nine student, Paige Stanford, has held a sleep out for her peers to highlight the plight of homelessness. See page 35

Sport

Puzzles page 22

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford & 3 Amy Close, Wyong - Phone: 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net - www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Office: Level 2.01/86-88 Mann Street Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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18 DECEMBER 2020

Administrator asks for Federal help in managing coastal erosion Central Coast Council Administrator Dick Persson has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging the Federal Government to take the lead on managing coastal erosion. Persson wants to see Federal and State assistance to buy dredges or to arrange longterm contracts to allow large scale sand nourishment of beaches. He said it clearly was becoming a national emergency. Last time he asked for Federal Government leadership, it was a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP in 2016 but he was snubbed. He only received a polite and dismissive letter from a middle level public servant, advising him that it was a matter for State and local governments. Persson said he understood that was the case particularly while managing the crises as they are happening but would still argue that national leadership was required. “While the argument receiving most publicity is over

seawalls, whether to have them and who should pay for them, the expert advice is that the only real long-term option for preventing the loss of many of our beaches lies in largescale sand nourishment sourced from offshore deposits,” he wrote to Morrison. “While this would be expensive, so would the loss of beaches, houses and

infrastructure as the frequency of storm activity and tidal surges occur at an increasing rate. “It is clear that the cost of these works is beyond the capacity of local councils. “I am confident coastal economies would benefit if Federal and State Governments work together to either purchase a number of dredges

or at least secure long-term contracts to provide beach nourishment at the many erosion hot-spots up and down our magnificent coastline.” Persson’s letter comes after he saw television footage of Byron Bay showing the beach being washed away minutes before he chaired this week’s December 14 Council meeting. “I am mad as hell and

somebody has to do something,” he said. After his speech, he said he felt better for venting. His speech came in response to the tabling of a report at the meeting which updated him on beachfront and river management plans. Council is progressively working on developing new Coastal Management Programs

(CMPs) for the Central Coast in accordance with State Government directions outlined in the NSW Coastal Management Manual. These CMPs will replace Council’s existing Coastal Zone Management Plans(CZMPs). CMPs are prepared through a five-stage process. These are currently underway for the Hawkesbury – Nepean Estuary (including Broken Bay and Brisbane Water), the Open Coast and Coastal Lagoons areas and the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary. Community consultation and engagement is to be undertaken as the plans are developed. Certified CZMPs will cease to have effect from December 31, 2021, with only certified CMPs being recognised from that time. There is however no requirement for councils to complete CMPs by 2021. The report went on to explain the roles of the multiple NSW Government agencies and Council during the response to the coastal erosion that occurred during July 2020. Merilyn Vale

Fancy a bonus gift, Woy Woy and Gosford? Receive a bonus BlueAnt X2 speaker when you sign up to any new month-to-month nbn™ internet bundle. Offer ends Monday, 15/02/2021. Visit your local Telstra Store to get your gift! Woy Woy Shop 24 Cnr Railway & Charlton St • 02 4341 0061 Gosford 171 Mann Street • 0436 937 336

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: Offer available when you sign up to any new month-to-month nbn™ internet bundle from Telstra Store Woy Woy & Gosford between 14/12/2020 and 15/02/2021. Offer eligible to new customers during the offer dates who add on to an eligible service. BlueAnt X2 speaker terms & conditions apply.

PAGE 4

18 DECEMBER 2020

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Save Winney Bay Reserve group calls for a Plan D

With community consultation having just closed on three concept designs for the Winney Bay clifftop walk and four for Captain Cook Lookout, a new community group is calling for a fourth plan for the controversial project. The Save Winney Bay Reserve group has lodged a submission calling for a Plan D, outlining suggested measures for consideration which are not included in any of the three options so far provided. “As a result of our observations of the excessive and covert tree removal in Winney Bay in early 2018, in preparation for the construction of the concrete stairs and vehicle service road/ path from the base of the old farmhouse to the southern clifftop, a group of local residents created a Facebook page called Save Winney Bay Reserve,” the group’s submission to Council says. “This group subsequently held a number of meetings to discuss our shared concerns, and we now have 440 followers of this page, which posts regularly.” The group has compiled a wish list of things it would like

to see implemented in the plans. “Our group is a diverse but united group and consists of a range of residents from the Copacabana and wider community; teenagers, longterm residents, environmentalists, local Aborigines, traditional custodians, people with disabilities, and even residents

in their 80s,” the submission says. Included on the wish list is construction of disability access to Captain Cook Lookout, and improved viewing, the allocation of permanent disability parking spaces at the current car park and safe pedestrian access to the current car park from Del Monte Pl.

The group would also like to see a water bubbler and garbage/recycling bins placed in the vicinity of the car park and the creation of a bush-trail to the top of the existing stairs, utilising compatible and sustainable natural materials, and visually low-key safety fencing adjacent to the cliff face. It is calling for permanent

signage to designate the Winney Bay area as Coastal Open Space System (COSS) land, including appropriate educational material, and permanent signage to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land. The group would like to see a designated plan of management for the Winney Bay Reserve area prepared by a qualified

ecologist to encompass management for the area inclusive of Crown Land and COSS. This should include strategies for the removal of bitou/ boneseed bush, and the regeneration of Themeda grassland and other endangered ecological communities in the area. A petition being compiled by the group included well over one 1000 signatures, which it says indicated the strength of support in the community for a Plan D. “We are also aware of another petition circulating which has a similar objective to that of our own,” the submission says. “We would like it noted the current options offered by Council are not consistent with the objectives of the Coastal Open Space System Strategy. “We also draw your attention to the fact that the Indigenous survey to support the current proposals was undertaken a number of years ago and are of the view that a new study should be undertaken to maintain currency.” Source: Media release, Dec 15 Save Winney Bay Reserve

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NEWS

PAGE 5

18 DECEMBER 2020

Report foreshadows further rise in homelessness ahead With a new report revealing homelessness is set to rise by more than 20 per cent on the Central Coast over the next four years, Coast Shelter Interim CEO Jennifer Eddy is calling for strong leadership and financial support from both State and Federal Governments to tackle the issue. “We need an integrated approach to both the issue of insufficient accommodation and tackling the root causes of homelessness, spearheaded by the government,” Eddy said. “There has been some good progress made on the Coast, but it has been a bit ad hoc. “These projections are very concerning and reflect what we are actually seeing at Coast Shelter. “We have been seeing more and more people in need of accommodation this year and many of them are presenting for the first time. “People have lost their jobs or have had hours reduced and they simply can’t afford to keep up with the rent.”

Eddy said Coast Shelter had provided 67,000 overnight beds this year and served more than 50,000 hot meals as COVID-19 saw many more families in desperate need. “We have people sleeping in parks and quite often it’s due to circumstances beyond their control,” she said. “Older women are especially vulnerable – some have had their hours reduced and are living in a car or couch surfing. “It’s a crisis situation.” “In our refuges we are seeing exit blocks’ we are simply unable to move people out because there is nowhere for them to go.” Eddy said people relocating to the Coast during COVID-19 had exacerbated the problem. “We certainly need to look at affordable accommodation and security of tenure, but we also need to look at the types of accommodation needed,” she said. “And it is about more than bricks and mortar. “We also need to look at the cause of homelessness - it can be financial or a result of

domestic and family violence and is sometimes exacerbated by mental health issues, drugs and alcohol or disability. “We have seen quite an increase in people seeking domestic violence support since the social restrictions eased “We need to look at what is actively stopping people from re engaging in employment and education. “We need to make them job ready and life ready to break the cycle; a holistic approach is needed. “And this needs a coordinated approach; the government needs to take a leadership role.” Eddy said even though many residents had themselves been through a difficult year, community response to Coast Shelter’s annual Christmas appeal had been overwhelming. “Our Santa Shelter is full of food and gifts which have been donated,” she said. “We have more than 1,000 hampers to distribute and we are actually finding we are able to supply many children with

the actual gifts they requested from Santa. “For some of them, this is something they have never experienced. “Even though people have struggled themselves this year, they are still looking to support others.” An Equity Economics report, Double return: How investing in social housing can address the growing homelessness crisis and boost Australia’s economic recovery, was commissioned by Everybody’s Home, a broadbased civil society coalition attempting to fix Australia’s broken housing system and end homelessness. It reveals homelessness will rise by 20.9 per cent on the Central Coast in the next four years and housing stress will soar by 32.9 per cent. Everybody’s Home is calling for a $7.2B investment from the Federal Government for social housing across the country.

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Coast Shelter CEO Jennifer Eddy in the organisation’s Santa Shelter

PAGE 6

18 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS Completed infrastructure enables ‘thousands of new jobs’ SHARE

Infrastructure work at Mount Penang Parklands is officially complete, at a cost of $4M, improving the site for business and education tenants, while also unlocking the site to deliver thousands of new jobs in the future. Parliamentary Secretary for

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Infrastructure work at Mount Penang Parklands is complete

the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), a NSW Government agency, delivered the work. “To date, over $4M has been spent at Kariong on upgraded roads, footpaths, sewer connections and water

services,” Crouch said. “The hundreds of students and parents who visit Mount Penang Parklands each day will see immediate benefits, with an improved public road into the site and a new street address for Kariong Mountains High School. “HCCDC has worked hard to

future proof the site’s infrastructure, and these recently completed works will further improve essential services for the 30 current business and education tenants.” Crouch said the infrastructure works also enable the development of sections of

land alongside Kangoo Rd and Central Coast Hwy. “Two local companies, Borg Manufacturing and Stevens Group, have exciting plans for light industrial and commercial development that have potential to create over 3,000 jobs,” he said. “The NSW Government wants

to unlock the potential of Mount Penang Parklands by laying the groundwork, before inviting businesses to create job and investment opportunities for the Central Coast.” Source: Media release, Dec 16 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Happy Holidays

From all the team at Creightons Funeral Service, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! While it has been a long and difficult year like no other, we wish you a safe time celebrating and connecting with family and loved ones. Our friendly team are here for you 24/7 over this Christmas and New Year period. Call our 24/7 phone line on 4324 1533.

02 4324 1533

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PAGE 7

18 DECEMBER 2020

Merry Christmas.

I hope you have a happy, healthy and joyous Christmas and all the best for the New Year. LUCY WICKS MP Federal Member for Robertson

Level 3, 69 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250 lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au

lucywicksmp.com

02 4322 2400 LucyWicksMP

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PAGE 8

18 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

Plans for a Regional Library in Gosford have been put on hold as Central Coast Council adopts deferrals, cancellations and cutbacks to dozens of capital works projects in the face of its financial crisis. The cost saving measures were outlined in Council’s first quarter Business Report, which covers the period from July 1 to September 30, which was adopted, along with Administrator Dick Persson’s

Projects valued at $65M have been cancelled, deferred or reduced

Plans for a Regional Library at Gosford have been deferred

30-Day Report into Council’s financial situation, on December 2. A major review of Council’s capital works program has identified a number of projects region wide which can be cancelled, deferred or reduced, to save $65M. Among other projects to be deferred and reconsidered at a later date are a pollution control device at Hylton Moore Oval, East Gosford, and new public toilets in Wiles Ave, Wamberal

and at Macmasters Beach. Security improvements at Council’s Erina depot have also been put on hold, as has a project to remove the glass awning at Gosford Regional Gallery and replace it with a steel roof. The Terrigal Tennis complex will have to wait a little longer for new court posts, fencing and lighting. Among other projects deferred are embankment stabilisation at Holgate, dam

face remediation at Mooney Mooney dam, risk mitigation devices at Central Coast Stadium, lighting upgrades at Gosford City Carpark and bin replacements at Gosford and Terrigal. Fire trail upgrades have been deferred at various locations and a lifeguard tower for Avoca Beach is also on hold. Playspace upgrades at Hylton Moore Oval and Jirrumbah Park, Saratoga, are also on the list.

Among roadworks to be deferred are upgrades on Davistown Rd and Carrington St, Narara. Region-wide, the program will see major deferrals of sewage treatment plant upgrades and water mains maintenance. In his report, Persson said Council had embarked on a capital works program of $242M for 2019/20, which is $69M more than the average spend over the previous two

financial years, under the incorrect assumption that capital works could be paid for from restricted funds Council had also agreed to another $224M this year, but this would be drastically reduced under the proposed program of deferrals and reductions, he said. The full report can be viewed on Council’s website. Source: Q1 Business Report, Dec 2 Central Coast Council

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PAGE 9

18 DECEMBER 2020

This year has been like no other. Fire, flood, and pandemic. Thank you to our frontline workers, our cleaners, teachers, our emergency services, health workers, RFS volunteers, current and returned servicepeople, and our community workers for all you have done this year. To all in our community, I wish you the happiest of times this festive season, and look forward to a wonderful 2021.

Liesl Tesch MP Member for Gosford 20 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy NSW 2256

Gosford@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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Authorised by Liesl Tesch, 20 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy NSW 2256. Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. Full Page - 2020 Christmas.indd 1

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PAGE 10 18 DECEMBER 2020

NEWS

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RidesAssist program set to resume Cycling enthusiasts who need assistance are now able to jump back on a bike, with the Central Coast Bicycle User Group (CCBUG) re-starting its tandem RidesAssist program. The program offers tandem rides to those living with a disability so they can still experience the joy of cycling and gain the benefits of exercise. CCBUG President, Alan Corvy, said the program stopped in March due to the social distancing concerns, but he now feels confident they can resume because of low transmission rates. “With COVID we could not guarantee the 1.5m social distance between people on

the tandem bikes, so we had to halt it for a while,” Corvy said. “But now the transmission rates are low, we can reintroduce the program with safety guidelines. “If our pilots are feeling unwell, they are encouraged to stay home, and we will also be encouraging pilots to wear masks.” Corvy started the RidesAssist program in 2017 after his friend had an accident leaving him unable to ride alone. “He was around 70 and was a really strong rider, but he was told he was not able to ride a bike anymore because his vision was not strong enough,” Covy said. “So, I thought, he is a strong rider, but he cannot ride on his

Coast Connect

BUY LOCAL

own, what happens if we had a tandem bike which he could ride on the back of? “We received a State Government and Council grant, as part of a Stronger Community grant, when the Council was merging, which enabled us to buy two tandem bikes to start the program. “By the time that happened, my friend moved out of the area meaning he didn’t get a chance to ride on the back of the tandem. “But since then, we have found quite a few people living with a disability, mostly blind people, who come riding with us. “More recently, we had a man with Parkinson’s disease start riding with us because he can’t ride on his own.

SUPPORT LOCAL

“He used to ride a bike by himself, and he really enjoyed it, but he has now started with us. “We take these people out for rides on the back on the tandem, and all they have to do is pedal. “We do all the guiding, so it is safe. “We also try to integrate this group with the rest of our able bodied riders, so we get to hear their stories on how they are coping with life, and they get to interact with people they may not usually interact with.” Each tandem bike is “piloted” by an experienced rider, with the “stoker” being on the back. Find more details on CCBUG’s website www.ccbug.org.au. Jacinta Counihan

LOVE LOCAL

Central Coast Council’s weekly news and community information

From Council It has been two weeks since delivering my 30-Day Interim Report. I continue to receive constructive feedback and engagement from the community, not only on the contents of the report but also the necessary steps required to bring Council back to a balanced budget. I have written to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon Shelley Hancock MP, requesting a threemonth extension to the end of April 2021 to allow for me to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer and put in place a balanced budget for 2021/22. Last Friday, I undertook another site visit as part of my getting to know the Coast. My visit focused on the coastline from North Entrance to Terrigal inspecting The Entrance Channel, dredging and erosion, iconic DA sites such as Lakeside Plaza and Short Street Carpark, Wamberal erosion and Terrigal walkway. While I’m new to this region the similarities of the issues experienced here on the Central Coast to those in the Northern Beaches are very familiar to me, from coastal erosion to mountain bike riding in environmental lands, opening lagoons to stop flooding, aboriginal lands unable to be developed due to environmental issues and DA approval delays where views are being impacted. I will be conducting another site visit before the year is out, venturing further south to acquaint myself with the various issues there.

Dick Persson AM Administrator, Central Coast Council

This Christmas go local first!

Our local shops keep our town centres vibrant, community connected and create local jobs - all whilst providing the services we need and want with convenience! Supporting your local small business helps more than the business owner. • You are supporting your neighbour – your local businesses are run by the community • You are helping to create and keep local jobs • You are helping the businesses that give back to the community. Local businesses give back to their community through raffle donations and other contributions to schools, sports groups and community organisations • You are supporting a dream! • You are helping the environment by cutting back on travel • You get to see a familiar face and a have a chat!

See how many Christmas gifts you can buy around the corner, host a social gathering (COVID safe of course!) and only buy from a small business or book in that date night at your local cinema, restaurant or bar. Or if you are having a tight Christmas, support your local small businesses without spending money by sharing their social media posts, tagging your fav businesses in social photos while you’re there, leaving them a review or recommending them to friends and families. There are countless ways to support your local businesses. Shop, spend, and eat locally! Find out more at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au or lovecentralcoast.com

Development Applications and Consents Development Applications and Consents can be inspected at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au by searching ‘Development Applications’ or in person at Council offices in Gosford and Wyong 8.30am-5pm weekdays.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2019, submissions on Development Applications are required to be published on our website. Submissions lodged using Council’s DA Submission Form or online portal will have personal contact details and signature redacted. All other submissions will be published in full. Your submission may also be reproduced in full in Council reports or in Court proceedings.

Ordinary Council Meeting Dates 2021

• Wednesday 27 January 2021 • Monday 8 February 2021 • Monday 22 February 2021 • Monday 8 March 2021 • Monday 22 March 2021 • Monday 12 April 2021 • Monday 26 April 2021 • Monday 10 May 2021 • Monday 24 May 2021 • Tuesday 15 June 2021 • Monday 28 June 2021 • Monday 12 July 2021 • Monday 26 July 2020 • Monday 9 August 2021 • Monday 23 August 2021 • Monday 13 September 2021* (Mayoral Election) • Monday 27 September 2021* • Monday 11 October 2021 • Monday 25 October 2021 • Monday 8 November 2021 • Monday 22 November 2021 • Monday 13 December 2021 All Ordinary Meetings commence at 6.30pm. For more information about the conduct and location of Ordinary Meetings as well as Open and Public Forums search ‘meetings’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au * dates dependent on the conduct of the Local Government Election

Council’s financial situation

Council has adopted a Recovery Action Plan that will review all aspects of Council’s operations. For up-to-date information search ‘news’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

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NEWS

PAGE 11 18 DECEMBER 2020

Have your say on Central Coast Strategy A university campus and expanded health services in Gosford as well as light industrial and commercial retail development in the Mt Penang area at Kariong are among key points already emerging from discussions around the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC)’s Central Coast Strategy. In October Premier Gladys Berejiklian tasked the GSC to develop and deliver a Strategy that creates new job and business opportunities. It is a collaboration between the GSC, led by Chief Commissioner, Geoff Roberts; Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch; Minister for Jobs and

Investment, Stuart Ayres; state and federal agencies, Central Coast Council and private sector partners. Six areas of interest already identified include: locating a university campus in Gosford city centre to bring greater learning opportunities to the region, stimulate the economy and create local jobs; expanding health services in Gosford to support the Central Coast’s growing population and to generate local jobs; facilitating faster transport connections to and from regional centres to foster economic growth and new jobs on the Coast; increasing the amount of serviced industrial lands to support and expand industries such as food technology and advanced manufacturing;

streamlining planning processes to help remove barriers, such as uncertainty and wait times, for businesses looking to locate on the Central Coast; and establishing a highspeed internet network to attract new, diverse businesses and remove any existing barriers for growth related to digital connectivity. Shadow Minister for Central Coast and Wyong MP, David Harris, and The Entrance MP, David Mehan, in a briefing with the GSC on December 11, said they supported those propositions and welcomed the opportunity to add their suggestions. Mehan suggested the Berkeley Vale area, where Masterfoods and Sanitarium are located, could grow into a

manufacturing food hub by enticing complementary industries to the area. Harris said with Central Coast Council’s recent endorsement of its Tuggerah to Wyong Economic Strategy, he was looking to the State Government to support progress of those projects. “Also, we are keen to put a focus on the Mt Penang area at Kariong where it’s been designated for light industrial and commercial retail which will be very good for jobs,” Harris said. “They took on board our thoughts about adding in some other industrial land around Berkeley Vale and Tuggerah and seemed keen to progress things and cut through the red

tape, so we have to be happy about that. “The impetus is on jobs and we need to see progress, because if we keep building houses we need to have local jobs for the residents. “There needs to be a mix of housing and in Gosford there’s potential to redevelop sites. “The key areas are Kariong, Gosford, Tuggerah, Berkeley Vale and Warnervale. “The GSC has worked well in Sydney and delivered some great projects and in 2015 I made a speech (in Parliament) when they announced the GSC I said at the time that I wished Central Coast was included; well it took five years, but it got there.” The NSW Government wants

to hear from the community about the proposed Central Coast Strategy through a seven-week public consultation period. Feedback via an online survey at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/ central-coast-survey will be accepted until 8am on Monday, January 25, 2021. The public consultation period will also include meetings and briefings with industry and government stakeholders. Feedback will be evaluated and incorporated into the final version of the Central Coast Strategy, which will be presented to the Premier in early 2021. Sue Murray

Draft water sharing plan on public exhibition

A draft water sharing plan for the Central Coast is on public exhibition, with submissions invited until January 31.

management, including the limit of the total volume of water that can be extracted from water sources in the region. Water sharing plans are subject to review every 10 years under the Water Management Act 2000 and the current plan for the Central

Coast area is nearing expiry. The public exhibition period provides opportunities for water users, stakeholders and other interested parties to learn more about the proposed changes in the draft plan and to make a submission and comment on the draft. Feedback and issues raised

during the public exhibition phase will be considered when finalising the plan. The finalised replacement plan will take effect from July 1, 2021.

Emma McBride MP u m The draft replacement Water Sharing Plan for the Central Coast Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2021, establishes rules for water

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Caring for our community DO YOU HELP WITH A Caring for ourNEED community

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loves the Coast. A true local, Emma’s family has been on the Coast for generations - and she went through The CoastEmma is her home and she’s working hard to make our community an even better place to live. school in Wyong and Tuggerah.

Emma loves the Coast. A true local, Emma’s family has been on the Coast for generations - and she went through Emma spent 20 years working in health, 10 years as a Pharmacist at Wyong Hospital. school in Wyong and Tuggerah. The Coast is her home and she’s working hard to make our community an even better place to live.

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The Coast is her home and she’s working community anyears evenasbetter place at toWyong live. Hospital. She moved her way up nd Emmahard spentto20make years our working in health, 10 a Pharmacist

• Defence & She fought to save Wyong Hospital from privatisation and will stand up for pensioners, working families and Emma works tirelessly foredicare the Coast. • M Veterans young people. Emma works tirelessly for the Coast. Emma understands families• are N doing it tough and will do her best toAffairs care for our community by: DIS ships •Protecting Centrelink • Education &funding Medicare and strengthening Guaranteeing TAFE our hospitals and creating new apprenticeships •Restoring NBNpenalty rates and easing Training Investing in cheaper, on family budgets cleaner renewable energy •pressure Taxation • Congratulatory local schools with $43.7 •Strengthening C hild Support messages million more funding

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from 10 a clinical deputy director of pharmacy. Emma spent 20 years working in health, yearspost as atoPharmacist at Wyong Hospital. She moved her way up from a clinical post to deputy director of pharmacy.

She fought to save Wyong Hospital from privatisation and will stand up for pensioners, working families and She fought to save Wyong Hospital from and will stand up for pensioners, working families and youngprivatisation people. young people.

Emma understands families are doing it tough and will do her best to care for our community by:

Protecting Medicare and strengthening

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Authorised by Emma McBride, MP, ALP, Suite 204, 1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259.

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NSW

NEWS Kincumber Village recognises The Rotary Club for service to the community

PAGE 12 18 DECEMBER 2020

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Kincumber Village presented The Rotary Club of Kincumber with a $1,000 donation recently in recognition of its work and dedication to the local community.

Representatives from Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre, Kincumber High School and the Rotary Club of Kincumber at Kincumber Village

The Rotary Club of Kincumber, in partnership with Kincumber Village, delivered a Christmas Concierge service this December, assisting seniors and pensioners with their shopping, taking groceries to cars, trolley returns and more. The service will continue on a regular basis in 2021 and aims to make everyday shopping even more convenient. The Rotary Club of Kincumber supports a variety of initiatives,

including the Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre Food Pantry, which has seen a spike in demand since the COVID pandemic hit. Shoppers can donate to the food pantry drive this Christmas, by purchasing canned and non-perishable goods with their weekly shop and popping it in the donation trolley at Kincumber Village on selected days, or dropping their donation into Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre, located behind the shopping centre. Items needed for the community food pantry include Christmas cake or pudding, mince pies, long-life custard, tinned fruit, biscuits, pretzels,

crackers, juice, tea and coffee, cereal, spreads, pasta, noodles, chips, napkins, bon bons, drinks and gift cards. Kincumber Village Centre Manager, Laura Fehlberg, said the centre was committed to making a difference in the local community. “We’re proud to support our local community partners that make an enormous contribution to the wellbeing of our customers in Kincumber and surrounding suburbs,” she said. “The great community spirit shown by so many organisations, schools and individuals within the local area is something I’m grateful to be

part of.” Rotary Club of Kincumber President, Bruce Dent, thanked Kincumber Village for their generous donation and said it will help support the Club’s initiative of collecting food from Coles Second Bite Centre in Penrith for distribution to the community. “Operating the Christmas Concierge has been a most rewarding exercise with lots of laughter and good cheer as well as heartfelt donations of food into the food trolley,” he said. Source: Media release, Dec 16 The Rotary Club of Kincumber

New codes target short-stay party houses Central Coast residents who have had problems in the past due to “party houses” will be glad to hear of strict new laws governing short-term rental accommodation hosts, guests, letting agents and online booking platforms. A mandatory Code of Conduct will begin on December 18. Parliamentary Secretary for

the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the new Code of Conduct includes clear guidance and obligations for hosts and guests, centred on minimum standards of good behaviour. “The popularity of short-term rentals on the Central Coast has skyrocketed this year thanks to COVID-19 border closures,” Crouch said. “While the short-term rental

sector has gone from strength to strength, what has been missing is a clear set of rules to protect the rights of both hosts, guests and neighbours. “The NSW Government is introducing this Code of Conduct as part of a broader reform to the sector that protects local communities and ensures the minority of people who misuse short-term rentals are appropriately dealt with.”

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson, said a key feature of the new laws was the establishment of an exclusion register, which will introduce a “two strikes and you’re out” policy for unruly guests. “We have all heard the horror stories of hosts doing the wrong thing or the house guests from hell behaving disgracefully in holiday

rentals,” Anderson said. “If you are going to carry on like that in someone else’s house or neighbourhood, be warned – under these new rules you will be banned, and for a very long time.” All participants, including booking platforms, will be required to comply with the Code of Conduct and comply with directions from the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner.

The Code of Conduct also includes formal avenues for complaints and dispute resolution, as well as the ability for NSW Fair Trading to apply penalties or ban problematic hosts or anti-social guests from booking short-term rentals for five years. Source: Media release Dec 14 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Liesl Tesch MP Member for Gosford

Schools and education Community Recognition Awards

Anniversary & birthday messages Fair Trading Hospitals and health Main roads

Police and Emergency Services Public housing

Trains and public transport

Authorised by Liesl Tesch, 20 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy NSW 2256. Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements.

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Warning of theft from cars Brisbane Water Police have issued a warning to Central Coast residents to lock their cars with theft from motor vehicles a common occurrence in the area. Police said stealing from cars is often an opportunistic crime with thieves checking for unlocked car doors and windows, as well as looking the inside vehicles for valuables left lying around in clear sight. Having your personal items stolen from your car is inconvenient, distressing and can be expensive.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.com.au Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Police say you can prevent yourself, family, friends and colleagues from becoming the next crime statistic by taking some simple Crime Prevention actions.

These include always locking your vehicle, day or night and regardless of whether parked in your driveway, carport or public place. Always remove or hide valuables from sight – don’t leave your wallet, keys, phones and valuable electrical items on seats and in the middle consoles. If you see someone acting suspiciously contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Source: Brisbane Water Police District Facebook page

Fifth person charged over train graffiti attacks A fifth person has been charged over his alleged involvement in a spate of graffiti attacks which caused damage at train stations across Sydney and the Central Coast between May 2018 and November 2020. The attacks took place at various Sydney stations and at

Point Clare station. Three men – aged 20, 25 and 26 – and an 18-year-old woman were charged last month and remain before the courts. Following further investigations, strike force investigators arrested an 18-year-old man at a home at

Wamberal at about 3.45pm on December 3. He was taken to Gosford Police Station and charged with various offences. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on December 17. Source: Media release, Dec 4 NSW Police Media

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YES Clean foil & disposable foil trays

Cellophane, plastic, foil wraps, ribbons, bows & twist ties

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) has issued a strong reminder to Central Coast beachgoers to swim only at patrolled beaches, after a Sunday afternoon swim at unpatrolled Frazer Park beach turned to tragedy when a 55-yearold father died trying to assist his 20-year-old son caught in a rip current. At about 1.30pm on December 13, another beachgoer noticed two men in difficulty in a strong rip current at the beach in Munmorah State Conservation Area. The two men were struggling to stay afloat, so other people on the beach went into the water to assist. They pulled both men from the water unconscious and were assisted ashore by a boat in the vicinity. Members of the public performed CPR on both men until emergency service teams arrived. A Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) inflatable rescue boat and two jet skis, crewed by volunteer lifesavers, were

launched from nearby patrolled beach locations at Catherine Hill Bay and The Lakes at Budgewoi. Surf Life Saving Duty Officers were also tasked to the incident, as was the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Despite the best efforts of public members and the emergency services teams, the 55-year-old father could not be revived. His 20-year-old son was revived and taken to John Hunter Hospital. Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District are investigating the incident and will prepare a report for the Coroner. SLSNSW Director of Lifesaving, Joel Wiseman, said it was a difficult situation for all involved, made more challenging due to the isolation of the area. “I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the community members who rescued the men and raised the alarm; they placed their lives at risk to rescue these men,” Wiseman said.

Broken toys, moulded plastic packaging Paper wrapping, cards, envelopes & cardboard packaging

Remove plastic viewing window from the cardboard packaging and throw the plastic part in the red bin - Keep the cardboard in the yellow bin.

1coast.com.au 1300 126 278

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“Our thoughts and sincere sympathies go out to the family and friends of the father and son at this very sad time.” SLSNSW is preparing for what will be an extremely busy and challenging summer after the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on local tourism. CEO Steven Pearce said this summer would be unlike any other due to travel restrictions, both domestic and international, making the Central Coast a destination of choice for many families. “We have already seen many beaches along the NSW coastline inundated by locals and tourists who want to make up for the Australian summer that was stolen from them last year due to the devastating bushfires and the COVID social distance restrictions,” he said. “Our strong message to beachgoers this summer is to plan to swim at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags so our surf lifesavers and lifeguards can respond quickly if you get into difficulty.” Sue Murray

Central Coast Commercial Commercial & Industrial Property Specialists

SALES LEASING

Bottles, cans, jars & tins

TOP TIP

PAGE 13 18 DECEMBER 2020

Tragic drowning at Coast beach

Recycle right at Christmas! One of the simplest things that you can do to reduce your environmental impact at this time of year is to ensure that you put the right things into your home recycling bin.

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FORUM Switch to cheaper renewables inevitable FORUM SHARE

Charles Hemmings (CCN272) asks if renewable energy really is now cheaper than coal and gas in Australia. The answer is yes, and this news has very large implications for the future of our economy on the Central Coast. GenCost is an annual report on the cost of electricity generation in Australia and is a collaboration between CSIRO and AEMO (the Australian Energy Market Operator). Their most recent edition, published on December 11, 2020, shows the following LCOE (Levelised Cost of Electricity) for each technology ($/MWh): Nuclear, $258-$338; Brown coal, $ 112-$145; Black coal, $89-$120; Gas, $68$115; Wind, $48-$61; Solar PV, $46-$68 (Reference: www. publications.csiro.au/

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publications/publication/ PIcsiro:EP208181). These numbers explain why all of the private investment in … recent years has been in renewables and not in new fossil fuel generators (or nuclear). The other argument against the increasing reliance on wind and solar in the grid is that they are unreliable. There are three ways to address this issue: technology diversity, geographic diversity and storage. The energy generation industry is undergoing a major transformation, not just locally, but worldwide. Each of Australia’s major thermal coal customers, including India, China and Japan, have announced plans

Broad base to PEP 11 opposition

to transition away from fossil fuel energy. This transition has been foreseeable for decades but, instead of laying long-term plans to reskill our workforce, support and nurture the new manufacturing industries and be a competitor in the new global marketplace, we have spent the last 30 years pretending that nothing will ever change and now we have been caught out. The many families on the Coast who rely on the coal industry for their income need and deserve our support during this transition period. But they cannot prevent this transition any more than horse and buggy drivers of old could stop the transition to the motor car on the grounds they would lose their job.

FORUM See Page 2 for address and contribution conditions. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of the newspaper

Let us all hope that out of the ashes will emerge an efficient and productive organisation which will provide our community with proper

infrastructure (decent roads, footpaths, drainage) and protective coastal barriers against the elements to avoid

disasters (Wamberal,Chittaway Bay). Mr Perrson gives us hope for the future, which has been sadly lacking in our past, so a big thanks goes out to him and Minister Hancock. Let’s all hope we start the new year on a positive note with major reform in all areas of Council delivering quality outcomes which will be a 180degree turnaround from where we are now.

salvationarmy.org.au

FORUM An increasingly rich tapestry of federal, state and local government representatives show the way forward. Zali Steggall (an independent) is mentioned but she was not only joined by “both sides of politics”. The names and political affiliations of the politicians in your lead photo would have gone some way to indicating that this opposition is indeed a rich and broad-based one.

I am sitting here reading the latest copy of Coast Community News. At the risk of sounding like a dinosaur, I really love reading hard copy rather than online. Thank you for providing such an important community service and keeping me up to date with local issues on my beautiful Central Coast.

Email, Dec 14 Robert Doyle, North Avoca

Email, Dec 5 Debra Jarman, Wyoming

Let us decide how to provide details I applaud Mr. Hyland’s frank opinion (CCN271) about the smart phone requirement and need to scan and register yourself for entry into public venues. What on earth is wrong in writing down your name, address and contact number as all of us did when the Terrigal Scouts had their book sale on a few weekends ago? The politicians, bureaucrats and businesses seem to regard seniors as nonentities and not

FORUM worthy of much consideration, except when they want our votes or money. All we need our phones for is to be able to communicate and for emergencies. We don’t bury our heads into the phones while walking, travelling or otherwise. If I remember correctly, there was some concern raised about using one’s smart phone scanner as to hackers and

online scams. We should have the freedom to decide how we would like to provide our contact details. Hopefully, more of us raise our voices against this pervasive and indifferent attitude of governments and bureaucracies. May I wish you and all your readers a joyous Christmas and happy new year. Email, Dec 12 Dr. Nalini Padmanabhan, Terrigal

Good manners still around

Email, Dec 11 Rod Robey, Copacabana

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With respect could CCN please use the term, “all sides of politics” rather than “both sides” in referring to opposition to PEP 11, or any matter involving more than the LNP and ALP. Independents and politicians from smaller parties (in this case most notably the Greens) are very much part of the “opposition” to coal and gas exploration off our coast.

Email, Dec 15 Geoff Cameron, Narara

We can breathe a sigh of relief We as a community can breathe a sigh of relief that finally someone in Government has officially recognised Central Coast Council as NSW’s worst Council, thanks to Administrator Dick Perrson, who has successfully reformed other basket case councils in NSW and Queensland.

I would like to contribute a short comment responding to your recent article “Bipartisan opposition building to PEP 11”.

Thanks for keeping me up to date FORUM

I would like to congratulate parents in the Kariong area whose children use the pedestrian crossing at Mitchell St on the way to school.

FORUM I have given way on a number of occasions to school children, under the age of maybe 14, who acknowledge with a wave

my stopping. It is encouraging to see simple manners are still around. Email, Dec 10 Jackie Black, Phegans Bay

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Exactly what happened at Council? FORUM

Councillors said they discovered a deficit of over $40M in March.

And of course, we now know it is much, much worse. But why is there is no mention of this in Council meeting agendas or minutes for all of 2020 until October? There is a large State Government Department called the Office of Local Government (OLG) which is the NSW Government agency responsible for strengthening the sustainability, performance, integrity, transparency and accountability of the local government sector (Source:

See Page 2 for address and contribution conditions. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily of the newspaper OLG website). So what are the processes within councils and the OLG to ensure councillors, the community and the Minister are continuously and correctly

informed? What is supposed to have happened? What did happen? This is not only about Council, but also the NSW Government. My phone calls and specific questions emailed to OLG, the Minister and (Council Administrator) Dick Persson have yielded nothing. This should all be known now - without any further effort. Come on, tell us please, else it will continue to happen… and in other local councils too. Email, Dec 11 Steve McKenzie, Killcare Heights

Many standards pushed aside FORUM

Letter writer T. Redmond’s thoughts remind me of a letter sent to the local newspaper by the retired Shire Clerk of Gosford in the mid 1980s.

Ben Pratt [then] succinctly warned against the alienation of public land. I suppose he could see the coming trend of a new generation of local government executives for the areas they were “managing”. I think that was his only public comment concerning LGAs. Mr Pratt was appointed in the early 1960s, along with other new senior officers, after Gosford Council had been put in administration because of questions raised about some

staff and conduct of Council. It was still a time when senior staff had been raised in local government, not as managers flitting between state government jobs and developer roles in private industry. We also got a shire engineer who left the road he lived on as one of the last to be sealed so there was no suggestion of jumping the queue. And town planners who didn’t rubber stamp every developer’s wants. We will always have executives and councillors of various temperaments and skills — the amalgamation of

Surely not another rate rise! I would like to begin by thanking our local papers for the information they provide on local matters; we are very lucky to have them. After reading over the last several weeks about the incompetence of Central Coast Council, I am very concerned about “rate increases” and

FORUM “substantial rate increases.” As of this year, my rates have already increased by $400. Surely they cannot increase them again! Hoping for some insight. Letter, Dec 15 Ann Malone, Macmaster’s Beach

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Gosford and Wyong has highlighted this. Colonial government created local government to get things done locally, but they have always been able to cherrypick councils to be administered at any time, whether for structural or political purposes, thus blurring the lines between levels of government as well as public and private interests. Despite ICAC, many standards of honesty, integrity, competence and other qualities increasingly are pushed aside for the Holy Dollar in both public and private spheres. Email, Dec 11 Alan Tasker, Lisarow

Correction In the last issue of Coast Community News, we referred to Margaret Pontifex as Secretary of the Mangrove Mountain and Districts Community Group. We have been advised that Ms Pontifex no longer holds a committee position with this group and is not a spokesperson for it.

FORUM Insult to injury FORUM

Like many concerned Central Coast ratepayers I have been reading with interest in Coast Community News of the increasing debt burden accumulated by the Central Coast Council, which is now estimated at $565M.

It seems extraordinary to residents how this level of debt could have been accrued before the councillors were summarily sacked by the State Minister. Although some seem to believe it is the elected councillors who are to blame, it appears that a number of other factors are at play. First was the considerable disruption and costs associated with the council amalgamation, instigated by the State Government in their zeal to achieve cost efficiencies. Second, is the fact that independent audit firms, over consecutive years, failed to identify the enormous black hole being dug through the increasing Council debt. Ratepayers’ funds were no doubt paid to these audit firms,

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which must have amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. No action has been taken to date to retrieve the funds given the poor advice. Next, is the issue of the hiring of the CEO Gary Murphy, with no other candidates put forward to Council at the time of selection. Given that it is the CEO who is responsible for managing the Council’s finances, one wonders how this selection process was managed? To add insult to injury, ratepayers now have to pay $380,000 in severance fees to the former CEO, despite his negligence. We are again left to wonder, who drew up a contract that allows such an injustice? Ratepayers are now faced with an Administrator appointed by the State Minister, while all our elected councillors sit on the side-lines. During this time, we have seen developer calls for the

PAGE 15 18 DECEMBER 2020

removal of environmental and biodiversity regulations and threats to COSS lands with E2 zoning which would no doubt have been voted down if our elected councillors were still in their positions. It appears that the new Administrator also has … appointed a “captain’s pick” for our new (acting) CEO. This behaviour bears an uncanny resemblance to the previous CEO selection process which has led to this disaster. The wedge tactics that we see playing out in our Council, will no doubt lead to a windfall for developers waiting in the wings to secure new parcels of land from the sell-off of Council assets. If l had my way, the first asset to be sold would be the Warnervale airstrip which has been costing ratepayers millions in upkeep with the dream that one day we will have passenger jets regularly landing on the Central Coast. Pigs might fly. Email, Dec 16 Dr Tahir Turk, Springfield

Ratepayers deserve more information Who is the Central Coast Council Administrator, who is paid (more than $6000) a week, paid by? The Administrator will not disclose who lent the $50 to the Council. I would like to know the legal position on this loan and what right the Administrator has to withhold this information from the ratepayers, as he is not borrowing the money for himself and it is the rate payers who will repay the loan. As a ratepayer for over 50 years, I would like to know (more of) his background. Is he an accountant with an actuary qualification? And what other councils has he solved financial problems

FORUM for? The Administrator has sacked the CEO and he may sack 200 or more employees. So,when he wants information about the financial state of the Council, the person who could give him the information has been or will be sacked. So, what does he do? He hires a consultancy firm at a huge cost to tell him what the sacked employees could tell him. The Administrator wants a three-month extension of his three-month term; I bet the employees he sacked would like an extension of their term.

When the ratepayers ring the Council for information on any matters, there will be limited staff to answer their questions. If all the members of Parliament, both State and Federal, on the Central Coast were (members of) the Liberal Party, would the Premier have solved the Council problem? I believe she would have and if you look at the Hornsby Council (that received about $100,000 from the State Government, without amalgamation), who is the Mayor of Hornsby and which party does he belong to? My guess is the Liberal Party. Letter, Dec 15 Vic Wulf, Gosford

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KEEP YOURSELF AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM COVID-19

Stay COVID-safe this summer season! 1

Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others

Wash your hands well and often

Stay home if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re unwell and get tested as soon as you have any symptoms

When you go out to eat and drink, remember to check-in every time via the Service NSW app

If you have any symptoms, book a COVID-19 test immediately For the Gosford clinic, call 4320 5055 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on weekends For the Erina clinic, call 4302 5252 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays For the Wyong clinic, call 4394 9200 between 9am and 5pm everyday

Adam CROUCH MP Member for Terrigal 02 4365 1906 adamcrouchmp

terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au adamcrouchmp

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 17 18 DECEMBER 2020

Artist to run workshops at Wildlife Sanctuary

The Dream Wild Art and Wildlife Workshops

Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, now known as Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, will hold a series of art workshops over the summer by awardwinning Aboriginal artist, Garry Purchase. The Dream Wild Art and Wildlife Workshops will include a daytime series and a nighttime series. Workshop activities will

CCN

include art lessons, animal encounters, boomerang throwing, ochre face painting, visiting Aboriginal rock engravings, sky stories and more. Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary General Manager, Tassin Barnard, said Purchase and his wife, Natalie, had been “incredible supporters” of the park ever since the bushfires. “In fact, Natalie fed us while we were evacuating the

animals,” Barnard said. “They have been the most amazing people, and we all got to know each other quite well. “Garry is an incredible artist, world standard. “We got talking, and we thought what a great idea it would be for Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary to hold art workshops, so that is where it all started. “With the workshop itself, I

am really leaving it up to Garry, because at Walkabout we are not very prescriptive ... we very much work with the people who work here. “He is going to bring his brushes, paints, and artboards so people can get their fingers messy, and he will take them through the traditional concepts. “But his work is also very contemporary so that will be touched on.

“He will also talk about his concept of the dreaming.” Garry Purchase is an Aboriginal man of Dharawal, Bidjigal and Dhungutti descent. He grew up in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs and was raised amongst the Aboriginal community of La Perouse. He has won many awards, such as the first prize at the Tony Donovan Award in Reconciliation Exhibition at

Gosford Regional Gallery in both 2014 and 2016. The first of the five daytime anniversary workshops for families six and above will be on December 29, and the only night-time workshop for families will be on January 13. The night workshop for adults 16 and above will be on December 30 and January 20.

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PAGE 18 18 DECEMBER 2020 OUT&ABOUT

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Fundraiser was a real mover and shaker Avoca Beach Red Cross had a real “mover and a shaker” of a night, raising $11,000 for its first fundraising event since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place. The Masquerade Dinner was organised by long time member, Noelene Brasche, and new member, Matt WynnJones. Mary Mac’s, Ngaruki Gulgul School at Kariong, and Share the Dignity will all share the $11,000 profit from the event. Brasche said members from each charity made a speech, and Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks also made an appearance. “We had 95 people, and it was such a stunning night,” Brasche said. “During the evening, the three major charities we

Participants at the Avoca Masquerade Fundraising dinner

support spoke very movingly about what the fundraising meant to them. “I think that worked in a really good way as people were very

empathetic of what they had to say.” Wynn-Jones moved to the Coast around two years ago but only recently joined the Avoca Beach Red Cross.

He said the reason he got involved was because it was a good way to engage with the community. “I catch up with the President of the Avoca Beach Red cross

every morning for coffee,” Wynn-Jones said. “We just got talking and reached some point of a dilemma of what the future of Avoca Beach Red Cross may

be. “We wanted to do this to support the heroic efforts of the founders of the group who worked tirelessly to support the local charities. “We felt it had reached a bit of a dead-end with fundraising activities. “I suggested we may be able to put together a fundraising dinner, so we did. “We had a target of 100 people and a target of $10,000, which we were really happy to achieve. “In organising the event, I aimed to do two things. “The first, to get some additional engagement or some new interest and the second was to raise some funds for a great cause.” Jacinta Counihan

Is any of this $4.8M yours? The NSW Government is urging Central Coast residents to check if they have any unclaimed money held by Revenue NSW, and possibly walk away with some extra cash to spend this Christmas. Parliamentary Secretary for

the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said a total of $4,800,605 is sitting with Revenue NSW, waiting to be reunited with its rightful owners. “This isn’t the Government’s money – it belongs to people in our community and I encourage everyone to go online and

check whether they can claim back any money,” Crouch said. “Typically, this includes share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commissions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources. “It’s easy to check if you have unclaimed money.

“Go to the Revenue NSW website, search your name to identify any money that is waiting to be claimed, and if there is any, lodge a claim. “It only takes a few minutes and you could walk away with some extra Christmas cash in your pocket to spend during the summer holidays.”

Revenue NSW, a NSW Government agency, is currently holding over one million unclaimed items from private companies, State Trustees, local councils and other Government agencies that can’t be returned to the owner because their contact details are out-of-date.

Unclaimed money is held indefinitely until it is claimed. For more information, go to: www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/ unclaimed-money. Source: Media release, Dec 16 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

BOOK REVIEW

CCN

One By One Author: Ruth Ware Publisher: Vintage

Snoop is an app that allows people to listen to your music, “Voyeurism for your ears,” is what the company calls it. If you cared what music a so-called celebrity was listening to, you could also listen to it. Why? I am not sure, but this seems to be something young people desire, at least according to this story. Snoop was founded by Topher St Clair-Bridges and Eva van den Berg. They used to be together but have since de-coupled or is that uncoupled? Other members of the company have titles such as head of beans, chief nerd, friends tsar, head of cool and lawman. I kid you not. The staff of Snoop are very hip and with it (and now you know how unhip and not with it I am by using that term). They have traveled from London to St Antoine, an exclusive ski resort in France. Also, among the group is Liz, a

former Snoop employee. Liz is the odd one out – she’s not hip, not with it at all. There is a moment of panic when Topher and Eva realise they did not include Liz on the list of guests they supplied to the chalet. Her presence is a mystery until the reader realises she is one of three minority shareholders in Snoop. This is important because there is a buyout offer on the table. Team Eva wants to sell but Team Topher wants to hold out. Liz feels she owes it to Topher to vote his way, while Eva seems to think that Liz will vote her way. Oh, the tension. The chalet is staffed by Danny, who does all the cooking and Erin who does everything else. It has snowed a lot in the past couple of weeks, “Snowmaggedon” as one of the staff labels it. There are no roads to the chalet and it is only accessible by a funicular. The clouds are rolling in and more bad weather is predicted, and the avalanche rating is expected to rise. Lifts and trails have been closed but the funicular chugs on.

Topher is determined to get everyone out skiing. The group sets out to ski, but one of them doesn’t return. Then an avalanche traps everyone in the chalet - communication is out, the power is out … and time is running out. And then, slowly, other members of the group begin to die – one poisoned, another murdered. If I’m sounding negative about this book, that’s because I’m negative

about this book. I’m not entirely sure why I chose it – it did not make any of many lists for the top 100 books for 2020 (NY Times, Kirkus Reviews, etc) and there’s a good reason why not. It’s a quick and easy read, but that’s about where the accolades end. The characters were ridiculous. The plot was weak. The story ran out of steam after the first few chapters. The chapters alternated between Liz and Erin and began with the SnoopID, their followers and what they were listening to – this added to the story except. There was a lot of skiing references which might appeal to skiers but by the end I was tired of reading the word piste. The attempt to seduce the reader with the rustic, French mountain setting, cozy fires and some mindfulness pampering with a sprinkle of corporate intrigue are all lost in the stew of slop in which it is served up. I should say that the Kirkus review says it is simply masterful and that Ware is a contemporary Agatha

Christie. It says, quite positively, the solution is “maddeningly simply” – read “obvious” – when was that ever a good thing? If you’re going to take on Agatha, you need to be better than this. The sad thing is if I’m successful in stopping you from reading this, you won’t ever know that you should thank me for stopping you from reading it. Kim Reardon The Reluctant Book Critic

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 19 18 DECEMBER 2020

Avoca Beach history captured on canvas Documentary artist, Michael Rubbo, has captured 20 years of Avoca Beach history through his paintings, now on display at Avoca Beach. The paintings include snapshots of times, places, and events which have occurred during the time he has lived at the beachside suburb. Avoca Impressions will be open to the public free for the rest of December. Rubbo said each of the around 70 pieces seizes memories of a period of time, that if not documented, might have been lost. “I moved here because of the Avoca theatre, and I loved the theatre,” Rubbo said. “I (wondered if it could) survive, and do people really value it? “Being a documentary artist, I thought if I painted it in all its manifestations, maybe then they would value it.

“The style is sort of fresh and impressionistic, which is why I call it Avoca Impressions,” he said. “If someone came along and said I have the perfect place to house this, I would give them the whole collection. “My grandfather, who was a famous teacher and artist called Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, gave about the same number of paintings to the Manly Art Gallery and Museum “It didn’t exist then, so that was the creation of the gallery. “I am really happy to show this to Avoca for the first time. “I hope other towns like Copacabana say, ‘hey we should paint our town too’. “Let’s celebrate our village, nature, the houses we live, the old houses that could be pulled down tomorrow, and catch them before they go.”

Michael Rubbo’s art display at Avoca Beach - Avoca Impressions

“I remembered the story of the French painter, Claude Monet, who painted populus trees and apparently saved them by doing the painting. “So, I thought, maybe people would see the area through

new eyes in paintings. “The display is a documentation of life in the village, with most of (the paintings) being done in the early 2000s.” Rubbo said at one point an old

farmhouse on Ridgway Road was going to be pulled down. “I came to it at the point when they were going to demolish it, so I did the painting, and that had an impact - they did not tear it down,” he said.

“That is a lovely story on how paintings can have an impact.” With the display being only temporary, he said he is open to people offering a space where the exhibition can be viewed year-round.

Jacinta Counihan

Council closures over Christmas Central Coast Council offices will be closed over the holiday season from Thursday, December 24 to Thursday, January 7, 2021. The Gosford and Wyong Offices, Council works depots and Laycock Street Community Theatre are all included in the closure. All Library branches will also

be closed, and after-hours chutes will not be open for returns. Essential services will continue throughout the closure period including water and sewage treatment, lifeguard beach patrols and residential waste collection, with household bins continuing to be collected on public holidays as scheduled.

Buttonderry and Woy Woy and Waste Management Facilities will only be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, these facilities will close at 1pm. Kincumber Waste Transfer Facility remains closed until further notice. All Council leisure centres will

be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, and will be open on all other days, operating on adjusted hours. The Gosford Regional Gallery will only be closed on designated public holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The Entrance Visitor Information Centre will be closed Christmas Eve,

Christmas Day and all public holidays, otherwise it will be open on adjusted operating hours of 10am-4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Council operated childcare centres will be shut from Wednesday, December 23 to Monday, January 11. Keep up to date with emergency and other Council information by following

Council on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Call 1300 463 954 for on-call and emergency services or to lodge any non-urgent requests and enquiries go to centralcoast. nsw.gov.au/reportaproblem. Source: Media release, Dec 14 Central Coast Council

Smoking Dragon Gosford Regional Gallery will only be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

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Sunday 20 December

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ABC (C20/21)

PRIME (C61/60)

6:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 ABC News Mornings [s] 10:00 Outback Ringer (PG) [s] 10:30 Scottish Vets Down Under (PG) [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 Adam Hills: The Last Leg (M) 1:50 Rake (M l,s,v) [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery 4:55 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 The Drum [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Gardening Australia Christmas Special [s] 8:30 Vera: On Harbour Street (PG) [s] – DCI Vera Stanhope investigates the mysterious death of pensioner Margaret Kraszewski on a busy Newcastle train. 10:05 Mum: Mum (M l) [s] 10:35 ABC Late News [s] 10:50 Gruen (M) [s] 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 10:00 rage (PG) [s] 11:00 rage Guest Programmer (PG) 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 12:30 Royal Variety Performance 2018 [s] 2:20 The Sound [s] 3:25 Dream Gardens: Brisbane [s] 4:00 Climate Change: The Facts [s] 5:00 Basketball: WNBL: Preliminary Final *Live* From TBA [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Midsomer Murders: Death Of The Small Coppers (M v) [s] – When a butterfly collector and founding member of an elite IQ society is found murdered, pinned to a wall, DCI Barnaby and DS Winter are thrust into a crime that impacts not only on their community but internationally. 9:00 Endeavour: Cartouche (M v) [s] 10:35 Sherlock: The Lying Detective (M v) [s] 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s 11:00Compass: Recorder Queen [s] 11:30Songs Of Praise [s] 12:00ABC News At Noon [s] 12:30Landline Summer [s] 1:00 Back Roads [s] 1:30 Gardening Australia Christmas Special [s] 2:30 Everyone’s A Critic (PG) [s] 3:00 Basketball: WNBL: Grand Final *Live* From TBA [s] 5:00 War On Waste: The Battle Continues (PG) [s] 6:00 The Sound (PG) [s] 7:00 ABC News Sunday [s] 7:40 Spicks And Specks: 2010s Special (PG) [s] 8:35 Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell Pagan Holiday Special (M) [s] 9:35 Total Control (MA15+) [s] 10:25Killing Eve (MA15+) [s] 11:10No Offence (MA15+) [s] 11:55Endeavour: Cartouche (M v) [s] 1:25 Louis Theroux: Louis And The Nazis (M l) [s]

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

NINE (C81/80)

TEN (C13)

SBS (C30)

5:30 Today [s] 6:00 Headline News [s] 6:00 Sunrise [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer (PG) [s] 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 5:30 Worldwatch 12:00 Movie: “Hometown Christmas” 1:00 The Living Room (PG) [s] 12:00 Movie: “A Puppy For 1:00 PBS Newshour Christmas” (G) (’16) Stars: (PG) (’19) Stars: Beverley 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:05 Pope: The Most Powerful Man Cindy Busby, Greyston Holt, Mitchell, Stephen Colletti 2:30 Inside The Children’s In History (M v) Hospital [s] Christopher Russell, Allison 1:50 9Honey - Every Day Kitchen 2:55 Great British Railway 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] Price, Derek McGrath, Victoria 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast Journeys (PG) 3:30 Freshly Picked With Simon (PG) [s] Snow, Toya Alexis 3:30 Who Do You Think You Are?: 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] Toohey [s] 2:00 Test Cricket: Pre Game [s] Ernie Dingo (PG) 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 3:00 Test Cricket: Australia v India: 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 4:35 Alex Polizzi’s Secret Italy (PG) 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful Test 1: Day 2 *Live* From The 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] (In English/ Italian) (PG) [s] Adelaide Oval [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 5:30 Letters And Numbers 5:00 10 News First [s] 5:00 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 6:00 Mastermind Australia 7:30 Country House Hunters 6:00 WIN News [s] 5:40 Test Cricket: Day 2 [s] 7:30 Scanning The Nile: Materials 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] Australia: Torquay [s] Convoys: A Pharaonic Task 7:30 The Living Room (PG) [s] 7:00 Test Cricket: Day 2 [s] 8:30 Movie: “Bad Moms 2” (M l,d) (PG) (In English/ French) (’17) Stars: Mila Kunis, Kristen 8:30 Program To Be Advised 7:40 Test Cricket: Tea Break [s] 8:30 The Wonderful World Of Be, Kathryn Hahn, Christine 9:30 The Montreal Comedy 8:00 Test Cricket: Day 2 [s] Chocolate (PG) Baranski, Susan Sarandon Festival (MA15+) [s] 10:30 Movie: “Live By Night” (MA15+) 9:20 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does 10:35 Movie: “Four Holidays” (M s) 10:30 Just For Laughs Australia (M) (’16) Stars: Ben Affleck, Elle Countdown (M) 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 10:15 SBS World News Late Fanning, Remo Girone, (’08) Stars: Vince Vaughn, 12:30 The Project (PG) [s] Reese Witherspoon Brendan Gleeson, Robert 10:45 Country Music (PG) 12:10 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 1:30 The Late Show With Stephen 11:45 The State (M) Glenister, Matthew Maher, Colbert (PG) [s] Chris Messina, Sienna Miller 1:05 The Perfect Serve [s] (In French/ Tamil) 1:30 Home Shopping 1:30 Home Shopping 2:30 Home Shopping 3:30 Croc A Dyke (M n,s) 5:00 CGTN English News 6:00 Reel Action [s] 6:00 Easy Eats [s] 6:00 Home Shopping 5:15 NHK World English News 6:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 7:00 Weekend Sunrise [s] 7:00 Weekend Today [s] 7:00 RV Daily Foodie Trails (PG) [s] 5:30 Worldwatch 10:00 The Morning Show - Weekend 10:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 1:00 PBS Newshour 12:00 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman 7:30 All 4 Adventure [s] (PG) [s] 2:00 Destination Flavour China 8:30 Pat Callinan’s 4X4 And Ironwoman Series [s] 11:00 Cricket: Big Bash League: Bitesize Adventures [s] 2:00 Light Up Xmas Appeal *Live* Sydney Sixers v Adelaide 2:15 Motor Sports: Superbike World 9:30 Studio 10 Saturday (PG) [s] Strikers *Live* From Blundstone 5:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] Championship Round 7, France 12:00 Jamie’s Easy Christmas 5:30 RBT: Lumberjack (PG) [s] Arena, Hobart [s] 3:10 Cycling: NRS 2020: Brisbane Countdown [s] 6:00 NINE News Saturday [s] 2:30 Test Cricket: Pre Game [s] 4:10 Gourmet Farmer 1:00 Left Off The Map [s] 3:00 Test Cricket: Australia v India: 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] Test 1: Day 3 *Live* From The 7:30 Movie: “The Grinch” (PG) (’18) 1:30 Emmylou’s Christmas Table 4:40 Tony Robinson’s Hidden 2:00 Healthy Homes Australia [s] Britain By Drone – The Grinch grows annoyed Adelaide Oval [s] 2:30 10 Travlr Northern Territory 5:35 Nazi Megastructures (PG) with the ever-growing festive 5:00 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break 6:30 SBS World News cheer that engulfs the village of 3:00 Taste Of Australia With 5:40 Test Cricket: Day 3 [s] Hayden Quinn [s] 7:30 Secrets Of Our Cities (PG) Whoville. So, he teams up with 6:00 Seven News [s] 8:30 Portillo’s Greatest Railway his dog to ruin the festive spirit. 3:30 Roads Less Travelled [s] 7:00 Test Cricket: Day 3 [s] Journeys: Railways And Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, 4:00 The Living Room [s] 7:40 Test Cricket: Tea Break [s] Royalty (PG) Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones 5:00 10 News First [s] 8:00 Test Cricket: Day 3 [s] 6:00 Family Feud (PG) [s] 9:25 Movie: “No Country For Old 10:30 Movie: “Jack The Giant Slayer” 9:10 Movie: “Christmas With The 7:00 Bondi Rescue (PG) [s] Men” (MA15+) (’07) Stars: Kranks” (PG) (’04) Stars: Tim (M v) (’13) Stars: Nicholas 7:30 Ambulance UK (M) [s] Javier Bardem Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan (In English/ Spanish) McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Eddie 11:10 Movie: “The Invention Of Lying” 9:30 999: What’s Your Emergency? (M) [s] 11:40 Movie: “Silence” (MA15+) (’16 (M s,l) (’09) Stars: Ricky Marsan, Ewen Bremner, Ian 11:00 Movie: “Mary Magdalene” (M) Stars: Andrew Garfield McShane, Christopher Gervais, Jennifer Garner (’18) Stars: Rooney Mara (In English/ Japanese) 1:00 Surfing Australia TV [s] Fairbank, Simon Lowe 1:00 Home Shopping 2:35 North To South 1:30 A Current Affair [s] 1:00 Home Shopping 6:00 Religious Programs [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 6:00 Easy Eats [s] 6:00 Home Shopping 7:30 Fishing Australia [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 7:00 Weekend Today [s] 7:00 Weekend Sunrise [s] 8:00 Australia By Design [s] 5:30 Worldwatch – Deutsche Welle 10:00 The Morning Show - Weekend 10:00 Cybershack (PG) [s] 8:30 The Living Room [s] English News 6:00 France 24 10:30 Visions Of Greatness: 11:00 Cricket: Big Bash League: 9:30 Studio 10 Sunday (PG) [s] English News 6:30 Al Jazeera The Explorers (PG) [s] Sydney Sixers v Adelaide 12:00 Destination Dessert [s] English News 7:30 Italian News 11:30 The Healthy Cooks [s] Strikers *Live* From TBA [s] 8:10 Filipino News 8:40 French 12:00 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman 12:30 Roads Less Travelled [s] 2:30 Test Cricket: Pre Game [s] 1:00 Farm To Fork [s] News 9:30 Greek News 10:30 And Ironwoman Series [s] 3:00 Test Cricket: Australia v India: 1:30 Jamie: Keep Cooking And Worldwatch Continues Test 1: Day 4 *Live* From The 2:00 Movie: “A Very Merry Toy Carry On [s] 1:00 Speedweek Store” (PG) (’17) Stars: Melissa Adelaide Oval [s] 2:00 Pat Callinan’s 4X4 3:00 Figure Skating: ISU Figure Joan Hart, Mario Lopez 5:00 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break Adventures [s] Skating Rostelecom Cup 4:00 Tipping Point [s] 5:40 Test Cricket: Day 4 [s] 3:00 Christmas With The 5:05 Travel Man: Naples 5:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] Australian Women’s Weekly 5:35 Nazi Megastructures (PG) 5:30 Territory Cops (PG) [s] 7:00 Test Cricket: Day 4 [s] 4:00 All 4 Adventure [s] 6:30 SBS World News 6:00 NINE News Sunday [s] 7:40 Test Cricket: Tea Break [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 7:30 Blood Of The Clans (PG) 7:00 60 Minutes (PG) [s] 8:00 Test Cricket: Day 4 [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 8:35 Inside The Savoy Hotel (PG) 8:00 A Very Royal Christmas: 10:30 Movie: “National Lampoon’s 9:30 Secrets Of Harrods Secrets Of Sandringham (PG) 6:30 Family Feud (PG) [s] European Vacation” (PG) (’85) 8:30 Movie: “Deck The Halls” (PG) 7:30 The Graham Norton Show (M) Department Store (PG) – The Griswold family take on (’06) Stars: Danny DeVito 8:30 FBI: Most Wanted (MA15+) [s] 10:25 Marry Me, Marry My Family the European continent, all in a 10:30 NINE News Late [s] 10:30 Blood And Treasure: The (PG) (In English/ Filipino/ Urdu) catastrophe filled fortnight Return Of The Queen (M v) [s] 11:30 Police Custody: thanks to a TV quiz-show grand 11:00 Killer On The Line: Darren Byrne (M v) [s] 11:25 Blood And Treasure: Legacy Love Thy Neighbour (M l) prize. Stars: Chevy Chase, 11:50 Emergence: Pilot (M v,s) [s] Of The Father (M v,d) [s] 12:30 How To Lose Weight Well Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Hill, 12:20 Young, Dumb And Banged Up 12:20 NCIS: Schooled (PG) [s] (PG) Jason Lively, John Astin In The Sun (M) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping 3:20 Dying Laughing (M l,s) 12:30 Home Shopping

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Classifications: (G) General, (PG) Parental Guidance, (M) Mature Audiences, (MA15+) Mature Audience Over 15 Years, [s] Subtitles Consumer Advice: (d) drug references, (s) sexual references or sex scenes (h) horror, (l) language, (mp) medical procedures, (n) nudity, (v) violence

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

Builders Licence Number 204179C

Solid Bathrooms

LICENSED TRADESMAN AND QUALITY WORK ALL LOCATED ON THE CENTRAL COAST

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PRIME (C61/60)

NINE (C81/80)

6:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 Howards End [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 Gruen (PG) [s] 1:35 Squinters (M l,d,s) [s] 2:00 Maggie Beer In Japan [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) [s] 6:30 Anh’s Brush With Fame: Michael Clarke (PG) [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Hard Quiz (PG) [s] 8:00 Stan Grant’s One Plus One: Poh Ling Yeow [s] 8:30 Australia Remastered [s] 9:30 Griff’s Great Australian Rail Trip (M) [s] 10:15 Tomorrow Tonight (PG) [s] 10:45 ABC Late News [s] 11:05 Harrow: Aegri Somnia (M v) [s] 11:55 No Offence (M l,s,v) [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Spirit Of Christmas” (PG) (’15) – A woman brokering the sale of a haunted home agrees to help the resident ghost find out the truth of his death. Stars: Thomas Beaudoin, Kati Salowsky, Steven A. Miller, Jen Lilley 2:00 Test Cricket: Pre Game [s] 3:00 Test Cricket: Australia v India: Test 1: Day 5 *Live* From The Adelaide Oval [s] 5:00 Test Cricket: The Lunch Break 5:40 Test Cricket: Day 5 [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Test Cricket: Day 5 [s] 7:40 Test Cricket: Tea Break [s] 8:00 Test Cricket: Day 5 [s] 10:30 Station 19: Stronger Together (M) [s] 11:30 Criminal Confessions: Belmont County, Ohio (M v,l) [s] 12:30 Home Shopping

5:30 Today [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Four Christmases And A Wedding” (G) (’17) Stars: Arielle Kebbe, Corey Sevier, Markie Post, Madison Smith 1:50 9Honey - Every Day Kitchen 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast (PG) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Gold Coast Cops (M v,l) [s] 8:00 Driving Test: Thabi (PG) [s] 8:30 Movie: “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” (M v) (’08) Stars: Harrison Ford 10:55 NINE News Late [s] 11:25 Generation X: The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth (M) [s] 12:15 Tipping Point [s] 1:05 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 Howards End [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell Pagan Holiday Special (M) [s] 2:00 Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery (PG) [s] 6:30 Anh’s Brush With Fame: Lindy Chamberlain (PG) [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Hard Quiz (PG) [s] 8:00 Outback Ringer (PG) [s] 8:30 Mystify Michael Hutchence (M) [s] 10:10 The Queen’s Green Planet [s] 11:00 Christmas Sounds Better This Year [s] 12:00 ABC Late News [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Angels In The Snow” (PG) (’15) Stars: Jaeda Lily Miller, Kolton Stewart 2:00 Better Homes And Gardens Summer: Countdown To Christmas #2 [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) [s] 7:30 Movie: “Wonder Woman” (M v) (’17) Stars: Gal Gado, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston 10:20 Chicago Fire: The Tendency Of A Drowning Victim (M) [s] 11:25 The Goldbergs: We Didn’t Start The Fire (PG) [s] 12:00 Grey’s Anatomy: Cold As Ice (M v) [s] 1:00 Home Shopping

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:30 Today [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 11:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 5:30 Worldwatch 11:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 12:00 Movie: “The Christmas 1:00 PBS Newshour 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] Consultant”(PG) (’12) Stars: 2:00 Pope - The Most Powerful 1:00 Jamie’s Quick And Easy Food David Hasselhoff, Caroline Man In History (M) 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] Rhea, Barclay Hope 2:50 Great British Railway 2:30 Inside The Children’s 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast Journeys (PG) Hospital [s] (PG) [s] 3:25 Nigella: The Cook Who Made 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] Me 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:25 The Search For The Last 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] Supper 6:00 NINE News [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 5:30 Letters And Numbers 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] (PG) [s] 6:00 Going Places With Ernie 7:30 20 To One: Viral Mega Hits (M) 5:00 10 News First [s] Dingo: Horizontal Falls (PG) 8:30 Kath & Kim: The Shower (PG) 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 SBS World News 9:05 Kath & Kim: The Hideous Truth 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Great British Railway (PG) [s] 7:30 The Big Bang Theory: The Journeys (PG) 9:40 Hamish & Andy’s Euro Gap Santa Simulation (M) [s] 8:35 Inside Aldi At Christmas (PG) Year (PG) [s] 8:00 Movie: “Red 2” (M v,l) (’13) 9:25 Drink Wars: Coca-Cola Vs 10:40 NINE News Late [s] Stars: Bruce Willis Pepsi (PG) 11:10 The First 48: Rookie/ The 10:15 Movie: “The Lincoln Lawyer” 10:20 SBS World News Late Cornered (M v) [s] (M) (’11) Stars: Matthew 10:50 Why We Hate (M) 12:05 Tipping Point (PG) [s] McConaughey, Marisa Tomei 11:40 The A Word (M l,s) 1:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 12:40 WIN’s All Australian News [s] 12:50 The Pier (MA15+) (In Spanish) 1:30 Home Shopping 1:40 The Project (PG) [s] 1:50 Life Drawing UK (M n)

6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 Howards End [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 Christmas Sounds Better This Year [s] 2:00 The Queen’s Green Planet [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 4:00 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:30 Back Roads (PG) [s] 5:00 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 6:00 Sammy J’s 2020 Dumpster Fire Spectacular [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Hard Quiz Kids Special (PG) 8:00 The Yearly With Charlie Pickering 2020 [s] 9:00 Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat Christmas Special [s] 10:00 Would I Lie To You At Christmas? (PG) [s] 10:30 QI: Pubs (PG) [s] 11:00 ABC Late News [s] 11:20 Score: A Film Music Documentary (M v) [s]

6:00 Left Off The Map [s] 5:30 Today [s] 6:00 Sunrise [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 11:00 Good Chef Bad Chef [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 11:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 5:30 Worldwatch 12:00 Movie: “A Kiwi Christmas” (PG) 12:00 Movie: “My Christmas Prince” 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 PBS Newshour (PG) (’17) Stars: Alexis Knapp 1:00 Program To Be Advised (’17) Stars: Kari Väänänen, Sia 2:00 Pope - The Most Powerful 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast Trokenheim, Xavier Horan, Man In History (M) 2:30 Inside The Children’s Hospital 2:50 Great British Railway (PG) [s] Samuel Clark, Luca Andrews, 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] Laura Daniel, Troy King, Wesley 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] Journeys (PG) 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] Dowdell, Will Hall, Ravi Narayan 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 3:25 Greetings From Planet Smurf 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 2:00 Funniest Cutest Kittens (PG) 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] (PG) (In English/ French/ 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 6:00 NINE News [s] 3:00 The Chase UK [s] German) (PG) [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 4:30 The Monopoly Story 5:00 10 News First [s] 7:30 Paramedics (M) [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 5:30 Letters And Numbers 8:30 The Inbetween: Kiss Them For 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 6:00 Going Places With Ernie Me (M v) [s] – Tom and Damien 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:00 Better Homes And Gardens Dingo: Yirrkala (PG) track a mysterious killer who has 7:30 The Big Bang Theory: The Summer: Countdown To Carols 6:30 SBS World News Cooper Extraction (PG) [s] targeted several kids at the 7:30 Woolworths’ Carols In The 7:30 London’s Great Bridges: 8:00 Jamie: Easy Meals At same high school. Domain (PG) [s] Lighting Up The Thames (PG) Christmas [s] 10:00 Movie: “Vegas Vacation” (PG) 9:30 Chicago Med: Guess It Doesn’t 8:30 Secrets Of Britain: 9:00 Movie: “Jack Reacher” (M v,l) Matter Anymore (MA15+) [s] (’97) Stars: Chevy Chase, Secrets Of Scotland Yard (M v) (’12) Stars: Tom Cruise Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, 10:30 NINE News Late [s] 9:30 The Sister (M) Marisol Nichols, Wayne Newton, 11:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: 11:40 The Masked Singer USA (M) 10:25 SBS World News Late 1:40 The Project (PG) [s] Con-Text (M v) [s] Ethan Embry, Miriam Flynn 10:55 24 Hours In Emergency (M) 2:40 The Late Show With Stephen 11:55 Vikings (MA15+) 11:50 World’s Wildest Weather: 12:00 Code Black: Unfinished Colbert (PG) [s] Hellish Hailstorm (PG) [s] Business (M d) [s] 12:45 Movie: “Ismael’s Ghost” 12:40 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 1:00 Home Shopping 3:30 Home Shopping (MA15+) (’17) (In French)

6:00 rage Christmas Eve Special (PG) [s] 7:00 News Breakfast [s] 10:00 Howards End [s] 11:00 Gardening Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 1:00 Hard Quiz Kids Special (PG) 1:30 QI: Pubs (PG) [s] 2:00 Would I Lie To You At Christmas? (PG) [s] 2:30 The Cook And The Chef [s] 3:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 3:55 The Heights (PG) [s] 4:25 Back Roads (PG) [s] 4:55 Escape From The City (PG) [s] 5:50 Worzel Gummidge [s] 7:00 ABC News [s] 7:30 Spicks And Specks Reunion Special (PG) [s] 8:30 Would I Lie To You At Christmas? (PG) [s] 9:00 QI: Quizmas (PG) [s] 9:35 Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell Pagan Holiday Special (M) [s] 10:35 Sammy J’s 2020 Dumpster Fire Spectacular (M) [s]

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show (PG) [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Finding Father Christmas” (G) (’16) Stars: Erin Krakow, Wendie Malick, Aliyah O’Brien, Niall Matter, Jordana Largy, Bethany Brown 2:00 Cutest Ever Puppy Party (PG) 3:00 The Chase UK [s] 4:00 Seven News At 4 [s] 5:00 The Chase Australia [s] 6:00 Seven News [s] 7:00 The Secret World Of Toys At Christmas (PG) [s] 8:00 Movie: “Elf” (G) (’03) Stars: Will Ferrell, Jon Favreau, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Peter Dinklage, Mary Steenburgen 10:00 Movie: “Fred Claus” (PG) (’07) Stars: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates 12:30 Home Shopping

Monday 21 December

ABC (C20/21)

Tuesday 22 December

PAGE 21 18 DECEMBER 2020

Wednesday 23 December

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Thursday 24 December

Also see: ABC COMEDY (Channel 22) ABC ME (Channel 23) ABC NEWS (Channel 24)

Also see: 7TWO (Channel 62) 7MATE (Channel 63) 7FLIX (Channel 66)

5:30 Today [s] 9:00 Today Extra Summer [s] 11:30 NINE’s Morning News [s] 12:00 Movie: “Snowed-Inn Christmas” (PG) (’17) Stars: Bethany Joy Lenz, Andrew W. Walker, Belinda Montgomery 2:00 Bondi Vet - Coast To Coast (PG) [s] 3:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 4:00 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 5:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 6:00 NINE News [s] 7:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 7:30 Christmas With Delta (PG) [s] 8:00 Carols By Candlelight (PG) [s] 11:00 World’s Best Christmas Commercials (PG) [s] 11:50 Movie: “The Jazz Singer” (PG) (’80) Stars: Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier, Lucie Arnaz, Catlin Adams, Franklyn Ajaye, Paul Nicholas, Sully Boyar 2:00 Home Shopping 5:00 Skippy - The Bush Kangaroo 5:30 Wesley Impact [s]

Also see: GEM (Channel 82) GO! (Channel 83/88) LIFE (Channel 84)

TEN (C13)

SBS (C30)

Headline News [s] Studio 10 (PG) [s] Good Chef Bad Chef [s] My Market Kitchen [s] Dr Phil (PG) [s] Jamie’s Ultimate Veg [s] Entertainment Tonight [s] Inside The Children’s Hospital [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:00 WIN News [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Big Bang Theory: The Maternal Congruence (M) [s] 8:00 Movie: “Miss Congeniality” (PG) (’00) Stars: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine 10:15 Movie: “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed And Fabulous” (M v) (’05) Stars: Sandra Bullock 12:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s]

5:00 CGTN English News 5:15 NHK World English News 5:30 Worldwatch – Deutsche Welle English News 6:00 France 24 English News 6:30 Worldwatch Continues 2:00 Pope - The Most Powerful Man In History: The Price Of Progress (M s) 2:45 Restaurant SOS: Riobello (PG) 3:35 Who Do You Think You Are?: Patti Newton (PG) 4:35 The Supervet (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind Australia 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Inside Monaco: Playground Of The Rich (PG) 8:40 Inside Harrods At Christmas (PG) 9:30 24 Hours In Emergency (M) 10:25 SBS World News Late 10:55 Hamilton Agent (MA15+) (In Swedish/ English) 11:45 Outlander (MA15+) 1:55 The Wine Show (PG)

6:00 8:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 1:00 2:00 2:30

6:00 Headline News [s] 5:00 CGTN English News 8:30 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 11:00 Program To Be Advised 5:30 Worldwatch 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 PBS Newshour 1:00 Emmylou’s Christmas Table 2:00 Pope - The Most Powerful 2:00 Entertainment Tonight [s] Man In History (M) 2:30 Inside The Children’s Hospital 2:50 Great British Railway 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] Journeys (PG) 3:30 Left Off The Map [s] 3:25 Destination Flavour 4:00 Farm To Fork [s] Christmas 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 4:25 Rick Stein’s Christmas (PG) [s] Odyssey 5:00 10 News First [s] 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 6:00 Going Places With Ernie 7:30 The Living Room [s] – The Dingo: Mount Kosciuszko (PG) halls are decked, the drinks are 6:30 SBS World News flowing, and the turkey is in the 7:30 A Lego Brickumentary (PG) oven. It’s Christmas Eve at The 9:15 Professor Marston And The Living Room! Wonder Women (MA15+) 8:30 Program To Be Advised 11:10 24 Hours In Police Custody: 9:30 Blue Bloods: Atonement/ My Lost In Translation (M l) Brother’s Keeper (M) [s] 12:10 The Chocolate Factory: 11:30 WIN’s All Australian News [s] Cadbury Australia 12:30 The Project (PG) [s] 3:20 Celtic Woman: A Celebration 1:30 The Late Show (PG) [s] 4:25 Great British Railway 2:30 Home Shopping Journeys (PG)

Also see: 10 PEACH (Channel 11) 10 BOLD (Channel 12)

Programming information correct at time of going to press, changes are at the network’s discretion Prepared by National Typesetting Services

Also see: SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) SBS MOVIES (Channel 32) SBS FOOD (Channel 33) SBS NITV (Channel 34)

PAGE 22 18 DECEMBER 2020

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ACROSS

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DOWN IN THE GARDEN: A Magical Botanical Christmas them, Christmas or not! They do grow up to 35m in height, however. But oh, Woolly Bush Adenanthos sericeus how divine you are! Perfect for small gardens as it will grow up to a manageable 5m and with bonus vivid orangepink flowers in spring and early summer this will delight both you and your local pollinators. If you have a dinosaur lover or botanical history buff in your family, then you just have to make a Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis your garden Christmas Tree. One of the rarest and oldest trees on Earth, it will grow comfortably indoors and in sheltered spots in the garden. Holly

CHERALYN DARCEY

Could it even be Christmas without our botanical friends, the Christmas tree in our loungeroom, the poinsettia gracing our table and the Christmas Bush bursting from gardens everywhere? Depending on where you are in the world, people have been inspired to decorate their homes and celebrations with the plants of the festive season. The tradition of bringing greenery into our living areas during the winter months dates back to prehistoric times when the leaves of plants, particularly evergreens, symbolised life. It was a promise and reminder from nature that as harsh as conditions were at the time, life could still go on. The Ancient Egyptians decorated with palm rushes to indicate that the sun god, Ra, was returning after the passing of the winter solstice between 23rd and 26th December each year, while the Ancient Romans would fill their living spaces and temples with evergreen boughs to honour the deities of agriculture and the winter solstice. Vikings had a great affinity with evergreens as the botanical symbol of their sun god, Balder and the Celtic Druids honoured (and still honour) the evergreen as a symbol of renewal and the promise that spring would return. As the world has become smaller, we have seen a blended version of the plants that symbolise the time of Christmas for most. Let’s have a look at the hall of fame plants that say, “Merry Christmas”. Christmas Trees By 16th Century Germany we see people of this region bringing entire evergreen trees into their homes and decorating them as ‘Paradise Trees’ for Christmas Eve, symbolic of the tree from the Garden of Eden. Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, raised the popularity of the Christmas tree in the UK after a newspaper illustration of them with their children around the palace ‘Christmas Tree’ inspired the people of the time. From there, the modern-day Christmas tree as we know it was born. So, what about growing your own Christmas Tree here on the Coast? Although there are traditional Northern Hemisphere trees that can be grown in your garden, an Australian native tree will be far better suited to the environment here and fit in with the wildlife locals better? Let’s begin with the magnificent Norfolk Pine Araucaria heterophylla. I’m planting one this year because I just love

The Druids regard Holly as a sacred tree that represents fertility, and it was and still is used in their rituals as such. The Ancient Romans decorated their living spaces and temples with holly as a dedication to the god of agriculture and the harvest, Saturn. Later Christianity adopted this practice for their devotional spaces to symbolise the crucifixion of Christ with its sharp leaves and blood red berries. Holly has become naturalised in parts of Australia, including NSW because birds love the berries – they eat them, then deposit the seeds far and wide. We don’t want it in our bushland as it takes over our natural habitat and destroys opportunities for our smaller plant life so please don’t plant it. If you are looking for an alternative, try Sweet Viburnum Viburnum odoratissimum as you will be blessed with an abundance of gorgeous leaves and a fast-growing lovely hedge to boot. A good friend of mine, the photographer, and avid gardener, Karen Burgess, always creates the most stunning Christmas wreaths that emulate holly for our climate from bay leaves and bright red chillies. Perfect for the foodie in your life! Mistletoe A parasitic plant seems an unlikely Christmas time romance inspiration but the plant we all grew up seeing thrust over the heads of the desired in holiday movies was usually European Mistletoe Viscum album and although this plant can eventually kill its host, there are many mistletoes around the world that are semiparasitic and actually beneficial to our environment. There are indications of mistletoe use in various beliefs throughout history with it becoming entwined with Christmas sometime in 18th Century England when what was a popular game entailed male servants being allowed to kiss female servants found standing beneath it. To refuse a kiss was considered bad luck. There are 97 species of Australian mistletoe found right across the mainland but not Tasmania. While our mistletoe is not toxic like most others, it is still at the very least semi-parasitic. This is not necessarily a bad thing. They offer shelter, nesting places and food for our wildlife and are simply part of the great circle of life here. Poinsettias A native of Mexico, the poinsettia is a very interesting plant. Firstly, they are not vivid red flowers of the plant that you are observing at all but ‘bracts’, modified leaves that surround the true flowers.

Look closely next time you see a poinsettia in bloom and you will see that within this ring of festive red, tiny cream-coloured flowers that are the true blooms nestle within. Poinsettias flower and display their colourful bracts, not only in red but pinks, oranges, creams and whites, in the winter. To supply the market in our summer Aussie Christmas, they are grown in greenhouses where winter is emulated. Light is limited and they are kept cool. After Christmas, you can plant your potted poinsettia out into the garden and while you won’t be enjoying their famous display next Christmas, you will have a ‘Christmas in July’ display. Tip: Prune in late summer to encourage flowering and be warned they have a poisonous sap so protect yourself when handling and particularly pruning. Australian Christmas Bush Depending on where you find yourself in our beautiful country, will indicate the type of plant known locally as ‘Christmas Bush’. Here on the Central Coast and across our state, NSW Christmas Bush Ceratopetalum gummiferum is our Aussie festive native and it becomes more popular each year. People in colonial times simply looked to flowers that reminded them of the European Christmas of their birth places. Christmas bush, with its red flowers in tiny bell shapes and its appearance at the ‘right time’ did just that. Louisa Anne Meredith, an artist of the time, refers to it as such in the 1830s: “We used to meet numbers of people carrying bundles of beautiful native shrubs to decorate the houses, in the same way we use holly and evergreens at home… it is a handsome verdant shrub, with flowers, irregularly flower shaped and go from green to crimson in colour.” Similar in ways to the poinsettia, the flowers are not the part of the plant that endear us to it. The flowers are small creamy-coloured blossoms that fall away in spring to leave sepals that turn a gorgeous red by late December. Find a full sunny spot to plant your Christmas Bush and feed during spring with a nativespecific fertiliser only. When harvesting your Christmas bush, never remove more than a third of the plant and cut branches at an angle with sharp secateurs. Remove all foliage that will sit below the waterline in your vase, change water every

second day and snip drying bottom of stems as required and you should see your cut Christmas Bush last well into the New Year with a vase life of at least two weeks. NSW Christmas Bells The flaming yellow-red Christmas Bells Blandfordia nobilis and Blandfordia grandiflora are two of my personal favourite flowers. They are members of the Lily family and say everything ‘New South Wales’ to me and remind me of summer bush walks, family picnics and home. As with any native flower, it is illegal to pick these in the wild but that’s ok as they will grow easily in Coast gardens. You will find that Blandfordia nobilis grows well in full sun but is semi-shade tolerant while Blandfordia grandiflora needs full sun. I hope these tips bring a little Christmas inspiration into your garden and home and remember, you can also start a holiday plant tradition of your own. In the Darcey home, we have a strong affinity with Sunflowers and its never Christmas until the house is filled with their bright happy faces. UPCOMING GARDEN EVENTS Coachwood Nursery Open Days 18,19 December 9am to 3pm. Free Entry. We also have regular workshops for $49. Succulent & herbal teas workshops this December. www. coachwoodnursery.com Distillery Botanica, formally ‘The Fragrant Garden’ in Erina creates hand-crafted native Australian botanical gin and gorgeous gelato amongst 2.5 acres of beautiful gardens. Open 10am - 5pm Wed - Sun, 25 Portsmouth Road, Erina https://distillerybotanica.com THIS WEEK YOU COULD PLANT beans, beetroot, brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, chilli, celery, cucumber, eggplant, leek, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, silverbeet, spring onion, sweetcorn, tomato, zucchini, basils, parsley, lemongrass, mint, alyssum, boronia, celosia, nasturtium, marigolds Cheralyn Darcey is a gardening author, community garden coordinator and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘The Gardening Gang’ 8 - 9am every Saturday on Coast FM. Send your gardening questions, events and news to: gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com

PAGE 24 18 DECEMBER 2020 OUT&ABOUT

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Be a part of Nikki’s music video Central Coast local Nikki Webster has released a new album called Girls and is asking Australians to be part of the music video. She is encouraging the public to send in a video of themselves with their friends, dancing and or singing along to Girls, for their chance to star in the video. The upbeat anthemic hit is a celebration of friendship and how uplifting socialising with friends can be, particularly after the impact of this year’s COVID-19 lockdowns and social restrictions. Webster said she is excited to

be releasing new music 19 years after releasing her first single, Strawberry Kisses. “I’m so excite,” Webster said. “It’s been an incredibly tough year for everyone, with businesses forced to close up shop and everyone across Australia dealing with the social isolation brought on by time spent in lockdown. “Girls is a celebration of camaraderie, friendship and freedom - things I think Australians are really valuing and appreciating right now as restrictions ease across the country and life returns to somewhat normal.

“I hope this sing-along track will help to promote some positive energy after what has been a tough year. “If you like the song, I encourage you to invite your friends around and film a fun video clip to submit. “It does not matter if you think you are a good singer, or dancer, or not. “Ultimately, the song is about friendship, and that is what we want to see shining through in your videos.” Source: Media release, Dec 15 Brilliant Logic

Saratoga artist sees her work go international Freelance illustrator and Saratoga local, Christine Friend, is celebrating her third collaboration with international craft company, Diamond Dotz. Three of Friend’s designs now feature on the product which is being sold in over 25 countries. The Australia owned company, Diamond Dotz, is a work of art consisting of making designs out of small rhinestones, known as facets, placed together in a pattern on an adhesive surface. She said the collaboration with the company occurred following an accidental meeting with a company representative at the Terrigal Markets. “I noticed this new artwork that was really beautiful, and I had not seen before,” Friend

said. “The artwork was made of these things they call facets because they have 13 facets on them, which reflect the light beautifully. “I spoke to the lady who was selling them and asked them if they needed any artists because I thought maybe my artwork could go on their product. “When they said they did, I put together a really good proposal with quite a few artworks and sent it through to the head of the company. “It was quite amazing because he said, even though we live overseas, we are Australians and have some relatives who live close. “Those relatives came and saw my artwork, and liked it, and coincidently the head of

Local artist Christine Friend

the company was coming back to Australia. “So I got a catalogue of over 50 designs together, and an exhibit and that was where it all started.”

Her three artworks titled Kibali Western Lowland Gorilla, Eastern Rosella Gathering and Mother on Guard, are now the branding art for the products. “The founders have been in

the business of producing tapestries and embroideries through their company, Needle Artworld, for over 20 years. “They founded Diamond Dotz in 2016. “Lots of people still don’t know what Diamonds Dotz is as it is quite new,” Friend said. “But it is becoming a craft craze everywhere around the world.” Friend has been a local artist for over 20 years and is known for her illustrations around Australian native flora and fauna. “I love nature,” Friend said. “I love getting out for walks and visiting zoos and nature reserves. “Most of my illustrations are based on nature, whether they are geometric florals or realistic animal portraits.”

She said the Mother On Guard design was inspired by a visit to Oakvale Wildlife Park north of Newcastle. “I saw a peahen with her chicks,” she said. “The chicks were falling all over each other in the grass, oblivious to my presence, but the mother had her eye on me the whole time. “One thing that makes Diamond Dotz different is they are very concerned about the environment. “They make sure they comply with the EU and the standards in America and Australia. “They have environmentally friendly adhesive, and even the dyes they put in the facets don’t have any harmful chemicals.” Jacinta Counihan

COASTAL DIARY

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EVENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON THE CENTRAL COAST FRIDAY, DEC 18 Central Coast Christmas Market, Gosford Showgrounds, 5pm - 9pm

SUNDAY, DEC 20

Long Jetty, Carols on the Coast & 4pm - 6pm Central Coast Mariners v Young Socceroos, Central Coast Stadium, SATURDAY, DEC 26 Ticketed events, Family Fun Fair, Kick off 3pm, Terrigal Memorial Carols at 5:30pm Foreshore, See ticketek for more 26/12 - 17/01, details 10am - 6pm Thrive Church: Christmas Picnic, Saltwater Creek Reserve

TUESDAY, DEC 29

Belle Of The Turf Race Day, Central Coast Stadium, Breakfast on the Mountain, The Entertainment Grounds Kincumber Mountain MONDAY, JAN 25 Ticketed, 6pm Gosford, Ticketed, Reserve, 7:30am - 10am 12pm - 5pm SUNDAY, JAN 10 Over 60’s Healthy and

SATURDAY, JAN 23

THURSDAY, DEC 31

Mariners v Jets,

Handmade on the Coast Markets, Brick Wharf Rd Reserve Woy Woy, 7am - 4pm

THURSDAY, JAN 21

Active online program, Peninsula Lions Club: 10 week online Tuggerah Lakes Art Society: Car Boot Sale, program, free Home Baked Exhibition and Dunban Road Car Park 4320 9700 Handcraft Market, on the cnr of Ocean The Entrance Community www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au Beach Road, 7am Gallery, 23/01 - 31/01, 1pm SUNDAY, JAN 31 Ticketed entry

Basic entries in the Coastal Diary are FREE. Send information to coastaldiary@centralcoastnews.net

ENHANCED entries using bold typeface with an address, phone number and a live link are available for a small fee. Photographs can also be added for a small fee. All display advertisers are entitled to a free enhanced entry.

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 25 18 DECEMBER 2020

Business & Property Local HERO wins global tech award Central Coast based hydrogen research and development company Star Scientific has won the 2020 Global Energy Awards’ Emerging Technology of the Year category. The company develops technologies to help businesses and governments transition to a new energy economy. Its breakthrough product is the Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser (HERO), which produces unlimited, affordable, safe and reliable energy – with zero emissions. Star Scientific Global Group Chairman, Andrew Horvath, said it was a proud moment for the entire team at Star Scientific Limited who have worked passionately to develop HERO. “We were chosen as finalists from some 300 entries from over 36 countries, acknowledged for ingenuity and commercialisation

A staff member at the Berkeley Vale research facility

potential,” Horvath said, “The award recognises that HERO has created its own category in the energy sector, primed to address a gap that will significantly change global hydrogen use.

“Star Scientific is a proudly owned Australian company, with a global reach and aspirations. “Our technology brings about a seismic shift toward hydrogen as the energy choice of the

future. “While green hydrogen is enjoying significant global attention at present, there is a gap in its deployment for industrial purposes. “We believe this is where

HERO will emerge as the final link in the hydrogen chain. “The world is watching to see how Australia will capitalise on its unique advantages to develop a large-scale hydrogen industry.

“This award further highlights the global interest in Australia’s hydrogen production and use capabilities. “The future for hydrogen is very exciting and we are delighted to be a part of that. “The award is a vindication of the hard work and commitment of everyone at Star Scientific; from our tremendous engineering and science teams to our shareholders, finance and administration arm.” The S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards is an annual award hosted by independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, S&P Global Platts. Established in 1999, the S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards highlight achievement in 21 categories spanning the entire energy sector. Source: Media release, Dec 11 Primary PR for Star Scientific

Small businesses pivot in response to COVID While small businesses in the region have “done it tough” through COVID-19, their innovation has shone through with many businesses changing the way they attract, service and follow up with their customers, says Business NSW Central Coast Regional Director, Paula Martin. “At the beginning of the crisis, the level of digital activation by small business was three times lower than the state average, with 30 per cent of small business not even having a business UR email,” Martin said. Supply chains were disrupted and 85 per cent of local business had to quickly pivot their operations to survive. “Strong local buy campaigns like Bigger Backyard Central Coast helped to highlight the diversity of our local business community and supply chain gaps within our own backyard with only 33 per cent experiencing supply chain disruptions today. “Additionally, over 600 local businesses have pledged over $28M this year to buy local. “Whilst 60 per cent of local

The Bigger Backyard campaign launched by Business NSW and Coast Chambers of Commerce encouraged people to buy local

business have now resumed normal trading conditions, building trades, business services, health and wellbeing and food and beverage are still the highest affected businesses with continued changed service delivery models. “The level of vulnerability for the Central Coast in 2021 will depend on our ongoing successful management of COVID-19 and the pace of getting our business community

operating at full speed. “We are definitely seeing signs of recovery on the Central Coast with retail in our town centres nearly 40 per cent higher than this time last year and grocery, apparel and restaurant spend up between 20 and 50 per cent in the same period. “Members are telling me that they are busier than ever and finding staff has become a key challenge for them in the lead

up to a busy summer. “The task ahead of us to create a thriving local economy beyond seasonality traits and without (further) stimulus is large but not insurmountable. “Currently we have over 11,000 local businesses utilising JobKeeper, accounting for 45 per cent of our business community. “Whilst Australia’s economic recovery is on track and is slightly ahead of the baseline

scenario set out by the RBA and Treasury, the outlook remains uncertain given the lack of clarity around the efficacy and economic impact of potential vaccines. “A continued focus on economic development to shape our industry opportunities, jobs creation and value proposition as a region is key to our rate of growth.” Martin’s views are reflected

in Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell’s new Small Business Counts report. The recently released report provides a statistical overview of small business performance in Australia, using the latest available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and other trusted sources. A feature of this year’s report is a dedicated chapter regarding COVID-19, which reveals 40 per cent of small businesses nationwide changed the way they provided products and services in response to the crisis. “2020 has been a year like no other and certainly the toughest Australia’s 2.3 million small businesses have ever experienced,” Carnell said. “While the true toll this year has taken on small businesses - including the mental health impact - won’t be known for some time, our Small Business Counts report shows that many small businesses have pivoted their operations to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions.” Terry Collins

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Pacific Link to recycle surplus into new affordable housing Despite a year impacted adversely by COVID-19 on both the operational and financial aspects of the business, social housing provider Pacific Link Housing (PLH) has announced a $1.4M surplus for the last financial year. With a project completed at Canton Beach in August and two more underway on the Peninsula, the company’s annual report says its net assets have grown from $19.9M to $21.3M. PLH began construction on November 16 of a new development at Woy Woy which will provide nine one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units and is targeted towards older single women and families escaping domestic violence. Completion is expected by December 2021, with PLH looking into a second site on the Peninsula. Chairman, Wal Edgell, reported PLH would continue to

An artist’s impression of the development under construction at Woy Woy

progress its mission to deliver sustainable, safe and affordable housing for the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Hunter communities. He said this would be achieved through strategies of investing financial surpluses generated from core operations into the development and construction of new affordable housing supply. “In June 2020, the Company

finalised a $4M loan facility from the new National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) - a Commonwealth Government initiative,” Edgell said. Completion of a 21-unit development project at Glendale, Lake Macquarie, in January and the project at Canton Beach brought to 119 the number of new housing units developed over the past

five years, valued at $19.7M. “A further key initiative for the PLH Board has been the focus on, and continuing evolution of, our Client Outcomes and Community Engagement Strategy,” he said. “As a measure of our commitment to this strategy, the Board this year approved a significantly increased budget allocation towards continuing funding of Pacific Link’s suite of

programs offering education, opportunity and employment.” Edgell praised the NSW Government for the new Together Home program which will result in more than $36M being directed to assist identified rough sleepers transition into sustainable housing and said Pacific Link was pleased to be selected to play its part in delivery of the program for the Central Coast.

He said PLH’s Key2 Realty had seen remarkable growth in its first year, now having more than 160 properties under management. CEO Ian Lynch said the annual tenant survey had been an opportunity to understand residents’ needs. “Responses from these surveys inform new ideas for our self-funded tenant support programs, which provide opportunities for tenants to improve their situation and, where possible, transition to mainstream housing. “More than 1,100 residents have been assisted with these capacity building programs that offer scholarships, access to education, financial support for children to access sporting activities, learner driver lessons and interest-free loans to purchase laptops.” Source: Pacific Link Annual Report, 2020

New community grants program Central Coast accounting and financial planning firm, AdviceCo, has partnered with the Count Charitable Foundation (CCF) to launch a Community Grants Program in which charitable organisations are invited to apply for a $20,000 cash grant. AdviceCo and CCF will each contribute $10,000 to one charitable organisation before June 2021. AdviceCo Managing Director, David Evers, initiated the program off the back of an extraordinary 2020, filled with challenges and adversities that have impacted the living conditions of members within our community. “Our community engagement

The Judging Panel for AdviceCo, and Count Charitable Foundation’s Community Grants Program

program enables us to donate and participate in the community each year, but this year, we needed to think differently to address current challenges and make a meaningful difference where it counts,” Evers said. “We’ve consolidated our available funds and partnered

with the Count Charitable Foundation to build one solid grant. “We wanted to make access to the grant fair and equitable to those who have the best understanding of community needs right now, so we created the application process.” Former CEO of Coast Shelter

and Founder/Executive Director of Creating, Rachel Willis, is one of four judges who will take part of choosing the recipient. She said the grant is coming at a time when charities need it most. “This grant opportunity comes at a really important time for charities on the Coast,

many whom have been on the front line supporting our community during a time of unprecedented demand for support,” Willis said. “I was thrilled to be invited to be part of this program and to support a new initiative designed to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the

lives of fellow Coasties.” Founder and Chairman of the Count Charitable Foundation, Barry Lambert; Managing Director of AdviceCo, David Evers; and Editor of Central Coast Business Review, Edgar Adams; are the other three judges. Applications are open from now until the end of March 2021 and involve a brief 500word proposal of how applicants would put the $20,000 towards a current or future project for the Central Coast community. To be successful, charities must possess Deductible Gift Recipient Status 1. Source: Media Release, Nov 27 AdviceCo

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 27 18 DECEMBER 2020

Council, Union in talks over staff cuts The United Services Union (USU) is in talks with Central Coast Council to mitigate the effects of proposed staff cuts in the wake of the Council’s financial crisis. Council Administrator Dick Persson signposted in his recent 30-day report that more than 200 jobs would go, but Union spokesperson, Luke Hutchinson said he was hopeful important services would not be impacted. “I’ve already had some mass meetings with staff … and we have put out a statement to our members (to reassure them) that we’re at the table, we’re working through these matters and we’re hopeful,” Hutchinson said. “If there’s an opportunity for some staff who may want to (take) voluntary redundancy, as much as we don’t want to see it, that’s what may occur, but

obviously we want to protect (members to) the end. “We have not had any discussions with Council about core jobs, which is fundamentally important for the community and our members. “Things like childcare, library, sewerage, roads, parks and other essential services seemingly at this stage are looking untouched and it looks like more middle management and administrative based areas that we need to continue to work through. “The USU is involved with meetings with Council on a daily and weekly basis. “There’s been some discussion about the reduction of staffing levels, which is no secret, but I’m not certain that cutting 242 staff is going to be the outcome. “My understanding is that Council has a target figure but depending on whether there

Administrator Dick Persson confirmed Council was in talks with the USU

are some voluntary redundancies accepted at certain levels of the organisation, that may limit how many actual physical people leave the organisation in terms of that reduction. “If there’s an opportunity to

assist staff through a voluntary (redundancy) process we will work with them through that process. “We are trying to get a list of where those targeted areas or positions may be rather than just across the board because

I don’t think Central Coast Council and the community can afford to lose rank and file jobs or operational jobs. “We need to be quite strategic on how that process unfolds and we’ve been working with Council with that.” Hutchinson said interim CEO, Rik Hart, had come to the table and was willing to engage with the Union. “But it’s obviously hugely concerning and an appalling state of affairs that Mr Hart and the USU are left with to try and clean up,” he said. Hutchinson said the USU’s aim was to try to minimise any impacts on members and on the community. He said he and the General Secretary of the USU would have further meetings with Administrator Dick Persson and CEO Rik Hart in coming weeks. Persson confirmed he had

met with the USU on the second day of his appointment. “We spoke at great lengths regarding the concerns they have, and I share some of their concerns,” he said. “I will continue to engage with the USU as I work through the financial situation and its implications.” A Council spokesperson confirmed steps toward financial recovery would include a reduction in the costs of Council’s current workforce to pre-amalgamation workforce levels. “This equates to a reduction of the annual amount spent on employee costs to $175M,” the spokesperson said. “Council staff are being kept informed and Council always consults with staff and unions about any workforce impacts, in line with the Local Government State Award.” CCN special report

Council seeks another loan – this time up to $100M Central Coast Council is on the hunt for another loan, this time for up to $100M. This comes on top of a loan for $50M secured in November. “Negotiations with financial institutions are continuing regarding additional funding to supplement working capital,” the latest financial update from Council says. The update was received and noted by Administrator Dick Persson at the December 14

meeting. The update also talked about possible increases in fees and charges. Council staff have identified some “areas of opportunities” for an increase in fees and charges. “Staff are currently finalising details on the proposed increases for consideration,” the update says. Council has released no details at this stage.

The highlights of the business recovery update include a further reduction of the 20202021 CAPEX program to $170M and a structural reduction target in employee costs and materials and contracts of about $50M. The earlier announced rate increase has increased to 15 per cent and a first tranche of underperforming property assets is moving ahead with the procurement of valuers and agents.

Chief operating officer Natalia Cowley said staff were finalising further tranches of proposed property asset sales and negotiations were under way for a loan to secure $50$100M in capital works. Meanwhile, the Forensic Audit into Council’s financial situation continues. The report to the Council meeting said that that sharing of information and the initial assessment had been completed which will inform

the scope of the final phases of the audit. The Audit Report is currently still on track for completion late January, 2021. The November investment report was also tabled at the meeting. It shows that Council has almost $388M in investment funds providing millions of dollars each year in interest payments. But the investment funds are restricted funds and cannot be

used to pay for operational matters such as staff wages or other regular unrestricted costs. Net return for November was $330,000 which was made up entirely of interest. In November, the Council had a net inflow of $62.54M in restricted funds with a decrease of cash of $5.5M and an increase of $68M in investments. Merilyn Vale

Money well spent on infrastructure While Central Coast Council is in debt, Administrator Dick Persson admits the money has been well spent. Persson said it has delivered significant infrastructure to the Coast. “The money was not lost, rather it was spent on projects,” Persson said. “In fact, 1,383 capital projects were delivered. “As I stated in my 30-day Interim Report, in 2019/20 the Council embarked upon a $242M capital works program. “While this decision was flawed, it should be noted that this delivered significant infrastructure to the Central Coast.” Persson said the Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline project was managed effectively in 2019/20 which meant that

aspects of the $50M project were brought forward and over $14M was expended on one this significant project. “This 9km pipeline will boost water supply to the Central Coast’s rapidly growing northern suburbs and will improve water security for the entire region,” he said. Other works included the resurfacing of 107km of road, upgrading 82 bus stops to make them accessible, 4.9km of drainage infrastructure and the upgrade of four wharves to improve access and usability. Work was also undertaken on projects that not only maintain essential services but also enhanced the amenity of open spaces on the Coast. These included works at Adcock Park, EDSACC at Bateau Bay, Heazlett Park at Avoca, Don Small Oval at Tacoma and Koolewong

Foreshore on which a combined total of $7.137M was spent. Over $6M was spent on the maintenance and renewal of community assets including seven child care centres, 18 library projects, 11 community halls and 18 community centre projects. Council’s recreational facilities were developed with a new water play park delivered at the Peninsula Leisure Centre. Persson said there are about 250 more people employed at Central Coast Council than at the time of amalgamation. “While this practice impacted Council’s finances negatively it must be noted that these people were active and productive members of the organisation delivering services to the Central Coast,” he said. “They delivered day to day

services including customer service, child care, library services, recreational services, community services and events. “In fact, in 2019/20 30 major events were conducted which promoted arts and culture in the region as well as stimulating the local economy. “A key area where services were delivered is in the remediation or maintenance of environmental assets. “This year $2.292M was spent on the maintenance of approximately 47km of Asset Protection Zones and fire trails to minimise the fire risk adjacent to Council land, and maintenance on Council’s network of 223 fire trails (total length of 260km). “In a year such as 2020, expenditure on fire mitigation was a significant service to the Central Coast community.

“Another example is the collection of 10,723 cubic metres of seagrass wrack from Tuggerah Lakes against the KPI target 8,000 cubic metres. “Removal of excess seagrass wrack and floating algae from Tuggerah Lakes is undertaken to enhance water quality and improve circulation in nearshore areas. “In addition to the seagrass wrack removal, Council collected 1098 tonnes of waste material from 367 gross pollutant traps and 570 tonnes from 37 constructed wetlands that would have otherwise entered Tuggerah Lakes. “This work cost around $1.350M.” Persson said 2020 has been an exceptional year with reduced dam levels, bushfires, floods, coastal erosion, followed by COVID -19.

“These events required the constant redirection of resources to meeting the needs of the community,” he said. “In response to the bushfires, Council waived green waste fees for properties west of the M1 motorway, allowing the community to prepare their properties and dispose of waste. “COVID-19 resulted in loss of income to Council. “I also note that during Council’s response to COVID-19 steps were taken to protect permanent employees through a program of redeployment. “I also understand that various fee waivers and reductions were applied during this period for the purpose of assisting and protecting local businesses and community organisations.” Merilyn Vale

PAGE 28 18 DECEMBER 2020

BUSINESS & PROPERTY

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Coasties urged to buy local this Christmas After a tough year, Central Coast residents are being encouraged to support surrounding businesses by buying local this Christmas. The community gift card program, Why Leave Town, is one program helping to do this with all the money loaded onto the cards to be spent on participating businesses in the area. They are calling on Central Coast businesses sign up to their program. The program uses the existing EFTPOS network, meaning there is no additional hardware or software needed for a small business to take part. Why Leave Town founder, Ashley Watt, said the trend of spending locally has increased exponentially with COVID-19 restrictions making communities and businesses reliant on the support of their

local customers. “Our first community gift card program launched in Narrabri in 2010 but has since expanded across Australia,” Watt said. “We’ve noticed interest shifting more towards local thinking over the last few years, but over the last 12 months, it’s just gone through the roof. “We’ve signed up more than 25 new programs in the last year alone. “Located all across Australia, we’re doing our best to help communities who are recovering from the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. “We’ve loaded up some record numbers in the last month. “Compared to this time last year, community gift card sales around Australia have almost doubled.” Watt said the Australian

Aussie Helpers

Retailers Association (ARA) has predicted Australians will tap, swipe and cash-in more than $48.1B during the Christmas holiday period. “It’s often said that $100 spent locally will have a $180 impact on the local community,

as it helps employ staff and cycle around,” Watt said. “Small businesses everywhere have taken a hit with restrictions. “It’s really important if we want them around for their

service and support, we give them as much support this Christmas as possible.” Another program encouraging Central Coast residents to buy products made in Australia is Aussie Helpers. They create and sell hampers of essential goods from Australian farmers to assist farming families who are facing the very real prospect of skipping Christmas due to financial stress. Aussie Helpers CEO, Tash Kocks, said this year had proven to be one of the most gruelling for farmers already struggling to make ends meet. “Aussie farmers have battled seasonal labour shortages, volatile commodity prices, international trade tensions and recession all the while recovering from devastating bushfires and one of the longest droughts in living memory,”

Kocks said. “Farmers keep our fridges and pantries full but sometimes struggle to feed themselves. “It’s heartbreaking the dire reality of their situations. “At Aussie Helpers, every dollar and every hour volunteered helps Aussie farmers in need. “By purchasing a hamper this year, you’re giving farmers more than just groceries and treats. “You’re also telling them they are important and valued.” Hampers are available at $50 and $100 and can be purchased at aussiehelpers.org.au. Businesses can register to the Why Leave Town program at www.whyleavetown.com Source Media release, Nov 26 Aussie Farmers Media release, Dec 8 Why Leave Town

Council adopts consolidated LEP Central Coast Council has reached an important milestone with the adoption on December 14 of the consolidated regionwide Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP) and Development Control Plan (CCDCP). The region-wide plans will help alleviate planning

complexities and inconsistencies and create certainty for residents and the local development industry. Since amalgamation the Central Coast has been operating under five different planning instruments each with different planning controls. Council Director of Environment and Planning,

Scott Cox, said formulating a region-wide plan had been a massive undertaking with community participation playing a vital role. “Over a four year period, Council staff conducted extensive consultation with agencies, the community and councillors, with over 750 public submissions received

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during the public exhibition period and 345 community members attending face-toface engagement sessions,” Cox said “All community submissions and feedback were considered alongside councillor and agency responses with appropriate amendments applied, “An outcome of consultation activity is a decision to retain a 550m2 minimum lot size where it currently applies in the former Gosford LGA to the R2 Low Density Residential zone, an 8.5m maximum building height in the former Gosford LGA R2 Low Density Residential zone and current DCP 3.1 Floodplain Management controls”. Cox said the lands identified as Deferred Matters under GLEP 2014 will remain deferred under the CCLEP and be rezoned following the completion of the Environmental

Lands Review. “This will progress as a priority project in early 2021,” he said. “This will provide the opportunity for additional work and studies to ensure that related impacts have an evidence-basis before appropriate policy settings are recommended.” While consolidation of the planning instruments creates consistency in the way Council applies its planning controls across the Central Coast, Council has been mindful to not impose a one size fits all approach to development, Cox said. “We know that what works in some areas of the Coast may not work in others, so this process has retained site specific and town centre controls in many areas, such as Woy Woy, and additional controls and site specific chapters are part of the

consolidated DCP. “This includes the retention of character statements in the former Gosford LGA under the Draft CCDCP.” Council Administrator Dick Persson said the consolidation was good news for the community, development industry and staff. “Reaching this goal of having one Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and one Development Control Plan (DCP) puts us on a solid pathway to improve our local environment and encourage investment, create new jobs and quality housing for the growing population of the Central Coast,” Persson said. For further information on the development of the CCLEP and CCDEP go to yourvoiceourcoast. com. Source: Media release, Dec 14 Central Coast Council

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Nourishing, wholefood Tiramisu – part 2

GEORGIA LIENEMANN This is the perfect dessert for entertaining over the Summer as it can be made several days in advance or enjoyed over a few days if, per chance, you have any leftovers. The flavour only improves with time. Aside from the sponge, every element in this recipe is flexible. I’ve included options in the notes so that you can tweak to your heart’s content. The recipe yields 8 large servings. Enjoy, folks! Genoise Sponge (made one day prior) 4 eggs, at room temperature 75 g (1⁄2 cup) rapadura sugar 1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract 120 g unbleached white spelt flour (this is 1 cup minus 1 x 20ml tablespoon) 40 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled Coffee Mixture ¾ cup ground coffee, steeped in 1 cup of boiling water (see notes) ¼ cup Marsala Cream 1 tsp vanilla essence 175g of thickened cream 250g of mascarpone (see notes) 2 whole eggs (see notes) 5 egg yolks 120g milled and sifted rapadura sugar (see notes) MAKING THE SPONGE This element is best made the day before (or minimum 4 hours prior) and stored at room temperature. Below is the lovely Jude Blereau’s recipe, from her brilliant ‘Wholefood Baking’ published by Murdock books. I like to mill and sift my rapadura sugar before beating it with the eggs at this time of year as

some brands are very coarse. Jude’s recipe: The success of this cake will depend on beating – I have described below whipping until it falls and holds a ribbon, but it should also be super thick and luscious – very often, people don’t whip it enough. Whip it and whip it good. DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 180°C or 160c if fan forced. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20 – 22 cm springform cake tin with baking paper. Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and creamy and tripled in volume. The mixture is ready when you can lift the beaters and the mixture falls back into the bowl in a ribbon that rests on the surface for about 10 seconds. Add the vanilla extract during the last moments of whisking. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Sieve onethird of the flour onto the mixture and gently fold through — I like to use a whisk. Stop as soon as the flour looks incorporated. Fold in the remaining flour in two more additions. Place the melted butter in a small bowl, then gently fold in 1 cup of the batter through the butter. Add this back to the egg mixture and gently fold through. Take care not to overmix. Turn into the tin. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the centre springs back when lightly touched, and the cake is coming away from the side. If the cake is browning too quickly and is not ready, reduce the oven temperature and continue cooking. When the cake is cooked, turn off the oven and leave the door ajar until the cake is cool. Remove from the oven and completely cool in the tin before filling as desired. MAKING THE TIRAMISU 1. Prepare all your ingredients first.Then organise a medium sized dish (approx. dimensions 20cm x 30cm), or individual serving glasses

to layer the tiramisu into. 2. Measure out the thickened cream, mascarpone and vanilla in a small bowl. Stir vigorously to combine, then set aside to come to room temperature. 3. Make sure the eggs are at room temperature before starting this step. In a large mixing bowl (or processor with whipping attachment), beat the egg yolks, whole eggs and milled, sifted rapadura sugar until it lightens, doubles in volume and forms ribbons that sit on the surface for at least 10 seconds. This will take a while (possibly up to 10 minutes) and is the exact same process you will have used for the sponge. 4. Using a spatula, gently fold the cream mixture into the eggs until it is just combined, then set aside. 5. Strain the coffee into a medium mixing bowl. Add the Marsala and vanilla essence, stirring to combine. Ensure it is no longer hot before beginning the next step. 6. Place the cake on a large chopping board and remove the outer crust of the cake, by slicing around the edge. Then, working your way from left to right, slice the cake into 2.5cm wide ‘fingers’. And finally, one big transverse slice across the lot of them, chopping them in half. 7. Pick up one of the fingers from the middle of the cake (you may need to adjust the length of it, according to the container size) and momentarily dip each of the two longer ‘cut’ sides into the coffee mixture, one after the other, then place it back onto your chopping board, (top side up, like all the other fingers). Slice it in half lengthways again (with the knife parallel to the two cut sides). You’ll hopefully find that the middle is still just-slightly dry, rather than being drenched all the way through (if not, your dipping needs to be quicker). 8. Lay the two halves, dry side down, into your dish and repeat this process until you’ve used up the first half of the cake – and hopefully

filled the base of your dish. Don’t worry too much if it isn’t perfect. The cream layer compensates for errors of judgement! 9. Pour just under half the cream mixture over the cake base and tilt the dish gently from side to side to help level it out. Place the dish into the fridge for 20 minutes or freezer for 10 minutes, to set. 10. Remove the dish from the fridge and proceed with the second layer, following the exact same process as with the first. Pour the remaining cream over the top, then cover your dish and allow the tiramisu to set in the fridge. Ideal setting time is 12-24 hours, but definitely 6 as an absolute minimum. 11. Serve chilled, after grating a nice thick layer of good quality dark chocolate over the top, with a microplane or fine grater. NOTES Coffee: Although I’m a retired coffee drinker (and always detested strong, black coffee), this recipe genuinely needs the strong flavour to balance it. Try it once and if it’s too much, you can reduce it by 2-3 tablespoons. Be sure to give it a full 12 hours to set as the flavour will mellow slightly with time. Rapadura sugar: Feel free to play with the amount as it wont affect the recipe in any way. If you’ve been on a fairly low-carb, wholefood diet for a while, you might like to reduce the sugar down to 90 grams. Eggs & texture: You can play with the ratio of egg yolks to whole eggs. Increasing the ratio of whites to yolks will result in a lighter, fluffier texture. Lowering it will make it a richer, heavier cream layer. Mascarpone: my favourite brand is Pepe Saya, which comes in a 200g tub. However, if you’re buying a generic supermarket brand, it will most likely come in a 250g container. Varying the amount wont give you a remarkably different result, aside from the fact it sets slightly better with more mascarpone added.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE PAGE 31 18 DECEMBER 2020

Six new patient experience officers for local hospitals

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, with Patient Experience Officers at Gosford Hospital

More support is now available to patients, families and carers presenting to Emergency Departments on the Central Coast, thanks to an Australia-first and awardwinning focus on improving customer service. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member

for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said new Patient Experience Officers would reduce the stress of many patients when visiting the unfamiliar surroundings of Gosford and Wyong Hospitals. “Based in Emergency Department waiting areas, these men and women in bright red shirts are on-hand to provide support, help people

who are lost, de-escalate situations, answer questions and calm nerves,” Crouch said. “They are tasked with being customer-focused, helping people navigate the sometimes complex Emergency Department, and being a point of contact should there be delays or any concerns arise. “Before beginning work, each Patient Experience Officer

received specific training from NSW Health, Central Coast Local Health District and Service NSW to ensure they were well-equipped. “These friendly faces are now on-duty seven days a week at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals between 10am and 8.30pm.” Crouch said the six Patient Experience Officer positions are in addition to a range of

improvements to Emergency Departments. “New and more comfortable chairs have been installed in waiting areas at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals, mobile charging stations are now available, patient feedback kiosks are operational and Indigenous artworks are being displayed,” he said. “In response to patient

feedback, new way-finding signage has also been installed at Gosford Hospital to assist visitors understand how the Emergency Department ‘system’ works.” Source: Media release, Dec 15 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Gastro outbreak hits childcare centres Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) is urging parents and carers to keep young children at home if they are sick amid a rise in viral gastroenteritis cases in local childcare centres. “There has been a significant increase in gastroenteritis outbreaks in Central Coast childcare centres – with 10 reported to our Public Health Unit in the past three weeks,” CCLHD Director, Pubic Health,

Dr Kathryn Taylor, said. “Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches. “They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, sometimes longer. “Viral gastroenteritis is highly infectious, so it is important for everyone to know the signs and to stay home if they experience

any symptoms, especially as we head into the festive season and more people gather to celebrate with family and friends. “Infants or children in childcare or school who develop vomiting or diarrhoea should stay at home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped, as should staff members and anyone whose work involves handling food or looking after children, the elderly or patients.”

Taylor said the main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Most people recover without complications, but gastroenteritis can be serious for infants, people with suppressed immune systems and the elderly. Anyone recovering from gastroenteritis should avoid visiting hospitals, aged care facilities and childcare centres. Any person living in a

household affected by gastroenteritis should refrain from visiting or working in these high-risk areas until at least 48 hours after the last person in the household has recovered. CCLHD is reminding local childcare centres to reinforce basic hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing, cleaning all hard surfaces and providing education to help prevent the spread of infections.

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Staff should also wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up bodily fluids, including vomit, when symptoms commence at the centre and disinfect surfaces with a freshly made bleach solution. For more information visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au/ Infectious/gastroenteritis Source: Media release, Dec 14 Central Coast Local Health District

PAGE 32 18 DECEMBER 2020

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE PAGE 33 18 DECEMBER 2020

First tenants move into specialist disability apartments The dream of an independent lifestyle has become a reality for the first tenants to move into 20 high-tech apartments in Gosford which have been custom built for people with high support needs disabilities. The stylish two-bedroom Ability Apartments were built by Ability SDA, a pioneer in the growing Specialist Disability Accommodation space, and have been integrated into two new Gosford residential developments, with 10 apartments in each complex. Ability SDA CEO and cofounder, Paul Simmons, said the apartments have been built to the highest level of accessibility. “The whole idea is that people with high needs can be included in the community in a normal way,” Simmons said. He said residents pay 25 per cent of their disability pension in rent, with the National Disability Insurance Agency NDIS providing subsidies. Ten of the new apartments are located within the

Resident Matt settles into his new home

13-storey, 67-apartment Gosford Central residential complex in Mann St, with the other 10 developed as part of a 6-storey, 34-apartment residential building on Showground Rd. Each Ability Apartment has been designed and customised from the ground up to meet the unique needs of its tenants, including completely accessible bedrooms and balconies, bright, open-plan living rooms and customised kitchens and bathrooms. There is also state-of-the-art

home automation, including voice-controlled doors, lights, blinds and more. Overnight onsite support out of a separate, dedicated apartment is also a key feature. “Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a range of housing specially designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high needs, that makes it easier for them to live as independently as possible,” Simmons said. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

estimates that there are over 28,000 people with disability in Australia who require Specialist Disability Accommodation. Examples of high physical support disabilities include but are not limited to; people with cerebral palsy, spinal injury, brain injury, spina bifida and degenerative neurological disorders. Simmons said tenants moving into the new Ability Apartments range in age from 20-65. For 40-year-old Matt, who lives with severe spastic

quadriplegia, moving into his Ability Apartment in Gosford was life-changing. “In my previous accommodation, I was totally reliant on my family and support staff for daily assistance in completing the most menial of tasks – like opening a window or preparing myself food or a drink,” he said. “Now, because of both the accessible design of the apartment, and the technology, I have complete control over my own environment and don’t need as much staff assistance

day-to-day. “It’s given me back the confidence I’ve lost.” The Ability Apartments have access to outdoor entertaining areas and are located in close proximity to services like supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, public transport and shops. For 62-year-old Allan, who suffered a permanent spinal cord injury after a motorbike accident 20 years ago, the Ability Apartment he moved into in October is a huge departure from his previous accommodation. “I spent most of the last 14 years in non-wheelchair friendly, emergency accommodation located in neighbourhoods that left me feeling extremely isolated and unsafe,” he said. “I’ve met lots of new people in the building– not just people with disabilities, but ablebodied people too. “I feel like I’ve finally found home.” Terry Collins

Labor MPs join call against any cuts to maternity services Central Coast MPs rallied with members of the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Association (NSWNMA) in Gosford on December 11 protesting what they claim are planned cuts to maternity services at Gosford Hospital. But Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) says bed numbers and staffing in the maternity unit are constantly shuffled to meet demand and there will be no cuts as such. The NSWNMA claims the maternity bed base and midwifery staffing are set to be cut at the only public hospital where women can give birth on

the Central Coast, with the maternity unit at Wyong Hospital still closed in the wake of the COVID-19 surge. CCLHD says the reopening of the Wyong unit will be considered early next year. The NSWNMA says it understands dedicated maternity beds at Gosford will be cut from 28 to 24, even though it says there is often more than 30 beds being used by women and babies on a daily basis. The ward will also lose one 12-hour midwifery shift per day, it says. The MPs say the latest cuts follow a recent cessation of the continuity-of-care program and the 2019 cancellation of

two full-time position from the Midwifery Group Practice service, which is popular among low-risk pregnant mothers on the Central Coast. Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said every cut to staffing and resources had a negative effect on families. “Access to the best practice continuity-of-care program has already been reduced for mums and bubs on the Central Coast, and now the region is losing more maternity beds and midwifery shifts,” Tesch said. “We don’t want to see women forced to go to private hospitals because they fear the great service that we expect from our public health system is not

available at Gosford Hospital.” Member for The Entrance, David Mehan, said the numbers might not sound overwhelming, but reducing the number of midwives significantly increases the patient load for other midwives. CCLHD Chief Executive, Dr Andrew Montague, said the District monitors and assesses staffing requirements across all its maternity services using the agreed staffing assessment methodology in the NSW Public Health System Nurses and Midwives Award. “Current staffing of the maternity service at Gosford Hospital exceeds the requirements set out in the Award,” he said.

CCN

“Additional staffing is provided where there is particularly high demand or additional complexity. “This ensures a safe and supportive environment for expectant women. “A review of demand in Gosford Hospital’s maternity inpatient unit over the last two years identified on average 20 women per day staying in the unit. “The employment of current midwifery staff will not be affected (and) there will not be an increase in the workloads of midwives. “Staffing is increased as demand increases. “The safety and wellbeing of

women and their babies is our number one priority, and we maintain safe staffing levels at all times to maintain a high standard of care. “The District continues to provide continuity of care programs for expectant women through its Midwifery Group Practice, Aboriginal Maternal and Infant health, and complex care programs. “The Wyong Midwifery Group Practice is currently providing antenatal care on the Wyong Hospital campus. “The maternity unit at Wyong will re-open when COVID-19 surge requirements are no longer required.” Terry Collins

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Fraser’s a digital whiz Year Four student at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School in Wyoming, Fraser Maple, has been awarded a perfect score in the Year 4 Digital Technologies Competition in NSW and ACT. Medals are given to students with the top score in each subject in each year level. Fraser received a perfect score on a test covering databases, graphics and multimedia, internet use and

Principal, Bernard Cummings (left), Fraser Maple, and Director of Schools and alumni from the University of NSW, Danny Casey (right)

email programs, networks and other communication systems, operating systems and computer hardware, programming, spreadsheets, and work processing. Principal, Bernard Cummings, and Director of Schools and alumni from the University of NSW, Danny Casey, presented Fraser with the medal on the school grounds. “The competition goes all over Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, but you had to get a perfect score across NSW and

ACT to receive a medal,” Cummings said. “These types of skills are part of the Science and Technology curriculum, so they do learn some coding at school. “Fraser Maple is very conscientious.” The award is a prestigious quality assessment with over one million student entries accepted from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually. Jacinta Counihan

Sign up for fun school holiday program Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS) is calling on NDIS Participants aged 12-18 to sign up for its new Abilities School Holiday Program. The three-week program in January will consist of three activities and outings each week. Resources, materials, transport to and from activities, and food/light refreshments are provided. However, additional entry fees for community-based activities may be required.

RYSS wants to encourage participants to try new things while providing them with a safe setting to meet likeminded peers under the care of support staff. Starting on January 4, activities in week one will consist of a games day of Video Gaming, Basketball, Pool and Ping Pong at RYSS Youth Skills Centre in Wyoming, Aqua Park and a BBQ Picnic on January 6, and a cooking class in Wyoming on January 8. The second week will consist of a creative drawing class, a

workout and ice cream day, and boxing self-defence bushwalk. Week three will include Milkshakes and Masterpieces, Footgolf and The Movies, and a picnic and beach outing. RYSS Abilities Programs are social engagement and living skills-based programs open to young people aged 12 and over who are eligible for NDIS funding in a range of core and capacity building areas. Source Media release, Dec 15 RYSS

Aqua Park

NAISDA needs Homestay host families NAISDA Dance College is currently accepting applications from families wanting to be a host family for its 2021 Homestay Program.

NAISDA Dance College is seeking host families Photo: Lisa Haymes

The program offers accommodation to students aged 16-18 from around Australia who want to study a Certificate Three in Dance Practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The Nyangga Ngura program, meaning “To give camp” in Darkinjung Language, has been running for 10 years.

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The children, or Developing Artists (DAs), can stay with their matched Central Coast family on a short or longer-term basis. Developing Artists Support Officer, Adelle Grogan, said the host families provide a safe and welcoming place to live whilst the student is away from their home community. “The DAs come from far and wide - regional, urban, and remote regions,” Grogan said. “Most of the time, when we do place our DA with a family, they stay for a year, or sometimes they will stay for a

couple of years until they are 18. “The DAs go home for the holidays.” Grogan said the audition process has been different than in other years due to COVID. “It is going to be a different experience for our DAs next year because we have had to do all our auditions online,” she said. “In the past, they all came here for a week, met each other, and got to know the staff. “They have missed out on

that this year so they will be meeting everyone for the first time in their orientation week.” She said before the start of the course, an extensive amount of communication is done between NAISDA, the DA, and the host family. “DAs will come and have their orientation, and then start their Certificate 3 straight away,” she said. Registrations for host families is open now, with the program to start on January 25, 2021. Jacinta Counihan

Central Coast

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PAGE 35 18 DECEMBER 2020

Paige’s sleepout highlights the plight of the homeless Central Coast Sports College Year Nine student, Paige Stanford, has held a sleep out for her peers to highlight the plight of homelessness. The sleepout consisted of student volunteers staying overnight at the school on minimal sleeping material, a soup kitchen for dinner, and guest speakers from charities Orange Sky and EatUp. The initiative was Part of Paige’s Big Picture Social Action Project. Paige said she chose homelessness because it was a common issue that she wanted to learn more about. “My projects in the past have always been on doing something to help,” Paige said. “I had no idea what it would be like to be homeless, and I wanted to know more about it and how it feels.” Speakers from the two

Year 9 participants on the Big Picture Social Action Project Sleepout

charities shared stories and facts about homelessness on the Central Coast and around Australia. “We made sandwiches with the Eat Up company who travels around and gives lunches to kids who go to

school without lunches,” Paige said. “We also had a soup kitchen style dinner, so we just had soup in a cup and one piece of bread with no butter.” “We set up a sheet on the tennis court and played the

movie Pursuit of Happyness. “After that, we went to one of the classrooms and slept on the floor. “At three in the morning, we got woken up and moved to another space at the other end of the school.

“We woke up at 7am and had a celebration with pancakes. “You could see the other kids’ faces the next day; they were tired and complaining, and I was telling them that this is what people who are sleeping rough go through every day.”

Grade Nine Teacher, Matt Hanlon, said the Big Picture Program is an alternate subject to mainstream education offered to students in years 9-12. “The guest speakers gave the kids an understanding of the situations leading to sleeping rough and also how big it is in Australia and on the Coast. “It was a great way to open the kids’ eyes and show them how they can play a small role to have a better impact on someone else’s day. “There was great feedback (for Paige) from her peers and the positive impact it has had on them, and also that sense of privilege, of while they think they may be in a rough spot, there are other people out there who would love to live a day in their shoes.” Jacinta Counihan

Brandon spearheads art project to brighten the kids’ ward Year Three Kariong Public School student, Brandon Keele, has brightened the lives of sick children by donating a series of paintings to the paediatric ward at Gosford Hospital. The brightly coloured paintings created by himself, his grandmother, classmates, and teacher, have been hung along the halls of the ward. Kariong Public School Grade Three teacher, Louise Hoyle, said Brandon’s initiative was a very thoughtful and giving thing to do. “He wrote to the class asking

if we would like to be involved, and we said, of course, we would love to be involved,” Hoyle said. “From that point on, Brandon, his grandmother, and myself got together some art materials, and we come up with some great pieces of art.” Once created, Brandon presented the artwork to the hospital on behalf of his grandmother and the class. “The kids were really amazing because they just worked collaboratively on them all,” Hoyle said. “Even though it was a

collaborative effort, it was Brandon’s initiative. “He was really keen for our class to be involved and we really supported that idea.” Brandon said the idea came because he wanted to do something kind and make the kids happy. “Some of my friends are really good at art, so I thought we could brighten up the ward,” Brandon said. “We made some in class, and I’m still working on some at home too.” Brandon Keele presenting art to the children’s paediatric ward at Gosford Hospital Jacinta Counihan

When Jacob’s Dad passed away after returning from East Timor, he and his family were devastated. Legacy stepped in to offer practical help. Legacy helps many brave families like Jacob’s every week of the year. To keep us going, please donate to Legacy. Thank you. Phone 1800 534 229 or visit www.legacy.com.au

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See www.coastcommunitynews.com.au Central Coast Newspapers’ classified 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 50mm X 42mm. Approximately 20,000 copies of this newspaper are printed and distributed every week.

Personal and 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 $33. Each additional cm costs $6.60 as does colour, and/or a photograph or a logo. Private advertisements need to be paid for at the time of booking.

Business and In Memoriam rates

The minimum size of 5cm X a single column only costs $50 + GST in mono and an extra $10 + GST for colour, a logo or a photograph. Classified advertisements in all 3 papers are only $40+GST each. 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 a prepaid classified advertisement run for 6 editions only costs $250 + GST and $50 + GST more for colour. For 12 editions, it is $495 + GST and $100+ GST more for colour. For 24 editions, it is only $950 + GST and $200 + GST for colour, a saving of $290 + GST. Artwork is free and advertisers are encouraged to change their advertisements frequently

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Mariners lose a defender and add an attacker FOOTBALL The Central Coast Mariners have granted Ziggy Gordon a release from his A-League playing contract and signed Polish attacker, Michal Janota, for the A-League 20/21 season. Gordon approached the Mariners to request a release, and the club agreed. The Scottish defender joined the Mariners in 2019 and appeared in every A-League game last season. Mariners’ Head of Football, Ken Schembri said: “Ziggy has been a great professional since joining us last year, and all the staff have enjoyed our time working with him. “We all wish Ziggy the best of luck with whatever comes next for him.” Gordon thanked the Mariners and fans for his time in Gosford. “This club is special and brilliantly unique, and one that I will always be indebted to for the opportunity and unwavering support from the fans and community,” he said. “I only wish them success in the future and thank them and especially the supporters for what has been a memorable time in my life.” Meanwhile Janota said he can’t wait to get started, with the season set to begin on New Year’s Eve. “I’m looking forward to joining the new team, it will be another good experience for me,” he said. “I am excited to play in a completely different league and be able to show my skills there. “IheardfromAdrianMierzejewski and Radosław Majewski that it is an interesting league in which there are good players, and I have watched a few matches myself.

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SCIENCE & EDUCATION

AFL

Marc Sheather Photo: Sydney Swans

Having also played with the Swans Academy from the Under 12s through to the Under 18s the signing has felt like a long time coming for Sheather,

who got the call under less than ideal circumstances. “I was actually in a dentist’s chair when the call came through and basically had a mouthful of putty when I got the best news of my life” he said. “After that it was pretty hard to sit through my cleaning. “I just wanted to tell everyone.” It was also the perfect end to an incredibly hard year for the 18-year-old who had to juggle his draft ambitions and his HSC in the shadow of COVID-19. “COVID was a massive obstacle, but I’ve always been pretty determined, and I had a great support network which really allowed me to focus on

WE’RE BACK

Source: Media release, Dec 17 Central Coast Mariners

PUBLIC NOTICE

PORTER Patricia Ann Aged 89 years

Late of Kincumber, formerly of East Gosford. Much loved wife of Harvey (dec). Cherished mother and mother-in-law of Jenny & Colin, Dianne & Greg and Neil & Wendy. Beloved Nan of 8 and Great Nan of 6.Treasured Aunty and friend to many . Family and friends are warmly invited to attend a Celebration of Pat’s Life at the Greenway Chapel. 460 Avoca Dr, Green Point on Tuesday 22.12.20 commencing at 12.00pm

Let it be known that Achsah Sam of 218 Ocean Beach Road, Woy Woy, was incorrectly named in her Indian passport in 2015 as: Given name - Achsah Sam; Surname - Sam Vijo Mathew, which should have been: Given name Achsah; Surname - Sam.

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail).

Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel,

Public Notice Notification of Herbicide Use Central Coast Council will be applying Glyphosate 360 and Metasulfuron-methyl between December 2020 to June 2021 to specific waterways and drainage lines within the local government area for the purpose of waterway, ecosystem and asset protection. Glyphosate is registered for use in Australia by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Non-chemical methods of weed control are also utilised wherever practicable. During application, signage will be clearly displayed to notify application of herbicides to waterways and will include information on the herbicide being applied, the location details, the dates and the weed Council is managing. During signposted periods, the public is advised not to use, drink or swim in the water until signage is removed. For further information or to obtain a copy of the Safety Date Sheet (SDS) for the product, please contact Council's Creeks Officer on 1300 463 954.

Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me that herein You are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech You from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity. For my son to see the light. There are none that can withstand Your power. Oh Mary, conceived without sin,

This notiﬁcation is provided in accordance with Council's Pesticide Use Notiﬁcation Plan and the Environmental Protection Licence 7643 which are available for viewing at the Gosford and Wyong Administration Buildings or may be viewed on Council's website centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who

Central Coast Council Oﬃces 2 Hely St Wyong / 49 Mann St Gosford 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday | Ph 1300 463 954 Acting Chief Executive Oﬃcer Rik Hart

have recourse to Thee. Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

02 4324 1533

JN Dec 2020.

TIDE CHART

LAT 33° 51’ S - LONG 151° 14’ E - TIME ZONE - 1000

1.47 25 0552 1217 0.69 26

FRI

1802 1.26

Dilon Luke

Car Boot Sale

FRI

my footy and prep for the draft” he said. With the new goal of making his debut in 2021, the fledgling Swan knows the real hard work starts now, but for the time being he’s enjoying the fruits of his labour. “Right now, we’re heading into the end of year break, but my plan as a first-year player is to just work my butt off, impress my coaches and earn the respect of my teammates,” he said. “It’s not common for a rookie to run out in their first year, but if you work hard enough anything is possible.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

0517 0.55 1148 1.86 1838 0.32

PAGE 37 18 DECEMBER 2020

Sheather drafted by the Swans

The Coast’s own Marc Sheather is officially a “I am an experienced player, but Sydney Swan. I still have a great hunger for The utility allrounder from football, and I will bring a lot of Forresters Beach signed with creativity.” the club after being drafted as Subject to the imminent approval a Category B Rookie on of his travel exemption permit, December 10. Janota will head to Australia It’s the realisation of close to shortly to complete mandatory a decade’s worth of hard work quarantine before linking up with and sacrifice for the former his new teammates. Killarney Vale Bomber’s junior The former Feyenoord man has who’s dreamed of playing for spent much of his career in Poland the Swans since he was 12 and the Netherlands before a years old. recent spell in Saudi Arabia ended “In Year 6 I wrote my future earlier this year. self a letter about how I was Janota has played professionally going to play for the Swans, so since 2006 and in that time has this is a genuine dream come proven himself equally adept at true,” Sheather said. finding the back of the net himself PUBLIC NOTICE and creating chances for others. His 2018/19 season with Arka Gdynia saw him score 10 times and provide 6 assists through his Woy Woy Peninsula 32 matches, and Mariners’ Head Lions Club Coach, Alen Stajcic, said that he is excited by what he believes Janota can bring to the Mariners’ attack. JAN 31 2021 “Michal is a player who will add 7am to 1pm great depth to our attacking Great variety of stalls ~ BBQ, Tea & Coffee. stocks,” Stajcic said. Vendors Welcome ~ $15 per car “Having spoken to Michal and Now at Dunban Road Car Park seeing vision of him play, we are NB stall sites not open until 6.30am Cnr. Ocean Beach Road Woy Woy confident that he can be a great Always Last Sunday (Except April and December) addition to the team and make a Enq: 0478 959 895 difference for us up front.”

Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect.

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Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

0040 1.30 0131 1.27 0224 1.27 0318 1.29 0413 1.33 0505 1.40 0607 0.61 0700 0.68 0755 0.73 0857 0.77 1004 0.78 1114 0.75 SAT 1235 1.74 SUN 1322 1.62 MON 1411 1.49 TUE 1504 1.39 WED 1603 1.32 THU 1705 1.28 1927 0.41 2015 0.48 2101 0.53 2147 0.56 2233 0.57 2318 0.57 0001 0.56 0043 0.55 0122 0.55 0200 0.54 0239 0.53 0318 0.53 0636 1.55 0716 1.62 0756 1.69 0833 1.76 0912 1.80 0951 1.84 SAT 1311 0.61 SUN 1356 0.53 MON 1437 0.46 TUE 1515 0.41 WED 1554 0.37 THU 1633 0.34 1855 1.27 1942 1.28 2026 1.29 2107 1.30 2147 1.31 2229 1.32

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

PAGE 38 18 DECEMBER 2020

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NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS

CCN ARTS & CULTURE CENTRAL COAST ART SOCIETY

Lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Weekly paint-outs enquiries Tuesday. Phone: 0428 439 180 Workshops: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, at Gosford Regional Gallery & Art Centre. Phone: 0409 666 709 Social Meetings 1.30 pm on 4th Wednesday for demonstration 4325 1420

publicity@artcentralcoast.asn.au

CENTRAL COAST POETS INC

Thurs of the month at The Entrance Community Centre 4333 8387 www.tlas.org.au president@tlas.org.au

COMMUNITY GROUPS ABC - “The Friends”

Safeguard ABC’s independence, funding, & standards. Meetings through the year & social mornings Well-known guest speakers 0400 213 514 www.fabcnsw.org.au

CENTRAL COAST CARAVANNERS

3rd Sun - Jan to Nov Trips Away, Social Outings, friendship with like minded folk Geoff 0447 882 150

www.ccmdc.org.au

TERRIGAL WAMBERAL RSL SUB-BRANCH

Pension and welfare officers available to assist with DVA compensation claims and benefits Breakers Country Club Wed & Fri 10am – Midday Meet 2nd Sat 10am 4384 2661

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U3A CENTRAL COAST

Enjoy a diverse range of courses and activities for seniors. Keep your mind active and make new friends. 0408 704 701

www.centralcoast.u3anet.org.au Would you like to read, write and share your poetry. VOLUNTEERING We hold workshops and create anthologies. CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY LEGAL We meet the second Saturday Refer potential volunteers to CENTRE each month. community organisations & Not for profit service providing Wyoming Memorial Community provide support to them. free legal advice Hall. Contact us by email Training to volunteers and Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm info@centralcoastpoets.com.au managers of volunteers Info 4353 4988 or you may ring Clive sessions held regularly. contact@centralcoastclc.org.au 0419120347 4329 7122

HANDWEAVERS, SPINNERS AND TEXTILE ARTS GUILD

LEARN TO DANCE

recruit@volcc.org.au

Social ballroom dancing for all COMMUNITY CENTRES ages, all you need is a desire to learn and dance, no partner required. GOSFORD 50+ LEISURE Spinning and weaving, patchwork and quilting, felting meet every Wed -15 Lorraine AND LEARNING CENTRE Ave Berkeley Vale, 2:00pm and other fibre and fabric Mon-Fri Anne - 0409 938 345 crafts, community quilting bees Chess, darts, handicraft, indoor anneglazier@y7mail.com - Day and Night Groups bowls, knitting, line dancing, 4325 4743 origami, painting, pencil CENTRAL COAST MARINE www.cottagecrafts.net.au drawing, scrabble, DISCOVERY CENTRE scrapbooking, sit & sew, table The revamped CCMDC is open. tennis, Ukulele TUGGERAH LAKES Schools and Group bookings 4304 7065 ART SOCIETY welcome by appointment. Join us for the fun and Building has special needs GOSFORD-NARARA enjoyment of art! access and toilets Attend a weekly art group with NEIGHBOURHOOD Open 7 days 9am – 3pm. mentors, exhibitions, CENTRE Terrigal. workshops and a monthly School Holiday activities, 4385 5027 members meeting with guests playgroup, multicultural ccmdc@bigpond.com and prizes, held on the 4th

CCN

programs, community activities Rooms for Hire 4329 4477 admin@gnnc.com.au

HEALTH GROUPS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

0434 426 486

robyncameron@y7mail.com

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Last Fri 9.30am Terrigal Uniting Church 380 Terrigal Dr, Terrigal 4367 9600

4325 2270

www.henrykendallcottage.org.au Brisbane Water Historical Society

with a great social program, guest speakers and optional FELLOWSHIP OF bistro lunches. Google our name for our fully informative FIRST FLEETERS newsletter. Meet 10am, 3rd For anyone interested in early Mon each month at Avoca history. Beach Bowling Club. Don’t need to be a First Fleeter. avocaprobus@gmail.com Point Clare Community Hall 2nd Sat 10:30am 4392 1926 4311 6254

www.pcfa.org.au - Someone cares. Thurs - 12.30pm, Progress Hall Henry Parry & Wells MEALS ON WHEELS Street East Gosford Delicious meals delivered free Join us for a midday meal Help with shopping and AL - ANON FAMILY cooking classes COASTAL A CAPPELLA GROUPS HEALTH 4363 7111 Award winning women’s We offer hope and friendship a cappella chorus. for people affected by Music education provided. someone else’s drinking. PENINSULA LIGHTHOUSE Rehearsals Tuesday 7pm @ Al-anon family groups Mobile counselling service Red Tree Theatre Tuggerah. meet weekly, please contact supporting ALL people Performance opportunities. 1300 252 666 suffering from Domestic Hire us for your next event. al-anon.org.au Violence 0412 948 450 Counselling services coastalacappella@gmail.com BETTER HEARING Mon, Ettalong Baptist Church, 0417 472 374 AUSTRALIA POLITICAL PARTIES penlighthouse@gmail.com Hearing loss management www.peninsulalighthouse.info/ Support and educational groups providing practical CENTRAL COAST GREENS S.A experience and confidence Local, state wide, national and Is Internet porn destroying your 4321 0275 international issues and life. campaigns We may be able to help. Council and parliamentary CENTRAL COAST We are a 12 step fellowship representation ASBESTOS DISEASES like AA. 3rd Thur SUPPORT GROUP Meets every Sat at 7pm on the centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au Support for those suffering Central Coast centralcoastgreens@gmail.com with asbestos diseases and Contact for further details others interested in asbestos LABOR PARTY 0473 631 439 issues. You are not alone, meet newcastlesagroup@gmail.com OURIMBAH/ NARARA with others who can share their experiences. Bring a BRANCH 4323 3890 family member or friend. Discussion/action community 1pm at Ourimbah RSL on forth Issues – 3 levels of HENRY KENDALL Wed of each month. Government COTTAGE & Maree 0419 418 190 Function Room, Grange Hotel, Wyoming HISTORICAL MUSEUM 7.30pm 1st. Monday Visit our c1838 Cottage & DYING WITH DIGNITY 0410 309 494 Museum with exhibits of early Campaigning to give those Kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com settlers. School and group suffering unrelievable terminal bookings. Members & or incurable illness the choice volunteers welcome. Open to receive legal medical PROBUS CLUBS Wed/Sat/Sun 10.30am assistance to die. 2:30pm. West Gosford Quarterly mtgs, Erina Fair.

MUSIC

HISTORY GROUPS

AVOCA BEACH PROBUS CLUB

SERVICE GROUPS

LIONS CLUB OF WOY WOY Make new friends & have fun while serving your community Everglades Country Club 3rd Monday of each month 0478 959 895

WOMEN’S GROUPS WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRES

Counselling, therapeutic and social groups, workshops, domestic violence and abuse issues. All services provided by women for women 4324 2533 www.cccwhc.com.au

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL BRISBANE WATER

Making a difference in the lives of women & girls through awareness, advocacy & action 2nd Thur 7 pm Breakers Country Club, Dover Rd, Wamberal sibrisbanewater@siswp.org www.siswp.org

SPORT DOYALSON WYEE SOCCER CLUB

Football club for the local community. Juniors from under 5 to senior teams. Kerry 0410 045 981 president@doylowolves.com.au

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here call us on 4325 7369 or see www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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. Subscription rates $75 for 25 editions.

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

SPORT PAGE 39 18 DECEMBER 2020

First stage of Adcock Park redevelopment completed Five community sporting codes now have access to a new purpose-built amenity building at Garnet Adcock Memorial Park at West Gosford. The sports facility serves thousands of Central Coast residents who participate in AFL, netball, cricket, touch football, Oztag, cycling and athletics. It is also a popular venue for school sports events and regional sporting events. The new state-of-the-art multi–purpose amenities building completes Stage One of the Adcock Park Redevelopment Project. It contains three canteens; two clubrooms; four change rooms; male, female and accessible toilets; a first aid room; multiple storage areas; referee/umpire rooms and meeting spaces. The $26.2M redevelopment is being funded by Central Coast Council and the NSW Government through the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund. Gosford Netball Association representatives Leanne Phillips and Belinda Beresford were on

The newly opened amenities building at Adcock Park

hand for the official opening of the new building. Phillips said the association was “excited and elated” and looked forward to Stage Two of the redevelopment. “It’s taken 10 years of working with Council, but it’s been worthwhile,” she said. Beresford said there were mixed feelings as the old building was demolished to

make way for the new. “The old building has been here since the ‘60s and it’s sad to see it go,” she said. “But it’s beautiful to have a new building in time for our 60th anniversary next year.” Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, Council staff and representatives from Coast sporting codes gathered at the

park on December 14 to inspect the new facilities. Stage Two redevelopment works are planned and will include reconstruction of playing fields including installation of irrigation and sub-soil drainage; five additional netball courts; new floodlighting for AFL and touch/ Oztag fields, netball courts and athletics field/velodrome areas; a carpark at the site

entry; an improved carpark and promenade lighting; pedestrian footpaths; maintenance vehicle accesses; and landscaping work. Council Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said the park’s upgrade not only supports increased usage, but also creates a venue capable of attracting inter-regional and State level sporting competitions.

“We acknowledge and thank the NSW State Government for providing funding to help us deliver projects the community wants and needs,” Cox said. “Spaces such as Adcock Park are vitally important as they encourage physical activity and help to create a sense of belonging. “This will be a valued facility where everyone can be active, socialise and engage in community activities.” Mr Crouch said Adcock Park plays host to a range of sports. “This fantastic upgrade work benefitted from $1M from the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, which aims to protect and enhance Crown Land for the wellbeing of people and the local environment,” Crouch said. “The upgrade at Adcock Park has massively improved the quality of open spaces and facilities on offer for Central Coast residents to use, and for local schools to hold athletics carnivals.” Source: Media release, Dec 14 Central Coast Council

De Vivo clinches State Title TENNIS Two local junior tennis players took out their respective NSW State Titles in Week 1 at Gosford Tennis Club (GTC) last weekend (December 12-13).

Nicholas De Vivo continued his stunning form this year to win the U16 Boys title while he and Cooper Wilkinson were victorious in the U16 Doubles title. Both boys train at GTC Week 2 will resume this

weekend (December 19-20), weather permitting. Full event details can be found at www.facebook.com/ TennisNSW GTC Facebook page

Expired Flare Collection Transport for NSW expired marine flare collection program is on again in January. Find a collection point near you to safely dispose of your expired flares.

Nicholas De Vivo and Cooper Wilkinson (Grey shirts on the right)

Queen Elizabeth Park, River Street, Taree

Monday, 11 January 2021

7:30 to 9:30

Crowdy Head Boat Ramp, Crowdy Head

Monday, 11 January 2021

11:00 to 13:00

Forster Boat Ramp, Forster

Monday, 11 January 2021

14:30 to 16:30

Soldiers Point Marina Boat Ramp, Soldiers Point

Tuesday, 12 January 2021

7:30 to 10:00

Little Beach Boat Ramp, Little Beach

Tuesday, 12 January 2021

11:00 to 14:00

Stockton North Boat Ramp, Stockton

Tuesday, 12 January 2021

15:30 to 17:30

Carrington Boat Ramp, Carrington

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

7:30 to 10:30

Blacksmiths Boat Ramp, Blacksmiths

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

14:00 to 16:30

Norah Head Boat Ramp, Cabbage Tree Harbour, Norah Head

Friday, 15 January 2021

7:30 to 9:00

Terrigal Haven Boat Ramp, Scenic Highway

Friday, 15 January 2021

10:30 to 12:00

Gosford Boat Ramp, Gosford

Friday, 15 January 2021

13:00 to 14:30

Lions Park Boat Ramp, Woy Woy

Friday, 15 January 2021

15:30 to 17:00

For more information on the full schedule including April and other collection locations across NSW visit roads-maritime.transport.nsw.gov.au/flares or call 13 12 36.

BLZ_SB1993

Taree to Woy Woy Collections

PAGE 40 18 DECEMBER 2020 SPORT

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Killy boys put the mullet back into mountain biking

The Four Mulleteers: Benjamin Barry, Victorino Houghton, Tahli Fulton and Martin Macdonald

MOUNTAIN BIKING Four young mountainbikers from Killcare, calling themselves the Four Mulleteers, journeyed to Rydal in NSW to take on the best riders in the state last weekend (December 1213) in the Rocky Trail Jet Black 24-hour Race. Over 200 riders competed in

the final Jet Black event of the year, seen by many as the ultimate mountain biking event, with pit crews camped out across the Rydal showground to support their solo and team riders though the afternoon, night and following morning. The main 24 hour event was taken out by seven times world champion, Jimmy English from

Newcastle, but not before a major showdown with contender Alwyn Miller. After an intense tussle throughout the night where the lead changed several times, English clinched the event only in the final lap. “There were a few instances where he rode away and I had to chase him back,” English

said. During the 4-5 hours it then came down to saving time in the pits – when you do 45 laps, winning or losing even 10 seconds in the pits can be the difference in a 24 hour race.” In the12 hour junior event, the Four Mulleteers earned themselves a spot on the podium, finishing in third place.

They completed 21 laps around the gruelling 10km course through the rugged Rydal scrub, recording an average lap time of 35.1 minutes. In a scintillating final lap, Martin Macdonald completed the course in 28.30 minutes, within five minutes of the best lap time recorded by Jimmy English.

(Martin lost a chain on his very first lap but denies that it got caught in the tail of his mullet.) The boys received a rousing round of applause from the 500-strong crowd for their efforts both in completing the gruelling event and the fine hairstyles. CCN

Graham shares mogul gold in Sweden SKIING Mogul skier Matt Graham of Narara has finished the year in the best possible way, winning gold in the dual mogul FIS Word Cup event in Idre Fjäll, Sweden.

Mogul skier Matt Graham on the winner’s podium

The 2018 Olympic silver medallist had a number of impressive head to head “dual” races on the Idre course to reach the last pair of the day, before fog rolled in and forced the event to be called off due to low visibility. Graham was set to dual home-town Swedish skier Ludvig Fjallstrom for the gold, but with the final phase of the event unable to take place,

both were awarded the win. “In duals, you just have to let your hair down and go for it”, Graham, 26, said. “I had some very challenging duals, including coming up against my teammate Brodie Summers in the first round. “He skied really well all week which gave him a welldeserved silver medal in the single moguls event. “My tactics (were) to push hard out of the gate and go as big as possible on the top jump. “This course is quite fast and easy compared to most World Cup courses, so you just had to land the top jump and charge the middle section as fast as possible.

“The final four men were all pretty relaxed and chilled at the top of the course waiting for the fog to hopefully clear. “I was just remaining activated and ready to go, because we would not have gotten much warning if the fog cleared. “It would have been fun to be able to finish the event and see how things would have turned out, but you can’t control the weather. “I was happy to share the top step of the podium with Ludvig. “It is his first World Cup win, and he is a good mate of mine as we have been competing on the World Cup tour together for 10 years now.”

For Graham, the result marks the 16th major medal of his career (3 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze) and his first World Cup win since January 2017. After three events, Graham now sits in third place on the World Cup standings, with teammate Brodie Summers in fifth. The mogul skiing athletes will now return to Ruka, Finland, site of the first World Cup event of the season, as their training base before competition resumes in late January. Source: Media release, Dec 14 Olympic Winter Institute of Australia