Wyong and Gosford councils axed to make way for new super Central Coast Council
WYONG and Gosford councils have been axed to make way for a new Central Coast Council effective immediately.
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WYONG and Gosford councils have been axed to make way for a new Central Coast Council effective immediately.
The long-awaited but not unexpected decision was announced at lunchtime by Premier Mike Baird.
It paves the way for a super council headed by the acting chief executive officer of Wyong Council, Rob Noble, as general manager.
It is understood the administrator will be Ian Reynolds, a local government consultant from Castle Hill.
Current chief executive officer of Gosford Paul Anderson will be the deputy general manager.
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All councillors, including both mayors, Lawrie McKinna and Doug Eaton, will be invited to join councillor advisory committees if they want to continue to contribute to the super council, but they are no longer the mayors.
The next local government election is expected to be held on September 9, 2017.
Former Wyong mayor Doug Eaton said he was surprised how quickly it happened.
“I thought they would have given us more time to get organised,” he said.
He said he still might have a role in the new council.
“There could be some role for councillors but we don’t know what that is, the devil is in the details and there’s not enough detail at the moment.
“All I know is the councils have been dissolved and there is now a Central Coast Council, as of right at this minute.
“I am no longer the mayor and neither is Lawrie.”
Former Gosford mayor Lawrie McKinna said while he was not shocked, he was surprised at how quickly it happened.
“I am the last mayor of Gosford,” he said.
“There are no longer councillors or mayors, it’s quite strange.”
The next local government election is expected to be held on September 9, 2017.
Former Gosford Councillor Hillary Morris said she was gutted by the news.
“I am in shock, I knew it was coming,” she said.
“I am so disappointed that I can’t be a voice for the community, I loved doing that.”
Terrigal state Liberal MP Adam Crouch assured Coast residents they will pay no more for their rates for the next four years and would benefit from a $20 million grant from the state government.
“The new council will be run more efficiently and will be better able to deliver new services, improve existing services and maintain essential local infrastructure like footpaths and roads,” Mr Crouch said.
He said the new council was expected to generate savings of up to $135 million that could be directed to improving services or new infrastructure.
“I want to congratulate the staff at both Gosford and Wyong Councils for working in a collaborative way to put the people of the Central Coast foremost during the amalgamation process,” he said.
Wyong state Labor MP and Central Coast spokesman David Harris said the Opposition would continue to oppose the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong councils despite yesterday’s decision.
“We will continue to oppose any forced mergers,” Mr Harris said.
“It’s just a shame our council rolled over so early in the piece.
“The whole exercise was a very cynical one.
“Now we hear that councils in marginal federal seats won’t be forced to merge, but our guys gave up the argument. So much for fit for the future.”
Mr Harris said he had concerns over such a large council area.
“It’s going to be extremely difficult covering such a large area. I think it’s going to take years to work out and there’s going to be a lot of conflict about who gets what and where the money gets spent.”
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