Treat fast ferry as any other business
Lack of any forward planning and "ad hoc development" are phrases Cr Lynne Bockholt is fond of using.
These are symptoms of why this community is in such desperate trouble.
Why are those pushing this Fast Ferry giving ratepayers the impression Gosford Council development rules don't really apply to them?
What type of thinking has seen six years or more effort go into something that has seen no private space developed?
Are the proponents confident that public space will once again be usurped to fill private pockets?
I hope not.
The Lemon Grove reserve is surrounded by residents who are comfortable with what their neighbours, the Netball Association, use the reserve for and sporting functions are particularly well situated here.
In the long term, next to the water is the best option to support full use of our community's assets.
Any proponents of business requiring parking - hotels and clubs are a good examples, the football stand at the old Woy Woy tip is another - had a requirement to provide parking.
The Fast Ferry is no different and should have been required to show it has property for parking as a part of their proposal.
When our community grows, we have will have even greater presure from the community for parks and open space.
The Lemon Grove Reserve is located so close to our water way and itself needs to have more parking in the long term.
Forward thinking and sensible planning would have seen the residential property between the reserve and the waterfront already acquired by Gosford Council over the past 20 years, giving the ratepayers an attractive venue open to the waterfront.
The current pressure from big business people undertaking a private development seems to have the "behind closed doors" support of State Government and our Gosford Council.
Politicians are not looking after community's best interest.
Ed James, Umina