Central Coast Council Administrator, Dick Persson, has commenced site visits with senior staff to ensure that he understands local issues across the Coast, starting in the northern suburbs on Tuesday, November 17.
He visited Warnervale airport, where he said a report about the trimming of trees at the approach to the runway would be on the agenda of Council’s November 30 meeting.
“I will read the report and take everything into careful consideration, but I will look at it from a practical point of view and safety is paramount,” he said.
Persson also visited two sites in Jilliby, 40-80 Sandra St and 11 Cottesloe Rd, which were identified by the Director of Environment and Planning.
These sites are the subject of a subdivision proposal for 19 rural residential lots which will soon go before Council for a decision to proceed with a Gateway Determination from the State Government.
Persson also visited Wadalba East Urban Land Release Area, Tuggerah Sports Complex, and Warnervale Town Centre, where Woolworths has submitted a rezoning proposal for its supermarket development.
Persson said he took every aspect of his Administrator role seriously, including being aware of issues that were important to residents and getting to know the Coast better.
“I want to assure the community that whilst number one priority is delving into the financial crisis issue, I also want to understand more about this diverse region,” he said.
“I can already see that the Coast has some complex matters, some of which relate to its diverse landscape and growth as a key regional NSW area.
“I am not from the Central Coast and am spending as much time as I can familiarising myself with the region.”
Persson has also initiated an open forum before every Ordinary Council meeting starting on Monday, November 23.
Members of the public will be able to address Council at the open forum on an Council-related matter they wish, but must register and will be limited to three minutes each.
The open forum starts at 5.30pm with a maximum of 10 speakers each meeting.
It will not be webcast, but all Ordinary Council meetings and the preceding Public Forum will continue to be webcast.
The Public Forum is for speakers from the community about matters listed on that meeting’s agenda.
Merilyn Vale and Sue Murray