Rate rise request bungled

Gosford Council advised on April 24, 2002, it was seeking an extraordinary rate rise of 3.96 per cent from the Minister of Local Government.

The rate rise to be over 15 years to provide us with a regional leisure and aquatic centre costing $17 million and $6 million for six new surf clubs.

Two long years later, all we have seen for our money is the wasteland created by the wanton destruction of the Woy Woy Aquatic Centre in April last year.

The media has informed me that the cost of the Regional Leisure and Aquatic Centre will be between $20 million and $21 million and that it seems highly unlikely that six new surf clubs will be built.

Would Cr Holstein please explain why, after 70 meetings he has chaired, the cost blowout for the centre is $4 million?

In addition, he should justify the expenditure on consultants now in excess of $1.3 million and why the Council's website still shows a budget figure of $16 750 000.

Mayor Bell, who made the initial press release, is equally accountable as cr Holstein and I expect him to provide a complete explanation for this totally bungled rate rise.

The Minister for Local Government, Mr Tony Kelly, should be taking action on our behalf as it is the Minister's responsibility to ensure that the Council behaves in a financially sound and forthright manner.

John Chivers, Woy Woy