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June 20, 2013
Wyong Council restructured
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Issue 23
Major intersections to be upgraded ember for the Entrance Mr Chris Spence and Member for Mr Wyong Darren Webber have announced that the NSW government will deliver a complete upgrade of Wyong Rd.
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Mr Spence said this t its Ordinary Meeting of Wednesday, June 12, Wyong Council was a great win for the adopted a revised organisational structure which builds upon people of the Central major changes adopted in November last year.
The restructure aims to achieve an equitable distribution of responsibilities across the organisation. It also attempts to support council’s strategic priorities, in particular, a renewed focus on stimulating local economic development. Wyong mayor Cr Doug Eaton said the changes would allow council to maximise the community’s value for money. “It clearly shows our increased focus on commercial activities and functions, as opposed to a traditional public service provision role,” he said. In terms of Infrastructure and Operations, the new structure will allow resources to be dedicated to the areas of major concern raised through recent community consultation. These are roads, lakes - natural areas and drainage. The new waterways group will be in a position to dedicate resources to
lake improvements and put a concerted effort into drainage issues that previously have been of a lower priority. The changes also mean there will be no unit dealing specifically with the environment. Instead, Wyong Council general manager Mr Michael Whittaker said the environment would become entrenched in the roles of 1,200 council staff members. “Having [the environment] in one area makes people think it’s only one person’s job,” Mr Whittaker said. “We need everyone to understand that they have responsibility for the environment.” The Sport, Leisure and Recreation Unit will become Community, Business and Tourism under the restructure and will focus on those community services that are a business. This will incorporate pools, recreation centres, childcare and in future, cemeteries. The unit will also
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provide a central focus on tourism, identifying and assisting in grasping opportunities that will impact the Wyong Shire. Open Space will be renamed Open Space and Recreation to more accurately reflect its function. Council has also adopted a reduced target for total full time staff equivalent numbers of 1,000 by the end of 2016 2017, while resolving that no existing permanent award staff member would be impacted by the change. The restructure continues the trend to decrease middle management with the number of service unit managers reducing from 20 in 2011, to 26 in 2012, and 19 from the adoption of the latest structure. Staff and staff representation groups now have the opportunity to comment on the restructure.
Coast. “The NSW Government has committed to funding the upgrades of the four pinch-point intersections on Wyong Rd in full, totalling over $100 million,” he said. Mr Webber also said that day after day, motorists sat bumper to bumper on Wyong Rd. “The intersections at Pacific Highway, Enterprise Dr, Mingara Dr and Tumbi Rd have long been identified as problematic, and we are excited that this budget has delivered the funding
Wyong Road - Tumbi Road Intersection
to get them underway,” he said. “This year we have a total of $5.6 million allocated, including $800,000 in progress planning for the
Wyong Council Agenda 4.6, 12 Jun 2013 Wyong Road - Pacific Highway Intersection
intersection upgrades at Tumbi Rd and Mingara Dr, a further $800,000 in progress planning for the Enterprise Dr intersection, and $4 million for Pacific Highway.” Construction funding will be allocated in the 2014/2015 budget and will begin in the same year. “The Liberal members across the Central Coast have made sure that the needs of the region continue to be a priority and today we see evidence that the NSW government is listening,” Mr Spence said. Media release, 18 Jun 2013, Laurie Alexander, Office of Chris Spence MP
The Central Coast