It has been two weeks since delivering my 30-Day Interim Report. I continue to receive constructive feedback and engagement from the community, not only on the contents of the report but also the necessary steps required to bring Council back to a balanced budget.   

I have written to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon Shelley Hancock MP, requesting a three-month extension to the end of April 2021 to allow for me to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer and put in place a balanced budget for 2021/22. 

Last Friday I undertook another site visit as part of my getting to know the coast. My visit focused on the coastline from North Entrance to Terrigal inspecting The Entrance Channel, dredging and erosion, iconic DA sites such as Lakeside Plaza and Short Street Carpark, Wamberal erosion and Terrigal walkway. 

While I’m new to this region the similarities of the issues experienced here on the Central Coast to those in the Northern Beaches are very familiar to me, from coastal erosion to mountain bike riding in environmental lands, opening lagoons to stop flooding, aboriginal lands unable to be developed due to environmental issues and DA approval delays where views are being impacted.  

I will be conducting another site visit before the year is out, venturing further south to acquaint myself with the various issues there.