CCBR Business Review

16 C E N T R A L CO A S T CO U N C I L N E W S At its 29 June 2021 meeting Central Coast Council approved the fixing of rates and charges for 2021-22. Special Rate Ad Valorem Amount (cents in the $) Business/Tourism Development 0.050684 Gosford Parking 0.137966 Gosford CBD Improvement 0.359930 The Entrance Area 0.409161 Toukley Area 0.304089 Wyong Area 0.124524 Of particular interest to business ratepayers is the Special Rate that Council collects for specific purposes but never reports on how these funds are spent. The recommendations for these Special Rates, which were approved are: Business / Tourism Development Forecast income $1,097,000 This rate was introduced some 30 years ago by Gosford Council and covers all busi- ness ratepayers in the former Gosford LGA. Its purpose was to promote business growth by attracting business investment (50%) and the other half was directed to the highly successful tourism marketing organisation Central Coast Tourism Inc. Wyong Council contributed to an equal amount to CCTI although much of their contribution was smoke and mirrors. Currently this Special Rate, paid by Gosford business ratepayers, is apparently used to promote tourism across the whole region with no accountability as to how these funds are spent. In the Operational Plan for 2021-22 the heading Services (Page 23) includes Airport, Business Development and Innovation, Holiday Parks, Major Economic Projects, Town and City Centre Management, Visitor Economy. Within this grouping there are two Delivery Programme items: Create opportunities to expand tourism • Destination Management Plan (DMP) – Implement revised Strategic Priorities and Supporting Actions from 2018-2021 DMP, • Develop 2022-2025 Destination Management Plan • Tourism Opportunity Plan (TOP) – Implement Revised Year 2 Actions from 2019-2024 TOP Grow tourism and profitability of Holiday Parks • Implement business strategy plan focus- sing on the future requirements of the business (pending approval from Council). Gosford Parking Rate Forecast income for 2021-22 is $227,000. Introduced in 1978 by Gosford Council this Special Rate on Gosford CBD ratepay- ers was intended to finance the building of Baker Street Car Park and its operation. Gosford CBD Business improvement Rate Forecast income for 2021-22 is $591,000. Introduced in 1994 this Special Rate was to fund works which enhance the Central Business District and benefit business prop- erties located in the CBD. About a third of the funds collected were directed to an organisation, Gosford Business Improvement District (GBID) to promote events in the CBD. These funds were withdrawn by Central Coast Council shortly after amalgamation forcing GBID to close its operation. There is no accountability to ratepayers as to how Council spends these funds. The Entrance Town Centre Rate Forecast income for 2021-22 $664,000 Introduced in 1997 following the refur- bishment of the Town Centre to provide funding to The Entrance area to: • Promote the economic development of The Entrance area, • Market and promote The Entrance area • Organise and manage promotional events within and around The Entrance area for the purpose of improving the market penetration of The Entrance area and its traders. Toukley Town Centre Rate Forecast income for 2021-22 $208,000 Introduced in 1997 following a request by the Toukley Chamber of Commerce to fund activities in the Toukley area to enhance the local business area to market and promote the economic development of the Toukley Area. These funds were withdrawn by Central Coast Council shortly after amalgamation Wyong Town Centre Rate Forecast income for 2021-22 $92,000 Introduced in 2005, following a request from the Wyong-Tuggerah Chamber of Commerce to fund activities in the Wyong area to enhance the local busi- ness area. These funds were withdrawn by Central Coast Council shortly after amalgamation. Central Coast Council has welcomed the NSW Government’s recent announce- ment that Mr Garry Fielding will head the Regional Housing Taskforce. The newly formed Taskforce will seek to combat housing supply shortage across regional New South Wales, delivering rec- ommendations to stimulate housing sup- ply, address housing needs and promote the delivery of affordable housing. Council Director Environment and Planning Scott Cox said Council looks forward to working with Mr Fielding and the Regional Housing Taskforce to address short and long-term housing needs on the Central Coast. “Housing supply and housing afford- ability are both critical issues on the Central Coast and we look forward to working with Mr Fielding and his team to gain better insight into the issues facing our region and what steps we can take to address them,” Mr Cox said. Council fixes special rates against business for 2021-22 but no suggestion of accountability “This Taskforce will complement the work Council is currently undertaking to develop its Housing Strategy, which will examine housing demand and supply on the Coast and the amount, type and loca- tion of new housing, as well as identifying barriers to delivery and recommended actions to overcome them. “Council will take into consideration any recommendations put forward by the Taskforce in the development of its Housing Strategy and plans to exhibit a discussion paper on the Strategy in the coming months. “This also coincides with Council’s work as part of its Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy 2020, which seeks to provide effective policy solutions to address the growing need for afford- able and alternative housing within the Central Coast LGA.” Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Taskforce is welcomed at a time where the Central Coast is experiencing significant growth, with high demand for hous- ing supply. “Council’s Housing Strategy will be a key element of our Council-wide strategic planning framework and we look for- ward to working alongside the Regional Housing Taskforce to develop a plan which meets the unique demands of our region,” Mr Hart said. “Council is already achieving great out- comes through its Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy and we look forward to working with the Taskforce to achieve our vision for a fair and inclu- sive region, where everyone has access to affordable and sustainable housing.” The NSW Regional Housing Taskforce will seek to undertake engagement with local government, industry and the com- munity to assist in formulating responses and recommendations relating to housing supply in regional NSW. Taskforce to tackle housing supply shortage CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW AUGUST 2021