After visiting the Central Coast Council display in Kibble Park and talking to employees several things were quite clear.
There are two sides in Council and they do not agree on where the future direction should be: those led by the CEO and the Administrator; and some staff who believe in a slower better planned approach.
The CEO is on a mission and he knows that his time is limited (before) new councillors are sworn in.
(There is a) belief that the previous Council failed because it had too many buildings and could not afford to maintain them.
As a result, the CEO is determined to sell off as much as he can in the shortest time span.
This will also include demolishing the old library in Kibble Park, despite it being almost heritage listed and the community (being) in great need of extra space.
He is also committed to selling 73-75 Mann St despite acknowledging that they will not be needed by TAFE.
It is believed TAFE under the new government will expand by moving its trade departments to Ourimbah or Newcastle and thus will only need the old Council building.
The waterfront project can only go ahead if the problem with Dane Dr is resolved.
This is, of course, always has been the reason why the waterfront has stayed as it is.
How this road problem is overcome is of paramount importance and any expenditure on the waterfront has to be put on hold until a suitable solution is found.
Whatever the solution it is going to cost many millions of dollars and can only be undertaken by the State Government.
The reclassifying of 73-75 Mann St to operational is now totally dependent on the new State Planning Minister.
Parking is not a problem that needs fixing because by the time all the changes have been put into place people will be using self-drive cars; this last idea is the most puzzling of all.
It appears that the new library will go ahead and will in all honesty be a great addition to Gosford.
Unless there is a change of heart and a community response the old library will be demolished.
All else is really dependent on the new State Government.
Email, Mar 31
Geoff Mitchell, Kariong