Five years of Central Coast First at Gosford Council - their achievements

With the Local Government elections just around the corner, Central Coast Business Review interviewed Clr Peter Hale and asked him what he considered the Party’s greatest achievements.

His response was that he and Clr Laurie Maher were the movers behind a number of administrative changes that included reducing the number of directors from seven to five and also establishing a Finance and Planning Committee chaired by Clr Hale.

This Committee now reviews “brought forward budgets” quarterly instead of annually which has resulted in an extra $20 million of works being completed.

It also reviewed the operations of the Peninsula Leisure Centre taking political interference away from its management. This Centre is now considered one of the best managed in NSW.

Clr Hale said that the Committee now receives details of all budget items with overruns of 10% or more being examined. “All current budgets are presently under review,” he said.

Legal costs have been reduced from $1.3 million annually to $750,000.

Central Coast First also initiated the Vision 2025 program and established a review committee for development and rezoning applications over $5 million.

The protocol and the appointment of a commercial facilitator to gain joint partners for the development of the Gosford CBD was also an initiative of Clrs Hale and Maher which saw the appointment of a senior Director of Council to drive the process.

While Mayor, Clr Maher used his casting vote which saw the introduction of fluoride to Gosford’s water supply.

Both Councillors Hale and Maher are seeking re-election as candidates for Central Coast First.

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