CCBR Business Review

19 C E N T R A L CO A S T CO U N C I L N E W S A media release from Central Coast Council in August says that it is currently developing the Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2022-2025, which will establish a shared vision and goals for our region’s visitor economy. The Destination Management Plan is a guiding document for our region that features a range of strategies, actions and priority projects to ensure the long-term strength, success and sustainability of the Central Coast as a unique and attractive tourism destination. We invite you to contribute to this Plan by completing this short survey aimed at identifying the opportunities and challeng- es we face as a region in today’s unprec- edented tourism landscape Survey closes Friday 10 September, 5pm. NOTE FROM CCBR EDITOR: Almost 30 years ago Central Coast tourism opera- tors formed an organisation Central Coast Tourism Inc to promote the region’s tour- ism industry. The big operators invested thousands of dollars and the Gosford Council introduced a Business and Tourism Development Levy on all Gosford LGA busi- ness ratepayers. This levy continues today and Central Coast Council collects over $1 million a year. Not long after amalgamation CC Council hijacked this Levy and forced CC Tourism Inc. out of business because they (the staff at Council with no idea of tourism) thought they knew all about tourism marketing. Their first foray was into social media mar- keting which was a costly failure and now they are clutching at straws. They have no idea. Meanwhile, Gosford LGA business rate- payers should demand that this Levy be returned to be used for the purposes for which it was introduced. Central Coast Council has no legal right to use the Levy in any other way. Council streamlines Development Assessment process for faster turnaround times At Central Coast Council’s 26 October 2020 Meeting, Administrator, Rik Hart, resolved to investigate measures to assist in the fast tracking of DA assessments, and at the Council Meeting on 3 February 2021 resolved to draft a process to make it happen. At Council’s 14 September 2021 Meeting Mr Hart said, “It is pleasing that the ‘Policy on the Assessment of Development Applications’ is now adopted following community feedback. It shows Council’s approach to development assess- ment functions.” “The development and construction sec- tors are significant for our local economy. Construction and housebuilding is the third largest employment sector on the Central Coast (after health and retail) so it is vital that applications are submitted with the required information and we ensure assess- ments are undertaken in a consistent, equi- table and timely manner. “The high level of development is to accommodate the region’s growing popu- lation, and with well-defined and consistent practices for the assessment of applications Council will assist in more streamlined and responsive development assessment pro- cesses and show that the Central Coast is an area worth investing in.” Central Coast Council processes more than 3,000 development applications each year with a value of more than $1 billion. Have your say on Council’s water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing proposal Central Coast Council’s pricing proposal on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices from 1 July 2022 has been submitted to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) and is now on their website for public comment. Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader, said that Council is proposing an increase in rates for these services, as Council’s current pricing model is not finan- cially sustainable. “As they currently stand, our rates for water, sewerage and stormwater drainage are the lowest in NSW,” said Mr Loader. “If we continue along with these current prices, we will not have sufficient funds to provide the community with what they need and deserve, which is a safe, clean and reliable water supply and an effective sewer and drainage system that does not harm the environment. “What we are proposing is returning our prices for these services similar to 2018-19 levels, with an allowance for subsequent inflation. This means there will be, on aver- age, an increase by about 34% in the first year, and then by inflation after that. “Of course, this is a proposal only and I expect IPART to test our proposal and make any changes they deem appropriate.” Administrator Rik Hart said that Council’s pricing proposal is separate to the Special Variation application that was conducted earlier this year. “Every dollar that we receive from your water, sewerage and stormwater drainage rates is treated as completely separate to Council’s other revenue streams,” Mr Hart said. “In other words, we can only spend this set of rates on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage services such as water mains renewals, the upgrade of water and sewer treatment plants and stormwater management to ensure the ongoing health of our waterways.” Below is an outline of the timeline to follow: • 28 September – 1 November 2021: IPART’s community consultation process • March 2022: IPART will release a draft report and determination detailing pro- posed prices • April 2022: IPART will hold a public hearing • 1 July 2022: New pricing is implemented Who is Central Coast Friends of Democracy? Launched in May 2021 by the first Mayor of Central Coast Council, Jane Smith, Central Coast Friends of Democracy’s stated aims are “to restore local democ- racy to our Central Coast community and reclaim Council”. Ms Smith was for sixteen years from 2005 Part Time CEO of the Community Environment Network which regularly, and still does, oppose all major developments in the former Gosford LGA. This organisation regularly promotes itself in the Coast Community News with half page advertisements with no mention as to who is behind it or who is funding it. In addition a new group, The Central Coast Community Better Planning Group also promotes itself through editorial in the Coast Community News. Its Chair is Gary Chestnut, former Environment Manager and Development Manager at Gosford City Council. No mention is made in any media as to Ms Smith being part of a council that spent its way into oblivion with accrued debts in excess of $565 million and forcing enor- mous rate increases on the ratepayers of the Central Coast. Help shape the future of the Central Coast! CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW OCTOBER 2021