15 CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL NEWS Central Coast Council has issued a Draft Statement of Business Ethics which sets out how people need to behave when dealing with Council. This Statement of Business Ethics sets the standard of ethical behaviours that Council expects from suppliers, contractors, service providers and individuals that do business with Council. Council is committed to upholding the principles outlined in this Statement and to ensuring its business is conducted in a fair and ethical manner. These principles align with the requirements of Council’s Code of Conduct, of which all Council officials must comply. Equally, the community expects high standards of ethical conduct from all suppliers, organisations, service providers, small businesses and individuals that have dealings with Council. In its Statement Scope the Statement says, “ The expectations set out in this statement apply to all Councillors, Council staff, businesses, organisations, members of the public, and any other parties doing business with, or wishing to do business with Council. This Statement supports Council’s Procurement Policy. In its nine pages that covers: Business principles, Value for money, Expectations and Responsibilities and others at no point does this Statement cover how Central Coast Council should apply Business Ethics to Council’s dealings with its providers. No mention as to Council’s dealings with their providers. Central Coast Council is pushing ahead to deliver the next stage of its ground-breaking Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy. It was resolved at the Ordinary Council meeting on 22 August 2023 that Council progress investigations on identified, suitably located Council owned sites to be utilised for affordable housing developments. These properties, located at The Entrance, Toukley and Wyong, are well-situated in terms of public transport and availability of retail, community and health services, and are primarily current or former public car parking sites or are parcels of land which have been previously acquired to increase the availability of car parking through development of public car parks. A compulsory acquisition overlay applies to some of these properties. Some have been acquired for other purposes including for expansion of existing public parks, and this is reflected in the current land-use zoning of the land. Council’s CEO David Farmer said Council wants to play its part in alleviating the housing crisis on the Central Coast. The question of what role can, and should, Council play in the issue of affordable housing is high priority for us.” “Council is totally committed to implementing the actions of its Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy and the allocation of Council owned property for the purposes of affordable housing development, is considered an indication of how Council is working to help alleviate the housing crisis on the Central Coast,” he said. Central Coast Council Administrator Mr Hart added he is extremely proud of Council’s resolve in tackling the issue of housing on the Central Coast. “Council is leading the way across New South Wales, and walking the talk. Council’s resolution last night is a responsible one and one that will ultimately provide the community with affordable housing solutions.” Council’s Statement of Business Ethics all one way – Council’s Council says Pushing ahead to alleviate housing crisis on Central Coast!! Central Coast Council Water and Sewer are allocating approximately $35 million towards upgrading the Bateau Bay Sewage Treatment Plant to not only futureproof the asset but help address the presence of odour. Director of Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the main goal of sewage treatment is to create a volatile-free effluent that can be safely discharged into the environment or reused as recycled water. “Controlling odours can be one of the most important and yet most challenging aspects of sewage treatment. There are While Central Coast Council continues to delay and refuse legitimate Development Applications that would see some 3,000 homes built in the region it continues to send out misleading statements like a Media Release issued on 23rd August an outline of which follows: housing across the board and a lack of opportunity for people looking for local employment. Again, this month we report on the Council’s continuing refusal to approve legitimate development applications for housing. This time on The Peninsula and the ever-increasing cases of refused development applications being taken to the Land and Environment Court. Twenty-four cases in August alone! This Council leads NSW as the most litigated against council in the state. Legal costs for defending cases in the Land and Environment Court are astronomical and it is the ratepayer who will pay. There is another point. People in the Planning Department keep bleating about staff shortages as the excuse for ridiculously long time frames to assess development applications. They would have more time if they didn’t have to defend the indefensible in Court. Of course, there is another point in this and that is there are activists on council’s staff who do not want development at any cost. Finally, by putting the brakes on all forms of development the rate base is not growing and therefore in the long run we can all look forward to increased rates. This Council is not being effectively managed. Its as simple as that. In exactly one year’s time we will be getting a newly elected council. The community needs to start thinking seriously about how this will play out. It will all depend on who we elect! Edgar Adams Editor Funding allocated to upgrade Bateau Bay Sewage Treatment Plant three main reasons why odours can occur, which include inappropriate chemicals entering the sewerage system, operational breakdowns and aging infrastructure.” Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said works are anticipated to commence in late 2023, with a proposed estimated completion date of mid-2027. The Bateau Bay Sewage Treatment Plant currently services a population of approximately 40,000 people, bounded by the suburbs of The Entrance North, Killarney Vale and Bateau Bay. Chamberlain Group’s confidence in manufacturing on the Coast CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW SEPTEMBER 2023
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