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May 23, 2013
Constitutional recognition of local government is vital for federal funding he mayors of both Wyong and Gosford Councils have encouraged residents to support a campaign to give constitutional recognition to local government.
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A referendum will be held at the upcoming September 14 Federal election and both Gosford and Wyong Councils have joined 85% of Councils around Australia to support the campaign for constitutional recognition. A high court decision ruled the federal government cannot directly fund local government, which puts federal government funding across the Central Coast at risk. If constitutional recognition is supported, this would allow for direct federal funding of local government. “The present climate means government grants are decreasing and it would be disastrous if we lost any type of federal funding,” Wyong mayor Cr Doug Eaton said. “Local Government is the only level of government in Australia that is not financially recognised in the Australian Constitution and our income funding is limited in relation to the services we are expected to provide to our community. “Government funding is such a vital part of any
Council’s income and Wyong Shire Council has always been grateful for any funding we have received from the Federal and State Governments. “The Constitutional Recognition of Local Government will enable the Federal Government to have the capacity to fund Councils directly to achieve national objectives at a local level, such as major infrastructure projects and job creation ventures,” he added. For the referendum to be successful there needs to be a majority of yes votes from voters in a
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majority of states. Gosford mayor Cr Lawrie McKinna encouraged all residents to support the referendum at the upcoming election. “Local Councils, including Gosford and Wyong, often rely heavily on federal funding to improve our roads and community facilities,” mayor Cr McKinna said. “By voting yes in the referendum, residents are voting to continue to access this funding, which contributes to many major projects in our local areas,” he added. Both Councils received
an $80 million grant from the Federal Government for the Mardi-Mangrove Link project, which has secured the region’s water supply. In Wyong, the Federal Government’s Caring for Country grant provided $20 million for the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Program and $5 million for two new surf clubs at Shelly and Soldiers Beach. Other projects include $520,000 for a playground at Canton Beach which would be able to be used by visually impaired children, $400,000 for six new netball courts at Wyong’s Baker Park and $200,000 to upgrade community halls around the Wyong area and a number of grants to help complete Wyong’s shared pathway network. “Quite simply, federal grants are important for a number of projects right across the community,” mayor Cr Eaton said. “That is why it is so important people vote yes at the referendum to ensure this continues,” he concluded. Media release, 21 May 2013 Wyong Council Media and Gosford Council Media
Issue 21
Craig Thomson facing new charges
ineteen new charges have been laid against Dobell MP Mr Craig Thomson in 25 volumes of new material presented during a hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 22.
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The new charges include allegations that Mr Thomson used a Health Services Union credit card to pay for pornographic movies at the Swissotel in Sydney and the Pacific International Suites in Melbourne. Mr Thomson’s defence lawyer Mr David Galbally asked the magistrate for an adjournment due to
the large volume of new evidence to consider. The case has been adjourned until Monday, July 1, and Mr Thomson’s bail has been renewed. Mr Thomson’s office offered no comment when contacted by Wyong Regional Chronicle. Website, 22 May 2013 Mark Russell, The Age
The Central Coast