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…
Forum
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…
How did we let it get to this?
Forum – Australia announced its first COVID case on January 25, 2020. The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020….
High-quality, ‘no-dickheads’ footy – well done boys
Forum – While walking past the Umina Oval around 5.00 pm last week, my attention was caught by a group of perhaps 20 lads. They were energetically playing what appeared…
Deep trauma on victims and pets that survive dog attacks
Forum – The recent news story of a woman was killed in Queensland by a dog attack brought tears to my eyes. The horror that poor soul suffered in her…
Objectors need to stick to the facts
Forum – With respect to the application for a boarding house at Toukley (“Proposed Toukley boarding house open for public comment again”, Chronicle p26 June 16)), I think that some…
Practical evidence of transparency is needed
Forum – It is good that residents are apparently beginning to take a closer interest in Central Coast Council’s activities than has been the case in the past (“Council receiving…
Essential community landholding should not be sold off
Forum – While I don’t under-estimate the dire financial position that Central Coast Council is in, I strongly object to essential community landholding being sold off. The assertion that the…
We are living under a dictatorship
Forum – Central Coast Council and its long suffering ratepayers are being rapped over the knuckles and ground into the dirt for our half a billion dollar debt, Councillors sacked…