Central Coast Council Top 5 decisions: September 24
THE Woy Woy underpass, rules for buskers, fees for community and sporting groups and long-awaited Gosford Regional Library plans were among the main items at last night’s council meeting. We were there. Here’s what happened.
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CENTRAL Coast Council was certainly a page turner last night, with long awaited decisions on Gosford Regional Library along with outrageously high fees for community and sporting facilities.
Woy Woy railway underpass was brought back to the chamber, as well as busking regulations and a few new rules to ensure meetings don’t run too late into the night.
Rail underpass back on the cards
THE WOY WOY railway underpass is back in the spotlight, with council calling on the State Government to create a business plan.
Deputy Mayor Chris Holstein said removal of the Rawson Rd level crossing to create an underpass was a “major infrastructure project needed for the peninsula”.
Mayor Jane Smith said she raised the issue at a recent meeting with a local politician.
“There are so many potential benefits of this project, most importantly improving safety for the many pedestrians and cyclists that pass through the Rawson Road level crossing every day,” she said.
“This is a priority project for the peninsula that the State Government should prioritise and we are willing to collaborate to make that happen.”
Plans to build the $115 million rail underpass at Woy Woy were abandoned in 2016 after a cost blowout and design dispute between government departments.
First announced during the 2011 election campaign, the costs escalated from $30 million, to $52 million and then to $115 million.
Gosford Regional Library plans
GOSFORD Regional Library is another chapter closer, with council endorsing detailed designs for a Gosford Cultural Precinct.
Councillors voted to create a cultural hub which will connect Gosford Regional Library and Innovation Hub and the Regional Performing Arts and Conference Centre (RPACC). It includes final sites as well as pedestrian links and undercover parking.
The designs and costs are being kept under lock and key, and council will negotiate with ET Australia to acquire the land at 123B-125A Donnison Street, Gosford.
Councillors were in favour of the 10 storey concept design, exhibited in February, and have worked to develop that to include the precinct. The next stage of the project will be a development application.
Councillor Richard Mehrtens described the plans as a “landmark project that Gosford needs.”
Councillor Lisa Matthews said the community was feeling let down due time taken to get to this stage. She said the precinct will bring jobs, help youth unemployment and engage the community.
Mayor Jane Smith said the precinct will create 1450 jobs in the construction phase as well as an additional 645 jobs once construction is completed.
“Along with CEO Gary Murphy, I will now be seeking discussions with both State and Federal Government to assist with the funding shortfall of these much needed community projects,” she said.
Community facility fees under review
HIGH fees and leasing arrangements to community facilities across the Central Coast has been a contentious topic for more than 12 months.
Concerns have been voiced across the region by various groups from knitting to sporting organisations, prompting councillors to call for a review into management of community facilities.
In June, Central Coast Sports Council called for the immediate freeze in fees for sporting clubs, saying fee increases were “pricing some families out of community sport”.
Mayor Jane Smith said there had been a high level of “dissatisfaction around some of the arrangements of community facilities, charges, leases and licences”.”
“12 months later we haven’t addressed that or considered these issues,” she said.
Cr Smith said the community needed to be consulted to identify issues.
Councillor Doug Vincent said some groups had fundraised for facilities to be built, and were now forced to pay for access.
“It is one thing for a council to stay in the black but it’s another thing to be gouging some aspects of the community,” he said.
No busking on footpaths
BUSKERS are being told to keep off the footpaths.
A council report has found that busking locations do not extend to footpaths within Central Coast town centres.
Mayor Jane Smith said council needed to ensure the safety of both buskers and community members.
“This is why some locations and activities are not permitted under our policy,” she said.
“Busking can add so much life to a location and it is wonderful to see that this is a growing feature across the Central Coast.”
Buskers need to obtain a Busking Approval Card for $20 fee, which provides coverage through council’s public liability insurance. Council regulations for buskers are within the Central Coast Busking Policy.
No more speakers in full council meetings
WITH meetings often running past 11pm, councillors have voted on new rules to streamline practices.
Council adopted a new Code of Meeting practice, with members of the public no longer able to address council meetings.
A public forum will be held before each meeting at 6pm, where members of the public will have three minutes to have their say. They will need to register by 10am on the day of the meeting.
But it’s not only community members affected, with council debate on individual items limited to 30 minutes to ensure meetings finish at 10.30pm.
Mayor Jane Smith said the public had been consulted over the changes which make council meetings more efficient and focused on decision making.
“Meetings are still too often exceeding the agreed finishing time of 10.30pm which is putting a strain on councillors, staff and those members of the community interested in seeing our decision-making first-hand,” she said.