Council asset sales passes the halfway mark with over $34 million assets sold

Council is on track to deliver its planned $60million asset sales program as part of its financial recovery, ending the calendar year with settled sales of $34,738,775. 

The land known as ‘Warner Industrial Park’ is the latest settled sale at a price of $27,031,775, having a valuation of $19,500,000. 

 Council Administrator Rik Hart said other sale negotiations were progressing well.

“We continue to demonstrate to the commercial lenders that we are able to pay back the emergency bank loans that had to be obtained to reimburse the restricted funds that had been spent unlawfully on projects that the community had benefited from,” Mr Hart said.

“Importantly, value has been delivered back to the community with the sale of properties to date achieving just over $10million above their market valuations.

“Our financial recovery plan put in place in November last year is working and we are hitting all milestones and targets.  Together with the cost reduction measures, tightened budget management controls, asset sales and a focus on productivity gains, we are doing everything we can to ensure the organisation’s financial sustainability.

“However, we risk an annual average income loss of $25.8million in less than three years’ time if the current rates are not maintained beyond June 2024.  This means we will need to reduce or cease many services.  We are continuing to consult with the community about this significant matter,” Mr Hart said.

Council is proposing to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in February 2022 to maintain the current ordinary rate for an additional seven years, or ten years in total through to June 2031. 

To participate in community consultation about maintaining services and rates, search ‘maintaining services and rates’ at www.yourvoiceourcoast.com

For more information about Council’s financial recovery plan actions,  search ‘financial recovery plan’ at www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Council endorses the Coast’s long-term water plan

Central Coast Council has endorsed the revised Central Coast Water Security Plan (CCWSP) to be submitted to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) for their review and approval.

As the Central Coast grows, so does the demand for water, however our current infrastructure can only supply us with a limited amount of water. The CCWSP has been developed to address how we can grow our supply and manage our demand to ensure we have enough water to meet our future needs.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said that this plan was the culmination of four years of technical investigations, risks assessments, hydrological modelling and meaningful conversations with our community.

“This long-term water plan aims to conserve and use water efficiently, while sustainably making the most of the water supply assets we currently have,” Mr Hart said.

“It also looks at developing new supplies of water in the future – that don’t rely on rainfall – as the demand for water continues to grow.

“Most importantly, this plan is adaptive, which is vital as we do not know what the future holds.

“This means that we can slow down or accelerate the development of any future investments, such as purified recycled water or desalination, depending on what happens to our climate and population in the future,” Mr Hart said.

The draft CCWSP went on public exhibition for six weeks (31 August – 12 October 2021) and Council received 55 submissions from community members and industry bodies during this time. This feedback has been taken into consideration when finalising this now-endorsed plan. 

For more information on the CCWSP, including how it was developed and the community consultation method and results, visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterplan

All community feedback taken on board to plan for sustainable mountain biking practices on the Coast

Council has responded to community feedback from the Mountain Bike Feasibility Study Discussion Paper exhibition undertaken between 22 February and 22 March 2021 and will aim to move toward more sustainable mountain biking practices on the Central Coast.

The following recommendations will be implemented to support mountain biking on the Coast:

1. Development of a Mountain Biking Plan
2. Continue education, enforcement and trail closures

Council Administrator Rik Hart said that the Mountain Bike Feasibility Study Discussion Paper was important in identifying the concerns of those in the community regarding balancing the protection of the environment with the growing popularity of the sport and the benefits it can bring to the region. 

“Council recognises the positive benefits mountain biking can have on the health and wellbeing of many groups within the community,” Mr Hart said.

“It is important however that as a community we look to reduce the number of unauthorised trails that can potentially compromise natural environments and heritage sites. I believe this is something we can achieve by working toward implementing more sustainable mountain biking practices, whilst still encouraging locals to participate in the sport,” Mr Hart said.

Council has asked for a further report on the building of dirt jumps on council owned land that looks at the feasibility of doing so, along with associated issues including health, safety and environmental concerns.

Council initiated a Mountain Bike Feasibility Study in 2019 to help provide authorised opportunities for mountain biking on the Coast to meet local demand and promote eco-tourism throughout the region.

For more visit yourvoiceourcoast.com and to see the full report search ‘agenda’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Council’s Development Assessment Unit receives $900,000 budget boost

Central Coast Council’s Development Assessment Unit will receive an additional $900,000 to service demand within the Coast’s growing building and construction sector as a result of increased planning fees received.

After strong activity in the first quarter of the 2021-2022 financial year resulted in an increase in planning fees income, Council has redistributed the funds to ensure it can continue supporting the needs of the community.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Coast will benefit from increased serviceability of development applications.

“This budget adjustment will increase Council’s capacity to service the diverse and changing needs of our growing community, and importantly, do so with minimal impacts to Council’s bottom line,” Mr Hart said.

“Council is committed to delivering responsible, balanced and sustainable development across the Coast that supports our growing region. This budget adjustment will provide a welcome boost to the Development Assessment Unit’s capabilities to service community needs,” Mr Hart said.

During the first quarter of the 2021-2022 financial year, a high rate of development applications caused an uplift in application fees and associated charges which created an opportunity for budget adjustment.

The adjustment will permit the expansion of resources within the Development Assessment Unit, increasing Council’s capacity to service demand in the building and construction sector; and meet Council’s legislated obligations as set out under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979.

The budget adjustment has been approved for a temporary period of maximum two years and will be reviewed within the annual review cycle.

Monthly council meeting proposed to seek efficiencies and savings 

Council has received a report proposing amendments to the Code of Meeting Practice to adopt recent changes to the Model Code and provide operational savings. The draft will be placed on public exhibition to provide an opportunity for the community to view and provide feedback before it is adopted.

The amendments will include the change of frequency of Ordinary Council Meetings to be monthly, with updates to incorporate state-wide changes to the Code of Meeting Practice Model as directed by the NSW Office of Local Government. Amendments will also include the removal of the non-mandatory provision for Public Forums so they can instead be incorporated into a separate Public Forum Policy.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said updating Council’s Code of Meeting Practice will ensure it is contemporary, fit for purpose and provide for a $44,000 operational cost saving annually. 

“By adjusting the frequency of Ordinary Council Meeting from twice a month to monthly, the administrative burden for Council staff will be lessened and the running costs reduced,” Mr Hart said.

“This change is one of the many ways that Council is streamlining operations for improved efficiencies and cost saving for financial stability and good governance.”

“The opportunity for the public to speak at Council meetings is an important part of the process and reflective of the meeting principles for inclusivity. Whilst the non-mandatory provisions for Public Forums will be removed from the Code of Meeting Practice, they will instead be incorporated into a separate Public Forum Policy to be adopted at the same time as any amended Code of Meeting Practice,” Mr Hart said.

It is proposed that Ordinary Meetings of Council will now be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month from January to November, and the second Tuesday of the month of December, at 6.30pm. They are held at Council’s Wyong Chambers, 2 Hely Street and livestreamed.

The amended Code of Meeting Practice will soon be placed on public exhibition for community input at YourVoiceOurCoast.com.

The Audit Office of New South Wales has requested Council seek a further extension to lodge its audited 2020-2021 Financial Reports with NSW Office of Local Government

At the request of the Audit Office of New South Wales, Council has submitted an extension request to the NSW Office of Local Government to defer the due date for lodgement of Central Coast Council’s audited 2020-2021 Financial Statements from 17 December 2021 to 28 February 2022.

Administrator Rik Hart said this request from the NSW Audit Office will mean it will be up to 6 months for Audit NSW to complete the audit. This is at a time when the Council is having to consider new Delivery Plans, Long Term Financial Plans and two applications to IPART for consideration.

“I urge the Audit Office to prioritise the finalisation of the audit of Council’s financial statements earlier than the end of February next year.  This is because Council has notified IPART of its proposal to apply to maintain the Special Variation and that application is due by 7 February 2022.  Council’s financial actions taken in 2020-21 and contained in the financial statements are an important part of that intended submission,” Mr Hart said.

Council has a statutory obligation to submit its audited financial statements with the NSW Office of Local Government by 31 October each year. The Audit Office of NSW advised Council that the audit of the financial statements would not be completed by that deadline and requested Council seek an extension to 17 December 2021 and now to 28 February 2022.