October 2009 edition Cover Story

In doing so Mr Rees has ensured that the Central Coast continues to be represented at a senior government level.  Further, Premiers have the clout to get things done if they choose to and in this respect the Central Coast has come out well and truly in front. In spite of much uninformed criticism by some local leaders it needs to be understood that it is important that a senior minister representing the region sits at the Budget Table.

To further strengthen the position, Mr Rees has followed up with the appointment of the Member for Wyong, David Harris MP as his Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for the Central Coast. Mr Harris grew up on the Central Coast and has taught at many schools in the region as well as being Headmaster. No one can suggest that he doesn’t have a thorough knowledge of the region and the huge number of issues that need to be addressed.

In late August the Premier attended a State Plan Update meeting at Mingara Recreation Club which was attended by a large number of community and business leaders. Three top issues came out of this meeting:
1. the need for the Central Coast to be accepted as a region in its own right;
2. health and in particular the need for a radiotherapy unit somewhere on the Coast; and
3. transport – particularly in respect to public transport.

The upshot of this was that the Premier got the message loud and clear. A comment he made at the close of that meeting was to the effect that “he wasn’t aware how important it was for the Central Coast to be a region in its own right”. Less than a month later Mr Rees got the opportunity to show that he was listening.

In speaking with Mr Harris CCBR has learned that Mr Rees has already written to all Ministers and Department Heads instructing them to make sure that they always consider the Central Coast in their deliberations especially in respect to funding. Mr Harris said that Mr Rees would be writing to the Prime Minister requesting that action be taken to have the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the Central Coast as a distinct region in its own right.

“Presently the ABS groups Gosford and Wyong in with the Sydney Metropolitan Area and we need this to change,” said Mr Harris. “Achieving this will be a good first step,” he said.

Mr Harris said that Mr Rees is aware of the cynicism of some local leaders in respect to the fact that he does not live on the Coast. “He is planning to make regular visits to the region and also support our local MPs in their work as well. In this respect I see part of my role as Parliamentary Secretary as conducting meetings on his behalf and carrying issues directly to him,” said Mr Harris.

In respect to the other two major issues identified at the State Plan Update meeting, Mr Harris said that a final study is presently being carried out to see how radiotherapy services will be delivered on the Central Coast. This will take the form of a blueprint for the implementation of the service including potential sites, and how the public and private sector can work together to deliver the service. On transport issues Mr Harris said that a study is to be carried out to see how bus and train services can be integrated to serve the community as a whole. 

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