Our Editorial and story on Gosford last month has borne fruit with the business community now getting behind The Landing at Gosford and the redevelopment of the waterfront which will also lead to the redevelopment of the Gosford CBD.

A concerted campaign to counter the misinformation put out over the past five months by the Liberal Party’s Malcolm Brooks, a person who as Councillor, President and Mayor of Gosford over nearly forty years has successfully brought what was once a great town down to a place which many are embarrassed to call their own.

It is now time for people of reason to stand up and show that we will not allow a tiny minority of selfish has-beens dictate the future of the Central Coast and the City of Gosford. And that is happening!

As we go to press, well known businessman, John Singleton, has got behind us and has funded advertising in the Central Coast Express-Advocate which promotes our online petition supporting the development of Stages 1 and 2 of The Landing.

At the same time Radio Stations 2GO and SeaFM are freely promoting the cause and we laud them for getting behind us.

While we have a handful of people trying to bring the Coast down, it is heartening that we have a Champion in John Singleton who is prepared to also stand up to the likes of Brooks and his unrepresentative and selfish group.

As a backer of the Bluetongue Stadium, Mr Singleton pours millions of dollars into this facility each year in support of every game that is held there.

He is, of course, a major investor with his tourism ventures at Killcare and is a passionate believer in the future of the Central Coast.

We don’t see Brooks putting any of his money into the city.

This campaign has to reverse statements by the Minister for Planning that he will only consider Stage 1 of the project and will expedite the rezoning of the waterfront land forthwith. 

Only people power will reverse his decision and we have to say that it is time the Premier of NSW took some interest.

After twelve months of this new government the Central Coast has gone nowhere.

OOO

Perhaps Mr O’Farrell and the Minister for the Central Coast should read our story on Coast business numbers decline.

Over the four years from 2007 to 2011 the number of businesses that operated on the Central Coast reduced by 501.

Worse still, most of those that closed were in the higher employment group and that represents 9,900 lost jobs.

Yes Mr O’Farrell and Mr Hartcher – 9,900 lost jobs!

While the Premier allows his Planning Minister to ignore the needs of this region this situation will go from bad to worse.

OOO

On a positive note it is good to see that The Crighton Property Group has almost got their Terrigal residential sub-division off the ground.  Gosford Council has, at last, supported the rezoning so that it can go ahead.

This will be a new-age wired community that allows small home businesses to operate.

It only took seven years for Council to see the light!

Which brings me to the point!  Both Wyong and Gosford Councils need to get their heads around the changes that broadband will bring to our region with respect to how people work.

They (and also that Planning Minister) will need to be totally flexible with respect to zonings and stop having rigid old fashioned rules.