Central Coast now open for business

Its been a tortuous eight years since the election of the first Central Coast Council and a team of, mostly, activist councillors under the leadership of Mayor Jane Smith, hell bent on destroying the regional economy and using the environment to do so.

Squirrel gliders and orchids were given absolute preference over the needs of people looking for somewhere to build a house and industrial zoned areas across the Coast have been put on hold in favour of supposed endangered species.

Added to this a CEO who has no interest in  growing the region’s economy.

The result has been that investors and businesses looking to come to the Coast and grow the economy by creating jobs were given short shrift.

One of the first acts of economic vandalism was Mayor Smith’s actions to close down the Central Coast Airport.

A disgraceful turn of events that forced Amphibian Aerospace Industries out was the cancelling of a contract whereby they would build an aircraft manufacturing business at Warnervale.   This cost Council millions and AAI have now established in Darwin.

One of the first tasks on the newly elected council must be to approve the Central Coast Airport Masterplan.

This airport has the potential to be a highly successful General Aviation airport, particularly as light aircraft movements around Bankstown will be severely impaired once Western Sydney Airport starts operations.

Refusing legitimate development applications on spurious endangered species grounds has seen developers take council to Court and in 2023 alone cost over a million dollars in legal fees without adding the huge amount of planning staff time that is contributing to their infamous reputation as the worst council.

At present there are over 30 cases before the Land and Environment Court almost all of which will be overturned.

It is highly likely that council’s legal bill for this year will be way over a million dollars - money down the drain.

OO

Of course one issue that the new councillors will confront is living with the current CEO who has overseen all of the above. 

In a total act of contempt for the new council Administrator Rik Hart of his own volition extended CEO David Farmer’s employment contract by five years effectively giving him control over the life of the newly elected council.

At around $600,000 per year Mr Farmer is one of the highest paid council CEOs in the state.

It goes further, Mr Farmer has the protection of the Local Government Minister who a few months ago introduced a ‘Performance Improvement Order’ on all councils but aimed at clipping the wings of new councillors in making change once they take office.

Newly elected Councillor Doug Eaton, who could be Mayor, says it is undemocratic and subverts the wishes of the voters.  He is dead right about that.

In respect of the Central Coast the Minister needs to understand that maintaining the status quo is not an option.

OO

Last month I attended the opening of the Chamberlain Group’s new manufacturing facility at Somersby.

Built by the Borg Group for Chamberlain who will bring together all their manufacturing, warehousing, and engineering teams from across NSW under one roof for the first time this is a major vote of confidence for our region and for manufacturing in our region.

Manufacturing, apart from construction, is the largest employer, apart from government, on the Central Coast.

And in the same week I attended the Topping Out ceremony for the Archibald by ALAND building in Gosford.

Standing on the 28^th floor overlooking Brisbane Water along with the NSW Premier and local Members of Parliament along with ALAND Founder and Owner Andrew Hrsto who took the risk and invested in Gosford was evidence that there are people who see the enormous opportunities the Central Coast offers.

Edgar Adams
Editor