Issue 167 of Wyong Regional Chronicle by Central Coast Newspapers

Issue 167 19 June 2019

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Toxic working environment, mass resignations and multi bed closures at aged care facility

staff member from Casuarina Grove Aged Care Facility, Hamlyn Terrace, claims that the facility has become a “hidden hell hole” and believes that it is destined for closure, which could see some of the region’s highest care elderly displaced. According to the staffer, who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution, behind closed doors, Casuarina Grove was on a downward spiral, with secret bed closures, declining patient care standards and warring staff. Casuarina Grove is the largest of the Specialist Supported Living (SSL) facilities operated by Family and Community Services (FACS) NSW. According to FACS, the 100 bed purpose built facility was opened in 2011 and specialises in providing 24-hour support for people with an intellectual disability and complex ageing related needs, and was the first of its kind to be built in NSW. The staffer said concerns first emerged when management closed 20 beds abruptly and with little explanation. The staffer said the

beds, which are located in Units 5 and 6, had been shut for at least six months, and as a result, new resident admissions had also effectively been capped. “We were told the Units had been closed for renovations but they’re not even 10 years old and neither myself or any staff member that I’ve spoken to about it has seen any activity in those Units since they were closed,” the staffer said. They said Casuarina Grove was currently operating in a state of limbo and that unbeknownst to the general public, the facility

All is not what it seems at Casuarina Grove had been on the market The staffer said many for sale since 2017, a staff members faced daily claim they believe elicits bullying and intimidation further questions over the at the hands of an “inner bed closures. circle” of staff members “It (being for sale) just in these Units. proves the renovation “A hierarchy has formed excuse was bogus. amongst the Registered “The closure was Nurses, Assistants in implemented to help Nursing and the Unit streamline a handover if Manager and staff on the place ever sells,” the the outer, or who speak up about issues, face staffer said. According to the staffer, character assassination the current state of and routine bullying,” the affairs has led to several staffer said. They said that despite disputes between staff and management which staff members bringing concerns to has allowed a “culture of their fear and intimidation” to management, the covert be entrenched in certain nature of the issue Units at Casuarina Grove. allowed it to fester and has resulted in several

resignations. “The issue here is that they protect each other and substantiate each other’s claims about false incidents with other staff members. “This makes it extremely difficult to actually make a complaint about their behaviour and conduct stick,” the staffer said. According to the staffer, the issue has gotten so bad that this inner circle is now directly compromising the safety of residents, staff and the wider Hamlyn Terrace, Warnervale and Wadalba communities. The staffer alleges that

a member of the inner circle, who is an Assistant in Nursing (AIN), has been showing up to work intoxicated and that management have been going to great lengths to excuse her behaviour. “This AIN drives to Casuarina Grove, completely and utterly drunk and arrives incapable of doing anything. “She has shown a reckless abandon for her own life and the lives of others and amazingly, to the best of my knowledge, she has faced no disciplinary action for her conduct,” the staffer said. “What’s more is that management have been aware of this behaviour, as multiple staff members have put in complaints, but have done nothing about it. “I know of multiple occasions where this AIN arrived drunk and was allowed to sleep it off or the Unit Manager arranged a taxi to take her home. “I’ve even been told that other staff members have been directed to drive this AIN back to her home in Wadalba. “How has this been allowed to go on?” the staffer said.

Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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19 June 2019

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yong Regional Chronicle includes “source lines” at the end of each article which aim to provide readers with information about where and how we came across the information, so that they might judge for themselves the veracity of what they are reading.

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ABOUT US Central Coast Newspapers is a local, family owned business that publishes and distributes three Central Coast Newspapers every fortnight. All staff are also locals and between them, the three papers cover the entire Central Coast. Each paper focuses specifically on an area bound by postcodes as follows: Peninsula News Post Codes 2256 and 2257; Coast Community News Post Codes

2250, 2251, 2260; and Wyong Regional Chronicle Post Codes 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262 and 2263. Coverage takes in the entire ward of Budgewoi and major parts of The Entrance and Wyong Central Coast Council Wards. It also takes in the entire State seat of Wyong, and parts of the State seats of The Entrance and Swansea, and the entire Federal seat of Dobell and part of Shortland All articles are sourced and dated so that readers will know when and where the information came from and

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where they can perhaps get more information. All articles are edited and given a heading and are often quite different from what was originally received. Contributions are welcome and are preferred in email form, ideally with any relevant photographs attached. Contributions must include the contributor’s name, address and phone numbers. This is not for publication but name and suburb will be published and anonymous contributions will not be included.

Wyong Regional Chronicle covers: Alison, Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Colongra, Crangan Bay, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Gorokan, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Kingfisher Shores, Lake Haven, Lake

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Issue 166

22 May 2019

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Conroy and McBride returned to Parliament but with a reduced margin

ts business as usual on the northern part of the Central Coast with both Labor MPs being returned after the Federal election on Saturday May 18, although both Shortland and Dobell showed sizeable swings away from the Australian Labor Party.

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Shortland has always been a Labor seat and the sitting MP, Pat Conroy, went into the election with a solid 9.9 percent margin, yet, counting so far is showing a huge 5.8 percent swing away from Labor and a downturn in almost every polling booth in the electorate. “It’s fair to say that the people of Shortland did not like the Labor policy agenda and sent a very strong message that this is not what they want”, Conroy said. “I am humbled and grateful for the trust to be re-elected but only a fool would ignore the message from the electorate. “I think they (voters) reacted to a dishonest scare campaign about the franking credits and the working middle class people felt that Labor had abandoned them.” Conroy said voting trends also showed that there was “enormous dissatisfaction of what was going on in Canberra” because of upward voting trends to minor parties and independents.

No stopping Emma McBride and Pat Conroy “I will be getting around to community groups and individuals to make it clear to people that Labor has heard and accepts that they didn’t like our policy agenda and I will be working hard to build their trust again,” he said. Conroy said he expected to emerge from final counting with a four percent margin. With 81 percent of the vote counted, and on a two party preferred basis, Conroy had 54 percent of the vote with 47,031 and

the Liberal candidate, Nell McGill, held 45 percent of the vote with 39,842. First preference counts at the time of publication were: Susan Newbury, Sustainable Australia, 3.02 percent of the vote on 2,628; Xing Yu, Christian Democatic Party (Fred Nile Group), 1.99 percent on 1,731; Pat Conroy, Australian Labor Party, 41.23 percent on 35,821; Dani Rifai, United Australia Party, 4.44 percent on 3,869; Wylie Campbell, The Greens, 7.92 percent

on 6,885; Bryan McGrath, Animal Justice Party, 3.52 percent on 3,056; and, Nell McGill, Liberal Party, 37.87 percent on 32,909. For the second time, Emma McBride has won the seat of Dobell but her margin has narrowed with a 3.17 percent swing away from Labor. McBride said she was “grateful” to be reelected and there would be a lot of analysis of what happened with the swing away from Labor. “As soon as I can,

I’m going out into the community to listen and hear, and work towards what matters most to them,” she said. “The two main issues people come to me for is aged care and the NDIS, and I’ll be working to make sure that the people get what they need,” she said. McBride said her next three-year term will also have a strong focus on unemployment, education and schools. She congratulated

other re-elected Central Coast Federal MPs, Pat Conroy (Shortland) and Lucy Wicks (Robertson) and extended “best wishes to the Coalition on being returned to government”. “Thank you to everyone who put their confidence in me to serve our community and to all the volunteers and supporters who care about our community,” McBride said. With almost 82 percent of the vote counted and on a two-party preferred basis, McBride was leading with 51.64 percent of the vote on 46,682 and Liberal candidate, Jilly Pillon, had 48.36 percent of the vote with 43,719. Votes were still being counted as this newspaper went to publication and the latest first preference figures were: Aaron Harpley-Carr, United Australia Party, 5.20 percent of the vote on 4,700; Paula Grundy, Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group), 1.78 percent on 1,611; Jilly Pilon, Liberal, 40.96 percent on 37,032; Scott Rickard, The Greens, 7.04 percent on 6,368; Emma McBride, Australian Labor Party, 41.96 percent on 37,926; and, Gregory Stephenson, Independent, 3.06 percent on 2,762.

Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Source: Website, May 21 Tally Room Australian Electoral Commission Interview, May 20 Shortland MP, Pat Conroy Interview and Media statement, May 21 Dobell MP, Emma McBride

Issue 166

5 June 2019

Edition 470

27 May 2019

Nursing home receives visit from alpaca A Woy Woy aged care provider has hosted a visit from an alpaca after the granddaughter of a resident asked to show her pet to her grandmother. Ms Shandelle Palmer said she decided to drop in to Blue Wave Living to visit her grandmother with her alpaca, Strudel, on April 29. “Nan has heard so much about Strudel but she’s never had the chance to meet him and I felt it was time to change that,” she said. Ms Palmer said, after some initial hesitation, staff allowed her to take Strudel into her grandmother’s room for their first meeting. “It was really touching. “Nan is a big knitter and she’s always talked about Strudel and his coat and how she’d like to meet him so I’m glad we were allowed in,” Ms Palmer said. According to Ms Palmer, after witnessing her grandmother’s response to Strudel and the alpaca’s excellent behavior, staff asked Ms Palmer if she’d be comfortable taking Strudel to visit other residents’ rooms. Ms Palmer said their room visit quickly turned into a tour of the facility including BlueWave’s dementia ward. “They say music and animals always have a profound effect on people living with dementia and I

SOURCE: Interview (Dilon Luke), 17 May 2019 Shandelle Palmer, Cessnock

Crs Chris Holstein, Richard Mehrtens and Troy Marquart voted for the development along with seven other councillors and mayor Cr Jane Smith. Crs Kyle MacGregor and Jillian

Hogan abstained from voting and Cr Louise Greenaway was the sole councillor to vote against it. Cr Rebecca Gale Collins declared a less than significant non-pecuniary interest in the matter saying she was in contact with the Peninsula Chambers of Commerce. She chose to remain in the chamber and to participate in discussion and voting. However, she said nothing when the matter came up for debate. Residents had hoped for a different outcome after airing their

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Shandelle Palmer with alpaca Strudel at Blue Wave Living

grievances with three councillors and the mayor at an-site visit in the days before the council meeting. Cr Holstein said the issues had been addressed in the conditions of consent and that consolidated development had a lot of potential. He thanked Mr Harvey McDougall of Save Our Woy Woy, saying the development was better for the input from the residents and that their comments at the meeting on site had been sensible and rational. Cr Mehrtens said it was the third iteration of the proposal.

He said he knew there were variations to council guidelines but they had been minimised. The residents complained about overshadowing from the three-storey development that included 27 units and seven townhouses to be built over five blocks consolidated along Blackwall Rd and Farnell Rd. The development exceeds guidelines for height, floor space ratio and setbacks. Some units and one communal area fail to get the minimum required solar access.

Residents complained about garbage, parking, light pollution, loss of privacy and infrastructure issues such as stormwater and drainage. Another development, this time a new house at 64 Fishermans Parade, Daleys Point, also received council approval at the same meeting. It too had been deferred for a site inspection. It went through with a unanimous vote. SOURCE Central Coast Council agenda 2.1, 13 May 2019

THIS ISSUE contains 82 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Wicks said it was a “tremendous honour” to be returned, and an endorsement of the Federal Government’s plan for the Central Coast and what it has delivered over the past six years. Wicks first took the seat in 2013, being re-elected in 2016 by a slim margin of 1.1 per cent. She increased that margin to more than 4 per cent at the 2019 election. “It did feel very positive over those three weeks on prepoll, and while the polls were pointing to a, Bill Shorten, and Labor win, that’s not what I was hearing at Woy Woy, Gosford or Kincumber,” she said. “The feedback I was getting was that there was real concern about what a, Bill Shorten, Labor-led government would look like. “It was a tough campaign, one of the hardest I have fought, with Labor and the unions throwing everything at us, but it really was a seat we had to win vote by vote, person by person. “Our focus remained strong. “People said they were pleased to see projects finally being delivered. “When we say we are going to do something we do it. “I always knew it was going to be a close race, but having known, Scott Morrison, for 20 years, I know his leadership capabilities, his determination

Emma McBride with Rachel Willis and Paul Lewis of Coast Shelter

and his incredible heart. “When he says people matter, he really means that.” Labor candidate, Anne Charlton, congratulated Wicks on retaining the seat and said she would continue to hold the Liberals to account for promises made during the election campaign. At the time of going to press, latest first preference figures for Robertson, with 89.11% of the vote counted, were: Lucy Wicks (Lib) 47.14% (43,355); Anne Charlton (Lab) 34.21% (31,461); Cath Connor (Greens) 7.68% (7,066); David Abrahams (Ind) 3.03% (2,785); Robert Marks (United Australia) 2.76% (2,539); Sean Bremner-Young (Animal Justice) 2.04% (1,872); Judy Singer (Sustainable Australia) 1.74% (1,601); and, Fiona Stucken (Christian Democrats ) 1.40% (1,284). In two party preferred: Lucy Wicks (Lib) 51.14% (50,130); Anne Charlton (Lab) 48.86% (41,833). Robertson remains a bellwether seat, having gone to the winning party at every

election since the early 1970s. At Dobell, Emma McBride, who took the seat in 2016 from Liberal, Karen McNamara, was re-elected despite a 3.17 per cent swing away from Labor, following a spirited campaign battle against Liberal candidate, Jilly Pilon. While she was “grateful to be re-elected”, McBride said there would be an analysis of what caused the swing against Labor, but in the meantime, it would be back to business. “I’m going out into the community to listen and hear, and work towards what matters most to them,” McBride said. “The two main issues people come to me for are aged care and the NIDIS, and I’ll be working to make sure that the people get what they need.” McBride said her next term would also have a strong focus on unemployment, education and schools. “Thank you to everyone who put their confidence in me to serve our community, and to all the volunteers and

quality in Tuggerah Lakes and Terrigal,” Smith said. “My congratulations to all the sitting members who were re-elected in both State and Federal elections and thanks to all those candidates who put up their hands to be considered for election. “We’ve heard significant funding promised to the Central Coast, now it’s time to buckle down and deliver for the community. “I look forward to bringing our State and Federal members together in June, in a leadership forum, to focus on key projects that we can work through collaboratively. “We will start with our roads; I know roads are always a high priority for our community. “Our community demand a Lucy Wicks on election night with daughter Mollie-Joy high level of service and safety supporters,” she said. policy direction they want the from their road network. At the time of going to country to take over the next “With thousands of press, latest first preference few years. kilometres of roads on the figures for Dobell, with “Business needs certainty, Coast there is a lot to be done.” 89.82% of the vote counted, and particularly in NSW, where The Coalition promised a were: Emma McBride (Lab) we have had two elections in $70m Central Coast roads and 41.60% (41,229); Jilly Pilon the space of two months. pathway package in the lead(Lib) 40.79% (40,419); Scott “There is no doubt that up to the Federal election, Rickard (Greens) 7.38% important business decisions as well as almost $4.3m in (7,317); Aaron Harpley-Carr like expansion, taking on pathways and road upgrades (United Australia) 5.29% additional staff or bringing on in North Avoca. (5,241); Gregory Stephenson extra product lines have been At the State election, more (Ind) 3.10% (3,070); and, Paula held off until these election than $400m was pledged for Grundy (Christian Democrats) results were known. works on the Central Coast 1.84% (1,825). “The return of the Coalition Hiwy and the Pacific Hwy In two party preferred: Government will be well through Wyong. Emma McBride (Lab) 51.54% received by the business Source: (51,076); Jilly Pilon (Lib) community, and they will Media release, May 20 48.46% (48,025). now move forward with Member for Robertson, Lucy Meanwhile, NSW Business investing in their business Wicks Media release, May 20 Chamber Central Coast capabilities, without the added Paula Martin, Regional Director, believes the Coalition win concerns about issues such as Central Coast NSW Business will restore sagging business Workplace Relations.” Chamber confidence, not only in our Central Coast Mayor, Jane Interview, May 21 Member for Dobell, Emma region, but across the nation. Smith, has called on all levels McBride “There can be no of government to work together Media release, May 22 higher accolade than the to deliver the funding and Central Coast Mayor, Jane Prime Minister retaining infrastructure commitments Smith Media release, May 22 Government,” Regional promised in both the State and Labor Candidate for Robertson, Director, Paula Martin, said. Federal elections. Anne Charlton “It was a long and hard “Millions have been pledged Australian Electoral Commission Tally Room, May 29 fought campaign, and one to upgrade local roads, shared Reporters: Sue Murray and where the electorate has pathways and sporting Terry Collins made their decision about the facilities, and to improve water

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net Mobile Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au

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Long awaited final vision of Warnervale Town Centre unveiled

The new Central Coast Council was more bureaucratic and less attentive to the distinctive needs of Wagstaffe and Killcare area than the former Gosford Council.

The vision for a thoroughly modern community hub at Woongarrah

fter years in the planning, the final vision for Warnervale Town Centre has been unveiled, and the concept has come together to create a self-contained community hub of affordable housing, parklands, retail, commercial and community facilities. It’s the vision of developers, Lirun Developments Pty Ltd, and Sales Agent, Dan Ahearn, says this “exciting and innovative”

development, Hilltop Park, at Sparks Rd, Woongarrah, will come together over 10 stages. “There will be both premium and affordable residential housing sites, as well as modern central retail and community facilities, to create the most exciting community hub the Central Coast has seen for decades,” he said. “At the centre of this master precinct development, will be a retail and commercial area with a proposed supermarket, long-term day care centre, child play centre, medical centre

and pharmacy, and other shops and professional offices. “A family tavern at the top of the hill is also planned with an extensive beer garden where patrons can sit in the sunshine with their family enjoying meals and drinks while soaking in the expansive views of the mountains to the west and south, and the lakes and ocean to the east. Ahearn said adjacent the shopping and commercial precinct and family tavern, would be the 5.2 ha Hilltop Parklands.

“This huge open space area will include a cycling track, a separate walking/ jogging track, playing fields, proposed netball courts, multiple barbecue facilities and recreational facilities, together with a viewing platform to take in the views of the entire region,” Ahearn said. “The focus of both the developer and Central Coast Council is to provide a high-end quality recreational parklands amenity for families and the broader community. “It is also proposed to have an area within the park celebrating the heritage and culture of

the traditional owners of the land.” Ahearn said that stages one to four are approved and already developed and comprise 140 residential blocks of land. “About 60 percent of stage 1 has been sold, stage 2 will be released to the market in about a month, and then stages 3 and 4. “Many of the lots are designed specifically to accommodate affordable housing lots so as to ensure that the opportunity to live within Hilltop Park is available to everyone.”

Central Coast Council has approved Stage 5, the commercial and retail sector, and ground works are expected to start by the end of the year. The parklands will be developed after the release of Stage 6 housing. Future land releases for housing are yet to be approved but will be “straight forward development applications,” Ahearn said.

Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

11 June 2019

Council is ‘more bureaucratic and less attentive’

ISSUE 208

Sitting Federal members returned A

Ward councillors vote for Farnell Rd approval All three Peninsula ward councillors have voted to approve the Farnell Rd development, disappointing nearby residents and members of the community group Save Our Woy Woy which had been fighting the proposal.

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region-wide swing of more than 3% to the Liberal Party at the May 18 Federal Election has seen, Lucy Wicks, returned for a third term as Member for Robertson, and Labor’s, Emma McBride, holding onto her seat of Dobell by the slimmest of margins.

got to see that firsthand,” Ms Palmer said. After the successful visit, Ms Palmer said she was now considering whether Strudel had a future as a therapy animal. “It’s definitely something I’m interested in pursuing. “I’d taken Strudel to a local playgroup back in Cessnock prior to the visit but this was the first time we’ve ever gone to an aged care facility but the impact was huge. “The residents just lit up. “It was great to see,” she said. During her visit to the Peninsula, Ms Palmer also took Strudel on a trip to Ettalong Beach. “It was a weekend of firsts for Strudel: his first visit to an aged care facility and his first ever trip to the beach. “He absolutely loved it and so many residents stopped us to say hello and to take a photo,” Ms Palmer said. Ms Palmer said Strudel could be returning to the Peninsula. “My mum lives in the area and nan’s at BlueWave so it’s definitely possible, but my first consideration has to be Strudel’s wellbeing,” she said.

19 June 2019

Edition 471

30 MAY 2019

Source: Media release May 31 Lirun Developments

2019 OFFICIAL

That is the view of WagstaffeKillcare Community Association outgoing president Ms Peta Colebatch, who is worried local needs will be swamped. The association has to be active in identifying and asserting its local needs, she said. These needs include development controls issues and discussions with council continue on a range of matters. “Meetings and letters have produced little response to the longterm challenges facing residents in Hawke Head Dr and Albert St, who do not receive garbage services. “To date, the Council has failed to require the contracted service to provide a small garbage truck that can service these areas, and again, this will continue to be pursued. “This is a matter of Council policy which should be simple, but Council seems impervious to community needs. “Similarly we continue to have ongoing battles in our attempts to retain our local low key, friendly, bush and beach aware community standards when developments occur. “With growing developments and the building on previously unbuilt blocks, it is inevitable that tree cover (and hence bird and animal habitats) are reduced. “While some of this is inevitable, it appears that many people who are attracted to this area may not be aware of the community standards, and new houses may reflect a more suburban than the past low scale approach. “Moreover, the amalgamated council staff may reflect the more liberal approaches of the former Wyong Council and height and boundary changes may result. “The council is preparing new combined approaches to the very large council area it now oversees. “The association remains concerned that our local needs will be swamped in this rush to centralisation and uniformity of planning approaches. “We have proposed that the

character statements be retained, and that a separate chapter with our planning requirements be used for clarity, similar to the one used in the past by Gosford for Pearl Beach. “Similar concerns are felt with regard to the destruction of trees and having clarity of approach so that large trees are not removed without a qualified assessment of whether they pose any risk.” Ms Colebatch said these issues needed to be pursued with vigour by the incoming committee. She said the committee had continued its liaison with other groups supporting improvements to the Hardy’s Bay waterfront and she was optimistic that some progress would actually be made this year. “However, concerns remain with the overall planning system. “Submissions were made on the proposed Local Environment Plan. “The former Coastal Open Space lands still need to be protected and large tree destruction remains rampant.” She said progress on some projects remained slow and frustrating. Endless negotiations continued with National Parks to try to upgrade the Half Tide Rocks Track as the association had funds available. But the department remained unresponsive and the association was now trying approaches to politicians but meanwhile the informal track continued to degrade. “Similarly, we have had bureaucratic frustrations with the amalgamated council and our previously approved Turo Park extension upgrades, as following an initial positive response to our requests, progress has stalled,” Ms Colebatch said. “However, discussions continue with council officers on the need for sandstone multi-purpose blocks, infill and prevention of flooding, the footbridge over Turo creek, and sculptures. “This will be pursued in the coming year, and we hope that we will be successful in having some carved sculptures there, and elsewhere, so that we can end up with our own sculpture walk.”

13 JUNE 2019

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Ms Rachel Labador and Environment Minister Mr Matt Keane placing a burrow on Lion Island

Concrete burrows installed for penguin colony

New concrete burrows have been installed on Lion Island for its Little Penguin colony. The colony came under threat when a bushfire sparked by a freak lightning strike last August destroyed over 80 per cent of the Little Penguins’ habitat. Lion Island is just one of four locations in NSW where Little Penguins congregate to mate and nest. Prior to the fire, Lion Island was considered one of the safer colonies as its primary threats human interference and predators such as foxes, feral cats and dogs and goannas - were scarcely present on the island. Due to the destruction of prime nesting sites serious concerns were held for the future of the colony. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have worked with the NSW Local Land Services and volunteer landcare groups to undertake habitat restoration at the island and recently installed 20 handmade concrete nesting

burrows. Wildlife service ranger Ms Rachel Labador, who has been monitoring Lion Island since the fire, coordinated the installation of the burrows at key sites across the island on May 30. According to Ms Labador, the burrows were “cutting edge” when it comes to penguin protection and were far superior to previous wood and plastic artificial burrows used at other colonies, providing more comprehensive protection from the elements and potential predators. Ms Labador said the timing for the installation could not have been better, with the burrows placed just in time for the colony’s first return to the island since the fire. The Little Penguin breeding season runs from June to August and it is hoped that the new burrows will ensure the season is a success despite parts of the colony’s habitat still being fire damaged. “The penguins are currently ‘prospecting’, returning to the island to find a place to burrow,

mate and lay their eggs,” she said. “It’s our hope that over the coming months we’ll return to find the burrows occupied and some birds on eggs,” Ms Labador said. NSW Environment Minister Mr Matt Kean said the burrow program was part of a push to protect the Little Penguins’ future. “We’re installing these nests to protect penguins, enable them to nest and hopefully grow the population,” he said. The burrows were designed by the Wildlife Service and constructed by Women’s Shed group, the Fix-It Sisters. Should the new burrows be successfully integrated into the colony, there is potential for the design to be rolled out at colonies across the state and possibly the country. SOURCE: Interview (Dilon Luke), 5 Jun 2019 Rachel Labador, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Media Statement, 5 Jun 2019 Video footage, 30 May 2019 Matt Keane, NSW Environment Minister

SOURCE Newsletter, 1 Jun 2019 Peta Colebatch, WTKCA

THIS ISSUE contains 46 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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ISSUE 209

A $100m five tower major residential development proposed for Gosford

$ 1 0 0 m development on John Whiteway Dr, Gosford, comprising five residential towers and extensive landscaping, has progressed to the next stage of consideration with the NSW Planning Department. The proposal would see 260 apartment units in the five towers over six, eight and 12 levels, and two levels of basement parking providing 423 spaces on a 2.3ha site. The Department has issued the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the project, to be assessed as a State Significant Development, with applicant JWD Developments having two years to lodge a Development Application and an Environmental Impact Statement. While the proposal exceeds height controls applying to the land, variations to height restrictions will be considered through the design review process. In an Architectural Design Statement, ADG Architects said the site, at 87-89 John Whiteway Dr, was unique in that it was well positioned as a viewing platform, was protected by bushland and yet still connected to the CBD. “Often CBDs are places of disconnection and isolation for residents, however, we

designed to reflect the natural topography with the utilisation of green roofs and other elements. The development would aim to cater for families, first home buyers and downsizers. Major features would include luxury pools and decking, raised planters, active turf areas, communal outdoor dining, a coastal bushland walk, golf putting greens and rooftop gardens. AGD Architects principal, Anthony Kelly, said the development would be “not like anything in Gosford at the moment”. “It is extremely important to integrate the community up there already and also the landscape,” Kelly said. “We are now starting to work through the EIS and DA process and we’re targeting approval within 12 months, with construction hopefully to start late next year. “There is a lot of work to be done, from detailed design to engineering and environment work.” JWD Developments is a commercial and residential construction company specialising in apartment and nursing home conversions as well as residential home construction and refurbishment.

An aerial view of the proposed site, showing location of the five towers

believe that this site will create a unique lifestyle for future residents,” the statement said. “Through landscaped vistas and small footprint design, the

buildings will allow the site to be activated via numerous outdoor amenities.” These would range from communal gathering/meeting

areas, such as bocce and tennis courts, to elegant walkways blending into the natural environment. The towers would be of

slender design, offering view corridors to Rumbalara, Presidents Hill and Brisbane Water, the statement said. The facades would be

Source: NSW Planning Department Major Projects site, Jun 6 Interview, Jun 7 Anthony Kelly, Principal, ADG Architects

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Toxic working environment, mass resignations and multi bed closures at aged care facility

Casuarina Grove had been on the market The staffer said many for sale since 2017, a staff members faced daily claim they believe elicits bullying and intimidation further questions over the at the hands of an “inner bed closures. circle” of staff members “It (being for sale) just in these Units. proves the renovation “A hierarchy has formed excuse was bogus. amongst the Registered “The closure was Nurses, Assistants in implemented to help Nursing and the Unit streamline a handover if Manager and staff on the place ever sells,” the the outer, or who speak up about issues, face staffer said. According to the staffer, character assassination the current state of and routine bullying,” the affairs has led to several staffer said. They said that despite disputes between staff and management which staff members bringing concerns to has allowed a “culture of their fear and intimidation” to management, the covert be entrenched in certain nature of the issue Units at Casuarina Grove. allowed it to fester and has resulted in several

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Page 3 19 June 2019

NEWS

Power station sale contracts sought to explain $1b loss mystery T

he NSW Legislative Council has supported The Greens’ call for the government to release the sale contracts for Vales Point and Eraring power stations. The government has 21 days to table the documents, says, Abigail Boyd, the Central Coast Greens MLC and Upper House spokesperson on Mining, Coal and Coal Seam Gas (CSG). The NSW Government sale of Vales Point power station for $1m in 2015 has been controversial since it was revalued to $730m in 2017. Boyd said that as part of the $50 million sale of Eraring in 2013, the NSW Government agreed to pay Origin $300m compensation for the right to break a contract

Vales Point Power Station which guaranteed that the power station coal could be supplied cheaper from the Cobbora mine. “Privatisation has ripped off communities in NSW to line the pockets of wealthy investors,” she said. “The fire sale of Vales Point has also

been a disaster for the environment. “We heard from the government, in parliament on June 6, that the owners of Vales Point, Sunset Power, have claimed they will extend the life of the dirty power station past the State Government’s

original closure date of 2021 to 2049. “The government has failed to adequately regulate these power stations since their sale, raising serious questions about the details of the deals struck. “I am pleased the

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public will now be able to see the sale contracts,” Boyd said. “We may now get some answers about these terrible deals.” Boyd said that the Labor Opposition had previously called for the Auditor General to investigate the sale contracts, particularly Vales Point. “When I asked the Auditor General for the report, I was told there is no record of a report being done,” Boyd said. “The terms of the contracts could explain some of the questions that have been raised. “You want to ensure that there are no residual liabilities for the NSW government and also to assess whether that sale was made in good faith. “I’m particularly interested in the ash dams and there’s been a string of regulatory breaches

at both those dams and both are subject to less stringent regulations than other countries,” Boyd said. “For instance, some countries require lining of their ash dams, but these two ash dams are unlined, sitting right next to Lake Macquarie. “Maybe the lax regulations can be explained in the contracts, I don’t know, so let’s have a look,” Boyd said. “Instead of bending over backwards to give cash to the likes of Origin Energy, the government should be investing in transitioning NSW to a jobs rich 100 percent renewable energy future,” Boyd said. Source: Media release, June 6 Interview, June 13 Abigail Boyd MLC Greens Upper House spokesperson on Mining, Coal and Coal Seam Gas Journalist, Sue Murray

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Coal Ash Community Alliance formed

Toxic working environment, mass resignations and multi bed closures at aged care facility From P1

Members of the newly formed Hunter Central Coast Coal Ash Community Alliance Central Coast and lower taken by power station Lake Macquarie who operators to protect came together over the local community concerns regarding the and our waterways lack of public knowledge from dam leakage and about risk management from potential structural procedures for coal ash failures.” dumps in their area, at CCA has sent a request Vales Point and Eraring at to Origin Energy (Eraring Myuna Bay. Power Station) to make The group also public the engineer’s represents about 20,000 report which resulted people who have signed in the closure of Myuna a petition to reopen the Bay Recreation Centre Myuna Bay Recreation and to see the inundation Centre after its sudden maps and modelling in Those two power closure in April because the event of an ash waste station ash dams are the of the risks associated overflow. biggest in the country, with the Eraring power Gary Blaschke says the containing 61 million station ash dam. same expectations apply tonnes of waste between CCA member, Jackie to Vales Point power them. Bloom, said: “It’s clear station, and “if Delta CCA member, Gary that we don’t have the Electricity hasn’t carried Blaschke of Lake whole story about the risk out modelling and aren’t Munmorah, said the coal ash dumps could aware of how their ash group wanted to know pose to our community waste could impact the what plans were in place and to our lake. community, they should to manage the potential “Recent reports do so right away”. short and long term risks have highlighted the The Coal Ash of the dams. elevated heavy metal Community Alliance “The community has concentrations in meets fortnightly at a right to know what commonly fished species, Morisset and the next the plan is to alleviate linked to leachate from meeting is on July 2. our region of this toxic Lake Macquarie’s two Source: coal ash problem and ash dams.” Media release, June 5 particularly how risks will Hunter Central Coast Coal Another CCA member, be mitigated,” he said. Ash Community Alliance Glenn Clark of Dora Email, June 13 The CCA comprises Creek, said: “extra caution Gary Blaschke residents from upper and vigilance should be

he risks of coal ash stored on the shores of Lake Macquarie, at the Vales Point and Eraring power stations, has come under the scrutiny of local residents and prompted the formation of the Hunter Central Coast Coal Ash Community Alliance (CCA).

The staffer said these issues have impacted the ability of staff to do their jobs properly. “It’s been hell. “Staff are fearful of what might happen to them if they speak out, and those that do say anything face disciplinary action. “There’s been seven resignations that I know of since this whole mess started. “It’s just unbelievable really. “Working here has been the worst thing I’ve ever done,” the staffer said. The staffer said they believed issues had been covered up and allowed to stagnate due to the potential sale of the facility and that the public had remained unaware due to threats of termination should staff speak out or approach the media. “I’d be terminated if they found I’d spoken to the media but this cannot be allowed to go on. “Something has to be done,” they said. They said the alleged serious internal issues gripping Casuarina Grove warranted attention from the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

They also advised that they have since reported their concerns about the drink-driving AIN to Tuggerah Lakes Police District. The Wyong Chronicle took these allegations directly to FACS after multiple attempts to speak to management at Casuarina Grove failed. A spokesperson from FACS said the organisation was currently in the process of transferring Casuarina Grove to the nongovernment sector in line with the specifications of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and that this transfer had been communicated to Casuarina Grove residents, their families and staff at the facility. “FACS takes any allegation of staff misconduct seriously and matters are referred to the FACS Performance Conduct Unit. “We will continue to support staff to ensure Casuarina Grove residents receive the highest quality of care,” the spokesperson said. FACS did not respond to specific questions regarding the alleged bed closures or staffing shortfall.

R e g a r d i n g admissions capping, the spokesperson said that any new resident application for Casuarina Grove is assessed on a case by case basis to determine if it would be an appropriate placement on a number of grounds. They said the process also considers new staff recruitment and training, and the current site maintenance plan. On June 17, the Chronicle also received an update from the staffer who brought these allegations forward. They said a further 10 beds in Unit 7 had also been closed, this time due to staff shortage and a further five staff had resigned due to the “toxic working environment”, bringing the number of beds closed up to 30 in the 100 bed facility. They said an internal review had also been launched by management to question remaining staff over the recent mass resignations and gauge their views about Casuarina Grove’s working environment. Source: Interview, May 31 and Jun 17 Name withheld Media statement, Jun 18 FACS Media Unit Dilon Luke, Journalist

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he long-running battle over the controversial boarding house in Glen Rd, Ourimbah, looks set to resume with one of the heritage tallowwood trees having been chopped down. That particular tree was protected in a previous failed development application to build a four-storey, 101 room boarding house on the property at 2 and 4-6 Glen Rd. Ourimbah Region Residents’ Association (ORRA) mounted a relentless and successful campaign to have the boarding house quashed, with eventual rejection of the proposal by the Land and Environment Court. “In the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel’s (JRPP) judgement, it was critical that this tree must be retained to ensure that the proposed

Page 5 19 June 2019

Protected tree on controversial boarding house land chopped down

building complied with the character provisions of the Affordable Housing legislation,” ORRA president, Di Willard, said. “The JRRP’s decision was supported by the Land and Environment Court. “We understand that the developer didn’t have permission from Central

The 100-year-old tallowwood tree before, and after, it was chopped down Coast Council to remove battle since then but are in the developer’s last this tree and we have under no illusion that attempt to build on that requested that council we have won the war,” site”. determine whether it Willard said. “There is great concern was legal to remove this Allan Benson of ORRA in the community that historic tree. Central Coast said there hasn’t been both “The original notification of a new DA Council’s Affordable development application being lodged, “but we Housing strategy and (DA) for the boarding are on alert that the tree the draft Ourimbah house was lodged in being chopped down Masterplan are likely to December 2013, but has could be the precursor have significant negative since lapsed. to a new development impacts on the character “We have won every application because that of Ourimbah and the tree was an obstacle amenity of residents.

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“However, ORRA can assure the residents of Ourimbah that we will strenuously oppose any inappropriate development,” he said. Source: Media release, June 11 Interview, June 14 Allan Benson Ourimbah Region Residents’ Association Journalist, Sue Murray

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Page 6 19 June 2019

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Severe lack of transparency over drug and rehabilitation centre approval

he neighbourhood in Glen Rd, Ourimbah, is “absolutely gutted” that the Land and Environment Court has approved a drug and rehabilitation centre at number 74.

Commissioner, Sarah Bish, handed down her Judgement on June 5, to approve the 14-bed centre with a swimming pool, subject to 15 pages of Conditions of Consent. In November, 2018, Central Coast Council rejected the proposal on the grounds of inadequate waste management and the applicant, psychiatrist, Dr Sujatha Kalava, appealed in the Land and Environment Court. Attempts by the Glen Rd Action Group to put forward their concerns regarding privacy, character and use, public interest, flooding, bushfire and ecology, were stymied at the Court’s on-site Conciliation Hearing in April, when Dr Kalava’s lawyer refused to allow documents into discussion because they were irrelevant to the new plans the applicant had submitted. They were plans that the residents had not seen and were not made available for public viewing. And now, Group members, and their town planning consultant, Gary Chestnut, are more than curious about the

Indicative view from the verandah of an adjoining property five new documents and copy of this, or any of the “Council should balance amendments to the plan other “new” documents the views of the residents which were submitted submitted is not an easy and the applicant,” to the Court during task. Chestnut said. its assessment of the This newspaper would He said it was crucial proposal. have to make special to know the amendments “The community is application to the Registrar made because there’s gutted that it isn’t the of the Court and the only a three month transparent decision Group’s consultant, Gary period for the Group to making process they Chestnut, has to make a consider its options, or a would have expected,” formal request through the legal challenge such as a Chestnut said. Government Information Judicial Review. According to the Court Public Access Act 2009 “The community Order, leave was granted (GIPA) for Central Coast is disillusioned with to make five amendments, Council to release copies the system and can’t three of which were in of the five amendment understand how there relation to the wastewater documents. can be a Conciliation management system and Chestnut said Council Hearing, but then five new one amendment to the site formally refused to documents, including new plan regarding the location release the documents plans, can be considered of a clothes line. because they were behind closed doors. subject to copyright and The other amendment “They don’t even know Council would not answer relates to “Appendix what’s been approved,” 7 of the Statement of specific questions by this Chestnut said. Environmental Effects with newspaper. Residents and members the Plan of Management There is no obligation to of the Glen Rd Action dated May 9, 2019”. place the amended plans Group feel like they’ve Chestnut said the on public exhibition unless been “kicked in the guts”, are substantial said Group Secretary, original DA did not have there an Appendix 7, so the differences to the plan, Heather Railton. Group wants to know and it is at the discretion “It’s just one of those what amendments have of Council officers in the dreadful things. been made, but to get a planning department. “We feel like we have no

say, no power. “We have lost faith in the system, it leaves people super cynical. “Next step is to get access to the documents and see what’s in them and then consider our legal options,” she said. “We have about three months up our sleeve before we have to make any appeal or whatever, but any legal challenge could cost between $20,000 and $50,000, and that’s a lot of money for the community to have to stump up. “The Kalavas have been reported just this week as saying that they will consult with the community, but they have never once consulted with us. “They have never turned up to any public meetings or the Court’s Conciliation Hearing, they just send their lawyers. “We’ve spent hours and hours to fight this thing on really good grounds and they’ve just rolled in and said well, this is what we want and they get it. “It hurts incredibly that the system has let us down. “We are just ordinary people who want to be heard and it says in the Judgement that there’s been agreement by the “parties” – but what about us? Psychiatrist, Doctor Kalava, who is the applicant/owner of the rehabilitation centre, is

“pleased” with the Court’s decision, although she said it is “not set in stone yet”. “It’s been a long road, two-and-a-half years, and quite unnecessary,” she said. Dr Kalava said she had not expected the community backlash. “The threats, anger and opposition, even early on when other doctors were calling us and questioning our qualifications. “We tried our best, as much as we could, but unfortunately, it got to the point that we would not engage with the community unless in a formal way,” Dr Kalava said. “I wish the community was a lot more open to listen and to stop the fear mongering,” she said. “We are now taking the process one step at a time, setting up a business model, funding the set up, engaging builders and so on,” she said. Dr Kalava said she was hoping that building would start “sooner rather than later and maybe the centre would be ready in a year or two”. Source: Interviews, June 14 & 17 Glen Road Action Group town planning consultant, Gary Chestnut Interview, June 17 Glen Rd Action Group Secretary, Heather Railton Interview, June 17 Dr Sujatha Kalava Website NSW Land and Environment Court Journalist, Sue Murray

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Four holiday parks to be managed by the NRMA

our Central Coast holiday parks have joined the ever growing, Australia wide stable of vacationdestinations managed by NRMA Parks and Resorts. The holiday parks at Budgewoi, Canton Beach, Norah Head and Toowoon Bay will all be managed by the NRMA for Central Coast Council. NRMA is one of Australia’s largest tourism providers with a portfolio valued at more than $800m and there are 48 holiday parks owned and/ or managed by NRMA Parks and Resorts. NRMA Parks and Resorts CEO, Paul Davies, said the organisation was committed to providing guests with a world class experience at every one of their owned and managed holiday parks. “Tourism isn’t just about the traveller, it’s about the communities they visit,” he said. “Communities like the beautiful Central Coast offer unique experiences for domestic and international travellers and the NRMA is committed to unlocking these experiences for

everyone. “Our philosophy is to provide exceptional holiday experiences, with a combination of fantastic locations, great hospitality and excellent facilities, and we are looking forward to working closely with Central Coast Council, local tourism operators, and eateries to attract tourists to the region. “The Central Coast is a real hot-spot for holidaymakers throughout the year, but local communities still have so much to gain from encouraging more visitors to the area,” Davies said. NRMA Parks and Resorts already owns and operates NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort at Umina Beach and also operates Fantasea Cruising which runs regular ferry services to the Central Coast between Ettalong, Wagstaffe and Palm Beach. More information was requested from the NRMA and Central Coast Council but not received in time for publication. Source: Newsletter, May 28 Tourism Central Coast Industry News

Page 7 19 June 2019

NEWS

Air quality monitoring stations have recorded high levels of sulphur-dioxide

he Wyong air monitoring station has twice recorded levels of s u l p h u r- d i o x i d e (SO2) in excess of World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Nature Conservation Council (NCC) analysis of NSW Government air quality data collected in the past four years, shows that the Wyong station, and 17 other air quality monitoring stations in the Hunter, Central Coast and Sydney, have exceeded the WHO standards for SO2 levels, which are an average of seven parts per billion over 24 hours, a total 336 times. “These figures are shocking, but what’s even more shocking is that the Australian standard for SO2 pollution is 11 times weaker than those recommended by the WHO, and weaker than levels set by the EU, US and China,” Nature Conservation Council CEO, Kate Smolski, said. She said high SO2

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levels were associated with low birthweight in newborns, respiratory disease and premature death. “SO2 also helps form highly hazardous fine particles (PM2.5) that are associated with increased death rates and a range of diseases,” Smolski said. “The primary source of SO2 is the burning of fossil fuels, especially emissions from coalfired power stations and vehicle emissions. Central Coast MLC and Upper House spokesperson for Mining, Coal and CSG, Abigail Boyd, said there were 41 air pollution monitoring stations in NSW, with 20 of those in the Hunter. “The Central Coast and lower Hunter area has only one monitoring station, despite hosting two of NSW’s five coal fired power stations, Eraring and Vales Point,” she said. “That’s one independent air pollution monitoring station at Wyong, which is about

20km away from Vales Point and about 35km from Eraring. “The emissions from coal-fired power stations can be recorded hundreds of kilometres away from the power stations themselves, with much of NSW being at risk of unacceptable levels of air pollution. “At least three additional air pollution monitoring stations must be installed in the Central Coast and lower Hunter area in order to accurately record the air pollution from the power stations at Eraring and Vales Point. “We deserve to know what is in the air that we and our families breathe. “With constant independent monitoring and real time reporting to the public, we will no longer be reliant on the polluters to tell us that they are breaching restrictions,” Boyd said. The NCC is calling for both state and federal government to strengthen pollution standards to bring them in line with

world’s best practice. “It’s time our governments raised emission standards to match the World Health Organisation’s standards, and forced companies that operate coal fired power stations to clean up their act,” NCC’s Kate Smolski said. “State and federal governments must protect people’s right to breathe healthy air, but at the moment, that is simply not happening. “Billion dollar corporations like AGL, Origin and Energy Australia have been dumping millions of tonnes of pollution into the air we breathe. “We call on the Berejiklian government to conduct a public inquiry into all the health impacts of the state’s coal fired power stations and plan an orderly transition from coal to clean energy.” Source: Media release, May 31 Nature Conservation Council of NSW Media statement, June 14 Greens’ NSW Upper House spokesperson on Mining, Coal and CSG, Abigail Boyd

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Three residents named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List

hree residents of the former Wyong Shire have been named in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Noraville’s, Karin McGann and Bateau Bay’s, Don van Keimpema, both received Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM), whilst former Central

Coast resident, now of Laurieton, Alan Morris, was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on February 14, 1975, by Elizabeth II, to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or meritorious service. The Order has five

rankings, with Knight/ Dame being the most prestigious, followed by Companion, Officer, AM and then OAM. OAMs are split into General and Military Divisions and have no quota on the subsequent number of awards that can be issued each year. AMs are also split between General and Military Divisions but

Don van Keimpema

Don van Keimpema honoured in recognition of his service to surf lifesaving Bateau Bay’s, Don van Keimpema, received his OAM for services to surf lifesaving at all levels over the past 27 years. Keimpema first joined the surf lifesaving movement in 1992, when he became a member of Shelly Beach SLSC. “I got started as a volunteer when the kids got into Nippers.

have a quota of 365 awardees per year. The Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, announced 1,214 awards in the 2019 Honours List. Cosgrove said the recipients made an “enormous contribution to their local communities and to the entire nation. “Over the past five years, it has been the greatest honour and

privilege to recognise and celebrate over 80,000 recipients through the Honours and Awards System. “These awards are our opportunity to say to fellow Australians, ‘thank you as without you and your tireless service we wouldn’t be the community or nation that we are.’ “If you have constantly

Karin McGann

“From there one thing led to another and now surf lifesaving is a huge part of my life,” Keimpema said. Since joining his beloved club, Keimpema has travelled the world through the movement and held various positions at the regional, state and national levels of the surf lifesaving’s governing bodies. To this day he is still a member of Shelly Beach SLSC and has held various roles at the club, including President, but it was his passion for officiating that sparked

his whirlwind career with surf lifesaving. After seven years as an Official at Shelly Beach, Keimpema took on the role of Manager of Competition Surf Sports and the Interbranch Team with Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) in 1999 and was also the Chair of the East Coast Surf Festival from 201015. He also became a Surf Sports Official for Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS NSW) and has also held various other positions with the state body, including Scrutineer,

put others ahead of yourself, served tirelessly and made a difference, you can be nominated and recognised by a grateful nation. “It is great that the overall number of nominations and upward trend of Australian women being acknowledged through the system continues to grow,” Cosgrove said.

Alan Morris

Referee and Director of Surf Sports. Keimpema has been a life member with SLS NSW since 2017. At the national level, Keimpema has also taken on multiple Referee positions with Surf Life Saving Australia (SLS Aus) and has officiated multiple prestigious national surf sport events including the Coolangatta Gold and the Australian Pool Rescue Championships. He is also SLS Aus current Deputy Referee for Masters and Open Championships.

Keimpema said his OAM came as quite the shock. “It was a total surprise. “I didn’t even know I’d been nominated so it was straight out of the blue. “I’m honoured,” he said. After almost three decades on the beach, Keimpema said it was the people that kept him interested in surf lifesaving. “I just always enjoyed meeting likeminded people and giving back to my community. “It grew into a real

passion along the way and I’ve especially enjoyed seeing a lot of young Coasties, who I remember officiating for at local carnivals, rise through the ranks and achieve big things at the national and international level,” Keimpema said. When he’s not busy with his duties for SLS NSW or SLS Aus, Keimpema said he still likes to help out at Shelly Beach SLSC whenever the opportunity allows, and that he still gets a thrill out of adjudicating local carnivals and competitions.

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Some of Keimpema’s achievements throughout his career with surf lifesaving include: Being named the National Official of the Year SLS Aus, back to back in 2012 and 2013; State Official of the Year, SLS NSW, 2012 and 2013; and, receiving the Australian Sports Medal in 2000. Keimpema said some standout moments included international development trips to Malaysia and Sri Lanka where he was able to mentor young people.

Karin McGann recognised for her services to the community through Lions Clubs Australia Noraville’s Karin McGann was honoured with an OAM for her more than 30 years of service to the community through various Lions clubs around the Northern Central Coast. McGann began her long running love affair with the Lions movement in the late 80s, first joining the Lioness Club of Toukley as a charter member in 1987. She is still a Toukley Lioness to this day and has held various board positions, including President, throughout the years since. She also helped establish the Lions Club of Munmorah Summerland Point as a charter member in 2008, and has also held various board positions there over the years. In 2011, McGann joined the Lions Club of Toukley

and was also named Lioness Chair of Lions International Club District 201N3, a position she held for seven years. She is now the Zone 3 Chair of the District. Prior to this, McGann had been a District Committee Member for almost two decades. McGann said she was humbled to receive the OAM. “At the Lions we don’t do things to be recognised, we just do what we do and get on with it, so the OAM was a lovely surprise,” she said. McGann recalls how she first became involved with Lions after her late husband helped get the Lioness Club of Toukley off the ground. “Back then, the Lions was a men’s club and the Lioness movement was still growing, so I thought why not give it a go,” she said. McGann said to this day she still stands by the Lions’ code of ethics which align with her own personal code of ethics for living a rich and fulfilling life. “Looking back, I think it was the code that kept me interested. “It’s what I believe in and it’s very important to me,” McGann said. During her time with the Lions, McGann has received some of the movement’s highest honours including the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the Neville Tucker Silver Honour Award and the James D Richardson Honour Award, but for McGann, the real reward has been being involved in a movement

that strives to better the community. “I’ve always enjoyed the feeling of being in a team that comes from being a Lion/Lioness,” she said.

Alan Morris recognised for significant service to wildlife conservation, particularly bird life A lifetime of devotion to the conservation of bird life has seen Laurieton’s, Alan Morris, awarded an AM. This is a very prestigious award with only 340 recipients annually. In his professional career, Morris worked for National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) from 1964 to his retirement in 2000. During his career he was instrumental in identifying and lobbying for the establishment of many nature reserves and national parks. He was part of a program that identified the decline of the Regent Honeyeater and the Little Tern, which resulted in the formation of recovery teams. In 1988, Morris was appointed by NPWS to the Central Coast, where he quickly became the bird expert. He was the founding organiser of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW(CCGBN), and for 27 years he edited the newsletter, organised monthly meetings, the guest speakers, outings and camp outs. The recovery of the

critically endangered Regent Honeyeaters was a project very close to Morris’ heart. For 20 years he was the Central Coast representative on the Recovery Team and organised biannual surveys for both Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots. He was the Birdlife Australia ‘guardian’ for Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Water, which involved monitoring and regular surveys to ensure that critical habitat was preserved. His other Central Coast projects included monitoring the remnant population of Bush Stone-curlew and ensuring the protection of annual nesting events of Little Terns at North Entrance. Current leader of CCGBN, Michael Scobie, said: “We are thrilled that Alan’s achievements have been formally recognised. “It is almost impossible to summarise his enormous contribution to bird conservation on the Central Coast, but this is probably best illustrated by saying we had to recruit six people to take over Alan’s roles when he moved to Laurieton earlier in 2019.” Source: Media release, Jun 9 Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor General Email, Jun 6 Michael Scobie, Central Coast Group Birding NSW Interviews, Jun 13-14 Don van Keimpema, Bateau Bay Karin McGann, Noraville Media release, Jun 14 Dilon Luke, Sue Murray, Journalists

Page 9 19 June 2019

NEWS

56 residential lot subdivision approved A

new 9ha housing subdivision at Wadalba is an example of successful eco development with a mix of housing and wildlife protection, according to a Statement of Environmental Effects in the development application. Central Coast Council has approved a development application for 56 residential lots at 137 Johns Rd, Wadalba, and about 2ha of the subdivision will be retained as public reserve lands as an extension of the Wadalba Wildlife Corridor. The former Wyong Council ensured the corridor was protected with conservation zones when the Wadalba Urban Release Area was identified, following several residential subdivisions being submitted for Council approval. The wildlife corridor extends from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the Wadalba residential area, which is bounded by the

Pacific Hwy, Johns and Louisiana Rds. This retains natural habitat and allows movement for animals between Porters Creek wetlands and Tuggerawong wetlands. Various studies have identified a total of 155 native fauna species, 28 mammal, 103 bird, 13 amphibian, 11 reptile, and including 10 threatened species. It will also expand the amount of natural open space and scenic qualities for the expanding Wadalba residential population and, in particular, will provide passive recreation space in the form of walking trails. The proposed subdivision on the northern side of Johns Rd is considered to be an efficient use of land with a variety of housing lots ranging in size from 450sqm up to 1,766sqm. There will be only one access point from Johns Rd to the subdivision and there are no plans to construct Louisiana Rd on the western boundary. Source: DA 1419/2017 Central Coast Council DA tracker Wadalba Wildlife Corridor Management Plan

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Page 10 19 June 2019

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

State Labor MPs call for a review of the State Hospital Parking Policy

he State Labor MPs of the Central Coast are calling for a review of the State Hospital Parking Policy, saying the increased cost of parking at Wyong and Gosford hospitals is a “major burden” to the community.

Authorised by Emma McBride, ALP, 204/1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259

MPs, David Harris (Wyong), David Mehan (The Entrance), Yasmin Cately (Swansea) and Liesl Tesch (Gosford), want the policy reviewed “so that it is more reflective of the realities of the Central Coast, including socio economic status and access to public transport”. Harris said rising hospital parking fees were “nothing more than a tax on the sick”. “The government needs to take into account the nature of the area and not apply this tax on patients, staff and visitors,” he said. Cately said: “Hospitals are for treating sick people, not for raising revenue”, and Mehan reiterated that “people don’t choose to go to hospital and shouldn’t be charged excessive fees for doing so. “The cost for staff who work at the hospital means that some who can’t afford to pay have to park hundreds of metres away and walk through unlit streets late at night to get back to their cars,” he said. The MPs say the

Highway speed limit to be reduced to 50km/h at Charmhaven he speed limit will be lowered to 50km/h at an accident-prone stretch of the Pacific H i g h w a y , Charmhaven, where the crash rate is five times higher than what is typical for this type of road.

Fight goes on against parking fees at Wyong Hospital Central Coast is being The Central Coast MPs “punished” for having to say parking at Wyong rely on cars to get around Hospital should stay free because of a lack of of charge for staff and quality public transport in visitors because of the the region. lack of public transport the hospital’s There are about 5,000 and signatures on petitions distance from major returned so far and Harris transport hubs. said there were still At Gosford Hospital, many petitions out in the they are demanding three community. hours free public parking He is hopeful there and a daily maximum fee would be the required of $12 and a cap on staff 10,000 petition signatures fees at $13.92 a week. to present to State Source: Government at the end Media release, May 31 MPs David Harris, David of July to open debate in parliament about the Mehan, Yasmin Cately, Liesl Tesch hospital parking fee Interview, June 13 David Harris MP policy. Journalist, Sue Murray

Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) has done a speed zone review of the highway between Moala Pde and Lowana Ave, and it was decided to reduce the speed limit from 70km/h to 50km/h for a length of about 1.7km. The RMS said the decision to reduce the speed zone is based on: A high crash rate about five times the typical rate for this type of road; Poor road geometry at a number of intersections where there is a high demand for right turning movements; and, The Pacific Hwy in this

area is urbanised with both commercial and residential, and existing speed zones do not reflect the built-up area. The RMS said both the Police and Central Coast Council were consulted on the speed zone change and they have indicated their support. This speed limit change came after three years of representations from Member for Wyong, David Harris. In August, 2016, after many concerns from constituents, Harris called on the RMS to conduct a safety audit into the 1.9km stretch of road between Lakehaven Dr and Lowana Ave. “It has long been understood that trying to do a right hand turn from the residential side of Charmhaven is becoming more and more dangerous, particularly in the morning and afternoon peak times,” he said.

“This section of the Pacific Hwy is the main route for people travelling north and south and each accident potentially closes that section for extended periods causing major disruption. “When I speak to people in Charmhaven, this is one of the first issues they raise. “There are safety measures that could be implemented and these may include the installation of traffic signals or a roundabout at one of the intersections to allow safe turning,” Harris said. RMS is also planning a road safety project on the Pacific Hwy at Charmhaven and will seek input from the community for this project as planning progresses. Source: Interview, Media statement, June 13 Wyong MP David Harris Media statement, June 14 Roads and Maritime Service Journalist, Sue Murray

Lake Haven Recreation Centre is being renovated R

enovation works have commenced at Lake Haven Recreation Centre. The works include a new roof and wall cladding, as well as the replacement of three large louvered windows, improved roof

drainage, cleaning of external block-work, bathroom renovations, flooring replacement and upgrades to the outdoor training area. While these works are underway, there may be some disruptions, but Central Coast Council has

advised that measures have been put in place to keep them to a minimum. The works are expected to be completed by the end of August. Source: Website, Jun 1 Central Coast Council Media

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Page 11 19 June 2019

NEWS

NSW budget has Council to spend delivered no new major $235.6m on its capital projects for the region

works program

entral Coast Council will operate under an $18.6m deficit as it delivers a $792m investment in essential services and capital works during the 2019-20 financial year. Councillors officially adopted an Operational Plan at their June 11 meeting, which forms the second year of Council’s Delivery Program 201821. It will see expenditure of $556.4m in essential services and $235.6m in capital works in the priority areas. Council’s operating income for the 2019-20 financial year is $537.8m, leaving an estimated budgeted operating deficit of $18.6m before capital grants and contributions. Mayor, Jane Smith, said the Plan continued Council’s commitment to prioritising key community needs and aspirations for the region in line with the Community Strategic Plan, which is Council’s contract with the community. “The Plan details projects and initiatives we will deliver over the next year with a strong focus

on delivering community infrastructure, addressing the demands of an evergrowing population and meeting sustainability principles,” Smith said. “We are projecting a larger deficit than first forecast in the draft plan due to an increase in the emergency services levy payable to the State Government and an adjustment to Council’s income and expenditure in line with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) final determination released in May.” Hundreds of projects are planned across the coast in the $235.6m capital works program with priority spending areas to include: $74.97m on roads, transport and drainage; $39.75m on water and sewerage; $21.17m on open space and recreation; $18.15m on facilities and asset management; $9.39m on economic development and project delivery; $5.55m on business enterprise; $4.33m on waste services; $3.06m on natural and environmental assets; $2.75m on waterways and coastal protection; $3.12m on leisure and lifestyle; $1.25m on

libraries; and, $150,000 on learning and education. “We will continue to review our operations to look for innovative ways to deliver services and take advantage of efficiencies to reduce the budgeted operating deficit,” Smith said. “Council is in a strong financial position with our infrastructure, property, plant and equipment portfolio having a gross replacement cost of $10.2b as at June 30, 2018, and an investment portfolio which is managed to ensure Council has sufficient funds to deliver services to the community. “Our community has identified its vision of where they want to see the coast grow and be in 10 years’ time. “We want a smart, responsible, green and liveable Central Coast and for all community members to have a sense of belonging. “This Operational Plan 2019-20 will enable Council to deliver this for our community and continue to pave the way for a prosperous and positive future for our region,” Smith said. Source: Media release, June 12 Central Coast Council

he NSW Government handed down its first Budget since it was reelected in March, with Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, delivering a $802m surplus.

Liberal Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said it was a budget showing strong financial management only a Liberal/National Government could deliver on schools, hospitals, roads and rail projects while employing record numbers of nurses, teachers, and police. Crouch said highlights from the NSW Budget for the Central Coast included: $60.5m for stage 1 of the Wyong Hospital redevelopment; $151.2m for Central Coast roads projects, including Pacific Hwy, Lisarow; $104.6m for the M1 Pacific Hwy between Tuggerah and Doyalson and Kariong and Somersby; $212,000 to plan an expanded commuter car park at Tuggerah; $200,000 for Tuggerah Lakes; Free dental care for primary school children at Central Coast schools; The weekly Opal Travel capped to $50 per week from July 1 for adults, saving Central Coast commuters up to $686 a year; Introduction of the Senior Savers Card for all Central Coast residents aged 60 or over; $1m for the expansion

of Surfing NSW’s Surfers Rescue 24-7 course; Doubling of the Active Kids rebate to two $100 vouchers per year; and, A new $500m Fixing Local Roads Program to support Council road projects. However, ALP Members, David Harris, David Mehan and Yasmin Catley said the Central Coast regional overview in the Budget consisted almost exclusively of ongoing projects from budgets past, including long delayed and cancelled commitments from when the government first came to power in 2011. The Labor team said Coast residents were left with a series of reannounced projects and that despite promising funds for Tuggerah Station lifts at the March election, it was not allocated, nor was there specific funding. They said the government had also failed to deliver specific funding or a timeline on its election commitment to station access upgrades at Ourimbah, Narara, Lisarow, Point Clare and Niagara Park. Despite a surplus delivered by privatising $70b worth of public assets and service cuts affecting the Central Coast, the budget has delivered no new major projects for the region, they said. Wyong MP, David Harris, said: “Among

the disappointments was that there is no start to construction on the Pacific Hwy upgrade through Wyong and no commitment to stopping the Liberal’s sick tax on patients and staff parking at Wyong and Gosford Hospitals”. “With this first budget for the re-elected Government , the Liberals record on schools is now two closures and none built, compared to five built under the previous Labor Government,” he said. “They’ve also gone quiet on the new school at Warnervale with no money allocated despite two years of fanfare. Warnervale Link Rd and Carters Rd also failed to rate a mention in a budget that continues the Sydney centric infrastructure agenda. “The Central Coast has no new major projects and has seen a decrease of $17m in roads funding and only $40m for actual construction on internal Central Coast roads. “The Government has now spent more than $30m planning the Pacific Hwy upgrade but hasn’t put a shovel in the ground. “Local tax payers have a right to be angry,” Harris said. Source: Media releases, June 18 Terrigal MP, Adam Crouch The Entrance MP, David Mehan Wyong MP, David Harris Swansea MP, Yasmin Catley

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NEWS

Other Regional News - In brief

Wyong Regional Chronicle focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2258, 2259, 2261, 2262, & 2263. Given the arrival of new Central Coast Council, following is a summary of news articles published in

the most recent edition of each of our sister Central Coast publications. The full articles and more, as well as all previously published editions, can be seen on line on our website www.CentralCoastNews.net

Copies of these other publications may be obtained from our offices in Gosford, by subscription, or from a myriad of locations in the areas covered by each publication.

Edition 471

11 June 2019

Peninsula News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2256 & 2257. Council is ‘more bureaucratic andConcrete burrows installed for Fuel tanks to be replaced to Council is ‘more bureaucratic and less attentive’ penguin colony remediate contamination less attentive’ Coast

character statements be retained,

in identifying and asserting its local needs, she said. These needs include development controls issues and discussions with council continue on a range of matters. “Meetings and letters have produced little response to the longterm challenges facing residents in Hawke Head Dr and Albert St, who do not receive garbage services. “To date, the Council has failed to require the contracted service to provide a small garbage truck that can service these areas, and again, this will continue to be pursued. “This is a matter of Council policy which should be simple, but Council seems impervious to community needs. “Similarly we continue to have ongoing battles in our attempts to retain our local low key, friendly, bush and beach aware community standards when developments occur. “With growing developments and the building on previously unbuilt blocks, it is inevitable that tree cover (and hence bird and animal habitats) are reduced. “While some of this is inevitable, it appears that many people who are attracted to this area may not be aware of the community standards, and new houses may reflect a more suburban than the past low scale approach. “Moreover, the amalgamated council staff may reflect the more liberal approaches of the former Wyong Council and height and boundary changes may result. “The council is preparing new combined approaches to the very large council area it now oversees. “The association remains concerned that our local needs will be swamped in this rush to centralisation and uniformity of planning approaches. “We have proposed that the

by the incoming committee. She said the committee had continued its liaison with other groups supporting improvements to the Hardy’s Bay waterfront and she was optimistic that some progress would actually be made this year. “However, concerns remain with the overall planning system. “Submissions were made on the proposed Local Environment Plan. “The former Coastal Open Space lands still need to be protected and large tree destruction remains rampant.” She said progress on some projects remained slow and frustrating. Endless negotiations continued with National Parks to try to upgrade the Half Tide Rocks Track as the association had funds available. But the department remained unresponsive and the association was now trying approaches to politicians but meanwhile the informal track continued to degrade. “Similarly, we have had bureaucratic frustrations with the amalgamated council and our previously approved Turo Park extension upgrades, as following an initial positive response to our requests, progress has stalled,” Ms Colebatch said. “However, discussions continue with council officers on the need for sandstone multi-purpose blocks, infill and prevention of flooding, the footbridge over Turo creek, and sculptures. “This will be pursued in the coming year, and we hope that we will be successful in having some carved sculptures there, and elsewhere, so that we can end up with our own sculpture walk.”

The

new

Central

Council more and that a separate chapter with The new was Central Council An application has been submitted our planning requirementsNew be used concrete burrows have been bureaucratic and lessCoast attentive to the distinctive for clarity, similar to the one used in theand past byless Gosfordinstalled for Pearl was more bureaucratic on Lion Island for its Little to Central Coast Council to replace needs of Wagstaffe and Beach. Killcare area than the former “Similar needs concerns arePenguin felt with attentive to the distinctive colony. The colony came fuel storage tanks, fuel dispensers Gosford Council. regard to the destruction of trees That is the view of Wagstaffe- and having clarity of approach so ofKillcare Wagstaffe and Killcare area than under and the associated canopy at a Community Association that large trees are not removed threat NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Ms Rachel Labador and Environment Minister Mr Matt Keane placing a burrow on Lion Island outgoing president Ms Peta without a qualified assessment of the former Council. That Blackwall service station. Colebatch, who Gosford is worried local whether they pose is any risk.” needs will be swamped. Ms Colebatch said these issues association theTheview of has to be active needed to be pursued with vigour Concrete burrows installed

penguin Tesch New to continue tofor campaign Three colony receive Birthday mateQueens and lay their eggs,” she said. concrete burrows have burrows. Wildlife service Ms “It’s our hope that over the been installed on Lion Island for palliative care Rachel Labador, whoranger has been honours coming months we’ll return to find for its Little Penguin colony.

Village resident celebrates 100th birthday

The colony came under threat

monitoring Lion Island since the fire, coordinated the installation of

the burrows occupied and some birds on eggs,” Ms Labador said.

when a bushfire sparked by a burrows at An key sites across the NSW Environment A Umina retirement village Member Ms theLiesl ophthalmologist who Minister wasMr a freak for lightningGosford strike last August Matt Kean said the burrow program destroyed over 80 per cent of the island on May 30. According to Ms Labador, the was part of a pushat to protect the resident Mr Gordon Briggs has Tesch has promised to visiting medical officer a local Little Penguins’ habitat. to continue Lion Island is just one of four burrows were “cutting edge” when Little Penguins’ future. protection and “We’re installing these nests locations in NSW where care. Little it comes to penguin celebrated his 100th birthday on campaign for palliative hospital is one of five Central Coast were far superior to previous wood to protect penguins, enable them Penguins congregate to mate and and plastic artificial burrows used to nest and hopefully grow the nest. May 27. residents who was honored in the Prior to the fire, Lion Island at other colonies, providing more population,” he said. The burrows were designed was considered one of the safer comprehensive protection from the Queen’s Birthday Honours elements and potential predators. by the Wildlife Service List, and colonies as its primary threats Ms Labador said the timing for constructed by Women’s Shed human interference and predators could not have beenongroup, Fix-It Sisters. announced thetheweekend such as foxes, feral cats and dogs the installation

Peta Colebatch steps down after eight years

Wagstaffe-Killcare Community Association president Ms Peta Colebatch has stepped down after eight years to encourage new and younger people to step forward and to bring in fresh perspectives.

and goannas - were scarcely present on the island. Due to the destruction of prime nesting sites serious concerns were held for the future of the colony. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have worked with the NSW Local Land Services and volunteer landcare groups to undertake habitat restoration at the island and recently installed 20 handmade concrete nesting

Community halls ‘not commercial entities’

better, with the burrows placed just in time for the colony’s first return to the island since the fire. The Little Penguin breeding season runs from June to August and it is hoped that the new burrows will ensure the season is a success despite parts of the colony’s habitat still being fire damaged. “The penguins are currently ‘prospecting’, returning to the island to find a place to burrow,

Should the new burrows be successfully integrated into the colony, there is potential for the design to be rolled out at colonies across the state and possibly the country.

Hamper donated to celebrate SOURCE: birthday Interview (Dilon Luke), 5 Jun 2019

Community halls should not be considered commercial entities, according to Wagstaffe-Killcare Community Association outgoing president Ms Peta Colebatch.

Rachel Labador, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Media Statement, 5 Jun 2019 Video footage, 30 May 2019 Matt Keane, NSW Environment Minister

The Woy Woy branch of the Country Women’s Association have donated a hamper to the family of the first baby born on, or closest to, June 8.

The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.centralcoastnews.Net They can also be seen on www.PeninsulaNews.info SOURCE Newsletter, 1 Jun 2019 Peta Colebatch, WTKCA

THIS ISSUE contains 46 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info

Page 12 19 June 2019

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

Northern Central Coast development news N S O ew Bateau Bay business

ubdivision for industrial units

ne extra unit for Cubbyhole

Central Coast Council has approved the development of a business premises and housing at 678 Coleridge Rd, Bateau Bay. The site forms part of a small set of neighbourhood shops which contain a variety of commercial uses, and some also having attached dwellings. Common public parking is provided at the front of each site, while garages for all the premises are at the back, with access from Bard La. The proposed business premises will be used by a technology company with two employees. Housing above the business will comprise two bedrooms, a first floor terrace and ground floor open space.

An eight lot strata subdivision at 5 Apprentice Drive, Berkeley Vale, has been approved. The 2,812sqm site in a IN1 general industrial zone has a single storey building containing eight light industrial units and parking. Under the strata subdivision, each of the units will have three allocated parking spaces, and three extra spaces will be common property to provide two visitor parking spaces and one disabled space. A report by Council staff stated that the strata subdivision would offer land owners increased security through longevity in tenure of the industrial units, which was considered to be in the public interest.

Council has approved an amended application for the light industry Cubbyhole Development at 2 Warren Rd, Warnervale. The original proposal was approved for a light industrial development containing 88 units, comprising a manager’s residence, food and drink premises and associated strata subdivision. Approval was given by delegated authority on May 17 to modify the lower ground floor plan to provide an additional unit as it was within the originally approved building footprint and would not result in any environmental impact.

Source: DA tracker DA 51/2019

Source: DA tracker DA 1000/2017

Source: DA tracker DA 350/2019

Michael Lewis & Associates SOLICITORS & ATTORNEYS

Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

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13 JUNE 2019

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ISSUE 209

A $100m five tower major residential development proposed for Gosford

Coast Community News focuses on news specifically relating to post code areas 2250, 2251 & 2260

A $100m five tower major residential development proposed for Gosford A $ 1 0 0 m development on John Whiteway Dr, Gosford, comprising five residential towers and extensive landscaping, has progressed to the next stage $ 1 0 0 m with the NSW of consideration

Heavily sediment contaminated Four locals awarded Medals of waste and stormwater observed the Order of Australia discharging on to beach Central Coast Deputy Mayor, Chris Central Coast Council has called Holstein, and three others from the for six weekly updates on the Coast Community News area have ongoing audit of the Terrigal been awarded Medals of the Order catchment in the wake of renewed of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s community concerns regarding designed to reflect the natural Birthday Honours List, announced possible water contamination at

the State Hospital Parking policy, saying the increased cost of parking at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals is a “major burden” to

Council’s Operational Plan to see $792m investment in 20192020 Central Coast Council will operate under an $18.6m deficit as it delivers a $792m investment in essential services and capital works during the 2019-2020 financial year.

topography with the utilisation of green roofs and other elements. The development would aim to cater for families, first home buyers and downsizers. Major features would include luxury pools and decking, raised planters, active turf areas, communal outdoor dining, a coastal bushland walk, golf putting greens and The proposal would see 260 rooftop gardens. apartment units in the five AGD Architects principal, towers over six, eight and Anthony Kelly, said the 12 levels, and two levels of development would be “not basement parking providing like anything in Gosford at the 423 spaces on a 2.3ha site. moment”. The Department has issued “It is extremely important the Secretary’s Environmental to integrate the community Assessment Requirements up there already and also the (SEARs) for the project, to landscape,” Kelly said. be assessed as a State “We are now starting to Significant Development, with work through the EIS and DA applicant JWD Developments process and we’re targeting having two years to lodge approval within 12 months, a Development Application with construction hopefully to and an Environmental Impact start late next year. Statement. “There is a lot of work to be While the proposal exceeds done, from detailed design to height controls applying to engineering and environment the land, variations to height work.” restrictions will be considered JWD Developments is a through the design review commercial and residential process. construction company The full articles and more can be seen on line on our website www.centralcoastnews.net Coast Community News In an Architectural Design specialising in apartment and Statement, ADG on Architects focusses news specifically related to post code areas 2250, 2251, 2260 and articles can also be read and nursing home conversions said the site, at 87-89 John Whiteway Dr, was unique inshared on your mobile phone by going to www.coastcommunitynews.com.au. as well as residential home construction and that it was well positioned refurbishment. An aerial view of the proposed site, showing location of the five towers as a viewing platform, was

development on John Whiteway Dr, MPs Gosford,combine comprising to call for a five residential review of the State Hospital towers and extensive landscaping,Parking has policy progressed to the next The State Labor MPs of the Central stage of consideration with theare NSWcalling Planning for a review of Coast Department.

John Asquith steps down as Chair of the Community Environment Network After 20 years in the hotseat, env i r onment a l activist, John Asquith, has stepped down as Chair of the Community Environment Network (CEN), but will stay on as Deputy Chair in a largely advisory capacity.

protected by bushland and yet still connected to the CBD. “Often CBDs are places of disconnection and isolation for residents, however, we

believe that this site will create a unique lifestyle for future residents,” the statement said. “Through landscaped vistas and small footprint design, the

Councillor defends poor briefings attendance record

Central Coast Council West Ward Councillor, Troy Marquart, has attended fewer council briefings than any other East or West Ward councillor since attendance records began in October, 2018.

buildings will allow the site to be activated via numerous outdoor amenities.” These would range from communal gathering/meeting

areas, such as bocce and tennis courts, to elegant walkways blending into the natural environment. The towers would be of

Eastern Osprey nest moved to a penthouse location

An Eastern Osprey nest has been upgraded to VIP status at Central Coast Stadium, just in time for this year’s breeding season.

Gosford Hospital Emergency Department attendances up 11.8% The number of people attending Gosford Hospital Emergency Department (ED) is up 11.8% since the same time last year, according to the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) Healthcare

slender design, offering view corridors to Rumbalara, Presidents Hill and Brisbane Water, the statement said. The facades would be

Source: NSW Planning Department Major Projects site, Jun 6 Interview, Jun 7 Anthony Kelly, Principal, ADG Architects

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Debt recovery office has a heart afterall F

urther to your r e c e n t l y published letters in forum, I personally received a parking fine in Sydney City, but it was issued one hour before my parking ticket expired, so I appealed and they cancelled it, so errors do occur. Afterwards, I was on the Parramatta City Council Parking Fine Appeals Committee for six years, and as a founding member of the Committee, we received thousands of appeals, and had the power to dismiss appeals based on error or humanitarian reasons. We were the first Council to have an appeal committee, and what we discovered was that the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) had no interest or authority to

FORUM cancel fines, as they were a Debt Recovery Office and not an appeals or admin office. Their role was to recover money. During the years, we had to report the reason for each dismissal, and essentially, we taught the SDRO how to adjust their policy, and eventually, the SDRO learned that errors and natural justice was being denied unknowingly, as Officers had no way of knowing the circumstances behind a vehicle being parked in a particular spot, for example the pregnant woman whose water broke and thus parked in a no standing zone receiving a $350 fine. We subsequently dismissed the fine. A car stolen and parked

in a no stopping zone. An elderly person who had lived in a country town with no parking meters and was their first time to Sydney. We dismissed their fine given benefit of the doubt. Also dismissed were fines on the basis of poverty or financial hardship, good driving record, and sometimes on compassionate grounds due to sheer human error. I would therefore encourage people to write in and appeal politely outlining the reasons and don’t criticise the Officer for issuing the ticket. We always took a dim view of indignant or arrogant requests. State the reasons or circumstances, humbly requesting leniency. Email, Jun 16 Craig Hall, Harris Park

Article appreciated J

ust a short note to say thank you for publishing the article I submitted on behalf of the Wyong Family History Group Inc.in edition 166 of the Chronicle.

Phone 1800 534 229 www.legacy.com.au

WE SALUTE YOU

FORUM It is indeed heartening to have one publication that actually reports the local events and happenings in the Wyong

area. I trust that your publication will continue for many years to come. Email, Jun 8 John Selwood, Wyong Family History Group Inc.

Page 13 19 June 2019

FORUM

Housing estates fly in the face of biodiversity W

arnervale and Wadalba rated as fourth hottest housing growth area on the Central Coast (Edition 165), yet they were not mentioned as the first hottest bushland and biodiversity destruction region. Having this ranking is nothing to be proud of, unless the constructions are affordable and well designed, but when the region is denuded of trees and bushland and they become hard surface wastelands with grey tiles as far as you can see, it does nothing positive for the Central Coast as a whole. When prices for a home average $600,000 at the Warnervale and Wadalba estates and land prices alone average $500,000 at Catherine Hill Bay, nothing could be seen as affordable or sustainable for our future. Prices in established areas such as Bateau Bay or the North Entrance are no higher, and in some cases, even lower. It goes against all Council surveys that indicate that bushland and our way of life is why most of us choose the Central Coast to live. It flaunts with environmental Acts and

Letters to the editor should be sent to:

Wyong Regional

Chronicle PO Box 1056 Gosford 2250 or editorial@wyongnews.org

See Page 2 for contribution conditions

FORUM policies put in place to protect the visual amenity and the positive attributes of having bushlands with incredible biodiversity. Have we not learnt anything from Sydney’s hot spots like Rouse Hill and Kellyville, where new rail lines are needed to be built decades later, because of the inability of planners to see the population growing too quickly for the current infrastructure? This adds to issues like supply of water, electricity, schools, hospitals, parks and other amenities, and the only reason why we go ahead with such monstrosities is because Council benefits with further rates and fees for construction. What do the ratepayers get out of it? More traffic and increases in land rates to keep up with Council’s obligations. We have 32 per cent

of our population having a disability or mobility issue. We have the third largest ageing population in NSW, yet we persist in building estates that are far from accessible or inclusive. Absolutely nothing is instilled into planning for the true meaning of community, just the quick buck and worry about the consequences some years later. Of course Central Coast Council and the Housing Industry Authority, Hunter, wants the Central Coast to end up nothing more than a concrete jungle, because that’s their business and they don’t care. No thought for sustainable or innovative design and layout of estates. Cloned houses row after row with very little thought on infrastructure, just the basics to conform to legislation. The word from Central Coast Council is very confusing. On one hand they talk about biodiversity and the value of having bushland and on the other they pass housing estates that do nothing for protecting what we value most. Email, Jun 11 Gary Blaschke, Lake Munmorah

ON THE BEAT

Page 14 19 June 2019

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

Fatality after crash at Chittaway Point

Large penalty for driving with an unsecured load

woman has died following a motor vehicle accident at Chittaway.

car had struck a gutter. Police say the woman Emergency services had a possible cardiac were called to Geoffrey arrest after the crash. Rd at Chittaway Point on Residents from nearby Saturday, June 9, where properties rendered they found a 59-year- assistance to the woman old woman in a vehicle before NSW Ambulance stopped in scrub after her paramedics and the losing rink team.treated her Woy Woy Bowling Club held

Inaugural mixed bowls

its inaugural Tuesday Mixed Bowls on Tuesday, July 28.

Play commenced at 1pm with 40 bowlers out playing a game of triples. At the end of play, prizes were awarded for the winning rink team

and took her to Gosford Hospital, where she remained in a critical condition until her life support was turned off on Monday, June 10. A report is being prepared for the coroner. Source: Media release, Jun 9-10 NSW Police Media

A meat rafﬂe was also held. It is planned that this will now continue as a weekly event, with all bowlers are welcome.

Training evening for voluntary emergency service groups Media release, 29 Jul 2015 Gaye Scarfe, Woy Woy Women’s Bowling Club

From left Glen S

Bo in

‘I

f it doesn’t look right it probably isn’t’ was the message officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command NSW want Central Coast motorists to take

long weekend. away this June after they issued a motorist with a penalty for driving with an unsecured load over the June

If you’re reading this, so could up to 150,000 other people

Officers spotted the man at around 10:50am on Monday, June 10, driving through Toukley Competitors in the inaugural Woy Woy mixed bowls competition with several large pieces of timbre haphazardly secured to his vehicle. He was not permitted everal of the Squad, the NSW RFS to continue his journey Operation Northern Central Wyong with this load and was Support Brigade and the voluntary issued a penalty notice Coast’s Cooranbong, Martinsville, aboard Central Coast 22. service Marine hasemergency towed for Drive Rescue vehicle with Dora Creek, The rescue boat Charmhaven was then a six-metre half-cabin groups came unsecured load $448 and assigned to and locate and secure Dooralong Rural two Fire runabout with two people on together on June 11 large logs deemed hazards to safe three demerit points. board from south of the Rip Brigades all attended the

Runabout towed S to Davistown

conduct navigation a joint seen around the Rip Bridge area.training night. Source: The motor had failed on Sunday, evening at training The logs were located. One was Jun 10 “Crews put their skills to June 7, Website, at around 9:15am, and described “huge”. Traffic and Highway Patrol Charmhaven Fire asthe test with a road crash they required help to get back to They were placed ashore for Command NSW the ramp adjacent to Davistown Control Centre. rescue scenario, which removal by Council. Public Wharf. Media release, 8 June 2015 provided all organisations The by Central Coast Ron The tow was completed Cole, Marine Rescue with great Mr Al Howes, Mr Karl Liepa, Mr Coast Unit Volunteer Rescue NSW Centralinter-agency Paul Oliver and Mr Bruce Larking Bridge to Davistown.to

Imagine if it was a message about your business.

The 2015 Umina Kingﬁs Carnival, held on Thursd July 16 and Friday, July was played in the wo conditions that organis could recall in the year history of the bo competition.

An initial downpour ﬂooded three greens requiring matche be played on only two greens

familiarisation and team work. “A huge thank you to everyone who came along for the night and thank you again for having us along,” said Rescue Squad President, Joel Dawes. Source: Website, Jun 11 Joel Dawes, Central Coast Rescue Squad

Help Ted Noffs Foundation get addicted children clean

What would it cost to get your message out to that many people using any other medium? Don’t be fooled by the hype, advertising in this newspaper is by far much better value for money than any other medium. Not only does it have the reach and readership within the area it covers, but readers can keep the advertisement and refer to it as often as they wish.

Please donate to buy beds for Ted. Call 1800 151 045 or visit www.noffs.org.au

Call 4325 7369 to see how inexpensive it is.

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Neil Hutchison faces court over injuring women while drunk N

eil Hutchison, the 52-year-old Mardi resident accused of crushing three women with his mini-van whilst driving drunk in the Westfield Tuggerah, Tonkiss St, Carpark in 2018, faced Gosford District Court on June 6. The court was told Hutchison had been drinking throughout the day on March 26, 2018, before he visited the shopping centre in his unregistered and uninsured vehicle to purchase more alcohol. After returning to his vehicle, the court then heard how Hutchison placed his vehicle in reverse instead of drive and ploughed into two sisters, then 18 and 14 years old, who were unpacking shopping into their vehicle, and another, aged 40, who had just arrived at the centre and was attempting to remove her infant son out of his child restraint. The court was then told Hutchison attempted to flee the scene but instead collided with two parked vehicles. When police attended, a breath test was issued, and Hutchinson recorded a reading of 0.278, almost six times over the legal limit. Hutchison was serving an eight month

Anyone with information about these incidents should call

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: http://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/ Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

suspended jail sentence for two prior high range drink driving offences at the time of the incident. During the hearing, Hutchison denied that he attempted to flee the scene, claiming his shoelace had been caught around the accelerator pedal, rendering him unable to stop, but admitted his intoxication was also a major factor. Victim impact statements were also read aloud to the court. In their statements, all three women said they had suffered greatly as a result of Hutchison’s actions and were still dealing with the trauma, both physical and mental. The 18-year-old woman suffered a shattered pelvis and had fractured two vertebrae as a result of the incident. In her statement, she spoke about her difficulties “fighting to walk again”, spending time in a wheelchair, and the emotional impact of potentially never being

able to give birth to a child naturally after her pelvis reconstruction required the insertion of screws into her pubic bone. “I am angry that he has impacted my life, my sister’s life and my family’s life,” she said. The 40-year-old woman also suffered serious injuries following the incident, including ruptured ligaments, multiple leg fractures and damage to her teeth. In her statement, she spoke about the immense fear she felt for her infant son at the time of the incident and how she, an avid dancer and fitness enthusiast, would never be able to complete activities like salsa dancing or playing with her son, in the same way she used to. When taking the stand, Hutchison said he was ashamed on his actions. “It was an absolute nightmare. “I knew I had hurt people, their screams stay with me every day, every night,” he told the court. Hutchison’s sentencing will be completed on July 26. Source: Documents, Jun 6 NSW Department of Justice, Transcript and Casefile 2017/00097430 R v Neil Hutchison 2018/00095974 R v Neil Hutchison 2018/00178293 R v Neil Hutchison Dilon Luke, Journalist

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Page 15 19 June 2019

ON THE BEAT

CareFlight assists man crushed between two vehicles

CareFlight’s rapid response team attended an incident in Wadalba towbar of a parked four 40-year-old man wheel drive vehicle. has been flown CareFlight’s specialist to hospital after June 12, landing in a doctor and critical care getting crushed vacant block of land in provided between a truck and a nearby new housing paramedic further treatment at the another vehicle at estate. scene before the man Wadalba. The critical care team was flown to Royal North CareFlight’s rapid arrived to find NSW Shore Hospital in a stable response rescue Ambulance paramedics condition. helicopter was tasked assisting the man, who Source: to Wadalba shortly after was crushed between Media release, Jun 12 12pm, on Wednesday, the tray of a truck and the CareFlight Media Unit

Road rage incident at Summerland Point P

olice are seeking witnesses to a road rage incident that occurred at Summerland Point. At about 2:30pm on Wednesday, June 12, officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District were called to Cams Blvd, Summerland Point, following reports of an assault. Officers collected

information from witnesses and the people allegedly involved. No one was seriously injured as a result of the incident. It is understood that earlier that day, a verbal altercation occurred between a driver of a Blue Mazda CX5 and a driver of a Black Volkswagen

at the Pacific Hwy, Lake Munmorah, just past the Elizabeth Bay Dve intersection. The verbal exchange is said to have continued along Kanangra Dve and Summerland Rd, before both cars parked on Cams Blvd. Police inquiries continue. Source: Media release, Jun 16 NSW Police Media

HEALTH

Page 16 19 June 2019

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

Bus drivers to assist with Give Me 5 for Kids fundraiser

Busways drivers Glenn Buggy, Ken Farrugia, Terry Hillcoat, Michael Martin and Stephen Laggettie are all taking part in the Give Me 5 For Kids campaign Over 35 Busways’ “I have always wanted fundraiser has been usways’ Central drivers are volunteering to do something for this running for 25 years Coast drivers are to have donation buckets great cause,” Hillcoat this year and has so far assisting with the on board through the said. garnered just under $26m Give Me 5 for Kids month of June so people “Anything you can do for hospitals. fundraiser, an can easily donate. for kids is really good. The fundraiser relies initiative to help raise Busways’ driver, Terry “I hope the Central on the support and funds for paediatric Hillcoat, has spearheaded Coast can jump on board generosity of the local wards of local the fundraiser for the communities. and start donating. hospitals and company and says he is “The more money we Source: children’s health happy to help where he raise, the better,” he said. Media release, Jun 13 related charities. can. Jade Aliprandi, Busways The Give Me 5 for Kids

Joint recycling effort results in a defibrillator in school hall

Photo: Michael Amendolia

orthlakes Public School has installed a defibrillator in the school hall thanks to generous donations from the school community.

R E S TO R E

T S IG H U ST

“Thank you to all students and families who contributed to our Return and Earn recycling program to help raise funds to purchase our new defibrillator, and a big thank you to our fantastic Parents and Carers Group who donated $250 to help us reach our target. “Thank you to the students and staff of K-6 Purple and 3-6 Green who worked hard each Friday sorting and counting the recycling items and thank you also to the people who kindly took the items to the machines for recycling,” said Principal, Larry Micevski. “It has been a huge

Northlakes Public School’s new defibrillator cans and effort, but one that bottles, has not only resulted poppers in as we will in the purchase of a continue to recycle and defibrillator, but has raise funds for another importantly decreased project,” he added. our school’s impact on Source: the environment. Website, May 31 Larry Micevski, Northlakes “Keep sending your

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Go Fund Me campaign launched to raise funds for daughter’s operation A

Mardi family has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to raise the funds they need to help treat their daughter’s Scoliosis. T h i r t e e n - y e a r- o l d . Abbie Gregory. is an avid competitive dancer and aerialist and has been dancing with the Central Coast Lee Academy for the past five years. Abbie thought that 2019 would be no different when she got back into the dance studio, but after running into some balance and stance issues, Abbie and her parents, Aaron and Larissa, quickly realised something was wrong. “Upon further inspection we noticed Abbie’s spine looked crooked, so we immediately booked a doctor’s appointment where we were informed that Abbie may have developed Scoliosis, but would require further x-rays to determine the extent of her condition,” Aaron said. After receiving Abbie’s x-ray results the Gregory’s were advised to seek more specialist care and took Abbie to see the team at John Hunter Hospital. The family’s worst fears were realised by

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the Hospital’s lead Spinal Surgeon, who confirmed Abbie had a rare and sever case of Scoliosis, with her x-rays indicating a 65 degree bend in her spine. Spinal bends of more than 30 degrees are found in only 0.3 per cent of Scoliosis patients with the average bend being around 10 degrees. “We were informed that not only was Abbie’s spine at a 65 degree curve, but the top half of her spine also rotated 51 degrees and the lower half of her spine rotated 61 degrees. “With this degree of damage, he is confident that with a spinal fusion he can correct upwards of 40 per cent of the damage it has already caused, but the unfortunate side is this will never be 100 per cent curable,” Aaron said. The family is now seeking aid to raise the funds needed so that Abbie can undergo the corrective surgery and to help with post operation expenses. They are hoping to raise $5,000 through the Go Fund Me Campaign. As of June 13, the campaign had raised $590.

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Page 17 19 June 2019

HEALTH

Open Day celebrates completion of renovations C

entral Coast ARAFMI held an Open Day and community barbecue at its Bateau Bay Mental Health Support Centre, Yakkalla, on June 11. Central Coast ARAFMI is a grassroots organisation that was established by mental health carers more than 40 years ago. Yakkalla is a social, recreational and educational centre for men and women 18 years and older whose lives have been affected

by mental illness, and is also an accredited NDIS provider for people living with a psychological disability. At Yakkalla, programs are designed by members for members. According to Yakkalla Program Coordinator, Kylie Elliot, the centre offers a range of activities for people looking to meet others with a similar lived experience with mental illness who are also still on their journey towards wellness and recovery. Elliot said the Open Day was a day to celebrate the members, volunteers

Lake Munmorah High School may have a measles issue

ake Munmorah High School has advised the school community that a potential case of German Measles, commonly known as Rubella, has been brought to the school’s attention. “We have had a suspected case of German Measles reported in the school. Relieving Principal, Georgia Fleming, said: “According to NSW Health, symptoms are

often mild and include: mild fever, runny nose, swollen nodes and a pink, blotchy rash. “NSW Health estimates the time from exposure to illness can be between 14 to 21 days,” Fleming said. The disease is normally contained by the MMR immunisation administered to children when they are 12 months and followed by a second dose at the age of 4. Source: Website, Jun 11 Georgia Fleming, Lake Munmorah High School

and staff that have made Yakkalla such an enduring success, but also as a means to raise awareness about the centre and its offerings. The day was led by members who showcased Yakkalla’s various programs to over 100 guests and culminated in a ribbon cutting conducted by newly appointed Assistant Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Carers, Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride. It was a poignant moment for McBride whose father, former Member for The Entrance, the late Grant McBride, opened the centre in 1995. According to Elliot, the event was held to reintroduce Yakkalla to the wider community and to highlight the centre’s recent renovations, courtesy of a $17,000 grant from McBride. Renovations included new floorings, furniture, decking, fencing, gardens and doors, as well as painting works throughout the centre, inside and out, and new technology and equipment. Elliot said the renovations were a labour of love made possible by the centre’s army of volunteers and staff who gave up their weekends, public holidays and free time over a number of months to ensure the works were completed in

ARAFMI’s, Rhonda Wilson and Anne Stedman with Emma McBride and Barbara McBride time for the Open Day. “When the NDIS came into effect, we lost all of our block funding, but at Yakkalla we have stood by our ethos of never turning anyone away,” she said. Elliot contributed Yakkalla’s success to this member driven approach, but said the centre was now more reliant on volunteers and the support of the community than ever before. “When our members walk through our gates they know they are safe, but when they’re out in the community, they have to hide their mental health problem. “At Yakkalla, they know they can embrace their mental health struggle and know they aren’t defined by it,” Elliot said. Source: Interview, Jun 13 Kylie Elliot, Yakkalla Dilon Luke, Journalist

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EDUCATION Page 18 19 June 2019

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High School teachers attend Creating Connections Conference

Lake Munmorah High School staff at the Conference The conference was students. ver 60 staff designed to provide “The conference was a members from professional learning remarkable opportunity Lake Munmorah High School attended the around the NSW Strategic for staff to deeply engage Direction that all students in professional learning school’s 2019 are known, valued and and also to develop C r e a t i n g cared for. strong connections Connections “We were engaged by with each other,” said Conference, held at the key note speaker, Carl Principal, Tony Keevill. the Crowne Plaza Warren, and participated Source: Hunter Valley in in a range of sessions Website, Jun 7 June. designed to improve the Tony Keevill, Lake Munmorah High School school experience for all

Students finalising routines for Central Coast Dance Festival

tudents from all three campuses of Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College (TLSC) have been finalising their routines for the 2019 Central Coast Dance Festival. The festival runs throughout June and July and will see hundreds of dancers from schools across the Central Coast LGA take to the stage over eight performances. The 2019 festival also marks the 30th anniversary of the event and will celebrate three decades of dance at Gosford’s Laycock St Theatre. TLSC held their final stage rehearsal for the festival at the beginning of June, and according to The Entrance Campus Principal, Kirrily Harvey, TLSC is set to put on a number of dazzling

Katie Arnold wins Maliga Mayoral Award

orthlakes High School Year 10 student, Katie Arnold, has taken out a Mayoral Award in the 2019 Maliga Indigenous Arts and Culture Showcase.

Find stories you can trust in...

www.centralcoastnews.net

BELIEVE IT WHEN YOU READ IT.

An initiative of Central Coast Council, Maliga 2019 was held from May 28 to June 7 at The Entrance Gallery and featured creative works from children and young people aged 3-18 from across the Coast. The exhibition was judged by local Indigenous Elders, Aunty Jenni McEwen and Uncle Gavi Duncan. Source: Newsletter, Jun 11 Warren Welham, Northlakes High School

A sneak peek at one of TLSC’s routines performances. “Our dancers were amazing during rehearsals, with performances by our elective classes, the TLSC Company and the Targeted Development in the Arts ensemble, choreographed by

our Vice Captain, Zara Dimmock. “They should be commended on their professionalism and work ethic,” Harvey said. Source: Website, Jun 12 Kirrily Harvey, TLSC The Entrance Campus

Bank assists with communication and leadership program

he Wyong To a s t m a s t e r s ’ initiative to instil communication skills and confidence in unemployed jobseekers has been given a boost thanks to a grant from The Commonwealth Bank. Lake Haven Branch.

months for select young people from the Wyong LGA who are taking part in the program. Wyong Toastmasters is working with Jobactive providers in the Wyong LGA to

identify 18-21-year-olds jobseekers who can benefit from this free training. Source: Media release, Jun 14 Glenn D’Cruz, Wyong Toastmasters

To a s t m a s t e r s International offers a newly introduced Pathways program for affordable training in communication and leadership, and the $500 grant will allow Wyong Toastmasters to waive memberships fees for six

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Page 19 19 June 2019

EDUCATION

Five locals receive TAFE Foundation awards F

our former Wyong Shire residents have received F o u n d a t i o n Encouragement Awards during the Hunter TAFE Foundation’s Central Coast Awards and S c h o l a r s h i p presentation, held at TAFE NSW’s Kurri Kurri Campus on June 12. Marking its 20th year of operations, the Hunter TAFE Foundation awarded 23 students from across the Hunter and Central Coast regions more than $17,000 in awards and scholarships. All Encouragement Award awardees are currently completing their studies at either TAFE NSW’s Wyong or Ourimbah Campuses and include San Remo’s Amina Bi, Hamlyn Terrace’s Isobel Heffernan, The Entrance

North’s Ashlee Vernon and Watanobbi’s, Jye Fawaz. The Encouragement Awards are valued at $500 each. Niagara Park’s, Michelle Schlig, who is

Hunter TAFE Foundation 2019 awardees completing her studies at Foundation, through the the Ourimbah Campus, generosity of our donor was also an awardee, partners, has contributed financial and received a Study significant Assistance Scholarship, assistance to local also valued at $500. students to assist them “Over the past 20 with their TAFE NSW years, the Hunter TAFE studies,” said Foundation

The Addams Family musical to be performed Created in the 30’s by American cartoonist, Charles Addams, as a satirical inversion of the ideal 20th century American family, The Addams’ quirky love of all things macabre has gone on to be an enduring influence in Western

ADVERTISMENT

AUSTRALIAN COAL ALLIANCE

popular culture across films, television and literature, with kooky clan set to make their next appearance on the big screen in October with an animated film set to reboot the franchise. Students from Lakes Anglican Grammar with

Source: Media release, Jun 12 Kristy Sheppard, TAFE NSW

be brining Morticia, Gomez and the rest of The Addams Family to life with two performances at the school in June. Source: Website, Jun 1 Michael Hannah, Lakes Anglican Grammar School

CENTRAL COAST

coastcommunitynews.com.au

akes Anglican Grammar School’s Senior School students are putting on the final touches for their upcoming musical, The Addams Family.

President, Gary Webb. “We have made the vocational pathway easier for hundreds of people with all manner of occupations in their sight. “Many are now key participants in our local workforce, contributing great value to our local economy. “On behalf of the Foundation, I would

like to thank our donors who have generously contributed over the years and have enabled the Foundation to support hundreds of welldeserving Central Coast and Hunter students. “Together we are making a tremendously valuable contribution to the lives of many who strive towards career success,” he said. TAFE NSW Regional General Manager, Susie George, said the 2019 presentation was a particularly poignant occasion. “It is wonderful to hear about what a difference the awards and scholarships will make to these students. “Being able to access and continue with high quality education and training is a key factor in students securing a solid job and becoming an effective member of today’s and tomorrow’s workforce,” she said.

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OUT&ABOUT Page 20 19 June 2019

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Bateau bay woman wins $25,000

Volunteer Award recipients announced V

olunteering Central Coast has announced the winners of its 2019 Volunteer Awards. The awardees were announced during a special event at the organisation’s Volunteering Expo in May, which saw over 400 people come together on National Volunteering Week to celebrate the individuals and community groups that give up their own time for the benefit of others on the Central Coast. “The theme for this year’s National Volunteering week was ‘Making a World of Difference’, and it appears that all the nominees have made a great difference,” said Volunteering Central Coast’s, Fiona Morrison. “Indeed, the people of the Central Coast are very generous with their time, skills and hearts, with a higher percentage of people volunteering here than in Greater Sydney. “Over 46,000 people volunteer, and we get to meet many of them at Volunteering Central Coast,” she said. This year’s winners were: Meals on Wheels’, Emma Barwick; CoastFM’s, Crystal Russom; Shirley Shuttle’s, Barb Galvin; CoastAbility’s, Helen Walker; and, Bendigo Bank, Kincumber. Barwick took out the

2019 Volunteer of the Year, Barb Galvin (centre) with Deputy Mayor, Chris Holstein, and Volunteering Central Coast Chairperson, Lucy Milne Excellence in Volunteer “With the help of her Management Award. team, she also raised “Emma manages over $20,000 for Rural Aid’s 200 volunteers every Buy A Bale campaign,” week to help distribute Morrison said. meals across the Central Bendigo Bank, Coast, supporting those Kincumber, took out the who need it most. Excellence in Corporate “Without her assistance Volunteering Award. and her volunteers, the “Employees of Bendigo Meals On Wheels service Bank, Kincumber, are would not be possible,” always on hand to help, Morrison said. whether it be pitching in Russom was named with any event the Centre Young Volunteer of the is supporting or out of office activities through Year. “Crystal has made Bendigo Bank’s Goodwill a real difference in her Project,” Morrison said. Walker received the many volunteer roles, as Living Legend Award. a Community Champion for Beyond Blue, her “This award is only volunteering at CoastFM issued to someone who Community Radio and has volunteered for tireless fundraising for the 10 years or more with Our Farmers Donation the same organisation Drive achieving a whole and Helen has been a truck of donations valued volunteer for almost 60 at $30,000 and delivering years with various local them to Western NSW. associations including

CoastAbility, Fairhaven Services and the Girl Guides,” Morrison said. “Helen has an ethic of probity, service to others and a positive can do attitude, her leadership involves wisdom, ingenuity and practical sense, and her energy and passion to improve the quality of life for others is indeed legendary,” she added. Galvin took out the top honour of Volunteer of the Year 2019. “Barb’s mother Shirley sadly passed away from cancer in 2006. “She was the inspiration for Shirley’s Shuttle, which is now a fleet of four shuttles, administered by Community Transport Central Coast and supported by the Central Coast Local Health District, thanks to Barb’s dedication of time, money and emotional resources and amazing fundraising skills the Shirley Shuttle is still going strong today. “Barb has also been highly committed in other volunteering roles, five years with Coastal Rescue, five years with Delta Dog Partner Program, with her dog Misty, rescuing injured pelicans, and, since completing her Vet Nursing Certificate, now has her sights on volunteering for the RSPCA,” Morrison said. Source: Media release, May 31 Fiona Morrison, Volunteering Central Coast

Bateau Bay woman had a Mother’s Day she’ll never forget after scratching one of the top prizes of $25,000 on a $2 Instant Scratch-Its ticket. The winning $2 ticket was purchased at Nextra Bateau Bay, located in Bateau Bay Square shopping centre. Despite receiving the ticket as a Mother’s Day gift, the woman didn’t realise she had won until scratching it weeks later. “It was actually a gift from my son for Mother’s Day,” she said. “We usually buy each other scratchies for birthdays or Christmas. “It was a lovely surprise when I checked my tickets last week and realised I had a winner. “It caused just a little bit of excitement,” she said. The generous woman

revealed she would be selfless and planned to share her windfall with loved ones and good causes. “There are a couple of charities close to my heart that I would like to give to,” she said. “I also want to share it with my son who gave me the ticket. “I think we’ll go halves.” Nextra Bateau Bay owner, Kyle Gribble, said he was thrilled to hear his outlet had sold their first major prize. “We’ve only been open 12 months, so it’s exciting to have sold a major prize so soon,” he said. “Without a doubt we will be telling all of our customers about our win. “We wish our winner all the best with her prize,” he added. Source: Media release, Jun 5 Matt Hart, The Lott

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Brand new Australian production of HAIR to be performed at Wyong

n a major coup for musical theatre lovers on the Central Coast, The Art House, Wyong, has announced that the brand new Australian production of HAIR, starring, Hugh Sheridan and Paulini, is coming to the venue in September. The all-star musical celebrates 60’s counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, radical glory with an infectious, energetic rock beat The show features a Grammy Award winning score including the hit songs Aquarius, Good Morning Starshine, Hair, I Got Life and Let The Sun Shine. As part of an exclusive six venue only tour, Central Coast audiences will be able to watch the show at The Art House before it opens to the masses at Sydney Opera House in October.

Hugh Sheridan and Paulini will star in the 50th anniversary production of HAIR coming to The Art House this September HAIR is set during a Manager, Emily Miler. global responsibility Idol star, Paulini, in the turbulent, anarchic and “Today, amidst global and peace, continue to role of Dionne, with more exciting time in which turmoil, issues like human resonate, getting to the cast members to be people were losing faith rights, the environment, heart of what it means announced. in the establishment, freedom of religion, race to be a young person in This is the second austerity measures and and gender equality a changing world,” she major musical The Art the Vietnam War. continue to dominate said. House has presented in “Hippie counterculture, dinner party and water Leading the cast is 2019, the first being the discussions four time Logie award all-star musical In The experimentation and cooler free-love eschewed across the country, and winning TV and theatre Heights, which premiered conformity and the world now on social media. star, Hugh Sheridan, in at the barely three-yearcollectively let its hair “HAIR’s themes of the role of Berger, as old theatre before taking down,” explains The identity, community, well as musical theatre on the Concert Hall at Art House’s Box Officer performer and Australian Sydney Opera House.

The Art House’s Executive Director, AnneMarie Heath, said: “We are so excited to bring this 50th anniversary production of HAIR to Wyong. “With world class performers and some of Australia’s finest creatives, it is going to be an amazing show worthy of any capital city in the country. “We really feel strongly, and it comes through in everything we do, that the Central Coast should experience the best that live theatre can bring, and that the Coast’s audiences deserve the same quality in production as major cities,” Heath added. The Art House will host four performances of HAIR from September 19-21. Source: Media release, May 7 Emily Miller, The Art House, Wyong

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Harvest Festival attracted thousands of visitors

Emerging country music artists sought

arvest Festival 2019 has been and gone and saw thousands of guests descend on the Hinterlands of Wyong and Gosford over the June long weekend for three days of food, fun and agriculture. Acting Council Unit Manager, Community Partnerships, Kerrie Forrest, said the third annual Harvest Festival injected large amounts of money into the Central Coast economy with attendance numbers well up again. “Harvest Festival keeps getting bigger and better. “Locals and visitors explored eight rural farming communities and their picturesque heritage villages and participated in a host of fun activities across a weekend blessed with fabulous winter weather,” she added.

E Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith, said it is great to see such support for a Festival that celebrates our unique and beautiful hinterland areas and promotes the Central Coast as a supplier of quality produce. “Events such as this help to ensure the future of this vibrant industry which provides local employment opportunities, highlights sustainable farming practices and makes a great contribution to our economy,” Smith said.

Harvest Festival 2019 “Tourism is a significant industry on the Coast and an area where we are committed to growing more jobs and opportunities. “The focus has always been, for obvious reasons, on promoting our natural resources. “The Harvest Festival is a great example of how we can create tourism opportunities that protect the local character and environment of our region,” Smith said. Across the Coast’s

North, Harvest Festival 2019 saw the agricultural communities of Dooralong, Jilliby and Yarramalong showcase the best of what they have to offer. Event activities across the two days included fresh food and country markets, food and wine, factory tours, bush tucker tours and working farm tours. Source: Media release, Jun 14 Central Coast Council Media

ntries are now open for community radio s t a t i o n , todayscountry 94one’s 2019 Brand New Star Competition. Now in its 10th year, Brand New Star is the Central Coast’s premier event for new and emerging country music artists and duos. “Brand New Star provides a fabulous opportunity for budding young country music performers to follow in the footsteps of previous winners and take the next step towards a successful career in the music industry,” said

todayscountry94one’s, Neil Keele. Preliminary heats will be held on July 6 at The Greens at The Entrance, and on July 13 at Club Wyong, with the Grand Final on July 20 at Central Coast Leagues Club. Prizes include $3,000 from Central Coast Leagues Club, recording time with Hillbilly Hut and marketing and career mentoring from Market the Music. Entry is free and is open to everyone aged 16 and over. Entries close June 21. Source: Media release, May 13 Neil Keele, todayscountry94one

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Winter Blues and Jazz Festival set to be the best yet A

selection of A u s t r a l i a ’s leading blues and jazz musicians will delight audiences with performances at nine Central Coast venues across five suburbs, when the ninth annual Winter Blues and Jazz Festival returns in July. This year’s festival will feature headliners Russell Morris and Emma Pask and a jam-packed program over two days (July 13-14). Central Coast Council Unit Manager, Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, said the Central Coast’s most popular free music event catered to all music lovers. “We have a great and varied line-up that will make it almost impossible not to move your feet,”

Russell Morris Cannard said. “Blues and jazz fans love the event, but nonfans often walk away with a new understanding and appreciation of what modern blues and jazz is all about. “Great music with our beautiful Central Coast

as the backdrop is a combination that is not be missed. “The Entrance is the flagship venue for the event, but locals and visitors can enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere at venues in Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi, Wamberal and Avoca

Emma Pask Beach. Aside from the headliners, the festival line-up also features Caiti Baker, 19-Twenty, Chase The Sun, Geoff Achinson, Muma Jane’s Blues Band and more. Mayor Jane Smith said the Winter Blues and

Jazz Festival was about bringing people together to celebrate music and have a great time. “Locals and visitors love this event. “It’s all about fun with family and friends and experiencing some incredible free entertainment,” Mayor Smith said. “The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival attracts between 6,000 and 9,000 families, friends and visitors to our region, which provides a welcome boost to the local economy during the quieter winter months,” she added. Event venues around the former Wyong Shire are: Waterfront Plaza, The Entrance; Memorial Park, The Entrance; Diggers at The Entrance; The Entrance Hotel; Bateau Bay Hotel; The Greens The Entrance; Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi

Umbi; and Avoca Beach Hotel. The main indoor venue for the Winter Blues and Jazz Festival is Diggers@ The Entrance, which kicks off the free entry event on the Friday evening, July 12, with two blues bands. This is followed by live music from 2.30pm until 11pm on Saturday, July 13. In total, 34 artists in 8 bands will be performing for free at this weather proof venue. Booked acts at this popular venue are BluesAngels, Mark ‘n the Blues, Blues from the Past, Traditional Graffiti, Jack Derwin Trio, Two Buck Blues Band, The Squeezers and Blues Wranglers. Source: Media release, Jun 11 Central Coast Council Media Media statement, Jun 17 Cec Bucello, BluesAngels

Winter Blues Festival at Diggers @ The Entrance Diggers @ The Entrance is proud to be a major part of the annual Winter Jazz and Blues Festival held at The Entrance on the weekend of July 12 to 14. The following high quality line–up of over 34 Blues artists has been booked to provide twelve hours of outstanding free blues entertainment for all to enjoy.

Friday, July 12

BluesAngels 7.30pm – 8.30pm 10pm – 11pm Saturday, July 13 7.30pm – 8.30pm Guitars and gobirons, mandos and banjos, swinging saxophone and creampuff clarinet, the Beatles bass and a thimbleful of washboard waling, spoons, kalimba and the junkyard drumkit; it’s trad east coast blues the way we don't often hear it. Pre-WW1 songcatchers matched with post-WW2 blues-bashers and modern times' funkin’ rootsabilly. Born in 2010, BluesAngels, the Central Coast’s premier folk blues band has played fests from Goulburn blues to Dorrigo bluegrass, St Albans folk to The Entrance jazz, and many, many more.

you on a journey to the deep south, where the Delta blues was born, and then through the ages and styles from past to present. In his show, Mark incorporates instruments such as the resonator guitar with slide, cigar box guitar, and a stomp box to keep the beat. He uses a unique picking style he learnt from Brother John from the Blues Preachers. Mark will be joined by, Eric K. Betts, on blues harp and vocals to create a versatile and dynamic sound, and, David Rowlands, on washboard to create a trio. Eric and David have both had considerable experience with many blues bands and are masters of their art.

Saturday July 13

Blast From the Past Blues Band

OAM, lead vocals; Alfredo Zotti on piano and Hammond; Alan Nash on Drums; and, Ian Hyden on bass.

Traditional Graffiti 3.45pm – 4.45pm ‘Traditional Graffiti’ is the roots music experience that evolved out of Australia’s ever-popular gang of English ex-pats, the Wheeze & Suck Band. Ian ‘The Pump’ Macintosh (Melodeon, guitar, Harp), John ‘Red Tips’ Milce (Percussion, jokes) and Nigel ‘Muddy’ Waters (Mandolin, Cello Mandolin, Harp & Guitar), continue their unique readings of traditional, ceremonial and contemporary roots material. After re-emerging in 2018 following the end of the Wheeze & Suck Band’s successful 7 albums and 22 years of activity, Traditional Graffiti has appeared at many festivals and clubs around NSW, and released a new album, ‘Traditional Graffiti 1’, in May, 2019.

2.30pm – 3.30pm

Mark ‘N the Blues 8.45pm – 9.45pm Let Mark’s passion for the blues take

Blast from the Past is a band made up of professional jazz and blues musicians that play in other bands. They get together occasionally to play some jazz and blues such as is the case for this year’s Jazz and Blues Festival at the Diggers Club, The Entrance. The members of this great quintet are: Ian Mason on guitar; Helena Brunner

Jack Derwin Trio 5pm – 6pm On slide, resonator, unique vocals and

rack harp, add some progressions over amplified finger style and stomp box, you have Jack Derwin performing an eclectic blend of blues covers and originals. He gives an audience the best in nu kool blues & roots with a dynamic edge. His recent album, ‘Umina Blue’, charted at no 8 on the Australian blues and roots charts. With a slew of festivals right around Australia, NZ and Asia scattered behind him, 3 chain award nominations for best album, song and male vocalist, songs on global collections and Qantas playlists, Jack’s eclectic song list, pitches somewhere between non-purist old school blues, outback sunsets and urban lights and themes. Jack brings his performance to the festival with two brilliant musicians, Warren Ambrose on 5 string bass guitar, and local resident, Mick Huxley on drums and percussion.

MC and vocalist, Paul Wilson, is mostly known around the Coast for running the Big Blues Jams that attract large numbers of outstanding musicians. Paul is joined by Andrew Webster, a noted jazz guitarist, Warren Henry, a well known author with a drumming pedigree, and multi-instrumentalist, Walter de Jong, who has the uncanny ability to provide a perfect harmony in any song, any genre, at the same time as he plays Hammond organ. And it’s all anchored by, Mick Field, who’s played bass for an extensive list of Melbourne blues bands.

BluesAngels Saturday, July 13 7.30pm – 8.30pm

The Squeezers

Two Buck Blues Band 6.15pm – 7.15pm The Two Buck Band mostly plays what some people describe as cool blues, an eclectic style that moves between jazz, county, zydeco and rockabilly, but with a story. Frequently this “story” takes them into unexpected places, both musically and narratively, which is part of the reason people follow them, and why they play together.

8.45pm – 9.45pm The Squeezers’ music is best described as “swingin’ rhythm and blues, with a touch of soul”. Several years ago, the Squeezers started performing in addition to the Lemon Squeezin’ Daddies, with a similar but different repertoire, occasionally a bit bluesier and always a bit more relaxed, but with the same focus on fun and entertainment. The core of the Squeezers repertoire is “swing blues”. Think of this as being at the crossroad where blues meets jazz and rock n roll.

Because the music blends all these elements, it has a broad and immediate appeal to just about everyone. Although every Squeezers’ performance is a show in itself, the band is ideal with a crowd that likes to get up and dance.

Blues Wranglers 10pm – 11pm After jamming together at the Central Coast Blues Society in 2015, Les(Birdman)Blundell (harmonica) and Trent Taylor (guitar & vox) formed a duo. In 2016, they were joined by, Dan Batton guitar) and, Belinda Taylor (keys), followed by bass and drums, and began playing numerous venues across the Central Coast. In 2018, a lineup change brought in, Wayne Lawler(bass) and Al Smith (drums). With a diverse range of Blues tunes from the classics to the early Blues tracks of ZZ Top and Fleetwood Mac, with moody melodies to foot stomping rhythm and more, you are sure to get your Blues fix.

Page 24 19 June 2019

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A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF EVENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS ON THE CENTRAL COAST WEDNESDAY, JUN 19 Adssi In-home Support Free Tea & Technology for Seniors’ Workshop, Erina Centre Erina Fair, Registrations Required, 10am - 1pm

Lifeline needs more volunteers! Crisis Support Worker Training course, Applications close 12/06, 4320 7400

Fiona.pennington@lifeline. org.au

Fashion Parade by Sarongs, Ettalong Uniting Church, The Rod & Elton Show, 1:30pm Ettalong Diggers,

Children’s Medical Research Institute - Bingo Fundraiser, Erina Leagues Club, Ticketed, 7:30pm

FRIDAY, JUN 21

Winter Wonderland Wine Dinner by Tyrrell’s, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Ticketed, 6:30pm

Christmas in July Luncheon, Linton Gardens, Ticketed, 01/07 - 31/07

FSDance Gala Day 2019, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 3pm

SATURDAY, JUN 29

WEDNESDAY, JUL 3

Music Week experience a week of dynamic learning, Central Coast Conservatorium, Bookings required, 29/06 - 5/07, 4324 7477

Central Coast Council Workshop - The future of waste and resource recovery, Registrations required, Erina Centre, Erina Fair, 10am - 12pm

MONDAY, JUN 24

2019 Central Coast Training Awards, Mingara Recreation Club, Ticketed, 6pm

THURSDAY, JUN 20

I Hope it’s Not Raining in London, The Launch Pad, Ticketed, 7:30pm

Ticketed, 8:30pm 4343 0111

www.ettalongdiggers.com

Songs of the Solstice, Gosford Regional Gallery, Ticketed, 7pm

Central Coast Dance Festival 2019 - 30th Anniversary, Laycock Street Theatre Auditorium, Ticketed, 6pm

TUESDAY, JUN 25 Central Coast Council Workshop - The future of waste and resource recovery, Registrations required, Wyong Civic Centre, 12 - 2pm & 6 - 8pm

WEDNESDAY, JUN 26

www.centralcoastconservatorium.com.au

The Ettalong Food Fair, The Galleria, Free entry, 10am - 4pm /Galleriaettalongbeach

Black, White & You - Full Day Charcoal & Ink Workshop, Hardys Bay Community Church Hall, Ticketed, 10am

MONDAY, JUL 8

WEDNESDAY, JUL 17

SUNDAY, AUG 4

Calling all Learner Drivers Learn how to Service your Car with Hyundai, Booth’s Hyundai Tuggerah, 6pm - 7:30pm

Frank Ifield - Encore, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 1pm

The Food and Wine Festival, Mt Penang Gardens and Event Park, Free entry, 11am - 5pm

TUESDAY, JUL 9

Shaun Kirk, The Rhythm Hut, Ticketed, 6:30pm

Elton John & Time Rice’s Aida: A Timeless Love Story, Laycock Street Theatre, Ticketed, 2pm

THURSDAY, JUL 11

THURSDAY, JUL 4 Gosford Nurses’ Conference, The Willows Gosford, Ticketed, 4/07 & 5/07, 8:30am - 4pm

FRIDAY, JUL 5

Robot Song, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 10am & 1pm, 4335 1485 www.thearthousewyong. com.au

Try VR For Free Day, Diggers at the Entrance, Booking’s required, 10am

Jazz at The Galleria Feat. Jack Derwin Trio, The Galleria Ettalong, free, 11:30am - 2:30pm

Bobby Fox - The Irish Boy, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 8pm 4335 1485 www.thearthousewyong. com.au

Peninsula Record Fair, Woy Woy bowling club, Gold coin entry, 10am - 4pm Avoca Beachside Markets, Heazlett park foreshore, 9am - 2pm

MONDAY, JUL 1 Summer mixtape party, Ettalong diggers, Ticketed, 8:30pm 4343 0111 Gregg Arthur with Quartet Quartet, Laycock Street Theatre Auditorium, Ticketed, 8pm

Central Coast Council Workshop - The future of waste and resource recovery, Registrations required, Umina Surf Club, 6 - 8pm

Kibble Park Gosford CBD, 6/07 - 20/07

MONDAY, JUL 15

The Bays Art Show, The Bays Community Hall Woy Woy, 20 & 21/07, 10am - 4pm

Council Pop Up, Wyong Village Central, 10am - 12pm yourvoiceourcoast.com

Roald Dahl’s The Twits, The Art House Theatre, Ticketed, 25/07 - 27/07, Multiple Screening’s

FRIDAY, JUL 26 Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Laycock Street Community Theatre, Ticketed, 26/07 - 10/08

SATURDAY, JUL 27

Diplomacy, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 6/08 - 8pm, 7/08 - 2pm

SATURDAY, AUG 10 2 Day Workshop Charcoal & ink artwork on plywood, Yarramalong Store & Cafe, Ticketed, 9:30am

SUNDAY, AUG 11 Handmade on the Coast, Woy Woy Wharf, 9am - 2pm Country Music Festival 2019, The Waterfront Plaza and Memorial Park, 10am - 4pm

TUESDAY, AUG 13 Grigoryan Brothers - Past, Present and Future, The Art House Wyong, Ticketed, 8pm

Central Coast Asthma & Comedy With Two Left Feet, Laycock Street Theatre Respiratory Management, Auditorium Gosford, Erina Leagues Club, Ticketed, 14 - 16/08, Free, 9am - 4:30pm 2pm & 8pm Christmas in July Race Day, The Entertainment Grounds, THURSDAY, AUG 15 Ticketed, 11am - 5:30pm Hitler’s Daughter, Glenworth Valley’s Horses The Art House Wyong, Birthday Festival, Ticketed, 16/08 - 16/08, Glenworth Valley, Multiple Screening’s Ticketed, 27/07 & 28/07, 9:30am FRIDAY, AUG 16

SUNDAY, JUL 28 Search For Land Seminar, Tuggerah Community Hall, Ticketed, 10am - 3:30pm

FRIDAY, AUG 2

West Ham United Rugby League The Musical, Player ID Camp 2019, The Art House Wyong, James Browne Oval, Ticketed, 8:30pm 15 & 16/07, 10am SATURDAY, AUG 3 2pm, 0434 413 140 Register at Carnevale 2019 Exhibition,

Coastal Art Exhibition, Opposite the Bakehouse Gallery Patonga, www.georgecowiefootball.com 06/07 - 28/07, 10am - 4pm

TUESDAY, AUG 6

Troubadour Folk Club Witches Leap (Aust) Celtic Music, WEDNESDAY, AUG 14 St. Lukes Hall, Ticketed, 7pm Stepping Out - Tap-Dancing

Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour 2019, Avoca Beach Picture Theatre, Ticketed, 7pm

www.centralcoast.nsw.gov. au/events

Cowra on the Coast Food and Wine Festival, Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, Free entry, 11am - 5pm

SATURDAY, JUL 20

THURSDAY, JUL 25

Tuggerah Lakes U3A Aged Care - A New presents a Talk on Gosford Baby Show, Alternative, ‘Our Local Coastline Part 2’ www.trybooking.com/BBKVC Imperial Centre Gosford, Chaika With Support Twin Chocolate Starfish: Mingara events centre, Willows, The Entrance/Long Jetty Registrations required Wyong Neighbourhood Booking’s required, One Last Kick The Rhythm Hut, RSL Hall, 10am - 12pm Centre Inc - Trivia Night, $100 mingara food Ticketed, 6:30pm Ettalong Diggers, Heavy Water, Wyong Rugby Leagues Halekulani View Club voucher for all Event Cinemas Tuggerah, Ticketed, 9:45pm Club, Ticketed, supports The Smith Ticketed, 6:30pm attendees 4343 0111 6pm - 10pm Family - Meeting and guest 0416 258 041 An Asbestos Awareness speaker, Troubadour folk club: The Central Coast Art Society www.bit.ly/agedcareinfo Morning Tea, Halekulani Bowling Club, Water Runners Winter Exhibition, Ourimbah RSL Club, 11am Australian Bluegrass, Gosford Regional Art FRIDAY, JUL 12 Free - Booking’s required, St. Lukes Hall, Ticketed, Society, 05/07 Opening We’ve Got Tonight 10:30am Comedy for a Cause The Gosford Branch of 7pm Night - 6-8pm, 05/07 Tribute Show, fundraiser, Children’s Medical 10/07 10am 4pm THURSDAY, JUN 27 Laycock Street The Sapphires, St Peter’s Catholic College, Research Institute - Coffee Community Theatre, Laycock Street Community Ticketed, 6pm - 9pm Morning, Council Pop Up, SATURDAY, JUL 6 Ticketed, 8pm Theatre, Ticketed, The East Gosford Progress Erina Fair, 22/06 - 7:30pm, 43 233 233 YIPA Presentation Night Wildplant Community Hall, Ticketed, 10am 5pm - 7pm www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/ 23/06 - 2pm 2019, Nursery, yourvoiceourcoast.com theatres Laycock Street Theatre CEN Office Ourimbah, SATURDAY, JUL 13 Art on the Peninsula, Auditorium, Ticketed, Superwog, 9am 12pm Woy Woy Library, Yoga Festival, Come Celebrate Bastille 7:30pm The Art House Wyong, www.cen.org.au 1pm - 3pm Umina Beach Yoga, Day with the Alliance Ticketed, 7:30pm 29/06 - 30/06 NAIDOC Nylon Solstice an Exhibition, Française Conversation Five Lands Walk, Dracula by Steven Dietz, presented by Naughty Gosford Regional Group, Macmasters Beach to The Art House Wyong, SUNDAY, JUN 30 Noodle Fun Haus, Gallery, 21/06 - 30/06, Erina League Club, First Terrigal, Free Ticketed, 28/06 - 30/06, Laycock Street Theatre, 10am - 4pm attendance is free, Symphony Central CoastMultiple Screening’s Warehouse Sale, Ticketed, 8pm 10am - 12pm Concert 2 From Russia Youthlife op shop, 2019 Winter Short Course with Love, FRIDAY, JUN 28 SUNDAY, JUL 14 8am - 12pm Championships, Performing Arts Centre Peninsula Leisure Centre, Beginning Your Family CCGS, 2:30pm Handmade on the Coast, Mid Year Recital 2019, Ticketed - Booking’s History, Woy Woy Wharf, Peninsula Theatre, required, 21/06 - 23/06 Jack McCoy Talk Story, Gosford Library, Booking’s 9am - 2pm Ticketed, 3pm Laycock Street Theatre, required, SATURDAY, JUN 22 Ticketed, 5pm 10:30am - 12pm Winter in the Park!

SUNDAY, JUN 23

FRIDAY, JUL 19

The Art House Wyong, 03 - 29/08

Top Dog Film Festival Avoca, Avoca Beach Picture Theatre, Ticketed, 7pm - 9:30pm

WEDNESDAY, AUG 21

Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience, Ocean Beach Hotel Umina, Ticketed, 7pm, 4341 2322 www.obhotel.com.au

Basic entries in the Coastal Diary are FREE. Send information to coastaldiary@centralcoastnews.net

ENHANCED entries using bold typeface with an address, phone number and a live link are available for a small fee. Photographs can also be added for a small fee. All display advertisers are entitled to a free enhanced entry.

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

Wyong Drama Group wins many awards at the C One Act Play Festival

Page 25 19 June 2019

SPORT

Several tonnes of rubbish found at Gwandalan Reserve

lean4Shore, Central Coast Council and residences of The Glen rehabilitation centre, teamed up this June to clean Gwandalan Reserve.

Cathy Devries was a Best Actress nominee for her performance in Mayflies

he Wyong Drama Group (WDG) has returned from the One Act Play Festival in Port Macquarie with a number of awards. WDG presented two plays of the 10 shown during the festival, highlighting the group’s ability to select engaging scripts to transform into high quality dramatic productions. They received three of the major awards for their production of Mayflies, written by David Ives. A short comedy about the lives of two mayflies, the piece received the award for Best Production for its three actors, Cathy

Devries (who was also nominated for Best Actress), Marc Calwell (Runner-up Best Actor), and, Howard Oxley. Oxley, who is the WDG President, also won the award for Best Director. WDG also entered a thriller piece, Café Fear, which earned its Director, Ron Baker, a nomination for Best Director and its lead actress, Kate Clark, a Best Actress nomination. Upon their return to Wyong, Oxley also announced that the One Act Festival would be hosted by the WDG in June, 2020. Source: Media release, Jun 13 Kate Clark, Wyong Drama Group

Clean4Shore Facilitator, Graeme Johnson, said the area was rife with illegal dumping and the recent cleaning yielded more than four tonnes of waste. “The boys from The Glen joined Central Coast Council and National Parks for this event, with plenty of illegal dumped rubbish found. “They quickly filled three trucks, which then departed for the tip. “The Glen team then walked the rough tracks pulling out masses more rubbish including white goods, lounges, car parts,

The team from The Glen removed more than four tonnes of illegally dumped waste around Gwandalan 38 car and truck tyres, fencing and household goods. “Six very full trailer loads were brought back to the original site, off loaded for future pick up.

Four upgraded play spaces about to open

entral Coast Council is continuing its roll out of new play spaces across the region with Lara Close Park, Ourimbah, one of the latest revamped spaces to reopen to the public. The upgraded space was reopened on June 7 and now includes a climbing unit, nest swing, a spinner, rubber soft fall and new park furniture.

A spokesperson for Council said Northern Central Coast residents can look forward to the opening of three more play spaces over the coming weeks, with Killarney Vale Foreshore Reserve Park, Ashwood Cl Reserve in Glenning Valley, and Irene Pde Reserve in Noraville all expected to be completed by the end of June, weather permitting. Source: Website, Jun 7 Central Coast Council

“Great effort by The Glen team and our governing stakeholders,” Johnson said. Despite the efforts, Johnson said there was still much more of the

area to be canvased and cleaned and future trips would be required. Source: Website, Jun 12 Graeme Johnson, Clean4Shore

Page 26 19 June 2019

ARTS & CULTURE Wyong Writers Writers meet monthly on the fourth Saturday at 1.30pm Woodbury Community Centre 1 Woolmers Crescent, Mardi.

4333 7489

meilingvenning@hotmail.com www.wyongwriters.org

NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANISATIONS Country Women’s Association of NSW-Toukley Monthly Market 2nd Sat 9am-1pm 175 Main Rd, Books, bric-a-brac, cakes, Devonshire tea, handicrafts, plants, preserves, sausage sizzle, fun, fellowship, fundraising Meetings 1st Wed monthly 10am

4976 1642

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Gambling Solutions

Bateau Bay Men’s Shed

Gambling help counsellors providing free confidential professional service to gamblers, family and friends Woy Woy, Kincumber, Gosford and The Entrance

Environment for mature aged men to repair items, share and learn skills and socialise 9am to 1.30pm Tue to Thur 1 Bay Village Road, Bateau Bay

0435 807 633

bateaubayshed@gmail.com

Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre

4344 7992

Freemasons Annual event 4th Thurs in May each year. Regular event 4th Thurs monthly from 10am Ladies are invited Morisset Masonic Centre Westlake Daylight Masonic Lodge 5 Yambo Street Morisset

Information, Child & Adult Groups & Services, Youth Worker, Free Counselling, Energy Account Jack Harris 4392 1231 assistance (EAPA), Food Assistance (incl. Food Store), Freemasons Op Shop, Computer Lessons, Lodge Toukley 933 Equipment (PCs, Laundry Facilities & Lawnmower),Community Events. Meets 1st Wednesday each month - Toukley Memorial Hall Pearce 4332 7450 Street Toukley admin@bbnc.org.au https://bbnc.org.au/

John Jenkins 4392 1631

Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre

Friendly Travellers Caravan Club

Information & Referral, Talks & Information Sessions. Energy Account Assistance (EAPA), Counselling (concession available), Food Help, & Access to PCs, Internet & Printing. Toy Library, Community Garden & Activities Groups including Cards, Indoor Bowls, Mah-jong & Berkeley Vale Walking for Pleasure. School Holiday Activities & Workshops.

Caravans, Tents, Mobile Homes, All welcome plus social outings & trips away New memebers and visitors are invited to attend

4388 5801

manager@bvnc.org.au www.bvnc.org.au

Central Coast Caravanners Inc 3rd Sun Monthly Visitors - New Members welcome, Trips Away, Social Outings, friendship with like minded senior folk - Details from Geoff

0447 882 150

Central Coast Community Legal Centre Not for profit service providing free legal advice. Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

4353 4988

contact@centralcoastclc.org.au

Central Coast 50+ Singles Social Group Invites Ladies & Gents for dinner, dancing - BBQs & Socialising each w/e. Monthly programme for all areas of the coast

0412 200 571 0437 699 366 0407 031 013 50pssg@gmail.com

The Creative Compassion Centre Inc. Secondhand Shopping, Upcycling Minimalism, Creativity, Community Lounge Area, Free Wifi, or a cuppa and chat, call in and see us at 5/2232 Pacific Highway (Next to BYO Cellars) Opening hours Mon-Sat - 9-4pm

0437 048 815

0458 645 979

www.friendlytravellers.com

Runs The Entrance Markets Sunday Mornings Behind The Entrance Cinema.

0488 286 006

theentrancelions@gmail.com

Tuggerah Lakes Toastmasters Club Thinking about being more effective and more persuasive? Learn clarity, brevity, context, impact and value. This is achievable at Tuggerah Lakes Toastmasters

0409 487 095

Toukley Neighbourhood Centre Lakes Food Care, Energy Account Assistance (EAPA), No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) & Free Counselling. Children, Youth & Adult Activities. Laundry & Hot Showers. Hall & Meeting Space for Hire.

4396 1555 www.tnc.org.au

Toukley Presbyterian Church Hargraves St & Victoria Ave Family Service (Sunday School 9.30am) Cafe Church - informal (in hall 5pm) Community Activities ALL WELCOME toukleypc.org.au

4392 9904

Venue for Hire Central Coast Wetlands is located in Tuggerah. We have several buildings for hire. They would be suitable for weddings, seminars, markets & fund raisers.

0408 271 957

pioneerdairy@bigpond.com

Lake Munmorah 50s Plus Leisure and Learning Club Computer Classes, dancing, exercise, pilates, yoga, craft, carpet bowls and Tai Chi.

4358 8390

Long Jetty Senior Citizens Club Computer classes, line dancing, tai chi and zumba gold M-F, 9am to 3pm for full list of activities

Volunteering Central Coast Refer potential volunteers to community organisations and provide support to volunteers and community organisations. Training for volunteers and managers of volunteers Information Sessions held regularly across the Coast

4329 7122

recruit@volcc.org.au

4332 5522

Wyong Neighbourhood Centre

Long Jetty Over 50s Club

Supporting disadvantaged vulnerable and isolated members of our community offering a range of community services, events, projects, workshops, arts programs and an open community garden.

Indoor bowls, computers, exercises, yoga, line-dancing, tai chi and more - 9am to 3pm

4332 5522

The Lunch Bunch Social lunches for seniors on the Central Coast, meet at 12 noon 1st and 3rd Sun All welcome to join our friendly group Call or SMS 0418 772 569

The NSW Justices Association Inc Seeking volunteers for added community desks in Wyong Area Free Insurance and training provided

0418 493 388

marketing@nswja.org.au

The Lions Club of The Entrance Inc Serve your community make friends, join Lions. 1st and 3rd Wed, North Entrance Surf Club.

4353 1750

POLITICAL GROUPS

www.wyong.nsw.lions.org.au

Central Coast Permaculture

Australian Labor Party Ourimbah/ Narara Branch

SPECIAL INTEREST

meet friendly like minded people at our information night held at Tuggerah Community Hall on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. 6:30 for 7pm start

Bob on 0412 133 808

HEALTH GROUPS Better Hearing Australia Central Coast Hearing loss management Support and educational groups providing practical experience and confidence. Learn the benefits of hearing aids

4321 0275

Central Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (Wyong) Meet last Friday Month Terrigal Uniting Church 380 Terrigal Dre, Terrigal 9.30am to 12 noon

Sunday Service 9am All welcome - Bible study Watanobbi Road Wyong Weekly writers group

4352 1528

Discussion/action community issues - 3 levels of Government Niagara Park Primary School 7.30pm 1st Mon

0410 309 494

kyle.macgregor@hotmail.com

Central Coast Greens

centralcoast.nsw.greens.org.au centralcoastgreens@gmail.com

www.pcfa.org.au

Food Addicts in recovery anonymous

How good is this! Branch meets 2nd Thursday of Each Month

Having trouble controlling the way you eat? Over weight, under weight, obsessed with food, weight or diet? Wednesdays 6:30pm Sanremo Neighbourhood Centre

Biz Plus Networking Association Grow your business and in the process build worthwhile relationships. Biz Networking breakfasts Every Thur 7:15- 9am Erina Leagues Club Geoff Neilson

The Central Coast Greens network@bizplus.com.au For a fairer, more transparent and accountable government based on The Entrance democratic principles Camera Club Inc Local, state-wide, national and New members and international issues and campaigns visitors welcome. - Council and parliamentary representation - Developing a new Renowned for Nature photography Grow your photographic skills economy in all genres with a friendly Protecting our environment group of enthusiasts. Peaceful conflict resolution Monthly Competition. Community participation Meets 2nd Fri We meet monthly every 3rd CWA Hall Long Jetty Thu - Details and info:

Ourimbah Branch Liberal Party of Aust

4367 9600

0468 476 237

Warnervale Branch - NSW Labor Party To support and promote NSW Labor within the Warnervale area. 3rd Tue 7pm Hamlyn Terrace Community Centre

theentrance.myphotoclub.com.au

Central Coast Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service Free telephone advice and advocacy for all tenants as well as residents in residential parks

4353 5515

cctaas@hotmail.com

Central Coast Soaring Club Inc

GROW Support Groups

warnervale.labor@gmail.com

Small friendly groups formed to learn how to overcome anxiety, depression and loneliness and to improve mental health and wellbeing. Anonymous, free and open to all. Weekly meetings at Bateau Bay and Wyong

PROBUS CLUBS

Gliding Club, Learn to fly, Instruction FREE to members. 14 Y/O and up for Training Thur, Sat, Sun (weather permitting) Bloodtree Rd Mangrove Mountain

Tuggerah Combined Probus Club Inc

www.ccsoaring.com.au

0404 044 610 0419 201 056

1800 558 268 www.grow.org.au

HISTORY GROUPS

0419 128 497

Meet new friends and enjoy social events. 2nd Thur., 10:30am, guest speakers. Social outings 3rd Thur. Woodbury Park Community Hall, Mardi

4351 0450

Museum & Historical Society Wyong District

Probus Club of Wyong Inc

Groups/Schools Welcome Morning tea/lunch for group bookings, wheelchair friendly, Alison Homestead 1 Cape Rd Wyong Open Sun-Thur 10am-2pm

meet at wyong golf club 4th Mon, Morning Tea, Guest Speakers, regular monthly outings

4352 1886

www.alisonhomestead.com.au

MUSIC Soundwaves

A cappella harmony for Men – new Wyong Toastmasters members welcome. Rehearsals Club Mondays 7.00pm to 9.30pm A friendly way to improve Central Coast Leagues Club, Dane public speaking and Drive, Gosford leadership skills, stay sharp, Ring Max on 4324 3631 and increase confidence. 1st, or Kieran 4324 1977 3rd, 5th Friday 10:30 - 12:30 Wyong RSL. All Coastal a Cappella welcome. Vibrant women’s a cappella chorus 0432 570 935

Wyong Uniting Church

0413 014 266

GARDEN CLUBS

new members welcome. Music eduction provided Rehearsals Tue 7pm Gosford TAFE Lots of Performance opportunities, or hire us for your next event.

0412 948 450

coastalacappella@gmail.com

4352 3692

probuswyong55090@gmail.com

Probus Club of The Entrance Ladies and gentlemen welcome. Guest speakers, morning tea and many activities. 9.30am 4th Tuesday Bateau Bay Bowling Club

0478 228 914

SERVICE GROUPS Inner Wheel Club Wyong CAN YOU HELP? join a team of dedicated women, sharing fun and friendship and a passion for community service 6.30 pm 3rd Wed Wyong Golf Club

4393 2755

iiw.au.wyong@gmail.com

The Lions Club of Wyong Inc 49 years supporting local activities Join us - Meet new friends 4th Tues Monthly 6:30pm Don Small / Lions retirement village Call Colin

0412 164 082 0414 635 047

Tuggerah Lakes U3A The Entrance - cryptic crosswords, play reading Bateau Bay - Memoirs, Reading Group - Killarney Vale - Talks, Mah Jong - Toukley - Creative Writing Berkley Vale - Music appreciation - Chittaway Bay - Movies

4390 2451

www.tugglakesu3a.info

SPORT KI-DO Mingara Judo Academy Junior boys and girls Mon and Wed Two classes 6-8.30pm from 7yrs Kangy Angy

0413 237 010

www.kidomingarajudo.com.au

Wyong Lakes Australian Football Club Come and play AFL Teams for Boys, Girls, Women, Men No Eperience Necessary

0404 257 702

play@wyonglakesafc.com.au

VENUE HIRE Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy

Central Coast Wetlands is located in Tuggerah. We have several buildings for hire. They would be suitable for weddings, seminars, markets & fund raisers. 0408 271 957

pioneerdairy@bigpond.com

If you would like your Community Organisation listed here, www.centralcoastnewspapers.com for the forms or contact Central Coast Newspapers on - 4325 7369

Entries in the Not For Profit Community Organisations Directory are free. However, we require each organisation to subscribe to each newspaper to ensure that someone from that organisation keeps their entry up to date.

WYONG REGIONAL CHRONICLE - WWW.CENTRALCOASTNEWS.NET

Page 27 19 June 2019

SPORT

Jan Stephenson inducted into Brad is Australia’s third fastest the World Golf Hall of Fame 100m Backstroke swimmer

ingara Aquatic Club swimmer and Commonwealth games medallist, Brad Woodward, has placed third in the Men’s 100m Backstroke Final at the Australian World Trials.

Jan Stephenson’s iconic bathtub photo an inductee during a ustralian golfing Fame. prestigious ceremony in legend and Stephenson, a three former Central Coast time major winner, joins California, USA, on June golfer, Jan the likes of Karrie Webb, 11. Stephenson is a life Stephenson, has David Graham, Peter member of Shelly Beach become just the Thomson, Greg Norman, Golf Club and first picked seventh Australian to Kel Nagle and Walter up a club during her time be inducted into the Travis in the Hall of Fame, with the former Tuggerah World Golf Hall of and was announced as Lakes Golf Club. “Golf has taken me on a wonderful journey allowing me to travel around the world and make relationships that have lasted a lifetime, and now it has taken me here Community Access to the World Golf Hall of 1 Year (25 editions) to Peninsula News $75 Fame,’’ Stephenson said. “It’s truly a dream come true. “I’m so honoured to be 1 Year (25 editions) to Coast Community News $75 among such wonderful champions of golf.” The 67-year-old was a ground breaker for the 1 Year (25 editions) to Wyong Regional Chronicle $75 sport when she acted as Phone: 4325 7369 the Ladies PGA Tour’s Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford face in the 1970s, but To order online outside of the fame she drew as a sex symbol www.duckscrossing.org/shop and femme fatale, she was a wonderful player, Name: amassing 26 professional Ph: titles, 16 of which were won on the LPGA Tour. Email: She also won the 1977 Women’s Australian Address: Open. During her acceptance speech, Stephenson Credit Card Number: recalled how her family would holiday on the ___________________/___________________/ Coast and learning the game at Tuggerah Lakes ______________________________________/ Golf Club. Exp: ______/______ Her father worked night Please complete credit card details or shift so that he could send a cheque or money order payable to drive her to tournaments; Central Coast Newspapers, her mother worked two PO Box 1056, Gosford NSW 2250 jobs. Stephenson now lives in Tampa, Florida and owns a golf course.

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Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net

Source: Media release, Jun 11 Martin Blake, Golf Australia

The trials were held from June 9-14, and saw the fastest swimmers in the country descend on the Brisbane Aquatic Centre to race for a spot on the Australian Dolphins Swim Team which will contest the 2019 FINA World Championships to be held in Gwangju, South Korea, this July. Woodward was joined on the podium by Australian record holder, Mitch Larkin, who took the gold and Sydney swimmer, William Yang, who placed second.

Mingara Aquatic Club’s Brad Woodward and Shaye Booth Fellow Mingara swimmers, Nathan Ward and Shaye Booth, also contested the trials, with Ward competing in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke and Booth the Men’s 200m Backstroke. Ward was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

Booth qualified for the B final of his event but due to there not being enough entrants to quantify a B final, his run in the trials also ended after the preliminary rounds. Source: Website, Jun 13 Swimming NSW

WYONG SERVICES