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PAPER INC Print Post Approved PP255003/04388 24 September 2002
Bensville church proposal deferred Gosford Council has agreed to defer for three months consideration of a church proposal in Bundaleer Cr, Bensville, at the request of the church. The council decided to defer the matter so that an acceptable plan for the site could be devised. The Council chambers on Tuesday night, September 10, were overflowing with people interested in the proposal. The council staff had recommended refusal of the application and church supporters had come to the council meeting to request the matter be deferred so the church could revise its application. Residents from Bundaleer Crescent attended the meeting requesting that councillors concur with council staff and refuse the development outright. The residents argued that a small township such as Bensville was not large enough to support a church of this type and that the church should be in a more central location. Residents also argued that the site had inadequate drainage, planning guidelines did not allow this kind of development, and that it was a commercial development not suited to the site. Mr Alan Reynolds spoke on behalf of the church proponents, asking that "suitable common ground" be found between
residents, parishioners and council staff. He claimed that the site fulfilled the criteria for a contemporary church according to the council's guidelines and that the primary reason for purchase of the site was for a place of public worship. He also said that council officers led church members to believe that they were going in the right direction and were "shocked upon receiving a letter of refusal". Mr Reynolds said: "We feel let down by the processes of Gosford Council." Cr Craig Doyle said that the proposal needed to come back revised and in line with council regulations on character, scale, bulk and height. Cr Doyle said: "The reason this has been brought to council is that it has been in the pipeline for a long time and this will give the church a chance to come back with a revised proposal, one whereby the church and neighbours can live in harmony. "Part of our community fabric is the role schools and churches play. "We have 10 reasons for refusal. "They are good and valid reasons that need to be addressed. "We need to look at site capacity in terms of character, scale, bulk and height, landscape buffer, traffic concessions,
The location for the proposed church at Bensville protecting prominent trees on the site, kerbing and guttering, footpaths. "We need to develop it into a masterplan. "A church is a community asset, which needs to be in a community location. "However there is middle ground here and we need to find that ground. "This can be a win-win situation," Cr Doyle said. Cr Geoff Preece said: "The proponents need to know that lots
of changes need to be made. "Maybe the site isn't big enopugh for both a school and a church." Cr Debra Wales said: "This is not about Christianity. "It is about town planning. "What is before us today is an over-development. "There are residents out there who live in a rural area. "We have to take that into consideration." Mayor Cr Robert Bell said: "The next three months will be very
Davistown enters club merger talks Davistown RSL has revealed that it is in talks with Woy Woy Bowling Club about a merger between the two clubs. Davistown RSL manager Mr Ian Roberts said that they were still in “initial talks” with Woy Woy Bowling Club about a merger. Davistown RSL chairman Mr Brad Kennedy said that nothing was formal yet about the decision. Woy W oy Bowling Club secretary-manager Mr Warrick Smith was unavailable for comment. However, Woy Woy Leagues Club announced in an advertisement on September 10 that its committee was
considering an amalgamation with the same club. Woy Woy Bowling Club has denied that it was considering an amalgamation with Woy Woy Leagues Club. Club employee Mr Neil Johnson said that Woy Woy Bowling Club had informed Woy Woy Leagues Club on September 2 that “they were not pursuing any amalgamation with the club”. Mr Johnson said that he could not comment on why they were not pursing a merger, as it was a “board decision”. Woy Woy Leagues Club manager Mr Michael Creighton said that, when the letter was submitted announcing the talks, his club did not know that Woy Woy Bowling Club no longer
wanted to pursue merger talks. “I’m not sure Woy Woy Bowling Club understands the ramifications if it amalgamates with Davistown RSL,” he said. Mr Creighton said that under new liquor administration laws clubs within 1km of each other could amalgamate with approval from the State Government. “But Davistown is two to three kilometres away as the crow flies, and 20 to 25 minutes away by car,” he said. “Its pretty ludicrous. "It’s not far by water but it’s way too far for people to drive,” he said. “If the clubs listen to their members, I think they will get the message that members of both clubs would be opposed to this,”
Everglades
he said. Mr Creighton said that Woy Woy Leagues Club wanted a partnership with Woy Woy Bowling Club. He said rumors that the Leagues Club was going to knock down the bowling club should they amalgamate were untrue, as under new liquor laws they would not be able to dispose of assets. “We would have liked to amalgamate to make junior sport stronger on the Peninsula, to merge two strong clubs,” he said. “It would have been of more benefit to the Peninsula as profits would have stayed on the Peninsula,” he said. Alison Branley, September 20.
challenging and the church and school may have to make a choice as to which way they want to go." Even though it was stressed that the decision did not guarantee approval for the church, Mr Reynolds was repeatedly congratulated by supporters when the three-month extension was granted. Jonathan Reichard, September 12
Upgrade for rail station A $9 million upgrade is planned for Woy Woy railway station. The work is due to start before the end of 2004 as part of the Central Coast transport plan, "Connecting the Central Coast". The station is seen as an important station for bus interchange and for cycle access to the CityRail network. Work will include improvements to the bus interchange and installation of additional bicycle lockers. Commuter car parking will be expanded by about 300 spaces, with the additional space construction to be staged. Transport plan, August 2002