Whither the benefits of amalgamation?
I’m hoping to understand what I was told by many including the State Government that amalgamations were to reduce the waste of money and services. Why are prices going up?…
Amalgamation
COVID-19 and amalgamation drive Council deeper into deficit
Central Coast Council will increase fees and charges, shelve capital works projects and borrow up to $50M as it tries to navigate the impact of COVID-19 and high amalgamation costs….
Council amalgamation has cost $49M to date
It has cost Central Coast Council almost $39M more to amalgamate on top of the $10M it got from the NSW Government’s implementation fund. The costs were an estimation given…
Charges across the LGA need to be equitable
[Forum] When Wyong and Gosford Councils amalgamated, I wrote to each councillor to voice my concern over the possible inequality of charges levied against the two former LGA areas, as…
Club Wyong RSL confirms amalgamation discussions
Club Wyong RSL has confirmed that it is currently in discussions with Mounties Group regarding a potential amalgamation, as reported in Coast Community Chronicle on July 1. Amalgamation discussions followed…
Council’s deficit to increase to $41.6M
Central Coast Council expects to be in deficit by the end of the financial year by $41.6M, with lost revenues and ongoing costs and impacts due to non-COVID events growing…
Councillors should roll up their sleeves and make it work
[Forum] Upon learning we could be considering deamalgamating, I just shook my head. We have been through the amalgamation process. It has not been through the first term of a…
Amalgamation report adopted without debate
Central Coast Council has adopted a report on the amalgamation process on November 25 without debate. The report noted that most residents surveyed in both the former Wyong and Gosford…
Merged Central Coast Council is here to stay despite calls for a plebiscite
The amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong Councils will stay in place, according to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald. Ms MacDonald was responding to calls from…
CBD Car parking about to be lost
I refer to the article, ‘Kibbleplex sold but community not trusted with any details’ (CCN Jan 28). Your continuing illuminating reporting of this imminent sale confirms council has absolutely no…
Forced amalgamation based on flawed methodology – Academic
NSW councils were being forced into amalgamations that are unlikely to benefit local communities on the basis of flawed methodology, a leading academic has found. Dr Joseph Drew, from the…
What if we don’t amalgamate voluntarily?
At an extraordinary meeting of Gosford Council called to consider council amalgamation , councillors discussed the process of removing Gosford Council if it did decide to stand alone. Held on…
Council has until November 18 to respond re amalgamation
Gosford Council has decided to continue investigating options for structural change, and has commenced due diligence to ensure a fully informed decision can be made to secure a sustainable future…