The Gosford mayor has been elected for a third term.
This is a sad day for Gosford. It should be noted that this mayor wanted to change the name of the Broadwater, which has been known by that name for over 190 years. It was on his watch that the councillors voted to give $360,000 of ratepayer’s money to a professional football team that plays on the Central Coast from time to time. Remember the mayor once coached that team. The mayor stated that he was very proud to have the opportunity to continue leading Gosford, and he also said that he would like to thank his fellow councillors for the confidence they had shown in him. What confidence, five councillors voted against him? Vote five for and five against and then turn the mayor position into a joke. His name was picked out of a hat, is this the way Gosford people want their elected mayor to be picked? If that’s the council constitution, then it should be changed. In my opinion, the mayor should have stepped down as he had five councillors who voted against him, and that is a sign of a weak council. The elected mayor should have at least two thirds of the councillors voting for them. During the mayor’s terms, the roads around Gosford Shire are in need of major repairs. There are pot holes everywhere. Racecourse Rd just near the Central Coast Highway has a rut in the road that has been there for at least 20 years. Maidens Brush Rd pot holes are filled every 20 to 30 days, especially the two near the school. The retirement villages in Maidens Brush Rd would have at least 1,200 persons living there and using the road, and in total, may have paid over 50,000 years of tax but still have to drive on this run down road and pay for car repairs as a result of the road’s surface. It is a shock absorber nightmare. Drivers who drive from the boat ramp to join the highway have to dodge pot holes at their best. The list goes on and on. If you go back to 1951 to 1952, the North Sydney Council curbed and guttered and sealed the back lanes in its shire. That is over 60 years ago. Yes, back lanes. The Department of Main Roads was formed in 1932, and in 1933, built its first major road in concrete. This was Pittwater Rd, followed by many other major roads. It should be remembered that this road building was competed while Australia and the world was in depression, and the men who had been out of work for years were employed to build this road. The concrete road was all hand finished; there were no machines. This is a fact as my father worked for one and a half years using his truck to cart concrete to the next section of the road, like many other men. Now, 81 years later, there is traffic bumper to bumper in peak time. I drove the length of Pittwater Rd three weeks ago and did not hit or see one pot hole. So, what is the answer for the Central Coast roads? There is only one. This State Government should dismiss both Central Coast councils because they have gone past their use by date. Call the new shire Central Coast Twin Towns. The Government of the day should employ a suitable, qualified person to administer the new shire. This would also stop councillors using their position for higher office in politics.
Letter, 6 Oct 2014
Vic Wulf, Wyoming