Division already with newly elected councillors

 Newly minted Central Coast Mayor Lawrie McKinna’s first statement when he was elected Mayor was to say, “my focus

Division already will be on leading our new councillors  to work cohesively as a team as we determine important community matters.”

If anyone can do it the very successful football coach had every reason to believe that he could. 

Unfortunately, he didn’t count on an unrepentant Labor Party and a CEN Independent councillor who led the previous Council into bankruptcy.

Two of the many items on the Agenda for the October meeting of Council were the appointments of councillors to the various external committees and panels.  It was at this point that it became obvious that that the Labor Party and activist Independents showed that contrition was not part of their make-up. 

This group were responsible for seven lost years as they drove the Central Coast economy to a standstill and sent the council broke.

The fact that the Liberal Party and Team Central Coast has the numbers to control the decision making meant nothing and

through bluster and meaningless argument ended up getting their own way with appointments to these committees and the planning panel.

It was worse when they got to the Economic Development Committee which was proposed by Deputy Mayor Eaton.

This Committee must be the most powerful team in council if the Central Coast is to attract investment. 

Investors, developers and businesses have been driven away from the region over the past seven years by Labor and the Independents.  These people were economic vandals.

The worst example of this was the treatment of aircraft manufacturer Amphibian Aerospace Industries whose lease at Warnervale Airport was repudiated at a cost to Central Coast ratepayers of a million dollars (this company is now successfully operating out of Darwin airport).

Of course, under the Smith Council the airport was set to be closed as staff were barred from trimming trees at the approaches to the airport runway making in highly dangerous. Their aim being to get the airport closed permanently.

Warnervale Airport has the potential to be a major economic driver in the north of the Central Coast.

Right now, there are companies prepared to invest millions of dollars to establish their aviation businesses at the airport.

Controversy and division being generated by the Labor Party (who has opposed this airport for 30 years) and Clr Smith cannot be allowed to continue.

After half an hour trying to get their own people on this Economic Development Committee it was deferred on the motion of Clr Neal.

These people have no shame.

OOO

Meanwhile, on a very positive note Business NSW Central Coast has taken the initiative with their Central Coast Housing Summit late last month. Our congratulations to Scot Goold, Regional Manager of the Chamber for organising this Summit which was also saw the launch of their Central Coast Residential Development Guide.

This is an ideal publication that explains where the development opportunities are across the Coast, in particular the 5 Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precincts now being championed by the Minns State Government.