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Collapse Issue 519:<br />17 May 2021<br />_____________Issue 519:
17 May 2021
_____________
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Peninsula sell-off protests attract 'a great turn-up'
Community service awards for two local businesses
Where is my contribution?
Prizes at CWA State conference
School parents gather 200 signatures in three days
Carpark and bush block could be sold immediately
Park sale would be 'long term loss for the community'
ACF branch calls for retention of Peninsula open space
Council referendum to proceed
New firefighters for Umina
Feedback accepted on Patonga Creek addressing
Patonga hall closes for kitchen upgrade
Fishing club donates to Marine Rescue
Book fair for PCYC
Woy Woy student is lead strike organiser
Community group planning future events
Group offers help to plant more trees
Antique store relocates
Rainfall approaches average as normal pattern returns
Collapse  PLANNING PLANNING
Alfred St shop-top housing on track, says owner
Panel considers Pearl Beach plan with 31 submissions
Six flats proposed for Brick Wharf Rd
New shopping centre to be named Lone Pine Plaza
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
To stop the rot, residents must fight their own council
Bullion St parking is crucial to shoppers and businesses
We do not support fire sale or lack of engagement
Another year of main stakeholders (us) not being heard?
Maximise the mandatory, minimise the discretionary
Has anything changed in 17 years?
Council: Someone has to be held to account
What do you think?
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Exercise program for women
Aged care workers recognised
Aged care home introduces its own QR code check-in
Hospital visitor guidelines
Wellington is a favourite
Visit guidelines change
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Sales start of art show tickets
Progress association holds scholarship concerts
'Inspiring works' at folk club concert
Woy Woy artist holds exhibition at regional gallery
Writers' festival Saturday program sold out
Patchwork progress
Centre of light technique taught
Musical event at Pearl Beach
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
School prepares for renovation
School gets worm farm up and running
Children learn what to do if they get lost
Measuring the size of cells
Indigenous high school art students wanted
Thirty years in childcare
Touch typing program
Learning about number patterns
Campus loses power
HSC workshop seminars
Designing shelters using natural materials
Praise for students walking to school
Preschool seeks mobile dog groomer
Cross country team runs in zone championships
New sports uniforms at Woy Woy campus
Netball teams wins its way to third round
Testing for Years 3 and 5
Information session about kindergarten classes
School to enter recycling competition
Check-in reminder
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Umina women top soccer ladder after win over SEU
Bridge pairs charity day raises $1300
Bridge beginners play graduation games
Under-13 girls start season with a win
Lions win against Avoca Beach in 'minor upset'
Southern and Ettalong have 5-0 win over Avoca
Men of League bowls day at Ettalong
Umina bowls pennants results
Mothers' Day raffle sales
Grade changes in junior netball
Peninsula netball results
Ducks at State softball championships
Ettalong bowls pair defeated in semi-final
Southern Spirit to hold annual meeting
Peninsula players in regional championships
Veterans' bowls day at Everglades

EXTRA!!!

Another year of main stakeholders (us) not being heard?

The cursory treatment, by the state government, of the widely supported petition requesting a full investigation of the collapse of Central Coast Council suggests that there is not much likelihood that the announced public inquiry will result in findings satisfactory to most ratepayers.

The inquiry's terms of reference are highly restrictive, and it is not clear what powers the Commissioner will have, to require information to be provided to the inquiry.

Without her having wide powers, it is difficult to believe that the Commissioner will be able to tell us much more than we already know.

This is a very complicated issue, and there are many individuals and agencies that have contributed to the financial fiasco, but the Commissioner seems to be strictly confined to investigating the role of the councillors and, perhaps, some Council servants.

The rush to set up the inquiry, before the petition was even put before the House, prompts the suspicion that it was always intended to exclude most of the concerns expressed by Central Coast ratepayers.

This being the case, how will ratepayers ever be convinced that the state government is not covering up its own implication in the disaster?

There is obviously some responsibility of state agencies in the mismanagement of funds which should have been detected early in the Council's term of office and not just a few months before new elections are due.

There should also be a full investigation of how the original Administrator was allowed to leave the Council organization in the chaotic state inherited by the councillors when they took office.

As it is, we now have to look forward to another year of the Council's being under administration, with minimal opportunities for the main stakeholders (us) to have their voices heard in setting priorities and managing the Council's ongoing affairs.

The Administrator is responsible to the Minister (not to us), so what opportunities shall we have for more than lip-service consultation on matters crucial to the city's future?

Judging by our experience to date, not much.

The "consultation" process, as now practised, consists of asking for a rubber-stamping of decisions already made or of announcing decisions without even the courtesy of pretending to consult, as is the case, for instance, of the Warnervale airport.

We must all share Michael Jones's concern for the loss of opportunity for democratic participation in our affairs ("Democracy should never be put on hold", PN 518) and must be forever grateful that Peninsula News exists to keep us aware of matters that should concern us.





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