Central Coast Council has adjusted its Capital Works program budget to bring forward a number of shovel ready projects across the region.
An extraordinary meeting on October 31 heard that year-to-date capital works expenditure to September, 2022, came in at $28.0M – well under the $35.8M budget, due largely to delays in obtaining the DA for the Gosford Regional Library.
As a result, Council will bring forward projects totalling $9.4M, which will now be delivered this financial year.
Projects to be brought forward include: Woy Woy tennis court fence replacement; The Entrance Surf Life Saving Club concept design; Gosford pool filtration renewal; asphalt resurfacing program; road heavy patching; new Stormwater Gross Pollutant Trap Russell Drysdale St, East Gosford; Woongarrah Sports field Playspace upgrade; Hamlyn Terrace Sports Field playspace upgrade; Skyhawk Playspace upgrade; Mataram Ridge Park Playspace upgrade; and carpark upgrade design – James Browne Oval, Woy Woy.
CEO David Farmer said Council plans capital works to upgrade roads, water and sewer and other community infrastructure every year.
“While there is a timetable of project delivery, because of Council’s financial rigour on capital works planning, Council is able to be more agile to adjust the delivery of projects when the opportunity arises,” he said.
Administrator Rik Hart said Council currently has 96 active projects being delivered through the Capital Works Program.
“Council is committed to delivering improvements the community wants to see, and I am delighted the projects that have been bought forward are achieving that,” he said.
“The community can view any movement in the budget through our Monthly Finance Reports which are available on Council’s website.
“This ensures transparency of Council’s financial management and keeps us accountable.”
The community can keep up-to-date on all capital works project, by viewing the capital works infrastructure map on Council’s website.
“While the map shows the main capital works projects, hundreds more smaller jobs and routine maintenance tasks continue to be delivered every day by Council staff,” Farmer said.
To view the interactive map go to the ‘Capital Works Program Map’ page at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Meanwhile, Farmer noted that the Gosford Regional Library’s Development Application has now been approved, with the project phased to commence construction this financial year.
Meanwhile, Council’s overall financial position continues to improve, with the crisis of 2016 now officially over.
Hart told the meeting that outstanding loans are now $307M.
They have been trending downwards since September, 2020, with Council’s debt now $10M less than the combined debts of the former Gosford and Wyong councils at the time of the 2016 merger.
“It is fantastic news that we are now well and truly over the financial crisis and can now focus on efficiency and productivity gains,” Hart said.
Source:
Central Coast Council extraordinary meeting, Oct 31