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Collapse Issue 397 - 11 Jul 2016Issue 397 - 11 Jul 2016
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Council milks Peninsula
Peninsula rates hike expected
Wicks retains Robertson
Landcare group calls for open space strategy
Public meetings into council land sell-off start
Council land sell-off meetings well attended
Charlton concedes defeat
Village hosts Pozieres remembrance service
Chamber 'disappointed' with Peninsula allocation
Former councillors appointed to advisory committee
Chamber congratulates Lucy Wicks
Construction certificate issued for flats
Approval given for three flats
Club Umina plans children's play area and memorial
Umina kiosk wins business awards
Business awards presented
Arrested on weapon and drug charges
Rotary club thankful for donation of quilt
Local Government Minister speaks at Chamber dinner
Advice to small business
Half July average rainfall in first week
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Pernicious pork-barrelling auction
Outstanding generosity and thoughtfulness
The community needs Brisbane Ave reserve
Put nautical speed signs in flood areas
Sacking seems to be punishment
Never been seen as impartial
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Edna turns 100
Blue Wave Living acquires Boronia Court
Second course on being a father
Day for advice about utility bills
Home care service wins business award
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Young artists need nurturing, says John Bell
Annual exhibition in refurbished hall
One-day coloured pencil workshop
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Students prepare for recorder festival
Students move on to State carnival
Zoo worker visits Empire Bay
Girls perform dances
Awards at Easter Show
Staff development day
Students involved in Walk festival
Election day barbecue
Croydon rehearsal
Dried food for Mary Mac's Place
Progression in Aussie Rules
Touch football clinics
Firefighters visit kindergarten
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Floorball Open held at Leisure Centre
Woy Woy swimmers bring home medals
Trio prepares for State bowls titles
Triples champs
Board riders hold annual weekend away
Woy Woy fumbles against Kariong

Council milks the Peninsula

The Peninsula will receive less than five per cent of the new Central Coast Council budget for capital expenditure, despite representing 15 per cent of the council's population.

The budget includes a total of $7.79 million in capital projects for the Peninsula, but only $3.61 million - less than half - comes from council rates and charges and other income.

The majority comes from government grants.

Outside the Peninsula, the council contributes more than $3.35 for every dollar of grant money spent on capital projects.

The council contribution to Peninsula projects represents less than one per cent of its consolidated income of $556 million.

At the same time, the council expects Peninsula ratepayers will be paying more in rates, with many paying an increase greater than inflation (see separate report).

The council budget does not show anticipated income from the Peninsula,.

However, if the Peninsula pays rates, charges and other council income at the average per capita rate for the council area, it would be contributing $90 million to council coffers.

The 2016-17 budget and operational plan were adopted at an extraordinary general meeting of the council held at Wyong council chambers on June 29.

The plan and budget will deliver $540 million in services and $183 million in infrastructure - a total expenditure of $724 million across the Central Coast.

Total income, however, is expected to be only $598 million, with $556 million in council income from rates and charges and the like, and $42 million from grants.

Budgeted spending has been focused on roads and drainage, water and sewerage, waste management, waterways and playgrounds and sporting fields, according to the council's administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds.

The budget included funds for road and drainage upgrades at Horsfield Bay and Umina and the upgrade of Umina's McEvoy Oval.

The budget and operational plan priorities for the Peninsula were set by the former Gosford Council.

Reviews will be undertaken during the next 12 months to bring the plan "into greater alignment to represent the Central Coast Council".

"This may result in a change to actions, projects and programs," the operational plan said.

It is unknown whether those reviews and changes would result in more or less infrastructure funding for the Peninsula.

The progressive construction of Murray St, Booker Bay, is the largest capital works item in the operational plan for the Peninsula.

The work, from Eastern Rd to Flathead Rd, will cost the council $939,379 in 2016-17.

A total of $543,707 will be spent on the ongoing Cockle Bay sewerage project.

Wharf safety improvement works will be undertaken at Ferry Rd Wharf in Ettalong including the replacement of deck, pylons and fenders for $438,549.

The council will improve sporting field drainage at Rogers Park ground 2 and 3 in Woy Woy which will cost $400,000.

Another capital works project earmarked for the Peninsula will be the final capping of the Woy Woy tip external cells with clay or geo-textile to meet Environment Protection Authority requirements at a cost of $350,000.

Works will also be undertaken on Mt Ettalong Rd from Sylvania Rd towards Berrina Crescent for a total of $420,853, of which $229,853 will come from council coffers.

The McEvoy Oval upgrade is another large Peninsula capital works project.

It will include the replacement of the amenities building, improvements to the car park and sporting field surface.

The total cost will be $756,000 with $220,000 from council funding and $536,000 from the federal government.

The $1 million progressive reconstruction of Umina's Lone Pine Ave will be advanced with $180,000 of council funds spent on the project between Haynes Ave and Ocean Beach Rd.

Another $180,000 will be spent on improvements to Springwood St, Umina, between Albion St and Lagoon St.

The progressive reconstruction of the intersection at Woy Woy Rd and Banyo Close Horsfield Bay will continue.

The total project cost is $810,000 with $675,000 from Roads to Recovery government funding and council budgeting $135,000.

In other measures for the Peninsula, the operational plan undertakes to identify an alternative management and operations plan for the Peninsula Theatre to increase future usage and community engagement.

The performance measure is that the Peninsula Theatre will have improved business operations and increased usage by June 2017.

A disability inclusion action plan is also to be developed by the end of 2016-17 along with a Positive Aging Plan and an Aboriginal Development and Reconciliation Plan implemented to facilitate the former Gosford Council's Aboriginal Employment Strategy.

The council also expects to achieve 85 per cent direct expense recovery from the Peninsula Leisure Centre while providing low-cost services and programs to the community.

It also aims for 75 per cent of leisure centre users to be satisfied in the level of service and quality of facilities.

The Patonga Caravan and Camping area is to be managed and maintained to meet the NSW Crown Lands requirement of a 30 per cent net profit by June 30 each year.

The Brisbane Water Floodplain Risk Management Plan Action Plan should be completed by December 1, according to the operational plan.

The current first phase of the Central Coast Council is the "merger period" which will end when councillors are elected in September 2017, the operational plan said.

During the merger period the administrator, Mr Reynolds, and chief executive officer, Mr Rob Noble, are expected to ensure that the council is able to maintain seamless service delivery to the community.

They are also expected to embrace opportunities to improve services and infrastructure while bringing together and building on the strengths of staff, systems, strategies and structures.

The community, staff and other partners are supposed to be engaged in planning and implementing change during the merger period through information and involvement.

The plan aims to ensure "ethical, open and accountable governance and administration.





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