Peninsula Community Access Edition 108
News
Phone 4325 7369 Fax 4325 7362
10 January 2005
Board plans to use Woy Woy groundwater The Central Coast’s regional water board has approved “planning and preconstruction activities” for the use of groundwater at Woy Woy.
Gosford Council has been told that the Woy Woy project would proceed after five other schemes across the region. The board has approved an expenditure of $5.8 million out of a total cost of $17 million. A report to the last meeting of Gosford Council stated that the use of groundwater was not only possible for watering ovals, but that “the use of groundwater for drinking is viable as a contingency measure”. It stated the groundwater project could provide drinking water at a reasonable cost in timely manner
to supplement the Central Coast’s declining surface water storages. Gosford Council resolved to class the works as emergency to enable them to be “fast tracked”. The council was told that projects costing more than $100,000 required tenders to be called, unless they were deemed to be emergency works. Calling tenders would slow down the works, according to the report. The current project team had built up knowledge on the projects and the project would be delayed significantly if the same individuals did not continue with the project. Council has allocated $2.9 million from the water fund for the Groundwater Drought Contingency Plan.
Council agenda WS.15, December 14
Clubs donate to tsunami appeal Several registered clubs on the Peninsula have contributed money to tsunami victims as part of ClubNSW’s Tsunami Appeal. Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club, Club Umina, Woy Woy Leagues Club and Everglades Country Club have all confirmed that they have made or would be making donations to the appeal. Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club reported it had donated to the appeal and would continue to send further donations. Club Umina had held collections for five days at the club. It would also be holding a benefit night on January 29 as part of its
Shamworth Country Music Muster, with funds raised going to the appeal. The appeal night will be headlined by the band “Smoking Guns”. The band has been described as the “Village People” of country music and comedy. The group includes The Chief, The Preacher, Miss Relle, The Gambler and The Sheriff. Woy Woy Leagues Club is expected to be donating to the appeal, but a decision on the amount was yet to be made. Everglades Country Club had donated $6000 and had collection tins on its bar.
Most of the Peninsula's residents live less than 10 metres above sea level
A tsunami on the Peninsula? What would happen if a tsunami hit the Peninsula? The Peninsula has an estimated 30,000 people living on the sandplain which is less than 10 metres above sea level. The Asian tsunami waves were reported to have exceeded 12 metres in height. However, it seems no precautionary measures exist for such an event happening here. Geoscience Australia, the agency which monitors earthquakes, has stated that the likelihood of a catastrophic tsunami happening on the east coast of Australia is “extremely low”. Gosford Council spokesperson Ms Carole David said that council
had an emergency plan in place which was organised by its risk management department. Each council building and car contained detailed manuals of what would happen in the case of a natural disaster. According to Geoscience Australia, smaller tsunamis of much less than one metre are recorded on Australia’s coastline about once every two years. Most are classified low risk. The closest recent earthquake to Australia’s east coast, which caused a tsunami, occurred in August 2003 off the south-west coast of New Zealand, 2500 kilometres away. It caused a small local tsunami, less than a metre high in New
Zealand. Australia’s north west coast is the only area classified moderate risk, due to its proximity to Indonesia and other countries where large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can occur. Australia’s earthquake monitors are used to detect events that might cause tsunamis around Australia’s coast and the south-west Pacific Ocean. If such an earthquake occurs, Geoscience Australia seismologists immediately notify Emergency Management Australia staff who subsequently notify Australian authorities and Pacific Island nations of the risk of a tsunami hazard. Lyle Stone, January 6
Lyle Stone, January 5
Man charged with arson A man appeared in Gosford Court on December 19 charged with setting Woy Woy police station on fire.
The front area of the Woy Woy Police Station was doused with petrol and set alight at about 2am on December 18. Not long after, a man was arrested by police and taken to Gosford Police Station for questioning.
The 40 year old was then charged with arson, attempted murder, maliciously damaging property with intent to endanger life and four counts of assaulting police. He has been refused bail and will appear in court again to be sentenced.
Press release, December 20 Police Media
Looking down on Pearl Beach
Everglades Country Club Ltd
AU S T R A L I A DAY R A F F L E E D N E S D A Y 2 6 J A N U A R Y Information for Dunban Rd Woy Woy, W All Aussie Made Prizes. BBQs, Settings, Mowers & More Ph: 4341 1866
Tickets on sale 3.00pm, Draw 5.00pm
members & their guests