Central Coast Council’s top 7 decisions from May 28 meeting
A CONTENTIOUS rehabilitation centre in Ourimbah to rock fishing life jackets and a fight for the Coast’s water supply, last night’s Central Coast Council saw some crucial decisions. Here’s a run down.
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FROM a controversial rehabilitation centre in Ourimbah to rock fishing life jackets and a fight for the Coast’s water supply, last night’s Central Coast Council saw some crucial decisions.
Councillors only managed to get through around half of the business papers before pulling up stumps at 11.30pm.
They voted to hold an additional meeting on Monday June 4 to address the remaining issue including the Gosford Regional Library. The meeting will be held at the Wyong Chamber from 7.30pm.
CONTENTIOUS PROPOSAL FOR OURIMBAH
A CONTENTIOUS drug and alcohol centre proposal in Ourimbah has been deferred.
Councillors deferred the matter to hold a site inspection at 74 Glen Rd, where a development application has been lodged for a transitional group home for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Council staff recommended the proposal be approved subject to conditions.
The application has attracted a lot of public interest and backlash, with a majority of the public gallery present for the item. The council has received 166 submissions on the matter.
“This is a contentious issue in the community,” deputy mayor Chris Holstein said. “It’s about making sure we make the right decision. I’ve seen examples where councils have got it right for these types of centres. When you get it wrong you can’t go back on that.”
The proposed development would cater for a maximum of 14 participants at any one time, with programs running for six to 12 weeks.
MANDATORY LIFE JACKETS FOR ROCK FISHING
WEARING life jackets rock fishing is one step closer to becoming law across the Central Coast.
Councillors voted to investigate the State Government program which allows councils to “opt in” on a program to make the wearing of approved life jackets mandatory while fishing from high risk rock fishing platforms.
Surf Life Saving Central Coast president Stuart Harvey spoke in favour of opting in, saying rock fishing was one of Australia’s most dangerous recreational activities.
“There have been more than 100 drownings since 2005 … 22 of those occurred on the Coast,” he said.
“Sadly not one victim was wearing a life jacket. It causes devastation to the families and great trauma for volunteers during the recovery process.”
Mr Harvey said council’s decision to explore the State Government’s program could be a “game changer” and save many lives.
If council opts in, it receives $30,000 and a tool kit with educational materials and signage.
GREEN LIGHT FOR KILLARNEY VALE BOARDING HOUSE
A BOARDING house in Killarney Vale has been given the go ahead.
Councillors approved the development application for a 12 room boarding house at 6 South St.
Killarney Vale’s Patrick Lendvai voiced community concerns regarding the proposal, saying it was out of character and would attract “unsavoury types”.
“The proposal will have negative impacts on the community,” he said.
Applicants and brothers Laurie and Brett Ellis said the development was ideal for the over 55s demographic. He said the negative connotations around boarding houses full of “deviants” was untrue for new generational boarding houses.
“It is not in our interests as landlords to see the neighbourhood tarnished,” Laurie Ellis said.
WAR MEMORIAL TO MOVE TO TERRIGAL
THE Erina District War Memorial will be moved to the Terrigal Foreshore.
Councillors approved Terrigal Wamberal RSL Sub Branch’s application to move the memorial to Terrigal due to public access and visibility.
The memorial was originally located at the intersection of Terrigal Drive and the Central Coast Highway in Erina until 1985 when the road was upgraded. The memorial was then moved to the Salvation Army nursing home site in Erina.
Terrigal Wamberal RSL Sub Branch president Peter White said the memorial was a “significant item of local history”, and recognised many of people from this area who sacrificed their lives. He said it belonged on public land, somewhere visible to the community.
Central Coast historian Merril Jackson said the decision to move the memorial had to be a “one stop”, as continually moving memorials was disrespectful. She said she would like to see the memorial back in its original location.
The RSL is hoping to have the move completed by the Centenary of Armistice Day on November 11.
COUNCIL HELP FUND FIGHT FOR WATER
CENTRAL Coast Council is digging into its pockets in the fight against the Wallarah 2 Coal Mine.
Councillors voted to provide $200,000 of financial assistance to the Australian Coal Alliance (ACA) in its fight against the mine in the Land and Environment Court.
ACA’s Mike Campbell said in the 23 years the group has been fighting the mine, they had never asked for a cent from the council.
“It’s been 23 years of opposition,” he said. “I don’t think council should underestimate what the contribution of the community has been.”
Cr Lisa Matthews said the funding will aid in the fight to secure the water catchment for the Central Coast.
“If we don’t have water, what have we got,” she said.
Cr Rebecca Gale Collins said providing financial assistance to the ACA set a “dangerous precedent”, and funds should be spent on local parks and pathways.
The directions hearing for the matter will be held on June 8.
WINNEY BAY RESERVE PROJECT REVISITED
COUNCIL will seek more community input for stage 2 of works of the Winney Bay Reserve Project.
Councillors voted to re-exhibit concept plans for the reserve in Copacabana, following community concern over land clearing.
Local resident Joy Cooper said the width of the clearing has now reached 8m, and contractors are storing their machinery and fuel supplies on the land which is destroying more of the environment. She said land clearing was only supposed to be 2m wide.
“Every week it’s going further and further away from 2m,” she said. “It’s not about the 5 Lands Walk, the issue is the land being destroyed.”
Adam Richards spoke in support of the works, and said the exciting project is creating division and tearing people up.
“It’s not the evil pathway, it has a lot of attempts to engage with indigenous interests and the environment,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Chris Holstein said there had been an “overstepping of the mark” regarding land clearing, however the council should not lose sight of what the 5 Lands Walk is about.
SIGNAGE REFUSED IN YARRAMALONG
COUNCIL has refused completion of partly constructed canopy and signage to Yarramalong Store and Cafe.
The application to complete the canopy and signage works was knocked back due to the work not fitting in with the visual signage of the area.
Council also stated it “compromises views of the streetscape and to the hills beyond the site”.
Members of the gallery patiently waited four hours for their item of interest to be heard, and left the chamber tired but happy with the decision.
The application was lodged by Tenterfield Petroleum Pty Ltd.