Chance missed to express concerns

For the first time, a councillor at Gosford Council has contested the "starring" of an issue requested by a fellow councillor.

At the council meeting on November 4, Cr Chris Holstein challenged the starring requested by Cr Debra Wales of amendments to the Peninsula Regional Leisure Centre.

As a result, local residents missed out on the last chance to express their concerns with the latest design changes.

Normally, if a councillor stars an issue, it is taken off the night's agenda and is voted on at a later date. However, at this particular meeting, usual protocols were not followed.

Instead, after a show of hands, the issue remained very much on the agenda.

Believing that the starring would mean that no deliberation would take place, local residents did not attend the meeting.

These residents are genuinely disturbed by the possible impacts of the cost-cutting design changes.

Councillors responsible for the premature demolition of the old Woy Woy pool are trying to push the development through council to save face before the next council election.

They seem to be ignoring advice from the EPA and residents alike, in a mad dash to get their name on a plaque in the foyer of the new complex.

Michelle Cairns, Woy Woy