Peninsula Community Access Edition 391
News Phone 4325 7369 Fax 4321 0940
18 April 2016
Underpass ‘over-designed, under-budgeted’ says Chamber Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has claimed that the rail underpass project had been “grossly overdesigned and woefully under-budgeted”. “When this project was first mooted by the former Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein during the March 2011 NSW election, the Chamber raised questions over the original estimated cost of $30 million and the completion date of 2015,” said Peninsula Chamber president, Mr Matthew Wales. “Not unsurprisingly, we find the cost has now blown out to a staggering $115 million which is nearly four times more than the original estimates,” Mr Wales said. “It’s one thing to make election promises but to not deliver on time or on budget is quite another. “The Chamber is now very concerned that the project could be mothballed because the additional funds haven’t been budgeted for,” he said. However, Mr Holstein’s daughter Cr Gabby Bowles has defended the project. “I think it is pretty convenient that the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is having a go again,” said Cr Bowles She said the removal of the Woy Woy level crossing had been identified as a major and necessary infrastructure project by both the council and the NSW Government for 20 years. “It is not unusual when you’ve got assets affected by different levels of government for there to be back and forth between those levels especially when a project is between major steps,” Cr Bowles said. Mr Wales said: “We want to know who prepared the original estimates and why they were so grossly underestimated. “We also want to know why the project was allowed to proceed without fully understanding the real cost of the works. “The works that have been
completed serve no useful purpose unless the rail underpass is constructed. “The Peninsula could end up with a very expensive road to nowhere unless someone comes up with the money to bail out the project. “With that sort of money we could have kerbed, gutter and drained the whole Peninsula. “Instead we get a very expensive lead-in road with no underpass. “On top of the cost blowout, the project is already 12 months behind schedule with little or no prospect of it being completed before 2018. “The Peninsula once again gets the raw end of the stick albeit a very expensive one.” Cr Bowles called the Chamber’s criticisms unhelpful and accused it of neglecting the needs of Woy Woy’s business owners. “I don’t think the process is helped when you have organisations like the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce coming out against it,” she said. “I struggle when the Peninsula Chamber comes out and wants to criticise infrastructure projects that would assist Woy Woy when many would argue the chamber has ignored Woy Woy for years. “I am not going to say process has been perfect or the costing perfect, I am not going to say we shouldn’t be further down the track with the project but I struggle when the main critic shows a disregard for that area of the Peninsula. “The residents want it, the businesses need it so shouldn’t we be pushing to make it a reality and not nail the coffin shut?” Cr Bowles said she had every confidence Gosford mayor Cr Lawrie McKinna and Council chief Mr Paul Anderson were “pushing as hard as they can to have this infrastructure project realised.” Media release, 14 Apr 2016 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Interview, 14 Apr 2016 Gabby Bowles, Gosford Council
From left community service director Glen Scorer, Julie Aitchison, Robyn Carr, Kylie-Ann Scott and Rotary president Shane Johnson
Volunteers receive community service awards Three local volunteers were recognised for outstanding dedication in their chosen field at a special Rotary Club of Umina dinner meeting on Wednesday, April 13. Each volunteer received a Community Service Award. The club’s community service director Mr Glen Scorer cited Ms
Julie Aitchison for her enthusiastic efforts in gaining a heritage grant, researching and recording the first 50 years history of Umina on DVD. Ms Robyn Carr was commended for her untiring efforts of service at most levels of leadership and organisation with Umina Surf Lifesaving Club. Ms Kylie-Ann Scott was recognised as group leader of First
Woy Woy Sea Scouts. Ms Scott has coordinated the total refurbishment of the dilapidated Scout hall as well as growing the membership from seven to 103 active and participating young members in the past two years. Media release, 14 Apr 2016 Geoff Melville, Rotary Club of Umina
Anzac marches planned Marches and services will be held around the Peninsula to commemorate Anzac Day on Monday, April 25. The dawn service march starts from Woy Woy Station at 5:15am heading to Memorial Park in Brick Wharf Rd, Woy Woy. The main march from Deepwater Plaza to Memorial Park in Brick Wharf Rd, Woy Woy, begins at 10am with a service to follow at 10:30am.
A service at Empire Bay will take place at 11am at the War Memorial. A number of road closures will also occur. There will be minor traffic delays on Railway St and Brickwharf Rd from 5:15am to allow for the dawn service from the station. Blackwall Rd at Woy Woy will be closed to all traffic between Victoria Rd and Brisbane Water Dve for the Anzac Day march at 10am.
Traffic on Brisbane Water Drive will also be stopped at The Boulevarde to allow march participants to cross to the opposite side of the road. At Empire Bay, Kendall Rd from Shelly Beach Rd to Sorrento Rd will be closed for the duration of the Anzac service at 11am. Media alert, 12 Apr 2016 Paul Anderson, Gosford Council
THIS ISSUE contains 68 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net