Patonga petitions

More than 450 people have signed petitions about the alcohol-free zone for the town of Patonga, which has a population of 200.

Residents and visitors to Patonga sent a 275-signature petition and asked council to defer the introduction of an alcohol-free zone until the tavern at the site has started trading.

A further 167 residents and visitors sent in petitions in support of council's decision to implement the alcohol-free zone.

They also supported the local Progress Association's wish to extend the zone to both sides of Patonga Dve from its intersection with Bay St to its intersection of the unnamed roadway leading to Dark Corner.

The petitions were among seven received by Gosford Council on matters pertaining to the Peninsula area.

Empire Bay residents sent a 152-signature petition and said they agreed with council's planned rezoning of land in Empire Bay from business 3a (general) to 3d (neighbourhood business).

South Woy Woy residents sent a 141-signature petition asking council to supply a footpath along Woy Woy Rd as soon as possible.

The petitioners said there was no footpath and older citizens, children and young parents with prams are forced to walk on a busy road.

They said the situation was dangerous and unacceptable.

The petitioners said the Woy Woy South Progress Association had asked for a footpath since the 1950s without success.

The Melaleuca Wetlands Regeneration Group sent a 35-signature petition on "behalf of residents of Woy Woy" with concerns about recurrent vandalism to the Everglades Lagoon.

The petitioners said local youth made bicycle jumps which destroyed the flora and fauna.

The petitioners asked council to provide a bicycle jump in an area away from protected bush.

Council also received two other petitions with 21 signatures, complaining about barking dogs at Umina and Woy Woy.

Carl Spears, January 31