And here’s the latest news from Central Coast Newspapers:

Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, has recommended that the PEP 11 permit for off shore gas exploration not be renewed.

The permit expired on February 12.

It is now up to Federal Resources Minister, Keith Pitt, to make the final decision after receiving Barilaro’s recommendation and considering “all relevant information”, including advice from the National Offshore Titles Administrator (NOPTA).

Central Coast Federal MPs Lucy Wicks and Emma McBride have both expressed support for non renewal of the permit.

A rock fisherman was rescued from rough seas at Avoca Beach on Wednesday.

Emergency services were called to the beach at about 8.10am following reports that a fisherman had been swept off rocks on the southern side of the beach.

The 50-year-old man, who was wearing a lifejacket at the time, was rescued by local lifeguards using a jet ski.

He was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Gosford Hospital for further assessment.

After 12 months in limbo due to COVID19, Riding for the Disabled is planning to be back in action at Somersby from March 1 and is kicking off its return with a training and volunteer day on February 27.

Coach, Jenny Cameron, who is a past president of the organisation and also a regional rep for the area, said COVID had not only seen lessons abandoned, but had presented logistical problems for the group, which is in need of more volunteers, especially for Saturdays.

Terrigal Matcham Cricket Club has received an $8,000 grant from The New South Wales International Cricket Council T20 World Cup Cricket Legacy Fund for equipment upgrades and to increase opportunities for women and girl’s cricket.

Terrigal Matcham Cricket President, Andrew McFadden, said women’s cricket was going from strength to strength, and the money would be used to help provide gear for the growing numbers of players without an appropriate kit.

Crown Lands has announced that an assessment will be conducted at the Empire Bay Marina to examine the site’s contamination levels and help inform future actions.

The future of the 100 year old marina has been under a cloud for months, with a community group fighting its possible demolition.

The marina licence was revoked in September due to ongoing safety and environmental concerns, and a failure by the licence holder to rectify issues despite repeated requests, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch said.

Avoca Beach Picture Theatre owners Beth and Norman Hunter have joined a week of action by Independent Cinemas Australia urging the Federal Government to extend the JobKeeper supplement beyond its cut-off date at the end of March.

Senator Devorah O’Neill has seconded the call, saying that many Coast businesses will be forced to close if the supplement is not retained.

For more on these stories and lots of other local news, pick up a copy of your free Central Coast Newspaper from one of hundreds of outlets around the Coast or read us online at coastcommunitynews.com.au.

I’m Charlea Tonnet for Central Coast Newspapers.

And here’s the latest news from Central Coast Newspapers:

A man has now been charged following a police pursuit on the Central Coast on Thursday morning that’s left a police officer with a fractured wrist and facial injuries.

Police will allege in court that at about 11am, police officers attempted to pull over a black Mercedes on the Pacific Highway at Murrays Beach.

The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued down the M1.

At Kariong, the Mercedes crashed into two police cars and the driver was taken to Gosford police station.

Central Coast mogul skier, Matt Graham, has found himself ranked number one on the International Ski Federation’s World Cup standings after back-to-back podium placements in events held in Deer Valley, USA.

On February 5, Graham earned his second medal of the season with a third place finish in the Men’s Moguls with a super final jump that was the highest degree of difficulty of his World Cup career.

On the next day, Graham competed in the Men’s Dual Moguls, going in at fourth in the overall standings, with fellow Aussie, Brodie Summers, behind him in fifth.

Graham outdid his previous day’s performance in the snowy conditions, placing second behind Mikael Kingsbury, with Summers finishing eighth for the second day in a row.

On the overall score tally, Graham has now moved into first place, the first time an Australian has taken this position since the world renowned, Dale Begg-Smith in 2010.

A desalination plant could be back on the agenda for the region, but the former preferred site of beneath the Budgewoi dunes is off the table.

Central Coast Council is inviting residents to provide feedback on proposed modifications to existing planning approvals for the possible construction of a drought response desalination plant.

Administrator, Dick Persson, said the project was one of two measures critical to securing the Coast’s water supply for the future.

The existing planning approval for the intake structure would be modified from being located under the sand dunes at Budgewoi Beach, to a direct ocean intake structure off the coast between Jenny Dixon Beach, Noraville, and Pelican Point Beach, Magenta.

Council is trialling new technology using video footage and machine learning to deliver an automated assessment of road conditions.

The system is designed to be easily mounted to Council vehicles used by inspectors and rangers who are already driving across the road network on a regular basis.

The Director of Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff, says this new system could provide a safer and more cost-effective means for monitoring and assessing the 2,200km of Central Coast roads.

A community service organisation promoting inclusion, fairness and social justice is a launching a new program in primary schools to challenge stereotypes about disability.

It’s a free program called Different on the Outside, Same on the Inside, and is aimed at primary school aged children.

For more on these stories and lots of other local news, pick up a copy of your free Central Coast Newspaper from one of hundreds of outlets around the Coast or read us online at coastcommunitynews.com.au

I’m Charlea Tonnet for Central Coast Newspapers.

And here’s the latest news from Central Coast Newspapers:

An investigation is underway after a man was found suffering a gunshot wound at a home at Killarney Vale on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to the house on Main St shortly after 4.15am and found a man with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

The 29-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken by helicopter to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment.

Crime scenes were established at the Main St house, as well as a second home on Chapel St, in Hamilton St and outside a supermarket on Wyong Rd, all at Killarney Vale.

An 81-year-old man was rescued by The Westpac Rescue Helicopter following a fall on rocks at Avoca Beach on February 7.

The helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance at 4.05pm.

Local emergency service personnel responded to the incident including NSW Police, Surf Life Saving and NSW Ambulance.

Paramedics made their way on foot to the patient and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team was winch inserted into the location.

He had suffered possible fractures and pelvic injuries after falling onto rocks.

Once stabilised, he was placed in a winch stretcher, winched back into the helicopter and airlifted direct to Gosford Hospital in a stable condition.

Johnathan Hall from Umina Beach and Tarah Bryers from Terrigal have been named junior lifesavers of the year in Surf Life Saving Central Coast’s competition.

Nominees underwent a four-part interview which involved a theory test, signals, CPR scenario and an interview conducted by independent assessors.

After 12 months of cancelled events and uncertainty due to COVID-19, the Woy Woy Peninsula Lions Club Car Boot Sale is returning on Sunday, February 28.

Provided there are no new restrictions between now and then, the popular Lions event will be in the Dunban Rd Car Park on the corner of Ocean Beach Rd from 7am-1pm.

Land values in the Central Coast and Hunter regions rose by almost 2 per cent in the 2019/20 financial year.

NSW Valuer General, Dr David Parker, said property sales are the most important factor that valuers consider when determining land values.

The rise in residential land values was partly due to increased demand from metropolitan Sydney purchasers moving toward nearby regional areas, the Valuer General said.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to reports of a serious mountain bike accident at Mogo Creek west of Kulnura in the Yengo National Park on Sunday.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team treated and stabilised the 53-year-old female rider after she came off her bike and suffered possible pelvic injuries.

She was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

For more on these stories and lots of other local news, pick up a copy of your free Central Coast Newspaper from one of hundreds of outlets around the Coast or read us online at coastcommunitynews.com.au.

I’m Charlea Tonnet for Central Coast Newspapers.

And here’s the latest news from Central Coat Newspapers:

For more on these stories and lots of other local news, pick up a copy of your free Central Coast Newspaper from one of hundreds of outlets around the Coast or read us online at coastcommunitynews.com.au.

Korea Resources Corporation is planning to sell its 82.25 percent stake in the Wallarah 2 coal mine, as part of efforts to cut its debt.

The government owned corporation has called for bids in order to comply with South Korean government instructions to offload all its overseas assets as soon as possible.

The NSW Government has granted over $270,000 for improvements to Crown Land reserves and community facilities across the Central Coast.

The main beneficiary will be Norah Head Lighthouse with $94,500 and other groups to receive funding are Tuggerah Nature Reserve, a rabbit control program along Wyong River, Yarramalong School Community Centre, Mangrove Mountain Flora Reserve, Kariong Scouts Camp and Patonga Public Hall.

Berkley Vale based hydrogen company, Star Scientific, has signed a game changing Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines government to help transition the country to green hydrogen as a fuel source.

This agreement is a first its kind for an Australian business and the largest single boost to Australia’s role in developing the global hydrogen economy.

A significant part of the agreement is that they will look into retro-fitting the Philippines’ existing coal fired power plants to run on Star Scientific’s Hydrogen Energy Release Optimer technology, called HERO which has no harmful emissions.

Federal Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy, has been appointed Labor’s Shadow Minister Assisting for Government Accountability.

He will be working alongside Kristina Keneally, who is Labor’s new Shadow Minister for Government Accountability, to hold the Morrison Government to account for their use of taxpayers’ money.

This new role will be in addition to his existing other three portfolio responsibilities in international development and the Pacific, Climate Change and Defence.

Newly appointed Chair of Regional Development Australia Central Coast, Lawrie McKinna, says his first priority in this new role is to get all levels of government working together to help create more jobs.

He said he was bewildered that more than 44,000 residents were still commuting to Sydney and Newcastle for work.

McKinna said the Regional Development organisation had been having this conversation for more than a decade with local businesses, developers and investors to help create job opportunities on the Central Coast, however it has been a constant struggle to gain the support required from all levels of government to approve and kick-start projects to enable job opportunities.

A motorcyclist has died following a crash at Wyong Creek.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Yarramalong Rd and Chandlers Lne around 11am on Thursday, following reports a motorcycle travelling east and a Jeep Grand Cherokee travelling west collided.

The male rider was ejected from the bike and died at the scene.

The female driver of the Jeep was uninjured and taken to Wyong Hospital for mandatory testing.

I’m Charlea Tonnet for Central Coast Newspapers.

BEACHES

But let’s start with the beaches which saw a record number of people over the Australia Day long weekend. More than 200,000 people flocked to the water over Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday with volunteers and authorities copping the brunt of the crowds. Over the three days there were 168 rescues, a prank drowning at Terrigal, parking havoc, and jet ski chaos at Ettalong. Director of Surf Life Saving Central Coast, Simon Cusack, said it was one of the busiest Australia Days he has seen in a while. 

GREG BEST

And one of our suspended Councillors Greg Best opened up this week, in a long and interesting interview Mr Best said the public deserves an apology for the financial crisis. CCN conducted a full interview with Mr Best, that is available online and on our socials. Here’s a little of what he had to say.

GREG BEST

And one of our suspended Councillors Greg Best opened up this week, in a long and interesting interview Mr Best said the public deserves an apology for the financial crisis. CCN conducted a full interview with Mr Best, that is available online and on our socials. Here’s a little of what he had to say.

SOCIAL HOUSING
Concrete pouring began on 41 new social housing apartments at Beane Street in Gosford this week and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, was there to tell us more.

SPORT
Tuggerah Regional Sporting Complex hosted the Central Coast Cricket Twenty-20 Grand Finals in the Under 21’s Glenn Rowlands Shield and the Everything Sports First Grade Championship on Tuesday, January 26. In both instances, the Shield went to the Northern Central Coast side: to The Entrance in the Under 21’s, and then Warnervale in the 1st Grade.

In the Glenn Rowland Shield, Southern Spirit found few opportunities to outmanoeuvre a steady performance by The Entrance with the bat. An early 36 run partnership between Callum Dunkerley and Broc Hardy lasted for five overs before Dunkerley was caught by Lachlan Bull off of Lachlan Cork’s bowl, just as this marquee decided to go for a little tumble on the field. Southern Spirit showed early promise with the bat at the hands of Lachlan Bayliss and Cork with a 35 run partnership, but it ended with Bayliss being caught in spectacular fashion by Dylan Bennet off Regan Stone’s bowl. With a six needed to draw the scores on the very last ball, Toby Pymble was caught by Hardy off Bennet’s ball, winning the game for the Mighty Gullies.

In the First Grade final, Warnervale first set an unbeaten score of 4/147. The big hitters of the game were Simon Keen with an early 6 and 28 total runs, and Jay Lenton Medal winner Chris Sheppeard with 58 runs, not out. Terrigal showed early promise through opening batsman Joshua Toohey with 37 runs off 41 balls. However, the Bellbirds were altogether unable to respond effectively, losing their final wicket at 116 in the 19th over. Thanks go to the Central Coast Cricket for providing this footage.

In Bowls, Ettalong Bowling Club’s Bailey Meti has taken out the Grand Slam of the Central Coast Junior Championships, winning in the Fours, Pairs and Singles.

Along with fellow Ettalong Club member Brendan Stokes, the two defeated Munmorah Bowling Club’s Olivia Crane and Canton Beach Bowling Club’s Reegan Peterson.

The next day, the two teamed up with Billy Waite and Blayne Cook of Mingara Bowling Club to win the Fours.

Two days later, Bailey faced his Fours team mate Blayne Cook in the singles, and won with an end score of 21-6.

Now soon to turn 18 and leave the Juniors division, Bailey can reflect on his many accolades with Ettalong Bowling: including four Singles, four Pairs and four Fours Championships, Bowler of the Year three times, in 2013, 2019 and 2020, and two Grand Slams, in 2016 and now 2021.

And finally, The Central Coast Mariners prepare for two Week 6 A-League matches, first against Wellington Phoenix this Sunday, then Melbourne City on Wednesday, February 3rd, both to be played at Central Coast Stadium. 

The boys in yellow have so far maintained their fragile sitting on the top of the table after last weekend’s 2-0 win against Sydney FC, but the travelling Melbourne side will fancy their chances at snatching the top spot as they are only 3-points shy of the lead, with a game in hand on the top four teams.

News of these games will reach our website soon after the full 90 minutes are played.

WEATHER

Thanks Haak, Saturday will be a max of 29 and partly cloudy with a medium (40%) chance of showers and a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h before dawn then turning northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening

Sunday will be another partly cloudy day with a max of 27 and a medium (50%) chance of showers. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h shifting south to southeasterly during the morning.

ETTALONG WALL 

The Great Wall at Ettalong has attracted a huge response from the community, mostly falling on the side of the cafe owners. We reached out to Council but they haven’t gotten back to us yet, so we spoke to an independent certifier to see what she had to say…

SCHOOLS BACK

Today marks the start of the new school year for many families across the coast And after such a challenging year in 2020, regional P&C President, Sharryn Brownlee, shares her encouragement with all students on the Central Coast.

SPIDER MAN

A Woy Woy resident has made national news after discovering a new species of spider in Western Australia last month. Adam Fletcher, identified the Maratus Fletcheri spider during a three-week expedition through the southern parts of the wildflower state.

And on December 17, the new species was named after Fletcher. Courtship behaviour studies reveal that the male raises one leg to attract the female’s attention. Once the female is watching, the male raises another leg, raising and expanding the abdominal fan side-to-side.

Thanks Hayley, all of these stories are available on our website, that as of last month has 200,000 users and don’t forget to pick up a copy of this week’s Coast Community News, Coast Community Chronicle and Pelican Post. Subscribe to all of our social pipes to stay updated during the week. AND  are now available on Spotify as a news podcast. Simply search Central Coast News on Spotify to subscribe.
KANGAROOS
We leave you today with some adorable footage of the Australian Reptile park cutest kangaroo joey, Tim Tam, who took her first hops right in time for Australia today. We hope you find this footage as cute as we did, we will see you next week.

Subscribe to the Spotify podcast here.

Subscribe to the Spotify podcast here.

Read by Lucillia Eljuga

Read by Lucillia Eljuga

Presented by Jacinta Counihan, David Abrahams & Hayley McMahon. Filming and video production by Alex Herget.

Produced by Central Coast Newspapers in the Gosford Studios, January 15, 2021.

Police have reminded Central Coast residents that they must wear masks in public places after a 48-year-old man at Gosford Station was one of 19 recipients of Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) handed out over the weekend for breaches of the Public Health Act.

At about 9.15pm on January 9, officers from Police Transport Command were patrolling Gosford 
Station when they spoke to the man, who was not wearing a mask.

The man refused to put on a mask and attempted to run from police.

He was stopped a short time later and issued a move on direction and a $200 PIN.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.

Gosford City East Gosford Lions Club will soon have a renovated kitchen for its community hall, thanks to $25,000 received from the December round of 2020 Community Building Partnership funding.

Lions Club president Graeme Venn, said demolition and removal of the original stove, range hood and chimney, which dated from 1962, had already commenced.

New benchtops, storage cupboards and cabinet doors have been ordered and should be fitted near the end of January. New appliances will also be installed. 

A Berkeley Vale man is calling on Central Coast Council to correct traffic flow at the recently upgraded intersection of Lakedge Ave and Gregory St.

He says the so-called improvements have made the traffic flow “messy”; already there had been near-misses and it was only a matter of time before an accident occurred.

In proposed changes to electorate boundaries, all but six streets in Berkeley Vale will become part of the state seat of The Entrance.

The Entrance MP, David Mehan, has written to the Electoral Commission asking that these streets be added to his electorate in the redistribution.

Part of Berkeley Vale was already in The Entrance electorate and this latest boundary review moved another section from the state seat of Wyong to The Entrance – all except Platypus, Albatross, Black Swan, Echidna, Gannet and Wombat streets.

Mehan thinks it makes better sense to have the entire Berkeley Vale suburb in the same electorate.

A specialist accounting firm that works with councils appears to have shed more light on the cause of Central Coast Council’s financial woes.

LG Solutions looked at Council’s publicly available, audited financial statements in October 2020 after the Council financial position became public and said it had to “pick itself up off the floor” after what it found.

“Little did we know when we started the review that we would uncover far more than we bargained for,” an LG Solutions report said.

The litany of errors dates as far back as 2016, according to the report.

Dooralong couple, Rob and Pat Gowland, are searching for premises to establish a Central Coast Literary Institute. The Institute will safely house and showcase their thousands of books, artefacts and journals.

Accumulated over many years, the collection is presently stored in boxes and stationery cabinets where the items are safe and sound, but of not of any real practical use to anyone, Mr Gowland says.

We have everything in place to establish a literary institute and reference library, all we need now is suitable premises at a nominal rental, he said.

For more on these stories and lots of other local news, pick up a free copy of your Central Coast Newspaper from one of hundreds of outlets around the Coast or read us online at coastcommunitynews.com.au.

I’m Lucillia Eljuga for Central Coast Newspapers.

CEO of Gosford Council, Mr Paul Anderson has defended the decision to sell Kibbleplex as the right one for the future of Gosford and the community.

Mr Anderson said the discussion leading to Council’s decision to explore selling the former shopping complex in Henry Parry Dve needed to be confidential.

“Until such time as Council had agreed to do the sale, what a person was going to offer us and what we were going to accept were two different and distinct numbers and we didn’t want to give a commercial advantage to any one person,” Mr Anderson said.

“For almost two years we have been trying to work out what to do with the building and how we would finance and structurally alter that building to enable us to potentially look at a library and a university presence,” he said. “The university presence shrunk to a university hub and then we got some advice from the State Library.”

According to Mr Anderson, the State Library of NSW said access issues meant the first floor of Kibbleplex was not suitable for a regional library. “We looked at putting a library on the ground floor but a library needs a spanfree open space with lots of natural light,” Mr Anderson said.

“Paul Anderson is not interested in building a library per se but in building a community hub so that we get back to the point where communities mix together and work out that we are not that different. “To do that on the ground floor of Kibbleplex means we would have to cut a big hole in the floor of the first floor which damages the structural integrity of the building,” he said.

For the past 12 months, Council has engaged commercial agents to seek expressions of interest from parties in either leasing or buying Kibbleplex. “To be honest, we didn’t get much of a response,” Mr Anderson said. “Then this particular person or group of companies interested in doing some development in the city were having a meeting with the mayor and me about other projects.

“They talked about how they could help fund the process of developing a community hub through a voluntary planning agreement (VPA) to enable them to develop the other site we were meeting to discuss. “They came back three days later and said we want to talk to you about this building [Kibbleplex].”

According to Mr Anderson, if the interested party goes ahead and acquires Kibbleplex, the outcome for the community will be “even better” than any proposal already considered to develop a community hub and regional library. “They will do a development on another site for which they will pay a voluntary planning agreement to be used to pay for a community hub.

“They then will buy our building, which they will put a community hub into as part of redeveloping the whole site. “Council becomes a tenant, so we don’t have to worry about building maintenance or repairs for the next 50 years.

“We can then use the Federal Government’s $7 million to offset rental or potentially have a strata ownership and potentially get a library for nothing, and I would have thought that was my job.”

Mr Anderson said more money would then be available for “other needed community infrastructure like a regional performing arts centre or improving roads, footpaths and drainage across the city, or cycle ways or, you name it”.

He said Council originally acquired Kibbleplex for $11.5 million and is currently having the site revalued to determine its present market price. When asked if he expected Council to make a loss on the sale he said: “Not if I can avoid it.”

Interview, 28 July 2015
Paul Anderson,
Gosford Council
Jackie Pearson, journalist

More than 300 Gosford City Council staff from all depots, offices and services passed a motion of no confidence in CEO Mr Paul Anderson and his management team.

The United Services Union (USU) which represents local government workers, said union members held a series of meetings on Wednesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 18 at Gosford Council depots at Erina and Mangrove Mountain, along with the Gosford administration building and Woy Woy depot.

“Hundreds of employees of Gosford Council have taken part in a series of meetings, held in their own time, to discuss serious concerns regarding attempts by council management to reduce take home pay and job security,” USU organiser, Mr Luke Hutchinson said.

“The meetings, which involved a cross section of staff from all areas and services, culminated in overwhelming votes of ‘no confidence’ in Gosford Council CEO, Mr Paul Anderson and his management team.

“Also of concern has been a recent spike of industrial disputes, with management attempting to remove or reduce basic award entitlements.

“Our members sent a strong and proud collective message to the management of Gosford Council, enough is enough,” he said. “The CEO and his management team need to end their aggressive attacks on the pay and job security of the hard-working local staff that deliver services to our community.”

The USU has been disputing a number of policies and decisions by council management in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, including a proposal to cut workers’ pay by up to four per cent each year. “These outrageous cuts will ultimately lead to lower productivity and service output,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“Our union stands with the Central Coast community, which can’t afford to see productivity and service delivery drop because of ideological attacks by the council management team. “We’re urging concerned community members to contact their local councillor and voice their opposition at these cynical attacks on local workers.”

Media release,
18 June 2015 Tim Vollmer,
Mountain media

Following extensive negotiations with the developer and over 1,500 public objections, Gosford Council refused a contentious proposal to redevelop the Avoca Beach Theatre at its Tuesday, June 9 ordinary meeting.

The proposal had sought to add four cinemas to the site as well as a cafe and gallery, five residential units and basement car parking.

Gosford mayor, Cr Lawrie McKinna said despite Council’s best efforts to try and make the redevelopment workable, in the end it was refused for a number of reasons.

“The planning assessment looked very closely at all the community’s feedback and gave the applicant many chances to provide more information about any issues or amend the proposal as well,” Cr McKinna said.

“Given the proposal’s excessive size and height, there were major concerns it would see the site become overdeveloped, which would just not fit with the local area’s character.

“Plus, for us to approve this redevelopment, especially considering the amount of public opposition, would not have been in the community’s best interests.

“Although we received well over 1,500 individual letters and signatures objecting to this proposal, it’s important to acknowledge that we also received around 800 individual letters and signatures supporting it.

“But ultimately the site’s flooding risks were too significant to ignore, especially for this proposal. “With the site located in an existing floodway,   the proposed vehicle access and basement car parking for the redevelopment posed serious public safety risks if the site flooded,” he said.

In March 2015, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage advised Gosford Council that the NSW Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of NSW, had made an Interim Heritage Order over the site.

The Interim Heritage Order meant Council had limited power to determine the current application without the concurrence of the NSW Office    of Environment and Heritage.

“I would like to sincerely thank every resident for their comments and feedback on this proposal, and patience while we assessed the application,” Cr McKinna said.

“I’d also like to thank the Council staff and developer for their efforts in trying to see whether this redevelopment could be delivered in a more suitable and acceptable way.”

The owner of the Avoca Theatre, Mr Norman Hunter addressed the ordinary meeting prior to the Council’s decision to refuse the development proposal. Mr Hunter said he believed all the concerns relating to vehicular access, seating capacity and floor imprint had been addressed.

He said amended plans had been lodged but they were not the plans contained in the report to the council meeting.

“Please remember the theatre is important to the Central Coast and the challenge for us all is to find a way forward for this significant cultural facility for the Central Coast,” Mr Hunter said.

Cr Gabby Bowles said it was with a heavy heart she moved the motion for refusal and thanked both the Hunters for the work they had put in and the community for its input.

“The reasons I cannot support a further deferral are that there are other issues in the report that the current application doesn’t address,” Cr Bowles said.

She said she could not get past the bulk and scale of the development proposed considering its dominant position in the Avoca bowl.

“I do think there is a potential to find an outcome that would see this theatre grow but I think it is time that we now make a decision on what is before us,” she said.

Cr Hilary Morris said she would support the refusal because Council needed to do flood mediation work and she was concerned about the height of the proposed development and its impact on residents.

Cr Deanna Bocking said she wished to move that council meet the proponents once the interim heritage order was resolved should they wish to continue with a development on the site.

Cr Vicki Scott said the Avoca Theatre development application had be the worst she had dealt with in her 12 years as a councillor in terms of it being the most complicated.

“In dealing with DAs we have to determine by the planning legislation,’ Cr Scott said.

“It is not our concern whether the Hunters have a viable business, whether one or five screens, whether the lawn survives, so long as the DA complies,” she said.

“Also it is not our concern that the theatre is iconic or that the Hunters and the theatre may not survive refusal of the DA because all council can make its decision on is whether or not the DA complies.”

Cr Scott said she would vote against the motion to refuse the development application because: “I don’t feel that I have enough understanding or enough information, believe it or not, to decide whether I want to vote with the refusal.”

“I do hope that is not an end to this theatre or to the Hunter’s vision for the theatre and the role it can play in the future,” Cr Bowles concluded before counsellors voted to refuse the development application.

“Hopefully the Hunters will see fit that there is a way forward and will see this theatre thriving on into the future for our children and our children’s children,” she said.

Media release,
9 June 2015
Gosford Council media
Notes from General
Meeting
9 June 2015
Jackie Pearson, journalist

Nineteen local projects will share in $400,000 of funding for community infrastructure committed to rebuilding NSW and creating local jobs thanks to the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program.

Member for Gosford Mr Holstein said he was delighted the NSW Premier Mike Baird announced the roll out of these local projects as part of over 1,500 throughout NSW. “There was a strong level of interest from the community for the available funds, with almost 3,000 applications received across NSW,” said Mr Holstein.

“Local businesses and construction jobs will benefit when this community infrastructure is built. “The NSW Government is getting on with the job ensuring a stronger and better Gosford as part of our plan to rebuild NSW.

Local projects to receive funding include: $34,000 to Central Coast Alternative Care Group to renovate South Woy Woy Progress Hall; $13,000 to Sunnyfield to renovate ensuite bathrooms for disability access at McCabe House; $16,900 to Woy Woy Football Club for an all-weather area at Austin Butler Oval for volunteer protection; $27,300 to Kariong Neighbourhood Centre for an outdoor play area; $52,000 to Coast Shelter for the construction of a Gosford Community Men’s Shed; $13,600 to Umina Beach PCYC for replacement of damaged carpets and new guttering drainage in their main building; over $130,000 to Gosford Council on a dollar for dollar basis for various projects including the Hylton Moore Sportsground amenities upgrade, Kariong Child Care Centre awning replacement, Woy Woy Lions Park playground upgrade and a new kitchen for Kariong Youth Centre; $25,000 to the Pearl Beach Progress Association for the creation of the Pearl Beach Community Precinct area; and $7,300 to The Rhythm Hut for air conditioning to assist in maintaining a comfortable temperature for those community groups who utilise the facility.

“Since 2011 it’s been a privilege to support community projects that make a real difference to the Gosford and Peninsula community worth over $1 million,” said Mr Holstein. “I look forward to seeing the benefits of these local projects as they are undertaken and more importantly put into use. “Mike Baird and the NSW Government understand the importance of community infrastructure grants while we roll out a record $61.5 billion on infrastructure over four years on projects such as the West Gosford intersection, the redevelopment of Gosford Hospital and the Woy Woy Rd upgrade. “The NSW Liberals and Nationals also have a clear plan to unlock an additional $20 billion for infrastructure if re-elected in March 2015 for schools, hospitals, public transport, sports and culture, roads and regional water that will rebuild NSW,” Mr Holstein said.

Media release,

17 Dec 2014

Chris Holstein MP