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June 7, 2016
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Issue 93
Council’s first property decision angers residents he new Central Coast Council’s administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, has agreed, at the council’s first public meeting on May 25, to sell land in Orchard Rd, Kangy Angy to the NSW Government to build a multi-million dollar train maintenance facility.
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Kangy Angy residents have been fighting the land sale and the proposed development since they learned about it in September. Transport for NSW has also announced the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept plan for the facility will be on public exhibition from June 6 to July 4. Ms Michelle Nicholson from the Kangy Angy Residents Action Group said Transport for NSW representatives met with residents on Friday, May 27 “to fulfil their obligations to engage in community consultation. “When we raised our concerns about the flooding the project director said it was ‘their risk’. “We believe this is not their risk to take, as they are also risking our tax payer dollars, the endangered species, and worsening the flooding in our area,” Ms Nicholson said. The land was identified by the former Wyong Council as an alternative site to land at Warnervale for Transport for NSW to
Flooding of the Kangy Angy access road near the proposed train maintenance site on June 4 and 5
use as the maintenance and stabling facility for its new intercity fleet. Documents obtained under the Government Information Public Access (GIPA) Act indicate that Transport for NSW wanted their facility to be built on land at Warnervale but Wyong Council discouraged that location as it interfered with the former council’s plan to develop Wyong as a business and education precinct. In September, Transport for NSW named the flood-prone Kangy Angy land as the preferred location to establish the new Fleet Management Facility. In making his first planning decision in the position of administrator with the newly-formed Central Coast Council, Mr Ian Reynolds said:
“It is likely the State Government would have moved to compulsorily acquire this land if council had not agreed to sell it. “This decision guarantees the best outcome for council and residents.” Mr Reynolds said the new facility would have the potential to create hundreds of local construction jobs and ongoing employment. “The decision I had to make was about the land transfer,” Mr Reynolds said at a media conference after the meeting. “There is a separate question about whether the facility should be developed and that is part of a planning process,” he said. In responding to comments from residents that as an appointee of
the NSW Government, Mr Reynolds was simply doing its bidding, he said: “The decision was would I agree to sell the land. “I am independent of government influence, I am not here to do the government’s bidding, I am here to serve the council,” Mr Reynolds said. “Business goes on. “We have to deal with business as usual and the state government said if we don’t sell it, it will be compulsorily acquired,” he said. Central Coast Council CEO, Mr Rob Noble: “You could align the decision about the Kangy Angy land with the Sword of Damocles that came down with the immediate sacking of all councillors. “We have had a sword held over our heads,” Mr Noble said.
“Council has been forced into a situation of agreeing to sell or forced to accept terms that may not be beneficial to the community. “It is really sad when potential impacts arise on the people of that area,” he said. Mr Noble said he would defend the decision to keep the sale price of the land confidential until the deal was finalised. “The price will eventually become public but … commercial in confidence is a really important element of business deals when money is involved,” Mr Noble said. “We are shocked by the decision made by the administrator,” Kangy Angy Residents Action Group spokesperson, Ms Michelle Nicholson said following the council
meeting. “Resident, Mr Neil Bolte and Community Environment Network representative, Mr Mike Campbell, were both given reasonable time to voice the Kangy Angy residents’ concerns about the transfer of the land,” Ms Nicholson said. “Tonight’s decision by Central Coast Council’s new administrator to offload flood prone, environmentally sensitive land to Transport for NSW to build a $300 million train facility is irresponsible and is detrimental to the Kangy Angy and Ourimbah area. “Let’s hope the reckless decision tonight is not a sign of things to come from the new amalgamated council. “Residents will continue to fight the proposed development that is being built in a ridiculous location. “The facility would have no access in, would be built by filling in a wetland and wasting our tax payer dollars. “Transport’s consultants put forward eight preferred sites and Kangy Angy was not one of them. “Transport for NSW need to rethink their illconceived plan.”
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Email, Jun 2, 2016 Michelle Nicholson, Kangy Angy Residents Action Group Agenda item 3.4, May 25, 2016 Meeting transcript, May 25, 2016 Central Coast Council extraordinary meeting Jackie Pearson, journalist