I was intrigued by your compilation of the Central Coast’s important, recent-past events (Some stories never go away, CCN 500) but I was surprised by some of the highlights that were omitted from your review.
How could you mention Warnervale airport and not refer to the great Aircraft Industry Mirage that so enchanted our councillors at the time but proved to be just as illusory as you might expect.
Similarly, the Forbidden City Fiasco surely has to be matched with the Fast Ferry Fantasy that was the mainstay of so many real-estate pitches of the time.
Of course, that has now been overtaken by the Fast Train Delusion which, I’m sure, will entertain us for the coming 500 issues (at least).
Then, we have the Modern Coordinator-General Miracle that was going to solve all the development-integration problems of the Coast but seems to have left us in the same state as before.
Does the Coordinator-General still exist, gathering cobwebs in some backroom of the Planning Department, or has it been put to a merciful death, with the establishment of the Developers’ Committee that is, apparently, going to guide planning decisions on the Coast from now on.
However, it is encouraging to see that the good work is being carried on, with the establishment of the Gosford Strip Precinct project (Bold new vision for Gosford CBD, CCN 500) which is going to transform the “cultural, social and economic landscape” of Gosford (wow!) and all for a paltry $175,000 in State Government funding.
Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no small plans”, but there is, surely, a need for some congruence between resources, skills and ambitions, when embarking on such an undertaking.
I hope that CCN will keep us abreast of progress in this fine venture which will fill an obviously deeply-felt need.
Email, Aug 23
Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy
Welcome back to the letters section, Bruce. We have missed your sharp, insightful commentary.
Yes, CCN and the Coast has had more than its fair share of ‘never-ending stories’ indeed there are too many to fit into one article. We agree with your notes on the airport, theme park and fast ferry, all could be added to the list.
We also have the Mangrove Mountain tip, ash dams, pot holes and of course the sotormy journey of the Mariners to add in future reviews.
And let us not forget the long-forgotten, long-promised Arts Centre/Concert Hall for the Gosford foreshore, that was slated for the site where the ATO building now stands.
Still waiting for that one – oh, wait – it’s not a Sport…