Petitioners object to land sale

Gosford Council received nine petitions with a total of 639 signatures at its November 28 meeting.

The largest petition was from Umina residents who objected to the sale of land in Brisbane Ave.

The petitioners said they have petitioned several times for footpaths, kerb, guttering and drainage to no avail.

They requested that if the land was sold, the money from the sale go towards the previously-requested upgrades.

Orange Grove Road residents in Woy Woy have also requested a footpath in a 154-signature petition.

The petitioners asked for council to approve funding for the construction of a footpath and vehicle hard-stand areas along Orange Grove Rd.

The residents said they wanted draft plans presented to them for consideration.

Council's general manager has said at public meetings in the past that it was difficult for council to address all requests because of a finite budget.

"If we spend more on footpaths, then the money must come from somewhere else," he said.

Ettalong Public School students have asked council for a skatepark at Umina dedicated to children from the ages of five to 13.

The 111 petitioners said the skatepark for the youngsters was needed to avoid being knocked down by teenagers at the current skatepark.

Also from Ettalong, 36 Lagoon St residents have given council a petition regarding the "dangerous state of their street".

The petitioners said there appeared to be a problem with the foundations of the road after rainfall.

They said 20 to 40 cm parts cave in after rain.

They also said water lies in puddles all along the road making it hazardous for pedestrians.

"House foundations shake and vibrate more than normal when heavy vehicles use this road," they said.

The petitioners asked council to assure them that the road would be repaired this financial year.

Council received a 31-signature petition from Umina asking council to replace filling in front of the bus shelter.

The petitioners said that because the section in front of the bus shelter had washed away, it was difficult for elderly people to get in and out of buses.

Umina Beach residents in Timbertop Drive have sent a petition to council regarding the access road to their properties.

The 11 residents asked council to resolve the problems with their access road including: lack of maintenance, overgrown areas and parking across their driveways.

The proposal to zone an alcohol-free zone in Patonga has drawn a six-signature petition from residents.

The petitioners objected to the proposal and said they have spent many an afternoon socialising at the local shop with a beer in hand, with never a hint of aggression or unruly behaviour being witnessed.

Other petitioners from Ettalong asked council to investigate a sighting of rats at Flathead Rd and barking dogs in Broken Bay Rd.

Carl Spears, December 6