Peninsula No 52
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PAPER INC Print Post Approved PP255003/04388 9 October 2002
Place manager mooted for Peninsula The State Government will fund a "place manager" for the Peninsula as part of a $250,000 allocation to address a range social issues, according to Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales. Mr W ales "cautiously welcomed" the announcement that the money had been allocated to improve management of youth issues, older people in the community, economic development and jobs growth, in conjunction with Gosford Council. "We are of the understanding that this allocation was, in part, as a result of the highly successful Peninsula economic strategy, Peninsula Vision, undertaken by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the State Government, the Commonwealth and Gosford Council. "Peninsula Vision aims to introduce a place management system on the Peninsula, which will empower the local community to assume more responsibility over the management of the town centres and economic growth in the area." Mr Wales said that in recent discussions with the Premier's Department it was indicated that the money would fund a place manager. "The responsibilities would cover a wider range of community activities than we
envisaged and not necessarily restricted to economic development," said Mr Wales. "This announcement would appear to be a move in the right direction." He said a place manager would be "spread thin on the ground" if their responsibilities were to cover youth issues and older people in the community, as well as improving the management of economic development and jobs growth. Mr Wales said that one of the key factors affecting Peninsula youth was the scarcity of local jobs and career opportunities. "It is absolutely imperative that resources be directed to improving employment and investment opportunities on the Woy Woy Peninsula. "A fully focused place management system must be implemented if they are to have any hope of creating jobs and improving the fortunes of our local young people. "The NSW State Government funding allocation might be well intentioned but could be wasted if the tasks expected of the place manager are too broad and under-resourced." State member for Peats, Marie Andrews, thanked the chamber of commerce for welcoming the announcement. "There are a wide range of issues, including youth, seniors, job growth and economic development, which the State Government will be implementing in partnership with Gosford City Council," she said.
The ferry arrives at Woy Woy to commence its regular service to Empire Bay
Ferry service re-launched The Woy Woy to Davistown ferry service was relaunched last Friday, October 4. The Member for Peats, Marie Andrews, launched a $1.45 million custom-built ferry on its trial run on Brisbane Water from Woy Woy Wharf at 10.30am. Ms Andrews and proprietor of Palm Beach Ferries, Mr Peter Verrils, both cut a blue ribbon to launch the operations. Ms Andrews gave a short speech, before taking the onehour round trip to Davistown. “It was excellent, a beautiful trip. "I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said. The trial is the first step to the reinstatement of the ferry service.
Quarry may join national park Bulls Hill quarry could become part of Brisbane Water National Park, with rehabilitation of the area becoming the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). An inter-departmental meeting was held on September 26 to discuss rehabilitation of the site. Attending were representatives
of the Department of Land and Water Conservation (DLWC), the Environmental Protection Authority, NSW Fisheries, NPWS and Gosford Council. DLWC's general manager of land, Mr Graham Harding, said the purpose of the meeting was "to look at opportunities for the site and look for possible ways for rehabilitation". "These are still being looked at.
"The preference at the moment is for the site to be added to Brisbane Water National Park. "The site has now been stabilized with proper sedimentation controls," Mr Harding claimed. Alison Branley, October 4
More Bulls Hill quarry articles on page 9
Everglades
The previous Davistown to Woy Woy ferry service stopped operating in August 2001. Ms Andrews said that she thought the new service had a much better chance. “The last ferry operator was a single route operator. "This operator runs the Ettalong to Palm beach ferry as well,” she said. “A number of people took advantage of the previous service, commuters, students and tourists,” she said. Ms Andrews said that the new service was convenient for commuters as they could commute from the Davistown area, jump on train at Woy Woy and not have to worry about parking. She said it would also be an excellent service for tourism in the area. Member for Gosford, Mr Chris Hartcher, wrote to those who would have access to the ferry in Empire Bay, Saratoga and Davistown areas, to inform them of the ferry's launch with details of how to catch the new service The ferry will go to Saratoga, Davistown and Empire Bay. Timetables will be available from Davistown RSL and Empire Bay Real Estate office. The first service will depart
Woy Woy at 6:15am and the last service will depart Woy Woy at 6:50pm. The stops will be at Woy Woy wharf, Veterans Hall (Saratoga), Lintern St, Central (Davistown), Pine Ave and Empire bay. "The service operator, Palm Beach Ferries, will conduct the trials to fine tune the timetable and get passengers accustomed to the route," Ms Andrews said. " I ' m ve r y p l e a s e d t h e Government has given the green light for a return of the ferry service on Brisbane Water and I encourage both locals and tourists to take part in the trial to show support. "The new ferry has been custom-built and is an environmentally-friendly, lowwash catamaran with a capacity to carry 220 passengers," she said. The trial ferry service will operate 10 daily return journeys Monday and Friday between Woy Woy and Davistown. Six return journeys will run on weekends and public holidays between W oy W oy and Davistown, as well as a number of one-way journeys from Woy Woy. Information on the ferry can be f o u n d a t www.palmbeachferry.com.au