Referendum to be held to reduce Councillor numbers and consultation to be held on preference for ward structure

A referendum will be held at the same time as the 2021 Local Government elections for community consideration to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to 9.

Before the referendum question is finalised consultation will be undertaken to gauge community preference for a ward structure or even for no wards at all.

Administrator Dick Persson said it was important that the elected body of Council works in a constructive and effective way for the benefit of the Central Coast community.

“I believe 15 Councillors is simply too many and does not facilitate collaborative and effective decision making and that has to change,” Mr Persson said.

“The only way to change this is through a referendum so the community of the Coast will have a direct say in this change.

“Wards is another area that needs review. I personally think the no ward option is best so Councillors represent the whole Coast, but I know there are other views.

“I will be seeking those views through a formal consultation process before deciding on what should be included in the referendum question.

Community consultation will be undertaken in the next few months will with a report due back to Council no later than mid-April 2021.

Administrator to seek further assistance for erosion costs

Administrator Dick Persson will seek further assistance from the NSW Government for the costs related to emergency works at Wamberal and The Entrance North beaches.

To date, the NSW Government has committed $992,501 of the $2.9 million spent on recovery. This equates to half of the costs at Wamberal, with no assistance for The Entrance North.

Administrator Dick Persson said he would write to the NSW Premier and seek her assistance.

“The works undertaken by Council during this emergency was under the direction of the Local Emergency Operations Controller as appointed by the NSW Government,” Mr Persson said.

“I will be writing the Premier to highlight the need for the state to work with local government and to assist with the costs required during such emergencies and will also be raising it with our Parliamentary Secretary here for the Central Coast, Mr Adam Crouch MP.

“It’s important to note, that while the Coastal Zone Management Plan that covers The Entrance North was never certified, it was in fact submitted to the NSW Government for certification four times between 2011 and 2018.

“The works undertaken during the emergency were not reliant on the actions in these management plans, and I see no reason why the funding should be reliant on these either.”

Council resolves to not renew Kibbleplex lease

Central Coast Council has resolved not to proceed with renewal of the lease for Kibbleplex town centre carpark in Gosford with the parking proposed to remain until March 2021.

After consideration of Council’s financial situation, availability of carparking in Gosford CBD and the recent approval given for development of the site, the decision was made not to renew the lease. 

Kibbleplex car park has a capacity of 550 car spaces for parking, averaging 380 vehicles a day. The carpark will not be closing straight away with information being provided to the users over the next couple of months. 

Gosford City carpark has capacity for 650 cars and is currently operating at around 20%. Less than 2 hours is free and after that fees range from $4 to a maximum of $10 a day.

Free parking is also available at Racecourse Road (200 spots) and Adcock Park has 200 spots.

Council will be monitoring the situation and may reconsider the introduction of a free courtesy bus from Racecourse Road and Adcock Park to the Gosford CBD.

Kincumber Waste Management Facility to remain closed while Council reassess future use of the site

Following a comprehensive assessment of the facility’s infrastructure and services, Kincumber Waste Management Facility will remain closed while Council continues to review opportunities for the site’s best use in the future.

Council Administrator Dick Persson AM said unlike Council’s major public waste management facilities at Woy Woy to the south and Buttonderry to the north, the Kincumber facility is not required for the delivery of Council’s essential domestic waste collection and associated services.

“Since 2009, the Kincumber Waste Management Facility has operated solely as a waste transfer facility, meaning that all material delivered to the site is later reloaded and transported to other facilities, including the Woy Woy Waste Management Facility located only 17.8km away,” Mr Persson said.

“In late March 2020, in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation, Council took precautions to keep our staff and community safe and temporarily closed the Kincumber Waste Management Facility.

“As a result of this closure, Council realised substantial operational savings through reduced employee costs, materials and contracts and given our current financial situation that is a positive outcome.

“This now gives Council the opportunity to have a good look as to how it might be better utilised and the community will be consulted every step of the way.”

Residents looking to responsibly dispose of waste can still utilise Council’s two major public waste management facilities – Woy Woy Waste Management Facility and Buttonderry Waste Management Facility – located at the northern and southern ends of the Central Coast.

These facilities operate seven days a week and feature purpose-built public drop off infrastructure, in addition to offering a wide range of landfill and resource recovery services.

Residents can also take advantage of Council’s comprehensive domestic waste bulk kerbside collection service. Households are entitled to 6 bulk kerbside collections per year, which reset annually on 1 February and can be booked at 1coast.com.au.

Planning proposal to enable rural-residential subdivision in Jilliby progresses

Council will be progressing a Planning Proposal to the NSW Government Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for a gateway determination to enable rural-residential subdivision of various lots off Sandra Street, Jilliby.

The proposal may provide up to 19 rural-residential lots and has been designed to enable dwellings to be located outside prospective noise and odour affected areas as a result of the approved future expansion of the Buttonderry Waste Management Facility (BWMF), and to be constructed incorporating appropriate noise attenuation and mine subsidence treatments. Under the Central Coast Local Strategic Planning Statement, this land is not classified as an important agricultural land resource hence expansion with rural residential development is considered appropriate in this case. 

The planning proposal has already been referred to the Local Planning Panel in December 2020 who agreed to its strategic merit and recommends that prior to any public exhibition, an updated ecology report be prepared on the subject land, including an analysis of the likely impact of bushfire protection measures and access, together with utility service provision, to potential dwelling sites. 

Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM said this proposal will provide additional housing opportunities for the community whilst ensuring environmental protection.

“The assessment stages for this proposal ensures balanced and sustainable development for our region whilst preserving local character and protection of rural areas,” Mr Persson said.

Policy drafted to accommodate high number of DAs submitted and to fast track process

Central Coast Council processes more development applications than any other Council in NSW with more than 3,150 applications considered during the last financial year to a value of more than $825 million.

To ensure assessments are undertaken in a consistent, efficient and timely matter, Council has drafted a Policy on the Assessment of Development Applications which will soon be placed on public exhibition for community feedback.

Council administrator Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM said the high levels of development is to accommodate the region’s growing population and provides a much-needed boost to the local economy through the construction sector.

“The draft policy aims to assist in reducing development assessment turnaround times and to provide certainty to the community and investors on Councils’ approach to the assessment of Development Applications,” said Mr Persson.

“This policy follows the NSW Government’s ‘Development Assessment Best Practice Guide’ (2017) which promotes principles that assist in the timely determination of development applications – including the lodgement of ‘assessment ready’ applications that ensures required information is submitted so an informed, proper and timely assessment can be made with efficient use of Council resources.

“Community participation in planning matters is important and I encourage residents and to take up the opportunity to review the draft policy when it’s on exhibition and provide feedback.”

Council will now prepare the draft policy for public exhibition on yourvoiceourcoast.com and provide notice to the community on Council channels when dates are confirmed

Council Meeting day changed to Tuesdays

Central Coast Council Meetings will be held every second and fourth Tuesday of the month effective from 9 February 2021 during the period of Administration.

The next Council meeting will still be held on Monday 8 February in Wyong with the second meeting in February to be held on Tuesday 23 February at Gosford Chambers. 

For a full list of Council meeting dates, locations and agendas search ‘meetings’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Community groups awarded funding to build capacity and connections across the Coast

Gwandalan and Summerland Point Peninsula Improvement Group, Uniting Northern Lakes Neighbourhood Centre and Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation are amongst the nine community groups and organisations that will benefit from funding under the 2020 Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program and Council’s Working Together Staying Strong Grant Program.

Council Administrator Dick Persson AM said the grant programs enable organisations to deliver quality projects, programs or events that add value to the community, as well as provide much-needed support to those who are experiencing hardship.

“Through these grants, we are supporting local not for profits and community groups to form valuable connections, celebrate our local community and build capacity across the entire Central Coast,” said Mr Persson.

The annual Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program is part of Council’s Voluntary Planning Agreement with Delta Coal Pty Ltd and provides external funds for worthwhile community projects within the communities of Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park via a competitive grant program.

Sixteen applications were received an assessed as part of the 2020 Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program, with six applications awarded funding in 2020, sharing a total funding pool of $82,724.60.

Successful applicants were:

• Gwandalan and Summerland Point Peninsula Improvement Group – Fitness equipment on Tunkuwallin Oval - $29,900.00
• Uniting Northern Lakes Neighbourhood Centre – Let’s Get Creative art workshops - $8,492.60
• Manno Men’s Shed Inc – Dust extraction unit - $13,000
• Mannering Park Tidy Town Group Inc – Hedging for an Easier Cut - $996
• Mannering Park Amateur Sailing Club Inc – Sailability Storage - $2,336
• Chain Valley Bay Progress Association Inc – Pavilion at Joshua Porter Reserve - $28,000

Council’s Working Together Staying Strong Grants Program, which was developed to assist organisations to deliver essential support to vulnerable and at-risk groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, closed on 30 September 2020.

Over the program period of 1 May to 30 September 2020 sixty-three applications were received and twenty-four were funded for a total of $153,823.52 from the $300,000.00 program budget allocation.

Seventeen applications were received and assessed between 1 and 30 September 2020 with three granted funding to the value of $19,871.27.

Successful applicants were:

• Catholic Care, Diocese of Broken Bay – Bedding packs for new clients - $9,090.90
• Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation – Online support groups - $5,454.55
• We Care Connect – Care Collection Days - $5,325.82