Councillors' questions answered

Council's director of corporate and community services, Mr Chris Gallagher, has released a quarterly report detailing the answers to councillors' "questions without notice".

The questions pertaining to the Peninsula and the council officers' answers are set out below:

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Councillor Lynne Bockholt asked if the concrete chairs and tables on the corners of the Boulevarde, Brisbane Water Drive and Railway St were going to be removed or resited.

"There are people drinking, affected by drugs and drink using these tables and chairs at all hours of the day and night," she said.

Council's acting director of works, Mr Terry Bowditch, said the tables and chairs had now been removed and relocated.

He said the area had a new plan as part of the total CBD upgrade.

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Cr Bockholt also asked for details of the progress in clearing and cleaning the creeks at Umina.

Council's director of development and the environment, Mr John Murray, said the bush generation work downstream of Mt Ettalong Rd is a new type of project for Council and therefore the progress so far, based on a written specification and a call for quotes, was reasonable.

He said the works upstream of Mt Ettalong Rd (through Albany Square and Calypta Rd towards Brisbane Ave) had allowed floodflow capacity to be restored.

"Some final clearing and lantana spraying is to be completed, but the spraying has been postponed until the cause of the death of some ducks downstream can be determined," he said.

"Council has received confirmation that pesticides were not responsible for the ducks' death."

Mr Murray said the delay in completing the work between Brisbane Ave and Greenhaven Drive resulted from the need to train and licence operators to use poisons.

"Council resources for this type of work are low," he said.

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Cr Bockholt also asked about the maintenance schedule for the new traffic facilities outside Umina High School.

"A look at these facilities shows a few shaggy plants and a bed full of thistles," she said.

Mr Bowditch said the facility had been placed on the Streetscape Maintenance Schedule, which will ensure maintenance is provided.

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Councillor Debra Wales asked council officers to explain the status of charity clothing bins.

She said the Peninsula was having continual problems with household refuse and garbage being dumped near the bins.

Mr Bowditch said a survey of bins throughout Gosford City had been taken and Council had contacted the owners in regard to possible removal or relocation of the bins.

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Cr Wales also asked about the fruit business on Ocean Beach Rd and if it had approval from Council to run.

She said the business was operating from a residential dwelling.

Mr Murray said the business did not have development consent and would receive a notice to shut down.

Council's planning scheme prohibits shops in residential zones.

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Cr Wales also asked why half-hour parking signs for Blackwall Rd in Woy Woy have taken 18 months to install.

Council's general manager, Mr Peter Wilson said there is a backlog of on-street parking signs that need to be erected.

"It is anticipated they will be erected by the end of this month," he said.

"The process is being reviewed by the director of works to ensure a more timely response to these situations."

Carl Spears, March 7