Coast Community News 314 by Central Coast Newspapers

15 OCTOBER 2021

ISSUE 314

News

First taste of freedom

Despite fears that a major upgrade of the Tumbi Rd/Central Coast Hwy intersection at Wamberal could spell the demise of the nearby Valley Fruit, the popular fresh food outlet will remain and may gain a new carpark. See page 3

Out&About

Bakehouse 2000 at Kincumber has been keeping smiles on customers’ faces throughout lockdown with its zany theme days and intends to keep up the fun right through to December 1. See page 17

Central Coast residents flocked to their favourite retail outlets, hairdressers, cafes, restaurants and watering holes as the region emerged from its 15week lockdown on October 11.

Business

See page 3 CCN employees, Harry Mulholland and Lucillia Eljuga, at Hotel Gosford

Complete ‘cluster mess’ Former Central Coast Council Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, called an article critical of his work at Central Coast Council “academic wankery” during his evidence at the Public Inquiry on October 13. Mr Persson said the financial crisis that resulted in him being installed in November 2020 was “I don’t want to be crude – a cluster mess”. Under cross examination, he warned his interrogator not to treat him in a “smart-arse” way. He described suspended

Deputy Mayor Jane Smith as a fine environmental activist and said he considered himself a bit of one too. Persson published three reports when he was Interim Administrator. “Sometimes when you write a document, time passes, you look at it and you go ‘Ouch’, or whatever. Well, I’m very comfortable with every word in those documents,” Persson said. Commissioner Roslyn McCulloch said: “Although you did change your opinion about whether an inquiry was appropriate?” “No, no, I recommended an

inquiry,” Persson replied. “Ultimately, yes,” the Commissioner said. Persson said the Councillors weren’t up the job and gave special mention to suspended Councillors Greg Best and Jane Smith. “He’d been around for a long time,” Persson said of Cr Best. “Asking questions on notice was his modus operandi. “I said to him – he probably showed you the 56 motions he’d moved, or whatever. “I said, ‘Well, after the first 20 didn’t work, did you think about some other way of dealing with it, because clearly it wasn’t working, yet you claim to be

aware that there was a financial calamity?’.” He said Cr Jane Smith acted to a large extent like a mayor from the 1990s when the mayor was chief executive under the Local Government Act. “In my view – and I’ve talked to all the Executive Leadership Team and quite a number of other people – Mayor Jane Smith, who I believe has a very fine record as an environmental activist, and I consider myself a bit of one as well – she came in determined to effect changes. “She employed a person, and one of the Councillors on the Inquiry mentioned to me that

she wanted to employ a woman but, ‘If I can’t get a woman, I’m going to get a non-alpha-type male’. “She acted to a large extent like a pre-’93 mayor. “She attended ELT meetings, took over the meetings to a large extent, you know, was tough on staff directly. “Mr Murphy (former CEO Gary Murphy) didn’t intervene, in my view, from all accounts, to provide the balance that the chief executive should do under the Act between that, and I think that was sort of the beginning of when it went off the rails.” Continued page 4

Two homes in Calais Rd, Wamberal, have sold for a combined total of more than $5.5M. See page 31

Sport

The sixth event in this season’s Sail Grand Prix (SGP) has been won by the Australian team, helmed by Gosford Sailing Club Alumnus and Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom Slingsby. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

It all starts with spirit spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

PAGE 2

15 OCTOBER 2021

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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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ISSUE 313

Yarn bomb project aims to help end violence

News

Residents will have their chance to learn more and ask questions about State Government plans to rejuvenate Peat Island and Mooney Mooney at a series of community information webinars. See page 3

Out&About

Heavyweights of the Australian and international music scene will lend their support to Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD) Day on October 15. See page 17

Knitters and crocheters across the Central Coast have been hard at work during lockdown preparing for a vibrant installation set to take pride of place at Terrigal from November 19 to December 17.

Health

See page 17 Soroptimist International Brisbane Water is one group contributing to the project

Executives not listed to appear at Public Inquiry The Commissioner of the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council intends to interview some witnesses in private and it is still unclear if some senior Council staff will be interviewed at all. The office of the Commissioner has released a list of witnesses for the Public Inquiry but none of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) at the time the crisis occurred is on the list. Resident Kevin Brooks received the list and an email from the Commissioner’s Office that said: “The witness list does not include persons from whom the Commissioner will

hear in private.” It said the witness list was a matter for the Commissioner, Roslyn McCulloch, and was signed by her assistant officer. Brooks said this seemed to continue the theme of a “not so public” inquiry. “Why are some witnesses being allowed to provide their testimony in secret despite this being a ‘public’ inquiry,” he said. “First the submissions aren’t made public, then the video link doesn’t work, and now we learn some testimony will be given in secret – whilst current executives in posts at the time won’t face any public questions at all.

“No wonder 22,400 petitioned for a genuinely independent judicial inquiry rather than this State Government alternative.” Brooks said the list contains past executives who left before the crisis and also executives who joined after the crisis. These include current Administrator Rik Hart, CEO David Farmer and CFO Natalia Cowley. But executives who were at Council at the time of the crisis and are still at Council are not on the list. “You have to wonder if Council executives who kept their jobs despite the financial collapse have now been declared some

sort of protected species,” Brooks said. “These executives were responsible for managing budgets in their own departments. “They were responsible for providing reports and recommendations to the governing body. “And they were part of a collective leadership team. “How can they not have questions to answer at this inquiry?” The Office of the Commissioner said in exceptional circumstances, the Commissioner may exercise her discretion to hear oral

submissions from a person wishing to make such submissions in confidence. During Day Three, the Commissioner said on the livestream that “Pursuant to my discretion under section 12B of the Royal Commissions Act,” some witnesses would give evidence in private. “I make decisions about those matters having regard to the particular circumstances of the witnesses and the impact that their giving of evidence might have on their current or future employment, on their mental health or other factors such as that,” she said.

October is Mental Health Month and Central Coast Council has pulled together a program of online courses and activities to get residents to reflect on their mental wellbeing. See page 31

Sport

Storm Roux has re-joined the Central Coast Mariners on a oneyear deal after spending three years with Melbourne Victory. See page 39

Continued page 4

Puzzles page 22

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

122 Dash Cam competition was Michelle Thomson of Ourimbah. The winners of the Shadow

house competition were Barry Riley of Woy Woy, Lisbeth Hanson of Umina and Elizabeth Owen of Saratoga.

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Next Edition: Coast Community News 315

8 OCTOBER 2021

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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 - Editor: Jackie Pearson, Design & Production: Justin Stanley, Lucillia Eljuga Journalists: Terry Collins, Sue Murray, Maisy Rae, Harry Mulholland, Skaie Hull, Merilyn Vale, Hayley McMahon, Haakon Barry. Head of Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff ISSN 1839-9045 - Print Post Approved - PP100001843 - Printed by Spotpress Marrickville Voice of the Peninsula

Voice of the Peninsula 8 OCTOBER 2021

6 OCTOBER 2021

ISSUE 259

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Strike opposes forced vaccines for workers

News

White Ribbon has issued a challenge to Australian men to understand and own their role in creating a future where women and children are safe See page 8

7 OCTOBER 2021

News

CWA has it in the bag

The Local Planning Panel deferred a decision on a block of units at The Entrance pending detailed evidence from the applicant... See page 21

See page 6 Susan and Troy Thomas

It has been revealed the Commissioner of the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council intends to interview some witnesses in private. It is still unclear if all members of Council’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the most senior members of staff, will be interviewed at all. The office of the Commissioner has released a list of witnesses for the public inquiry. None of the existing ELT, who were part of the ELT when the crisis occurred, are on the list. Resident, Kevin Brooks, received the list and an email from the Commissioner’s office that said: “The witness list does not include persons from whom the Commissioner will hear …

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in private.” Brooks said this seemed to continue the theme of a “not so public” inquiry. “Why are some witnesses being allowed to provide their testimony in secret despite this being a ‘public’ inquiry,” he said. “First the submissions aren’t made public, then the video link doesn’t work, and now we learn some testimony will be given in secret – whilst current executives in post at the time won’t face any public questions at all. “No wonder 22,400 petitioned for a genuinely independent judicial inquiry rather than this State Government alternative.” Mr Brooks said the list included past executives who left before the crisis and

executives who joined after the crisis. Executives who were at Council at the time of the crisis and are still at Council are not on the list. “You have to wonder if Council executives who kept their jobs despite the financial collapse have now been declared some sort of protected species,” Brooks said. “These executives were responsible for managing budgets in their own departments. “They were responsible for providing reports and recommendations to the governing body. “And they were part of a collective leadership team.

“How can they not have questions to answer at this inquiry?” CCN has asked for clarification from the office of the Commissioner but has not received an answer at the time of publication. MPs Adam Crouch and David Mehan were asked for comment. Mehan said: “The Commissioner owes the Coast a detailed explanation as to why further secrecy is necessary. “Further secrecy undermine public’s confidence in the inquiry and will undermine efforts to rebuild public in our Council. “The Commissioner is supposed to have wide ranging powers but she seems to be limiting her call on the

With the warmer weather approaching, local authorities have encouraged residents to be prepared for the fire season and emergencies. See page 13

Health

More Public Inquiry coverage, see Page 4 & 5 Merilyn Vale

Sport

Australian Cricket has released the fourth edition of the Press for Progress report and it is heavily supported by Cricket NSW’s powerful commitment to growing the involvement of women and girls in the sport. See page 27

Puzzles page 18

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

The State Government’s roadmap out of lockdown has met with mixed reactions because Central Coast residents, unlike others, will not be allowed to travel to regional NSW until the state reaches its 80 per cent fully vaccinated target. The NSW Government said adjustments had been made to the 70 per cent roadmap due to ‘updated health advice’. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, confirmed that residents would not be able to freely travel to other parts of regional NSW even after the 70

per cent target is met on October 11. “This is because the Central Coast’s daily COVID-19 case numbers are consistently too high,” he said. “Our region is recording approximately 30 new COVID-19 cases per day. “This is even higher than most local government areas across Sydney. “Clearly, we are not out of the woods. “NSW Health has identified the growing COVID-19 case numbers on the Central Coast and in the Illawarra as two of the most concerning areas in the state.

“If our case numbers decline and if vaccination rates continue to rise between now and 11 October, I will absolutely advocate for this Health decision to be reconsidered.” During September the Central Coast was removed from Greater Sydney for COVID health order purposes but this latest announcement appears to have ‘returned’ the Coast to being part of Greater Sydney as restrictions are eased. Local Labor MPs said they were furious about the backflip on the Coast’s classification even if it is likely to only last two weeks and Federal Member for Robertson has also

expressed concern. Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said she was angered by the decision, noting that fully vaccinated Sydney residents could travel to the Coast from October 11. “We fought so hard to become a region, yet they’ve pushed us back in with Greater Sydney again,” Tesch said. “We’re not allowed to travel; Newcastle is allowed to come here; Sydney is allowed to come here and yet the Government has completely taken that regional victory from Coasties and absolutely squashed us. “There’s no health regulations

pointing it out, there’s no press releases to the local media to keep Coasties informed, there’s no communication with local members of parliament. “It’s a really disappointing … slap in the face for people on the Central Coast right now. “If Newcastle has those case numbers and is allowed to travel, why are we locked in? “So, lets open it up to Coasties to have that freedom to travel to the regions and let’s think about that hard Sydney border which is what we’ve been promised.” Continued page 4

Sport

It’s good news for any fitness bunnies out there following the Peninsula Leisure Centre’s announcement it will reopen several of its services on Monday, October 11. See page 32

Puzzles page 18

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

The Commissioner of the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council intends to interview some witnesses in private and it is still unclear if some senior Council staff will be interviewed at all. The office of the Commissioner has released a list of witnesses for the Public Inquiry but none of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) at the time the crisis occurred is on the list. Resident Kevin Brooks received the list and an email from the Commissioner’s Office that said: “The witness list does not include persons from whom the Commissioner will

First taste of freedom

News

Continued page 4

October is Mental Health Month and Central Coast Council has pulled together a program of online courses and activities to get residents to reflect on their mental wellbeing. See page 31

Out & About

Local manufacturer SpotGo has been crowned Central Coast Business of the Year. See page 26

Health

Sport

Storm Roux has re-joined the Central Coast Mariners on a oneyear deal after spending three years with Melbourne Victory. See page 39

Puzzles page 22

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

Local stories showcasing the Central Coast as an eco-tourism destination have captured international attention and a winning spot in the 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition.

The Central Coast is the only NSW location on the Top 100 list, and one of only five in Australia,alongside Bundaberg, Margaret River, Port Douglas/ Daintree and Townsville. It’s a competition led by Green Destinations, which collects Good Practice Stories from all around the world to inspire travellers and tourism professionals, and then to shine the spotlight on the top 100 locations which are making promising progress toward a more sustainable tourism industry.

Emma Perham, of Destination Central Coast, said this was a wonderful accolade for the Central Coast and something everyone should be incredibly proud of. “This good news story will lift spirits and help industry focus on the future, especially moving into recovery after COVID,” she said. “Sustainable tourism is not a fleeting trend and eco-tourism values are becoming more important in shaping how people decide to travel. “This recognition just helps us to attract the kind of visitors we want to draw to the Coast, people who want to immerse themselves in the local culture and are more mindful of their environmental footprint. “We’ve got such depth of tourism product and experience

here on the Coast … a lot of people just think about beaches and national parks, they don’t realise we’ve got this beautiful hinterland, so many great operators, the food and beverage scene, so many great experiences, there’s so much more to discover than what people realise. “This Top 100 recognition is another step and ties in with our efforts for Eco Tourism Certification, all of which will help position us differently to all the other beachside towns up along the east coast,” Perham said. Council’s Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley, said that being the only NSW location on the Top 100 list flagged the Central Coast’s attraction as an eco-tourism attraction to both visitors and business enterprise.

“We want to put ourselves on the map, that this is a hub for businesses focussing on nature-based eco-tourism and the environment,” she said. “We’re sending the message to everyone that if that’s your type of business, come here to set up or relocate and grow your business, you’ll be more visible and you’ll be among like-minded people in complementary endeavours. “This is precisely the focus that we have exhibited in becoming an eco-certified destination and now being recognised on this international level, as one of only five locations in Australia, is just one more step in promoting ourselves as a destination of choice for both visitors and business opportunities. “Doing this would drive the

local spend in our community to support local businesses, it will create local jobs, build our economy and also grow the community pride in our region,” Cowley said. The opportunity to enter the Top 100 was made possible through a partnership with Destination Central Coast and Ecotourism Australia, as part of the ECO Destination Certification program, fully funded by WWF-Australia (World Wildlife Fund). Emma Perham said our region’s winning story focussed on the Coast’s refreshed approach to tourism, led by the new Love Central Coast campaign, which showcases the value of the region’s natural and cultural assets and sharing the inspiring stories of local brand ambassadors. Continued page 14

Ben Brown of Bateau Bay has continued to empower people with intellectual disabilities throughout lockdown in his role as support officer with the organisation Self Advocacy. See page 25

Sport

Central Coast Mariners have announced the addition of goalkeeper Yaren Sözer to Nick Montgomery’s A-League squad this season. See page 39

Puzzles page 18

Killcare Surf Lifesaving Club has warned residents to be aware of blue-ringed octopuses after a child nearly came into contact with the creature recently. See page 6

See page 5

1,500 locals ask Minister to save Ettalong from highrise

Over 1,500 local residents have signed a petition to voice their objection to Central Coast Council’s proposal to increase the foreshore building height at Ettalong Beach.

The Pearl Beach Progress Association is running a fundraiser throughout the month of October to help generate funds for the upkeep of the Memorial Hall. See page 13

Business

Out&About

shine the spotlight on the top 100 locations which are making promising progress toward a more sustainable tourism industry. Emma Perham, of Destination Central Coast, said this was a wonderful accolade for the Central Coast and something everyone should be incredibly proud of. “This good news story will lift spirits and help industry focus on the future, especially moving into recovery after COVID,” she said. “Sustainable tourism is not a fleeting trend and eco-tourism values are becoming more important in shaping how

people decide to travel. “This recognition just helps us to attract the kind of visitors we want to draw to the Coast, people who want to immerse themselves in the local culture and are more mindful of their environmental footprint. “We’ve got such depth of tourism product and experience here on the Coast … a lot of people just think about beaches and national parks, they don’t realise we’ve got this beautiful hinterland, so many great operators, the food and beverage scene, so many great experiences, there’s so much more to discover than what people realise.

“This Top 100 recognition is another step and ties in with our efforts for Eco Tourism Certification, all of which will help position us differently to all the other beachside towns up along the east coast,” Perham said. Council’s Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley, said that being the only NSW location on the Top 100 list flagged the Central Coast as an eco-tourism attraction to both visitors and business enterprises. “We want to put ourselves on the map, that this is a hub for businesses focussing on nature-based eco-tourism and the environment,” she said.

“We’re sending the message to everyone that if that’s your type of business, come here to set up or relocate and grow your business, you’ll be more visible and you’ll be among like-minded people in complementary endeavours. “This is precisely the focus that we have exhibited in becoming an eco-certified destination and now being recognised on this international level, as one of only five locations in Australia, is just one more step in promoting ourselves as a destination of choice for both visitors and business opportunities. Continued page 4

Complete ‘cluster mess’ The historical Woy Woy Hotel is set to undergo a facelift after being acquired by a regionally focused hospitality company. See page 21

Sport

On the precipice of the most expansive season in the history of Australian women’s football, the Central Coast’s Mikayla Ryan has been confirmed as the A-League Women’s fourth official. See page 32

Puzzles page 18

Office: Level 1.01/86-88 Mann Street Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

Mr Persson said the financial crisis that resulted in him being installed in November 2020 was “I don’t want to be crude – a cluster mess”. Under cross examination, he warned his interrogator not to treat him in a “smart-arse” way. He described suspended

Two homes in Calais Rd, Wamberal, have sold for a combined total of more than $5.5M. See page 31

Sport

The sixth event in this season’s Sail Grand Prix (SGP) has been won by the Australian team, helmed by Gosford Sailing Club Alumnus and Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom Slingsby. See page 40

Puzzles page 22

spiritsuper.com.au

spiritsuper.com.au Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

Former Central Coast Council Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, called an article critical of his work at Central Coast Council “academic wankery” during his evidence at the Public Inquiry on October 13.

It all starts with spirit

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

Business

See page 3 CCN employees, Harry Mulholland and Lucillia Eljuga, at Hotel Gosford

Coast goes global as eco-tourism destination Local stories showcasing the Central Coast as an eco-tourism destination have captured international attention and a winning spot in the 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition.

Bakehouse 2000 at Kincumber has been keeping smiles on customers’ faces throughout lockdown with its zany theme days and intends to keep up the fun right through to December 1. See page 17

Central Coast residents flocked to their favourite retail outlets, hairdressers, cafes, restaurants and watering holes as the region emerged from its 15week lockdown on October 11.

See page 3

Running of the horses at Glenworth Valley – the Central Coast hinterland rounds out the complete package of beaches and national parks for a world-class eco-tourism destination

ISSUE 314

News

ISSUE 031

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Bateau Bay residents can now walk in safety from Shelly Beach to Crackneck Lookout completely in the bush, away from busy traffic along Bateau Bay Rd.

Health

Executives not listed to appear at Public Inquiry A Pearl Beach local and member of the Central Coast Volunteer Support Group has urged cyclists and road users to be more aware. See page 25

14 OCTOBER 2021

Business

Heavyweights of the Australian and international music scene will lend their support to Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD) Day on October 15. See page 17

Knitters and crocheters across the Central Coast have been hard at work during lockdown preparing for a vibrant installation set to take pride of place at Terrigal from November 19 to December 17.

Soroptimist International Brisbane Water is one group contributing to the project

Coast takes another spin on regional status roundabout

Coast shines on global eco-tourism stage

News

See page 17

Central Council Council Public Inquiry coverage from Page 4 Kidney disease that affects 1.7M Australians, and in October 2021 the Kidney Community is seeking public support See page 25

ISSUE 260

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Out&About

See page 15

resources of the Office of Local Government at every opportunity and undermines her own claim to be independent.” Brooks’ questions come as the majority of the submissions to the Inquiry were made public after a GIPA request from a Woy Woy Peninsula resident was successful. The Public Inquiry was called in April by Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock six months after she suspended the Councillors in October last year. The Councillors were suspended when the Council made public its sudden and substantial cash flow issues.

15 OCTOBER 2021 13 OCTOBER 2021

Residents will have their chance to learn more and ask questions about State Government plans to rejuvenate Peat Island and Mooney Mooney at a series of community information webinars. See page 3

A new COVID-19 vaccination clinic aimed at supporting the Indigenous community has opened its doors in Umina. See page 3

The Country Women’s Association’s Woy Woy Branch has put together dozens of bags to help those in need in a cross-club collaboration with the Gosford Rotary Club.

Health

Executives not listed to give public evidence at Council Inquiry

News

Out & About

Business

Hundreds of workers took industrial strike action last Friday at The Entrance in a show of unity for the nationwide #ReclaimTheLine protest against the government’s “no jab, no job” mandate.

ISSUE 313

Yarn Bomb project aims to help end violence

ISSUE 030

REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS

Advice on Spirit Super is provided by Quadrant First Pty Ltd (ABN 78 102 167 877, AFSL 284443) and issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (ABN 14 008 650 628, AFSL 238718), the trustee of Spirit Super (ABN 74 559 365 913). Read the PDS at spiritsuper.com.au before making a decision.

coastcommunitynews.com.au - 4325 7369 - editorial@centralcoastnews.net

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2021 OFFICIAL

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First taste of freedom Central Coast residents flocked to their favourite retail outlets, hairdressers, cafes, restaurants and watering holes as the region emerged from its 15-week lockdown on October 11. Retailers across the region, including Erina Fair and Gosford’s Imperial Centre, saw customers return in droves. Pubs and clubs reported high customer volumes, with patrons lined up outside Central Coast Leagues Club on Monday morning keen to enjoy their first taste of freedom in more than three months. Gosford Hotel was one of the first venues to open, with drinks being poured from 7am. General Manager, Scott Miller, said staff had been “very excited” to get things open and running. “Everyone has been behaving within the guidelines and in another four weeks we’ll be able to open up our new bistro; we can’t wait to show people,” Miller said. A spokesperson for the Imperial Centre said there had been a great many people in the centre throughout the week, with retailers applauding the return of customers. “Imperial Centre is thrilled to welcome customers back into the

centre as restrictions ease,” a spokesperson said. “We couldn’t be more excited to see everyone sitting down for coffees as they catch up with friends, treat themselves to a haircut and browse our fashion offering. “We’d like to thank the Central Coast community for getting behind our retailers and bringing the centre to life once again and appreciate (their) diligence in following the NSW Health Guidelines.” Customers also flocked back to Erina Fair. “We’re incredibly pleased to

welcome back our customers, retailers, and centre staff to Erina Fair,” Centre Manager, Stephen Ross, said. “Our customers certainly seem pleased to be back too. “We welcome the State Government lessening of restrictions and are committed to providing a safe environment in our centre that allows the community to return with peace of mind and enjoy the experiences they have missed.” A “Colour Your World” artwork by Brent Smith will put a smile on the faces of shoppers as things return to normal, and a new sculpture by Pete Rush, Erina Fair

Eagle, is perched in The Hive jacaranda tree on the lower level. “These two artworks have provided a way for us to bring a little joy to our customers’ days and celebrate some of the amazing artists we have in our region,” Ross said. For many,a trip to the hairdresser was a priority. Civitas at Terrigal decided to combine a fundraiser for Beyond Blue with its opening day haircuts and Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, was one of the first customers at the Amber Antonio salon at Ettalong. “I had my first haircut in months

from Ro Antonio, who has been my friend and hairdresser for years,” Tesch said. “Her daughter Amber Antonio allowed us to use her lovely new salon in the Ettalong Markets complex. “Amber is a fabulous enterprising young woman whose salon has been shut down for most of the time it’s been open.” Tesch reinforced the importance of supporting local businesses as the region reopens. “The 15-week lockdown took a terrible toll on every member in our community, with our mental

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and physical health paying the price,” she said. “One positive to reflect on is that we are now all so much more appreciative of the once mundane activities we took for granted. “I cannot wait to see our community liven up again and get back into the swing of things and I could not be prouder of every single person’s perseverance through one of the most difficult times of our lives.” Fully vaccinated Coast residents can once more enjoy retail and hospitality outlets and can travel anywhere within Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, with travel to other regions expected to open up within weeks. “As NSW opens up and travel outside of our LGA is finally allowed it is important to remember to support your locals,” Tesch said. “Many of our local businesses have struggled over the last few months, recovering not only from thelockdownssincethepandemic began but also the loss of business during the 2019 Black Summer Bushfires. “It is so important we keep supporting our locals through this very critical rebuilding time.” Terry Collins

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Complete ‘cluster mess’ From page 1 Persson said he had a great deal of sympathy for some Councillors. “You mentioned one who talked about being bullied,” Persson said. “Several, actually,” the Commissioner replied. “Cr Hogan was bullied not only in the council chamber by the opposition, she was bullied in her party by some of those people who were very

determined that there was nothing wrong with deficit budgeting and the expansion that they were on,” Persson said. “Do you think the Councillors actually knew that they were digging in to the restricted funds?” the Commissioner asked. Persson said no, it was a technical matter. “My only issue with them, and still remains, is their inability/

failure to do enough to manage the budget which was blowing up before their eyes,” he said. He talked about the work that had to be done when he arrived, including securing a $50M loan immediately and a $100M loan in December. He praised the work of new CFO Natalia Cowley’s “experience and networks in the banking industry that got us a $50M loan fairly quickly”. “This was actually a crisis

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that I think people just refused to – for people like Professor Sansom to go on about the State Government and what they should or could have done, it is just absurd sort of stuff; real academic wankery in my view,” he said. Professor Graham Sansom published a paper on the handling of Central Coast Council. “When you took over, hadn’t the council already at that point

developed the 100-day plan to dig itself out of the hole?” the Commissioner asked. Persson said it had lots of items on the agenda but it wouldn’t have worked. “Overtime bans – this is just like a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. This is not a serious management talk,” he said. “No, it was a – I won’t use a crude expression, but it was a cluster mess, it really was. “People retrospectively are

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trying to paper it over, ‘we weren’t told this, we didn’t know that’. “To be frank, that’s just rubbish, in terms of what’s really required here. “I have to go back to say if the current CEO had been there, none of this would have happened.” Persson was cross-examined by a legal representative of the CEO he sacked, Gary Murphy. The counsel, Vanja Bulut, took Persson through documents he called “smoking guns” that he said showed Murphy knew about the spending of restricted funds. She asked where the evidence was in each document. Bulut asked if Persson knew what a certain document related to. “You actually don’t know what the sentence relates to at all, do you?” Bulut asked. “No, and I won’t have you being smart with me either,” Persson said. “I’m trying to understand,” Bulut said. “I’m not going to be treated in a smart-arse way like that,” Persson replied. He said the emails, which he had released under Government Information Public Access (GIPA), didn’t pass the pub test. Bulut asked if he proceeded with his reports on the basis of a pub test. He said the evidence was possibly not enough for a court of law but he wasn’t in a court of law. Bulut also talked about the facts around Murphy refusing to meet with Persson and highlighted that Persson denied him access to the above documents. Persson said Murphy was a private citizen by the time he was available to meet and by then Persson had formed the view he didn’t have the time as he was focussed on getting the Council back in shape. He said Murphy eventually received the documents under the GIPA (freedom of information laws). The full transcripts are available on the Office of Local Government website. Merilyn Vale

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Comments invited on roundabout upgrade Despite fears that a major upgrade of the Tumbi Rd/ Central Coast Hwy intersection at Wamberal could spell the demise of the nearby Valley Fruit, the fresh food outlet will remain and may gain a new carpark. The revelation came as the NSW Government encouraged residents to have their say on the proposed roundabout upgrade before November 2. Transport for NSW confirmed the iconic fruit shop would remain as it revealed latest plans for the work. Valley Fruit Manager, Adrian Cremona, said details of the carpark were yet to be confirmed. Cremona said news the shop would remain was welcome. “It has been weighing on my mind for about a year,” he said. “The carpark isn’t great because as it stands, when we unload the truck, we will block the carpark. “There is a footpath that goes nowhere and no onstreet parking, with very little parking allocated for the shop.” Cremona said the plans were yet to be approved by the

owner of the land which is leased by Valley Fruit and meetings with planners were ongoing. The roundabout upgrade would form part of the Government’s $387M Central Coast Highway redevelopment. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said Central Coast Hwy is used by about 26,500 motorists every day and the upgrade required to prepare the road

for future growth. “In May this year we engaged WSP Australia Pty Ltd to develop the full design, as previous community feedback requested that the Tumbi Rd intersection be fast-tracked,” Crouch said. “During peak hour, motorists currently experience nineminute delays at the existing roundabout.” Crouch said the concept design and Review of Environment Factors (REF) is

available and open for comment. “I am inviting the community to view the proposal, which involves replacing the roundabout with new traffic lights as well as widening the intersection to reduce queuing and improve traffic flow, and provide feedback directly to Transport for NSW,” he said. “Upgrading this incredibly busy intersection will not be easy but it is an incredibly important project, and we are

not going to shy away from the hard work.” Transport for NSW will host an online information session so the community and stakeholders can learn more about the upgrade and ask the project team questions. The date and time of the session will be announced on the project webpage and on social media. Key elements of the proposed upgrade include: replacing the existing intersection

roundabout with traffic lights; widening Central Coast Hwy north of the intersection to two lanes in each direction; providing two right turn lanes out of Tumbi Rd onto the highway southbound; lengthening the left turn lane into Tumbi Rd from the northbound lanes of the highway; providing a right turn lane into Tumbi Rd from the southbound lanes of the highway, new and upgraded footpaths and shared paths; providing a u-turn bay in front of Pacific Garden Hotel for southbound traffic; and relocating two existing bus stops to a common lo cation northbound on the highway north of the intersection. “Previous submissions identified this is where people want us to get started and it’s important to get it right the first time; that’s why community consultation is so important,” Crouch said. Feedback will be accepted until 5pm on Tuesday, November 2. To view the concept design, REF and for more information on the upgrade, go to: nswroads.work/cch.

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Debt and deficit don’t ‘fuss’ risk committee members Two independent professional members of Central Coast Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) said they were comfortable with Council’s level of debt before the financial crisis. Both said they were not alarmed by the deficit budgets. Independent ARIC member, Carl Millington, said he would probably have said he was comfortable with the deficit budgets Council ran and its level of debt if he had been asked at the time. Independent member, John Gordon, said two or three years of deficits did not fuss him. Speaking at the Public Inquiry into the council Millington said his review of the financials each year always indicated the Council had an operating surplus before the capital grants were taken out. He said the consolidated set of accounts each year appeared okay. “There was ample cash, there were assets, there were liabilities, all the normal things,’’ he said. “The ratios seemed okay.

There was nothing in those first few years that would sort of suggest to you, hey, we need to look a bit deeper here,” he said. He said if he had been asked about deficit budgets at the time, he probably would have not been overly concerned on a short-term basis, because “at times when you’re trying to rebuild, or if you’re trying to do things, sometimes you have to go into deficit. “The issue with Central Coast Council also that you can’t overlook is it’s a very big, sophisticated, complex entity,” he said. When asked about the debt he said he deemed that neither Wyong nor Gosford carried excessive amounts of debt. “When you bring together a $10B organisation, you cannot reasonably expect there would be no debt,” he said. “There would be very few councils in NSW who have no debt. It’s just a fact of life. “Every presentation I have ever done to a council, when they say to me, ‘We are aiming to be debt free’, I think that’s admirable, however, if I ran my personal finances that way, I would live in a tent because I

can’t afford to pay cash for the house I live in, I have to borrow the money,” he said. “You’ve really got to balance out what the expectations of the community are with your capability to service the debt. “My personal opinion is the amount of debt brought forward wasn’t that significant. The cost of servicing it was not that significant. “And in the first few years of Council’s existence, my recollection is they were reducing the debt each year. “To me, the debt wasn’t the problem.” He was asked if he knew prior to 2020 that restricted funds were being used for nonrestricted purposes? He said no and talked about the different ways the financial reports were presented. “The problem is where restrictions come into play and that, to me, is where the confusion is and that’s where there is the lack of understanding and there’s the inconsistency between two entities, being the Council and the water supply authority, and the treatment of certain things, which causes confusion,” he said.

“I would seriously believe it is difficult for anybody who is not trained in the accounting concepts to grasp all of those things,” he said. When asked if the community had suffered as a result of the measures made to rectify the financial crisis, he said he only had secondhand knowledge. He said he had people say to him ‘how can they lose that sort of money?’. “I don’t know that they have lost that much money because every year that I have looked at, if I take depreciation out or if I take written-down assets, if I take out just normal things that one would take out when you are doing a financial analysis, they have generated surplus cash every year,’’ he said. Another independent member of the ARIC, John Gordon, followed Millington to give evidence. He mentioned there were 120-150 Local Government Act requirements that related to local government operations and part of ARIC’s role was to be comfortable that there was a framework to manage all compliance and sustainability risks associated with Council.

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He too said two or three years of deficit budgets would not “fuss me”. “The first year we looked at was ‘17,” he said. “That was a $65M profit before capital amounts. “That’s quite a strong result. “The second year was a loss of -$22M, not significant in an organisation with about $700M turnover. “If you looked at that, within the $22M was a write-off of property. “Land was overvalued somewhere at $33M or $35M. “So if you added that land adjustment back – it’s got nothing to do with cash, it’s just an academic accounting adjustment – we actually made a surplus for 2018 as well, and 2019 was a $5M loss. “So I’m saying, as an independent person looking at it, I’m not alarmed by the losses.” He said he was not concerned with the $317M debt brought in when the Council was formed in 2016 from the two former councils. “I’ve had a lot of familiarity with councils and debt is not uncommon, particularly a

council with water and sewer and drainage assets. “They are what we call in the industry long-lived assets – they’re network assets. You build a dam that has a life of 100 years.” He said intergenerational debt was discussed at conferences. “If an asset lasts 100 years, why should it be the current generation drains all their cash, and then can’t have their parks, gardens, childcare centres and roads, to pay for an asset that future generations are going to get the benefit of free of charge,” he said. “What is a concern, though, is that the administrator has had to go cap in hand to banks to borrow $150M to bail us out in day-to-day cash so that we can leave and preserve the restricted assets that should be there. That is a concern,” he said. The full transcripts of both testimonies from October 12 are on the Office of Local Government website, Central Coast Public Inquiry page. Merilyn Vale

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Residents at the lower end of Stratford Park Estate in Terrigal are fed up with ongoing problems with internet connection and are calling on NBN to take responsibility for the situation. Resident spokesperson, Neil Keele, said the issues had been frustrating householders for a long time, with NBN refusing to liaise directly with homeowners and insisting they go through their individual providers. Residents say the problem stems from the NBN connection itself. “The NBN announcement on May 4, 2021, gave us some hope that we would be included in the upgrade from FTTN to FTTP,” Keele said. “There has been nothing from NBN about the addresses to be included and no one has been able to find out any specifics about the proposed upgrade. “Working from home, home schooling and studying from home have demonstrated there are severe limitations if there is more than one person in the household needing to use the internet for one of the above purposes before we use it for recreational purposes.

Neil Keele and other residents are plagued by constant internet connection problems

“Some residents have tried to have the situation improved over a substantial period of time but NBN always claims there is nothing wrong and often blames the customers’ equipment for any issues, even when it is brand new equipment and has been changed multiple times. “We need to use an intermediary to contact NBN; they do not deal with customers as they are a wholesaler and customers must go through their individual providers.

“But the providers tell us that when they contact NBN they are told everything is ‘within limits’.” Keele said he had experienced 952 disconnections in the past month, totalling more than five hours. This is despite multiple equipment upgrades and a change of providers. “Sometimes I have speeds of just 2Kb per second,” he said. Acting on advice from his provider, Keele canvassed 92

houses in the area to confirm others were experiencing problems. “Of those, 28 have responded and more than 80 per cent of them confirmed they are having ongoing issues,” he said. “Additional residences could be interested but have no faith in being listened to and having the issues fixed permanently.” Keele said he intended to make complaints through the Australian Communications

Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and the office of Senator Deborah O’Neill. A spokesperson for NBN said a member of the team would get in touch with Keele to discuss the issues he is experiencing. “We don’t currently have any issues raised by retail providers regarding these premises, but in the first instance, we have conducted some remote tests on the services which showed they were performing to

specification,” the spokesperson said. “NBN has committed to extending fibre deeper into communities across Australia to enable more premises to access higher speed services and effectively enable eligible premises to upgrade from Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), on demand. “So far, we have announced the suburbs and towns where approximately 1.4 million of the two million premises will be made eligible for FTTN to FTTP upgrades by the end of 2023, including parts of Terrigal. “There are still further premises to be announced over the coming months. “We’ve started the design and construction process, and during 2022 and 2023, we will update the ‘Check your address’ tool on the NBN home page (www.nbnco.com.au), enabling customers to check if their premises is eligible to receive higher speed tier plans. “Residents are also able to register for email updates and will be proactively notified if and when a premises’ eligibility is confirmed.”

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Lucy Wicks and the Morrison Government are delivering for the Central Coast. Construction now complete for the $45 million Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute in Gosford. Reducing travel times for Central Coast residents with the $15 million Faster Rail Proposal. $18 million for a university campus extension in Gosford, including design, development, construction and fit-out. Up to 140 car spaces in Woy Woy Train Station and up to 600 at Gosford Train Station, with a $35 million total investment. Cutting travel times for Central Coast residents with the NorthConnex tunnel linking the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Hills M2 Motorway.

Investing $7 million to build a new regional library in Gosford. Continuous mobile phone coverage between Wyong and Hornsby and Wi-Fi at train stations is completed. A new $3.85 million Linear Accelerator for Central Coast Cancer Centre is now operating. $300,000 in additional Funding for Clean4Shore Environmental Clean Up Programs. $20,000 to purchase a van for ‘Soul Soup’, a charity providing meals and welfare services to disadvantaged locals.

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Coast goes global as eco-tourism destination Local stories showcasing the Central Coast as an ecotourism destination have captured international attention and a winning spot in the 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition. The Central Coast is the only NSW location on the Top 100 list, and one of only five in Australia, alongside Bundaberg, Margaret River, Port Douglas/Daintree and Townsville. It’s a competition led by Green Destinations, which collects Good Practice Stories from all around the world to inspire travellers and tourism professionals, and then to shine the spotlight on the top 100 locations which are making promising progress toward a more sustainable tourism industry. Emma Perham, of Destination Central Coast, said this was a wonderful accolade for the Central Coast and something everyone should be incredibly proud of. “This good news story will lift spirits and help industry focus on the future, especially moving into recovery after COVID,” she said. “Sustainable tourism is not a

fleeting trend and eco-tourism values are becoming more important in shaping how people decide to travel. “This recognition just helps us to attract the kind of visitors we want to draw to the Coast, people who want to immerse themselves in the local culture and are more mindful of their environmental footprint. “We’ve got such depth of tourism product and experience here on the Coast … a lot of people just think about beaches and national parks, they don’t realise we’ve got this beautiful hinterland, so many great operators, the food and beverage scene, so many great experiences, there’s so much more to discover than what people realise. “This Top 100 recognition is another step and ties in with our efforts for Eco Tourism Certification, all of which will help position us differently to all the other beachside towns up along the east coast,” Perham said. Council’s Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley, said that being the only NSW location on the Top 100 list flagged the Central Coast’s attraction as an eco-tourism attraction to both visitors and business enterprise.

“We want to put ourselves on the map, that this is a hub for businesses focussing on naturebased eco-tourism and the environment,” she said. “We’re sending the message to everyone that if that’s your type of business, come here to set up or relocate and grow your business, you’ll be more visible and you’ll be among like-minded people in complementary endeavours. “This is precisely the focus that we have exhibited in becoming an eco-certified destination and now being recognised on this international level, as one of only five locations in Australia, is just one more step in promoting ourselves as a destination of choice for both visitors and business opportunities. “Doing this would drive the local spend in our community to support local businesses, it will create local jobs, build our economy and also grow the community pride in our region,” Cowley said. The opportunity to enter the Top 100 was made possible through a partnership with Destination Central Coast and Ecotourism Australia, as part of the ECO Destination Certification program, fully funded by WWF-

Australia (World Wildlife Fund). Emma Perham said our region’s winning story focussed on the Coast’s refreshed approach to tourism, led by the new Love Central Coast campaign, which showcases the value of the region’s natural and cultural assets and sharing the inspiring stories of local brand ambassadors. “The Top 100 evaluators praised our winning Good Practice Story under the Tourism Reset and Recovery category titled A Love Story: Reshaping the NSW Central Coast,” she said. Evaluators commented that “in little more than a year, they have made an effort to change their tourism industry’s values and reimagine their future focussing on their strengths, the locals and their natural value”. “This Good Practice Story stands out because the campaign features brand ambassadors in their natural environment such as organic farm producers, world-class surfers, environmentalists, indigenous and botanical artists,” the evaluators said. Central Coast brand ambassadors include Ace

Buchan, a world-class professional surfer and environmental activist, alongside Kyal and Kara Demmrich of Bateau Bay, professional renovators and designers, also known for being on the TV show The Block. Both are also ambassadors for Take 3 for the Sea, a global ocean conservation movement based in Long Jetty. The Coast’s entry in the competition also featured talented native flora illustrator, Nicole Berlach and diverse mural artist Grant Molony, both producing art inspired by the Central Coast’s pristine natural environment and abundance of wildlife. Representing growing local entrepreneurial spirit is the market savvy sister team of Plain Janes and capturing the hidden magic of the Coast firsthand is filmmaker Adam Marshall. Weaving in the region’s hinterland are Eden and Louise of Fanelli Organics, an organic farm adapting to COVID-19 by developing their sustainable agri-tourism product through farm tours and farm stay accommodation. The Central Coast will now

represent NSW in the next step of the Top 100 competition, with the awards ceremony at ITB Berlin (Internationale TourismusBorse Berlin), the world’s largest tourism trade fair to be held in March 2022. Meanwhile, the Central Coast’s journey to becoming a certified eco destination is progressing in leaps and bounds with 10 more nature-based businesses working with Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia to achieve ECO Destination Certification. The Central Coast has the largest regional cohort of businesses already certified or in the process of certification. Seeking certification are Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures, Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park, Bombora Ettalong Beach SUP, Canton Beach Paddleshack, Elixir Journeys, Grace Springs Farm, Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jake Cassar Bushcraft, Rocky Trail Entertainment and Terrigal Ocean Tours. Businesses already with ECO Certification are AquaFun Avoca Lake, Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Noonaweena and TreeTops Adventure Park. Sue Murray

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Coast Connect Central Coast Council’s news and community information

From Council It is important for us to examine rates again and for our community to make an informed choice about maintaining services and service standards for the future of the Central Coast.

There has been major restructuring of Council and Council is on track to achieve the $50million in cost savings including productivity gains. However, we face falling off an income cliff if the current level of rates is not maintained. If the Special Variation is not extended, in two years ratepayers will be given a 13 percent reduction in their general rate component and Council will need to adjust its cost structures by a further $25.8million annually on average to cope with that reduction. The community will have a major say in whether this application is successful. We will undertake a community consultation exercise so the community can provide input to whether they would prefer to continue to pay the current level of rates or receive a reduction and see a dramatic fall off in services. You need to be aware of what the implications of this reduction in Council income will mean on the services you use daily. I urge you to keep an open mind, inform yourself and consider the information, and to provide feedback over the coming months before Council determines in early February whether or not to formally apply to IPART for a Special Variation. Rik Hart Administrator, Central Coast Council

Maintaining services and rates What has happened so far

In May 2021 the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approved a temporary rate increase of 13% (plus the 2% rate peg) which is retained in the rate base for three years and removed from the rate base at the end of the 2023-24 rating year for the Central Coast Local Government Area.

This temporary one-off increase will provide $22.9M in additional income for the 2021-22 financial year and is one of a number of measures being implemented to ensure Council remains financially sustainable. In their final report issued in May 2021 IPART stated, “During this 3-year period, the council will be able to implement its proposed business recovery plan, consult with its ratepayers regarding appropriate service levels, and if required, apply for a permanent Special Variation.”

Council has notified IPART of its intention to apply to maintain this temporary Special Variation (SV) beyond its expiry in June 2024 for a further seven years. At this stage, Council is not proposing to seek a permanent variation. We will engage with the community and this feedback will help inform whether or not Council decides to formally apply to IPART for a Special Variation in February 2022.

What did Council do

In December 2020 and January /February 2021, Council consulted extensively with the community on options for new residential and business rates to begin in the 2021/22 financial year. The proposals addressed long term financial sustainability. This included the legal obligation for Council to reimburse the restricted funds that had been spent without the correct authorisation on projects that the community had benefited from. At the same time, Council informed the community about the impacts of rate harmonisation to address the inequity between the rates of the two former local Councils in response to the State Government requirement of amalgamated Councils. Rate harmonisation was implemented from 1 July 2021 ensuring there is now equity in how rates are charged across the whole of the Central Coast region.

What we heard from the community

Over 10,000 community responses to an online survey, telephone survey and direct submissions were received in response to Council’s proposal about a new rating structure. The levels of community support and reasons for and against a rate rise were established through this consultation. The majority of respondents did not support the proposal.

Council meeting

Find out when the next meeting is and watch it online centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/meetings

More broadly, the engagement process affirmed that the community wanted Council to ‘fix the problem’, maintain services and create a sustainable pathway forward for Council. The community was supportive of change to see better financial management and accountability put in place. They also wanted to see that they were not shouldering the burden of fixing the problem and that other things were being done as alternatives to a rate increase such as seeking NSW government funds, selling assets, reducing staff, reduction in capital works and scaling back services and expenditure in general.

How have we responded to community feedback

We have moved quickly to show that we are serious about helping to fix the problem. Here is what we have done so far. Better financial management and accountability P Chief Financial Officer appointment P Audit and Risk Committee meet every two months P Monthly financial reporting publicly available P Tighter budget management controls Reduced spending P Capital works program reduction to $175M in 2020-21 compared to $242M in 2019-20 P Materials and contracts savings estimate of $20M P Reduced employee costs by $30M P Management salaries with reduction of 9 Directors to 5 and senior managers from 38 to 25 Other financial recovery actions P Over $60M of property assets sold P Improved productivity with minimum service level reduction despite staff cuts P Bank loans secured and payments on track P Finding other revenue sources.

What is the proposal now

Council is proposing to ensure financial and service sustainability by proposing to maintain its current rate income beyond 2023-24 for a further seven years. This is so that we can maintain the current service levels, continue to find more service efficiencies and pay back loans.

What happens if the proposal is not approved

Council provides over 250 services that the community value and these services contribute to the quality of life that is desired on the Central Coast. If the Council’s current rate income is not maintained beyond June 2024, we will be forced to reduce or cease many services.

It is important to note that returning to a pre-2021 rate base, does not mean that former Gosford ratepayers will pay less rates again. The impacts of the State Government mandated rates harmonisation which was undertaken in 2020-21 will not be wound back.

I want to have a say That’s fantastic! We want to hear from you.

You can read the full summary of the consultation at yourvoiceourcoast.com

Council Offices 2 Hely St Wyong / 49 Mann St Gosford | 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday | P 1300 463 954 NEXT ISSUE Don’t miss the next issue. Sign up for our e-news at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/enews

PAGE 12 15 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS

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Lanes open on new Lisarow bridge Traffic is flowing across the first lanes of the new rail bridge at Lisarow as the $178M duplication of the Pacific Hwy between Ourimbah St and Parsons Rd powers ahead. One lane in each direction of the four-lane bridge opened to traffic this week. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the new rail bridge and adjacent approaches would replace the existing narrow and often congested bridge near Railway Cres. “The first half of the new A map showing the planned duplication work at Lisarow

bridge is supported by 27 concrete girders locally manufactured in Newcastle, which are 35 metres long and weigh between 65 and 70 tonnes each,” Crouch said. “The bridge itself contains 150 tonnes of steel, while 430 cubic metres of concrete has been used for the bridge deck.” Motorists can now drive on a section of new road from the roundabout at Parsons Rd up to Ourimbah St. Work is also continuing on upgrading The Ridgeway intersection to include traffic lights. The completed project will also feature traffic lights at the

Railway Cres and Macdonalds Rd intersections, and improved access to parking at Lisarow railway station. The next major stage of the project involves demolishing the old bridge in March 2022 in order to build the second half of the new bridge. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, said the NSW Government-funded project will improve traffic flow, travel times and safety on the 1.6km section of highway. “Providing two lanes in each direction on this stretch of the highway will be a game changer for the 30,000

motorists who use this road each day,” Toole said. “We started this upgrade in February 2019 (and the) upgrade has provided work for about 1,400 people so far, including more than 150 different suppliers and contractors, putting money into the local economy at a time when it’s needed most.” The $178M project is expected to be completed in 2023, weather permitting. For more information, go to: nswroads.work/lisarow. Source: Media release, Oct 8 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Help with childcare costs comes early Families across the Central Coast will benefit from greater childcare support sooner, with the increased Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

for multiple children brought forward to March 7 next year, four months earlier than expected. Member for Robertson, Lucy

Wicks, said the increased subsidies were due to come into effect on July 11, 2022, but the Government has worked with Commonwealth agencies Re

sib

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and service providers to make necessary technical changes sooner. From March 7, 2022, families with two or more children aged five years and under in care will have their CCS rate increased by 30 percentage points for their second child and younger children, up to a maximum rate of 95 per cent. Around 2,300 families across the Coast with two or more children in care could benefit from the increased subsidy, with more than half of eligible Australian families to receive the maximum 95 per cent subsidy. Wicks said a family earning $110,000 a year with two children in care four days a

week stood to save $100 each week. The $10,655 annual cap for families earning more than $190,015 will also be scrapped on December 10. In the unlikely event that a family hits the cap before December 10, any excess fees will be returned during the regular balancing process that occurs for Child Care Subsidy at the end of the financial year (after July 2022). Wicks said the support would be targeted to those who need it most. “We know childcare costs can really add up when you have two, three or more children in care and this package will help those families

by significantly reducing outof-pocket costs for the second child and younger children,” she said. “This will make a real difference in the lives of families in our region. “The changes will also see the Government’s total investment in childcare grow to $11B a year, building on the Child Care Package we introduced in 2018 that is still keeping out-of-pocket costs low.” Minister for Education and Youth, Alan Tudge, said the changes would ease pressure on working families on the Central Coast and encourage more parents into work. “These changes are good for families and great for the economy, and it’s significant that we are able to deliver them sooner,” Tudge said. “Removing the cap and increasing subsidies will allow more parents, particularly mothers, to return to work or take on more hours if they choose to. Source: Media release, Oct 12 Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks

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PAGE 13 15 OCTOBER 2021

There has been plenty of misinformation spread about the new travel rules. Here are the facts:



Central Coast residents are able to freely travel to Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.



Central Coast residents are able to travel anywhere in NSW for essential reasons (including for work and compassionate visits).



At the 80% milestone (which is likely to begin on Monday 25 October), Central Coast residents will be able to freely travel anywhere in NSW.



This staged approach is due to the Central Coast’s high case numbers relative to other parts of Regional NSW, and the low vaccination rates in some parts of Regional NSW.



I can confirm that since 21 August, the NSW Government’s Public Health Orders have classified the Central Coast as part of Regional NSW.



More information is available at: www.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19

Please remember that these travel rules only apply to fully vaccinated people. People who are unvaccinated must continue to follow the stay-at-home rules.

Adam Crouch MP

Member for Terrigal

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

terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au adamcrouchmp

adamcrouchmp

PAGE 14 15 OCTOBER 2021

NEWS & ON THE BEAT

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New constables welcomed to police districts

Council’s deficit for 2020-21 is $92M Central Coast Council’s financial year 2020-2021 saw an operating deficit before capital grants and contributions of -$91.6M. The operating deficit including capital grants and contributions for the 20202021 financial year is a deficit of -$7.9M. This compared to last year’s actual deficit of -$88.5M. The operating result was higher than first shown in August in the draft figures. CFO, Natalia Cowley, said the figures were adversely impacted by two matters. The first was a revaluation decrement in sewerage assets of $29.0M. The second was the expensing of $1.5M software as service costs that were previously capitalised and recognised as intangible assets. The change came as a result of an International Financial Reporting Standards Interpretations Committee decision made in April 2021, which until now was not reflected in the most recent Accounting Code. During the 2020-2021 financial year Council undertook a revaluation of water supply and sewerage assets. An external valuer was engaged. The impact of the revaluation was a decrease to the value of Council’s water supply assets of $9.7M and a decrease to the value of Council’s sewerage assets of $111.7M. The decrease in water supply assets of $9.7M was reflected in the asset revaluation reserve in the

Statement of Financial Position. But council did not have enough in its asset revaluation reserve ($82.7M) for the full sewerage decrease so $29M was reflected as a negative in the income statement. At the date of amalgamation of former Gosford council and former Wyong council’s in May 2016, the values of all assets and liabilities were transferred and recognised as a gain via the Income Statement while asset revaluation reserves were not transferred and recognised. This was in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and resulted in $29M of the 2021 revaluation being recognised in the 2020-2021 operating result as a loss. The report showed the Council’s performance against the Local Government benchmarks. “We have breached three of those ratios including operating performance ratio as we have a deficit,” Cowley explained at the council meeting on October 12 when the figures were tabled. The second breach was for outstanding rates but Cowley said she was pleased with the benchmark as it was a significant improvement on last year even though there was still a way to go. The third breach related to the Debt Service Cover Ratio which measures the availability of operating cash to service debt including interest, principal and lease payments. Council has breached this ratio as the operating result before capital excluding

interest and depreciation does not adequately cover loan principal repayments and borrowing costs. Council met the Unrestricted Current Ratio. It measures the adequacy of working capital and Council’s ability to satisfy obligations in the short term for the unrestricted activities of Council. Council corrected the prior year breach of this benchmark through a $150M external loan to substantially cover the reported overspend of unrestricted funds. Administrator Rik Hart said this was the first annual report since the financial crisis (that saw the Councillors suspended and an Administrator put in) and the $89M loss of last year. He said the extra $31M added to the deficit since the draft reports was not the fault of staff. He said the sewer valuation going down was “a relic from the past”. He said the $29M added to the expenditure list was not a cash issue. “It’s like owning a building and the value goes down, but you haven’t sold the building so you haven’t lost it, but you have to show it has gone down,” he said. He said the cash position had improved dramatically compared to last year. The financial report was tabled at the October 12 Council meeting and will now go Council’s external auditor, The Audit Office of NSW, to provide the formal audit opinion to Council. Merilyn Vale

Brisbane Water Police district has five new officers, and Tuggerah Lakes District has three, with the eight new Probationary Constables beginning their careers on the Central Coast on October 11. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, welcomed the new Brisbane Water officers on Monday morning.

“I commend these eight new Probationary Constables for choosing to put the safety of others ahead of their own,” Crouch said. “The past few months in lockdown have reminded us of how much we owe to frontline workers, including police officers who have enforced the Public Health Orders to keep the wider community safe and secure.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the officers, of Class 349 consisting of 226 new recruits statewide, had undergone eight months of world-class training. Elliott said the NSW Government has committed to invest $583M to introduce 1,500 extra police over four years and would spend $60M over four years to upgrade the Police Academy at Goulburn. Terry Collins

Cocaine seized at Mount White A Queensland man has been charged after police seized more than two kilograms of cocaine which was allegedly found concealed in a truck cabin at Mount White on September 30. At about 9:30pm officers attached to Gosford Traffic & Highway Patrol spoke with the driver of a prime mover after it stopped at a weighbridge, northbound on the Pacific Hwy. The 54-year-old man was subjected to a roadside drug test which allegedly returned a

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.

positive result. Police located an amount of methamphetamine concealed under the driver’s seat, before detecting a further 2kg of cocaine concealed under a

mattress. The man was arrested and taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with supplying a prohibited drug more than large commercial quantity and possessing a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on October 1, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday, November 19. Source: Media release, Oct 1 NSW Police media

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THE ENTRANCE ELECTORATE The boundaries of The Entrance electorate will change at the 2023 state election. The change is minor and has resulted in all of Berkeley Vale being included in The Entrance electorate. Below is a list of all suburbs within The Entrance electorate. • Bateau Bay

• Magenta

• Toowoon Bay

• Berkeley Vale

• Mount Elliot

• Tuggerah

• Blue Bay

• Narara (part only)

• Tumbi Umbi

• Fountaindale

• Niagara Park

• Wyoming

• Glenning Valley

• Ourimbah

• Postcodes:

• Kangy Angy

• Shelly Beach

2250, 2258,

• Killarney Vale

• Somersby (part only)

2259, 2261

• Lisarow

• The Entrance

• Long Jetty

• The Entrance North

DAVID MEHAN MP MEMBER FOR THE ENTRANCE Office: 24 The Entrance Road, The Entrance NSW 2261 Phone: 4334 1012 Email: theentrance@parliament.nsw.gov.au Authorised by David Mehan MP, 24 The Entrance Rd, The Entrance NSW 2261 funded using parliamentary entitlements.

PAGE 15 15 OCTOBER 2021

FORUM Council through a business prism FORUM

PAGE 16 15 OCTOBER 2021

It’s my view that politicians and (especially) councillors (should) be eligible for office only if they have been intimately involved in private enterprise for a solid period of time.

Preferably in business for themselves with money at risk, or at least in a senior capacity for a larger goal/ budget driven entity. This way they learn a raft of critical skills, from strategy to cashflow and everything in between. Without one’s belly to the ‘Bunsen-burner’ via risked capital (home mortgage, personal loan) or operating under strict corporate goals it’s nigh on impossible to expect elected incumbents to have the necessary experience to govern wisely. As someone who has merged many businesses I’m astounded that an underlying NSW Government ‘specification’ for the Gosford/ Wyong merger (and presumably other councils) was “no forced redundancies”. This remarkable ‘millstone’ effectively handcuffed implementers’ hands and massively limited potential merger benefits. No private enterprise business would ever countenance such a mandate as benefits almost always

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include staff rationalisation, unless significant and imminent expansion is envisaged or skills are unique and the acquired business is to be stand-alone. Not the case with these councils and I wonder if any of our local politicians understood this basic reality and lobbied the then Minister for Local Government (Shelly Hancock) and/or Treasurer (Dominic Perrottet) for release from this debilitating obstacle? I’ll bet not and if so they’re surely complicit in Council’s debt failure. Council’s ‘Delivery and Operational Plan’ proposes to reduce its workers from 2500 to 2000 in 2021/22 (what should have happened at time of merger). Its ‘employee costs’ budget this year is $176M, the proposed 20 per cent reduction equating to $36M or a year two 22/23 budget of $140M, yet the ‘Plan’ is for $180M, rising to $189M after four years. How can this be? Where’s the proposed saving? The budget for ‘materials, contracts and other’ is essentially a constant $290M per annum over the next four years; no real savings or costs

proposed. Yet surely at least a 10 per cent reduction could be found midst these merged monoliths? If so, this would equate to another $30M which when combined with the worker’s saving = $70 to $75M = say $300M over four years? Borrowing costs are shown as a fairly constant $17.5M on $347M of loans/financing, equating to an average 5.4 per cent pa interest cost. Is this the best (an effectively guaranteed, tax free) Council can achieve when prevailing home variable mortgage rates are about 2.5 per cent? Every additional one per cent of Council interest rates equates to $3.6M. Also, no balance sheet is provided? The now proposed “essential” 15 per cent rates increase over 20/21 rates income of $332M = $382M. Budgeted for 21/22 is $362M, rising to $400M over the four-year plan. So why can’t this $50M proposed increase be offset by the potential $70M savings identified above? There may be some logical answers to my comments above, if so I’d love to hear them. Email, Oct 8 Gordon Batt, Terrigal

Business as usual FORUM

Well might you ask where does the election of Dominic Perrottet leave the Central Coast – up the creek without a paddle I think. Perrottet has already made it clear that Western Sydney is his priority and it will be full steam ahead with pork barrelling and grants to that region to try to win the next election. He had already made it clear

that his right-wing Catholic views, coming from his Opus Dei education, will guide his decision making – just like former PM Tony Abbott. Perrottet is anti-abortion, anti-same sex marriage, antieuthanasia and his top priority has been selling off our NSW assets. With the majority of State

MPs on the Coast being Labor we will continue to miss out as always and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, just like his predecessor, Scott McDonald, is more interested in getting his photo taken for the press than doing anything worthwhile for the whole Central Coast. So business as usual for us. Email, Oct 7 Errol Grace, Niagara Park

Recurring deficit questioned FORUM

Once again, Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, offers a false dichotomy between rate hikes and service cuts (“Service cuts to come if rates don’t stay at 15 per cent”, CCN313). Hart believes the community must pay one way or another, whilst the Council bureaucracy and their perks remain untouched. Rate hikes and service cuts are not the only options for reducing a recurring budget deficit. Well managed organisations seek to improve productivity

and efficiency year on year, whilst controlling costs and in particular the costs of bureaucracy. Hart has been asked the following fundamental question many times but has never answered it. Given that the Council has increased its general rates income by inflation or more every year for as long as anyone can remember, and services have recently been cut, how come the Council still has a recurring budget deficit of $26M per year?

Hart says he needs $11M a year to repay loans from the recent financial crisis – but that still leaves a recurring deficit of $15M. What has caused this recurring deficit? It certainly isn’t better services. Is it the increased costs of an inefficient Council bureaucracy? When Mr Hart finally answers this question he may realise that rate hikes and service cuts are not the only options. Email, Oct 11 Kevin Brooks, Kincumber

Battery to beat a nuclear pile Mr Franz would have us believe that, because he can’t see any change in the water level of Budgewoi Lake, that climate change is not a scientific phenomenon (“Disputing climate with a nod to nuclear”, CCN 312). This is on a par with Tony Abbott’s “proving” that there was no sea-level rise, because he had seen old photographs of Manly Beach that showed the ocean in the same place as it is today. Perhaps the observations of NASA and various oceanographic organizations on sea-level changes carry a little more weight than Mr Franz’s measurements of poles in the water. I have stood on the edge of the Rift Valley and have not been able to detect that it is widening at all but I take the word of expert geologists that this is happening, just as I believe that reputable

HYLAND BYTES researchers are not misleading us about changes in sea levels, as a sort of monumental practical joke. As for Mr Franz’s contention that all will be well if we just turn to nuclear power for our baseload electricity generation, I am quite willing to be convinced that nuclear power is 100 per cent safe, when I see that there is no possibility of a repetition of the Chernobyl disaster through human error and that we have solved the problem of disposing of nuclear waste in a more acceptable way than burying it in outback South Australia for thousands of years. The French might be less cautious than I am, but we are not in the position of having limited options, as they are, so we can take full advantage of all the new technologies coming on stream that don’t pose any threat to our

environment. I’ll take my chance with a battery installation, rather than a nuclear pile. The old canard that we must have conventional baseload power generation “because the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow all the time”, is being disproved by new storage installations everywhere, and we haven’t begun to explore the potential of hydrogen-based power systems that have no negative environmental effects at all. The sight of our Prime Minister brandishing a lump of Victorian-era coal, as his vision of our future, is depressing in the extreme to anyone with a grasp of the world outside parish-pump politics. We should be looking forward to new technologies not backward to old ones, to put ourselves on the path to a strong, sustainable economy. Email, Oct 4 Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 17 15 OCTOBER 2021

2000 reasons to smile

Bakehouse 2000 at Kincumber has been keeping smiles on customers’ faces throughout lockdown with its zany theme days and intends to keep up the fun right through to December 1. Owner, Leanne Visconti, said the idea began during the first week of lockdown, when one staff member brought in some pairs of orange socks and said

“let’s dress up for fun”. “The next day we decided to do crazy hair and we realised the customers were getting a good laugh out of it, so we thought we’d just keep it going,” Visconti said. Throughout the long weeks of lockdown, the Bakehouse kept the fun going. “At first we thought it would be for just a week or so, but as lockdown continued, we kept coming up with new ideas,”

NOW OPEN!

Visconti said. “All these weeks later we are still going and are planning to keep it up until December 1, when things will be pretty much back to normal. “Every Monday we have been featuring a local business – asking them to provide shirts, hats, whatever we could wear to promote their business. “We’ve had days for a variety of businesses, including Kincumber Floormaster,

Seacoast Fishing, Kincumber Hire, Kincumber Sand and Soil and lots of others. “We found customers were coming in just to see what we had on each day. “We’ve dressed as pirates, Mexicans; we’ve had ‘wear something orange’ and ‘wear something pink’ days; we’ve been fairies and princesses.” For the past two weeks the bakery has been decorated to a Bali theme, collecting money

for a charity being run by expat Coasties to provide supplies in Bali. “Everyone was feeling a bit down and we have been doing it mostly to give customers a laugh,” Visconti said. Customer, Beverley Kennedy, said owners and staff at the bakery had gone out of their way to follow the rules and keep their customers safe as well as putting a smile on their faces.

“They make everyone welcome and I think they are worthy of a great big thank you and acknowledgement for their hard work in these trying times making sure everyone leaves with a smile on their face,” she said. “They have gone above and beyond - such deserving Aussies just going about their day and spreading the love.” Terry Collins

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PAGE 18 15 OCTOBER 2021 OUT&ABOUT

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Chance to learn about endangered birds A NEW webinar on the importance of preserving Central Coast bushland to protect the critically endangered swift parrot and regent honeyeater is now available online. Hosted by Greater Sydney Local Land Services, the Saving the Swifty and reporting a Regent webinar attracted 100 participants. “There was a huge amount of interest on the day, so we decided to make the event accessible for everyone,” Greater Sydney Senior Land Services officer, Mick Budden, said. “The event was part of our ongoing project in partnership with local landholders, councils and the broader community to undertake weed control and revegetation activities on

properties to improve swift parrot and regent honeyeater habitat.” The webinar features presentations on the importance of the birds from a

range of expert speakers from Birdlife Australia, Taronga Conservation Society, Central Coast Council and Greater Sydney Local land Services. Budden said the birds were

known to inhabit the bushland of the Central Coast and neighbouring areas. “We have worked with a number of landholders to restore Swamp Sclerophyll

Gofundme

Forest on Coastal Floodplains, a Threatened NSW Ecological Community,” he said. “These sites were selected due to their proximity to recent swift parrot sightings. “Swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus Robusta), native to the Central Coast, is also a prime winter foraging gum for nomadic pollinators including the swift parrot. “Recent studies indicate there could be as few as 750 swift parrots left in the wild with the remaining regent honeyeater population estimated at around 250-350. “We are blessed to have these rare birds living amongst us; anything we can do to raise

If you can help with a small donation towards this cost, scan the bar code to the left with your phone to donate.

Source: Media release, Oct 11 Greater Sydney Local Land Services

Hand made stalls return for shoppers The Gosford North Inner Wheel Club is set to hold three street stalls inside Kincumber Shopping Centre over the next three months.

Ethan TROY is a husband and father of two young children. His family is asking for your help. Whilst in The Philippines, Ethan has been involved in helping with coral planting restoration in the islands and is an advocate for providing assistance to injured animals. Ethan was struck down with a life-threatening blood Cancer (AML) that has required 21 hours of chemo per day and multiple blood transfusions. Now he requires stem cell treatment and his closest match is his brother, living in Brisbane, who can’t get a visa to travel to the Philippines and there’s no guarantee that his booked flights won’t be cancelled at any time. His only hope is to Medivac back to Australia at a cost of over $100,000.

awareness about the importance of habitat protection is so important.” You can view the webinar via https://vimeo. com/599510135 (using Google Chrome for the best viewing experience). For more information on the birds visit https://birdlife.org. au/projects/woodland-birdsfor-biodiversity. The project is delivered by Greater Sydney Local Land Services through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Inner Wheel is a worldwide women’s service organisation of volunteers, with the Coast club supporting many local charities including We Care Connect, Gosford Hospital Palliative Care Unit, Coast Shelter, Lifeline, NG School, local Rural Fire Services and Midwives of East Timor. “Due to lockdown we have had difficulty fundraising, so we are hoping for an abundance of lovely shoppers eager to spend after our extended lockdown,” a spokesperson said. “Many of the above charities, we understand, are in desperate need of monetary support and goods to enable them to help vulnerable families throughout

the Coast.” The Kincumber stalls will be held on Friday, October 22, Friday, November 12, and Friday, December 10. “Our creative crafty members have kept their fingers busy over the last few months and knitted, crotched and sewn many beautiful handmade items,” the spokesperson said. “On our laden tables customers will find items such as the ever popular hand towels, dressed teddies, babies and children’s knitted and sewn clothing and toys, bags, handmade cards, ladies and children’s aprons, superb children’s quilts and Christmas gifts aplenty. “All funds raised are fully donated. “Our December stall will be a special Christmas one.” Source: Media release, Oct 11 Gosford North Inner Wheel Club

COASTAL DIARY A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF EVENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON THE CENTRAL COAST WEDNESDAY, OCT 20 Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, Avoca Beach Theatre, ticketed, 6:30pm

FRIDAY, OCT 22 Radical Reels by the Banff

Mountain Film Festival, Avoca Beach Theatre, ticketed, 7pm

FRIDAY, OCT 29 NSW Volleyball’s annual Beach Volleyball Tour, Avoca Beach, 29/10 - 31/10, 8am onwards

Lady Day - Billie Holiday LIVE Amber Lawrence Live Concert, CONCERT with The Rodric White Avoca Beach Theatre, Septet & Simone Waddell, ticketed, 7:30pm Avoca Beach Theatre, ticketed, 7:30pm SATURDAY, NOV 6

FRIDAY, NOV 5 The Lakes Festival, 5/11 - 14/11 Multiple locations

ticketed, 7:30pm Antique Roadshow: items All Souls’ Day Service, wanted for cash, Hillside Chapel, Palmdale FRIDAY, NOV 19 Mercure Kooindah Lawn Cemetery and Waters - 40 Kooindah Blvd, Memorial Garden, Simon Tedeschi & Wyong, 7/11 - 13/11, Palmdale Road, 11am George Washingmachine 10am - 3pm 4362 1203 palmdalegroup.com.au

SUNDAY, NOV 7

International chocolate day with high tea, Avoca Beach Theatre,

Live In Concert, Avoca Beach Theatre, ticketed, 7:30pm

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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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 19 15 OCTOBER 2021

Pay it forward scheme gives $500,000 The Australian Reptile Park’s Pay Discover Forward scheme is paving the way for kids in need and their families to enjoy a day at the facility now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing and the Park has reopened. Under the scheme, NSW residents can “pay it forward’ with their Discover NSW Vouchers and the Australian Reptile Park will donate a double pass to charity on their behalf. The initiative has been extremely popular with the Australian Reptile Park already having gifted $500,000 to its charity partners Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia (Sydney, Greater Western Sydney & Northern NSW Chapters),Make-A-WishAustralia, Kids With Cancer Foundation, Central Coast Kids In Need and Barnardos Australia. With the voucher extension, two of the charities were overwhelmed with the success and decided to cease participation. In their place Challenge Community Services has been added to the charity line up alongside existing partners Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia (Sydney, Greater Western Sydney & Northern NSW Chapters), Kids With Cancer

Children from Barnardos Australia Photo: Australian Reptile Park on a pre-lockdown visit

Foundation and Barnardos Australia. Not only can participants feel good about helping kids in need, but they will also receive a $25 discount voucher for use at the park, valid until the end of June 2022 to align with the government extending the program.

Park Director, Liz Gabriel, said all children deserve to experience the wonders of wildlife. “Not only do you get to help us support the happiness of kids who need it most, but you’ll also get $25 to use for a visit to the Australian Reptile Park,” she said. “That means that you and those

Visitors from Central Coast Kids in Need Photo: Australian Reptile Park

most vulnerable in our community get to reconnect with nature. “After two months of this initiative, we have already committed to donating over half a million dollars’ worth of tickets to our charity partners. “We hope that with support from the community, we can increase

that number ten-fold now the voucher program has been extended. “There are so many children and families who need extra help and if we can give them something to look forward to after lockdown, that makes it all worth it for us. “We want them to just be kids

again and discover the wonders of wildlife.” National Marketing Manager for the Kids With Cancer Foundation, Linda Nas, said putting a smile on a child’s face whilst they are going through cancer treatment is priceless. “To take time out from hospital appointments with doctors, waiting rooms and the confines of their own homes, makes the world of difference to a child with cancer,” she said. “We are so excited to be part of the Pay It Forward Campaign - to be able to pass on tickets to the sick kids and their families, gives them a bit more normal throughout this journey.” To pay your Discover NSW Voucher forward go to www. reptilepark.com.au/ paydiscoverforward before June 30, 2022. The Australian Reptile Park will also accepting Dine NSWVouchers at its on-site kiosk, the Hard Croc Café. Visitors can also use their Discover NSW Vouchers on-site at reception and the gift shop before they expire. Source: Media release, Oct 8 Australian Reptile Park

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDISED TRAINING

Adult Training Programs

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE We encourage you to participate KARIONG SAND AND SOIL SUPPLIES FACILITY SSD-8660 We’re holding a Public Meeting to listen to the community’s views The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment has now completed its evaluation of the proposed Kariong Sand and Soil Supplies Facility SSD-8660 and provided it to the Independent Planning Commission NSW for determination.

ENROLLING NOW

To ensure interested individuals and/or groups can have their say on the Kariong Sand and Soil Supplies Facility SSD-8660, the Commission will conduct a public meeting remotely by video conference (with an option to participate by telephone).

CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) Starts 25 October | Wyong

Commissioners Dianne Leeson (Panel Chair) and Peter Cochrane have been appointed to determine this state significant development application. They will host this electronic Public Meeting from 10am AEST on Tuesday 9 November 2021 to hear directly from community members. How to Have Your Say

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST FOR 2022

If you wish to apply to speak at the electronic Public Meeting, you must complete the registration form on our website by no later than 12pm AEST on Friday 29 October 2021. Once speakers who wish to participate in the Public Meeting are registered, the Commission will provide additional information about the technical details and process to assist them.

Semester 1 2022 - Certificate III Programs

How to watch the Meeting

•

This electronic Public Meeting will be live-streamed on the Commission’s website: ipcn.nsw.gov.au/livestream

Aged Care

•

Disability

•

Business

You may be eligible to participate in these programs FEE-FREE under the NSW Government’s Skilling for Recovery initiative. There are a limited number of FEE-FREE training places available under this initiative. Skilling for Recovery enrolments can only be processed prior to the 31st of December so you need to act now to take advantage of this opportunity! Eligibility criteria applies.

In the interests of openness and transparency, a transcript of the public meeting will also be published on the Commission’s website. Written submissions

If you want to have your say on this project but are unable to participate in the Public Meeting, you can submit your comments in writing to the Commission up to one week (seven days) after the Public Meeting via email, post or our online portal: ipcn.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say. The deadline for written submissions is 5pm AEST on Tuesday 16 November 2021. For more information

You can find the Department’s final assessment report on our website: ipcn.nsw.gov.au under Kariong Sand and Soil Supplies Facility SSD-8660. Other relevant documents are accessible at planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects under Kariong Sand and Soil Supplies Facility.

Call 4323 1233 to speak with a Product Specialist or email training@etaustralia.com

Contact: Office of the Independent Planning Commission NSW on (02) 9383 2100 or Email: ipcn@ipcn.nsw.gov.au | Level 15, 135 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000

BLZ_LP2969

Please Note: Any information given to us may be published on our website, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Please refer to the Commission’s Privacy Statement, available on our website for more information.

ET Australia Training College This training is subsidised by the NSW Government. Eligibility criteria applies.

RTO ID 90084

PAGE 20 15 OCTOBER 2021

WWW.COASTCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.AU

Sunday 17 October

Saturday 16 October

Friday 15 October

ABC (C20/21)

6:00 9:00 10:00 11:05 12:00 1:00 1:30 3:00 4:10 5:10 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:30 9:20 10:05 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:50 12:40 6:00 7:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 1:30 3:00 4:00 4:30 5:10 6:10 7:00 7:30

8:20 9:15 10:15 11:10 6:00 7:00 9:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 1:30 2:30 3:30 4:00 5:00 5:30 6:30 7:00 7:40 8:40 9:35 10:20 11:10

PRIME (C61/60)

News Breakfast [s] 6:00 9:00 ABC News Mornings [s] Q&A [s] 11:30 12:00 Australia Remastered: Great Barrier Reef [s] 2:00 ABC News At Noon [s] Foreign Correspondent [s] 3:00 4:00 Sherlock (M v) 5:00 ABC News Afternoons [s] 6:00 Escape From The City [s] 7:00 Grand Designs Australia (PG) [s] The Drum [s] ABC News [s] Gardening Australia: Rare Plants, Youth Justice And Palms [s] Annika (M v) [s] 8:30 Capital (M l) [s] Talking Heads: An Ordinary Woman (M l) [s] ABC Late News [s] The Vaccine [s] Gruen [s] 11:15 Frayed (MA15+) [s] rage (MA15+) [s] 1:30 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 10:00 rage (PG) [s] rage Guest Programmer (PG) 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] 5:00 Annika (M v) [s] 5:30 Midsomer Murders: Murder Of Innocence (M) [s] 6:00 Restoration Australia: 7:00 Paganin, WA (PG) [s] Dream Gardens: Essendon (PG) [s] Landline [s] Rick Stein’s Road To Mexico (PG) [s] The Repair Shop [s] ABC News [s] Grantchester (PG) [s] – Will and Geordie are drawn into local politics when the death of 9:45 a councillor prompts a parish election. Shetland (M l,v) [s] Fires (M l) [s] 12:00 Mrs Wilson (M) [s] rage Guest Programmer (M) 1:00 6:00 rage (PG) [s] 7:00 Weekend Breakfast [s] 10:00 Insiders [s] 12:00 Offsiders [s] 1:00 The World This Week [s] 1:30 Compass [s] Songs Of Praise [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Landline [s] 5:00 Gardening Australia [s] Rick Stein’s Road To Mexico 5:30 (PG) [s] Todd Sampson’s Life On The 6:00 7:00 Line: Air Pressure (PG) [s] Secrets Of The Museum (PG) 8:00 Art Works [s] Antiques Roadshow [s] 8:30 Back Roads [s] ABC News Sunday [s] Restoration Australia [s] Fires (M) [s] We Hunt Together (MA15+) [s] 11:45 Les Norton: Day Of The Gecko (MA15+) [s] Talking Heads: An Ordinary 1:00 Woman (M l) [s]

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

Sunrise [s] The Morning Show [s] Seven Morning News [s] Movie: “Heaven” (M v) (’19) Stars: Manoj Anand House Of Wellness (PG) [s] The Chase UK (PG) [s] Seven News At 4 [s] The Chase Australia (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Better Homes And Gardens [s] – Joh and Pete take a tour of Bunker House, a fully automated smart home. Graham showcases the frangipani. Dr. Harry visits the NSW Mounted Police Force. Movie: “Knives Out” (M) (’19) – A detective must sift through a family’s web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth behind the death of a crime novelist. Stars: Daniel Craig America’s Got Talent: Audition 1 (PG) [s] Home Shopping Home Shopping [s] Weekend Sunrise [s] The Morning Show [s] Seven’s Horse Racing: Caulfield/ Randwick [s] Seven News At 5 [s] Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Movie: “Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (PG) (’04) – Harry, Ron and Hermione return as teenagers for a third term at Hogwarts. But Harry’s fate looks bleak when the infamous Sirius Black escapes from prison. Stars: Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Michael Gambon Movie: “X-Men: The Last Stand” (M v) (’06) Stars: Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, James Marsden Manhunt (M l,v) [s] Home Shopping Home Shopping Weekend Sunrise [s] The Morning Show Weekend House Of Wellness (PG) [s] Program To Be Advised Cricket: Women’s Big Bash League: Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers *Live* From Blundstone Arena [s] Seven News At 5 [s] Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) [s] Seven News [s] 7News Spotlight - The Vanishing (M) [s] Border Security - Australia’s Front Line (PG) [s] Movie: “Ford v Ferrari” (M) (’19) Stars: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe The Blacklist: The Protean (MA15+) [s] – The Task Force springs into action to stop an elusive assassin on Liz’s trail. Home Shopping

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

TEN (C10)

NINE (C81/80)

6:00 9:00 11:30 12:00 1:50 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 11:20 1:10 1:30 6:00 7:00 10:00 12:00 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 3:00 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 7:00 7:30 10:15 12:00 12:50 1:20 6:00 7:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 1:00 3:00 5:00 5:30 6:00 7:00 8:30 9:30 10:00 11:00 11:50 12:40 1:05

Today [s] 6:00 Today Extra (PG) [s] 7:00 NINE’s Morning News [s] 7:30 Movie: “Dating To Kill” (M s,v) 8:00 (’19) Stars: Clare Kramer Talking Honey - Relationship 12:00 Specials: Domestic Dilemma 1:00 (PG) [s] 2:00 Pointless (PG) [s] 2:30 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 3:00 3:30 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 4:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 4:30 NINE News [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] 5:00 Country House Hunters 6:30 Australia: Castlemaine, Victoria [s] 7:30 Country House Hunters 8:30 Australia: Rosebud [s] 9:30 Movie: “Mission: Impossible - 10:30 Fallout” (M v) (’18) Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill Movie: “Mortdecai” (M) (’15) 11:30 Stars: Johnny Depp 12:30 Fishing Australia [s] Home Shopping 1:30 6:00 Animal Tales (PG) [s] 6:30 Weekend Today [s] Today Extra - Saturday (PG) 7:00 7:30 Rivals [s] 8:00 Surfing Australia TV [s] Good Food Kitchen [s] 9:00 My Way [s] Travel Guides: New Zealand 9:30 12:00 (PG) [s] 1:00 Heart Of The Nation: The 2:00 World’s Largest CPR Class 2:30 (PG) [s] 3:00 Animal Embassy (PG) [s] 3:30 The Garden Gurus [s] 4:00 NINE News: First At Five [s] 4:30 Getaway (PG) [s] NINE News Saturday [s] 5:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] Movie: “Bohemian Rhapsody” 6:00 7:30 (M) (’18) Stars: Rami Malek The Show Must Go On: The 8:30 Queen + Adam Lambert Story 10:30 11:30 (M l) [s] Pearson: The Donor (M) [s] 12:30 Rivals [s] Explore [s] 1:30 Animal Tales (PG) [s] 6:00 Weekend Today [s] 8:00 Sports Sunday (PG) [s] 8:30 The Xtreme CollXtion (PG) [s] 9:00 Fishing Australia (PG) [s] 9:30 Ocean Thunder Surf Boat 12:00 Series [s] 1:10 Movie: “I.Q.” (G) (’94) Stars: 1:30 Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins 2:00 The Block: Backyard Week (PG) [s] 2:30 NINE News: First At Five [s] 3:00 RBT: Speedy Chef (PG) [s] 3:30 NINE News Sunday [s] 4:00 The Block: Backyards Reveal 4:30 (PG) [s] 60 Minutes (M) [s] 5:00 NINE News Late [s] 6:30 The First 48: Night Run (M) [s] 7:30 Cold Case - New Leads 9:00 Wanted: Kayo Matsuzawa (MA15+) [s] 10:00 Chicago Med: Be My Better 11:00 Half (M mp) [s] 12:00 The Garden Gurus [s] 4:30 The Xtreme CollXtion (PG) [s]

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

The Talk [s] Judge Judy (PG) [s] The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] Studio 10 (PG) [s] Dr Phil (PG) [s] The Living Room [s] Entertainment Tonight [s] Farm To Fork [s] Judge Judy (PG) [s] Freshly Picked [s] Everyday Gourmet [s] The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 10 News First [s] The Project (PG) [s] The Living Room [s] Program To Be Advised Program To Be Advised The Montreal Comedy Festival: Just For Laughs #2 (MA15+) [s] The Project (PG) [s] The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (PG) [s] Home Shopping Reel Action [s] Religious Programs [s] Healthy Homes [s] Escape Fishing With ET [s] Pat Callinan’s 4x4 Adventures [s] Taste Of Australia [s] Studio 10 Saturday (PG) [s] The Living Room [s] The Dog House UK (PG) [s] Australia By Design [s] My Market Kitchen [s] What’s Up Down Under [s] Everyday Gourmet [s] Farm To Fork (PG) [s] Taste Of Australia With Hayden Quinn [s] 10 News First [s] Making It Australia [s] Program To Be Advised Ambulance UK (M d) [s] FBI: Hacktivist (M) [s] Program To Be Advised NCIS: Los Angeles: Cash Flow (M v) [s] Home Shopping Religious Programs [s] Roads Less Travelled [s] Waltzing Jimeoin (PG) [s] Destination Dessert (PG) [s] Studio 10 Sunday (PG) [s] Program To Be Advised Farm To Fork [s] Healthy Homes Australia [s] Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] My Market Kitchen [s] Good Chef Bad Chef [s] Roads Less Travelled [s] Waltzing Jimeoin (PG) [s] Taste Of Australia With Hayden Quinn [s] 10 News First [s] The Sunday Project (PG) [s] Celebrity MasterChef (PG) [s] CSI: Vegas: Honeymoon In Vegas (M) [s] FBI: Trauma (M) [s] The Sunday Project (PG) [s] Home Shopping CBS Mornings [s]

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

Advert

SBS (C30)

5:30 Worldwatch – Deutsche Welle English News 6:00 France 24 News 6:30 Worldwatch Continues 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:00 The Story Of The Songs: Rod Stewart (PG) 3:00 NITV News: Nula 3:30 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) 4:00 Remarkable Places To Eat (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 Legends Of The Pharaohs: Curse Of The Pyramids (PG) (In English/ French) 8:30 Bermuda Triangle (PG) 10:30 SBS World News 11:00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 11:55 The Eagle (M l,v) (In Danish/ Swedish) 4:10 Huang’s World (M l) 5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:00 Destination Flavour Japan Bitesize 2:15 Happy Birthday Hubble (PG) 3:25 Uncovering France’s Roman City: Nemausus - An Open Air Roman Museum (PG) (In English/ French) 4:30 Five Billion Pound Super Sewer (PG) 5:40 The Buildings That Fought Hitler (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:35 Celebrity Letters And Numbers (M) 8:35 Dambusters With Dan Snow (PG) 9:30 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (M l,s) 11:20 Movie: “Transit” (M l) (’18) Stars: Franz Rogowski, Paula Beer (In German/ French) 1:15 Movie: “Destroyer” (MA15+) (’18) Stars: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany 5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 Speedweek 3:00 Cycling: Cycling: The Women’s Tour (UK) 4:00 The Unsung Heroes Of Apollo 11 (PG) 5:35 The Buildings That Fought Hitler (PG) 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Inside Central Station: After Dark (M) 8:30 Our African Roots: Australia Uncovered (PG) 9:30 Life Of Earth From Space 10:25 Love Me As I Am: Untold Australia (PG) 11:25 How ‘Mad’ Are You? (M l) 12:30 24 Hours In Emergency: The Extra Mile (M) 1:25 Movie: “Ghosthunter” (M l) (’16) Director: Ben Hunter 3:10 Cocaine - Living With The Cartels (MA15+) 4:05 Huang’s World (M l,s) 4:50 Destination Flavour Singapore Bitesize

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

Thursday 21 October

Wednesday 20 October

Tuesday 19 October

Monday 18 October

ABC (C20/21)

PRIME (C61/60)

6:00 Sunrise [s] 9:00 The Morning Show [s] 11:30 Seven Morning News [s] Movie: “Murdered At 17” (M v) 12:00 (’18) Stars: Susan Walters, 1:30 Cristine Prosperi, Blake Burt, 2:00 Emily Galley, Blake Canning, 3:00 Benedicte Belizaire, Mike Stechyson, Tomas Chovanec 4:00 5:00 The Real Manhunter: The Murder Of Clare Bernal (M) [s] 6:00 7:00 The Chase UK (PG) [s] 7:30 Seven News At 4 [s] The Chase Australia (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Home And Away (PG) [s] SAS Australia: Hell Week 8:45 Without Warning (M) [s] 9:45 Movie: “Anna” (MA15+) (’19) 9:45 Stars: Sasha Luss, Helen Mirren, Alex Tchenkov, Cillian 10:55 11:25 Murphy, Lera Abova The Goldbergs: The Prettiest 12:15 Boy In School (PG) [s] God Friended Me: Joy (PG) [s] 1:10 1:30 Home Shopping Sunrise [s] The Morning Show [s] Seven Morning News [s] Movie: “A Trick Of The Mind” (M v) (’06) Stars: Alexandra Holden, Paul Johansson, Stacy Grant, Wanda Cannon, Ben Cole, Mylène Dinh-Robic The Real Manhunter: The Disappearance Of Maureen Hale (M v) [s] The Chase UK (PG) [s] Seven News At 4 [s] The Chase Australia (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Home And Away (PG) [s] SAS Australia: Hell Week The New Normal (M) [s] Unbelievable Moments Caught On Camera (M) [s] S.W.A.T.: Knockout (M v) [s] The Latest Seven News [s] The Goldbergs: It’s All About Comptrol (M v) [s] The Real Dirty Dancing (PG) Home Shopping

6:00 9:00 11:30 12:00

3:10

6:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 ABC News Mornings [s] 11:30 Four Corners [s] 12:00 Antiques Roadshow [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Shetland (M l,v) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] 2:00 Escape From The City [s] Grand Designs Australia (PG) The Drum [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:00 7.30 [s] The Greek Islands With Julia 5:00 6:00 Bradbury: Santorini [s] 7:00 Big Deal (M l) [s] 7:30 Bronwyn Oliver - The Shadows Within (PG) [s] 9:00 ABC Late News [s] The Business [s] 10:00 Q&A [s] 11:00 China Tonight [s] Parliament Question Time [s] 11:30 Midsomer Murders: Murder Of 12:00 Innocence (M v) [s] 1:00 rage (MA15+) [s]

6:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 1:35 2:00 3:15 4:05 5:05 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:05 10:20 11:00 11:15 11:30 12:20 12:35 1:35 2:35 3:15

News Breakfast [s] 6:00 ABC News Mornings [s] 9:00 Don’t Stop The Music [s] 11:30 The Repair Shop [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] National Press Club Address Media Watch (PG) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] 2:00 Escape From The City [s] Grand Designs Australia (PG) 3:00 The Drum [s] 4:00 ABC News [s] 5:00 7.30 [s] 6:00 Hard Quiz (PG) [s] 7:00 Gruen [s] 7:30 Frayed (MA15+) [s] Adam Hills: The Last Leg (M) 8:30 ABC Late News [s] The Business [s] 9:30 Four Corners [s] Media Watch (PG) [s] 10:30 Parliament Question Time [s] You See Monsters (M l) [s] 11:30 Adam Hills: The Last Leg (M) rage (MA15+) [s] 12:30

Sunrise [s] The Morning Show [s] Seven Morning News [s] Movie: “Wicked Mom’s Club” (PG) (’17) Stars: Jessica Blackmore, Virginia Tucker, Ashley Wood Garcia, Joy Darash, Geri-Nikole Love The Real Manhunter: The Murder Of Krystal Hart (M v) [s] The Chase UK (PG) [s] Seven News At 4 [s] The Chase Australia (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Home And Away (PG) [s] Highway Patrol - Dreadful Drivers (PG) [s] America’s Got Talent: Audition 3 (PG) [s] The Rookie: Triple Duty (M d,v) [s] The Rookie: Threshold (M d,v) [s] Chicago Fire: A Couple Hundred Degrees (M) [s] Home Shopping

6:00 9:00 11:30 12:00

6:00 9:00 10:00 10:30

6:00 News Breakfast [s] 9:00 ABC News Mornings [s] 11:30 Australian Story [s] The Greek Islands With Julia 12:00 Bradbury [s] Kumi’s Japan [s] ABC News At Noon [s] Hard Quiz (PG) [s] How Extra (PG) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] Escape From The City [s] Grand Designs Australia (PG) 2:00 2:30 The Drum [s] Sammy J (PG) [s] 3:00 ABC News [s] 4:00 7.30 [s] 5:00 Foreign Correspondent [s] 6:00 Q&A [s] 7:00 Secrets Of The Museum [s] 8:30 You Can’t Ask That (PG) [s] ABC Late News [s] 10:30 The Business [s] 11:00 Big Weather (And How To 12:00 Survive It) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] 12:30

Sunrise [s] The Morning Show [s] Seven Morning News [s] Movie: “Drew Peterson: Untouchable” (M s,v) (’12) – Based on a true story, the film follows the fascinating tale of police officer Drew Peterson’s fall from grace after the mysterious disappearance of his fourth wife. Stars: Rob Lowe, Kaley Cuoco Kochie’s Business Builders Border Security International (PG) [s] The Chase UK (PG) [s] Seven News At 4 [s] The Chase Australia (PG) [s] Seven News [s] Home And Away (PG) [s] America’s Got Talent: Audition 4 (PG) [s] The Latest Seven News [s] Chicago Fire (M) [s] Black-ish (PG) [s] Home Shopping

6:00 9:00 11:30 12:00

11:05 11:20 11:35 1:05 2:05 2:50 4:25 6:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:15 4:10 5:10 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:05 8:30 9:25 10:35 11:50 11:05 12:10 12:40 1:40

11:00 12:00 1:00 1:25 2:00 3:15 4:10 5:10 6:00 6:55 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:35 9:35 10:25 10:45 11:00 11:15 12:15

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

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

1:15 1:30 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:45 9:45 10:45 11:15

12:05

1:15 1:30 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:40 9:40 10:40 11:10 12:05 1:00 1:30

1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:30 9:30 10:00 10:30

11:45 12:35

Today [s] Today Extra (PG) [s] NINE’s Morning News [s] The Block: Backyards Reveal (PG) [s] Getaway (PG) [s] Pointless (PG) [s] Tipping Point (PG) [s] NINE’s Afternoon News [s] Millionaire Hot Seat [s] NINE News [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] – Frosty relationships cause one team to refuse to enter another team’s house. Love Island Australia (M) [s] Kath & Kim: Fat (PG) [s] Kath & Kim: Old (PG) [s] NINE News Late [s] New Amsterdam: Every Last Minute (M) [s] Tipping Point (PG) [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] Home Shopping

PAGE 21 15 OCTOBER 2021

TEN (C10)

SBS (C30)

6:00 The Talk [s] 7:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 7:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 8:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 12:00 Dr Phil (M) [s] 1:00 Program To Be Advised 2:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 4:00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Celebrity MasterChef (PG) [s] 8:30 Have You Been Paying Attention? (MA15+) [s] 9:30 Just For Laughs Uncut (MA15+) [s] 10:00 Just For Laughs (MA15+) [s] 10:30 Program To Be Advised 11:30 The Project (PG) [s] 12:30 The Late Show (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

5:30 Worldwatch 2:00 Inside Central Station: After Dark (M) 3:00 Where Are You Really From? (PG) 3:30 Destination Flavour Japan Bitesize 3:35 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) 4:05 The Supervet (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 The Queen At War (PG) 8:30 Saved By A Stranger (M) 9:35 24 Hours In Emergency: Blink Of An Eye (M) 10:30 SBS World News 11:00 Bosch (MA15+) 11:50 An Ordinary Woman (M l) (In Russian) 1:50 Deep State (MA15+) 3:50 Huang’s World (M l,v) 4:40 Destination Flavour Singapore Bitesize

NINE (C81/80)

News Breakfast [s] 6:00 ABC News Mornings [s] 9:00 Landline [s] 11:30 Restoration Australia [s] 12:00 ABC News At Noon [s] Grantchester (PG) [s] Parliament Question Time [s] ABC News Afternoons [s] Escape From The City (PG) Grand Designs Australia (PG) 2:00 The Drum [s] ABC News [s] 3:00 7.30 [s] 4:00 Australian Story [s] 5:00 Four Corners [s] 6:00 Media Watch (PG) [s] 7:00 China Tonight [s] 7:30 Road To Now: In Harm’s Way (M v) [s] 9:00 ABC Late News [s] The Business [s] Step Into Paradise [s] Parliament Question Time [s] 11:30 We Hunt Together (MA15+) [s] 12:00 rage (MA15+) [s] 1:00 The Drum [s]

6:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:15 4:10 5:10 6:00 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:15 9:35 10:05

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Today [s] 6:00 Today Extra (PG) [s] 7:00 NINE’s Morning News [s] 7:30 The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] 8:00 Explore [s] 12:00 Good Food Kitchen [s] 1:00 Pointless (PG) [s] 2:00 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 2:30 NINE’s Afternoon News [s] 3:00 Millionaire Hot Seat [s] 3:30 NINE News [s] 4:00 A Current Affair (PG) [s] 4:30 The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] 5:00 Love Island Australia (M) [s] 6:30 Travel Guides: South Africa 7:30 (PG) [s] NINE News Late [s] 8:40 Reverie: Point Of Origin (M v) 9:35 [s] – With an upgrade set for launch, the team must deal with 10:35 embittered founder Oliver’s attempt to bring it all crashing 11:35 down. 12:35 Tipping Point (PG) [s] 1:30

The Talk [s] Judge Judy (PG) [s] The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] Studio 10 (PG) [s] Dr Phil (M) [s] Program To Be Advised Entertainment Tonight [s] Farm To Fork [s] Judge Judy (PG) [s] My Market Kitchen [s] Everyday Gourmet [s] The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 10 News First [s] The Project (PG) [s] The Dog House Australia (PG) [s] The Cheap Seats (M l) [s] NCIS: Los Angeles: Fukushu (M v) [s] NCIS: Los Angeles: Raising The Dead (M v) [s] The Project (PG) [s] The Late Show (PG) [s] Home Shopping

5:30 Worldwatch 1:00 PBS Newshour 2:15 The Story Of The Songs: Aretha Franklin 3:10 Where Are You Really From? (PG) 3:40 The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) 4:10 Secrets Of The Queen’s Children (PG) 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 5:30 Letters And Numbers 6:00 Mastermind 6:30 SBS World News 7:30 Great Canadian Railroad Journeys: Vancouver Island To Kamloops (M) 8:30 Insight: Narcissism 9:30 Dateline: Sex, Drugs And Bad Tourists 10:00 The Feed 10:30 SBS World News 11:00 The Point 11:30 Before We Die (M d) (In Swedish) 12:40 The A Word (M l,s)

Today [s] Today Extra (PG) [s] NINE’s Morning News [s] The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] Explore [s] Customs (PG) [s] Pointless (PG) [s] Tipping Point (PG) [s] NINE’s Afternoon News [s] Millionaire Hot Seat [s] NINE News [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] Love Island Australia (M) [s] Botched: Witchy Whips And Super High Nips (M) [s] NINE News Late [s] 5 Mistakes That Caught A Killer (MA15+) [s] Pearson: The Immigration Lawyer (M) [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] Home Shopping

5:00 France 24 Feature News 6:00 The Talk [s] 7:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 5:15 NHK World English News 7:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 5:30 Worldwatch – Deutsche Welle (PG) [s] English News 6:00 Worldwatch Continues 8:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 1:00 PBS Newshour 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 2:00 Dateline 1:00 Making It Australia [s] 2:30 Insight 2:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 3:30 Destination Flavour Japan 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] – Welcome to the court room of Bitesize Judge Judith Sheindlin, the 3:40 The Cook Up With Adam cases are real, the people are Liaw (PG) real and the rulings are final. 4:10 Secrets Of The Queen’s 3:30 My Market Kitchen [s] Children (PG) 4:00 Everyday Gourmet [s] 5:05 Jeopardy! (PG) 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful 5:30 Letters And Numbers (PG) [s] 6:00 Mastermind 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:30 SBS World News 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 Australia’s Health Revolution 7:30 The Bachelorette Australia (M) (PG) [s] 8:35 24 Hours In Emergency: 9:00 Bull: Espionage (PG) [s] Support Bubble (M) 10:00 Bull: Snatchback (M) [s] 9:30 New Gold Mountain (M d,l,v) 11:00 The Project (PG) [s] 10:35 SBS World News 12:00 The Late Show (PG) [s] 11:05 Atlantic Crossing (M v) 1:00 Home Shopping (In Norwegian/ English)

Today [s] Today Extra (PG) [s] NINE’s Morning News [s] The Block: Garage, Study And Wine Cellar Week (PG) [s] Travel Guides: South Africa (PG) [s] Pointless (PG) [s] Tipping Point (PG) [s] NINE’s Afternoon News [s] Millionaire Hot Seat [s] NINE News [s] A Current Affair (PG) [s] Paramedics (PG) [s] Love Island Australia (M) [s] Love Island Australia Afterparty (M) [s] NINE News Late [s] Reported Missing: Darren (M) [s] – Just six weeks after his wedding 28-year-old Darren vanishes, leaving Inspector Simon Orton and the team at Durham Police baffled. The Fix: Scandal (M) [s] Tipping Point (PG) [s]

6:00 The Talk [s] 7:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 7:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 8:00 Studio 10 (PG) [s] 12:00 Dr Phil (PG) [s] 1:00 Program To Be Advised 2:30 Entertainment Tonight [s] 3:00 Judge Judy (PG) [s] 3:30 My Market Kitchen [s] 4:00 Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield [s] 4:30 The Bold And The Beautiful (PG) [s] 5:00 10 News First [s] 6:30 The Project (PG) [s] 7:30 The Bachelorette Australia (PG) [s] 8:30 Gogglebox (PG) [s] 9:30 Program To Be Advised 10:30 Blue Bloods: Protective Instincts (M v) [s] 11:30 The Project (PG) [s] 12:30 The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (PG) [s] 1:30 Home Shopping

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

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

5:00 5:15 5:30 1:00 2:00 2:15 3:10 3:40 4:10 5:05 5:30 6:00 6:30 7:35 8:35 9:30 10:35 11:05

France 24 Feature News NHK World English News Worldwatch PBS Newshour Destination Flavour China Bitesize The Story Of The Songs: Cher (PG) Where Are You Really From? (PG) The Cook Up With Adam Liaw (PG) Secrets Of The Railway: Hitler’s Transpirenean Railway (PG) Jeopardy! (PG) Letters And Numbers Mastermind SBS World News Coastal Devon And Cornwall With Michael Portillo (PG) Billion Pound Bond Street (PG) New Gold Mountain (M d,l,v) SBS World News Gomorrah (MA15+) (In Italian)

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

PAGE 22 15 OCTOBER 2021

PUZZLES

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ACROSS

60. Fleur-de-lis 62. Distribution centre 65. Cruel person 67. Cunning 69. Move shoulders 70. Eyelid inflammations 72. Crib 73. Wooden box 75. Indian city, New ... 77. Guys 79. Disentangle 81. Enraged 82. Common-law spouse, de ... 84. Register 85. Coffee, ... latte 86. Divide (of road) 87. Flavour concentrate 88. Period (of office)

1. Notebooks 4. Flower-shaped award 8. Mountain goat 11. Pushes for 13. Salivate 15. Belonging to them 17. Likely touchdown time (1,1,1) 18. Tropical jelly-making fruit 20. Even so 21. First Greek letter 24. Linger (on) 27. Asian sauce 28. Apart (from) 30. Instruct 31. Storey 33. Taunts 34. Ten years DOWN 35. This place 36. Garden seat timber 1. Compassion 39. Excavating 2. Musical pairs 42. Book of maps 3. Ceylon, ... Lanka 44. Tricks 4. Invitation footnote 45. Distance around belly (1,1,1,1) 46. Bladders 5. Cusses 48. Baggy 6. Swapped 49. Explosion 7. Blade’s cutting side 50. Perused 8. I owe you (1,1,1) 52. Half-hearted 9. Unconcerned (response) 10. Bone photo (1-3) 54. Scourge with whip 12. Rank 55. Tibetan priests 14. Gazed lecherously at 56. Vocation the alphabet once only. 16. Haul 57. Top

MISSING LINK

Fill in each letter of

19. Europe’s longest river 22. Acquires (skill) 23. Cultivating (ground) 25. Floral tribute 26. Alpaca relatives 29. Check off one by one 32. Pets’ physician 35. Summit of mound 37. Written composition 38. Water boilers 40. Just right 41. Mocking remarks 42. Room within roof 43. Paintbrush hair 44. Seoul, South ... 47. Clearness 51. Sillier 52. Mildest 53. Injure 54. Fixation 58. Goad (3,2) 59. Fishpond carp 61. Fabric insert 63. Stomach sore 64. Topics 65. Abrupt 66. Inflexible 68. Absolute (nonsense) 71. Function host 72. Wristband 74. Wheel spindle 76. Scalp parasites 78. Standard 80. Biro fluid 83. Rear

MISSING LINK Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

K I N U Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only. L S N I LO O S E I T S U AARP LK E N S E S I E E O T L AV R E H A A N T N S U I D EA AO O D D N E S S E D S E X E W LE SP S E L D T C L E ES A S T SE E L L E OS O ED G S A

MISSING LINK L U N A

Fill in each letter of the alphabet once only.

C B D O O L B U E A O T A L A R E S T O O G O OM I N L R E N N G O O R U A T D T

S K T E S S I E S SE E A U R V A A I K E O T E L N O I E TO U I A F K E B A I E I E L OE D E F S E M U E S U A C K E S Y C B P R K U D O S O O Z E S K

Missing Link Solution:

L B J U E F E A R O T A K U L A R G E S T MCCN O O G O V E N OM I N A L D R EW N B L O I N G O U F O Y E R Q U A C T D T H

E X A L T

U I Y T K

E B R

S E I T S S

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS Missing Link Solution: Missing Link Solution:

Missing Link Solution:

B S K S I Z E S S HO R V G A VO T E I K N O I N E R T I A WE B A M E I C E F L OE D E A L F U S

T A L X I T A I X E E D

J Q FB K K L U U GNAARR K M I S N E A D ML HS O N L Y A O O RP ES A E W K O O D D N E S S Z H A PD L E S OW L S O V A E T E C L I P S E N I D S A SS HU INC U S B E G P E V E N T U J U I C Y Z E B E W S L T K R S T E E L O D

Q U S D I T T E A S X E X LE E I ES T E A S E S R A D L F L OG S S Y V N A I N I

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OUT&ABOUT PAGE 23 15 OCTOBER 2021

DOWN IN THE GARDEN: Growing Mulberries

Fruit and Narara Valley Nursery had lots of mulberry trees ready for purchase and you might want to check in with your local garden centre as well. daleysfruit.com.au; nararavalley. com.au GARDENING BOOK REVIEW Tomato, Know, Sow, Grow, Feast by Penny Woodward, Janice Sutton, Karen Sutherland, Hyland House Publishing Manna Trading ISBN: 9780646982748

CHERALYN DARCEY

Like many of us, I have happy memories of a mulberry tree in my childhood. This one stood in the centre of the playground at Orange Grove Primary School in the Inner West of Sydney. From spring through to summer, we would eagerly await the end of the day bell and make a beeline for the lower branches to fill ourselves with its juicy berries and risk the wrath of Mum with our stained uniforms. For many of us mulberries mean the simplicity of being a kid, laughter filled playgrounds, climbing trees and that summer was on its way. Growing Mulberry Trees These trees are deciduous which means they will lose their leaves in winter and that makes them perfect for those seeking summer shade and winter sun. They are remarkably hardy, long lived and don’t generally suffer from pests or diseases. Should you grow one from seed the tree you will most likely end up with will be either male or female but mulberries are either male, female or bisexual. Those sold in garden centres will be bisexual or self-pollinating but do check just in case. Mulberries bloom and then fruit in early spring and you will usually find that this can occur as early as the second year of growth. Although they can tolerate a range of conditions, they fruit best in a rich soil that is free draining with protection from strong winds and a position that is drenched in full sun. They will also prefer space with about five metres between them and competing plants. Feeding is not a priority, and they are drought tolerant but do benefit from occasional deep watering and will need additional water during the hottest times of summer. Prune to eliminate overcrowding and dead branches when dormant. More suited for Australian temperate areas, like the Central Coast, is the Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) and the berries of this species are by far the sweetest. Also available are Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) and White Mulberry (Morus alba tatarica). There are many cultivars on the market, and you are sure to find one to suit your needs, just have a chat with your friendly local nursey person. Mulberries have a long fruiting season that lasts from early spring through

summer and unlike many other plants, will fruit continuously. Dwarf Mulberries This would have to be my pick of the bunch. Not everyone wants or can even accommodate a massive tree that can live for hundreds of years like the mulberry, so a great solution is the Dwarf Mulberry. There are lots of cultivars that have been bred to grow in dwarf size and some can even be trained to successfully grow in larger containers if you prune after fruiting. I have one in the ground in my vegetable garden that has attained a height of about five metres in only two

years and am enjoying the most succulent sweet berries at this moment. This is usually at the upper end of the height of the dwarf mulberry, but they are easily pruned to limit size. I’ve found my Dwarf Mulberry to be almost ‘set and forget’. Mulberry Tips and Facts The reason you do not see mulberries for sale commercially, aside from perhaps farmers markets, is that they do not travel or store well. To remove a mulberry stain rub it with an unripe mulberry. Other methods include drenching it with boiling milk and to attack old stains, soak in equal parts glycerine and

warm water. The easiest way to collect ripe mulberries it to lay a tarp under the tree and shake the branches every few days. Leave the tarp in place to catch fallen berries during heavy fruiting periods. Silkworms prefer the White Mulberry and while they will eat the leaves of other mulberries, they will not eat the leaves of any other plant. Resources If you have a mulberry tree you might want to raise some silkworms. Everything Silkworks has everything you need! everythingsilkworns.com. au. As of publication Bunnings, Daley’s

YOU & YOUR GARDEN: Martin, Blue Bay

Martin is looking for a deciduous tree with a preference for a native species. He did have a long list of preferences as well, but in nature, like buying a house, you will find there needs to be a compromise unless you are building it entirely yourself. He was wanting a tree that would grow between six to eight metres with a lot of other requirements in colour, branch structure and form and while I really can’t define a single tree to match all of these requirements, his first suggestion of the White Crepe Myrtle cultivar Natchez, (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Natchez’) would be ideal. This will not be a fast-growing tree, as Martin wants, but the wait will be worth it as is does have the ‘wow’ factor he is after. The leaves have comforting warm tones though autumn before falling in the winter and the tree itself is easy to shape with careful pruning which is something important to Martin.

This is a brilliant homegrown gardening book that takes readers through the history and science of the tomato, including heirlooms varieties. It features a huge amount of gardening information that will be invaluable for novices to the more experienced. Tomato lovers are rewarded with a valuable gardening book and a huge cooking section featuring over 60 recipes by leading Australian chefs and cooks such as Maggie Beer, Stephanie Alexander, and Peter Gilmore. You will never need another tomato guide, this truly has it all and is written in Australia, so the information is local as well as plentiful. TASKS & TIPS FOR YOU THIS WEEK It’s repotting time for most houseplants. Select a pot slightly larger than the old one and be ready with the best quality and plant appropriate potting mix. Gently turn out the old plant and then trim old, dead, and overgrown roots. Soak the root ball in a bucket of water with a seaweed solution added and then gently replant into its new home. This week, you could plant nearly every herb you can imagine along with cape gooseberry, capsicum, beetroot, climbing and dwarf beans, cabbage, carrot, celery, chicory, choko, cress, cucumbers, eggplants, endive, melons, squashes, lettuce, spring onions, parsnip, peas, potatoes, radish, rhubarb crowns, salsify, silverbeet, sweet corn, ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, aster, California poppy, carnation, celosia, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, everlasting daisies, gazania, gerbera, gypsophila, impatiens, marigold, nasturtiums, petunia, phlox, salvia, zinnia, kangaroo paw, sunflower, snapdragon, salvia. Cheralyn Darcey is a gardening author, community garden coordinator and along with Pete Little, hosts ‘At Home with The Gardening Gang’ 8 10am every Saturday on CoastFM963. She is also co-host of @ MostlyAboutPlants a weekly gardening podcast with Vicki White. Send your gardening questions, events, and news to: gardeningcentralcoast@gmail.com

PAGE 24 15 OCTOBER 2021 OUT&ABOUT

CCN

Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys… and Baseball Author: Robert Whiting Publisher: Stone Bridge Press

I have never been to Japan, but it is the one place I would love to go. I find the culture fascinating and the food is my favourite. When I found the book Tokyo Junkie, I focused on that part of the title and didn’t focus on the other part with the words… and Baseball. I probably should have. I have never heard of Robert Whiting before, but he has written three other books, two based on baseball, The Chrysanthemum and the Bat and You Gotta Have Wa and one

CCN

BOOK REVIEW

book on the Japanese crime gangs, Tokyo Underworld. You gotta have cojones to write a book like that. Robert Whiting was introduced to Tokyo in 1962 when he was a 19-year-old GI from a small town in California. Japan at that time was “still struggling to recover from the damage of defeat in World War 2.” But the city was hosting the 1964 Olympics and construction was going full tilt. Whiting says, “I had arrived at what someone would later describe the biggest construction site in the world.” The Olympics was a huge success and Life magazine called it “the Greatest Olympic Games ever.” Sound familiar? Whiting’s military service was coming to an end and he had decisions to make but he also

felt a shift in the mood of the city. There was a resentment towards foreigners, “too many gaijin”. But this did not deter Whiting who decided to stay. He enrolled at Sophia University and lived small Japanese unit without heat or hot water. He knew Tokyo was going to be “a force to be

reckoned with”. He had a job as an English tutor, worked for Encyclopedia Britannica (for you youngsters they are books people used to get information, before there was Google) before becoming an author. He moved to New York for a while but found it “Less Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more Midnight Cowboy.” He wrote about Japanese

baseball and met many of the American players that went to Japan to play. He met his wife who worked for the UN and had to travel around the world but he always ended up back in Tokyo. On his seventy-seventh birthday he reflected on the changes he had seen in Tokyo in the past fifty years and “that there is very little left in Tokyo older than I am, given how this city keeps on renewing itself.” This book does not glorify Tokyo at all. Besides traffic, bureaucracy, gender-equality, “questions about press freedom, rampant cronyism in politics, and a government that is all too often enmeshed in scandal.” Although I wasn’t keen on all the baseball references, as I am not a fan, I did find the politics of it interesting. In Japan, politics and sport surely do mix it seems.

The descriptions of the Tokyo underworld were also fascinating – this guy has met some interesting characters. The story chronicles both Whitings personal changes since arriving as a 19 year old in concert with the broader transformation that the city of Tokyo since the early 1960s. He recounts the preparation of two Olympic games with great insights. I have to say it was difficult to reconcile my idea of what Tokyo is today to the one Whiting moved to in the 1960’s, which was “rat-infested … 40 percent of Japanese had tapeworms … no ambulances, and infant mortality was twenty times what it is today.” What a transformation. Well worth the read. Kim Reardon The Reluctant Book Critic

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS

ARTS & CULTURE 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 ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE

Free social French conversation groups, small classes at East Gosford and Bateau Bay Inquiries - Nathalie 0416 303 804 www.afcentralcoast.org.au afcentralcoast@gmail.com

CENTRAL COAST ART SOCIETY

We meet the second Saturday each month. Wyoming Memorial Community Hall. Contact us by email info@centralcoastpoets.com.au

or you may ring Clive 0419120347

HANDWEAVERS, SPINNERS AND TEXTILE ARTS GUILD

Spinning and weaving, patchwork and quilting, felting and other fibre and fabric crafts, community quilting bees - Day and Night Groups 4325 4743 www.cottagecrafts.net.au

COMMUNITY GROUPS CENTRAL COAST CARAVANNERS

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

Lectures, demonstrations and discussion. Weekly paint-outs enquiries Tuesday. Phone: 0428 439 180 Workshops: 1st and 3rd COMMUNITY LEGAL Wednesdays 9.30 am to 12.30 CENTRE pm, at Gosford Regional Not for profit service providing Gallery & Art Centre. free legal advice Phone: 0409 666 709 Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm Social Meetings 1.30 pm on 4353 4988 4th Wednesday for contact@centralcoastclc.org.au demonstration 4325 1420

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LEARN TO DANCE

Social ballroom dancing for all ages, all you need is a desire to learn and dance, no partner required. meet every Wed -Tuggerah community hall, 2:00pm Anne - 0409 938 345

Join us for the fun and enjoyment of art! Attend a weekly art group with mentors, exhibitions, anneglazier@y7mail.com workshops and a monthly members meeting with guests CENTRAL COAST MARINE and prizes, held on the 4th DISCOVERY CENTRE Thurs of the month at The Entrance Community Centre The revamped CCMDC is open. Schools and Group bookings 4333 8387 welcome by appointment. www.tlas.org.au Building has special needs president@tlas.org.au access and toilets Open 7 days 9am – 3pm. CENTRAL COAST POETS Terrigal. INC 4385 5027 Would you like to read, ccmdc@bigpond.com write and share your poetry. www.ccmdc.org.au We hold workshops and create anthologies.

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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Wed-Thurs-Fri - 12.30pm, Progress Hall Henry Parry & Wells Street East Gosford

BETTER HEARING AUSTRALIA

Hearing loss management Support and educational groups providing practical experience and confidence 4321 0275

CENTRAL COAST ASBESTOS DISEASES SUPPORT GROUP

Help with shopping and cooking classes 4363 7111

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Is Internet porn destroying your life. We may be able to help. We are a 12 step fellowship like AA. Meets every Sat at 7pm on the Central Coast Contact for further details 0473 631 439

able to sing harmony would be an advantage. See our website for details and upcoming concert. 4307 9355

Club Umina, Melbourne Ave, Umina Beach Visitors Welcome. 0414 280 375

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SOUNDWAVES CHORUS Male singers wanted No experience required, rehearsals 7pm Mondays at Parkview room Central Coast Leagues Club 0431 225 489

Meets at Everglades Country Club Woy Woy, at 10am 3rd Tuesday each month. Enjoy a wide variety of Guest Speakers, Social outing and activities with Friendship Fellowship and Fun. 0407934003

newcastlesagroup@gmail.com Enjoy a diverse range of courses and activities for Support for those suffering POLITICAL PARTIES seniors. Keep your mind active with asbestos diseases and and make new friends. others interested in asbestos HENRY KENDALL 0408 704 701 issues. You are not alone, meet CENTRAL COAST GREENS LIONS CLUB OF WOY WOY www.centralcoast.u3anet.org.au COTTAGE & with others who can share Local, state wide, national and Make new friends & have fun HISTORICAL MUSEUM their experiences. Bring a international issues and while serving your community VOLUNTEERING Visit our c1838 Cottage & family member or friend. campaigns Everglades Country Club Museum with exhibits of early 1pm at Ourimbah RSL on Council and parliamentary CENTRAL COAST 3rd Monday of each month settlers. School and group fourth Wed of each month. representation Refer potential volunteers to 0478 959 895 bookings. Members & Maree 0419 418 190 3rd Thur community organisations & volunteers welcome. Open centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au provide support to them. WOMEN’S GROUPS Wed/Sat/Sun 10.30am centralcoastgreens@gmail.com Training to volunteers and GROW MENTAL HEALTH 2:30pm. West Gosford WOMEN’S HEALTH managers of volunteers Info SUPPORT 4325 2270 sessions held regularly. LABOR PARTY CENTRES Small friendly groups formed www.henrykendallcottage.org.au 4329 7122 Counselling, therapeutic and to learn how to overcome OURIMBAH / NARARA Brisbane Water Historical Society recruit@volcc.org.au social groups, workshops, anxiety, depression and BRANCH loneliness and improve mental Discussion/action - community domestic violence and abuse FELLOWSHIP OF KINCUMBER MENS SHED health and well being. Weekly issues. All services provided by Issues - 3 levels of Kincumber mens shed in women for women FIRST FLEETERS meetings at Woy Woy and Government, Ourimbah Room association with Kincumber 4324 2533 For anyone interested Wyong. Grow is anonymous, - Ourimbah RSL, www.cccwhc.com.au Uniting Church op shop. in early history. free and open to all. 7.00pm - 1st. Monday Selling tools, machinery, Don’t need to be a First Fleeter. 1800 558 268 0410 309 494 clothing, books and household Point Clare Community Hall or www.grow.org.au SOROPTIMIST kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com items. on the first Saturday of 2nd Sat 10:30am INTERNATIONAL PROBUS CLUBS each month 8am - 12pm 4311 6254, 4340 4435 DYING WITH DIGNITY BRISBANE WATER 4369 7222 Campaigning to give those Making a difference in the lives AVOCA BEACH sparkes2251@outlook.com suffering unrelievable terminal of women & girls through or incurable illness the choice PROBUS CLUB awareness, advocacy & action COMMUNITY CENTRES COASTAL A CAPPELLA to receive legal medical with a great social program, 2nd Thur 7 pm Award winning women’s assistance to die. guest speakers and optional Breakers Country Club, a cappella chorus. Quarterly mtgs, Erina Fair. bistro lunches. Google our Dover Rd, Wamberal GOSFORD-NARARA Music education provided. 0434 426 486 name for our fully informative sibrisbanewater@siswp.org NEIGHBOURHOOD Rehearsals Tuesday 7pm @ robyncameron@y7mail.com www.siswp.org newsletter. Meet 10am, 3rd CENTRE Red Tree Theatre Tuggerah. Mon each month at Avoca School Holiday activities, Performance opportunities. Beach Bowling Club. INNER WHEEL CLUB PROSTATE CANCER playgroup, multicultural Hire us for your next event. avocaprobus@gmail.com GOSFORD NTH SUPPORT GROUP programs, community activities 0412 948 450 Make friends, Make a Last Fri 9.30am Rooms for Hire coastalacappella@gmail.com EMPIRE BAY difference! Terrigal Uniting Church 4329 4477 PROBUS CLUB Join us and develop lasting 380 Terrigal Dr, Terrigal admin@gnnc.com.au CENTRAL COAST Friendship, fellowship, friendships with like minded 4367 9600 and fun in retirement. women serving our community CHORALE www.pcfa.org.au Very active club, outings, 6.30pm 2nd Wed One of the best (SATB) excursions, dining Phillip House, Kariong choirs on the coast. MEALS ON WHEELS ALCOHOLICS 3 times a month 0405 385 610 We seeks new members. Delicious meals delivered free ANONYMOUS iiw.au.gosfordnorth@gmail.com 1st Thur 1.30pm Reading of music and Join us for a midday meal - Someone cares.

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 25 15 OCTOBER 2021

Business & Property $5.5M auction total signals ‘perfect’ seller’s market Two homes in Calais Rd, Wamberal, have sold for a combined total of more than $5.5M. Di Jones Central Coast sold the two properties, neither of which has been on the market for more than 60 years, to families from Sydney looking for holiday homes. An auction on October 9 saw adjoining 600sq m blocks at 14 and 12 Calais Rd attract more than 30 registered bidders each. “The level of interest in these two blocks was huge,” DiJones Central Coast sales agent, Cameron Clayton, said. “The owner purchased Number 14 in 1952 and it was largely a preserved time capsule from World War II. “He purchased the second property at Number 12 in the 1970s, with both blocks within a 100m walk of Wamberal Beach.”

Aerial view showing the prime position of Calais Rd, Wamberal

The property at Number 14 sold for $2.76M, with the slightly younger home at Number 12 fetching $2.89M. Di Jones Head of Auction

Services, Josh Larsen, said there was very aggressive bidding at both auctions. “They were very hotly contested which could be

seen in the bidding sequence of $100,000 increments through to the reserve prices for both properties,” he said. Both purchasers intend to

knock down the existing dwellings and build new holiday homes. Clayton said median house prices at Wamberal had risen

26.26 per cent (to $1.25M) in the 12 months to June 30. “The market is rising in Wamberal and is closing in on $1.45M median house price rapidly which is a rise of around 40 per cent,” he said. “The attention for buyers has moved from Terrigal to anything close to the water and further up the coast to Blue Bay. “We expect the flurry of activity will continue into the coming months with low stock levels and built-up buyer demand converging into perfect conditions for sellers. “We know that buyers can buy with confidence in the current market because by the time they have settled they have already made money on the purchase.” Source: Media release, Oct 12 DiJones Central Coast

Hydrogen company praises state strategy Central Coast-based hydrogen company, Star Scientific, has praised the NSW Government’s green hydrogen strategy for entrenching the state as one of the key players on the global hydrogen map.

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Group Global Chairman, Andrew Horvath, said he was certain the Government’s commitment would attract major investment from the private sector. “Coming off the back of

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earlier announcements such as the gazettal of the Hunter and Central Coast as a Renewable Energy Zone, and programs that encourage heavy industry to use green hydrogen to decarbonise, I can say from direct experience that the eyes of the world are on the region,” Horvath said. “Money aside, the clever approach of driving the demand-side uses of hydrogen for heavy industry is why the world is sitting up and taking notice.”

Horvath said the Hunter and Central Coast regions had advantages that made them attractive on a global scale. “Firstly, (they have) a highly educated workforce with skills in the energy and heavy industrial sectors, complemented by an outstanding research institution in the University of Newcastle,” he said. “Secondly, the region has the domestic demand equation to drive a green hydrogen economy – there is

much heavy industry that will require green hydrogen to decarbonise. “Thirdly, the Hunter and Central Coast have the energy transmission infrastructure and pipelines in place, and finally the region has deep supply chain infrastructure including roads, rail and the Port of Newcastle. “An often over-looked advantage is also the relative proximity of the Central Coast to the new Western Sydney Airport, which will play a key

role in global supply chains. “The fact that the HunterCentral Coast region is complemented by a second major industrial centre in the Illawarra is the icing on the cake.” Horvath said Star Scientific would be making announcements of its own in the near future. Source: Media release, Oct 13 Star Scientific

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Hi, I’m Geoff Brazel, your genuinely Local Challenging Wills Lawyer If you have been left out of a Will or you want to leave someone out of your Will, it’s important to seek advice from an experienced Wills & Estates Lawyer. You need to be informed of your choices and aware of the pitfalls and procedures in dealing with Challenging a Will and how you should best deal with challenges. I live and work right here on the Central Coast and I have been helping Central Coast residents just like you with challenging Wills since 1981. When it comes to making sure you receive what you are entitled to or that your assets end up where you want them, it’s important to get expert legal advice. Call me now for a confidential chat and prepared for your’s and your family’s future.

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 27 15 OCTOBER 2021

Winning family business achieves dream Local manufacturer SpotGo has taken out the coveted 2021 Central Coast Business of the Year Award at a ceremony held online in front of over 150 business leaders. Business owner, Brendan Small, has developed a line of cleaning products at his Central Coast factory, with his specialist barbecue cleaner/degreaser now being sold nationally at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. “I was born into the commercial carpet cleaning industry,” Small said. “My parents owned Aquarius Carpet Cleaning and I started in the business 27 years ago with Dad. “Within six years, Dad had retired and I took the business on. “I was constantly noticing spot

cleaners my customers were using were causing damage and I decided to engage an industrial chemist to help develop a spot cleaner for carpets. “On the back of that we went on to formulate another four products. “After many years of testing and trial in the workplace, we launched SpotGo. “When my wife Nancy and I began this journey we never gave up striving for the opportunity to have our products (stocked nationally),” Small said. “It was always our dream and ambition for SpotGo to become a household name and readily available for all Australians. “We are entirely a family business; we even have Nancy’s parents in the factory helping us bottle up.

“We employ only people from the Central Coast and try to employ older people. “I am still cleaning carpets four days a week but … concentrating mainly on SpotGo and looking at moving to larger manufacturing premises on the Coast soon.” Business NSW Regional Director, Paula Martin, said the awards, held on October 8, celebrated the success of hardworking Central Coast businesses. “A well-deserved spotlight was shone on 52 finalists who have shown how their resilience, perseverance and sheer hard work have seen them through the very difficult year we have just had,” Martin said. “The 2021 Central Coast Business Awards recognise growth, entrepreneurship, and celebrate business success and

Brendan Small of SpotGo

resilience. “We received nearly 100 applications for 10 different categories. “These awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the ingenuity, strength and resilience of Central Coast NSW businesses. “The last few years have been

incredibly tough as businesses have been impacted bushfires, floods and now COVID. “When we launched these Awards earlier in the year, we hadn’t expected we would be dealing with the current lockdown. “Like our business members, we too pivoted and delivered a gala event with much glitz and glamour but safe for all our community.” Winners of the 2021 Central Coast Business Awards will represent the region at the State Business Awards to be held in November. “Based on the calibre of this year’s finalists, I expect that our regional winners will again do very well at the State Business Awards,” Martin said. The winners were: Employer of

Choice, Ryan & Seton Lawyers; Outstanding Young Business Leader, Amanda Woodbine – Australia Reptile Park; Outstanding Business Leader, Tim Faulkner – Australian Reptile Park; Excellence in Micro Business, LEP Digital; Excellence in Small Business, Riverside Dental Spa; Excellence in Business, Australian Reptile Park (highly commended: Industree Group); Excellence in Innovation, SpotGo Premium Cleaning Products (highly commended: Naughty Noodle Fun Haus Inc); Outstanding Community Organisation, The Glen Centre; Outstanding Start-up, Amelio Health (highly Commended: Ducks Nuts Co); and Outstanding Employee,Zac Bower –Australian Reptile Park. Terry Collins

Extra state support welcomed Business NSW Central Coast has welcomed NSW Government help for the region’s businesses as they recover from lockdown. A rebate for non-payroll tax paying businesses has been extended to $2,000 and can now include tolls. A stock guarantee of $20,000

for perishable goods and $10,000 for non-perishable items will be provided should a lockdown occur in December or January 2022. “One of the challenges businesses have spoken to me about is the fear of being left with stock they can’t sell while their business is closed,” Business NSW Central Coast Regional

Director, Paula Martin, said. “Businesses can now plan and order the stock they the think they’ll need while their business begins to scale up again, with the knowledge the Government has a level of protection in place for them. “There is still some residual uncertainty around possible lockdowns over summer as we

see an influx of visitors to the Central Coast who could potentially increase local cases of COVID. “This support will provide much needed confidence to keep up an operating rhythm. “Throughout the pandemic, the government has worked closely with business on designing support packages that will help

soften the blow of the restrictions; this is another example of support for business owners to regain their confidence.” Martin said a recent survey of almost 2,000 Business NSW members revealed 53 per cent of business would be closed without the COVID-19 assistance program from government. “There’s lots of optimism

around business now that we are officially ‘back to business’ and this is a further boost for business owners to plan the next few months of operations with further support measures in place,” she said. Source: Media release, Oct 12 Business NSW Central Coast

‘Outstanding’ park makes its mark on awards The Australian Reptile Park dominated the Central Coast Business Awards, winning all four of the categories in which it was a finalist. There Park took out: Outstanding Business Leader

(Tim Faulkner – Director); Outstanding Young Business Leader (Amanda Woodbine – Marketing and Business Manager); Employee of the Year (Zac Bower – Venom Supervisor); and Excellence in Business. Staff were ecstatic about the

victories, but even more excited to reopen the major tourist attraction on October 11, after months of lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions. like most other businesses, the Park has faced challenges over the last two years. “Being able to celebrate this

win at the same time that we finally get to reopen is just wonderful,” Director, Tim Faulkner, said. “Winning these awards just confirms my belief that the Australian Reptile Park is truly the best family fun day out. “It’s fantastic to have that

recognised by Business NSW.” The Park will now go to the State Business Awards to compete against other regional winners for the coveted Excellence in Business award – which it won in 2018. Previously, the Park has won 2018 NSW State Business of

the Year, 2018 Regional Business of the Year and 2019 Major Tourist Attraction Gold Award for Destination NSW. Source: Media release, Oct 11 Australian Reptile Park

PAGE 28 15 OCTOBER 2021

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CREATING FINANCIAL FREEDOM

ATO puts new investors on notice WITH

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New investors should be on notice as they prepare to lodge their first tax return since investing, the tax office has warned. ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh has called on first-time investors to keep detailed records and understand the tax implications of their trades in order to avoid penalties. EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (ETFs) Providers of ETFs, which are gaining popularity among novice investors, will provide their unit holders with a Standard Distribution Statement (SDS). When the investor sells units, the SDS will reflect the capital gains or losses made

from the sale of the units, and this needs to be included in the tax return. DIVIDENDS ETFs often distribute unit holders with dividend distributions, which can be reinvested or withdrawn for cash. Either way, the dividends are still considered income and therefore need to be declared to the ATO. “Most people recognise that they must pay tax on any money earned from selling shares. But many don’t realise that tax also applies to dividends and distributions, even if they are automatically reinvested into a reinvestment plan,” says Loh. PAPER LOSSES Sales of shares will incur either

a capital gain or loss, and this needs to be declared to the ATO. Capital losses can be offset against the capital gains you may make on other investments. Undeclared capital losses in one year can also be carried over as a capital gains offset in the next financial year. But remember, capital losses can only be incurred with the sale of shares. A fall in share prices alone - i.e. a decrease in its capital value - is not a realised capital loss.

KEEP RECORDS Above all else, investors need to keep records of their investments. “Keeping good records, including dates, prices, commissions, and details of taxable events such as share splits, share consolidations, mergers, and demergers is essential to avoiding trouble at tax time,” says Loh. “We want to make tax as easy as possible and using data from share trading platforms

How to invest ethically through your super fund Australians are voting with their feet, looking for investments that are kind to people and the planet. If that’s on your wish list, it’s possible to have a strong voice in what your super funds. More of us are realising that our money matters when it comes to supporting a cause. Research by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) found 86% of Australians expect their savings and super to be invested responsibly and ethically.

This level of interest has seen the market for responsible investments (including super) soar to be worth $1281 billion in 2020, up from $983 billion in 2019. An ethical approach: where to begin Nicolette Boele, the executive of policy and standards for RIAA, says, “This dramatic shift of capital is being fuelled by changing consumer expectations, strong financial performance and the rising materiality of different social and environmental issues from climate change to racial inequity.” If you’re keen for your super to

match your views, five steps can help you get started. 1. Know what ‘ethical’ looks like to you. Consider the issues that matter most to you - be it renewable energy, sustainable land management, or human rights to name a few. 2. Check if your fund matches your views. Once you have a clear idea of your ethical views, take a look at your fund’s policy around environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. This should be set out on the super fund’s website. Bear in mind, you’re entitled to ask your fund for a breakdown

of the companies and projects it invests in to see how well your super aligns with your views. 3. Search for what matters to you. To really drill down into which super funds match your views, the Responsible Returns website (an initiative of the RIAA) has a handy online search function that lets you find a fund that ticks your boxes for ethical investing. It also lets you screen out issues you want to avoid such as logging, armaments or fossil fuels. As a guide, if animal cruelty is a pet aversion for you, a number of investment options within Christian Super, Future

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and the SDS from ETFs is a vital way that we help taxpayers avoid simple mistakes.” RECORDS TO KEEP INCLUDE: • the date of purchase/ reinvestment • the purchase amount/value details of any non-assessable payments to you • the date and amount of any calls (if shares were partly paid) • the date of sale and sale price (if you sell them) • any brokerage costs or commissions paid to brokers

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Super and VicSuper exclude animal cruelty. What’s so useful about the Responsible Returns search tool is that it doesn’t take a ‘whole fund’ approach. The search results name each fund’s specific investment option that match your views. 4. Look for a ‘responsible leader’. As more Australians look for ethical investment choices, there’s a growing trend to give investment options marketing labels that suggest ethical or eco-friendly strategies. This has coined the term ‘greenwashing’, meaning the potential for funds to overstate the extent to which their practices are eco-friendly, sustainable or ethical.

As Boele notes, “It’s not good enough to simply claim you’re investing responsibly.” Reflecting this, investment watchdog ASIC is conducting a review to see whether super funds’ investment strategies are as green as they claim. 5. Consider the total picture. It’s great if your super fund matches your ethical stance. But it shouldn’t mean sacrificing decent returns or low fees. So it’s worth looking at the overall picture. Figures from SuperRatings show the top 10 sustainable balanced super options have all delivered returns topping an average of 8.7% annually over the past five years. NICOLA FIELD

when you buy or sell • details of events such as share splits, share consolidations, returns of capital, takeovers, mergers, demergers and bonus share issues • details of capital losses made in previous years - you may be able to offset these losses against future capital gains • dividend or managed investment distribution statements (Standard Distribution Statements).

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BUSINESS & PROPERTY PAGE 29 15 OCTOBER 2021

Profits healthy but challenges ahead Newcastle Permanent Building Society Limited (Newcastle Permanent), with branches at Terrigal, Gosford, Tuggerah, Lake Haven and Bateau Bay, has announced one of its best years ever in 2020-21, growing both deposits and home loan approvals. Despite a challenging year of ongoing COIVD-19 restrictions, historically low interest rates and continued economic uncertainty, the financial institution has announced a net profit after tax increase of $42.7M, up 41.6 per cent over the previous year. Total assets grew 5.4 per cent to $11.7B and there was a record $2.5B in new home loan approvals – up 51 per cent on the previous year. Its home loan portfolio of $9.2B was up 3.7 per cent over the previous year and customer deposits increased to $8.9B (up 5.2 per cent). CEO, Bernadette Inglis, said Newcastle Permanent had demonstrated its underlying strength to perform in uncertain times, maintaining its position as one of Australia’s largest customer-owned

The Newcastle Permanent branch in Gosford

financial institutions. “In the face of challenging headwinds, our continued focus on innovation and supporting our customers led us to deliver a strong and balanced financial result,” Inglis said. “Our new home loan approvals reached a record $2.5B; customers also took advantage of the low interest rate environment to repay their loans faster, with 92 per cent of customers ahead on their repayments. “Deposits continued to contribute the majority of our funding during the year (which) has enabled us to diversify our high-quality home

lending portfolio. “While we’re pleased that our balanced approach has enabled us to perform so well over the past year, we accept that the long-term effects of historically low interest rates and the global pandemic have not yet been fully felt. “We are preparing for a more challenging forward environment characterised by ongoing market and economic uncertainty.” Chair of Newcastle Permanent’s Board of Directors, Jeff Eather said the institution had started 118 years ago as a positive alternative to the major banks and remained true to that purpose.

“The difference is, today, we’re doing it in a much more complex and challenging environment,” he said. Inglis said in the past year Newcastle Permanent had rolled out a new banking app that is more intuitive and offers greater functionality and introduced new ID check tools for more convenience. “Additionally, the introduction of digital signatures has had an incredible response, with 93 per cent uptake from those customers offered the option,” she said. She said extensive upgrades at several branches, including Gosford, had received good customer feedback.

For the second year in a row, Newcastle Permanent was recognised in the Forbes World’s Best Banks rankings, being named as the top Australianowned financial institution in 2021. The organisation was also awarded the Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award, recording full year customer satisfaction of 92 per cent, and achieved a net promoter score of +43, significantly outperforming the major banks, which averaged below zero. Eather said the creation of the Newcastle Permanent Environmental, Social and Governance Framework would

ensure the organisation remained sustainable and each year, Newcastle Permanent invests almost $1.5M to support local communities through sponsorships, employee donations, volunteering and fundraising activities. “Further, the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation again invested more than $1.5M in projects that address disadvantage, marginalisation, and isolation in communities throughout regional NSW last year,” he said. “To date the Charitable Foundation has provided more than $23M in grants to more than 500 community initiatives.” In August 2021, Newcastle Permanent and Greater Bank announced both organisations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore merging. Both parties are exploring the potential commercial and member benefits to be derived from bringing together the two Newcastle-based organisations. Source: Media release, Oct 13 Newcastle Permanent

Gosford apartment over supply warning for investors Gosford has ranked second in a list of the top 10 “danger zone suburbs” in the Greater Sydney area where there is an oversupply of apartments and investors have been warned to be wary of rental vacancies and capital losses. Co-founder of Australia’s first national property buyer’s agency network BuyersBuyers, Pete Wargent, said there had been a “race for space” over the past 18 months, sending

house prices higher, but unit prices in some high-supply areas look riskier. “Although demand has dropped sharply given the absence of international students and other visitors, there are still some areas with a high volume of potential new units in the pipeline over the next couple of years,” he said. “The danger areas aren’t limited to the CBD but are rather found where there are clusters of new developments.” Founder of RiskWise Property

Research, Doron Peleg, said that unit supply was a factor landlords needed to be wary of. “We have compiled our top 10 danger zone suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne where investors should be wary about the risk of rental vacancies, and capital loss, particularly investors considering new or off-the-plan purchases,” he said. “The CBD areas of the capital cities have been a risk area for some time, but in Sydney, the risks are spread quite broadly

across the city, from Liverpool to the inner-south and Zetland, and up to parts of the Central Coast, such as Gosford.” Gosford, with 1,619 new units in the pipeline over the next 18 months, came second only to Schofields, with 3,397 units planned. Other suburbs on the list included Rouse Hill, Zetland, Liverpool, Epping and Burwood. Source: Media release, Oct 7 BuyersBuyers

Gosford has second highest number of units/apartments coming onto the market

PAGE 30 15 OCTOBER 2021

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE PAGE 31 15 OCTOBER 2021

Become a sock star to combat kidney disease Kidney Health Australia is calling on Coast residents to become “sock stars” to help combat kidney disease during October and Forresters Beach resident Deborah Day was among the first to sign up. Residents are encouraged to register their own Red Socks Fitness Challenge. Even buying a pair of Red Socks to wear throughout October can help raise funds to fight kidney disease. The Kidney Health Australia Red Sock Appeal is under way and aims to raise funds for early detection activities and support services to alleviate the impact and harm kidney disease causes. Day took part in a virtual walk fundraiser on October 10. Her husband Steve is affected by kidney disease and has been on dialysis three times a week for the last three and a half years. “He does it on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and all up it takes six hours,” Day said. “He does it from home and does it all himself, and he’s currently waiting for a transplant and the waitlist is up

to six years for his blood type.” Day is encouraging the community to back the cause and is advocating for people to register to be an organ donor. “Just be aware of your kidney health, and support Kidney Health Australia,” she said. “There are people from all walks of life, both young and old, who need a kidney, and I encourage everyone to become an organ donor. “I am getting people to buy the red socks and we will be posting their photo on our fundraising website. “I’m also getting everyone to post a photo of themselves on October 15 wearing the socks as that is our wedding anniversary. “I think I’ve raised $1,000 all up. “I bought over $400 worth of socks to on-sell and I’m asking everyone I know to buy a pair.” Kidney Health Australia Chief Executive Officer, Chris Forbes, said the idea behind the Red Socks Appeal was to recognise the countless hours that people of all ages with kidney failure spend hooked to a lifesaving dialysis machine to help clean their body of toxins.

“A little-known fact about kidney disease is that people with kidney failure can spend 60 hours or more a month hooked to a dialysis machine to keep them alive,” Forbes said. “Dialysis machines basically clean the blood of toxins, so it’s filtered out of the body and then returned, and this takes on average five hours at a time, three times a week. “This process plus the long hours in the chair can leave patients feeling fatigued and quite cold, so a blanket and warm pair of socks is a must to get them through it. “We’d love people to put themselves in the socks of someone living with kidney disease and run, ride, walk, hop, skip of dance their way through October to raise money for our courageous kidney community.” Money raised from the Red Sock Appeal will fund services such as the Kidney Helpline, Kidney Kids and Youth Program, Transplant House and the Big Red Kidney Bus. Of the 1.7M Australians affected by kidney disease, 1.5M are unaware they are

living with the early signs of the disease. “The shocking fact about kidney disease is that a person can lose up to 90 per cent before any symptoms are apparent,” Forbes said. “A person could be relatively fine one day and the next they could be in hospital facing a life sentence of continuous dialysis or on a transplant list, waiting for a suitable kidney donor. “We need to prevent people reaching this point, so the Red Sock Appeal is also a great opportunity to raise more awareness around the impact this disease has on people’s lives and that of their families and drive early detections. “In this age of COVID-19, we’ve made sure the event has something for everyone; if people can’t get out to raise money, they can still wear Red Socks and support us in their living rooms and on social media. “This is a community event that everyone can get behind.” To find out more and register for the Kidney Health Red Sock Appeal, visit redsockappeal. org.au. Harry Mulholland

Deborah and Steve Day

Vaccination rate keeps up with state The Central Coast has matched the state benchmark of 70 per cent of residents doubly vaccinated and more than 90 per cent have had their first jab.

Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the latest statistics were good news for the region as retail reopened on October 11. “Our fight against COVID-19 and the Delta variant is not over, and while these statistics

are encouraging to see, we still need to hit the 80 and 90 per cent double vaccination rates to keep our region safe,” Wicks said. “By rolling up their sleeves, Central Coast residents have done their part to help NSW on

the road to recovery, and they deserve to enjoy all the freedoms that have been available from October 11. “We still have a number of exposure sites across the Central Coast and locals need to remain vigilant while out

and about. “I want to thank everyone who has helped to achieve this important milestone – let’s keep it up!” Statistics show that 93 per cent of residents have had one

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PAGE 32 15 OCTOBER 2021 HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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Starting over in Spring: Dietary ‘big rocks’

GEORGIA LIENEMANN This is the second part of our post-lockdown health reset. We’re focusing on simple mindset, diet and lifestyle shifts that will get you back on track this Spring. Last week we introduced the Japanese concept of ‘Kaizen’, the implementation of small, continuous improvements that generate momentum and the motivation to forge ahead on a new trajectory. This week we’re focusing on the concept of ‘big rocks’ and

seeing how we can apply it to our health routines, to create permanent change. If you’ve never come across the concept before, the idea is that by filling a jar with pebbles and sand (the less important tasks, according to the analogy), there is no room for the big rocks (your priorities). By filling your jar with the big rocks first, the pebbles and sand can fall around them, allowing you to fit more in. The idea of ‘crowding out’ unhealthy foods and destructive habits with healthy alternatives is a dietary application of the big rocks strategy. An example might be to focus on including a big plate of veggies into your day somewhereinsteadofattempting to give up your numerous dietary vices. The former is usually much more achievable than the latter. Willpower vs biology There’s another reason that this strategy is so effective when applied to our dietary choices. Anything we eat on a regular basis is either feeding our good gut bugs and helping them to proliferate (resulting in more

having to overthink it. 4. Green smoothie – the cheat’s salad This is the only time of year that I’m a devout fan of this idea, because our bodies generally crave an abundance of cleansing greens during Spring. It’s a balance, though. Throughout the rest of the year, my experience is that some people can overdo greens – remember, more is not necessarily better.

energy, better moods and cognition, healthy weight and metabolism, improved digestion) or starving them. The latter can lead to a state of ‘dysbiosis’ which is a drop in diversity and abundance of healthy microbes and potentially an overgrowth of harmful ones. The interesting thing is that each of the different types of microbes residing down there have their own preferred food. In addition to that, the microbes that are proliferating at any given moment can influence your food cravings. I’m sure you’ve noticed that when you’re in a rut with overindulging in takeaway or junk foods, they actually become addictive and it’s hard to break the cycle? This is one of the primary reasons. There are microbes thriving in that environment you’ve created and they don’t want you to change the status quo! By regularly adding in some fresh vegetables or other high fibre foods and increasing the quota over time, you allow a resurgence of healthy microbes that will put in their vote for healthier food choices. So,you can see why overcoming cravings isn’t just a lack of willpower on your part – you’re going up against biology. And biology will usually have the upper hand. Deciding on your dietary big rocks When aiming for any sort of transformation, but particularly in the area of health, it’s important to focus on the easy-toimplement habits that simultaneously offer the

greatest impact. It’s tricky to come up with a generic list of generic dietary suggestions that apply to most people because it depends where your baseline is, where your weakest links are and how high you’re aiming. Here are a few simple habits that, when implemented, seem to have the biggest impact across the board. 1. Glass of warm water or lemon water (or warm lemon water!) upon rising. Starting off nice and easy, a la Kaizen. Now, I don’t subscribe to the idea that outside of peak Summer, we need several litres of water per day to remain healthy or hydrated. However, it’s certainly true that we are often very dehydrated upon waking and that this needs to be rectified swiftly for our bodies to function in their optimal state. Plenty of important, healthsustaining processes happen in the first half of the day and they’ll occur much more efficiently if our cells and tissues are functioning properly. A glass on the bedside table before bed makes this one low-hanging fruit! 2. Stretching the window between dinner and breakfast Gradually bringing the time of dinner forward so that you’re eating earlier (without snacking later in the evening, in case that wasn’t obvious!) is another simple change that can have huge results. Increasing the window between dinner and breakfast is

a simple way to dabble in the practice of ‘intermittent fasting’ and for many people, this change alone can have significant results in terms of weight loss, mood, energy levels and other health markers. Isn’t it fascinating to think that just by changing the time that you eat – without addressing your diet or anything else – you can improve your health? Aim initially for a 12 hour window and gradually increase it to 14 or 15 if it’s achievable within your lifestyle. In my experience the lion’s share of the benefits come from making dinner earlier than breakfast late – especially for women. 9am is my suggested cut off for this meal. 3. A huge, balanced salad every day Learning to create quick, delicious and interesting salads is one of the most powerful health strategies you can master (and there’s a formula – I’ll do a series on this soon). Until you’ve mastered it, finding a place that sells them is a win, too. Aim to structure your day around lunch or dinner consisting solely of a huge, hearty salad that’s so satisfying, it can be a standalone meal. This is easy enough if it includes adequate healthy fats, carbohydrates in the form of fruit or starch and a decent serving of protein. The first elements that tend to go missing from the diet when health slips down the priority list are fibre, enzymes and phytochemicals (found in abundance in fresh, raw produce). By committing to this practice, you’re ticking off all of them and more, without

For busy folk who can’t regularly prioritise epic saladmaking, this is an extremely doable way to flood the body with the aforementioned fibre, enzymes and phytochemicals that are so often overlooked during hectic periods. Toss some fruit, cucumber and a handful of herbs or leafy greens into a blender and you’re done. And don’t chug! Drink it slowly, so that your saliva and digestive juices still have a chance to do their thing. 5. Healthy swaps: try the ‘one better’ approach This is a way to apply the concept of Kaizen to our dietary choices. If you’re struggling with cravings and a diet that might have slipped down a few notches throughout Winter and lockdown, this is a great way to tackle it: replacing your most craved foods with something marginally better. It’s best to start with one thing at time. It might be committing to swap out your unhealthy go-to takeaway options with healthier ones that you still enjoy or that sickly sweet, processed afternoon treat for fresh berries and yoghurt. The trick is to choose an equally indulgent replacement – just a marginally healthier one. Treat yourself. It’s an act of self-care. On an ongoing basis, these small wins build self-trust and resolve. And gradually the cravings subside, energy levels increase and by then you’re well and truly on your way. Good luck team. Great time of year for it.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE PAGE 33 15 OCTOBER 2021

Self Advocacy programs aim to improve confidence An organisation based in Gosford has continued to empower people with intellectual disabilities throughout lockdown. Self Advocacy is an organisation run by and for people with intellectual disabilities across the Coast, offering leadership and peer support groups to equip them with the necessary skills to take control of their lives and lead their communities. Ben Brown, who works as a support officer and has a disability himself, said the programs were a way to connect and grow within the community, particularly in recent months. “People with disability have

told us that they feel much more included, confident, safe and happy by being a part of our online community during these tough times,” Brown said. “We help people with disability to reach out and help each other, strengthening connection with their local community and giving them a voice of their own.” Brown said the organisation had impacted on his own personal growth. “As a local Coastie with disability myself, these programs have been of tremendous personal benefit; they have improved my confidence and independence,” he said.

“They have given me the opportunity to meet other people, which I really enjoy.” Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, praised the service offered by Self Advocacy. “I am a big supporter of advocacy for raising the voice of people with disabilities, and it’s great that we’ve got a strong local operator right here on the Coast that increases much needed capacity building and social inclusion programs,” she said. People with an intellectual disability are able to join the following groups: Peer Support, which connects people with a disability in small groups to help and support each other; New Leaders, which helps

people with a disability to be future leaders both at work and in the community to improve representation; and Happy Hour which is a fun and engaging social gathering currently held virtually, subject to changing health measures, at 11am each Friday. Contact Self Advocacy representatives Ben Brown on 0403 758 977 or Yvonne BerryPorter on 0401 150 048 or at Yvonne@sasinc.com.au. Further information on programs and services is available at www.sasinc.org. au. Source: Media release, Oct 9 Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch

Self Advocacy support officers Ben Brown and Yvonne Berry-Porter in the Gosford office

Dress your pet in pink for cancer awareness Central Coast residents are being encouraged to dress their pets in pink for a good cause. Cancer Council NSW is accepting registrations for the Pets In Pink initiative during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At a time of year where many people host pink events to support people affected by breast cancer, the Cancer Council is doing something a little different this year with

COVID-19 restrictions still present. Just register, dress your pet in pink, and help fundraise. Community Relations Coordinator for Hunter Central Coast communities, Jen Haynes, said pets have been valuable during the pandemic in providing benefits to health and wellbeing. “We are so excited about this fundraising initiative; it is full of joy and something that everyone can get involved in,” she said.

“As well as making us smile, our big or small furry or scaly friends can help us raise funds and awareness. “We can’t wait to see all of the pink pets across the Hunter Central Coast region” Funds raised will help Cancer Council NSW continue to operate vital services and programs including financial support, in-home help and its 13 11 20 information and support line as well as funding life-saving research and cancer prevention programs to

work towards a cancer-free future. Register at www.bit.ly/ PETSINPINKHCC and you will be set up with a personalised fundraising link. If you or your loved one is affected by cancer and you are concerned about the impact of COVID-19, call the free and confidential 13 11 20 Information and Support line. Source: Media release, Oct 11 Cancer Council NSW

End of life care debate continues equation over the past decade. NSW Parliament is considering the VAD issue afresh, following the introduction of a Private Member’s Bill by Independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich. CHA Chair and former NSW Deputy Premier, John Watkins,

said NSW MPs need to look at the issue in light of medical advances in palliative care. “The idea that supporting euthanasia is progressive, and opposing it is conservative, is obsolete,” Watkins said. “In fact, any thoughtful progressive should be worried about where the rush towards

voluntary assisted dying is taking us.” Central Coast Dying With Dignity NSW Chair, Stephanie Short, said VAD and palliative care were “twin components” of end of life care. “We have much to learn from end-of-life care in Canada in this regard,” Short said.

“We should not have to choose between voluntary assisted dying and palliative care. “In Canada If a person is planning to have Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), they can continue to receive palliative care. “Likewise, if they are

receiving palliative care, they are entitled to explore the idea of an assisted death or request MAiD. “This is what … we should demand in NSW.” Source: Media release, Oct 13 Dying With Dignity NSW, Central Coast

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Thank you! Dear Central Coast Community, The last several months have been extremely difficult for our community and we would not be where we are today without everyone playing their part and supporting one another. Thank you. The unprecedented restrictions and rules we’ve experienced during this pandemic have turned our lives upside down. We haven’t been able to do things we take for granted like, visit family or friends or go to school or work and this has taken a significant mental and emotional toll on everyone. The Central Coast community have done everything that has been asked of them and for that we thank you. When you were asked to stay at home, you did. When you were asked to get tested, you did. When you were asked to isolate, you did. When you were asked to get vaccinated, you did. You did this to keep everyone safe. This truly demonstrates the close community bonds that define our region. Thank you to all our local business owners, we appreciate how difficult the past few months have been with many businesses struggling to keep afloat. We encourage everyone to shop local and get behind our great local businesses. As we move towards resuming our daily lives, things like school and work, sport and fun it’s important to remember, none of this would have been possible without the hard work of each and every one of you and for that we say, thank you. Kind Regards,

David Harris MP Member for Wyong

David Mehan MP Member for The Entrance

LIesl Tesch MP Member for Gosford

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EDUCATION & SCIENCE PAGE 35 15 OCTOBER 2021

Schools encouraged to register for pathways program A program to improve education and career outcomes for high school students may be expanded to Central Coast schools over the next two years, thanks to a $13.5M investment from the NSW Government. The Educational Pathways Program (EPP) will expand from 24 schools up to 139 public high schools across the state, introducing students to different postschool study and employment options. This follows a successful pilot on the North Coast and in South-West Sydney, Central Coast schools are being encouraged to register for the program. It has been successful since it was introduced in 2020, with the number of students enrolling in school-based apprenticeships and

traineeships tripling across the schools participating in the pilot. Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee, said investing in career education and skills training for young people was key to keeping the NSW economy strong into the future. “Encouraging the next generation to consider an apprenticeship or traineeship through this program will help to reduce future skills shortages and create a highly employable workforce,” Lee said. “Through this program, a growing number of Year 10, 11 and 12 students are earning and starting their career in industry while learning new skills in the classroom. “The program is about exposing school students to the different directions they can take in their career so

they can make informed and confident decisions.” Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell, said the NSW Government was supporting high school students looking to take the first step in their career. “Greater Year 12 retention, increased completion of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and increased participation in post-school education are just some of the benefits of the program,” Mitchell said. Secondary public schools on the Central Coast, along with those in the Illawarra, New England and North West, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, as well as Western Sydney suburbs of Parramatta and Blacktown, will have access to the Educational Pathways Program in 2022.

The program will provide: strengthened career guidance and support for school students under specialist teachers for school based apprentices and trainees; immersion programs with Registered Training Organisations, including TAFE NSW, to give

high school students ‘vocational tasters’ of different industries; workshops to teach students employability skills, such as how to prepare for a job interview, how to communicate with employers, and how to manage their online

presence; and dedicated careers support to connect students to local employers and jobs. For more information on the EPP visit: https://tinyurl. com/52383fsy Source: Media release, Oct 11 NSW Government

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(includes total preparation & resurfacing) NOTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION OF ABORIGINAL INTERESTS Biosis is undertaking an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA) for Complete Kitchens & Bathrooms All Concrete surfaces - Driveways Garages / Paths the future/ design plans for potential industrial development at 168 Somersby Metal and Concrete tiled roofs Falls Road, Somersby, NSW, within the Central Coast Local Government Area Decks and Pergolas on behalf of Jackson Environment and Planning Pty Ltd on behalf of Sue Dulux Acrilic Textures Davis. (Chloe Rich, chloe@jacksonenvironment.com.au, (02) 8056 1849). Biosis invites Aboriginal people who hold cultural knowledge in determining the significance of Aboriginal object(s) and/or places in the vicinity of the above area to register their interest in a process of community consultation. The purpose of Aboriginal community consultation is to assist Jackson Over 25 Years Experience Lic: 164611C Environment and Planning Pty Ltd on behalf of Sue Davis in preparing an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit application (if required) and to assist Heritage NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Heritage NSW) in their consideration and determination of the application. The project will be undertaken in accordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. To register an interest in this project please contact Anthea Vella (Email: Specialising in the Replacement of All Gutters & Downpipes avella@biosis.com.au, ADDRESS: 14/17-27 Power Avenue, Alexandria, www.gutterworxcentralcoast.com.au • tony@gutterworxcentralcoast.com.au NSW. Tel: (02) 9101 8700).

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SCIENCE & EDUCATION

PAGE 37 15 OCTOBER 2021

Lighting to be upgraded in four public schools Four public schools on the Central Coast will benefit from the NSW Government’s $157.9M LED Lighting Upgrade Program. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said Chertsey Primary School and Copacabana, Toukley and Tuggerawong Public Schools would be included in Tranche 3 of the program. “The announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, with students getting ready to commence face-to-face learning after almost four months of online schooling,” Crouch said. “LED lights can be tuned to mimic natural light, which can help how students learn by improving their attentiveness and comprehension.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, with students and former principal Toni Skinner at Chertsey Primary School pre lockdown

“These lighting improvements will make a big difference to the way students learn, benefiting their eyes and minds. “The LED Lighting Upgrade Program also provides an exciting opportunity for tradies on the Central Coast, with local companies to receive priority in the tender process.” Tradespeople can tender for the LED lighting upgrade opportunities via the Local Trades Scheme, an online platform where small businesses can engage directly with the Department of Education to bid for work at public schools in their local communities. Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell, said the NSW Government is committed to improving the learning spaces for students as well as supporting

communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The lighting upgrade is a great way for the schools to improve teaching spaces, reduce their power and maintenance bills but is also a fantastic way to stimulate local economic growth,” Mitchell said. Coast schools approved for the program in Tranches 1 and 2 are: Berkeley Vale PS, The Entrance PS, Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkeley Vale and The Entrance, Tuggerah PS, Wyoming PS, Central Mangrove PS, Ettalong PS, Jilliby PS, Kulnura PS, Peats Ridge PS, Pretty Beach PS, Somersby PS, Tacoma PS and Wyong Creek PS. Source: Media release, Oct 12 Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch

Teacher shortage claims misleading – Crouch Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, has hit back at claims by the NSW Teachers Federation that NSW is at risk of running out of teachers within five years due to chronic shortages, plummeting graduate numbers, rising enrolments and an ageing workforce. Federation President, Angelo Gavrielatos, said recently released Department of Education documents had warned in June last year: “If we don’t address supply gaps now, we will run out of teachers in the next five years”. “The situation has only got worse since then with a briefing

to the Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, in July this year warning: ‘NSW is facing a large and growing shortage of teachers – such as STEM, inclusive education, in rural and regional areas, secondary and where there has been significant population growth’,” Gavrielatos said. He said the findings, combined with a recent report that NSW could run out of classrooms by 2023, showed the need for immediate government action. He said the documents made clear that teachers’ pay had been falling in comparison with other professions and that was a barrier to recruiting high achieving students.

FORT DENISON

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

“This will be a test of the new Premier’s commitment to our children and our teachers,” he said. “These documents show the government has been fully aware of the worsening staffing crisis and has betrayed teachers, parents, principals and students by repeatedly denying the seriousness of the problems instead of addressing them. “Their own advice is clear that the decline in the salaries of teachers compared to other professions is limiting the attractiveness of the profession. “We have to fix the shortages and make teaching the dream job for high achieving young people and we can’t do that with

uncompetitive wages and unsustainable workloads.” Gavrielatos said the department had warned of a shortfall of 2,425 teachers in 2025 due to rising enrolments, an ageing workforce and decreasing supply of graduates. “At a time of rising enrolments, the lack of graduates is a major concern with a 29 per cent decrease in the number of students beginning a teacher education course between 2014 and 2019,” he said. “This is expected to worsen (and) in addition, 28 per cent of teachers will reach retirement age by 2024. “Big problems require big solutions and it’s time for the

TIDE CHART

government to finally acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and to work with the profession to address it.” Gavrielatos said teachers had been waiting 10 years for a 10year workforce plan. Crouch said the Government’s approach to teacher supply was backed by research. “This includes actively seeking opportunities to resolve challenges that simply won’t be fixedbybroadbrushapproaches,” he said. “This year’s Budget includes $124.8M over four years for initiatives included in the Teacher Supply Strategy. “Claims that we are heading for a teacher crisis are

Terry Collins

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

Times and Heights(m) of high and low waters

0521 1.24 0010 0.39 0057 0.36 0136 0.34 0211 0.34 0242 0.36 0311 0.39 1051 0.66 0617 1.32 0703 1.41 0744 1.50 0821 1.56 0856 1.61 0929 1.65 FRI 1722 1.61 SAT 1158 0.59 SUN 1255 0.52 MON 1343 0.46 TUE 1426 0.42 WED 1505 0.40 THU 1544 0.40 1820 1.62 1910 1.63 1953 1.62 2031 1.58 2109 1.53 2145 1.47 0340 0.43 0408 0.48 0438 0.54 0511 0.60 0021 1.20 0111 1.15 0212 1.11 1000 1.67 1033 1.67 1106 1.66 1143 1.62 0548 0.66 0634 0.72 0732 0.77 FRI 1621 0.41 SAT 1700 0.43 SUN 1740 0.46 MON 1823 0.51 TUE 1223 1.57 WED 1311 1.51 THU 1408 1.46 2221 1.40 2258 1.33 2338 1.27 1913 0.56 2011 0.60 2118 0.60

CCN

blatantly misleading. “In fact, the NSW Government’s Department of Education has recruited 3,400 additional teachers since 2019. “We have more than 90,000 teachers on payroll, including temporary, part-time and casual teachers. “The NSW Government is also working on a number of initiatives to recruit and retain quality teachers, including in critical subjects and locations. “We are on-track to deliver our election commitment of recruiting an additional 4,600 teachers over four years.”

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

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FOOTBALL Goalkeeper Yaren Sözer has joined the Central Coast Mariners A-League squad for the coming season. The 24-year-old was born in Victoria and came through the Melbourne City FC academy. He captained the National Youth League team to a championship, as well as being a part of the A-League squad that won the FFA Cup in 2017. After multiple successful seasons in Australian youth football, he signed with İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. in

Goalkeeper Yaren Sözer in training

Young keeper brings overseas experience Turkey, before being loaned to Esenler Erokspor. Sözer signed with Perak FC in the Malaysian Super League after a couple of seasons in Turkey. He has dual Australian and Turkish citizenship and while he enjoyed his time abroad, he is ready to return home to Australia and compete for a starting spot at the Mariners. “After spending three years in Europe and Asia away from home, I feel like I have gained a lot of experience and maturity and I believe the timing is right to return to Australia to try and establish myself in the

A-League,” Sözer said. “The Mariners is a fantastic club that has given many players an opportunity to show their ability on the biggest stage. “I’m looking forward to working hard every day and I hope it’s a successful season for all involved.” Mariners Head of Football, Ken Schembri, welcomed Sözer to the squad as a gloveman. “We have taken our time to search for another goalkeeper that will add value and depth to our squad,” he said. “Yaren has overseas

experience, which is rare for a goalkeeper at his age, highlighting his ambition, talent and potential, which fits well with the type of player that we want in our squad. “Our goalkeeping coach Jess Vanstratten has spoken of his delight in having Yaren join his ranks and is looking forward to working with him further as the season progresses.” Sözer joins Birighitti as one of two goal-keepers for the 2021/22 Izuzu UTE A-League season. Source: Media release, Oct 8 Central Coast Mariners

Summer beach volleyball comes to Avoca VOLLYBALL Volleyball NSW’s annual Beach Volleyball Tour (BVT) for the summer of 2021/22 will open at Avoca Beach on October 29-31 with a weekend full of action for spectators and participants. On Friday, October 29 new training sessions and social

competitions will be open for all. These activities require registration and are available to everyone regardless of playing level. The open training sessions will be held between 4:30pm and 7:30pm, incorporating an open social competition from 5:30pm. On Saturday, October 30, a

senior tournament will be held from 8am to 4pm and a performance camp will take place from 4pm to 7:30pm. Sunday, October 31, will see senior finals from 8am to 12pm, a youth tournament from 8am to 5pm and more open activities until 7:30pm. The competition will offer plenty of game time and free beach volleyball activities on

Saturday and Sunday for families. Registration to all events is open now and will close at midnight on October 19. Register at https://www. volleyballnsw.com.au/events/ list/&cat=3719. Source: Media release, Oct 12 Volleyball NSW

Up to $20,000 available for grassroots clubs Central Coast sporting organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding under the latest round of the State Government’s Local Sport Grant Program. Minister for Sport, Natalie

Ward, said more than $4.6M was available to sporting clubs looking at initiatives to increase participation in sport through events, development programs and facilities. “We know sport has great health, social and economic

advantages and we’re looking to strengthen our local sporting communities as we plan for the future,” Ward said. “Sport goes far beyond the physical benefits. “It boosts social networks and can also help develop skills

and create jobs. “This funding will support projects at grassroots sporting clubs which are driving participation opportunities, so that more people in NSW can enjoy the benefits of being involved in sport.”

The NSW Government funded more than 930 projects across the state through the last round of the program. Successful clubs can receive up to $20,000, with up to $50,000 available for each electorate throughout NSW.

Applications close on Friday, November 19. For more information visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/localsport-grant-program. Source: Media release, Oct 12 NSW Government

Humpback Highway Watch Ronny Ling and his Central Coast Dolphin Project and Central Coast Newspapers have combined to bring you a regular Humpback Highway report in each edition of this newspaper. Friday 15th to Monday 18th October are “Dolphin Days” and the Dolphin Project is asking everyone to record their dolphin sightings off the Central Coast and if possible, to get some photos as well. The information gathered will be used to update data and discover more secrets about the habits of local dolphins. People are asked to phone, text or email their sighting information to the project and if they want, they can contact the project for a sighting form to use.

Whales have been sighted close to the coast, as they are bringing their calves south. Mothers, calves and sometimes, their escorts, have been putting on some spectacular shows off Foresters Beach, The Haven, North Avoca, Copacabana and Killcare. Seals have also been making themselves known in Brisbane Water, Terrigal, Avoca, Copacabana, Macmasters Beach and Putty Beach. As usual, dolphins have been showing off at local beaches including Wamberal, The Haven, Avoca and Killcare. If you’re planning to go whale watching, remember to comply with Health Regulations and police/government directions.

If you are lucky enough to spot a whale, seal or dolphin, please text or call the Project on 0490 401 969 or email centralcoastdolphins@gmail.com

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Slingsby captains winning Grand Prix team Eight nations compete in the fleet races of the Spain Sail Grand Prix, October 2021 Source: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

SAILING The sixth event in this season’s Sail Grand Prix (SGP) has been won by the

Australian team, helmed by Gosford Sailing Club Alumnus and Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom Slingsby.

From Sunday to Monday, October 10 to 11, the eight contesting national teams raced their cutting-edge F50 Catamarans through the strong

winds off the Bay of Cadiz, Southern Spain. Beginning with five fleet races and ending with a final

When Matty met the Barefoot Dutchman

Central Coast Mariner Matt Simon has a chat about men’s mental health with the Barefoot Dutchman at Terrigal on Thursday, October 14. The real life ‘Forest Gump’ has been walking barefoot from Cairns for the last five months to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health. The 2600km walk wraps up on Sunday in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

between the top three finishers, Singsby’s six-person crew was ultimately successful and regained its lead in the competition with two events left to go. It’s a well-timed victory as the next event will be hosted on home waters in Sydney on December 17 and18. Heavy wind conditions in Spain shaped the race and resulted in two capsizing incidents. The Spanish hosts were upended during a practice run on Sunday and sustained damage to their boat, forcing them to withdraw from racing. After five fleet races, Australia advanced through to the final in first place, tallying up one win, two second and two fourth placements. Racing against them was Britain in second and the USA in third, yet a mistake by the Great Brits – with Iain Jensen from Newcastle (NSW) as Wing Trimmer – caused them to tip within seconds of the start.

In this critical moment, the Australian team adapted well and pushed ahead of America who were disappointed not to claim the win. The leader board saw them nestled in second place, tied with Japan at 44 points, behind Australia who defend their 2019 championship with a slender one point lead. Britain hold on to fourth place with 40 points ahead of New Zealand with 36, Spain with 35, Denmark with 33 and France with 31. For Slingsby and his team, the win in Spain made up for their disappointing eighth place finish in the previous September SGP event in France. Two opportunities remain to score points in the running for the winner-takes-all $1 million prize, firstly in Sydney on the weekend before Christmas then in San Francisco from March 26 to 28. CCN