New transport office for Woy Woy
An office of the planning section of the Roads and Traffic Authority will be established in Woy Woy by November.
Minister for Transport and Roads, Mr Carl Scully, visited Woy Woy on August 1 to announce the establishment of the new office.
The office will be situated on two floors of the Clocktower building on Railway St and will house 30 staff.
"We expect to start the first staff here in early November and over the ensuing months that number will increase to 30," Mr Scully said.
Speaking at the office site, Mr Scully said: "The staff here will be responsible for completing a transport plan and implementing it, as well as managing various construction and traffic management issues that arise on the Central Coast.
"We've already advertised for an F3 manager and we are well under way in terms of what we need to do with that project.
"Of the 30 staff, 19 jobs will be new.
"There are already some staff who live here but work at Newcastle. They will now be located here.
"The ground floor will be used for displays, and will be the public face of transport on the Central Coast.
"If people have concerns to do with rail, or issues to do with traffic management, they will be able to come in, speak to an officer, and see planning process displays.
The facility will also have two "hot desks" which will enable RTA and transport department employees access to a work station if they are on the road, or away from their regular office.
It is understood a draft of the Central Coast regional transport plan is almost completed.
Consultants were engaged to draft the plan and a public consultation was held in Wyong as part of the process.
However, no announcement has been made about what happens next, although it is expected the draft will be presented to the Minister. It is not known whether the plan will be exhibited for public comment before it is adopted as policy.
It is understood a multi-agency taskforce was established to consider the draft. However, its role was unclear.
Jonathan Reichard, August 1