General News *NEW TO 2009*

Eco boat visits Gosford

Following its record breaking 24,000 nautical mile voyage around the world in June 2008 that took 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, the 78 foot alternative fuel powered, wave-piercing trimaran, Earthrace, paid a visit to Gosford in early January to highlight its environmental credentials.

The Gosford visit for the New Zealand built vessel was part of a promotional tour to connect with people and encourage debate and understanding about biofuels, carbon footprints, and the many other aspects that affect our environmental footprint.

Earthrace is intended to showcase environmentally friendly technologies such as biodiesel, low-emission engines, non-toxic antifouling paint and efficient hull design. The vessel very nearly didn’t make it to Gosford as the entrance to Brisbane Water was so shallow that it ran the risk of touching the bottom.

Council will not be closing airport

Wyong Council has no plans to close Warnervale Airport and remains committed to honouring an agreement with the Central Coast Aero Club to operate out of the Airport until 2021. Council said that media reports in early January indicating the aerodrome will close, forcing the Central Coast Aero Club to relocate to Belmont, are false.

“The Central Coast Aero Club has an agreement with Wyong Shire Council to operate Warnervale Airport until 2021 and Council is bound to this agreement,” Council’s General Manager Kerry Yates said. “The Warnervale Employment Zone (WEZ) will not impact on the airport’s existing operations.

“The WEZ plan permits the airport to continue operating at its current level; however, it does not permit expansion of the site into a large regional airport facility. Council remains committed to limiting the use of the airport to current levels.”

Mr Yates said Council is aware the Central Coast Aero club is looking at alternate arrangements.
“It makes sense that they look at their long term future beyond 2021,” Mr Yates said.
“They have had discussions with Council in that regard because nothing is certain after the agreement runs out in 2021.

"However, for the next 12 years, there is a legal agreement which means they can continue to operate out of Warnervale and despite the fact the State Government has approved rezoning plans for the area, the rezoning permits the continual operation of the airport.”

Peats Ridge Festival draws huge crowd
The 2008 Peats Ridge Festival held at Glenworth Valley from 28 December to 1 January has attracted more than three thousand people including many from as far away as Victoria, Canberra and Queensland. Good weather ensured this year’s Festival, which began in 2004, was a success following its cancellation last year due to extreme wet weather.

Ratepayers comment on Wyong Council’s 20-year Strategic Vision
The Wyong Council Blog Site has attracted nearly eight hundred people commenting on Council’s 20-year Strategic Vision. The Shire Strategic Vision aims to set the direction of the community over the next 20 years.

Project Manager, Dan Smith, said it is important for the community to consider the needs of the Shire’s society, economy and natural environment and set its future path. As part of the process a resident group was formed early in 2008 to provide grassroots input.

Gosford Council continues to prevaricate over entrance
In spite of numerous warnings over the silting of the channel at the entrance to Brisbane Water by boat owners and ferry operators Gosford Council continues to prevaricate over who should pay for the cost of dredging. Council continues to insist that the cost of dredging is a State Government issue and they should pay the total cost.
The NSW Department of Lands which has offered to contribute half of the estimated cost of $500,000 is now warning Council that it may withdraw its offer as other councils have applied for similar funding. Gosford Mayor, Chris Holstein said Council would wait on the results of a hydrological survey being undertaken by Maritime NSW. One boat owner who regularly uses the channel said that it seems Mayor Holstein is playing politics with people’s safety.

The road to reducing homelessness
In mid-December Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, released the Australian Government’s White Paper on Homelessness, ‘The Road Home’, which sets the strategic agenda for reducing homelessness by 2020.

With $800 million to be spent on preventing and reducing homelessness and a further $400 million to increase the amount of affordable and supported housing, “Christmas had come early for those in need,” said Coast Shelter General Manager, Laurie Maher.

“The Central Coast has really been left behind in the provision of social infrastructure over the years and with the gloomy predictions for the economy, and in particular, unemployment in 2009, Mr Rudd’s announcement is very timely,” he said.

“While detailed plans are yet to be released, this is a wonderful opportunity for our Federal Parliamentary representatives to take leadership and establish a Regional approach to address the chronic homelessness problem in our community.

“There are quite a number of support programs on the Central Coast, but with this new funding a comprehensive regionally co-ordinated program will make all the difference and the importance of this cannot be emphasised enough,” Mr Maher said.

Private emergency centre opens

North Gosford Private Hospital has opened the Central Coast’s first private emergency centre. The facility is part of a major redevelopment of the hospital which is the largest and most comprehensive private hospital on the Central Coast. The Emergency Referral Centre is a new concept, aimed at easing the growing pressure on Gosford and Wyong Hospitals.

The nine bed facility is fully equipped to provide state-of-the-art emergency care for patients referred to the hospital and is staffed by emergency medicine consultants. As well as acute medical and surgical conditions, the centre will also cater for sports and work related injuries, in conjunction with the hospital’s physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.

The Emergency Referral Centre is headed by Dr David Kirkpatrick, the former Area Director of emergency departments at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals. Dr Kirkpatrick has been working on the project for the past year which is a hybrid of a full emergency department and a GP super clinic.

Patients will need a referral from their GP, specialist or the ambulance service, will have to have private health insurance and pay a $150 fee. It will be open between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday. The unit has the capacity to treat acute surgical, medical, orthopaedic, obstetric and gynaecological problems to minor and moderate trauma.

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