Row over energy savings heats up

Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris, has hit back at a claim by the Liberal-National Party that there would be no relief on energy prices for half of the households in the state for the next seven years if Labor wins the March 25 election.

The LNP said that Labor’s plan to dump the Government’s $250 rebate scheme, and only give it to some households who are already eligible for the Energy Bill Buster Program, would see many miss out.

“A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will provide every household in NSW with $250 off their energy bills from July 1 simply for looking for a better deal that can help unlock further savings of up to $400 off their bills,” the LNP said.

“The Labor plan will see around 1.5 million households get nothing.

“As part of the agreement with the Albanese Government to impose a coal cap in NSW, the Commonwealth agreed to match NSW’s energy rebates.

“The rebates to match NSW’s could be up to $535 per person from the Commonwealth depending on what rebates they are eligible for.

“The Albanese Government also agreed that a portion of the promised bill relief would support small businesses.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals will ensure NSW small businesses get their fair share.”

However, Harris said the NSW Government has botched its Energy Policy over the past 12 years, resulting in higher prices and privatisation of essential assets.

“Labor has announced a plan to provide relief in the short term but also get prices back under control in the longer term,” he said.

“Labor’s $485M Energy Relief Fund will help lower power bills and fight inflation.

“Small businesses across the state are struggling under rising electricity costs.

“If they close down, people lose their jobs, their livelihoods and their ability to make ends meet.

“That’s why under Labor, eligible NSW small businesses will receive $315 directly off their energy bill.”

Harris said Labor’s Energy Relief Fund would mean NSW households who were hit hardest by rising electricity prices would receive $250 directly off their energy bill.

The rebate will apply to households receiving income support, pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders and Family Tax Benefit recipients.

“Labor’s plan will deliver effective, targeted energy bill relief to those who need it most without onerous application processes or the requirement to apply or look elsewhere –under Labor, it’s automatically applied to bills,” Harris said.

“A Minns Labor Government will help ease the cost of rising electricity bills for 320,000 eligible small businesses and 1.6 million eligible NSW families and households.

“When matched with $250 from the Commonwealth Government’s Energy Bill Relief Fund, around 1.6 million eligible households will get $500 off their electricity bills.”

He said a Labor government would set up a NSW Energy Security Corporation to accelerate investment in renewables and keep the lights on.

“Under the Government’s poor energy policy Central Coast Ausgrid customers pay over $100 a year more than they should,” he said.

“Meanwhile, prices are up 40 percent since 2015 despite the NSW Liberals promising prices would go down.”

Terry Collins

1.2 tonnes of rubbish collected in three days

Clean4Shore recently cleared 1,200kgs (or 1.2 tonnes) of rubbish from the Brisbane Water in just three days, gathering 40 huge bags of litter in a concerted blitz.

Monday, March 6 saw high temperatures, but a high tide allowed access to the inside area of Fagans Bay as students from Narara Valley High School joined clean-up efforts.

Co-ordinator Graham Johnston said rubbish collected on the day included a damaged surf ski.

“Mangroves close to the RSL Club and the Evergreen Village had bulk small litter items buried in the thick mangroves,” he said.

“This was a difficult task with the source being ‘gutter litter’ due to the vast amount of balls – more than 3000 were found.

“Small litter was mainly plastic bottles, soft and hard plastics and polystyrene.”

Johnston said Narara Creek was very clean on the western side but bulk small and larger litter was on the eastern side close to the netball courts.

“Two small sections close to the Central Coast Highway had very small amounts of soft plastics and plastic bottles,” he said.

On Tuesday, March 7, volunteers were joined by a group of Year 8 students from Erina High School as the cleanup continued in Erina Bay.

“Central Coast Council’s Estuary Officer, Ben Cuerel, joined our team, speaking to the students on Council’s

Let’s Talk

Gosford 2023 environmental issues,” Johnston said.

“He remained with the group being proactive in the cleanup.”

Johnston said small litter was collected from Erina Bay in a high tide, with larger pieces of the Punt Bridge vessel also removed as the group tackled 100m of foreshore.

“A derelict campsite was removed close to the local hotel in bushland,” he said.

“Very hot conditions with high tidal water allowed for a cooling swim during the clean up.”

On Wednesday, March 8 a keen group of Year 9 students from Terrigal High School joined clean-up efforts at Rileys Island, splitting into two groups to clean the western foreshore.

“Oyster baskets immediately appeared in consistent numbers, with bulk small litter present,” Johnston said.

“Plastic bottles and soft plastics were dominant.

“Paddys Channel also had

Let’s Talk Gosford 2023

oyster baskets plus smaller volumes of plastics and polystyrene.

“Treated pine and hardwood pallets were carried out to the barge.”

Johnston said a red fiberglass vessel sighted the previous day was removed following advice from Maritime to remove.

“The boat had large holes in the hull and was not able to be towed,” he said.

“The boat (was cut) into three larger pieces which the students loaded into the barge.”

Upon returning to Gosford Sailing Club for a healthy lunch, the team was joined by members of the Central Coast Local Health District who were at the Sailing Club to assist the homeless with medical attention and accommodation advice.

All waste collected was taken to Woy Woy tip.

Terry Collins

Discover 10 exciting projects that Council has planned to help Gosford reach its full potential and create a city full of life and opportunities. Have your say on projects open for consultation, explore information on others, and share your ideas and aspirations for the area.

Let’s Talk Drop-in Information Day

Thursday 30 March

Park House Gosford (124 Donnison St, Gosford)

• 10am-12pm (business and collaborator session)

• 1pm-4pm (community member session)

Learn more and have your say online by 26 April yourvoiceourcoast.com/gosford

The iconic rocket ship play structure at Long Jetty Lions Park is going into a temporary orbit to be refreshed – but will soon return as good as new and ready for many more trips around the sun.

The gleaming yellow rocket is enshrined in the memories of generations of Coasties and Central Coast Council’s refreshment project will see its life extended for decades to come.

In a first-of-its-kind operation, Lions Park will be shut for a few hours later this month to allow crane access to the site.

The rocket ship will be lifted