13 MAY 2022
ISSUE 341
News
Scomo visits Umina Beach
Central Coast Council is looking into a permanent fix for Wisemans Ferry Rd, with residents of Spencer and Gunderman furious at the dilapidated state of the major thoroughfare. See page 2
Out&About
This year’s Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) sponsored by Afterpay had a big Central Coast flavour with at least two Central Coast women leading the way. See page 13
With the Federal Election just a week away, Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Umina Beach this week and made a number of promises if the Coalition is re-elected on May 21.
Business
See page 3 Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, chat to RYSS staff and clients
15 per cent rate rise extended by seven years Central Coast ratepayers will be forking out 15 per cent extra on their rates until 2031, with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approving Central Coat Council’s application to extend the Special Rate Variation (SRV), originally granted for three years, for an extra seven years. IPART announced on May 10 that it had approved extending the increase for a further seven-year period, beginning in 2024, despite receiving almost 300 submissions, mostly opposing the extension. Central Coast was one of four councils to receive approval
IPART Chair, Carmel Donnelly
for SRVs. Chair Carmel Donnelly said the tribunal had considered community concerns along with the Council’s demonstrated need for additional revenue to ensure financial sustainability and service provision. “The increase is a one-off and does not compound over time,” she said.
Donnelly said the rise was still temporary and rates would reduce in 2031 but granting the seven-year extension would give a future elected Council a more sound financial base from which to deliver services at a level the community expects. She stressed that the 15 per cent rise was a cap and that a future elected Council could opt not to implement the full rise at any time in the 10-year period. When asked what had changed between last year’s decision to allow the rise for only three years and the recent decision to extend that period by seven years, Donnelly said
the initial approval for a threeyear limit had been made to give Council more time to explore other funding options, consult more with ratepayers and implement its financial recovery plan and for the results of the public inquiry into Council to conclude. “At that time, Council had only partly met criteria for a rate rise and had a poor track record,” she said. The application to extend the rate rise for an additional seven years had been clearer and better supported with information, she said. “Council showed that its financial recovery plan and a number of other plans were
being implemented and that it was investigating other revenue sources,” she said. “It is on target to achieve $60M in asset sales and has saved money through staff restructuring. “It showed Council is making adequate progress (in addressing its financial situation).” Donnelley said the tribunal found there was a genuine financial need for the rise to remain for an additional seven years to enable services to be maintained and that Council’s rates are still generally lower than those of neighbouring and similar councils.
Locals have been referring to the Pearl Beach Cafe and General Store as Pearly’s for years – and now the name is official.
See page 21
Sport
Central Coast swimmer Riley Moore will attend the Pathways to Paralympics camp on the Gold Coast this week after winning five gold medals at the Australian Para Swimming Titles.
Continued page 4
See page 32
Puzzles page 18
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