4 Kyle MacGregor has a massive job in front of them, turning our economy around. Getting investment and new businesses has to be their focus. CCBR will be watching how this Committee performs. Meanwhile, there is no reason that Council at its first meeting for 2025 cannot approve the Warnervale Aviation Hub masterplan without playing politics and ensure that Nighthawks Helicopters Pty Ltd get their lease at the airport. Two other priorities for 2025 will be advancing the planning for development of the Gosford Waterfront precinct and working towards a new TAFE for Gosford. Finally, it now looks like there will be a Federal Election in April. The Albanese Government has turned out to be the most anti-business government since the 1970s. CCBR will be supporting the Liberal Candidates for Robertson, Lucy Wicks and for Dobell Brendan Small. We all need to get behind both of these candidates and change the government. Otherwise the trade unions will take control. AS WE GO to press Central Coast Council has started advertising for a Director of Environment and Development. It says, “The ideal candidate will oversee critical areas such as ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, driving strategic planning for sustainable growth, managing urban development assessments, and leading environmental initiatives to protect natural assets.” Let’s hope that whoever CEO David Farmer appoints to this position will be a better performer than the previous Director he and Administrator Rik Hart appointed just a few years ago. This person led an activist team whose focus was in stopping all forms of development resulting in almost 40 development applications now before the Land and Environment Court. Whoever is appointed must be an advocate for economic growth with a focus on development and NOT the environment. Finding excuses and hiding behind regressive state and federal legislation to stop or frustrate development approvals in a timely manner is simply maladministration. With Median Household Income of just $1,507 per annum (2021 Census) the Central Coast is on the bottom of the ladder in NSW. While Council’s CEO might be on $500,000+ per year but he, and Council, need to get it into their collective heads that people in our region must be able to get work and well paid work at that. It is a criminal disgrace that the focus of this council is on the welfare of frogs and orchids rather than the people who pay their wages. There is no question that Local Government drives regional economies and prosperous regional economies promote economic growth. This year CCBR will be very focused on economic growth. Right now businesses are doing it tough for all sorts of reasons: energy costs are through the roof, employing people is a legal minefield, consumers are strapped for cash due to Federal Government policies and more. On the Central Coast this is further exacerbated by the shortage of jobs and certainly the small number of large companies who can offer career paths to young people leaving school. Of the 26,735 registered businesses on the Central Coast. Of these more than half are non-employing businesses (sub-contractors) and of the remaining businesses, less than 500 employ more than 20 people. This is a dreadful state of affairs and says everything about our moribund economy. At the same time there are numerous large businesses that want to locate to the region and they would except that Central Coast Council actively discourages them. The recently established Economic Development Committee that comprises Chair Mayor Lawrie McKinna, Deputy Chair Clr John McNamara plus Councillors John Mouland, Trent McWaide, Belinda Neal and EDITORIAL Edgar Adams discusses local issues We’ll handle it from here • Major supplier of architectural hardware to the residential and commercial market • Door locks, handles, security and more • Consultation service available • Working closely with direct clients, builders, architects and interior designers • Visit our showroom today! Avoca Beach Architectural Hardware & Locksmiths www.avocaarchitectural.com.au 4382 1286 0412 437 327 177 Avoca Dr, Avoca Beach info@avocaarchitectural.com.au Edgar Adams Editor Our focus for 2025 – Growing the local economy CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW FEBRUARY 2025
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