Central Coast Council draft Budget reveals multimillion-dollar infrastructure ‘game changer’
Council’s draft budget has been released for public exhibition. Here are some of the highlights, including major road upgrades, community wins and quirky spends.
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Central Coast Council’s draft budget has been labelled a “game changer” for the north of the region.
Many projects are finally seeing the light of day, including $650,000 for a road upgrade and carpark for the congested Carters Rd in Lake Munmorah and a $3.9 million sporting facility in Colongra.
However, the southern end of the region is not missing out with funding allocated to major projects including the redevelopments of Adcock Park and Woy Woy Wharf along with the Terrigal Lagoon walking track.
It looks like there could also be an upgrade on the way for Gosford Olympic Pool with money set aside for design work.
One surprise that jumped out of the documents is a carpark for Central Coast Stadium, however it states the $14.5m project is dependent on grant funding and gated projects.
The council’s draft Operational Plan 2020-21 was put on public exhibition this week, revealing an operational revenue of $551.6mm and $584.1m spend on essential services. The operating deficit is $32.5m before capital grants and contributions.
However in placing the document on public exhibition, the council has stressed it was developed before the impacts of COVID-19 set in and major changes could occur.
“Council recognises that if the economy moves into recession there will be impacts on the Central Coast economy, which will likely impact the revenue base and also place cost pressures on operations,” the plan states. “Assessment of the potential impact is currently being determined.”
Councillor Kyle MacGregor described the plan as “a big game changer for the north and a lot of underprivileged areas of the coast”.
“There’s significant infrastructure boosts,” he said.
One of these includes the $26m installation of the water trunk main from Mardi to Warnervale.
Major road upgrades
■ Ridgway Rd, Avoca Beach – drainage, kerb, gutter, footpath and pavement upgrade – $2.5m
■ Avoca Dr, Avoca Beach – drainage – $893,000
■ Lakedge Ave, Berkeley Vale – drainage, kerb and gutter and pavement – $1.5m
■ Del Monte Pl, Copacabana – drainage, kerb and gutter, footpath and pavement – $2.5m
■ Louisiana Road, Hamlyn Terrace – drainage – $1.5m
■ Glenrock Pde, Tascott – drainage, kerb and gutter, footpath and pavement – $750,000
■ Anzac Rd and Nirvana St, Long Jetty – intersection upgrade – $1.3m
■ Ocean Beach Rd and Rawson Rd, Woy Woy – intersection upgrade – $2m
■ Wisemans Ferry Rd, Somersby – road upgrade – $1m
Wins for the community
■ Carters Rd, Lake Munmorah – carpark and road upgrade (stage 1) – $650,000
■ Gosford Olympic Pool Upgrade – design and concept work – $75,000
■ Woy Woy Wharf – construction – $1.7m
■ Terrigal Lagoon Walking Track – $857,313
■ Road resealing cross the north – $3.8m – and south – $3.5
■ Avoca Beach Lifeguard Tower installation – $90,000
■ New recreation facility, Lake Munmorah – $1.3m
Facility upgrades
■ Resurfacing the Central Coast Stadium pitch – $900,000
■ Toukley Village Green Upgrade – $1.3m
■ Adcock Park redevelopment – $15.4m
■ Mooney Mooney Dam, Somersby – water pump station capacity upgrade – $2.3
■ Gosford Waterfront upgrade – fitness equipment and shade sails – $80,000
■ Upgrade St John Lookout and picnic areas – $337,567
Some of the more quirky items
■ Stage two construction of anti-terrorism bollards at The Entrance Town Centre – $500,000
■ Upgrade of the Percy the Pelican Statue at The Entrance – $80,000. Councillor Bruce McLachlan has been fighting for the upgrade of Percy, bringing an idea to the council last year to create the world’s biggest pelican statue.