Forum –
An open letter to Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch.
I write on two matters.
Firstly, the need for border checkpoints at the Hawkesbury River – M1, Old Pacific Hwy, Wisemans Ferry and Hawkesbury River Station.
If there had been a border checkpoint then it is doubtful COVID-19 would have leaked into the Hunter Region, Tamworth, Armidale, Guyra and the Byron, Lismore and Richmond River Regions.
It is a “closing the stable door after the horse has bolted” scenario, but as there are so many ignoring the lockdown restrictions south of the Hawkesbury River, we need to be protected north of the river and into the regions to the north of us.
Secondly, why are we part of Greater Sydney?
We are supposed to be a legislated Central Coast Region, but it is unclear where it starts and ends.
The media include Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in the Central Coast almost daily.
In some aspects we are included in Sydney and in others the Hunter.
Even (with) the weather – Hunter applies to us.
Where do we actually belong?
Your government seems to put us where they know it suits them so often.
The most recent example is the Central Coast Pfizer doses being redirected to the Sydney outbreak; they were supposed to be diverted from regional areas, yet we are “part of Greater Sydney”.
The government needs to make up its mind.
No wonder everyone is totally confused.
The Central Coast needs clear explanations on what/where it is.
It also needs to see its citizens protected from this virus pandemic.
None of this seems to be happening.
If we had a petition requesting a checkpoint to be set up to stop those ignoring lockdown Public Health Orders in the Sydney hotspots, I am sure we would have 20,000 signatures for presentation to Parliament in a short time.
You standing up for the Central Coast would be appreciated especially as we are currently dealing with substantial local government rate increases with water and sewerage increases to follow.
Looking forward to your response.
Email, Aug 11
Neil Keele, Terrigal
I totally agree with your comments. Just the other day the Belmont vaccination clinic was reported as the central coast by the news programmes .If we had a checkpoint at the Hawkesbury river bridge I agree that we wouldn’t be in this position. As much as I hate to agree with Daniel Andrew’s the ring of steel works and our premier failed in this respect trying to be everybody’s friend . Sometimes you can try to be too nice and look where it’s got us .
I am I had my phizer taken from twice I epilepsy and a disability I should have been done months ago not HSC kids close the express way and open us up
Close the m1 so we can open up and go back to work
I am 85 and on my own I want go back the shops & restaurant
Central coast are treated like shit by nsw & federal liberals what a disgrace.
Hi this letter was exactly what I’ve been saying these last few months WHY were those road leading to the coast not have check points. Yes we are in a place where we don’t seem to belong, when Wyong and Gosford councils where seperate roads parks were better looked after and as Wyong rate were much less then they joined and what happens we are now in debt course by Gosford. This happened I feel the same with hospitals when they joined with Sydney they were in a bad state bringing our hospital in debt alse. The politision are supposed to be clever I think they are in for themselves only and the money they get now and forever after even if only a few years in office.
Yes agree with Neil of Terrigal
Who is Adam Crouch looking after Sydney or the Central Coast?
Certainly not the Central Coast, which by the way is not part of Sydney or the Hunter .
Mr Crouch does a dummy spit because his rates went up 40% however did he complain about Gosford and Wyong councils not being fit for the future typical only there to line his own ego
Yes we agree with all that Neale has said. Too many people moving around from who knows where.
Seems sensible to create a hard border some where. River is a place to start . Still people going from north CC to Sydney. And back daily??
The new neighbours come up from Sydney every weekend,when ask how they are allowed to do so their (2) response is Exemptions.
Let’s get serious folks one rule for all.
Even before putting in a check point we should be asking how essential it is for someone to commute into or out of hotspots?…
Next if the vaccine doesn’t stop you getting infected that shouldn’t exempt someone from leaving these red zones… infected are still infectious vaccine or not.
If there was no commuting or a checkpoint then workers would need to be sourced locally allowing businesses a semblance of normality and local economies to survive. Are we on a ship helmed by monkies?
Parliamentary Secretary Crouch sprooks for the State government not the Central Coast! He makes a lot of noise without taking a breath and takes out full page adds beating his chest about popularist topics ‘Public Enquiries’ which will be less than that. Lambasting CC Councillors who fell into a State government trap. The bait was the $10 million for amalgamation and the mantra Big savings! Well that did not happen and the cost was $60 million plus. No State and Federal politicians stand for politics not the people! You will not get any help in that direction.
So DJ I’m not allowed to live on the CC and commute to my job of 20 years at a major Sydney hospital.I agree whole heartedly with what you say that movement should be restricted but some of us have to travel for work,but I unlike many others come home from work and don’t leave my house over the weekend and have all groceries delivered as I feel that it is responsible as a health worker not to jeopardise the community that I love living in.