Wicks defends ATO decision in Parliament

An artist's impression of the Commonwealth agency building to be constructed on the Gosford waterfront

Member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks has released a statement in Parliament on the revitalisation of Gosford, including claims about the 600 jobs for the Central Coast.

Ms Wicks said the ATO would provide a giant step forward for Gosford and the promised 600 jobs would be a reality for Coast residents wanting to work locally.

Despite community protest towards the proposed ATO on the old Gosford Public School site, earmarked for a community Performing Arts Centre, Ms Wicks argued in her statement that the development would utilise less than 30 per cent of the old school site.

In her statement Ms Wicks also dismissed Labor’s condemnation of the development as a smokescreen for their own anti-jobs, anti-infrastructure agenda.

“You would expect Labor to back a better future for Gosford, but instead Labor would prefer to drive a cacophony of false claims about how 600 jobs will supposedly prevent any hope of seeing a Performing Arts Centre also built in Gosford.

“It is a crying shame. “As I fought for 600 jobs in Gosford, I will also fi ght for a Performing Arts Centre for Gosford. “A Centre that the NSW Government and Gosford City Council announced plans for, four years ago, on Crown Land, adjacent, not on, the old school site,” Ms Wicks said.

Ms Wicks also announced a series of roundtables to continue engaging with the community on the future for Gosford and the Central Coast.

Media release,
Oct 14, 2015
Tim Sowden, Office of
Lucy Wicks