One-man audit of councillor expenses
Despite the fact that Central Coast council has had no elected councillors since October 2020, an audit of councillor expenses was conducted in August-September last year. Councillors were sacked by…
administrator
Rates hike application ‘misrepresents community sentiment’
Once again, Administrator Rik Hart ignores community sentiment in applying to IPART for a further rate hike (“Council forges ahead with request to extend 13% rate hike” CCN3280. At least…
Volunteers angered by Council request for letters of support
Volunteer replies “in anger and in haste” Bushcare volunteers on the Central Coast, who were the first to be targeted when Council cut costs in late 2020, have now received…
Restricted fund crisis fixed
It was a moment to celebrate, said Administrator Rik Hart. He was talking about the Investment Report for November 2021 which showed that Central Coast Council had enough money in…
Low rate peg throws out Council’s numbers
Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart has joined the chorus of councils criticising the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s rate pegging. IPART has infuriated Councils across NSW with its latest,…
Audit office delays may impact Council’s IPART requests
Administrator Rik Hart has criticised “external agencies” that were making life tough for Central Coast Council. He has reluctantly agreed to a “request” from the NSW Audit Office that Council…
Coast will need to retain 15 Councillors says Scott
The NSW Government and its Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, have no justification for wanting to reduce the number of elected representatives on Central Coast Council, according to the…
Slur on community ‘not acceptable’
Forum – Ahh! Poor Mr Hart, get out the tissues folks. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or get angry with Council Administrator, Rik Hart’s, tirade at the Press…
Administrator rescinds Councillors’ 2019 airport resolution
Central Coast Council will carry out maintenance work on the southern end of Warnervale Airport, as the result of a rescission motion adopted by Administrator, Rik Hart, on November 23….
Hart asks for feedback on rates and service levels
Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart is stepping up his campaign to have the 13 per cent Special Rates Variation (SRV) granted by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)…
Finding fault with technocrats
Forum – Administrator Rick Hart’s suggestion that some Councillors should be appointed by bureaucrats rather than elected is closer to the system imposed on Hong Kong by China than the…
Variety of groups given support grants
Council has approved the allocation of $58,371 for the July round of the Community Support Grant Program. The program remains open through the year (or until funds are expended) and…
Complete ‘cluster mess’ and ‘economic wankery’
Former Central Coast Council Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, called an article critical of his work at Central Coast Council “academic wankery” during his evidence at the Public Inquiry on October…
Hope Administrator will learn from past mistakes
Forum – I refer to the letter from Bruce Hyland (Chronicle Forum, Oct 6) regarding the Council and current Administrator. This was such a well-written article that everyone should read….
Asset sales net $55M but details stay secret
Central Coast Council has so far amassed $55M in its asset sales program, but residents won’t be privy to just what has been sold and for how much until July…
Two administrators criticise State Government
The period of 16 months was not long enough to bed down the amalgamation of the former Wyong and Gosford Councils, said Central Coast Council’s first Administrator Ian Reynolds in…
Internally restricted funds still keeping Council afloat
On the eve of the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart has acknowledged internally restricted funds still need to be used to keep the Council afloat. Hart…
Framework needed to stop developer favours
Forum – Mr Hart’s concern about the draft Bill on developer contributions (“Hart backs backlash over daft developer funding Bill”, Chronicle p24 Aug 25) seems to be very narrowly focussed…
Zombie myths from Administrator
Forum – Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart continues to defend Gosford’s 42 per cent rate hike with zombie myths – i.e., myths that refuse to die despite the evidence…
Government should pay for council failure
Forum – In his haste to get the government’s mandate (for a rate rise), the Administrator is now telling us a different story. The 13 per cent increase is now…