Council adopts 2021-22 Operational Plan

The Central Coast Council Operational Plan for 2021-22 has been adopted after consideration of all community submissions received during the 28 day public exhibition in May.

Council reviewed 140 community submissions as an important part of the process to finalise the Operational Plan, which outlines an operating budget of $659.8M and a capital works budget of $175.0M.

Council Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer said the budget reflects a commitment to deliver essential services and key projects whilst moving Council towards financial sustainability.

“Community submissions included commentary on Council’s financial situation and resultant actions, requests for additional projects, commentary on projects listed and the proposed budget, and requests to reduce specific fees,” Mr Farmer said.

"Following the review process the Operational Plan has been amended to include projects continuing from 2020-21, remove projects completed in 2020-21, include additional fully grant funded projects, and make minor changes to a number of proposed fees and charges.

“This is a responsible budget that represents a commitment to financial sustainability whilst ensuring that Council continues to deliver for the Central Coast.

“Difficult decisions have had to be made – including delaying or reducing the frequency of some initiatives and projects – but these changes are necessary to ensure our long-term sustainability.

“There is a reduction to some levels of service and the community will see this reflected in the overall amenity of the Coast, where it will take us longer to do some care and maintenance works such as frequency of mowing road verges and street sweeping in town centres.

“It is important to note that we have significantly reduced staff numbers to save $30M and this may result in longer customer enquiry response times in some cases but all requests will be prioritised in terms of safety and risk.”

The adopted Operational Plan reflects the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) decision to approve a 15 percent special rate variation increase for the Central Coast for three years commencing in the 2021-22 financial year.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said finalising the 2021-22 Operational Plan is an important milestone in Council’s progression towards achieving financial sustainability.

“Reducing capital expenditure by $70M was a fundamental component of necessary measures to ensure Council remained financially viable and to satisfy the requirements of commercial loans,” Mr Hart said.

"We have made significant progress towards getting Central Coast Council back on track – on top of reducing our capital expenditure, a significant organisational restructure has been completed, we have commenced asset sales in line with the refinancing understanding and have received a 15 percent special rate increase from IPART.

“It is important to note that the recent IPART decision only provides security for three years and we will be seeking community feedback for our next submission to IPART to seek approval to permanently maintain the 15 percent special rate variation.”

Capital works program highlights for 2021-22

Road and drainage works

• Road projects account for 20.4 percent of the budget
• Region-wide road resealing program – $2.1M (reference R010)
• Region-wide asphalt resurfacing program – $1.3M (reference R012)
• Road and drainage projects across the region including in Avoca, Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Chain Valley Bay, Copacabana, Davistown, Ettalong, Gosford and surrounds, Hamlyn Terrace, Lisarow, Norah Head, Somersby, Toukley, Umina, Woy Woy and Wyong

Shared pathway and walking trail works

• Magenta (The Entrance) shared pathway construction – $2M (reference L003)
• Tuggerawong foreshore shared pathway construction – $1.47M (reference L005)
• Projects in Davistown, Erina, Gosford, Lake Munmorah, Magenta, Ourimbah, Terrigal and Tuggerawong
• Water and sewer works

Water supply projects account for 16.8 percent of the budget

• Sewerage network projects account for 20.5 percent of the budget
• Region-wide water mains asset renewal program – $7.03M (reference R004)
• Region-wide sewer main asset renewal program – $5.75M (reference R007)
• Gosford CBD water infrastructure reinforcements – $4.33M (reference R005)
• Mardi Water Treatment Plant major upgrade – $6.8M (reference R003)
• Gosford CBD sewer infrastructure reinforcements – $5.82M (reference R001)
• Warnervale Town Centre sewer infrastructure – $4.18M (reference R006)
• Water and sewer projects in Avoca, Charmhaven, Daleys Point, Empire Bay, Ettalong, Forresters Beach, Gosford, Gwandalan, Killcare, Kincumber, Mardi, Mooney Mooney, Saratoga, Tacoma, Tacoma South, Umina and Warnervale

Waste management facility works

• Construction of Cell 4.4 at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility, Jilliby – $6.96M (reference G001)

Facility improvement and asset management works

• Heating ventilation and air conditioning replacement at Peninsula Leisure Centre – $3.85M (reference L002)
• Upgrade of renewal of the Visitor Information Centre, The Entrance – $2.39M (reference S001)
• Works at Gosford Olympic Pool, Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance, Halekulani, Long Jetty, Spencer, Tacoma and Toukley Aquatic Centre

New Gosford Regional Library works

• Initial works – $1.61M (reference L001)

Sport field, park and playspace works

• Adelaide Street Oval Sportsground (Killarney Vale) amenities building upgrade – $1.39M (reference L004)
• Projects in Chain Valley Bay, Gosford, Green Point, Kariong, Narara, Pretty Beach, Saratoga, Woongarrah and Woy Woy

Town centre improvements

• Projects in Budgewoi, Ettalong, Gosford, The Entrance, Toukley and Wyong

The capital works budget of $175.0M includes a $1.5M increase from the exhibited program due to the inclusion of fully grant funded projects that will not impact Council’s operating result.The Local Government Act 1993 (sub-section 405(1)) requires Council to consider any submissions received during public exhibition and to adopt an Operational Plan before the beginning of the financial year.

Council adopts rates and charges for 2021-22

Council has adopted ordinary rates, special rates and waste management annual charges for the 2021-22 financial year.

Charges are reflective of the 2 percent rate peg increase and 13 percent Special Variation increase (totalling 15 percent) approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in May. They also include rates harmonisation that will see rates calculated equitably across the Coast.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the adoption of these charges complements other steps Council has taken towards financial recovery.

“At the commencement of Administration, it was clear that to get Council’s finances in order, hard decisions needed to be made and fast, if we were to remain solvent,” Mr Hart said.

"The confirmation of these 2021-22 charges, along with other significant steps we have already taken including an organisational structure review, reviewing all expenditure, reducing operational budgets, as well as identifying capital works program savings and future revenue opportunities, helps guarantee stability for the next three years.”

Council makes difficult decision to close The Entrance Library

As part of its Business Recovery Plan, Council has resolved to close The Entrance Library with the last day of operations being 30 July 2021.

Administrator Rik Hart said the decision to close The Entrance Library was not done in haste and every effort will be made to continue community services in the area, offering these in an alternate and reduced way.

"Over recent years usage has declined greatly and the ageing premises are not suitable to meet the needs of a modern library or that of an inclusive community facility due to lack of accessibility, parking, or space for collaboration. It is no longer viable for this branch to remain open.” Mr Hart said.

“The closest alternate branch is Bateau Bay, located approximately five kilometres away in the shopping centre.”

Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said that Council’s mobile library will start visiting Memorial Park in July.

“A regular service will be delivered by the mobile library every Thursday, with opportunities for library members to collect reserved titles as well as borrow from titles on board the mobile library. And when the weather warms up again and the days get longer, we will look to run our regular Storytime program outdoors in Memorial Park,” said Ms Vaughan.

Council’s Customer Service outlet, including the ability for customers to pay bills will operate for 14 hours a week at The Entrance Visitor Information Centre (46 Marine Parade, The Entrance), and customers can also still pay Council bills at Australia Post outlets.   Additionally, there will be two computers and internet access for the community made available at The Entrance Visitor Information Centre during its regular operating hours from Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am-4.00pm.  Noting that the Visitor Information Centre is currently closed due to COVID restrictions.

Council seeks urgent meeting with IPART about continuation of the 15 percent rate rise beyond three years

Council resolved tonight to seek an urgent meeting with the Chair of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to discuss Council’s intent to seek continuation of the 15 percent rate rise beyond the three year period approved by IPART earlier this year.

Council will also write to the NSW Co-Ordinator General, NSW Government’s Planning Delivery Director and the Office of Local Government outlining the risks to the organisation and the Central Coast community.

Administrator Rik Hart said that if Council does not receive certainty of revenue beyond three years it was seriously hindered in its ability to achieve long term financial stability.

“Currently the 15 percent rate increase only guarantees stability for Council for the next three years.  This doesn’t go far enough to provide long term financial stability for Council and impedes Council’s ability to plan for the future, deliver major infrastructure and enter into funding agreements that ultimately benefit the coast community.

“We will start consulting with the community before the end of the year,” Mr Hart said.

Council investigates new opportunity for sand nourishment at Wamberal

Council is investigating options to access sand for beach nourishment from the Sydney Metro West Tunnel project to further proactively manage beach erosion and sea level rise at Wamberal Beach.

A significant volume of sandstone is being excavated as part of the Sydney Metro West Tunnel project and Council will notify Transport for NSW and the NSW Government of its interest in exploring next steps including:

• understanding the total volume of sand available and the quality control process
• seeking financial and project support from the NSW Government to undertake the necessary design, planning and environmental investigations
• engaging with the community.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council has been working with the State Government and the community on a long-term management solution to Wamberal’s coastal erosion for some time.

“The potential opportunity for sand nourishment from state tunnelling and dredging projects was first discussed at meetings of the Wamberal Seawall Advisory Taskforce, and informal discussions between Council staff and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Officers in recent months indicate this is an opportunity worthy of further investigation,” Mr Hart said.

“However, given the fact that beach nourishment of this scale has not been undertaken on the Central Coast previously and this is a complex project of state significance, we believe it is appropriate for the NSW Government provide funding and technical support so we can conduct the necessary environmental investigations and establish a clear process before we proceed further.”