An ePetition calling for the next election date for Central Coast Council to be brought forward has been presented in the Legislative Assembly by Member for The Entrance David Mehan.
The petition, which closed on December 19, was organised by local resident Gregory Knott, who says the proposed election date of September 14, 2024, is too far away.
Bearing 752 signatures, the petition calls for a review of the planned date.
“The Central Coast Council has been without leadership since it went into administration in October, 2020,” it says.
“Recently it was announced that elections would be held in line with the next round of local council elections on 14th September 2024.
“This will leave Central Coast residents without a voice for almost four years and no local democracy.
“Currently Central Coast residents have no input into local issues.
“The Central Coast is in a state of disrepair with dangerous potholes on major roads, locals parks overgrown, vandalised and some closed for extended periods.”
Mehan, who expressed support for the petition when it was launched earlier this year, said the numbers of signatories suggests there is “no strong community view that a return to democracy, of itself, will fix the dissatisfaction people have with Council’s performance”.
Mehan compared the numbers to the strong response received by the petition for an investigation into Council’s the financial collapse.
“I expect people feel they will be able to pass judgement on the architect of our Council problem, the State Government, which forced the amalgamation on councils across the state, at next year’s state election,” he said.
Terry Collins