Coal killing more than COVID
Forum – In recent times several Central Coast citizens have raised issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact. It is a distressing situation, however, I can’t help feeling equally…
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Ask GPs not pollies how to get more doctors to the region
Forum – Lucy Wicks (Federal Member for Robertson) has form, when it comes to promising new jobs for the Central Coast. Does anybody remember the thousands of new jobs that…
People can’t afford to pay higher rates
Forum – Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, wants to increase our rates for at least three years at 15 per cent each year and obviously David Farmer, the new…
Hart must clarify ‘unlawful’ matters
Forum – I received my rate notice and with anticipation I opened it and saw that the proposed increase had started, however it was the glossy brochure enclosed that caught…
COVID’s silver lining – family relationship never stronger
Forum – It was week two of the COVID-19 lockdown and my family had followed all the rules and decided to go further and wear face masks at home. My…
Hyland Bites: No more, please!
Forum – We have the Department of Planning telling us how to direct city growth for the next 20 years. We have Regional Development Australia Central Coast to tell us…
The not-so-public inquiry
Forum – Why is the so called “public” inquiry into Central Coast Council being conducted largely in secret (“Nine suspended Councillors make submissions”, CCN 6 August)? The only reason given…
Planning controls fail on three counts
Forum – The ink is barely dry on our updated Development Plan, and, to mix a metaphor, the cracks are already showing (“Residents push back against Brick Wharf proposal”, “Proposed…
Democracy doesn’t equal demerger
Forum – What does the Central Coast Friends of Democracy hope to achieve by its demerger campaign (“Demerger Petition launched” advertisement, CCN 303)? It is fatuous to argue that two…
How about facing up to some real issues
Forum – Laurie Powell’s call for a new railway station at south Woy Woy is a little puzzling (“Build a new railway station to fix crowded roads”, PP 019). The…
Vaping bad, but nicotine and alcohol are just fine … mmmm
Forum – Can anyone explain to me the logic of allowing regular cigarettes to be freely sold but banning the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes (“5300 e-cigarettes seized in Central Coast…
Make mums and children our priority
Forum – We are experiencing a situation where many single parents, and especially single mums, particularly those on welfare, or with disabled children, are finding it impossible to get a…
Shelly Beach roundabout not safe for crossing
Forum – An accident will happen unless traffic slows down and drivers are made aware of the dangers for people, some with young children and in prams, who try to…
Funding should be based on merit and equity, not political self interest
Forum – Here we go again, following closely on the heels of this Government’s $100M sports rorts fiasco and the Western Sydney airport land purchase for more than 10 times…
Time to put people before economic benefits
Forum – Having a son overseas, who I have not been able to see in person for two years, I am very interested in the situation of stranded Australians. The…
Administrator accused of sophistry of the highest order
Forum – I would like to respond to the Administrator, Rik Hart’s, suggestion that the rate rise is needed beyond three years. He has accused local political leaders of choosing…
Sensors and blue ink could just solve the shopping trolley problem
Forum – I can’t believe (there will be a) meeting regarding the disposal of shopping trolleys (CCN300). First, on multiple occasions over the years I have (called) supermarkets and their…
In the real world, productivity drives higher salaries
Forum – The revelation that Central Coast Council CEO David Farmer earns more than $500,000, none of which is dependent on hitting performance or productivity targets, illustrates one of the…
Kicking the can down the road
Forum – In his 30 day report, the Central Coast Council Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, criticised the previous Council for not reducing expenditure after it received less revenue than expected…
Is anybody out there?
Forum – On June 25, I penned a letter to suspended councillor, Jane Smith, about her new group, Friends of Democracy, which was launched with the aim of giving the…