Peninsula Community Access Edition 245
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2 August 2010
Liberals would re-open rehab unit Liberal candidate for Robertson Mr Darren Jameson has made a $2.7 million commitment to re-open the Woy Woy Rehabilitation Centre if elected on August 21. The project would see the facility expanded to 30 beds. “This decision will secure the hospital’s future as a publiclyowned facility with an expanded rehabilitation centre,” Mr Jameson said. “This purpose-built rehabilitation unit attached to Woy Woy Hospital has served the community well for more than 39 years until it was closed despite being in an area whose population is rapidly ageing. “These beds were transferred not to Gosford Hospital but to Wyong Hospital, more than 48 kilometres away, meaning that patients are having to recover further away from their homes and without the emotional support of their families and their friends.” He said that former State Labor Health Minister, John Della Bosca, had closed the unit in December 2008, “in true Labor style without any community consultation”. The 15 beds were relocated to Wyong, despite an internal report recommending that bed numbers be increased, he said. “This Labor Government is fond of talking about patients taking up hospital beds while waiting on a bed in a rehabilitation unit, but they
Gosford Council workers will soon start work on restoration of the Pearl Beach Rock Pool this month.
Members of the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance meet with Liberal candidate for Robertson Mr Darren Jameson outside Woy Woy Hospital on July 29 (photo: Edward James)
close down this special purpose unit. Mr Jameson and Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mr Peter Dutton met with members of the Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance to make the announcement outside Woy Woy Hospital. Mr Dutton said that as the Minister for Health and Ageing he would hold discussions with the State Government regarding the timetable to re-open the facility while ensuring that the renovations and maintenance work would
commence as soon as possible. “This will be accompanied by the recruitment of new staff such as nurses and physiotherapists and it will be re-equipped with new beds, rehabilitation equipment, computers and a new telephone system,” Mr Jameson said. “I am proud to say that an elected Coalition government will provide the funding that will ensure that this facility reopens as soon as the repairs, renovations and maintenance is completed.” Mr Jameson congratulated the
Freeway plan would clog our roads, says Freewater Liberal Party plans for a freeway link from Mt White would turn the Peninsula into a major traffic bypass, destroying the peacefulness of the area, according to Greens candidate for Robertson Cr Peter Freewater. “The Liberal Party’s plan is to build an off-ramp at Mt White and construct a highway through the national park to the back of Woy Woy which will provide an easy access for commuters to Empire Bay, Kincumber, Avoca and Terrigal straight through our Peninsula suburbs,” he said.
Work starts on rock pool
“This has the potential to turn the beautiful and peaceful Woy Woy Peninsula into a major traffic bypass for the northern coastline of Gosford and add further pressure to local roads that are already struggling to cope,” Cr Freewater said. He said it was “inconceivable” to carve up the Brisbane Water National Park for “a pie-in-the-sky freeway extension”. “We should be investigating better solutions to our peak hour congested roads by providing improved Federal funding for the main northern rail line and investing in local industry that will provide jobs on the Central Coast.
THIS ISSUE contains 64 articles
“Surely it is better to promote job growth right here in Gosford rather than forcing more traffic onto the Woy Woy Peninsula. “This proposal will cost up to a billion dollars which would be better spent on improving our existing road infrastructure including the on and off ramps onto the F3 Freeway at Kariong. “The Brisbane Water National Park is a unique asset that I will not compromise for some spurious freeway link that will simply clog our local roads.” Press release, 30 Jul 2010 Peter Freewater, The Greens
Woy Woy Public Hospital Alliance for all its hard work in keeping the issue prominent in the community over the past two years. “The Alliance has not given up and this is just another indication of what can be achieved with local residents fighting together for their community,” Mr Jameson said. “It’s a pleasure to bring about direct action for Peninsula residents.” Press release, 29 Jul 2010 Darren Jameson, Liberal Party
Council’s coordinator of parks, playgrounds and foreshores Ms Kim Radford said the rock pool would initially be drained and cleaned on August 3. Site fencing will be installed and the pool will be closed from August 14, for a period of at least eight weeks. “Works will stop and start from August 14, as they are subject to the tides,” Ms Radford said. “There is an estimated eight weeks of physical work in total, however this is without the issue of having work hours impacted by the tides. “There are some good and bad tides expected over the coming weeks that will impact on works. “The rock pool will be accessed via Gem Rd with access matting put in place for vehicle access across the beach.” Ms Radford said the pool would be completely closed until works had been completed. Media statement, 30 Jul 2010 Kim Radford, Gosford Council
Alison is journalist of the year Former Peninsula News journalist Ms Alison Branley has been named Journalist of the Year at the 43rd Northern NSW Journalism Awards on July 24. Currently with the Newcastle Herald, Ms Branley took out the top award of the night as well as the Best Print Journalist Award and Specialty Journalism Award. “Her entire portfolio showcased the value of a dedicated round,” regional media awards events coordinator for the Walkley Foundation Ms Anna Magnus said. “Through her extensive contacts, she broke a wide range of important stories from cuts to TAFE places, the experiences of foreign students, to poor Hunter
Valley school retention rates and located excellent local examples of schools concerned by government ineptitude in the stimulus package. “She found the issues, and developed the stories through good research and contacts. “The awards, known as the PRODIs, recognise excellence in regional media journalism across print, photography, television, radio and online media within the Northern NSW region.” Winners were announced at a special presentation dinner in Newcastle on July 24. Ms Branley worked with Peninsula News from 2002 to 2004 Press release, 24 Jul 2010 Anna Magnus, The Walkley Foundation
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