February 2007 Cover Story

“It looked like a funeral procession,” said one trader.  “And when they got the opportunity to turn right at Crowne Plaza they had no idea there was a free multi level car park available.
The new traffic conditions were as a result of the upgrade of the Town Centre which Gosford Council completed on Christmas Eve.
While nearly all traders spoke positively about the upgrade most were critical about the traffic arrangements.
They say it has been grid-lock all around Terrigal while the multi-level car park has been and still is virtually empty all through the season.
Vice President of the Terrigal Chamber of Commerce, Dominic Maisano, said that Council had not done enough to inform drivers that the new multi-level car park was available and that it is free.  “Council erected “P” signs at Charles Kay Drive in an effort to divert traffic around the back of Terrigal to the car park, but few  took any notice and those who did got lost,” he said.
“There should have been large roadside signs promoting the car park and how to get there way back on Terrigal Drive.  It certainly would have got the locals out of the centre of town and eased the congestion,” said Mr Maisano.
Mr Maisano said that Council had not done enough about street cleaning.
“The streets are filthy, they need to be machine scrubbed and this has not happened all over the holidays,” he said.
Council is presently calling for tenders for street cleaning and the Chamber had to put some real pressure on Council to have this done,” he said.
Another issue in Terrigal is that the  public toilets are closed early and the public who remain in town till late in the night have no conveniences at.  “It is a big health hazard because you can guess what some people end up doing but more to the point it is very unpleasant for the public. The Chamber is still trying to convince Council that Terrigal is popular destination after dark and public toilets should be kept open until late,” he said.
Mr Maisano said that since the election of the new Terrigal Chamber of Commerce Executive prior to Christmas the Chamber is taking a very proactive approach to the Town’s needs, particularly in dealing with Council.
Traders in Terrigal are reporting an ordinary year for business but are blaming the cold water that has kept people away from the beach as much as they are the traffic arrangements.

Terrigal Chamber’s new Executives:
Chris Burke - President
Dominic Maisano - Vice President
Tim Marshal – Treasurer
Rodney Pitstock - Secretary

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