A delivery program progress report was received by Gosford councillors at their ordinary meeting on March 8.
The report provided details of how Council has progressed across a range of actions in response to community needs outlined in the Community Strategic Plan. According to the report, Gosford Council endorsed a Framework for Growth discussion paper on November 10 that considered four growth scenarios for Gosford. Council adopted the preferred growth scenario of ‘Centres and Corridors’.
This discussion paper introduced the planning pillars of Place, Environment, Lifestyle and Infrastructure. These central pillars were developed following a review of the Community Strategic Plan as well as current planning studies and strategies.
“Supporting the NSW State Government Central Coast Regional Strategy 2006-31, Centres, Corridors and Communities will accommodate targeted population growth within existing urban-zoned areas,” the delivery program progress report said.
“Centres, Corridors and Communities will enable us to preserve the character and lifestyle of our quieter, low-density communities, protect our natural environment and revitalise centres to provide the jobs, services and facilities our community requires.”
The progress report also highlighted initiatives completed under the NSW Government’s Safer Street Program. Council received funding of $680.000 to upgrade CCTV systems in the CBD’s of Gosford, Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach and Umina Beach and to install new CCTV cameras in several locations at Kariong and in the pedestrian underpass at Kincumber.
“Work has been completed on the installation of CCTV cameras and associated equipment at the Avoca Dve, Kincumber pedestrian underpass; the Kariong Skatepark and surrounds and at the shopping centres on Arunta Ave and at the corner of Mitchell Dve and Langford Dve.
“Council teamed up with Central Coast Football and local Football Clubs, securing funding to improve the much need drainage of playing fields at Hylton Moore Ovals 1- 4, East Gosford, and James Browne Oval, Woy Woy.” The total project costs were $495,000.
The Cockle Bay Towns Sewerage Project continued to progress and will improve sewerage services for over 300 properties in Empire Bay, Bensville and Kincumber South that currently manage sewerage on-site, according to the progress report Subsidies of up to $4.7 million under the NSW Government’s Priority Sewerage Program and Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program were approved in September 2015 and the construction contractor was subsequently engaged.
Between July and December 2015 Gosford City Council completed a range of road renewal projects valued at over $6.7 million. These works resulted in improvement to drainage, road surface, car parking, and improved safety for pedestrians and motorists. Some of the works included: Wisemans Ferry Rd George Downs Dve intersection, Central Mangrove; Hastings Rd, Terrigal; Parkers Rd and Berong Rd, Kincumber; Kathleen Morreau Rd, Niagara Park; and Woy Woy Peninsula roadwork at several locations.
In response to the 2016/17 budget cycle, preparations are now underway to develop council’s fourth Year Delivery Program and Operational Plan. This will represent Council’s commitment to the community needs outlined in the Community Strategic Plan for the upcoming financial year, the final year of this Council term.