A Central Coast Council efficiency target of one per cent per year would liberate $30M in annual savings by 2031, the same amount that is raised by the temporary rate hike, says Kevin Brooks, a council candidate in Gosford West ward.
Brooks wants a change to improve Council’s performance and to see ratepayers’ money better aligned with the community’s priorities.
He said he unapologetically focused on these reforms because a council that couldn’t do its day job properly would never deliver bigger transformational projects.
Brooks was speaking at the Meet the Candidate Forum at Gosford Racecourse, organised by Gosford Erina Business Chamber (GEBC) in association with The Mangrove Mountain and Woy Woy Peninsula chambers.
Brooks addressed the wish list for candidates set out by the local branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).
The UDIA’s local election platform set out four pillars.
“The first three were housing, planning and infrastructure,” Brooks said.
“But the fourth pillar was council governance – a recognition that the other pillars depend on better leadership and management within council.
“We too want more homes to tackle unaffordability, and (to avoid) a generation of young people priced out of housing,” he said.
“We want better infrastructure, facilities, and vibrant places – all whilst protecting a natural environment that provides beautiful scenic amenity and attracts tourism.
“But to achieve grand visions and deliver economic, social and environmental objectives, we need first and foremost a better managed and more efficient council,” he said.
Brooks was the only candidate on the stage who has been a constant public critic of Council since administration in 2020.
His community activism came to light when he began addressing Council about its campaign to increase rates in 2021 and he has a clear focus on improvements within Council.
Other candidates talked about better value for money (Daniel Abou-Chedid), protecting the environment (Lisa Bellamy), small business needing a strong voice (David Kings), their previous experience (Belinda Neal), good outcomes for the coast (Lawrie McKinna), back to basics (Jared Wright), the need for a “can do” attitude (Rosemary De Lambert).
Brooks got the best laugh of the day when he explained that he was just 21 and still a student at the London School of Economics when first elected as a councillor in the UK.
Brooks is now retired.
“It was all very different back then. I recall knocking on doors and telling voters they needed new blood and youthful vigor,” Brooks said.
“Forty years later, I now find myself telling voters they need experience and maturity.”
Merilyn Vale
no WAY I’ll be voting for Belinda Neal or any of the affiliates. I remember too much.. and there are times where that cannot be ignored.