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PAPER INC Print Post Approved PP255003/04388 12 March 2002
Recycling plant proposal unanimously rejected Gosford Council has unanimously rejected a proposal to rezone at the old Bulls Hill quarry site for a recycling plant. Residents of Woy Woy Bays area argued, at the March 5 council meeting, that a recycling facility was needed for the Central Coast, but that the Bulls Hill site was totally unsuitable. Residents were concerned about the high volume of heavy traffic that would be using Woy Woy Rd to bring in materials for the plant. It was claimed that 154.000 tonnes of material a year would be coming onto the site. Concerns were raised that demolition waste recycling would be noisy, dusty and would have overflow into landfills. It was claimed that such processes should be carried out in an industrial area.
Also, it was said that the waterways below the site were sensitive and already had a problem with siltation. Speaking to the meeting, the applicant Mr Max Rutter of Camden Soils said that Bulls Hill was the only site in the area suitable to be developed as a recycling plant. He said the site had some problems associated with it, but far fewer problems than any other site which could be used for such a facility. Cr Lynne Bockholt said: "The siltation going into the creek is continuing. "Pollution in Correa Bay is being addressed by council and the main polluter is the quarry." She said the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC) was "trying to get out of having to rehabilitate the site". "What is proposed is an industrial usage in the middle of a
National Park and should not be allowed," Cr Bockholt said. Cr Chris Holstein said: "Green waste needs to be managed. "It can't just go into landfills. "We have to find a place to put green waste. "We have to sit down, look at the problem and carefully consider our options. "We can't ignore this problem, it is a matter of urgency," Cr Holstein said. Cr Craig Doyle added that the existing site urgently needed to be rehabilitated to stop the current siltation problem. The Council resolved to ask DLWC to restore the site and to convene a meeting of relevant government bodies to address the recycling needs of the municipality. Jonathan Reichard, March 6
Quarry decision welcomed
"They've adopted the major recommendation of our report," he said. "I'm really pleased." Mr Britton said that, in holding the Department of Land and Water Conservation responsible for the restoration of the Bull's Hill quarry site, the Council was
effectively implementing the major recommendation of his committee's report. "I did not expect it. It was just tacked on the end," he said. The committee's report on Correa Bay Water Quality has been bogged down in the Council's Coastal Planning (CLP) committee for more than 18 months, with the report being withheld from the public and no agreement being reached over its major recommendations. The report identified poor management and monitoring of the Bull's Hill quarry during and after its operation as being
Ambulance rescue service to remain The retention of the Point Clare ambulance rescue service will guarantee a service which is vital to Peninsula residents, according to State Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews.
The site of the former Bulls Hill Quarry at Woy Woy
The chairman of the Correa Bay Water Quality Management Committee, Mr Derek Britton, has welcomed Gosford Council's decision on the future of the Bull's Hill quarry.
The ambulance station at Point Clare
primarily responsible for the siltation of Correa Bay. Negotiations are continuing on the public release of the report and the recommended dredging of Correa Bay at an expected cost of $400,000. A recommendation to prosecute the parties who did not meet "their obligations under the various environment laws" in the management of the quarry seems unlikely to proceed. Mark Snell, March 6
Ms Andrews said it had been decided that there would be no change to the Ambulance Rescue Service based at Point Clare. "The Minister for Health, Mr Craig Knowles, has advised that this decision comes as part of an extensive review of the NSW Ambulance Service operations," she said. "The new definition of the Sydney Area does not include the Central Coast. "As a result the Point Clare rescue unit will not be included in any changes to Ambulance Rescue in the Sydney Metropolitan area. "I am delighted that the NSW Government has recognised that the needs of the Central Coast are distinct to those of Sydney," said Ms Andrews. "Within the area covered by Gosford Council, which includes the Woy Woy Peninsula, there
are large populations residing in remote settlements many of which are located around foreshores. "The ambulance rescue service at Point Clare will continue to provide an extremely valuable and life saving service to local communities," she said. "This is excellent news for the area, guaranteeing existing services which are vital for local residents including those residing within the Woy Woy Peninsula and Gosford areas." Ms Andrews said that, over the past 18 months, the Ambulance Service had been undergoing an extensive process of reform. "These changes have been largely driven by the recommendations of the AuditorGeneral delivered in March of last year. "The new structure will see Central Coast stations which are within the dispatch area of the Charlestown Operations Centre, move from Sydney administration to the new Northern Division," Ms Andrews said. Media release, February 25
Children petition Gosford Council Gosford Council has received a petition, with 38 signatures, from a group of St Hubert’s Island children aged eight to 16. They asked for skateboard facilities, such as quarter pipes, board slides and table tops, to be installed at one of the parks on
the island. Their petition stated that many of them are not yet old enough to leave the local area by themselves, and would like something to keep them amused and occupied. Council agenda P.024, February 26